The Logger's VOICE - Fall 2017

State of Our Union

Scott Madden

Executive Board

Scott Madden President

Jim Nichols

1st Vice President

Tony Madden

2nd Vice President

Chuck Ames Secretary

Andy Irish Treasurer

Brian Souers

Past President

Board of Directors

Greg Adams

Kurt Babineau

Donald Cole

William Cole

Tom Cushman

Brent Day

Wes Dube

Steve Hanington

Duane Jordan

Robert Linkletter

Andrew Madden

Ron Ridley

Wayne Tripp

Gary Voisine

Dana Doran Executive Director

Wow, summer has lasted longer than I can ever remember. I feel for those of you who were moose hunting. It’s hard to believe 90 degrees in September. Well it has been a busy summer. The Mechanized Logger Training Program has completed its first class. This program has been two and a half years in the making. I would really like to give Instructor Donald Burr a special thank you. As some of you may know, Don is a long-time employee of Madden Timberlands, Inc. When I asked Don if he would help with this program, he stepped up to the challenge. With the help of Dana Doran and Leah Buck, Don took charge and put together a program that we all can be proud of. I would also like to thank some of the PLC Board Members who spent time working behind the scenes to get the program off the ground - Andy Irish, Tony Madden, Willy Cole, Don Cole, Steve Hanington and other members of the PLC Board.

As a PLC member, please give Milton CAT and Nortrax/John Deere representatives a special thank you when you see them. This program never would have been possible without the tremendous support from them. Also, don’t forget to thank State Senator Mike Thibodeau and former State Representative Mark Eves. They worked together to get the backing we needed. And lastly, the Community College System, as without them none of this would have been possible.

Now for the best news

all the graduates had jobs after they graduated. After saying all that you might ask if it was worth it all for only six students? I feel it was. I believe that PLC made a huge statement that as our industry is in trouble we are willing to fight to keep it alive. We need young people to enter our industry.

As I look back on this training program, I get a renewed respect for all my employees, and I feel the need to make sure all of our employees and subcontractors who work with us at Madden Timberlands know that we appreciate their hard work. After talking with many other PLC Contractors, I can say that they feel the same for their long term employees and subcontractors. Finally, this program is just one more example of PLC Members and industry standing strong together and getting things done.

Log On, Scott

Looking for Leadership

By Dana Doran

In a recent discussion with other professionals, I asked the folks I was meeting with if they were making the same wage today as they were ten years ago. No one said yes. I also asked them if they had lost their employer provided health insurance because their employer could no longer afford it. Again, no one said yes. Headed for a dead end, I thought that it was only appropriate if I continued my questioning and asked if their employer did not have a retirement plan, to which I heard a resounding no. I then told them that if they were a logging contractor or any of the contractor’s employees, the answers to all of these questions would be yes. All of these folks were surprised to hear this and I’m not sure they really believed me or understood the seriousness of what I was trying to tell them.

We often hear that the forest products industry is a group effort that takes joint participation and joint collaboration to bring about success. Well, is it?

Contractors and their employees are constantly asked to find efficiencies, to reduce their costs and to accept rate reductions. Generally, they are told that it is because of market retractions and price cuts and there is no other choice but to pass this along to everyone in the value chain. However, it is feeling a little lonely right now at the logger and trucker level.

Contractors rates have gone down, but their costs have done nothing but increase. They are required to pay more for equipment, parts, supplies, insurance, technology, etc. At the same time, they have lost markets and are being asked to move their products longer distances and cut their costs by finding efficiencies. To do more with, and for, less. Something has to give, and it doesn’t appear to me that

loggers and truckers can be asked to do much more and sustain themselves for the future while all of these requests keep coming like a raging river; causing a slow and quiet death.

If we are all in it together, have the other legs of the stool also embraced the same philosophy? Have they cut everywhere they can and risked their own livelihoods and those of their employees for the sustainability of all?

If they have, then I commend them for it and welcome them to the party. If they haven’t, then I would ask them to stand in the logger’s shoes for a while and see what loggers are going through, because a little understanding would go a long way.

As of now, we are at a critical time for our industry. Markets have retracted to a point that has brought some stability with respect to volumes. However, I am hearing consistently from our membership that they cannot find enough qualified operators and there is a desperate shortage of truck drivers. Well, if contractors are consistently asked to do more for less, and wages and benefits do not keep up with inflation and competition, I’m afraid that it is going to be harder and harder to not only recruit new folks into this industry, but keep them in the long run.

Competition for workers is fierce. A logger, operating a skidder or limber in central or northern Maine might make close to $15 to 18/hour. A construction worker operating a similar machine with a bucket in the construction industry might make 30-40% more than that with benefits. What incentive is there for someone to stay in this industry if we can’t pay competitive wages? We need greater incentives for young people to enter our workforce and at the current pace, our workforce is not

From the Executive Director

sustainable. We at the PLC are trying our hardest to ensure our workforce is adequately compensated. The question is, will our industry partners do the same?

Last month, we celebrated a monumental day in Medway with the completion of our first class of graduates from the Community College Mechanized Logging Operations program. This event was the culmination of three years of hard work by the PLC, the Community Colleges, the Legislature and many of our industry partners, such as Milton CAT, Nortrax, Acadia Insurance, Labonville, and many others. It made me proud to see the industry rally around this program to ensure its success. In the end, all of the graduates walked out of the program into jobs in the industry. 100% job placement is unheard of these days, but I think we got this one right. However, as excited as I am for the success of this program, I’m just as unsettled regarding the future for these young workers if our contractors cannot provide a viable career pathway with secure jobs, competitive wages, good benefits and career progression.

Earlier in 2017, a new sales tax exemption went into effect that eliminates the sales tax on off road diesel for logging operations. This sales tax was supposed to help contractors in trying times and provide relief at a time when they needed it the most. However, we are hearing that some contractors had it taken away from them via reduced rates. Evidently the logic is, well, if they don’t have to pay it any longer, then they shouldn’t be compensated for it. Is this really happening?

Also in early 2017, a subsidy went into effect to sustain our biomass energy chain. This subsidy was the result of a collective team effort from loggers, truckers, land owners, saw mills, energy producers and the state legislature in 2016. Ultimately, it led to the recruitment of a new company. We are all for new investment in this state as long as those who come will pay their bills and value the

businesses that are already here. In the end, it could do more harm than good. So, the question becomes, should contractors continue to take the lead to sustain our industry when the net effect is that they are really taking the brunt of the economic pain?

What keeps me upbeat about how important the leadership role that the PLC has and will continue to take, despite the market challenges and despite the activities of others, is what this organization and its membership do to further propel this industry. This activity exudes positivity and proclaims what is right about our membership.

In 2017, loggers stepped up to raise $115,000 for Log a Load for Kids and the NiCU unit at Eastern Maine Healthcare. They dug deeper than they ever have, despite the challenges that are all around them, to do what was right on behalf of others. In the end, they are probably giving back as a selfless act of kindness where their company sacrifices more. Unbelievable if you really think about it. Loggers are also searching for a pathway to a sustainable future, where the good work that they do is recognized not just by themselves, but by those all around them.

In 2001, the PLC created the world’s first third party certification program, the Master Logger program. This program has grown from the state of Maine and is now recognized in 20 states and three foreign countries. This is not a safety training program or an endorsement by a second party. It is a true third-party certification program that recognizes loggers based upon strict adherence to specified standards. Contractors are recognized for what they do on a daily basis rather than for simply having their employees sit through a seminar once every other year.

Earlier this summer, the American Loggers Council (ALC) at their July Board Meeting supported a new relationship with

Leadership Continued Page 11

PLC Office, Augusta

Senator Inn, Augusta

FRANKLIN – Dean Young had a lot of ambition as a kid, and so one day when he was 11 his parents sent him into the woods with a buck saw and ax to cut wood, hoping to wear him out. It hasn’t happened yet.

Today, Dean Young Forestry is a diversified company with more than 30 years of forestry experience, many employees, a wide range of equipment, and a long logging resume’ that is growing as the company seeks new opportunities in a tough market.

Many loggers get their start in a family logging business, but Dean’s father was a mechanic, and so Dean Young Forestry really started with that ax and buck saw, with his father keeping an eye on him from the garage as Dean worked in the woods nearby.

“That ax and a buck saw was slow going, so after a while my father said if you can get that chainsaw over there going you can use it,” Dean recalled. “It was an old McCullough, and it took me awhile, but I did.”

By the time he was 16, Dean was harvesting timber from local woods with his own bulldozer. After high school, he worked as a subcontractor until his own forestry ventures grew large enough to stand as an independent

business, Dean Young Forestry. In January 2012, Dean Young Forestry, Inc. became officially incorporated. Over the years, Dean went from the ax and buck saw to the chainsaw and bulldozer, then to a cable skidder. As a subcontractor, he spent a lot of time cutting oversized timber for big companies like James River Corp. and the St. Regis Co.

“I did real well, I was a working fool,” Dean said. “Then my back started bothering so I started into mechanical. Bought a stroke delimber, an old Case, and it went from there. You’d buy another piece and think you were going to cut more wood and make more money and then you’d buy another piece, probably just like everyone else has done. At the height of it two years ago we were somewhere around 26 or 27 people on the payroll.”

By that time, the company had diversified into a mix common to many logging companies, with everything from a Christmas tree farm to blueberry harvesting to road construction surrounding the core logging business. The challenges of logging Downeast are the same faced by loggers across most of Maine, including high equipment and insurance costs, lack of truck drivers,

Dean Young working the remote controls for his company’s new Bandit chipper in Steuben in September.

Dean Young Forestry

unstable markets and mill closures, and retiring workers. Dean will tell you he’s not giving up on the wood industry, but sometimes it feels like the wood industry is giving up on him.

As business has gotten tougher, Dean Young Forestry has looked for new opportunities to keep going.

On a recent morning in Steuben, a feller buncher that normally would be working with his tree length crew was clearing sections of an oceanfront lot. Nearby a new Bandit chipper on tracks that Dean purchased after traveling to Ohio to work with the manufacturer on modifications he wanted was busy chipping the buncher’s leavings. Later, a subcontractor with a grinder would come through and grind the stumps and level the chips to ready the lot for sale.

The lot was only one of many being prepared by an out-of-state landowner for development, and Dean Young Forestry was being paid an hourly rate for the job rather than stumpage, its operators so used to high production timber harvesting learning to do a new type of work where aesthetics are the key.

Three weeks into the job Dean was hopeful that this sort of niche market could be the thing that can keep his company going and his employees working as traditional markets remain weak.

“We’re diversifying, trying to find a niche. I don’t know if we’ve found it or not, it’s too early to say, but I’ve invested a lot of money trying to find out,” Dean said.

Dean says his employees deserve a lot of credit for the success of the company, and he adds that the wives never get enough credit in the logging business, where you never know what time you’re coming home. He loves to hunt and fish, but on the occasions when he goes he can’t help feeling guilty, knowing his crews are working while he’s not and that there are other things he should be doing.

Dean Young Forestry joined the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) after noting the organization’s efforts to fight for the industry had stepped up in recent years, making the PLC stand out as the best advocate and voice for loggers in the state.

“After seeing that I said this is money well spent, this is not just another program,” Dean said.

The company also became Master Logger certified in the past year, and its many contributions beyond logging were recognized by the PLC as Dean Young Forestry won the PLC’s Community Service Award for 2017.

While Dean’s community contributions are many, the most notable was his establishment in 2010 of Old Meadow Camps, which introduced underprivileged

children and their families to an outdoor camp environment including supervised hunting experiences. The camp has provided young hunters with a safe, positive, and educational atmosphere to build new skills and discover

potential, and encouraged understanding and respect for Maine’s wildlife, while instilling the practical knowledge needed for a truly valuable hunting experience.

Dean Young Forestry has down-sized from its height two or three years ago and it’s hard to say what the future holds with so many uncertainties, but Dean isn’t going anywhere. He grew up in Franklin, he’s been in the woods and the community his whole life, and he wouldn’t

know what else to do.

“It’s all I know,” Dean laughed. “I’ve made it just a hundred yards in my lifetime.”

Feller buncher clearing oceanfront lots.

Bandit chipper in action.

PLC Members

Davis Forestry Products, Inc. of Danforth joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. Davis Forestry Products has a professional staff of 22. For more information contact Carl Davis at (207) 448-2625 or email dfpmaine@gmail.com.

Olson’s Logging LLC. of Canaan joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. Olson’s Logging has a professional staff of 3. For more information contact William Olson at (207) 474-8835 or email olsonlog@roadrunner.com.

PFC Logging Inc. of Danforth joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. PFC Logging has a professional staff of 6. For more information contact Patrick Cowger at (207) 448-7998 or email pfclogging@gmail.com.

Rafford Boys, LLC of Garfield Plt. Joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. Rafford Boys has a professional staff of 3. For more information contact Ian or Alecia Rafford at (207) 540-4048 or email raffordboyschipping@outlook.com

R.G. Lumber Corp. of Jackman joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. R.G. Lumber has a professional staff of 8. For more information contact Rene Caron at (207) 668-6405 or email RGLumber@globetrotter.net.

YPC Forest Enterprises Inc. of Jackman joined the PLC as a new Member in September 2017. YPC Forest Enterprises has a professional staff of 15. For more information contact Jacques Fortin at (418) 228-4455 or email comptabilite.ypc@outlook.com

PLC Supporting Members

Freightliner of Maine, Inc. joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in August 2017. Freightliner of Maine sells and services quality new and used trucks. The company offers Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Sterling, Goodyear and Thermo King products. It is Maine's only authorized dealer for Freightliner and Sterling/Ford heavy duty truck parts and service. From Kittery to Allagash, the company is Maine's most complete truck, trailer, parts, tire, and repair facility. For more information contact Tracy Thibodeau at (207) 945-6451 or email tthibodeau@flmaine.com.

Haix North America joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in June 2017. HAIX employs more than 1,100 people worldwide and manufactured approximately 985,000 pairs of shoes in 2015. In Europe, America, or Asia – or wherever else reliable footwear is needed – high-quality HAIX® boots have become an indispensable companion. The company manufactures a high quality line of forestry boots. The US branch of HAIX in Lexington, Kentucky, has been furthering expansion in the American market since 2003. For more information contact Michele LeGrow at m.legrow@haix.com.

Phyto-Charter, Inc. of Eastport, ME joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in September 2017. PhytoCharter, Inc. has developed a shipboard phytosanitary control system to meet the phytosanitary requirements for importing wood fiber into Europe. For more information contact Stephean C. Chute at (207)-6504216 or email stephean.chute@ishofn.com.

Leadership Continued from Page 5

the PLC’s sister organization, The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF), to stimulate the program. TCNEF has been hired to move the ML program forward on behalf of the ALC and loggers across the country.

Beginning on January 1, 2018, TCNEF will work towards completing three goals: 1) Reformulate the MLC committee to standardize the MLC program; 2) Standardize the marketing and branding of MLC; 3) Provide technical support and outreach to states. Work on these goals will unify MLC within the ALC ranks and gain MLC recognition nationally as a partner in sustainable forest practices. All from right here in Maine where the program started.

This move by the ALC is recognition of the leadership that the PLC took 16 years ago and continues to take. Contractors should be recognized for their investment and it is this work that has so much value. If a Master Logger does the job, then the landowner and consuming mill should have confidence that not only was the job done right, but it was done for the right reasons and for the sustainability of the resource. It pains me to see how ML is recognized nationally, but recognition in its own back yard is so inconsistent.

It is also interesting to note that on September 1st of this year, the Maine Bureau of Insurance formally recognized the Master Logger program for Workers Comp. providers in Maine. Simply put, if you are a Master Logger

certified company and you ensure that your employees participate in training regarding safety on a consistent basis, your forest equipment operators will receive lower workers compensation rates. This recognition by the state of Maine and the Workers Comp. underwriters that Master Loggers are not only safe, but can manage their own safety programs without prescriptive training requirements is significant. If the Workers Comp. providers recognize this, shouldn’t landowners and consuming mills also take note and give Master Loggers credit for the work they do?

Simply put, we need leadership from everyone in the forest economy right now to ensure profitability for all. If it’s not Maine first and what is in the best interest of all, then how can we ensure a brighter future?

I would challenge all of our partners to do what is right in these trying times with a focus on the greater good. The PLC and our members are certainly doing that, so we should expect nothing but the same.

The PLC’s achievements in the past three years have made me proud to work for some of the most giving, yet hardest working people in Maine. It is not right that these folks continue to give, but get very little in return. I challenge all of our partners and associates to do what is in the best interest of our state and for our forest economy in the days, weeks and months ahead. If, in the end, we are all willing to do that, and prove we are all in it together, then the prosperity of all will be an afterthought.

jessica@maineloggers.com

PORTAGE - The loaded pulp trucks lined up in the Maine Woods Co. yard rumble to life around 4:30 a.m. Before long they are rolling onto the scale, quickly unloaded, and then off into the woods again for another day.

Paul Belanger’s red Western Star is one of the first to unload and head west on Rocky Brook Road. Paul’s been driving for decades, knows everyone and every road. Rocky Brook is rough and dry, blinding dust hangs in the air for a long time after a truck passes. The CB radio is crackling with drivers reporting their positions, trading news, and giving each other a hard time. Shifting gears, checking mirrors, and negotiating the road while running the radio, Paul makes it all look easy.

This is a typical first run of the day for an M.L. Pelletier Trucking Co. driver, the start of another long day on the roads and in the woods.

Trucking in the deep woods of Maine bears little resemblance to traditional highway hauling. There are no traffic lights, few signs, and a lot of miles of woods

between you and help if anything goes wrong. Roads are rough, narrow, and winding. Loads are heavier. Cell phones often don’t work. Information on conditions and hazards mostly comes in from other drivers. There are no roadside fences to stop deer or more likely, a moose from wandering into your path. And, particularly in the northern half of Maine, crossing an international border can be a regular part of the day.

None of that stopped owner Marty Pelletier when he started the company seven years ago.

Marty’s family has worked in the woods for generations. His parents currently own Syl-Ver Logging Co. of Allagash, and his brother, Bennett, owns Wiles Brook Logging. Marty went to work in the family business right after graduating from high school in 2000, but seven years ago he was ready to start his own company.

“

My father was the contractor, my brother owned the harvesting equipment, and I was employed for my father running his crane and as a foreman, and we were all having issues with hired trucks,” Marty recalled. “I wanted

PLC Forest Contractor Member: M.L. Pelletier Trucking Co.

something of my own, and my father was in no position to retire, and my brother already had the harvesting equipment, so the only opportunity I had to take on something of my own and not step on anybody’s toes was to buy trucks.”

He didn’t know much about trucking at the time, but entrepreneurship runs strong in the family, and Marty saw an opportunity, was willing to take a chance on it, and was committed to working hard and doing whatever was necessary to make it succeed.

He bought his first truck and started hauling. Six months later he bought a second truck and the business began to grow. By this summer M.L. Pelletier had six employees including himself, three Western Stars, and an International PayStar crane. He began looking for ways to diversify the company recently, and this spring began getting into over-the-road trucking. In late August, Marty added a Peterbilt truck to the fleet, which he intends to run strictly over-the-road.

As the fleet has grown, so have the facilities; last year Marty purchased an 80 by 80-foot, threebay garage in St. John along with a large parcel of land and it is now the base for the company, which is steadily upgrading the facility and adding improvements to the land and building.

Staying adaptable is important to success. Between his father, brother, and himself, the family owns around 2,500 acres of woodland and his trucks spend a lot of time on the family jobs, but M.L. Pelletier also maintains open contracts with other large landowners and has trailers ready for both on and off-road jobs for each truck.

“

If things slow down out here and there’s a company that has wood to move on the hot top we just drop the big trailers and hook up to the small trailers and go haul on the hot top,” Marty said.

The business would not be a success without good employees who operate efficiently and treat the equipment right, holding down costs. His wife, Heather, has also become critical, especially since he began getting into over-the-road trucking, which requires a lot of additional work to operate in, Marty said.

“If it wasn’t for her, it would be drastically harder for me to do it,” Marty said.

Marty had been aware of the work of the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine for many years and when he got the opportunity to join in 2016 he did. The work the organization does on behalf of the industry is important and he is glad to support it, as well as organizations like the Maine Motor Transport Association, which was very helpful to him when he set up his business.

“

I always believe that no matter what industry you’re in there should be some sort of association looking out for you, and I just think the PLC is where it’s at,” Marty said. The larger the company gets the busier he gets. He rarely drives himself these days, it is hard to operate a trucking company when you are in a driver’s seat yourself all day, and there are plenty of challenges to the business, but Marty has never looked back from his decision to work in the woods and to start the company.

“

I’ve yet to regret it, I’ve had some good times and bad, you know, but there’s still no time I’ve regretted it,” Marty said.

Photos. From top: Marty Pelletier on the job, M.L. Pelletier truck loading, Paul Belanger on the road, view headed west on Rocky Brook Road.

Trucking section Continued from Page 13

FMCSA hands trucking industry victory on crash preventability challenges...

Reprinted from ATA Dispatch

FMCSA handed the trucking industry a significant victory this summer when they announced a planned demonstration project to begin making preventability determinations on crashes meeting certain criteria and incorporating them into motor carriers’ CSA Safety Measurement System records. The announcement comes in response to comments by ATA on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2015 Crash Weighting Study.

Motor carriers will be able to submit preventability challenges beginning August 1, 2017, for crashes the agency feels are more likely to have been unavoidable. That includes crashes in which the commercial motor vehicle was struck: in the rear; while parked; by a motorist driving under the influence; or by a motorist driving the wrong way. Motor carriers can also challenge the preventability of certain single-vehicle crashes including: animal strikes; suicide by truck; infrastructure failures; or trucks struck by falling objects.

If, after reviewing the evidence provided by the motor carrier, FMCSA finds the crash to be not preventable, it will be appropriately labeled on a carrier’s CSA profile and their Crash Indicator Behavioral Analysis Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) score will be re-calculated with the crash omitted. FMCSA will display this new score to logged-in motor carriers and law enforcement alongside the traditional Crash Indicator score which includes all crashes.

FMCSA will use the data from the demonstration project to determine whether removing non-preventable crashes improves the accuracy of the Crash Indicator BASIC. The program will last at least two years.

Industry asked to rank top concerns…

ATRI, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, has launched the 2017 Top Industry Issues Survey. The annual survey, commissioned by the American Trucking Associations, asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with appropriate

strategies for addressing each issue. The survey is in its 13th year and participation by trucking stakeholders has grown each year. Industry stakeholders are encouraged to complete the survey available on ATRI’s website. For more information, contact Rebecca Brewster atrbrewster@trucking.org.

Maine’s Road Check 2017 results…

The Maine Motor Transport Association has provided results from this summer’s Road Check 2017. 526 inspections were conducted of which 40 percent had no violations. 21 percent of trucks and 6 percent of drivers were placed Out of Service (OOS) as a result of the inspections. Results are detailed below.

PLC raises $71,547 at 21st Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournament Sept.

15

LINCOLN – The Professional Logging

Contractors (PLC) of Maine raised $71,547 at the 21st Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournament

Friday, Sept. 15th at JATO Highlands Golf Course.

The tournament, which benefits Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals in Maine, is the PLC’s largest annual fund-raiser for charity.

Combined with money raised at the PLC's annual meeting in May, the tournament’s success means PLC has raised more than $115,000 for CMN hospitals in 2017.

“We continue to be impressed by the generosity of those who make this tournament a success every year,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “After 21 years of raising money to support the Log-A-Load for Kids program, and during what may be the most challenging time for loggers in the history of their occupation, this result and the funds raised at our annual meeting truly shows how strong compassion for Maine kids is throughout the logging and forest products industry no matter what challenges they are faced with.”

The PLC has been the sponsor of the Log A Load program in Maine since 1996. To date, The PLC and the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Foundation have raised approximately $900,000 for children in Maine. Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all

in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. EMHS is a CMN hospital. Additional sponsors for the tournament included American Forest Management (AFM); Nortrax/John Deere; BBC Land, LLC; Cross Insurance, and American Loggers Fire Suppression.

Tickets to the 2017 tournament sold out and many individuals and organizations donated items, services, and gift certificates for the Log A Load for Kids auction and a raffle. Forty teams competed in the tournament. Thanks to all who made this year another success!

CONCORD, NH - New England Kenworth had its humble beginning 100 years ago in Concord New Hampshire when Pasquale, “Patsy” Alosa returned from World War One to open a small repair shop there, Patsy’s Garage.

The family garage became a fixture in the community over the years and when Patsy died in 1962 his son, Joe, took over the business. Joe Alosa began expanding in the 1960s and eventually entered the heavy truck service market when in 1972 the Kenworth Truck Company signed Patsy’s Garage as a dealer for the New Hampshire territory. It did the same for Vermont in 1975.

By 2015, the company - now much larger and diversified - was ready to expand into Maine and Joe Alosa purchased CB Kenworth and it’s two locations in South

Portland and Hermon, Maine. That year, the company changed its name from United Kenworth to New England Kenworth, and Joe Alosa has continued to expand.

“

Since entering the Maine market, he has opened two Kenworth and TRP truck parts stores in Lebanon, Maine and Presque Isle,” NE Kenworth Sales Manager Larry Cobb, said. “We also have a parts depot in Nashua, New Hampshire and a full-service facility in Rutland, Vermont. We have a very large Massachusetts customer base that makes the trip to Concord or Nashua for parts because of our parts stocking levels.”

Today, still family owned and operated, the company spans three states in eight locations. With over $7 million dollars in parts inventory, it is the largest truck

dealer group in New England, and in New England, selling and servicing trucks means serving a large number of logging contractors.

“Loggers and construction companies are the largest customer bases that we serve, oftentimes, many of our customers do both,” Larry Cobb, said.

The two main truck models that New England Kenworth supplies to the logging industry are the Kenworth T880 and the W900. Both products serve the industry very well.

The T880 features better visibility, a tighter turning radius, and better weight distribution with a set-back frontend. The Classic W900 with the old school looks of a long nose hood gives the driver a feeling of pride and tradition; the W900 has been around for almost 50 years and many logging companies use this truck as an emblem of a strong company image, Larry said.

Serving the logging industry is challenging. When a logging truck is out of service because of a mechanical issue or an accident, time is crucial to the contractor. New England Kenworth has made huge investments in the quality of the parts it

supplies and the infrastructure to quickly and efficiently distribute them to its locations as well directly to the customers.

While there are challenges, New England Kenworth greatly appreciates loggers as customers.

“Loggers in general are hardworking, fair minded folks,” Larry said. “They just want to be treated fair and when they need something now we must support them to keep them running. If we do that, they continue to use us and rely on our service.”

The company has long supported organizations that work on behalf of the logging and forestry industries in New Hampshire and Vermont, and when Joe Alosa acquired the CB Kenworth properties in Maine he continued the support from the previous owners and added more as fund raisers and industry groups serving loggers presented themselves. This led to the company joining the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), where New England Kenworth is currently a Preferred Supporting Member.

The greatest benefit of membership in the PLC is supporting an industry that

Kenworth Continued Page 18

Alex Labonville, Sales Manager

Cell: 207-233-4801

www.labonville.com

New England Kenworth began 100 years ago as Patsy’s Garage in Concord, New Hampshire. Clockwise from, top, Patsy’s truck on the job, Patsy Alosa in his garage, Joe Alosa at work early in his career.

Ask about special PLC of Maine member only discounts!

Kenworth Continued from Page 17

New England Kenworth has long served and relied on, and that is something the company and Joe Alosa are committed to, Larry said.

“He is 100% committed to supporting loggers because they have been supporting him and all the New England Kenworth employees for almost 50 years,” Larry said.

“We will always support the industry. The loggers need us to supply them with products, parts and service support to keep them running. We need them to support us and all the families of our employees across three states,” Larry added.

By Larry Cobb

It’s been almost 20 years since my last truck technology update and a lot has happened in that time.

The three sources of trucker frustration today are emissions, emissions and emissions. I’m not going to spend a lot of energy going through the federal mandates, EPA requirements and electronics that have come to be a part of trucking these days. I will only say that most truck dealership personnel in sales, service and parts agree that reliability is getting much better in the past three years. Technology is catching up to the emissions demands of our industry. Exhaust systems are using a few less parts and are becoming smaller and more compact. Check-engine lights, sensor issues and wiring problems are now as much a part of trucking as tires, fuel and weigh wagons.

Also in the past 20 years, there have been many

advancements that make both truck drivers and the public safer. Upgrades and enhancements have made trucks last longer and become more fuel efficient. Comfort and styling options have made them easier to work in for several hours. A comfortable driver means less fatigue and more alertness and efficiency when navigating through small towns, narrow woods roads and tight loading areas.

When spec’ing out your next logging truck or heavy haul tractor you may want to ask your dealer about these items:

· Disc brakes are rapidly becoming the industry standard. Most of the country’s largest fleets are requiring only disc brakes. The initial cost is a little more than conventional drum brakes, but disc brakes give you-better stopping force for a shorter stopping distance, no heat fade

Guest Column

Sales Manager-Maine, New England Kenworth

Truck Technology Update

when coming down a long steep hill, easier to replace pads vs shoes saving maintenance time, less weight for a little more legal payload, and no adjustment needed - saving maintenance time.

· Today’s air ride suspensions are more stable and more durable. You all know how scary it is bailing into a turn with a full load and feeling the truck lean to the outside of the curve. Generally, very little maintenance is needed prior to 500,000 miles, thereby saving maintenance costs over its life cycle.

· Tire side walls have improved to be more scuff and puncture resistant. This saves you money and keeps your truck safer on the road.

· LED lighting has become a tremendous help, keeping the driver safer by increasing visibility further down the road. Deer and moose collisions are reduced. The LED lights last longer vs incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs/ and fixtures draw less amperage than regular bulbs making them easier on the batteries and alternator.

· If maneuverability is important (and it is!). Make sure you spec out wide track front axles. The spindle placement and geometry of the setup gives the truck a better turning radius. This helps on tight woods roads.

· Automatic and automated manual transmissions are now engineered to take higher horsepower and designed for the rigorous demands of hauling heavy loads of logs. These transmissions are available in all truck brands. Auto transmissions are easier on the truck driver. Anybody have a sore left knee and hip from pressing a clutch pedal all day? The auto transmissions allow you to hire a less experienced truck driver without the risk of blown clutches or ground up gears from missing a shift.

· Today’ driver’s seats are more comfortable than

they have ever been. Multiple adjustments allow you to find just the right feel on your back, thighs, ribcage and neck. Long hours will require adjustments through the day. The seats include multiple lumbar supports for back support, better suspension dampening for absorbing bumps on a woods road, and more durable leather and fabric coverings.

· Not too many years ago, if you wanted 500 horsepower you ordered a 15 liter motor. Nowadays, the desired engine horsepower and torque ratings are achieved with a 13 liter motor. Today’s 13 liter engines provide higher HP, less weight and lower fuel consumption than engines 20 years ago. Depending on your application, a 13 liter engine will perform exceptionally well and save you money, weight and fuel. Most engine manufactures can offer you over 500HP and 1850 lbs/ft of torque in a 13 liter engine.

· Today’s engines are quieter which helps to reduce driver fatigue. The engines have a longer oil change interval saving you maintenance costs. The 15 liter engines are still available and always will be. Now thanks to technology, you have more choices for your logging business.

To sum up, manufacturers of log trucks have made many changes in the last 20 years, some good and some frustrating. Your local truck dealership should be a resource for the latest information and help spec’ing out your next truck. They can tell you what’s working in the logging industry based on firsthand knowledge and information supplied by the truck component vendors. Your relationship with the local truck dealer is crucial to your success. You need parts, service, warranty and support when you’re down. The local truck dealer needs you (the customer) for their success. It should be a win-win for both.

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Fall Safety

Fall is a beautiful time of year in the State of Maine. Between the cooler temperatures and changing leaves, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy the last couple of months before the landscape is covered with a layer of snow. It’s also the time of year many of us, including myself, look forward to hunting season.

With hunting season comes a significant uptick in traffic on the woods roads and around our working areas. More traffic requires your drivers and employees to remain diligent at all times, watching for people and animals. While it’s easy to complain about the hunters, it’s important to accept the fact that the sporting community is a vital part of the Maine heritage and economy that will impact you four months out of the year. In this article I will discuss a few steps that you as a manager can take to help protect your crew and those working or sporting around you.

Navigating Through Increases Traffic on Woods Roads

The first step is to remind your drivers that they should always drive as if they could meet someone that either doesn’t have a radio or has one that is broken. Also, remind drivers that many of the woods road rules they follow are unspoken and unprinted and therefore will be unfamiliar to those who don’t typically travel on them. Woods roads will see a significant increase in traffic during hunting season and the large majority of the traffic will not have a radio. When your driver notices a vehicle without a radio, communicate this with the other drivers in the area so they are watching for them. It is also very common to see people stop in the middle of the road or on a corner when they see game. If you notice a vehicle that is creating a hazard, politely explain to them why it dangerous and what they should do instead. Most hunters are reasonable people that are just unfamiliar with the

unspoken rules.

Due to the location of your laydown yards, you will often have people that need to pass through your work area in order to get to their destination. This creates a significant hazard to your employees as well as the people that are in the passing vehicle. Remind your operators who are commonly on the yard to always watch for vehicles before swinging out over or driving across the road. My suggestion is to make sure the limber operator gives a clear signal to the waiting vehicle that it is safe to pass. This signal should include setting the boom down onto the ground and a wave from the operator. The operator should also notify the other workers on the radio that a vehicle is passing through the work area.

Reduce Your Employees’ Risk

Your foresters, operators and supervisors who are walking through the woods can be exposed to a hazard by unintentionally representing game that hunters are pursuing. While we can all agree that shooting at something without clearly identifying it first is incredibly hazardous, this comes up every year. While you can never completely avoid this hazard, there are some steps that you can take to reduce your exposure.

▪ Supply your employees with bright colored clothing. High visibility reflective vests in either orange or yellow will help your employees stand out from a long distance. Require your employees to wear them at all times during the hunting season to protect them from traffic as

Avoid wearing colors that emulate the natural coat of the game in season. For instance, a white hard hat or a brown jacket are probably not the best choice during deer

Post clear signage around your job to notify

Safety Continued Page 21

Acadia Insurance to Distribute Premium Dividends to Eligible PLC Safety Group Members

WESTBROOK, Maine (Oct. 6, 2017) Acadia Insurance, a W. R. Berkley Company®, recently announced that it will pay nearly $1.5 million in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $7.6 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group.

Founded by Acadia Insurance, the PLC Safety Group dividend program rewards logging companies and sole proprietors for having a safe workplace by refunding a portion of their insurance premium if certain measures are met by the entire safety group. In addition, Acadia Insurance, in coordination with the PLC, provides risk management and mitigation expertise to members to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the logging industry in Maine.

“We are very pleased to once again issue dividends to eligible PLC members and appreciate the group’s collective commitment to safety,” said Jonathan Becker, Regional Vice President of Acadia Insurance’s Maine office. “It is truly a win-win when we can return premiums while helping protect such a vital part of Maine’s economy.”

Safety Continued from Page 20

anyone driving up to your job on the road OR on the ATV trails that there is work taking place in the area. The signage should also indicate hunting is prohibited.

▪ Finally, don’t be afraid to communicate with the Maine Warden Service when you notice unsafe actions taking place or laws being broken. Wardens are tasked with ensuring that anyone out enjoying the woods is doing it ethically and safely. It is better to report unsafe or illegal activity than to wait until someone has been seriously hurt.

The fall season in Maine is a beautiful time of year that many thoroughly enjoy. Part of enjoying the fall is getting out and seeing new country and possibly doing

The PLC of Maine has been serving loggers since 1995 and aims to give independent logging contractors a voice in the ever changing logging industry. The PLC focuses on advocacy, safety, quality operations and business innovation for loggers. The PLC is a logging organization run by loggers that understands the importance of the logging industry and its impact on the Maine economy.

For more information about the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Safety Group, please contact Kim Farquhar, Marketing Director, Acadia Insurance, at kimberly.farquhar@acadia-ins.com

About Acadia Insurance

Acadia Insurance is a regional underwriter offering commercial and specialty property casualty insurance coverages through independent insurance agents with local offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, Acadia Insurance Company is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, one of the nation’s premier commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. Please visit www.acadiainsurance.com

some hunting. Recognize that many hunters are not familiar with the rules of the road or the hazards associated with your work area, this enables you to do what you can to minimize the hazard, ensuring that your employees remain safe and allowing others to enjoy the sport that is so firmly rooted in our heritage.

The opinions expressed in this article are personal to the author and may or may not express the views of Acadia Insurance. This material is for informational purposes only, and readers should utilize their own individual professional judgment in implementing sound risk management practices and procedures.

First graduates complete Mechanized Logging Operations Program Sept. 22 12-week certificate program holds graduation ceremony at harvest site

MEDWAY - The first graduates of Maine’s new post-secondary training program for operators of mechanized logging equipment were recognized Sept. 22 at a ceremony held in the woods south of Medway where they spent weeks harvesting timber using sophisticated state-ofthe-art machines like those they will encounter in the logging industry.

The new program was launched this summer thanks to a partnership between three Maine community colleges, the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine, and industry partners.

Friends and family members of the students joined logging contractors, representatives of the community colleges, state lawmakers, and sponsors of the program to share a proud day with the students who completed its rigorous requirements.

“We could not be prouder today to see these newly trained forest technicians enter our industry,” Scott Madden, owner of Madden Timberlands and President of the PLC, said. “With twelve weeks of hands on training under your belt, each one of you has a great opportunity to

things on the horizon for this industry and with the training you have received here, you will always have a job.” While the logging industry has seen some contraction in recent years due to the loss of pulp and paper mills, the demand for skilled operators of the feller bunchers, harvesters, grapple skidders, forwarders, delimbers, and other mechanized logging equipment that now harvests more than 90 percent of all timber in Maine is strong. Many current operators are reaching retirement age and the steep costs of training new operators is driving up demand and wages.

Director Dana Doran, said. hundreds of miles to interview students who have not even graduated yet for jobs, it is clear there is great demand for them, and that is exactly what we have seen happen here every one of these graduates already has a job waiting for them in the industry.

Continued Page 24

Mechanized

in the region. It began June 19 in Millinocket, in conjunction with Eastern Maine Community College, and will rotate to other locations around the state as each class completes it.

The training gave students a broad overview of the most common mechanical systems found in modern timber harvesting equipment, and an understanding of the variables of timber growth, tree species, and markets. It also included a strong emphasis on safety.

The hands-on experience students gained operating equipment for weeks in the woods is something unavailable anywhere else in Maine and neighboring states.

PLC partnered with the Maine Community College System and industry to create the program. It was

jointly developed by the PLC and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC), and Washington County Community College (WCCC) with generous support from Milton CAT/CAT Forest Products, Nortrax Inc./John Deere, and other industry partners.

The program would not have been possible without the bipartisan support of Maine’s lawmakers, who made funding available for it through the ‘Put ME to Work Program’ to support creation of new job training programs at Maine’s community colleges. Other important support for the program came from Acadia Insurance, Labonville Inc, Katahdin Fire Company, Eldon Pelletier, Steve Hanington, and Madden Timberlands Inc.

Mechanized Logger Continued from Page 23

Students operated a variety of mechanized logging equipment during the 12-week program.

Congratulations to graduates, left to right above, Samuel Shook, Patrick Eastman, William Mazariego, Ben Tuttle, Cody Dennison, and Jason Durant!

As We See It August 2017 “Profits Before Safety? ”

By Danny Dructor

I don’t think so! This column is known as the “As WE See It” editorial published monthly from the American Loggers Council. We value the opinion of the professionals who are harvesting and hauling the wood fiber necessary to accommodate the daily needs of the general public, but sometimes we need to vent the frustrations that we run into when trying to help provide a safer working environment for the men and women in our industry.

For the past 20 (that’s right, twenty) years, the members of the American Loggers Council have been seeking to allow state legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway system for safety reasons. That include getting the trucks away from small towns and communities where stop signs, right and left turns, pedestrians, and yes, even railroad crossings become hazards that could be avoided if those trucks as well as other agricultural commodity haulers were allowed on the Interstate Highways with those already state legal loads. There are no windfall profits expected from this move, nor will all routes to the mills include the Interstate System, and yes, on half of those miles on these short hauls the trucks are empty, and yes, data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) shows that there are fewer fatalities on the Interstate than on all other classifications of roads for log trucks; yet, the railroads continue to take a position against those trucks gaining access on the Federal Interstate Highway System with those already state legal loads.

A recent request to meet with some of their representatives was turned down, and they are already lining up to try and prevent the proposed amendment to make exemptions that would allow these trucks to access the Federal Interstate Highway System. I hope that their reasons are not based on suppressing competition for freight to maximize their profits, and I do expect to hear from them on just how unsafe it would be to allow these trucks on the Interstate, even though they are subject to all of the DOT inspections and CSA regulations that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Department of Transportation administer.

What is their real motive, safety or profits? You decide.

Danny Dructor is the Executive Vice President for the American Loggers Council with offices near Hemphill, Texas. The American Loggers Council is a 501 (c)(6) not for profit trade organization representing professional timber harvesters in 32 states across the United States. If you would like to learn more about the ALC, please visit their web site at www.amloggers.com, or contact their office at 409-625-0206.

As We See It September 2017 “Closing Comments”

By Ken Martin

As I write my last article as President of the American Loggers Council, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to serve this Organization that will always have the interest of Loggers at heart. This past spring, our leaders went to Washington voicing our concerns with issues affecting our industry. We have had success with the introduction of the Future Logging Careers Act (H.R.1454), the Resilient Federal Forest Act (H.R.2936), and other issues that have been brought to the forefront in D.C. this year such as the Regulatory Accountability Act, and state maximum weight limits on the Interstates. Thanks to everyone for your efforts and keep on pressing the subjects every chance you get.

Ever notice that Politics is sort of like wrestling a pig? Each time we think we have something moving forward and making progress, the pig squeals, slips, ducks and dodges and the game starts again in unseen and undefined directions. I, like most of you, thought with the last election that the Swamp would be drained, that our elected officials would work together for the good of our Country and the American people. It seems like all we have is another version of wrestling the pig in Government halls, and haven’t even gotten to the Swamp yet.

ALC is a very diverse group of States and situations. Some of us have mill closings as others have new facilities opening. Some of us are restricted on interstate hauling while others can haul limited only by the number of axles they will or can put under their loads. To be successful today, we have to haul further, plan longer term but still be able to react to those obstacles thrown in our way whether they are weather related, mill related, or local, state or federal government related. We have much faster communications, email and text. Communication used to be personal. Today, we just hit “send”. In light of all of the state of the art equipment and innovations in communication we must never forget that we must know our cost of doing business.

Most loggers see their board of directors daily, I do. My board has expectations of living a relatively comfortable life, driving reasonable vehicles, having some disposable recreational money, and have quality time with those we choose to spend it with. Realizing all of us are different, we all have varying expectations of return on our investments, of our sweat equity in our operations. In the end, we should all have a quality of live that we can be proud of.

ALC has matured with strong leadership through the years. We, as an organization, can put our regional issues aside and look to the overall good of our industry as a whole something I have always respected and something not seen in many associations today. Too many times we get caught up in the “what’s in it for me” mindset instead of the long term good of the Industry we all have a stake in. If an issue is important in an area today, chances are, there will be a trickle effect to other regions soon. Having serious discussions on these issues up front can often lead to options developing along the way. As we move forward as leaders in our industry, we must continue to invest our time in finding solutions to these everyday obstacles affecting our businesses. Working together, ALC gives us the opportunity to move forward with a unified voice, representing the good of the whole, across our industry.

In closing, I look forward to seeing each of you in

Natchez in September as we show you a little taste of southern hospitality. “Keep on Logging.”

Ken Martin is the President of the American Loggers Council. Ken, his wife Sandy and sons Brent and Brad own and operate Mar-Cal, Inc. with headquarters in Mendenhall, Mississippi.management/harvesting operations.

As We See It October 2017 “Change at the U.S. Forest Service”

By Danny Dructor

On August 18 the Trump Administration made the surprise announcement that Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service was retiring after 40 years at the agency. There has been much speculation on who would run the Forest Service after the President’s inauguration and the confirmation of former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture.

The timing of the announcement is notable. Tidwell left the agency during the peak wildfire fire season when the agency is scrambling to allocate resources and money to suppress fires. And the administration has yet to nominate a USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, which oversees the Forest Service and is responsible for implementing the administration’s policy priorities.

There are still many unanswered questions about the direction of the Forest Service under President Trump. But the question of who will lead the agency was answered quickly. Just two days after Tidwell’s retirement announcement, Secretary Purdue named Tony Tooke as the new Chief. Tooke is a native Alabaman and a life-long Forest Service employee, most recently serving as the Regional Forester for Region 8 in the Southeastern United States.

In making the announcement Secretary Perdue said Tooke “will oversee efforts to get our forests working again, to make them more productive, and to create more jobs. His focus will be on ensuring we are good neighbors and are managing our forests effectively, efficiently, and responsibly, as well as working with states and local governments to ensure the utmost collaboration.”

Tooke has extensive experience working at the highest levels of the Forest Service at the Washington Office, having also served as Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System (NFS). He took a lead role in the implementation of a new planning rule for the NFS, and he is well-versed on our complex system of federal land management. Tooke understands how the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and other rules and regulations affect the development and economics of projects for loggers purchasing federal timber.

It is clear that Tooke is being directed to increase timber harvests on national forests, which is especially critical to loggers in areas dominated by federal land ownership. We hope he is successful, but the American Loggers Council will continue to lobby Congress, and work with the Federal Forest Resource Coalition to ensure the Forest Service receives adequate funding and personnel to increase the pace and scale of management activities.

We will continue to advocate for reforms such as those in the Resilient Federal Forests Act that seeks to expedite projects on forests that are immediately at-risk of catastrophic wildfire, insects and disease, while reducing obstructive litigation that typically stymies the work that needs to be done. We will continue to promote the development of biomass to create more markets for wood products, and pursue opportunities in the Forestry Title of the 2018 Farm Bill that Congress must pass before it is finished.

ALC will also seek to educate Chief Tooke on the many challenges our industry is facing, especially for

independent contract loggers. Most of all, we will encourage Chief Tooke to take risks, try new ways of doing business, and defy the special interests in Washington DC who have spent decades undermining the Forest Service’s multiple-use mandate to manage our forests for the “greatest good.”

Now that a new Forest Service Chief is in place, we urge President Trump and Secretary Perdue to install a new Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment. Leadership at this position is essential if the administration wants to achieve its goals of supporting forestry on public and private lands, and protecting the future of our industry.

Pine

Tree Safety Safety Training and Consultation

Scott Lowell

OSHA and Insurance Compliance Trainings

77 Birchwood Boulevard Brewer Maine 04412

207-794-5154

slowell813@hotmail.com

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

110 Sewall St.

P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332

2017 Meeting Schedule

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands Executive Board and Full Board

October 2017: No Meeting

November 9, 2017, Executive Board, PLC, Augusta

December 14, 2017: Full Board, Senator Inn, Augusta