The Logger's VOICE - Spring 2019

A Quarterly Publication of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

From the President

By Jim Nicols

Hello everyone,

As I write this, winter is winding down and spring is coming fast. I hope everyone had a productive and safe winter season. We sure had enough snow in most parts of the state.

For those of you that weren’t able to attend, we had a great turnout for our legislative breakfast in late March. We had approximately 100 legislators and PLC members attend. Legislators got a chance to listen to some of our needs and concerns and ask questions of the members. A lot of the discussion that morning centered around labor, energy and road postings.

There is a lot going on in Augusta right now and Dana is doing a great job representing PLC in the Capital. If you do not receive PLC’s weekly updates through email, call Jess at the office and she will get you on the email list.

I know Donald Burr is working hard on putting the next MLOP training class together. It is slated to start this summer in Stratton in late June, the first time it has been in western Maine. We should have a full class, as I believe we have had more than triple the applicants for this year’s class. However, PLC members and their employees get preferential treatment when making recommendations for applicants so if you have someone in mind that you would like to send, please let Donald know as soon as possible.

The dates are now out for the PLC’s annual spring safety trainings. If you haven’t signed up yet, make sure to do so as classes are filling up fast. Last year we had over 800 people attend these trainings. We are also doing fleet trainings for truck drivers at various locations throughout the state.

Lastly the PLC annual meeting is fast approaching on April 26th. I hope you will all take the time to attend and support PLC. It is an informative and fun day and evening with a chance to see people you may not have seen throughout the year. Scott Hanington will once again be the auctioneer for the Log A Load for Kids auction for the Children’s Miracle Network. We want to try and top last year’s numbers.

Hope to see you all there and have a good spring.

Thank You

Jimmy

Contractor Members Supporting Members

Clayton Pelletier Logging Inc. of Rumford, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in March 2019. The company has a professional staff of one. For more information contact Clayton at 446-2724 of email claypel@yahoo.com.

LAS Logging of Hampden, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in March 2019. The company has a professional staff of two. For more information call Alphonse at (207) 862-4614 or email spencer313@tds.net.

Groundtek Inc. of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in March 2019. The company has a professional staff of four. For more information contact Bruce at (207) 834-5047 or email GROUNDTEK541@YAHOO.COM.

Pelletier Manufacturing Inc. of Millinocket, ME joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor in March 2019. The company has a professional staff of 17. For more information contact Jeff at (207) 723-6500 or email pelletiermfg@myfairpoint.net.

B. Pelletier Logging Inc. of St. Francis, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in March 2019. The company has a professional staff of two. For more information contact Buddy at (207) 316-2831or email bpelletierlogging@gmail.com.

Fabian Oil of Oakland, ME joined the PLC as a new Preferred Supporting Member in January 2019. The company is a locally owned and operated marketer of petroleum products and has proudly served its many customers for over 30 years. It is a full service company offering all types of heating and motor fuels and maintains a full-scale service department for oil, propane and natural gas. For more information call Ted Fabian at 465-2000, email tfabian@fabianoil.com or visit www.fabianoil.com.

ND Paper, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, the largest containerboard producer in Asia, joined the PLC as a new Preferred Supporting Member in March 2019. ND Paper is an environmentallyfriendly company that manufactures various types of high-quality pulp, paper and paperbased packaging materials. Its mills in Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin are integrated paper & pulp facilities, and its mill in Fairmont, West Virginia is one of only three in the world that produces air-dried, recycled pulp. The company is working to restart a currently-idled pulp mill in Old Town, Maine, with expected commissioning in the summer of 2019. ND Paper has 1,100 dedicated employees, who together produce more than 1.1 million metric tons of paper annually. ND Paper is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. For more information contact Randy Chicoine at 207) 754-8752 or email mailto:randy.chicoine@us.ndpaper.com.

The Winter 2019 Edition of The Logger’s Voice incorrectly identified PLC Supporting Member Soleno as a Vermont-based company. Soleno is based in Canada. We regret the error.

the Executive Director

Future

By Dana Doran

As this article goes to print, the snow is melting quickly, the road postings are up across the state and many winter time operations are grinding to a halt. While mud season can be a time of frustration for our membership as cash flow slows down and the attention turns to maintenance and catching up on paperwork, it is also a time to recharge the batteries after the big winter push before summer rolls around and wood is moving again.

Spring is also a time to reflect upon the industry, all that is good, and all that is bad as well as the opportunities and challenges. As I talk to our members and get the lay of the land out there, I have a sense the challenges are mounting and even though markets have opened up, there is less and less optimism about the future.

Back in December, based upon the instincts of the PLC Board and the input of the membership, the PLC conducted a survey of its members to determine what the employment needs were at that point in time. We were hearing that it was getting harder and harder to find help, that the markets were wide open, and they could harvest wood without hesitation, but the workforce could not fill the need. Rumors were rampant that mill yards were nearly empty week after week and there were not enough operators, truck drivers or mechanics to do the work. The survey we did was striking as we heard

back from a majority of our membership and the numbers do not lie. As of January, just among the PLC membership, there were between 750-1,000 job openings and no real idea how to fill them. This was surprising in that we knew there were needs, but not at this size and scale.

At the same time, we also heard from the membership that competition for labor was fierce and members were not only having a challenging time hiring new employees, but they were losing employees at a rapid pace because of the opportunity to earn more money with better benefits and fewer hours outside of the industry. Some members even reported that they were losing employees to local mills that they delivered wood to. This is a recipe for disaster at exactly the wrong time as the state has been marketing itself as having a glut of softwood pulp and biomass which has motivated new investment in the state, but now there are real questions about who is going to do the work. If the contractor workforce was not really there, could all of these new investments actually come to fruition? Would investment continue to occur if logging and trucking capacity was in question?

Following the collection of survey data and the general idea that contractors could not fulfill the demands they had presently, not to mention the additional work they had on the horizon as a result of mill

From

expansions, the PLC Board decided it was time to get a third party assessment of the labor and wage picture both now and the future. How do we stack up against other industries and is the company by company picture the same on a larger scale?

In February, the PLC reached out to the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine and asked Dr. Ryan Wallace and his team to compare logging and trucking against other similar industries and determine what we are really up against with respect to wages and benefits. Is it nearly impossible to hire new employees or replace old ones if the pool of people with similar skills are not willing to work in logging and heavy duty trucking? If the sense of freedom and autonomy which has always driven employees to this business, along with the enjoyment of the outdoors, is not enough to attract them anymore if the wages and benefits are not competitive? Is the labor shortage real and is it attributable to low wages and long hours and the fact that contractors can’t afford to pay their employees more money and still remain profitable?

What we found was quite astounding and now we have the data to back it up.

Put simply, Maine is facing a shortage of loggers and log truckers that will grow and could hinder the growth of the forest products industry in the state if wage growth does not occur. Wages for logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine are lower than those for comparable jobs in competing industries in the state, and this combined with a tight labor market and

looming retirement for large numbers of loggers is not a positive sign.

This analysis simply confirms and reinforces what many in this industry have known for a long time. The root of Maine’s vital forest products economy - the logging industry - must be able to offer higher wages to compete for existing workers and attract new ones at a time when they are desperately needed to support a resurgent forest products industry.

The heart of the problem is profit margins for logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay for workers. With low unemployment and strong competition for skilled operators of heavy machinery and trucks, logging contractors are struggling simply to keep the workers they have, let alone attract new ones.

As I mentioned previously, we know from surveying our own membership, that the industry is already unable to fill an estimated 750 to 1,000 jobs today. Add to that the projected loss of upwards of 200 workers per year over the next 10 years due to retirements, coupled with the need for more loggers and truckers to meet rising demand for wood from expansions that have been announced by mills in the state recently and you begin to see the extent of this problem.

In addition to Maine expansions already announced by mill owners including Verso, Sappi, Nine Dragons, and Pleasant River Lumber, the FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap), a broad coalition that the PLC is working with to diversify the

Doran Continued Page 13

Nicols Brothers Inc. logging operations underway in Winthrop in March.

JACKMAN - Russ Griffin was one year old when his family moved from Levant to the Jackman area, and he has lived in this Maine border region ever since, working in the woods from his early teenage years through decades of major change in the logging industry and the state.

His father, Reginald, and grandfather came to the area in the late 1960s when the industry was booming, trucking with wheelers for several years before getting into logging themselves in the 1970s. In 1976 his father was

one of the partners who started Moose River Lumber company.

“

So my father went from trucking to logging to sawmilling,” Russ laughed, “That’s the woods business.”

Reginald got out of the sawmill business in 1981, going back to logging, and founding Jackman Lumber.

“That’s about when I got into it,” Russ said. “I started officially when I was about 15, but from 12 years old that was all I’ve done my whole life. The name Jackman Lumber came from when we had thoughts that he

Jackman Lumber Co. truck loading in Moose River in early March.

Jackman Lumber

was gonna build his own sawmills again, but it never happened and it stayed logging and trucking.”

It still is today.

Back in the 1980s when Russ started full time with the company, Jackman Lumber was running traditional hand crews and cable skidders in the woods. The first step in the move to mechanized logging came when the company added stroke delimbers so the crews could fell the trees but leave the limbing portion of the work to the delimbers on the landings. Over time feller bunchers and grapple skidders were added to make the company fully mechanized.

“We only cut softwood in the 80s, and then in the early 90s we worked with ProPac to build the first hardwood delimbers, we had the prototype and we worked with them on building that and it went on to be a pretty successful thing and they’re still making them today,” Russ said. “So I figure we pioneered the hardwood delimbing with stroke delimbers, but now I’ve converted to a cut to

length system, we’ve been cut to length for almost 10 years. We’ve moved more to smaller wood, and I think it works better with the smaller wood.”

The size of the company has changed a lot over the years. At its peak in the late 1990s the company had about 50 employees. There were six feller buncher crews and more than 20 trucks. Like most logging contractors in Maine, Jackman Lumber met big challenges in the next two decades with market changes, rising costs, and closing mills, and in response the company downsized repeatedly.

Today Jackman Lumber has gone as small as it can, down to a five-man crew. The crew includes two truck drivers, himself running a processor, one man in the garage, and his long-time feller buncher and forwarder operator and mechanic, Ed Griffin - no relation, “he keeps our stuff running,” Russ said. Jackman Lumber has three trucks; a Peterbilt, a Western Star, and an International. The company does its own low bedding and also hauls for

Jackman Lumber Continued from Page 11 other companies in the area. In the woods, Jackman Lumber operates a CAT 511 processor, A John Deere 753 feller buncher, and a CAT 564 forwarder. It also has an excavator, dump truck, and three log cranes. The company once had two chippers, but the chip market has largely disappeared. The company also used to travel to more distant jobs, but these days works primarily within an hour of Jackman.

“I have a saying, I’ll work from here to tidewater,” Russ said. “I’ve worked quite a bit in Frankfort, Winterport, Levant, I’ve cut quite a bit on some of our family land in Levant, and I own a lot in Frankfort and Liberty, so I’ve traveled around quite a bit.”

For the past five years, Jackman Lumber has worked about half the time on Weyerhauser lands and the other half on private lots. Their primary markets for wood are the Moose River Lumber mill which is less than a mile from their shop, and the Sappi Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, 75 miles down Route 201.

Reginald Griffin died in 2014 after a long and respected career in the woods, but Russ’s mother Linda remains involved with Jackman Lumber to this day, overseeing the books and remaining a part owner of the company.

Linda Griffin built Jackman Lumber with her husband and both were leaders in Maine’s forest products industry over the years. Linda is a Past President of the Maine Forest Products Council. Russ said that over time the Griffins came to feel that loggers needed their own organization to better meet their needs and fight for their interests, and so when the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) came along and begin to fill that role, Jackman Lumber joined the PLC. The company is also Master Logger certified.

“I think it’s become a very good thing,” Russ said, noting the PLC’s advocacy for loggers in Augusta, its focus on safety and professionalism, and its work to inform and educate the public on the logging industry. “I’ve been pretty happy with the organization.”

Speaking out for the industry is something Russ is known for. He has a small but devoted following on Facebook for his regular “Stump Report” where he offers blunt commentary on many issues of importance to loggers

and other small businesses in Maine’s forest economy. With some of the viewers including lawmakers in Augusta, it is not unheard of for an issue or viewpoint Russ shares to make its way into legislative discussions.

One of the most important issues to Russ is preservation of the longstanding tradition in Maine of keeping forests open to hunting and fishing and other recreation by maintaining their status as working woodlands - a viewpoint shared and championed by the PLC.

“The biggest concern I have is the evaporating land base. I think over time as loggers we kind of did our own thing and we didn’t say much and now I’m seeing the movement of the environmental groups buying up the land bases we depend on and I’ve become very vocal about it,” Russ said. “We’re not going to have a land base to operate on anymore if we don’t try to combat this somehow and discourage landowners from selling to environmental groups that are basically locking up land forever. Its dealing a blow to the people of Maine that don’t really deserve it.”

For Jackman Lumber, logging is what pays the bills but Russ has long enjoyed the trucking side of the business and sees growth potential for his company there given the strong demand for trucking, so he is already hauling for other companies and hopes to do more in the future.

“I’m determined to make my trucking successful,” Russ said. “I think there’s some future in it because there’s a need.”

While recent years have been rough ones in Maine’s logging industry, Russ said he is encouraged by mills beginning to make a comeback in the state after years of closings. Overall logging capacity has shrunk as logging contractors shut down in response to reduced markets, and now he believes that as demand rises those contractors who are still standing will be well positioned to capitalize on that demand.

“Anyone that’s still standing today is a tough son of a gun,” Russ said. “I do still really enjoy it other than the winters are starting to be really painful - that’s age I guess, but I’m gonna stick with what I know to the end.”

Top, Jackman Lumber processor in action. Bottom, Linda and Russ Griffin.

Doran Continued from Page 9 16

state’s wood products businesses, attract capital investments, and develop greater economic prosperity for communities impacted by recent mill closures has announced an action plan to grow Maine’s forest economy from the current $8.5 billion (annual) to $12 billion by 2025. This growth would position the state to compete in and take advantage of substantial global market opportunities with much of the projected 40 percent growth coming from new markets for the state. Such growth would also require a significant expansion of the logging and log trucking workforce in Maine.

Key findings of the employment availability and wage study include:

· Although capital expenses in the logging industry have risen across the board, rates for wood harvesting and trucking have not.

· Recently announced expansions increasing demand for wood will require an additional 100 jobs in the logging industry in the immediate future. In addition, occupation projections suggest upwards of 200workersper year will need to be replaced over the next 8-10 years due to an aging logger workforce.

· Business critical occupations in the logging industry, including equipment operators and truck drivers which comprise 2 out of every 3 jobs, currently earn relative wages well below comparable occupations in other industries, making itdifficult to recruit and attract workers. Logging equipment operators ranked lowest for wages out of 19 comparable skilled occupations surveyed, while logging truck drivers ranked second to last for wages out of 14 heavy truck driving sectors.

· The average earnings for all employment in Maine’s logging industry have increased by 5% since 2010, an average increase of just over $2,100 per worker compared to an average increase of $5,500 in comparative industries, such as construction, wood manufacturing, and pulp and paper manufacturing.

· Over 400 workers in the industry are at retirement age (65+), while an additional 850 workers will be reaching retirement age within the next 10 years. Attracting younger generations of workers will be criticalin replacing the retiring workforce.

All of this data and the findings of this report brings me back to a discussion point I mentioned in my last article in January and one that needs to be revisited. Contractors own and operate businesses with the intent to earn a return; they are not in business to subsidize the financial returns of their customers. During a time of high prices for lumber markets and increasing pulp demand, far too many contractors in Maine are running on borrowed time. Despite some price creep and increased demand for wood, a majority of

contractors are still reporting much lower profit margins. And when it comes to cost savings in the supply chain, loggers have nothing left to give. Any business that does not earn a return, closes down. It’s that simple.

Back in January, I was reading the blog of a management company who will remain nameless. In that article, the author discussed a recent timber sale negotiation that they conducted with a landowner. The management company took great pride in the fact that they competed against a logger to earn the sale and boasted that they could provide more value to the landowner as a service provider, could hire a logger to work for them and at the end of the day would provide a greater financial return to the landowner than if they contracted directly with the logger. Furthermore, the logger really wasn’t trustworthy, and it was absolutely necessary for the landowner to have an intermediary involved as a result of this trust. Wow!! Not only was I angered to hear this kind of double talk, but I found this to be exactly what is wrong with the system that contractors operate in today.

Can you imagine what backlash the logger would feel if they publicly scrutinized a management company this way?

I guess all is fair in competitive business, but is this really the kind of environment we want the landowner community to be subjected to? Further, this is also exactly why contractors can barely afford to stay in business. We have a system in place that encourages the control, manipulation and degradation of the logger at the logger’s expense. No wonder loggers cannot hire good people and pay them a living wage when those who exert control use profit as a four-letter word and try to use scare tactics against them.

To use an analogy, do architects use these same tactics when working with property owners? Do they scare the property owner and tell them they cannot trust their building contractor? Do engineers use these tactics in similar circumstances when competing against plumbers and HVAC professionals? I have a feeling it is a violation of their license and their professional code of ethics. So, if this is the case in those professions, shouldn’t it be the same in this business?

I bring up this example because I’m hearing stories like this more and more as the competition for wood increases. Loggers can compete with anyone, but the playing field should be equalized and there should be a better level of respect at this point in time because there isn’t, “just another logger out there that can take the job.”

We hear all the time that this is a supposed to be a three-legged stool and the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Well, the stool is broken and if it’s going to stand, it has to stand on its own. If one leg is going to push the other one down or continues to try to make one leg stronger than the other, the stool will ultimately fall.

As you start to unwind this spring and look at your business, please take a look at the study we just released and see how it compares to your business. If the data is similar and you don’t see things changing, don’t hesitate to refer to this in your discussions moving forward. In the end, loggers are the root of the industry and must speak with one voice. Now might be the time to use it.

Maine Logger and Log Trucker EmploymentAvailability and WageAnalysis Report Released

AUGUSTA - Maine is facing a shortage of loggers and log truckers that will grow and could hinder the growth of the $8.5 billion forest products industry in the state if wage growth does not occur, an occupational analysis released in March concludes.

The employment availability and wage analysis prepared by the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine found wages for logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine are lower than those for comparable jobs in competing industries in the state, and this combined with a tight labor market and looming retirement for large numbers of loggers is concerning for Maine’s forest economy.

in Maine, that the industry is already unable to fill an estimated 750 to 1,000 jobs today,” Doran said. “Add to that the projected loss of upwards of 200 workers per year over the next 10 years due to retirements, coupled with the need for more loggers and truckers to meet rising demand for wood from expansions that have been announced by mills in the state recently and you begin to see the extent of this problem.”

In addition to Maine expansions already announced by mill owners including Verso, Sappi, Nine Dragons, and Pleasant River Lumber, the FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap), a broad coalition working to diversify the state’s wood products businesses, attract capital investments, and

“This analysis simply confirms and reinforces what many in the industry have known for a long time,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), which commissioned and partnered with the Center on the study, said. “The root of Maine’s vital forest products economy - the logging industry - must be able to offer higher wages to compete for existing workers and attract new ones at a time when they are desperately needed to support a resurgent forest products industry.”

The heart of the problem is profit margins for logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay for workers. With low unemployment and strong competition for skilled operators of heavy machinery and trucks, logging contractors are struggling simply to keep the workers they have, let alone attract new ones, Doran said.

“We know from surveying our own membership, which cuts approximately 75 percent of all wood harvested

develop greater economic prosperity for communities impacted by recent mill closures has announced an action plan to grow Maine’s forest economy from the current $8.5 billion (annual) to $12 billion by 2025. This growth would position the state to compete in and take advantage of substantial global market opportunities with much of the projected 40 percent growth coming from new markets for the state. Such growth would also require a significant expansion of the logging and log trucking workforce in Maine, Doran noted.

▪ The Executive Summary of the study is available at: http://maineloggers.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ Professional-Logging-Contractors-of-Maine-OccupationalWage-Analysis_final-1.pdf

▪ The Full Report is available here: http:// maineloggers.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ Professional-Logging-Contractors-of-Maine-OccupationalWage-Analysis-Data-Appendix-FINAL.pdf

“profit margins for logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay for workers”

Legislative Breakfast

A great success!

The PLC's Annual Legislative Breakfast was a great success March 14th, drawing a crowd of more than 100 to the Governor's Hill Mansion in Augusta to hear directly from our Members about the challenges in Maine's logging industry and the importance of the Legislature to our efforts to sustain and improve that industry.

Thanks to the many lawmakers who attended, including Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon of Freeport. Thanks also to our PLC Board Members who did such a great job standing up to speak about issues that were highlighted during the event including worker

The PLC of Maine 24th Annual Meeting

April 26, 2019 -

Oxford Casino & Event Center, Oxford, ME

An Invitation, Please join us for our 24th Annual Meeting to learn and network with other professional loggers as we look toward the future.

The Morning Session is only for PLC Contractor Members. During this time, we will: Conduct a general membership meeting, hold Board elections and review our legislative agenda. Acadia Insurance will let us know how the dividend program performed in 2018, hear from the new Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and Nine Dragons to learn about their expansion plans in Rumford and Old Town.

During our Luncheon, which is open to all PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members and invited guests, we will hear from the President of the Senate , Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon about policies to ensure profitability for Maine Loggers.

Dinner Guests Join us for a buffet dinner and the honor of meeting a couple of the many children helped by the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), Hazel and Edgar are wonderful children who would like to share their story!

Meet the amazing people that our fundraising is impacting and feel the difference that we are making!

In 2018 the PLC of Maine raised over $122,000 to support local Maine children!

Highlights

-Nine Dragons

-Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry

-Legislative Leadership

-Children's Miracle Network Children

-Log A Load Auction

-PLC Annual Awards

We reconvene at 4:00 pm for our social hour and time to preview the Log A Load Auction items, open to all PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members and invited guests.

To help the Children’s Miracle Network raise money, our Log A Load Auction will be kicked off by a Miracle Network Children. Can we exceed the $46,000 we raised in 2018? Dinner will include a welcome and remarks from PLC President, Jim Nicols and remarks from Congressman Jared Golden, 2nd District (Invited). The Master Logger Certificate Ceremony will follow and the night will conclude with the PLC’s annual awards presentation.

Creating Real Miracles by Raising Funds for Local Hospitals

Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals have raised more than $5 billion for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. The PLC of Maine and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Foundation have raised over $1,129,000 since 1996 for children in Maine. These 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. Some are battling cancer, some are suffering from a traumatic injury, and others require constant care because they were born too early, or with a genetic disease.

Meeting Agenda: REGISTER NOW!

Morning Session

PLC Contractor Members Only

7:30 AM Registration

(Coffee & Continental Breakfast)

8:00 AM Full Board and General Membership Meeting, Board Elections, Legislative Update and Acadia Dividend Program Update.

10:00 AM Amanda Beal, Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Director of the Maine Forest Service

11:00 AM Randy Chicoine, Mill Manager, Nine Dragons - expansion plans in Rumford and Old Town

Afternoon Session

PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members & Invited Guests

12:00 PM Lunch Buffet

12:30 PM Luncheon Speakers: 2019 Maine Legislature – Policies to Ensure Profitability for Maine Loggers.

- President of the Senate, Troy Jackson - Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon

2:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Break

WE NEED AUCTION ITEMS FOR LOG

Children’s Miracle Network Auction

Would you like to donate an item or cash? Contact Jessica at jessica@maineloggers.com

Evening session

PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members, Invited Guests

4:00 PM Social Hour Auction Items Preview

5:00 PM Children’s Miracle Network Children & Log A Load for Kids Special Guest Auctioneer Scott Hanington

6:00 PM Dinner Buffet

6:45 PM PLC President’s Welcome & Congressman Jared Golden, 2nd District (Invited)

7:00 PM Presentation of Master Logger Supporter Award & Presentation of Certificates to 2018 Cohort of Certified Master Logger Companies

7:30 PM Awards Presentation: PLC Logger of the Year, Acadia Insurance Safety Award, PLC Impact Award, PLC Community Service Award, Supporting Member Award & PLC President’s Award

OWNERS: Bruce and Meagan Plourde

YEAR FOUNDED: April 2009

ADDRESS: South Perley Brook Road, Fort Kent, Maine.

PHONE NUMBER: (207) 316-3006

EMPLOYEES: 6

TRUCKS: 2 Western Star 4900 heavy haul trucks, 1 Western Star 4900 dump truck, 1 International 9370 eagle dump truck

AREA OF OPERATION: Aroostook County

SERVICES PROVIDED: Construction, excavation, concrete work, sewer systems, retainer walls, heavy equipment transportation up to 55 tons, on and off road hauling

PLC FOREST CONTRACTOR SINCE: January 2019

Opposite: Groundtek Inc. Western Star.

Photos

Top: Groundtek Inc. low-bedding equipment.

Below: Bruce Plourde.

WHY DID THE COMPANY JOIN PLC: “PLC is a wonderful group with a voice. They work for the people and give us the opportunity to be heard at different levels of the state. They provide great trainings and accommodate all areas of the forest industry.”

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE PLC TO WORK ON: “Currently PLC is assisting us with the process of lowbed transportation permitting, rules and regulations.”

Trucking section

Continued Page 20

Trucking Industry News...

FMCSA Updates SMS Website...

FMCSA has updated the CSA SMS Website with the February 22, 2019 results. Motor carriers participating in FMCSA’s Crash Preventability Demonstration Program will continue to see the Agency’s final determinations on SMS for crashes reviewed as part of the program. Logged-in carriers and enforcement users with crashes determined to be Not Preventable as part of the program can view measures and percentiles calculated with and without those crashes. View the site here: https://maineloggers.us10.listmanage.com/track/click? u=50356bc32e7c1ced15b258bf6&id=7bae694128&e=114d 18f9f8

FMCSA Launches Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Website...

FMCSA has launched a new website with information about the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Visit https:// clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov to learn more about how

CDL drivers and their employers will be required to use the Clearinghouse beginning January 6, 2020. You will be able to sign up for email updates.

Canadian Revenue Agency Notice of Fuel Charge and Registration Requirements...

A new fuel charge, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), was introduced as part of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.

The fuel charge is expected to be effective April 1, 2019 for the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan and July 1, 2019 for the territories of Nunavut and Yukon.

The attached informational bulletin, provided by the CRA, details the fuel charge plan. IFTA, Inc. is forwarding this bulletin to provide jurisdictions with

information to assist their carriers. It will also be posted on the IFTA Inc. website.

The registration materials are available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/ excise-taxes-duties-levies/fuel-charge.html

Unified Carrier Registration Online Service…

This service allows Maine based individuals and companies that operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate or international commerce to register their business and pay the annual UCR fee based on the size of their fleet. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies are also required to register and pay a fee equal to the lowest fee tier. Companies providing both motor carrier services as well as broker, freight forwarder or leasing services are required to pay the fee level set at the motor carrier level.

Roadside enforcement period will begin April 1, 2019. You can access the payment portal at Maine BMV here: https://maineloggers.us10.list-manage.com/ track/click?

u=50356bc32e7c1ced15b258bf6&id=d4a06e1c92&e=114d 18f9f8

CDL class was postponed and the college is seeking to add a few more participants, like you! Class will run from noon to 6 p.m. for the first few weeks. Driving and range times will be scheduled during class to accommodate your schedule.

The next classes are scheduled to start: June 3.

Learn more at: https://www.emcc.edu/workforcedevelopment/non-credit-classes/commercial-drivers-license -cdl-training-center/

BREWER - There are few companies as deeply embedded in Maine’s logging industry today as Milton CAT.

Milton CAT heavy equipment can be found working in Maine forests from Fort Kent to Kittery, and the state’s loggers have been reliable and solid customers for the company for decades. Now, though the company is changing some of its approach to the forest equipment market, its commitment to the Maine logging industry remains as strong as ever.

“For us, Maine is a big piece of the pie,” Peter Collins, Forest Industry Manager for Milton CAT said recently during a discussion at the company’s Brewer location, the distribution center for all forestry parts for Milton CAT. “Maine is historically about half the opportunity in terms of forestry machine sales for the entire territory.”

Those equipment sales are critical to the company, and so is the Maine logging industry, Collins said.

From its start in a dirt floor garage in Concord, New Hampshire, Milton CAT has grown to 12 locations, spanning a six-state territory. Two of those locations are in Maine; Brewer and Scarborough.

Milton CAT has over 1,000 employees, many with twenty, thirty or even forty years of service at the company, and it's widely recognized by Caterpillar as being one of its top performing dealerships worldwide.

Milton CAT still runs on the same philosophy that made the company successful in its early years. The company's growth and reputation have been a result of experience, continuity of purpose, empowering employees, and a longstanding partnership with Caterpillar.

A privately-held company, Milton CAT is owned by the Milton family. Dealer principal and Chief Executive Officer Chris Milton, is the third-generation Milton to be at the helm of a Caterpillar dealership. Chris Milton's father, Jack, learned the ropes under his father, Milt Milton, at former Massachusetts CAT dealership PerkinsMilton. In 1960, Jack Milton and partner Bill Jordan founded Jordan-Milton Machinery and represented Caterpillar equipment and engines in New Hampshire and Vermont, expanding into Maine with the acquisition of Arnold Machinery Company in 1982. In 1991, JordanMilton acquired Southworth Machinery and the company name became Southworth-Milton. That name was changed to Milton CAT shortly after the company expanded its territory into western New York with the acquisition of bordering CAT dealership Syracuse Supply Company in 2004.

Today, the company's products and technology can be found in logging camps and nuclear facilities; dairy farms, U.S. Army Defense installations, hospitals, lobster boats and underground salt mines; solid waste landfills, data centers, paving projects and ferries; commuter rail trains, quarries, school buses and on job sites of all sizes.

Peter Collins has been with the company for 36 years and his long-time customers include many founding members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC). He has worked with multiple generations of many well-known Maine logging families.

Milton CAT’s relationship with the PLC began long before the organization offered Supporting Memberships (Milton CAT is an Enhanced Supporting Member). The company has been a strong supporter of PLC’s Log A Load for Maine Kids annual fund raising efforts and other initiatives over the years.

Among the most noteworthy of Milton CAT’s more recent contributions to the PLC’s efforts has been the company’s support for the Mechanized Logging Operation Program (MLOP), launched three years ago to provide entry level training for mechanized logging operators. The program was created thanks to a partnership between three Maine community colleges, the PLC, and industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax. The program gives students a broad overview of the most common mechanical systems found in modern timber harvesting equipment, an understanding of the variables of timber growth, tree species, and markets, and a strong emphasis on safety. It also includes hands-on training in mechanized logging equipment, and Milton CAT has provided half the equipment for the training program since its start. On the Milton CAT website, a

video promoting MLOP is prominently displayed in the forestry section.

Like most companies involved in Maine’s logging industry, Milton CAT realizes there is a skilled worker shortage in the state’s forest economy, particularly for mechanized logging operators and truck drivers, Collins said.

“I think the training program is a good thing as we try to deal with the situation, and I think Milton CAT has put some money and some emphasis on that because you’ve got to try and do something about it,” Collins said.

Milton CAT has been a strong supporter of the Mechanized Logging Operations Program since it began three years ago. Opposite: Graduates of the most recent class pose with a grapple skidder donated by Milton CAT for their use in the summer of 2018.

Milton CAT has served Maine loggers through major changes and challenges in the industry, and is committed to maintaining the health of that industry.

In August 2018 Caterpillar Inc. announced a major change for the industry itself - Caterpillar had entered into a preliminary agreement with Weiler, Inc. to sell its forestry product business, which includes Wheel Skidders, Track Feller Bunchers, Wheel Feller Bunchers and Knuckleboom Loaders. As part of the sale, Weiler is taking ownership of the Caterpillar manufacturing plant in LaGrange, Georgia, the training center in Auburn, Alabama and the parts distribution center in Smithfield, North Carolina.

For Milton CAT the announcement is bringing change, but not drastic change. Milton CAT already had a long-standing relationship with Weiler in the paving

Milton CAT Continued Page 24

Alex Labonville, Sales Manager

Cell: 207-233-4801

www.labonville.com

Ask about special PLC of Maine member only discounts!

business, and Weiler will be manufacturing track feller bunchers, skidders, rubber tired feller bunchers, and knuckle booms. The machines to mount delimbers on will still be manufactured by CAT.

Milton CAT will remain the source for sales, parts and service on CAT forestry products as well as Weiler forestry products and will remain the source for parts and service on Prentice product as part of the deal as well.

This spring Milton CAT is continuing to sell Milton CAT forestry equipment but it is anticipated that Weiler product will be available this year. Milton CAT is also selling Logset forwarders and processors, so the product lineup for the company is diversifying, but customers so far seem comfortable with the changes, Collins said.

For Milton CAT the relationship with the PLC and with Maine’s loggers is a natural one that is mutually beneficial, and that is not going to change, Collins said.

“The membership needs to know how important their business is to our business, it’s not just an afterthought, Collins said. “Long term we’re committed to this and we’ve got a lot of different products that we’ working with now and Milton CAT’s still going to be in the forestry business, we’re not going anywhere.”

Milton CAT Continued from Page

Photos, top: MLOP students with CAT delimber in 2017. Bottom: A CAT log loader in action.

Mechanized Logging Operations Program Recruiting Students for Summer 2019

STRATTON - Recruiting is now underway for students in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP), which is beginning its next class June 24 in the woods of Western Maine.

Students enrolled in the post-secondary training program will spend weeks harvesting timber using sophisticated state-of-the-art machines like those they will encounter in the logging industry. The hands-on experience students gain operating equipment is something unavailable anywhere else in Maine and neighboring states.

This summer’s class will be the third since the program launched in 2017. Graduation for the class will be held on Sept. 19.

“I would encourage any individual with an interest in a goodpaying, exciting career in the Maine woods to take a look at the MLOP program,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), said.

“There is literally no better or more efficient way to gain the experience and knowledge you need to become an equipment operator in the logging industry.”

The Mechanized Logging Operations Program was

created thanks to a partnership between three Maine community colleges, the PLC, and industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax.

The program gives 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 includes a strong emphasis on safety.

Students who are accepted into the program pay no tuition, but are responsible for transportation, housing, and food costs. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided by the program.

A 2014 study by the PLC found the average annual salary for workers employed by logging firms in Maine was $42,795. Mechanized logging operators are among the highest paid members of the logging workforce. Anyone with an interest in the program should contact Leah Buck at Northern Maine Community College at 207-768-2768. Information and application instructions may be found online at https://www.nmcc.edu/industrycustomized-training/mechanized-forest-operations/

2019 Safety Training

Presented by:

PLC’s Safety Committee is committed to offering tools to help keep our members safe! The goal of this FREE, for PLC Contractor members and Maine Master Loggers, training is to provide practical, hands-on instruction to improve individual & company safety. Still time to register for remaining classes! Go to http://maineloggers.com/safety/

2019 Logger Safety Training: 7:30 AM—3:30 PM

Safety training is designed for all company employees and employees may attend one or both spring trainings.

Topics: STOP The Bleed | Hydraulic Hazards | Road & Job Site Communication

Accident Review - Report, Not Repeat | Falling Safely - I’ve Fallen & I can get up! | Driving Simulator

Training locations:

1S. Friday,April 5th

Denmark John Khiel III Logging & Chipping, Inc.

2S. Thursday,April 11th Rumford Nicols Bros.

3S. Friday,April 12th Waltham Elliott Jordan & Son, Inc.

4S. Friday,April 19th Passadumkeag Madden Timberlands, Inc.

5S. Friday , May 3rd Stratton Pepin Lumber

6S. Thursday, May 9th Millinocket Gerald Pelletier, Inc.

7S. Monday, May 13th Lincoln Treeline, Inc.

8S. Wednesday, May 22nd Fort Kent TNT Road Company, Inc.

9S. Friday, May 31st Jackman E.J. Carrier

2019 Fleet Training: 7:30 AM—3:30 PM

Fleet Training is specifically designed for drivers, mechanics and loader operators. Employees may attend one or both spring trainings.

Topics: Legal Liability—You said what?

Troop-K: Practical Pre-Trip | Not your Daddy’s Diesel

Ditch Diving & Digging Out | Trailer Tech. & Techniques | Driving Simulator

Training locations:

10F. Thursday,April 4th Denmark John Khiel III Logging & Chipping, Inc.

11F. Thursday,April 18th Milford Randall Madden Trucking

12F. Thursday, May 2nd Stratton Pepin Lumber

13F. Tuesday, May 21st Fort Kent TNT Road Company, Inc.

NEW FOR 2019 – During Fleet Trainings there are optional, alternative training classes:

• CPR & FirstAid certification $35 a person (Company options available see registration)

• Maine Driving Dynamics Course 3 point credit on driving record - $10 a person

Wearingtheright SafetySunglasses

ByDonaldBurr

PLCSafety&TrainingCoordinator

Today we are going to talk safety sunglasses. One of the standards that I apply to writing articles is can the everyday logger use this information to be safer and spend less money? In today’s topic I think the answer is yes. Buying the right safety sunglasses you get protection and you don’t have to spend a lot to get it. The average price for safety sunglasses is well under $20.00 (I saw some that meet the ANSI standard for $1.50 each), but you can spend hundreds if you want but you don’t get any better protection by spending the big money. Picking the right sunglasses is one of the most important things you should consider first before starting your day, every day. We are entering into longer days with brighter sun with snow & water bouncing the light around us into our eyes. You need to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays. There are three different types of UV rays that we need to protect from: UVA, UVB and UVC, and it is important that your sunglasses protect you from UVA & B and here’s why.

UVA rays affect the inner eye and can cause eye damage. These rays have a longer wavelength and can easily pass through glass.

UVB rays also affect the inner and outer eye and most people have felt the effects of snow blindness and this is caused by UVB rays.

The last is UVC, the good news here is that this is blocked by the earth’s upper atmosphere so we don’t have to worry about this type.

All UV light is cut down by the earth’s atmosphere. This is not important to you unless you work in high altitudes areas or you’re a pilot, then you need to take extra precautions. The pilots wear those cool sunglasses not just for looks, they are functional too.

Now whether or not you know the names of these rays or care it is important that you take steps to avoid exposure to these rays with sun glasses. Look for the amount of UV protection. Make sure it reads 99 - 100%. With UV protection settle for nothing less, and you shouldn’t because full protection does not have to cost a lot of money.

Get sunglasses that wrap around your face because light can come in from the sides also and with your eyes dilated because you are looking through dark glasses you are letting in more harmful light from the sides. This goes for sunglasses that don’t have uv protection or have poor protection also.

Sunglasses should take out most of the visible light (75% - 90%). This refers to how dark they are and if you look in a mirror and can see your eyes they are not dark enough.

Make sure you get glasses that have good quality lenses. Take them off and look through them an arm length away and notice if the image stays consistent when moving over a straight line like a corner of a door or wall. If the straight line wobbles any these sunglasses are not good quality.

Here are some special options that you can consider:

Polarized: Cuts down the glare. Fishermen, river guides and skiers like these because of the high glare environment that they are operating in. Be aware that these will sometimes change your perception of color. A long time ago we sent a coworker to bring a group of people to the blue bus. He was wearing polarized sun glasses and the blue bus turned green. The funny thing was that it did not change the color of the other buses in line that happened to

be green. So he looked and he looked and came back and said that there were no blue buses only green. I told him to take off his sunglasses and then tell us what he found. Bingo!

Mirrored sunglasses: This is more than just a look. They are popular in high glare environments and with law enforcement and they tend to be good at filtering UV rays but not always. The one caution about these is that you can sunburn your nose and cheeks easily and then that leads to skin issues so remember to wear sun screen and reapply often.

Impact resistant: Look for Z87 stamped on the frame somewhere. This is a reference to the ANSI high velocity impact resistant standard. Don’t buy safety sunglasses without it.

I will leave you with this: put on your safety sunglasses and Hum a few bars of ZZ Top’s classic song “Cheap Sun Glasses”

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Quarterly Safety Meeting: Ladders

Year after year, falls continue to be one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the workplace. Did you know that many of these falls actually occur on the same level or from a relatively low surface? In fact, recent studies show that one of the leading sources of falls is actually from ladders. Luckily, many of these falls are preventable with only minor changes in your approach. In this safety meeting we will discuss a few points that will help reduce your exposure to falls when utilizing a step ladder. In addition to the following points, it is important to also refer to manufacturer requirements.

1. Proper ladder selection: Ladder selection is the first of several critical steps to working safely at height.

A. Many people don’t realize that step ladders are designed only to be worked off and are not designed for accessing higher or lower levels.

B. The ladder also needs to be tall enough to do the job. Most step ladder manufacturers clearly state that the ladder is not designed for the user to stand on the top or the second -to-top rungs. If you need to step on the top two rungs, your ladder should be replaced with a longer ladder.

C. Is the ladder rated for the user’s weight? Unless it is a heavy duty step ladder, it may not be rated for more than someone weighing 200 pounds. Verify the weight load limits of the ladder by referring to the stickers on the ladder’s rails.

2. Ladder inspection: One of the most critical but often overlooked steps is to thoroughly inspect your ladder before each use.

A. Steps: Steps should be intact, with no dents, clean, and free of oil and grease. The manufacturer generally prohibits modification or repair of the steps.

B. Rails: Rails should be in good condition, with fiberglass in good shape without divots or dents. Aluminum should be free of dents and cracks. Pay special attention to the areas where the steps are mounted to the rails. Look closely for cracks in the fiberglass. The manufacturer labels should be legible and, therefore, should be protected from damage when the ladder is new.

C. Feet: Feet should have the manufacturer mounted slip free pads in place. The pads should be clear of debris, oil, and grease.

D. Spreaders: These are critical to the stability of the ladder and proper setup. Therefore, they must both be on the ladder and must be intact without any bends or dents.

3. Ladder Setup:

A. Inspect the ground prior to setting up the ladder. Look for uneven surfaces that will cause the ladder to rock while working on it. Look for slippery substances such as oil and grease and avoid setting the ladder up in those areas.

B. Avoid setting up in front of closed doors. If you must leave the door closed, clearly label it and/or lock it, to avoid someone coming through and knocking your ladder over.

C. The ladder should NEVER be leaned against a wall or machine and climbed. Manufacturers require that the ladder, in order to work properly, be opened completely. Not completely opening and locking the step ladder can result in the ladder toppling over.

4. Step Ladder Use:

A. When climbing and descending the ladder, three points of contact is critical. Don’t carry tools or equipment in your hands. Generally, you can set your tools on the ladder prior to climbing or, on taller ladders, you may need to pull tools up once you are in place.

B. Always climb, descend and work facing the ladder. Never stand back-to on the ladder.

C. While working off the ladder, it is critical to stay balanced. A good rule of thumb is to keep your belt buckle between the rails of the ladder at all times. Leaning too far will cause the ladder to tip over.

D. Step ladders are not designed for the user to stand on the top two rungs. Standing on the top two rungs puts the ladder off balance and the user at risk of a fall.

The above recommendations were generated based on some of the most frequently observed step ladder misuses. It is critical to refer back to the manufacturer recommendations when selecting and working with a step ladder. This will help assure that the ladder is used within the design parameters.

*(ASK FOR ANY QUESTIONS)*

Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.

*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on page 29. Refer to the cutline on page 29 when removing it from the magazine.

Listen Up: Protecting your hearing on the Job

Can you answer “YES” to one or more of the following?

▪After a day of work, does it sound like people are talking to you through a pillow or under water?

▪Do your ears ever feel “full” or “stopped up” after working near a loud noise?

▪Do they hurt at the end of a work day?

▪Are family members or roommates hollering at you to turn down the TV?

▪Is your spouse or significant other often accusing you of not listening?

If you identify with any of the first four questions, you may be suffering from hearing loss. If you answered “yes” to question 5, that could be hearing related. You may also be having relationship troubles, and that’s a whole other ball of wax (pun intended). One way to find out is to have your hearing checked at the free logger health exams being offered this spring through the Maine Logger Health and Safety Study (see schedule at the end

Hearing

Continued Page 32

of this article for dates and locations).

Hearing loss is permanent. Of the roughly 36 million American adults suffering from hearing loss, 10 million can be attributed to noise-induced hearing loss for short, NIHL. A one-time exposure to a loud sound - like a valve bursting on a hydraulic air pump - can cause NIHL. Also, repeated exposure at certain sound levels over an extended period of time can cause NIHL.

NIHL doesn’t just hurt your ability to hear, it can add stress to a relationship (see question 5) and recently was found to contribute to the early onset of dementia. It’s complicated. NIHL doesn’t just make everything seem quieter – it actually changes how you are able to hear sound frequencies. The sound of speech, for instance, is made up of a complex mixture of sound frequencies. With NIHL, a person’s inability to hear different frequencies can make another person’s words sound muffled or mushy and harder to understand. Background noise only make it worse. Often, people with NIHL think everyone else is mumbling (when it is really their own hearing that is not working properly). And, sadly, wearing a hearing aid and turning up the volume can’t fix that.

Tuning Out. Losing the ability to hear certain sound frequencies can also make something we all lovemusic - no longer enjoyable. Music can sound distorted, tinny, muddled, or “harsh.”

Sound damage to a person’s hearing can also cause tinnitus (ringing or a range of other noises in your ears or head). That’s a double whammy because, with tinnitus, you not only have trouble hearing what you want to hear, but you’re also hearing something you don’t want to hear. If you’re curious what it’s like to have tinnitus, you can listen to some examples at www.hear-it.org/impressions-ofhearing-loss-and-Tinnitus. (In short, it’s irritating.)

Can You Hear Me Now? Though you can’t restore your hearing once it’s lost, you can save what hearing you have if you wear the right hearing protection. If you haven’t had a hearing screening before, the 10minute screening can provide you a baseline measurement of your hearing levels. This gives you a marker by which you can measure if there are changes over time.

The exam is the first step. Next is to sit down with an occupational hearing specialist to review your results, the type of work you do and the type of exposures you work with both in terms of noise levels and duration of exposures. The occupational hearing specialists conducting

exams for the Maine Logger Health & Safety Study are CAOHC certified and can provide guidance on task-specific personal protective equipment (PPE) with the most appropriate noise reduction ratings for your work based on your individual test results.

The study is a project of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. If you are a Maine logger interested in participating in the study, you can earn up to $250 in LL

Bean gift certificates and will be entered into a drawing to win one of seven $250 Visa gift cards. You can learn more on Facebook @MaineLoggerHealthandSafetyStudy or by calling 800-343-7527.

Decibel level exposures for common logging jobs:

Source: www.noisebuster.net/forestry.html

Free health exams, which include a hearing screening, are available to Maine loggers at the following dates and locations at right. All but the Logger’s Expo dates will be held at PLC Safety Trainings (see page 26 for detailed locations and times). Maine loggers receive a $25 gift card for participating. To schedule an appointment, call 800-343-7527 or email NEClogging@bassett.org

PLC News Briefs...

The PLC traveled to Washington D.C. in earlyApril for theAmerican Logger's Council'sAnnual Spring Fly-In. Our members met with our Maine lawmakers and with agencies important to our industry. Thanks to our Congressional delegation for taking the time to meet with us, and a special thank you to PLC Board Members Andy Irish and ChuckAmes, seen here with Maine Sen.Angus King, for representing our interests in the Capitol!

UMaine Forest Operations Winter Camp 2019 students visited PLC Members and Master Loggers John Khiel & Sons Logging and Chipping and Richard Wing & Son Logging and Chipping in January to see active harvest operations in Hallowell and Gray. Thanks to both contractors for sharing their time and expertise with the students, and thanks to UMaine for the opportunity. Great day in the woods with the students!

As We See It February 2019 “It’s Time to Educate ”

By Danny Dructor

On April 4-6, 2019, members and guests of the American Loggers Council (ALC) will once again travel to Washington, DC in hopes of making a difference for the timber and log trucking industry. Our issues remain basically the same as they have for the past several years, but one thing has changed since November that should give us all a little encouragement as we visit the Hill.

In November, the United States replaced 100 U.S. House of Representative members as well as 10 U.S. Senators. To our knowledge, not any of them has the first minute of experience in the logging business and it is highly doubtful that any of the incoming members have ever hauled a load of logs.

While we do not anticipate seeing a lot of significant legislation being passed in the next several months due to the highly partisan politics that are still in play in Washington, we do see this as an opportunity to be the first organization to address the new members on what the issues and concerns are for the logging community, as well as work with the administration to effect change in the industry. It is up to us to educate them on what professional timber harvesting is, and the how and why of the process. If we don’t continue to do it, somebody else will, and that is not something that any of us would like to see happen.

ALC President Chris Potts has already stated that we will continue to work on truck weight and Commercial Safety Administration (CSA) issues. He has also indicated a desire to continue to pursue the Future Logging Careers Act that would give the 16 and seventeen year old sons and daughters the opportunity to legally work in their parent’s logging business.

With a new Chief of the US Forest Service, and the authorities that have managed to pass through Congress over the past couple of years, we hope to further engage that agency to assist in their modernization efforts to both expedite and implement all of the authorities now given to them by Congress to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration efforts that include timber harvesting. By the time this editorial goes to press, there should also be a new Secretary of Interior who we should also seek out and familiarize with our issues.

Energy will still be a priority in order to help develop new markets that we all need for our smaller diameter wood, as will deregulation and lessening of the tax burdens that all of our businesses face.

We asked and you responded favorably in looking at logging as a part of agriculture, and we intend to continue to follow up on that as well.

Even with the change in leadership in the House, there is still hope that those who are elected will once again follow the wishes of their constituents and lay partisan politics aside. The “Swamp,” as President Trump has called it, has been draining, but there are still those that

hold on to the idea that party politics should take priority over policy issues.

November 2020 is not that far away, and you should be paying close attention to what your representatives in Washington are doing to deserve your vote again. Meanwhile, let’s continue to educate those that have been elected to serve, so that the excuse of “I don’t know” cannot be used when questioning them about a vote.

The American Loggers Council is a 501 (c)(6) not for profit trade organization representing professional timber harvesters in 33 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.

Danny Dructor is the Executive Vice President for the American Loggers Council with offices near Hemphill, Texas.

We Support Maine Loggers

“

As We See It March 2019

“We the People”

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Perhaps the most powerful and meaningful 52 words ever put together, the Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states, it is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens.

So why, as United States citizens, do we continue to blame the government for things that we can change that are within our power and authority granted in the Constitution of the United States of America? It is time that we accepted responsibility, accountability and ownership of what has become the partisan bickering in Washington, DC and quit complaining, blaming and making excuses for our failure to elect representatives that still value the wants and needs of the citizens of the United States that put them into office.

The mismanagement of our federal lands is a good example. Last year, while lives and property were being lost in Paradise, California, our “representatives” in Washington, DC spent their time bickering over language in the 2018 Farm bill that would have helped expedite the treatment of overgrown national forests, which could help reduce the number of catastrophic wildfires. The politicians spent more time debating the cause of the problems than considering real solutions to this crisis.

The blame game continued as usual as one party did not want to make it appear that the other party might actually be right when they called for active forest management to reduce forest fuels. If this is the new “norm” in Washington, then it is high time that “We the People” took back the sovereign power that is vested to us and fire those whose political interests take precedence over the needs of the people.

This also goes for the use of our federal interstate highway system to haul existing state legal loads along the safest route to the mills. We should not allow the federal government- or any federal agency- to hold states hostage by holding back highway funds if they do not comply with federal mandates. We the People should hold those same agencies accountable. We should call for the replacement of personnel as lives are lost due to regulations that only serve to force haulers onto secondary roads where they’re much more likely to be involved in an accident.

Members of the American Loggers Council will once again return to Washington, DC on April 4-6 to

educate the 100+ new representatives on the Hill. We will give them the truth about our industry and the “who, where, why and how” of what we do to promote healthy, sustainable forests. Our strength is in our numbers and the contacts and relationships that we build during our visits. We need to tell our story before someone else tries to tell it for us. You are the expert in your field- no one else- and only you can convey the message that members of Congress need to hear. We ask that you please consider joining our ranks this year and help us, yes, We the People, chart the future and destiny of this profession that we call logging.

As We See ItApril 2019

“Safe Routes Save Lives ”

By Danny Dructor

Since the Spring of 1997, the American Loggers Council has walked the halls of Congress seeking to allow the industry’s trucks the ability to haul state legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway System in order to have available a safer route to the mills where those routes are available.

In the 22 years that we have made that request, not one member of Congress has told us that it was a bad idea, with the majority stating that it just makes sense. Over the course of 22 years, there have been many individual exemptions to allow those tolerances on sections of the Interstate, but it hasn’t come without us pressuring Congress to do the right thing. In Maine, case studies illustrated the safety benefits of this exemption. Here’s an excerpt of a 2010 report from H.O. Bouchard, a large logging and trucking firm, which helped lead to a permanent exemption for their weight tolerances that allows 100,000 pounds on a large portion of I-95.

H.O. Bouchard - Brian Bouchard, President of this large logging firm, decided to record some quantitative data. The company loaded two trucks to 99,800 pounds and measured their performance on two routes: the conventional state-road route that connects Hampden and Houlton a distance of about 120 miles and the newly accessible Interstate route. The driver recorded that, over the local-road route, the truck passed 86 pedestrian crosswalks, 30 street lights, 9 school crossings, 4 hospitals, 4 railroad crossings, and 644 oncoming vehicles. The truck using the Interstate passed zero of each. The truck confined to local roads shifted gears 192 times and applied brakes 68 times. The truck using the Interstate shifted 3 times and applied brakes only once. Apart from a 10-gallon reduction in fuel and corresponding reduction in emissions, says Bouchard, “the avoidance of risk and driver fatigue is huge.”

As most members of Congress have stated, “It just makes sense.” Isn’t it time that members introduced language that allows our trucks to travel on those routes that are safer for the general public and our drivers as well?

As we’ve reported in the past, our efforts have been stymied by the railroad industry and Washington DC lobbyists, who are resistant to any policy changes that might invite competition. However, the policies we are seeking would only pertain to products being hauled in short distances, in this case from the forest to the mill and typically within a 150 air mile radius. We are not seeking exemptions for long-haul, nor to promote competition to the railroads. This is about safety, not profits.

We will once again be in Washington this spring making visits to the Hill, seeking the cooperation of our legislators to introduce legislation that just makes sense

and saves lives and reduces risk in the process. We ask that you please make us aware with examples as to where this just makes sense in order to reduce risk and save lives.

If you have a story that helps illustrate why this solution would result in a safer transportation system, please contact me at americanlogger@aol.com.

Northeast Master Logger Certification Expansion Effort

AUGUSTA, ME – The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program has launched an effort to expand the ranks of Master Loggers in the region through promotion and outreach efforts including in states where numbers of Master Loggers are currently low.

The effort is happening at the same time as an American Loggers Council (ALC) push to reinvigorate and expand the Master Logger brand nationally.

Northeast Master Logger Certification is using targeted mailings to potential Master Loggers and organizations representing loggers or whose membership includes large numbers of loggers to spread awareness of the program and its benefits.

The organization is also reaching out to key people and organizations in the Northeast to promote the program.

Advertising in key publications including logging magazines and newsletters reaching large

more loggers to seek certification and more landowners to choose Master Loggers for harvests. The program is also stepping up visibility at events for loggers and landowners as well as media releases to increase awareness.

Expansion efforts are being aided by an L.L. Bean grant to support Master Logger outreach and communications efforts to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York.

L.L. Bean’s support is based on fostering the kind of responsible timber harvesting and forest management in the Northeast that will encourage landowners to keep their lands undeveloped and open to the public.

There are currently 110 Master Loggers in the Northeast.

If you know of any logger who may be interested in certification, please have them contact:

Ted Wright, Executive Director of the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program at 207 532 8721

Congressional Delegation Updates

The Timber Innovation Act and Community Wood Energy Program: Two Provisions That Will Help Strengthen Our Forest Products Industry

‘Maine’s forest-based economy is an integral part of our state’s heritage and has helped to form the bedrock of many rural communities. The Farm Bill that was signed into law late last year includes key provisions I championed to strengthen this vital industry here in our state and throughout the nation.

The Farm Bill incorporates provisions of the Timber Innovation Act I co-sponsored that establishes a performance-driven research and development, education, and technical assistance program for advancing mass timber building construction in the United States. Mass timber, which consists of timber products engineered for use in the construction of large buildings, is a safe, innovative, effective, and environmentally sound material that is currently being used in structures all over the world to great success. Supporting the use of this material in the United States will help meet sustainability goals, reduce construction time, and benefit rural economies across the country.

The Farm Bill and Maine Forest Products

You wouldn’t think it by watching the arguments on cable TV all the time, but sometimes bipartisan results are accomplished in Congress. That kind of compromise is the product of a lot of hard work and consensus-building. We were fortunate to see this cooperation with the 2018 Farm Bill, which passed the Senate in December by a vote of 87-13 and was signed by the President. And though it may be called the ‘Farm’ Bill, this comprehensive legislation will have an important impact not only on Maine farmers, but on rural Maine people from all walks of life – and particularly on those in the forest products industry.

As we work across all levels of government and with private enterprise in Maine to strengthen the rural economy, common themes have arisen – innovation and opportunity. How can we protect our state’s traditional industries, and also ensure that future generations of Mainers can make a living in the woods? As a friend of mine in Maine says, “There is no single bullet, but there is often silver buckshot.” I am proud to say that provisions we secured in the Farm Bill are part of this buckshot.

Building off the Timber Innovation Act, legislation I sponsored along with Senator Collins, the Farm Bill includes language that will accelerate the research and

Maine is in the midst of reorienting its forest products industry following the downturn of traditional pulp and paper production in our state, and it is encouraging that the Farm Bill establishes a competitive grant program to support innovative wood products research and development at institutions of higher learning. In awarding this research and development funding, priority will be given to proposals that include the use or retrofitting of existing sawmill facilities with higher-than-average unemployment rates, which could be helpful to states such as Maine that are still recovering from the job losses associated with the closure of traditional mills.

The Farm Bill also includes legislation I cosponsored to expand the Community Wood Energy program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better support investments in energy systems and facilities that use lowvalue wood. This authorized $25 million per year to support a grant program for community wood energy systems that help reduce our dependence on oil, offset the costs of forest management, and create jobs in rural forest-dependent communities. In addition to reauthorizing the Community Wood Energy program, my provision provides support for initiatives to help manufacturing plants and mills produce innovative wood products, such as mass timber or wood products from nanotechnology.

Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products industry has helped drive local economies and sustain rural communities. As the economy evolves, I am committed to working with your industry to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.

development of cross laminated timber (CLT) and other engineered wood for use in construction projects. CLT, which can be used in place of steel in buildings up to twelve stories high, is an exciting new opportunity for Maine’s forest products economy. Already, the Mass Timber Commercialization Center at the University of Maine is helping our state lead the way in CLT innovation. The Farm Bill also includes a provision to require federal agencies to accept more methods of sustainably harvested wood, ensuring fairness and increased opportunity in federal purchasing of forest products. With these provisions in place, we can work to grow jobs in our state, and lay the groundwork for young men and women to succeed right here in Maine communities.

There is always more to do for our state’s forest products industry – and I’m here to listen – so please be in touch. Together we can build off the important work secured in the Farm Bill, strengthen the Maine economy, and support hardworking men and women throughout our state.

Sen. Susan Collins

Sen. Angus King

The 116th Congress has been off to a running start since the last edition of the Logger’s Voice. I’m honored to once again represent Maine’s first district and advocate for our state’s unique needs and resources in the U.S. House. We are in the midst of a busy hearing season covering issues that we address every year like the budget to those that have not received much attention in several years like the impact of extreme weather on our communities.

In this Congress, I will continue to serve on the House Appropriations Committee and several subcommittees which are directly connected to our state’s logging industry. In February, I was appointed Vice Chair of the Interior and Environmental subcommittee, which has oversight of the U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And I’m once again excited to serve on the Agriculture subcommittee which has jurisdiction over agencies ranging from the Animal and

This is my first update for The Logger’s Voice, so I’ll take the opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Jared Golden, your congressman representing the people of Maine’s Second District.

I was born and raised in Leeds, Maine, and I have a real appreciation for the significance of forest products in our state. Some farmers in Leeds ran logging operations in the winter months, and growing up I was never too far from the sawmill in Livermore Falls that is now PalletOne.

In Maine, the forest products industry helps drive our economy. Generations of loggers who call our state home are part of Maine’s history and identity. I know the forest products industry faces challenges: workforce shortages, crumbling infrastructure, unfair trade policies, and more. I’m committed to standing up for Maine’s heritage industries and working with them to confront these challenges.

That’s why one of the first bills I introduced was bipartisan legislation with Senator King to encourage young loggers to learn the ropes of the industry. The Future Logging Careers Act allows 16 & 17-year-olds in our great state to work on family logging operations. Under parental supervision, young loggers can carry on and contribute to their family’s business.

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to USDA’s Rural Development.

I’ve also been reappointed to the House Agriculture Committee. As a long-time farmer, agriculture is my passion. That’s why I’m so proud to be back on a committee that has an integral role in creating national food and farming policy. I’ll also serve on the House Agriculture Committee’s Conservation and Forestry subcommittee.

In the coming weeks, Secretary of Agriculture Perdue, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and the Director of the Forest Service will all appear before my committee and I will be raising your concerns regarding Maine’s forest economy, industry and its current and upcoming needs. Whether it is a question about what the Department of Interior is doing to address invasive species or how the Forest Service can help address the shortage of loggers and log truckers in Maine, I look forward to asking the questions and getting the answers that we need. As always, please reach out to my office at any time to make your voice heard with issues that you would like to see us address in Congress. I am eager to hear from you and hopefully see you out and about in Maine.

Our bill will better prepare Maine’s young people for good-paying careers in logging, help sustain rural Maine family businesses, and boost the economy in our state’s rural communities. Maine’s timber industry hires over 7,000 people and contributes more than $850 million to the state’s economy. I’ll do everything in my power to grow those numbers and support loggers in our state. This bill is just the start. I am looking forward to working closely with the forest products industry. Going forward, you’ll find me all over our state meeting with loggers, their families, and many others in our heritage industries. These conversations drive the work I do in Congress. What I hear from Maine people will help me find solutions that invest in our infrastructure, work with Maine’s colleges and universities to support innovation in logging and forest products, and find new ways to add value to forestry products right here in Maine.

I’d like to hear from you. Call my nearest office to share your thoughts or set up a meeting:

Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

Caribou: (207) 492-6009

Bangor: (207) 249-7400

Washington: (202) 225-6306

It’s an honor to represent Maine’s Second District in Congress. I look forward to working with you.

Rep. Chellie Pingree

Rep. Jared Golden