PLC Member Weekly Update July 21, 2023
In this Issue
Log A Load Golf Tournament South – Register and Sponsor Now!
The Logger’s Voice Summer 2023 – Now Available!
Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program – Seeking intructors
Skowhegan River Fest – Loggers invited!
Rottne Maine In-Woods Demo Days August 3rd – 4th – PLC Members Invited!
ALC Annual Meeting Oct. 3-6 – Book Rooms Now!
Cost Calculators – Members Only
PLC Store – Many items for sale
Safety Resources – Safety Packs!
Trucking – Latest news
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
Southern Maine Log A Load Golf Tournament 2023
Register and Sponsor Now!
The PLC’s 2023 Log A Load for Maine Kids Southern Maine Golf Tournament is just six weeks away and it’s time to register and sponsor as spots are filling up fast!
This year, the tournament will be held Aug. 25 in Lovell at Lake Kezar Country Club. Register now to help Maine kids and have a blast doing it. There are also numerous sponsorship opportunities still available! Click the link below to learn more or call Jessica at 207-688-8195! See you at the tournament!
Register or Sponsor Now – Aug. 25, Kezar Lake Country Club, Lovell
If you prefer to register by mail, print and fill out the registration form on the pdf below:
The Logger’s Voice Summer 2023
Now Available!
The Summer 2023 edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available! Copies have been mailed out!
MLOFT Program Seeks Instructors!
The PLC’s Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program, (MLOFT) an expanded version of our highly successful logging operations certificate program that will now include Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training, is still actively recruiting instructors for the 2023 class. Instructors are needed from July 10-October 20.
The program is seeking center mount, feller buncher, crane, and mechanic operators for these positions. Each instructor will be hired for 15 weeks total (60 hours a week for 10 weeks, 40 hours a week for 5 weeks.) The pay rate is $23 an hour. Pickup provided to get to and from the job site. For instructors not living in the Old Town area, room and board will be provided.
These positions are a great short-term opportunity for employees that might be impacted by reduced harvesting operations for the summer but could come back to their company in the fall, or for recently retired operators looking to share their knowledge with the next generation.
If you or anyone you know is interested in this opportunity, contact Donald Burr immediately at 207-356-1541 or safety@maineloggers.com to learn more!
Loggers invited to participate in Skowhegan parade Aug. 3!
The Town of Skowhegan is celebrating its bicentennial this year and Main Street Skowhegan is taking a lead in planning events and activities. During the annual River Fest celebrations the town is incorporating the theme “200 Years of Logging” and is inviting the logging community to join events in Skowhegan August 1 – 6, 2023!
The town would especially like to invite PLC Contractors and their families to the “200 Years of Logging” parade on Thursday, August 3rd at 6 p.m. If you’d like to participate in the parade, you can register your float, log truck, equipment, or team at https://docs.google.com/forms/
Rottne Maine In-Woods Demo Days August 3rd – 4th Contractors invited!
Hello Professional Logging Contractors of Maine,
Heavy Machines and Rottne Industries’ US distributor (LVF Machines) are hosting a Maine in-woods demo of the Rottne H21D harvester and F18D forwarder.
PLC Member and Master Logger Allen Chartier recently purchased the first H21D in Maine and the first F18D (20-ton haul) in the United States. Rottne is expanding its factory production in Sweden and is motivated to get more high caliber US loggers like Allen’s crew in the seat of blue machines.
The Maine in-woods demo dates are Thursday and Friday August 3rd and 4th at a jobsite location to be determined in the greater Skowhegan area.
Check out the attached flyer and please join us for this event. RSVP form is here: https://forms.office.com/r/V8739azLQs
We all know this is not the best time in the wood markets but maybe that makes it a good time to kick tires for when things turn up.
Hope to see you there —
Jared Clawson / Heavy Machines
(207) 431 – 4905, jclawsome@heavymachinesinc.com
Rikard Olofsson / Rottne USA
(412) 289 – 5088, rolofsson@longviewforest.com
Paul Lang / Rottne USA
(802) 487 – 6289, plang@longviewforest.com
ALC Annual Meeting 2023 in Maine!
Reserve Rooms Now!
Save the Date for the 2023 American Loggers Council Conference and Membership Meeting at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine October 3-6!
American Loggers Council President and long-time PLC Board Member Andy Irish and his wife Kathy look forward to hosting timber industry representatives for the peak “Leaf Peeping” season. More details will be coming soon!
For guests who would like to reserve a room online CLICK HERE
For guests who would like to call to book their reservation lease call 800-207-2365 and refer to Group Code 86B5IN
PLC Members Only!
Equipment Cost Calculators Available
Members,
With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.
These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.
These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.
DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.
PLC Online Store
Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more? You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy.
CHECK IT OUT HERE
PLC Upcoming Meetings
PLC Executive Board Meeting
Aug. 10
PLC Office, Augusta ME
Safety Resources
New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!
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PLC Crew First Aid Backpack
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PLC Safety Posters! Are yours up yet?
Posters don’t work until they’re up on a wall, like these at Pope Woods Forestry or the one below at Elliot Jordan and Son! Send pictures of yours to office@maineloggers.com
Members, last winter the PLC developed a series of safety information posters on a range of topics designed specifically for our membership, focused on logging and trucking. These posters were distributed to PLC Members who attended one of our Spring Logger and Fleet Safety Trainings. Thank you to those Members who have already posted them, and if you have not, this is a reminder to please do so.
For Members who were not able to attend a training, the PLC is mailing posters to your companies. If you do not receive them please reach out to Vanessa at office@maineloggers.com and we will send some out to you.
Please put them up at your shop or on the jobsite when you receive them and send along a photo to show us!
Finally, special thanks to PLC Preferred Supporting Members Chalmers Insurance and Whited Peterbilt for sponsoring these posters!
Dear Employer,
Workplace safety requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming safety trainings!
Upcoming classes:
- OSHA Recordkeeping: July 26, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maine Presque Isle, Folsom Hall, Room 203
- This class provides thorough and comprehensive six-hour training for both new and experienced safety and human resources personnel. You will learn the OSHA rule (29 CFR 1904) regarding recording and reporting work-related injuries and illnesses as it applies to your organization, including COVID-19 recordability guidance. This class includes several hands-on activities on how to correctly fill out the required injury reporting forms. An additional 30 to 45 minutes will be available for businesses providing healthcare services or healthcare support services who are required by 1910.502(q) to keep a supplemental Covid-19 illness log.
Register and browse more classes here: https://www.
safetyworksmaine.gov/training/ scheduled_classes/register. shtml
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CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!
Trucking
2020/2023 vs 2017 Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF)
U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 07/05/2023 01:05 PM EDT
The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) would like to remind urine specimen collectors and DOT-regulated employers of the following:
- The 2023 Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with no changes to the current 2020 Federal CCF.
- Because the 2023 Federal CCF is the same as the 2020 Federal CCF, DOT-regulated employers, and their service agents (collectors, laboratories, medical review officers) may continue to use the 2020 Federal CCF.
- As of August 31, 2023, the 2020/2023 Federal CCF must be used for DOT-regulated specimens.
- The 2020/2023 Federal CCF can be viewed here https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/workplace/2020-fed-ccf-proof.pdf
- Regarding the expired 2017 Federal CCF:
- The 2017 Federal CCF may be used without a memorandum for the record (MFR) until August 31, 2023.
- As of August 31,2023, if the 2017 Federal CCF is used, labs must treat the use of the 2017 Federal CCF as a correctable discrepancy. A MFR must be completed per §40.205(b)(2).
- Best practice:
- Collectors should use up their existing supply of 2017 Federal CCFs before August 31, 2023.
Logging News
Weeks in the Maine woods are Brewer High School’s answer to absenteeism
It’s a steamy Wednesday afternoon and a cabin deep in the woods near Katahdin Iron Works is humming with activity as nine high school students prepare lunch. They dance around one another in heavy work boots as they slice vegetables, shuck corn and form burgers for the grill.
Commentary: Maine’s business community doesn’t support new tax-funded entitlement
Maine’s business community feels compelled to set the record straight on claims that it supports the paid family and medical leave program, a new bureaucratic entitlement, recently signed into law by Gov. Mills, that will be funded through a new payroll tax levied on Maine businesses. Many other organizations that represent small businesses such as those that we represent – consisting of thousands of employers statewide – did, in fact, support a reasonable version of the program – one much more workable than the final product. However, as has become commonplace in politics, compromise is a foreign concept. Maine’s business community could not support this extreme proposal for several reasons.
Member Discounts
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ALC Member Discounts
PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
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Fabian Oil Discount
Wallingford’s Discounts
Maine Trailer Discounts
PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons
Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!
Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!
Classifieds
PLC Classified Section
Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or
Preferred Supporting Members
Enhanced Supporting Members
