Partnerships in Forestry

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Forestry Association

TFA AND TN DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE PARTNER ON SAFETY PROGRAMS & EQUIPMENT

Candace Dinwiddie, Executive Director, Tennessee Forestry Association

TFA and TN Dept. of Agriculture Partner on Safety Programs & Equipment for Master Loggers. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, along with Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Charlie Hatcher, are proud to recognize the importance of our Master Loggers throughout the state. Thanks to the Lee administration, TFA was awarded substantial grant funding to promote safety training and practices on the road and in the woods, along with cost-share availability for safety equipment.

The first trucking safety program was offered at Pickwick Landing State Park Lodge on May 24. FMIC personnel and TN Highway Patrol Lt. John Harmon (retired) provided instruction. 24 log truck owners attended. This class is tailored for owner/operators and contractors hauling logs. A second program will be scheduled particularly for log truck drivers. These classes will also be held in East Tennessee later in the summer. The grant funding also provides for cost-share on safety equipment for loggers. A priority will be placed on cost-share for dashcams for log trucks. TFA is working with VestigeView Solutions to offer a costshare program for TN Master Loggers where loggers pay 25% of the cost for a 3-camera dashcam package with one-year monitoring. The grant provided by the State of Tennessee covers 75% of the price. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture grant will also offer a 25/75 cost-share on amber flashing lights and red/orange flags for the end of the overhang.

The generous grant provided by the TN Dept. of Agriculture covers a 50/50 cost-share on safety equipment such as hard hats, chaps, hazard warning signs, first aid kits, etc.

For more information, please contact the Tennessee Forestry Association at (615) 883-3832; cdinwiddie@tnforestry.com.

TFA is honored to work with FMIC staff and the TN Dept. of Agriculture to enhance the ability of our Master Loggers to operate safely on our roads and in the woods throughout the Volunteer State.