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/