PLC Member Weekly Update June 24, 2022
In this Issue:
MLOP Still Seeking Instructors! – Last chance to apply!
Log A Load Golf Tournaments – Register Now!
Impairment Detection Training for Employers – Register Now!
Wood Heat Promotional Videos – Please Share!
Cost Calculators – Members Only
PLC Store – Many items for sale
Safety Resources – CPR/First Aid – If your employees need CPR – let Jess know at jessica@maineloggers.com and we will set up a free class at your shop!
Trucking– ELD update, Gas Tax Holiday and more
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
MLOP Program Seeking Intructors for Summer 2022! Apply Now!
The Mechanized Logging Operations Program is still seeking to fill instructor positions for the summer session of the program at an active logging site in the woods northeast of Old Town. Instructors are needed immediately with work ending Sept. 23.
The program is seeking delimber, feller buncher, and crane 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 dburr@nmcc.edu to learn more!
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MLOP Program Still Recruiting Students for Summer 2022!
Through the generous support of Skowhegan Savings, $1,000 scholarships are now available for all accepted students.
The Mechanized Logging Operations Program is still accepting applications for the 2022 Class starting in late June. If you know of anyone who may have an interest in the program they can apply at the link below. You may also encourage them to call, text or email MLOP Coordinator Donald Burr at 207-356-1541 or dburr@nmcc.edu to learn more.
APPLY HERE
Log A Load Golf Tournaments 2022
Register Now!
It is time to register for the PLC’s upcoming Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournaments! The tournaments will be held Aug. 26 in Lovell and Sept. 16 in Lincoln. We need full participation to continue the incredible momentum this year that began with a record setting Log A Load Auction May 13 at the PLC Annual Meeting. Registration links below, see you at the tournaments!
Aug. 26, Kezar Lake Country Club, Lovell
Sept. 16, JATO Highlands Golf Course, Lincoln
If you prefer to register by mail print and fill out the registration form on the pdfs below:
Impairment Detection Training for Employers sessions
Maine’s Department of Labor is offering two upcoming Impairment Detection Training for Employers sessions. Theee one-day, no-cost training sessions are designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace in order to reduce worker accidents and injuries.
Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine’s Substance Use Testing Law.
Upcoming sessions:
- July 11, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Camden Town Office, French Conference Room, 16 Washington Street, Camden
Parking: free municipal parking is located beside the Public Safety Building at 31 Washington Street and behind the Knox Mill just beyond the Public Safety Building on the left.
- July 22, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Rockland CareerCenter, 91 Camden Street, Suite 201, Rockland
To register for either class, please call toll-free 1-877-SAFE-345
More information and other SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Safetyworks_Classes&v=ListAll
Wood Heat Promotional Videos
Please Share!
The videos below are part of the Northern Forest Center’s Feel Good Heat Campaign. With energy prices spiking now is the perfect time to remind Maine consumers wood heat is the most affordable option and it helps our rural forest economy too! Please share the videos!
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
Safety Resources
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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 2022, 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!
Featured HumpDay Safety Video – What to do when you see blue lights behind you
Featured Unsafe Zone Safety Video – Gabe Rioux: Hydraulic Injection Injury!
Trucking
MBTA E-Alert: Suspension of gas tax is a ‘bad idea’ – please contact your legislators
President Biden calls for gas tax ‘holiday’
Yesterday, President Biden called on Congress to send him a bill that suspends the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gasoline tax for three months. “By suspending the 18-cent gas tax for the next 90 days, we can bring down the price of gas and give families just a little bit of relief,” Biden said during a speech announcing the policy shift. He added the Highway Trust Fund should be compensated for the $10 billion in lost revenue that would result from his proposed gas tax suspension.
The president also called on oil and gas industry companies to pass along the savings to consumers and pushed for states to pause their gasoline taxes as well.
Gas tax ‘holidays’ are a bad idea
The federal fuel tax, which hasn’t been raised in 30 years, is the largest revenue stream supporting federal highway and public transportation investment. A suspension of the federal tax would jeopardize commitments from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).
“Suspending collections jeopardizes the bipartisan compromises that enabled that landmark measure, and establishes a precedent that these user fee revenues could be dropped whenever elected officials feel the price of gas is too high,” noted ARTBA in a statement. Despite the president’s call to compensate the Highway Trust Fund, there is no guarantee those revenues would be replaced, nor a guarantee that future suspensions would include a reimbursement for lost highway and transit program revenue.
The Transportation Investment Advocacy Center released a report on gas tax holidays in March of this year. The center’s research showed that it is a misconception that “changes in gas tax rates – up or down – automatically
trigger an equivalent change in what drivers pay for a gallon of gas.” Instead, the study found that state motor fuel tax increases or decreases resulted in only 18 percent of changes flowing back to the consumer. It may sound like a good idea, but clearly will have little positive effect for the consumer.
A better idea?
The state of Maine earlier this year considered suspending its state gas tax to help provide relief to its citizens. After consideration of the issue, the Maine Legislature, in a bipartisan manner, coalesced around Governor Janet Mills’ proposal to return more than half of the state’s surplus back to taxpayers in the form of $850 checks. Considered one of the strongest relief programs in the country, the average Maine family will receive $1,700 in relief checks from Governor Mills and the Maine Legislature.
What’s next
The congressional response to President Biden’s call is not yet clear. House and Senate leaders have not yet indicated whether they will take up the plan. In fact, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the proposal an “ineffective stunt” in a Senate floor speech.
MBTA agrees with former President Obama when he referred to a similar fuel tax suspension plan in 2008 as a “gimmick.” Last night, ARTBA resumed its digital and social media advertising campaign that addressed that topic when it came up in 2008.
Please, take action
“A federal ‘gas tax holiday’ would only save the average Maine driver $28 over three months,” noted Maria Fuentes, Executive Director of MBTA. “It not only sets a bad precedent for future policymakers, but it jeopardizes critical funding for transportation and provides precious little relief to Maine people.”
“We urge members of Congress to continue resisting such a proposal, as they have done in the past.”
Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose efforts to suspend the federal gas tax.
Thank you.
Tony Grande
MBTA President
REVOKED ELD: Arion Tech Inc.’s ArionT ELD Removed from FMCSA Registered Devices List
Motor carriers and drivers who continue to use the revoked ArionT device listed above on or after August 24, 2022 will be in violation of 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)—“No record of duty status” and drivers will be placed out-of-service in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria. |
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If the ELD provider corrects all identified deficiencies, FMCSA will place the device back on the Registered Devices list and inform the industry and the field. However, FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the actions listed above now to avoid compliance issues in the event that these deficiencies are not addressed in time. |
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Questions? |
Sharing the Road with Horse Drawn Buggies
With the growth of Amish communities across Maine, many motorists are seeing more horse-drawn buggies. While the concept of sharing the road with pedestrians and bicyclists is more common, sharing the road with horses requires enhanced courtesy, focus and safety awareness. LEARN MORE
I-95 Ramp Closures in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD – The Maine Department of Transportation will be temporarily closing the northbound I-95 on- and off-ramps at Exit 133 in Fairfield to accommodate overnight earthwork. The ramps are scheduled to be closed from 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26th and reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 27th.
Logging Industry News
Member Discounts
TRUCKING DISCOUNTS THROUGH THE ALC!
PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts on truck purchases! Click on the brand names below to learn more!
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Fabian Oil Discount
Traction Heavy Duty Special
Wallingford’s Discounts
Maine Trailer Discounts
Scandinavian Forestry Equipment
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
Preferred Supporting Members
