The Logger's VOICE - Summer 2019

From the President

By Jim Nicols

Hello Everyone

I hope everyone’s summer is off to a good start. It seems it took a while to get here this year with such a wet and cold spring. It was a couple of weeks later than usual drying out around my neck of the woods.

I would like to take the time to thank everyone for the great turnout for the annual meeting. I think that we had over 200 people attend the day’s events. It was a huge success. It was the first time in a long time that we held it in the southern part of the state. Everyone that I talked to seemed to enjoy themselves.

Congratulations to all of the award winners. They are all so deserving and should be very proud. I would like to thank everyone for their generosity, donating over $50,000 this year to Log a Load for Kids. It is such a great cause to raise this money for the children, our future. Thanks to Scott Hanington for running the auction again this year. Keep up the great work.

One topic that keeps coming up as I talk to other contractors is the labor shortage. Everyone is running short on people and trying to do the best they can. It is not just logging, there are help wanted signs everywhere. I believe it could get worse before it gets better. Hopefully it is not a battle between contractors for the very skilled workers it takes to run these expensive machines. The third Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP) class started in late June to train future employees for logging companies. Please do whatever you can to support the MLOP program. Check out the school on site up in Stratton if you get a chance. The students would be thrilled to have you go and talk to them about logging and your company needs. Thank you to all of the sponsors and donors for the program. Without them we wouldn’t be able to hold these classes. This year I believe we had over 50 applicants for the 16 or so open slots so there is definitely a need for more sessions. Our goal is to be able to hold multiple classes per year.

This spring Dana was incredibly busy with representing us at the legislature, supporting some bills and opposing others. Too many to list here. Hopefully you are getting Dana’s weekly updates on that. If not, call or email the PLC office to get on the list so that you can be informed and get involved.

The PLC should be moving into our new building in Augusta right beside where we are located now sometime in July. All the renovations are nearly complete. Stop by and check it out. It is very nice.

Lastly, I believe we had over 1000 people attend our Spring Safety trainings. This is the first time we topped that number. They continue to get better and bigger every year. There are many people that help with that and we thank you all.

Enjoy your summer Jimmy

Contractor Members Supporting Members

Fortune Trucking of Washington, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in May 2019. The company has a professional staff of 3. For more information call Nick at 207-975-9445 or email nicktfortune@gmail.com

LJG Woodlands LLC of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in April 2019. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information call Lucas at (207) 8346329 or email luc4683@yahoo.com.

MW Trucking and Logging Inc. of Norway, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in April 2019. The company has a professional staff of 4. For more information call Milo at (207) 890-3592 or email milowasher@gmail.com.

Pine Ridge Timber of Phillips, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in May 2019. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of 3. For more information call Vincent at 207-592-6472 or email pineridgetimber@gmail.com

Ouellette Logging Inc. of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in May 2019. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information call Jacob at 207 -834-3839.

R.W. Day Logging of West Baldwin, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in April 2019. The company has a professional staff of 3. R.W. Day Logging is a Master Logger certified company. For more information call Ricky at (207) 272-6512.

SKS Furbush Logging LLC of Smithfield, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in May 2019. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information call Westley at 207-431-4324.

Dysart's Lubricants of Bangor, ME joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in June of 2019. The company carries a large line of Chevron, Service Pro, and Castrol supplies. And offers Bulk Lube and DEF Deliveries, Packaged Goods, Lube Equipment Installation and Loan Program, Oil Analysis and Castrol Labcheck. For more information go to www.dysarts.com or contact Chou Lebel at 207944-4360 or chou@dysarts.com.

Northeast Pellets, LLC of Ashland, ME joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in June of 2019. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of Super Premium Wood Pellets. For more information go to www.northeastpellets.net or contact Matthew Bell at (207) 435-6230 or northeastpellets@aol.com.

The View from the Middle

By Dana Doran

“...no country can be well governed unless its citizens as a body keep religiously before their minds that they are the guardians of the law and that the law officers are only the machinery for its execution, nothing more.”

Mark TwainThe Gilded Age

It certainly is a new day in Augusta and the importance of the PLC as a steward of the industry to watch over the work of the Legislature and the Governor is just as important as it has ever been. From my perspective, this quote from Mark Twain is very appropriate as without the work we do on a daily basis in Augusta, this industry might cease to exist or be a shell of itself if our elected officials did not hear directly from us.

The first priority of the PLC in 2019 was to establish relationships with the new Governor and also help guide the new administration with respect to their selections for Commissioners and important Bureau Directors. One of the most important selections for the Governor was the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Amanda Beal was announced in early January to take over that position and immediately, the PLC reached out to Ms. Beal and began discussing the role of the

Dept. in regards to our industry. Ms. Beal was very receptive to our input and thus far has worked hard to ensure that she has our perspective in mind with respect to the work that the Dept. does on a daily basis.

The second position that the PLC worked hard on with the new administration was the Director of the Maine Forest Service (MFS). Ms. Beal solicited our input for this position and we were excited to hear that Patty Cormier, a longtime District Forester for MFS was appointed by Ms. Beal to this position in early May. Ms. Cormier was the PLC’s choice to replace Doug Denico and we are looking forward to working with her as she takes the reins of the organization.

Turning our attention to the Legislature, the first session of the 129th edition of this branch of government is now in the books as it finally adjourned sine die (without day) at 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 20th . With a sense of urgency not to extend the session beyond the statutory date of adjournment for the first time in three years, many issues were carried over to 2020 and consensus was not found on quite a few big ideas such as a bond package and other substantial pieces of legislation.

Governor Mills has signed more than 200 bills into law this session and vetoed less than a dozen which is quite a

From the Executive Director

change from the last eight years. What this means in terms of cost and benefit will play out once these initiatives go into effect later this year and we will know very soon the total impact of this legislative session.

The Legislature may have to come back in July or August to deal with any new vetoes from the Governor as well as a bond package, but for now, they have left town and no more new big ideas can be taken up at this point until 2020.

As we look forward to the future of this industry, now is a good time to review the damage that was done this past session as well as the opportunities that were created to strengthen and expand the work you do every day.

Bond Package

Near the end of the session, Governor Mills proposed a bond package for infrastructure, economic development, workforce development and energy. The bond proposal invests $19 million to support workforce training, career and technical education and their capital needs. The bond package also provides $10 million in municipal energy projects, with more efficient heating technology, and $5 million in low interest loans for clean energy projects for homeowners in Maine. And finally, the last pillar of the investment package is a $105 million transportation bond to pay for critical upgrades in improvements to transportation

infrastructure. The Appropriations Committee voted 8-5 in favor, with 8 D’s in support and 5 R’s against, of the Governor’s bill and moved it to the floor. The Republicans announced that they would only support a bond for transportation this session as they felt that the final state budget was too big and several other initiatives such as sick time, workers’ comp. and abortion were too costly and therefore this was their point of leverage. On the floor, votes were taken on a complete package with Republicans in opposition. Thus, as a result of not achieving 2/3rd’s support to send the package to the voters in November, the bill was carried over to 2020 and the legislature may take up a bond package during veto day or in a special session later this summer, but for now, there is no bond package that has achieved support from both caucuses.

Sick Time

The Governor signed a bill into law this session which requires employers with 10 or more employees, employed for more than 120 days per year, to provide one hour of earned leave for every 40 hours worked. It will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns the 1st session of the 129th Legislature.

Effectively, what this bill states is that an employee is entitled to earn one hour of paid leave for every forty hours worked, up to forty hours in one year of

Doran Continued Page 13

Western Maine Timberlands logging underway in Brownfield in May.

LEE - Like many loggers before him, Terry Raymond, owner of T. Raymond Forest Products Inc. started working in the woods at a young age and has never really considered another career. The truth is even if he wanted to, he hasn’t had time. He’s too busy.

In the words of his daughter, Hollie Worster, “He works seven days a week.” On weekdays that means leaving the house shortly after midnight and not getting home until 4:30 p.m. on average. He’s the first on the job site and usually the last to leave. On the weekends, he generally does dirt work including septic system installations and driveways, and is never idle for long.

No one chooses a career in logging because they think it’s going to be easy, and while he can get tired of it from time to time, especially in the cold and snow of winter, he still likes being in the woods.

“My father always cut wood, and I grew right up in the woods helping him. He bought a skidder in 1972 and I helped him through high school with that. After I graduated in 1975 I continued working for him until I bought my first cable skidder in 1977. I then worked subcontracting for MacDonald Logging, Thompson Trucking and Orland Dwelley until 1995,” Terry said. “I always liked it, you can be your own boss.”

T. Raymond was officially founded in 1977 and grew from that small beginning into one of the larger contractors in the region. It has always been a family business. Terry’s wife, Paula, worked running the office for years until in 1998 the Raymonds started Raymond’s Variety and Diner in Lee - a very successful business itself that she runs to this day. Terry’s late father, Lawrence, “Smokey” Raymond, worked for T. Raymond Forest Products into his 80s. Terry’s brother, Albert, worked with him when the business first started and for many years after. His brother, Garnet, has been with him since 1989 and runs a feller buncher today. Hollie joined him after graduating from Husson College in 1998 to run the office when her mother left to run the store. Son, Terry “Tee” operated grapple skidder during the summers while attending school before going on to work at GE. Other family members have also worked for the company.

The business grew over the years and in 1990 began the switch to mechanized logging with the purchase of a rubber tired John Deere 743 harvester. Next came grapple skidders to replace the cable skidders. As time went on more machines were added, and T. Raymond has been fully mechanized for a long

T. Raymond Forest Products

time now. It currently has three mechanized crews operating one Komatsu X430 feller buncher, and John Deere feller bunchers, stroke delimbers, and grapples.

The company does most of its own trucking, currently running 6-7 Peterbilts daily with more available at the garage in Lee if needed. T. Raymond also builds and maintains logging roads and has a grader, excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks.

Terry has run everything over the years, “I wouldn’t buy anything if I didn’t know how to run it,” he said, but for many years now he’s run crane/slasher on the logging jobs. He also likes running bulldozers, and he’s fond of a 1997 Peterbilt truck that he’s had for many years.

At its height in the 2000s, T. Raymond Forest Products had four crews and was about twice as large as it is now. The company currently has 21 employees.

T. Raymond Forest Products owes much of its

success to its dedicated and reliable employees, many of whom worked or have worked for the company for a long time. Some of the current and past long-term employees at T. Raymond in addition to members of the family include the late Jeff McLaughlin, who worked 23 years running crane and feller buncher; Jeff Rideout who has worked 22 years as a mechanic and still keep things running on a daily basis; Mickey Day, who has driven trucks for 15 years, Jay Worster, who has worked a total of 15 years as a delimber operator in two stints with the company; Fred Goodwin, who has driven trucks for 14 years; Brad Noyes, who has worked a total of 12 years over a couple stints operating delimber and feller buncher and Joel Campbell, who has run grapple skidders for 12 years.

There have been ups and downs over the years. The recession and closure of many Maine pulp and paper mills hit T. Raymond hard just as it did other loggers in the

T. Raymond

Photos: Background, aerial view of T. Raymond operation underway. Top right, father and daughter, Hollie Worster and Terry Raymond.

Bottom right, Garnet Raymond in Komatsu feller buncher on the move down a private logging road to a new location.

T. Raymond Continued from Page 11 16 state. Lately the markets seem to have stabilized and things are better than they were a couple of years ago when the list of mills shutting down was discouraging for everyone in the industry. Unlike many other logging contractors in the region, T. Raymond never ventured into chipping, which has turned out to be a good thing given the loss of biomass mills in northern Maine.

Rising equipment and fuel costs have also been a challenge. Route 6, which the company travels every day, is in poor condition and hard on trucks. T. Raymond has a good, reliable set of employees, but workers are getting older - T. Raymond’s youngest employee is 23 but the next youngest is in his 40s and many are nearing retirement age or already past it. It is also hard to hire new workers. Like just about every other logging contractor in the state, T. Raymond finds it tough to compete with the wages drivers

“

T. Raymond Forest Products is a multi-faceted, full service independent logging contractor. Much of Terry’s crew and equipment operators have been with him for many, many years. The crew is very experienced and does high quality work,” Travis said, “T Raymond Forest Products harvests and delivers to mills annually 135,000 tons of tree length round wood. Harvest operations are mainly focused in Eastern Washington County and Central Penobscot County. They construct, rebuild and surface annually over ten miles of logging roads per year. Terry himself operates many pieces of the road construction equipment. He also grades over 43 miles of logging roads every season and has done so for the last 20 years.”

Hollie said T. Raymond worked for Wagner in the Katahdin Ironworks region around Brownville and Milo until 2003 and has mainly been in Washington County ever since, mostly in areas

Vanceboro, Waite, Crawford, and points

Wood from goes everywhere in the state, but some of the main destinations include Woodland Pulp, Pleasant River Lumber, H.C. Haynes yards, Verso yards, Sappi, and Louisiana

T. Raymond

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

after recognizing the PLC was fighting for the logging industry

Hollie said, and also opportunity afforded

One move that has turned out to be a good one for the company was going to work for Wagner Forest Management Ltd. in 1995. T. Raymond has been with Wagner ever since and it has been a good relationship.

Wagner has a high opinion of T. Raymond’s work, its strength as a family business, and the range of capabilities the company brings to the job, according to Travis B. Howard, a Regional Supervisor for Wagner in Bangor.

program, which rewards eligible logging contractors who are members of the group with refunds of a portion of their premiums if certain measures are met by the entire safety group.

A lot has changed in the industry and for the company since her father first began logging in the 1970s, but one thing has never changed no matter how big the company he founded has gotten, Hollie said.

“He’s in there every day with them,” Hollie said.

“He’ll probably never give it up.”

Doran Continued from Page 9 16

employment. Accrual of leave begins at the start of employment, but the employer is not required to permit leave before the employee has been employed with that employer for 120 days during a one-year period. An employee taking earned leave shall be paid at least the same base rate of pay that the employee received immediately prior to taking earned leave and the same benefits as those provided under established policies of the employer pertaining to other types of paid leave.

Since this is earned time, which is what PLC employers already provide to their employees in other forms (vacation, sick, personal), the PLC did object to this legislation, except the requirement that it be provided after only 120 days of employment for new workers.

Workers Comp.

The Governor signed LD 756 into law on Monday, June 17th . It will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns the 1st session of the 129th Legislature.

The Democrats introduced 25 bills this session to reform workers’ comp. and may have achieved nothing if certain business trade associations didn’t attempt to compromise before they needed to. Unfortunately, because of this inappropriate negotiation, we were forced to give in on the first benefit increases in almost thirty years, but we were also successful in creating necessary system efficiencies that should help balance out some of the benefit increases. That said, the Governor gave her word that there will be no more workers’ comp. changes for the next seven years if she holds the Office of Governor for that period of time. We also want to thank the entire Republican caucus for their help in this negotiation. They were steadfast supporters of our position and were responsible for getting to the final negotiation and an acceptable outcome.

See the charts at right for a summary of what’s in the bill.

LD 756 Benefit Increases

LD 756 System Improvements

Doran Continued from Page 136

LD 1459, An Act To Expand Application of the Maine Agricultural Marketing

and

Bargaining Act

of

to Harvesters and Haulers of Forest Products. On Friday, June 7, 2019, the Governor signed this bill into law. It will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns the 1st session of the 129th Legislature. Prior law provided authorization for farmers to join cooperative organizations and requires handlers of agricultural products to bargain in good faith with such organizations because agricultural products are produced by numerous individual farmers and the marketing and bargaining position of individual farmers will be adversely affected unless they are able to join together. This new law recognizes that market forces that affect the marketing and bargaining position of individual farmers similarly affect the marketing and bargaining position of individual harvesters and haulers of forest products, and it expands application of the Maine Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973 to include harvesters and haulers of forest products. It is unclear at this point what impact this legislation will have, but at a minimum, it provides the opportunity for contractors to discuss prices without the threat of an antitrust violation. The PLC will be reviewing this legislation over the coming days and weeks to determine the impact it will have on the membership.

1973

bill back to the Tax Committee to carry it over into next session. While we don’t like that move, the fact is, they were defeated this session, and they could reintroduce a similar bill next year anyway.

Your phone calls and outreach paid off. I believe this bill would have sailed through if we hadn’t made the combined effort to find some Democrats to support our position. Senate Democrats who supported us are: Senators Mike Carpenter from Aroostook, Jim Dill from Penobscot (he told me his loggers weighed in heavily!), Mark Lawrence of York, Erin Herbig of Waldo, Louis Luchini of Hancock and Bill Diamond of Cumberland County.

LD 420, An Act to Amend the Maine Exclusion

Amount in the Estate Tax. This bill would have reduced the estate tax exclusion amount to $2 million from $5.7 million for estates of descendants dying on or after January 1, 2020 and would have removed the annual adjustment for inflation of that exclusion amount. This would mean the Maine estate tax rate, ranging from 8% to 12%, would be incurred by estates valued over $2 million. With the help of our membership, a united front from Republicans and some brave Democrats in each body, the PLC was successful in defeating this nonsensical legislation this session. The Maine Senate voted 19 to 12 to defeat LD 420 after the House had defeated the bill earlier in the week. Following our successful vote in the Senate, Senator Libby (D-Auburn (moved to table the bill. From there, the Senate Democrats moved to report the

LD 1494 An Act To Reform Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard. This bill increases the percentage of supply sources for retail electricity sales in the state that must be accounted for by new renewable capacity resources from 10% to 50% by 2030. The PLC had been working with a consortium on this bill since June 2018 and supported it throughout the process. This legislation will bring sustainability to the volatile biomass market with long term contracts and it will also help grow markets for low grade wood (pellets and chips) with the introduction of thermal renewable energy credits. The legislation is now on the Governor’s desk and she is expected to sign it. The legislation will stabilize and grow the wood energy sector significantly in Maine for years to come and it should bring stability to biomass for the long term.

LD 1698, An Act To Create Jobs and Slow Climate Change by Promoting the Production of Natural Resources Bioproducts; This bill provides a tax credit for the production of renewable chemicals by the conversion of renewable biomass from the forest, farms, the sea or solid waste. The credit is equal to 7¢ per pound of renewable chemical produced in the State, 9¢ per pound of renewable chemical produced in the State if the taxpayer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department of Economic and Community Development that the contractors hired or retained by a landowner to harvest renewable biomass used in production of the renewable

chemicals are 3rd-party certified by the Northeast Master Logger program or successor program and at least 50% of the contractors' employees are residents of the United States or 12¢ per pound of renewable chemical produced in the State if the taxpayer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department of Economic and Community Development that the contractors hired or retained by a landowner to harvest renewable biomass used in such production are 3rdparty certified by the Northeast Master Logger program and at least 75% of the contractors' employees are residents of the United States. This bill passed the House and Senate unanimously, was approved by the Appropriations Committee and is on the Governor’s desk where she is expected to sign it into law.

LD 912 An Act to Establish the Wood Energy Investment Program. This bill would create the Wood Energy Investment Program within the Efficiency Maine Trust, to be funded by money left over from the biomass stabilization program and the Stored Solar contract. It requires the trust to use funds from the fund, if there are any, to provide incentives and low-interest or no-interest loans for new wood-derived thermal energy or cogeneration projects. It requires that the trust consult with the Finance Authority of Maine, when appropriate, in the development of any Wood Energy Investment Program incentives and the distribution of money from the wood energy investment fund. The bill passed both the House and Senate and was sent to the Governor for signature. Unfortunately, the Legislature used the Stored Solar money for other purposes, so this would have created a program with no funding. In a strange twist of events on the last day of the session, the Governor asked the Legislature to recall the bill and carry it over to 2020. She did not want to sign the bill as written as it did not include a source of funding for the new program. We took this as a positive sign that perhaps she actually wants to try to fund it through a supplemental appropriation in the next legislative session in 2020. Stay tuned for more on this bill in 2020.

LD 261, An Act to Restrict the Authority for Posting of Roads, proposed to do three things: 1) impose

a restriction on a public way being posted for more than 6 weeks at a time unless written justification to continue the restriction is made publicly available before the end of the 6-week period; 2) exempt commercial trucks from size and weight restrictions for vehicles on a public way during any period when the temperature is below 31 degrees Fahrenheit (no more water in the cracks); and 3) impose restrictions that prevent a commercial entity from operating the entity's vehicles on the public way where it is headquartered or where it is conducting its business activities. The PLC testified in support of the legislation, but the Transportation Committee asked the PLC to work with the Maine Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) on resolving the issues without legislation this session. The committee voted ONTP but will sent a letter to MDOT which directs them to take action on a whole list of new items to help correct the issues that PLC members have with road postings. MDOT will report back to the Transportation Committee in 2020 on the work that they have accomplished.

LD 1301, An Act Regarding the Confidentiality of Investigations by the Bureau of Forestry, This bill, which was a PLC priority, makes all complaints and investigative records of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry related to violations of the forestry laws confidential during the pendency of an investigation. The bill provides exceptions to allow disclosures to department employees and other agencies and otherwise as determined warranted by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The provision or disclosure of investigative records of the Department of the Attorney General to a Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry employee designated by the commissioner does not constitute a waiver of the confidentiality of those records. A person who knowingly or intentionally makes a disclosure in violation of this provision commits a civil violation for which a fine not to exceed $1,000 may be adjudged. Commissioner Beal from the Dept. of ACF asked the PLC to eliminate this bill for the time being to allow the new Director of the MFS to create a formal policy Doran Continued Page 16

which will effectively substantiate what is in this bill. The PLC agreed and will work with Director Cormier to ensure this policy development takes place.

LD 1156, An Act To Create the Small Business Savings Account Program. This bill, which was a PLC priority, establishes a Savings Account Program for Small Businesses which would allow small businesses to make pretax contributions to qualifying savings accounts. The bill also establishes that withdrawals from the savings accounts are taxable when utilized for the business. The PLC testified in support of this legislation and worked with the bill sponsor and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development on a revised version of the bill during the session. The bill sponsor presented what he thought was a final version to the committee, but Maine Revenue Services still found issues with the bill that they wanted rectified before moving forward. Since it was so late in the session, the committee voted to carry the bill over to 2020 and move forward with it next year in final form.

LD 1498, An Act To Provide Equity for Commercial Vehicles on Roads and Bridges in Maine. A PLC priority bill this session, current law allows certain commercial vehicles at Canadian weight limits that are higher than those in this State to travel from the United States -Canada border to certain points in this State. The PLC testified in favor of the bill and also told the Committee that if they are not interested in increasing gross and axle weights, that they should eliminate the higher weight tolerances on three bridges for Canadian trucks. The Committee carried the bill over to next session and asked the Maine Dept. of Transportation to conduct an economic impact study this fall on the current exemption. The study will review how the exemption is hurting Maine loggers and truckers, what getting rid of the exemption would do to the mills that benefit and how are heavier weights impacting the roads and bridges.

LD 1540, An Act Concerning Timber Harvesting on Public Lands and in State Parks, Historic Sites and the Restricted Zone of the Allagash. A PLC priority this session, this bill amends and enacts provisions regarding the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,

Bureau of Parks and Lands' management of timber harvesting on state property under its jurisdiction, including: 1. requiring the bureau to report on the State's actual and potential forest inventory status and needs, including the need for a sawmill or other forest products processing facility to be located in the state; 2. requiring contractors harvesting timber at state parks to be established businesses in the state, requiring contractors to be Master Logger certified, requiring contractors to own 50% of their own equipment to be used on the job, requiring contractors to have workers’ compensation insurance, and requiring all timber to be purchased by the contractor under a stumpage sale instead of service contracts; and 3. requiring forest products harvested, unless used by the state parks, to be sold to a sawmill or other forest products processing or manufacturing facility located in the State to be processed or manufactured at the facility. The PLC testified in favor of the bill because it believes strongly that contractors should benefit from harvesting on public lands and Master Loggers should be recognized for their work. Similar to LD 1301, Commissioner Beal from the Dept. of ACF asked the PLC to eliminate this bill for the time being to allow the new Director of Parks and Lands to investigate these issues and determine the best path forward to assist with these issues. The PLC agreed and will work with Director Cutko to ensure this policy development takes place.

In summary, this was a long and arduous legislative session as there were over 1,800 bills printed and heard in front of committees. As a result, there was a lot of work for the PLC to push forward initiatives that could help our industry and push back upon those that would not. However, at the end of the day, the session could have been a lot worse in terms of raising the cost of doing business and hurting this industry for the long run. There were also a lot of bills that will help raise the bar for this industry and the rightful place of loggers and truckers in Maine was not only protected but was expanded as a result of the work that the PLC does in Augusta. Being in the middle in Augusta can have its challenges, but it is exactly where the PLC needs to be. Have a great summer and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions on what transpired this session or what is on the horizon.

Dana.

Doran Continued from Page 156

The PLC of Maine 24th Annual Meeting

Record 51,866 Raised!

OXFORD - The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine held its 24th Annual Meeting Friday, April 26, raising $51,866 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine and presenting awards to businesses, individuals, and legislators from across Maine for their outstanding contributions to the logging industry.

The meeting was held at a new location this year, the Oxford Casino & Event Center at 777 Casino Way, Oxford, ME. and included a morning meeting of the membership. The morning events were followed by a luncheon with President of the Senate Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon as speakers. A social hour in the afternoon was followed by the annual PLC Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction, then the annual PLC Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Second-district Congressman Jared Golden of Lewiston was the featured speaker for the evening.

The $51,866 raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine was a new record for the PLC event, topping the previous record of $46,311 set in 2018.

“Our Annual Meeting is a time to reflect, a time to celebrate and a time to plan for the future,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran, said. “The PLC has made important strides on behalf of loggers, forest contractors, and forest

truckers over the past year and stands ready to continue its work on behalf of the industry for years to come. Our members should be proud of what they have accomplished this year, and especially proud of what was accomplished here for the children tonight.”

The Annual Meeting is one of the PLC’s major fund-raisers for the Log A Load for Kids Foundation to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. Last year total PLC fund-raising for the cause exceeded $122,000

The PLC and the Northern Light Health Foundation (formerly Eastern Maine Health Systems Foundation) have raised more than $1 million for Log A Load since 1996. Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that has received support for years from the PLC’s Log A Load efforts.

In 2019, the PLC is expanding its Log A Load campaign by partnering with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland to offer a second annual golf tournament in southern Maine (Sept. 6 at Lake Kezar Country Club in Lovell) in addition to its longstanding tournament in northern Maine (Sept. 20 JATO Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln). All funds raised will be disbursed equally between Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Children’s Miracle Network Family, the LeClercs, at the PLC Annual Meeting.

PLC Awards 2019

PLC Logger of the Year Award: This award recognizes a PLC Logging Contractor for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession. The winner is:

Kimball & Sons Logging

PLC President This award is presented to an individual or organization within the PLC which has had a significant and positive impact on the PLC and the logging industry in Maine. The winner is:

Melanie Campbell (Cross Insurance)

PLC Impact Award: Each year, the PLC recognizes someone from the public sector who has demonstrated a commitment to the logging industry and made a significant impact for its improvement. This year the award goes to two individuals. The winners are:

Maine State Representatives Nathan Wadsworth and Michelle Dunphy

Acadia Insurance Safety Award: This award is given to a company that continuously demonstrates safety throughout their business. The winner is:

Chopper One Inc.

PLC Community Service Award: This award is given annually to a PLC Member, Supporting Member or affiliated organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to giving back to their community. The winner is:

Scott Hanington

PLC Supporting Member Award: This award is presented to a PLC Supporting Member that has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to logging contractors in Maine. The winner is:

Acadia Insurance

Congratulations

to all 2019 Award Winners

OWNERS: Pleasant River Lumber

YEAR FOUNDED: 2016

ADDRESS: 162 Hinckley Road, Clinton, ME 04927

PHONE NUMBER: (207) 426-8588

EMPLOYEES: 35

TRUCKS: 28

AREA OF OPERATION: East Coast of the United States, particularly Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts

SERVICES PROVIDED: Hauling roundwood, lumber, wood byproducts including bark and chips and sawdust, trash, cement blocks, bricks, and more.

PLC FOREST CONTRACTOR SINCE: 2016

Photos

Top: Chaffee Transport, LLC in Clinton, ME.

Below: Pleasant River Lumber Trailer ready to roll.

Opposite: Chaffee truck in Clinton.

WHY DID THE COMPANY JOIN PLC: Owner Pleasant River Lumber, a PLC Preferred Supporting Member, saw membership for Chaffee as an additional way to support the PLC.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE PLC TO WORK ON: Educate the public about trucking, its importance, and safety rules for the road. Work to ensure taxes collected from trucking go where they were intended - to support roads, infrastructure and other things the industry needs.

Trucking section Continued Page 22

Trucking Industry News...

FMCSA Updates ELD FAQs...

Recently, FMCSA made the following updates to the ELD Frequently Asked Questions. The question below has been revised (updates are in bold).

What must a driver do if there is an electronic logging device (ELD) malfunction?

If an ELD malfunctions, a driver must:

1. Note the malfunction of the ELD and provide written notice of the malfunction to the motor carrier within 24 hours;

2. Reconstruct the record of duty status (RODS) for the current 24-hour period and the previous 7 consecutive days, and record the records of duty status on graph-grid paper logs, or electronic logging software, that comply with 49 CFR 395.8, unless the driver already has the records or retrieves them from the ELD; and Continue to manually prepare RODS in accordance with 49 CFR 395.8 until the ELD is serviced and back in compliance. The recording of the driver’s hours of service on a paper log, or electronic logging software, cannot continue for more than 8 days after the malfunction; a driver that continues to record his or her hours of service

on a paper log, or electronic logging software, beyond 8 days risk being placed out of service.

The question below is a new addition to the ELD FAQs:

When should a driver use paper logs or electronic logging software if an ELD malfunction occurs?

A driver should only use paper logs, or electronic logging software, or other electronic means to record their HOS if the ELD malfunction hinders the accurate recording of the driver’s hours-of-service data (i.e., 10/11, 14/15, 60/70 hours; or 30 minute).

Learn more here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours -service/elds/faqs

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 began April 1, 2019. You can access the payment portal at Maine BMV here:

https://apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/ucr/index.pl

OAKLAND - Wallingford’s Inc. is a company with operations and facilities on two continents, thousands of dealers, and a thick catalog of products marketed to customers across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Yet this leading international wholesaler of tire chain, logging, and industrial supplies started out small, with its roots in logging and snowmobiling in West Forks, Maine.

John “Jay” Wallingford, President and CEO of the company, remembers growing up working for his late father, Richard Wallingford, who had a large logging operation using horses before cable skidders came along to replace them. His father never lost his love of horses after

the days of logging with them were done, and many recall him as one of the best draft horsemen in the United States - he and his horses still hold the world record for the largest load ever pulled by a two-horse team.

“He was a lifelong logger up in West Forks so I was born and raised in logging. I always liked it because I always had a job,” Jay said, recalling starting out as a young boy cleaning horse stalls and progressing over the years to hooking tongs from a cable crane loading logs, and eventually building logging roads with heavy equipment, always appreciating the ability to earn some money for clothes. “I was the best dressed person in my class.”

Being in West Forks, the Wallingfords were also

Logging chokers coming off the line at Wallingford’s New Hampton, NH facility.

into snowmobiles, and by high school, Jay was heavily into racing them. He graduated from high school in 1970, then graduated from Unity College with a degree in criminal justice in 1972 and returned to West Forks with no clear idea of what he wanted to do. His father happened to be planning on building a new garage for his logging business and Jay and a friend took on the job and built it. Jay at that time was racing for a company out of Quebec and needed to keep a lot of parts on hand, and so they got the idea of putting in a showroom in the garage and selling snowmobiles and parts for them. This led to the founding of R.L. Wallingford and Son.

The showroom had not been in existence for long when one day a station wagon pulled up to the garage in West Forks and a man named Dave Tilton got out. Tilton and his brother Steve were the founders of Tilton Equipment Co., which was the U.S. importer of Jonsered chain saws. He was looking for dealers to sell them. The Wallingfords recognized an opportunity.

“So suddenly we became the third Jonsered dealer in the entire country,” Jay said. “So with the advent of the chainsaws that ultimately led us to logging supplies, and as I learned more on the logging supply side I just saw a wholesale opportunity. There was some risk involved and I approached my father and said look, I’d like to go in this direction. I’d like to buy your interest out and liquidate the retail assets and raise the money to build the company that is now today Wallingford’s Incorporated.”

His father agreed. That was in 1975, and that is how the company began. But to fully understand Wallingford’s growth and influence since those early days, you have to consider the company’s innovation in identifying or developing products to meet needs in the logging industry, not just here in Maine, but worldwide.

The list of innovations introduced by Wallingford’s over the years is a long one, but it starts with the J1 choker system, a real game changer developed by the company that launched Wallingford’s on its way to larger success.

Introduced in the early 1970s, the J1 provided an easy and affordable fix for converting the chain choker systems used on cable skidders to cable chokers that were

more suited to the needs of Maine loggers skidding loads of small diameter softwood. It sold then, and it’s still a big seller today in regions like the Appalachians where cable skidders remain in common use.

More innovations followed (see sidebar), and more success with them.

The influence of Wallingford’s is evident when you look at the list of products developed by or adopted by Wallingford’s and then at other products on the market today produced by competitors, Jay said.

“You’d be hard pressed to find one that hasn’t been copied,” Jay said.

As the company grew, Jay hired a business manager, Bob Hirschfield, to administer it and went on the road full-time handling sales. Bob today is a partner in Wallingford’s, owning 49 percent of the company while Jay retains 51 percent.

Wallingford’s remained in West Forks for several years until changes in federal trucking regulations led to a loss of daily freight service to the area, forcing the company to move south in the early 1980s.

Wallingford’s relocated its main base of operations to Pembrook, New Hampshire. Later it moved to Tilton, and still later to New Hampton where it remains today. Jay chose to stay in Maine, focused on regional sales, and in 1986 he founded BABAC® Traction Products - a pioneering U.S. tire chain manufacturer notable for its development of the UForm® stud.

“With the advent of the grapple skidder as opposed to the cable skidder, the imported case hardened chains just weren’t working, they were breaking, so we thought we needed to come up with something new and different, which is what we did,” Jay said of BABAC® .

BABAC® still manufactures its products at a plant right in Winslow, Maine. A tour of the facility shows several innovations and procedures that can’t be shared in this article due to the competitive nature of the industry, but which increase efficiency, quality, and customer service. Efforts to improve conditions for workers are an important part of the company’s approach, as are testing and tracking of products and components used in them and

Wallingford’s Continued Page 26

Cable being coiled before button installation at Wallingford’s New Hampton, NH facility.

a system flexible enough to produce specialized orders for customers with specific requests, Justin Wener, Plant Manager, said.

“We have testing requirements so that we know the component is good before it gets into production. We have traceability, we have quality control, and we can design anything that you want.” Justin said.

Manufacturing for Wallingford’s is concentrated

at the plant in New Hampton, New Hampshire, where workers efficiently turn out chain and cable products. The factory is a beehive of activity, with production rolling, freight moving in and out, and the offices upstairs coordinating everything. Worker pride in the products is evident when you talk to employees there, as it is throughout the company.

The headquarters for Wallingford’s is still in

Maine, at a modern, attractive office located in Oakland. There, a team of a dozen sales, marketing, and information technology specialists coordinate the massive job of getting the quality products Wallingford’s manufactures or is the distributor for - like Clark Tracks, GB Bars, and Nordchain - to a network of more than 3,000 dealers, distributors and OEMs(original equipment manufacturers) across North America and Europe while constantly seeking new dealers and opportunities.

The current office is a far cry from the days when Jay was effectively the entire sales staff for Wallingford’s, working out of a home office. He later moved to a house on Oak Street in Oakland as sales staff grew, then to the current Kennedy Memorial Drive location in the early 2000s.

While Wallingford’s maintains a presence in the field and will do whatever is necessary to serve its dealers and customers, one key to success and expansion has been the move to inside sales Jay said.

That decision is one he made after traveling across the country to meet with a dealer in Ohio. He flew to

Pittsburgh, rented a car, drove out to the meeting, and sat down and began talking with the dealer, but every time the phone rang the dealer stopped and picked it up. He realized then the phone was a far more effective way to reach dealers than the expensive and time consuming practice of face to face meetings, Jay said.

Since then, the progression of communications and marketing online has been dramatic, and today

Wallingford’s sales team still travels to see dealers and talk to customers, but not on a daily or weekly basis.

The move to inside sales also allowed the company to expand beyond the Northeast, Ohio, and Pennsylvania across the rest of the U.S., Canada, and eventually Europe. The company added distribution facilities in the Netherlands in 2009, Edmonton, Alberta in 2012, and Montreal, Quebec in 2016.

Today Wallingford’s continues to build on its success by staying on top of industry needs. When the company identifies a need, it searches the globe for a product to meet it and if successful becomes the wholesaler for that product. If no product exists, Wallingford’s

Wallingford’s Continued Page 28

development team goes to work to design and manufacture one. The company retains a strong focus on forestry related products.

Over the last five years, Wallingford’s has taken on new products including Clark Tracks, GB Harvester bars, Carlton saw chains, Ballantine hot saw teeth, and has just launched a whole new line of harvester chains called Orbit.™.

The logging industry is hard on equipment, and things that break frequently or wear out sooner than they should don’t last long in the market. Wallingford’s knows this and devotes a lot of time and resources to making sure the products it distributes are tough, reliable, and work the way they are supposed to. That includes testing materials used in products even before they go onto the factory floors, strong quality control procedures and tracking of components, and extensive field testing of finished products - often right here in Maine with Members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC).

A strong relationship with Maine loggers over

many years first led Wallingford’s to join the PLC in 2015, as well as a desire to do more to support them after seeing the challenges that were hitting the industry. Since then Wallingford’s, a Preferred Supporting Member, has been a strong partner with the PLC and stepped up in support of PLC efforts from Log A Load for Maine Kids to the Mechanized Logging Operations Program. It has also offered PLC Memberonly discounts on products.

“

Our biggest thing with PLC Members is, we want to support them, we want them to obviously use our products, we want to try and save them some money, and we want to give them good service,” Jay said. “If they want to buy our products they can buy from us or they can go to the dealers but in either case it’s going to be at a savings for them and hopefully at a level of service that they like.”

Meanwhile, Wallingford’s will continue to build on its strong foundation in Maine logging and ingenuity to remain a leader in logging supplies not just here, but across the world.

Wallingford’s Continued from Page 27

Wallingford’s New Hampton, NH facility.

Photos

Background, Wallingford’s headquarters in Oakland, ME.

At left, Wallingford’s New Hampton, NH facility.

2019 Safety and Fleet Training

Spring of 2019 marked a new level of success for PLC Safety and Fleet Trainings, bringing training to a record 13 locations across Maine and setting a new record for numbers of companies and employees served. When all was said and done PLC brought Safety Trainings to 109 companies and 709 employees. Fleet Training served 36 companies and 247 employees. Feedback has been extraordinarily positive and the PLC is already looking ahead to even more opportunities to help our industry, lower risk, and provide relevant, cost-effective training. This free training is a benefit of membership and provides practical, hands-on instruction on a wide variety of topics to improve individual and company safety.

Many thanks to our instructors who gave their time and expertise to these efforts. Thanks also to our generous sponsors for the trainings. Interested in future trainings or sponsorship opportunities? Email jessica@maineloggers.com 8195. *pictures below of Safety and Fleet Trainings in Fort Kent, Stratton, and Milford.

Lead with Safety

ByDonaldBurr PLCSafety&TrainingCoordinator safety@maineloggers.com

Today I am going to talk about safety leadership. The more I learn about the art of being safe the more I see that it is a mindset or sometimes referred to as a culture and sometimes the biggest step is a simple one - it is often said that showing up is 80% of the work, well that goes for safety leadership too. As we went all around the state conducting the PLC safety trainings I purposely was paying attention (why because you are never too poor to pay attention) to the crews to see what level of safety awareness each company had. Talking to owners, foremen, and the operators, I could pick up on how they dealt with safety. Certainly, every company gets a high five for sending the crews to spring safety training, but what was the commitment? Many were there to check the box (how many times did I hear “if I sign my name now can I go home?”, and at many levels I understand this but with a little more investment not only can you check the box but you can stand on the box and raise awareness in your company.

I have quoted many times in my career, Major Dick Winters of the “Band of Brothers” mini-series based on his experience in Europe during WWII. He says that “Leaders lead the way.” Now when it comes to safety this could not be truer. In the companies that I see that take safety seriously the owners and foremen are right there in the classes asking questions, relating experiences and helping to move the safety ball forward down the field to a safer company. We see this playing out when we ask an operator a question and his owner the same question and we get good answers that are similar. A sure sign of a company that has safety as a culture. Not just in words but in deeds. Not just checking the box but blowing the box up and taking it to the next level. The difference between compliance training and training that looks at compliance as the base line to be stood upon, not a bar to be reached up to.

I have observed too many times to count that an operator goes to a training and brings back an idea that they learned at training and the owner/foreman says, “we don’t do that here.” Said flat out with nothing to back it up, just “we don’t do that.” It would different if they said, “we don’t do that because we do this and we find it works better,” and have a decent educated discussion. Shutting down a different safety idea has a huge effect on the crew. Not to say all new ideas are good, and let’s be fair, some new ideas suck, but never

engaging with your crew and participating in training, the “safety ball” will never move or be taken seriously. This has a two-pronged effect on the crews: One it stops any ideas being shared, which stops the crews from thinking and being safe starts with thinking. Two, you will miss good ideas just because, “we don’t do that here”.

We had a contractor come for the first time to one of our trainings this year after sending his crew for multiple years. His comment is worth hearing. “I had no idea what I was missing by not joining my crew here.” I personally sat through all the trainings this year one day or another and at the very last training where I learned how workmen’s comp. costs work and how it does not take long to see how an accident culture (opposed to a safety culture) can cost a company its profit margin or the new equipment margin. Bottom line, nobody wants to see anyone hurt and no company wants to spend money on insurance and one way you can reduce this for your company is for you and your foremen to train, participate, engage, and lead with your crews from the front. “Leaders (owners & foremen) lead the way.”

Ted

Clark,

CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Quarterly Safety Meeting: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

As we work our way out of a long spring and into the hot and humid months of summer, it is important to take a moment and review the hazards of working outside in hot weather and to remind ourselves of the signs and symptoms associated with heat related illnesses including Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.

Your body’s primary mode of cooling is through sweat. When sweat evaporates from your skin surface it pulls heat along with it making it an extremely effective method of cooling. As long as you are adequately hydrated and heat dissipation can keep up with your body’s heat production, your core temperature should remain normal. When the heat dissipation is not able to keep up with heat production, you could become a victim of a heat related illness. It is critical to quickly recognize and treat these symptoms to prevent serious injury or death.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms:

Heat exhaustion is caused by dehydration from sweating and generally results in a core body temperature that is either normal or slightly elevated. The patient will be awake and display a normal mental status. The patient will often complain about nausea, headache, and weakness and will continue to sweat.

Taking a medical history can be helpful here and will often identify inadequate food and fluid intake as well as a decreased urine output.

Treatment:

Early recognition of the symptoms and treating them quickly is important because heat exhaustion can escalate rapidly to heat stroke.

The principle of treatment is simple: Stop the fluid loss, replace the lost fluids and move the patient to a cooler area. Generally, oral replacement of fluids will be adequate but try to avoid the temptation to give too much water because that can backfire and cause further problems. Electrolyte drinks such as a sports drink, or food, will help replenish salt that was depleted during sweating and is vital to rehydration. Do not give the patient salt tablets as they can cause stomach irritation and vomiting. If the patient is vomiting, an IV may be necessary but you may also be able to rehydrate by giving fluids frequently, in small amounts.

It may take up to 12 hours to rehydrate a patient back to normal. If symptoms persist, evacuation to medical help will be necessary.

Heat Stroke Symptoms:

Heat stroke is a major problem that requires immediate medical treatment. Essentially, your body has lost its ability to cool itself and the core temperature has become dangerously elevated, causing damage to the nervous system and other vital organs. This may or may not be preceded by heat exhaustion. You will notice an altered mental status that is persistent. Urine output has likely decreased and will be brown or red in color. Often times, but not always, the patient will stop sweating completely.

The patient’s condition will be getting worse and, if not treated, will lead to death.

Treatment:

While fluid replacement is critical, your top priority must be lowering the core temperature. Cease all physical exertion and remove the patient from the hot environment. Medical help and aggressive cooling is required. Immersion in cool water is ideal but if not possible, other forms of rapid cooling may be effective. Removal of unnecessary clothing can also be helpful in reducing the body’s core temperature. Watch for improved mental status as an indicator that the core temperature is beginning to improve to more normal levels. Once the core temperature is being effectively treated, it is critical to begin replacing fluids as outlined earlier.

Prevention Hydration:

While working outside in the heat, it is easy for fluid loss through sweat to go unnoticed until it is too late. Therefore, it is critical to maintain adequate hydration throughout the summer months. The CDC recommends 1 cup of water for every 15-20 minutes if you are working outside less than 2 hours. If sweating longer, a sports drink with electrolytes should be added. It is also critical to avoid drinks with high caffeine, alcohol, or sugar because these can further dehydrate you.

Rest Breaks:

Acclimatization will be different for every employee therefore, rest breaks should be taken as the individual begins to feel heat discomfort. As temperature, humidity and sunshine increase, frequency of breaks in cool, shaded areas should be increased.

Acclimatization:

As you spend more time in the heat, your body will gradually adapt to the stress. Because of this, it is important to increase the exposure over 7 to 14 days, allowing employees to fully acclimatize. The CDC recommends allowing workers who have not spent a lot of time in the heat spend no more than 20% of the usual duration of work in the heat on day one and no more than a 20% increase each additional day.

Conclusion

Logging in today’s heavily mechanized world is a great benefit because many employees get to spend a great deal of their time being productive in a climate controlled cabin. Even with the large majority of their time spent in the cab, employees will occasionally have to spend time on the ground, walking, inspecting equipment, and performing maintenance to machinery. During the summer, this time on the ground can be dangerous due to heat exposure. It is important that employees are aware of the signs for heat related illness and the first aid measures to take in order to properly treat someone showing these signs. Armed with this information and a heavy dose of prevention, employees can be more productive and safe while working in the woods.

Acadia Insurance is pleased to share this material with its customers. Please note, however, that nothing in this document should be construed as legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for general 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 31. Refer to the cutline on page 31 when removing it from the magazine.

By Erika Scott NEC Deputy Director

How many times have you seen the boss coming, only to realize that you forgot your hearing protection in the shop? What about the days when your safety glasses are protecting your truck’s center console, instead of your eyes? You could be thinking right now, “Yup – that happens more than I’d like to admit,” or, “No way a tight ship, and everyone wears their personal protective equipment”.

Many factors contribute to a safe logging operation, and personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety training are critical components of the overall plan. In what’s called the “Hierarchy of Controls” (Figure 1) these are the last lines of defense, but often the ones we have to think about most. Logging has come a long way from the way your grandfathers and great-grandfathers did things, with much of the work operated from a snug cab filled with joysticks, toggle switches, and heat/AC (when you’re lucky). But the reality is that today’s loggers are still exposed to a lot of dangers.

The use of PPE isn’t just a sensible thing to do. Often, it’s required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), dependent on your job task or role. (OSHA made these requirements after heaps of injury reports and investigations showed PPE would have lessened or spared someone from injury). Initial results from our project, the Maine Logger Health and Safety Study, suggest that Maine loggers may not be as vigilant about PPE usage and safety training as they should.

Almost 400 Maine loggers have been a part of the Maine Logger Health and Safety Study, a project of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (NEC), a non-profit research group. Many of you reading this may be involved in the project. So far, nearly 400 loggers have given their feedback through an initial survey, and about 300 continue to participate. See figures 2 & 3 for more about the loggers involved. In addition, more than 80 Maine loggers received

Figure 1. Hierarchy of Controls

Figure 2. Study Snapshot

NEC Continued from Page

free health exams through the project when offered at three PLC safety trainings and at the Loggers’ Expo this spring. Additional free health exams will be available next spring as well. Trainings: minimum requirements. OSHA says that employers should be holding safety meetings at least once a month, or more often, if needed (see Focus on OSHA Standards). Preliminary results from the Maine Logger Health and Safety Study’s initial surveys show that 59% of respondents said they had safety training in the past three months. That means that over 40% said they didn’t have safety training in the last three months. Looking into this further, it appears the rates of safety training are different depending on company size, ranging from 28% for sole operators to nearly 80% for companies with more than 50 employees.

It makes sense that larger companies have the resources to regularly hold safety trainings/ meetings, but if you’re part of a smaller crew and don’t regularly “talk safety,” consider adding a tailgate training or just holding a conversation about safe practices at least one a month. This

FOCUS ON OSHA STANDARDS

OSHA Training Standard

1910.266(i)(11)

"Safety and health meetings." The employer shall hold safety and health meetings as necessary and at least each month for each employee. Safety and health meetings may be conducted individually, in crew meetings, in larger groups, or as part of other staff meetings.

1910.266(d)(1)(vi)

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee who works in an area where there is potential for head injury from falling or flying objects wears head protection meeting the requirements of subpart I of Part 1910.

1910.266(d)(1)(vii)

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee wears the following:

changes.

For PPE, usage varied depending on the person’s job role. Two thirds of respondents said their employer provided eye protection and about 70% said their employer provided a hard hat. The research team still needs to dig into the data more to tease out the job roles where that type of PPE is needed.

More information from the project will be available in the coming months. The Maine Logger Health and Safety Study’s purpose has been to identify how NEC can most effectively work with the Maine logging industry to improve worker safety and health. Learn more about the study by visiting http://www.necenter.org/ forestry/research/ or its Facebook page @MaineLoggerHealthandSafetyStudy. All individual data is kept strictly confidential and results are only reported as summaries. The NEC is committed to working in partnership with logging companies and stakeholders to improve health and safety in a non-regulatory way. Need ideas for safety meeting topics? Using NIOSH’s FACE Investigations can be a starting point

A Higher Standard

You know your company holds itself to a higher standard of timber harvesting Prove you are a cut above with Master Logger Certification

masterloggercertification.com

Mechanized Logging Operations Program Summer 2019 underway

Fifteen students began classes June 24 in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP), which has launched its latest three-month hands-on training course in the woods of Western Maine. Students enrolled in the post-secondary training program will spend weeks harvesting timber using mechanized logging equipment and gaining experience unavailable in any other training program in Maine and neighboring states. The students are based at PLC Member Pepin Lumber in Stratton. This summer’s class will be the third since the program launched in 2017. Graduation for the class will be held on Sept. 19.

Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine welcomes

Patty Cormier

as new Director of Maine Forest Service

In May, the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine welcomed the news that veteran District Forester Patty Cormier of Farmington had been named the new Director of the Maine Forest Service.

Cormier, who has more than 30 years of experience as a forester, replaced Douglas Denico, who had served in the post for the past 8 years. Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said Cormier is well known to the PLC and its members through her work as a district forester and as a representative of the Maine Forest Service.

“We believe that Ms. Cormier is a terrific choice to lead the agency as she is objective, mission driven, has integrity, values the agency and its people and will ensure that the Maine Forest Service assists the logging industry

with its success,” Doran said. “We have always found her to be a professional in her dealings with the PLC and its members and we look forward to a strong working relationship with the agency.”

“Professional loggers in Maine need the Maine Forest Service to work as a partner with them for the betterment of our working forests and the rural communities, loggers, and truckers who depend on them. We are confident that Ms. Cormier will bring competence, experience, and fairness to this task,” Doran added.

Below, Ms. Cormier answered a few questions from the PLC about her plans, background, and approach to the job. We thank her for taking the time to speak with the PLC.

a matter of keeping that balance.

How do you see your role and the role of Maine Forest Service when it comes to supporting Maine’s logging industry and the forest products economy?

What can you tell us about your experience and background related to Maine’s logging industry?

During part of the 10 years I worked at Georgia Pacific out of Baileyville, I was a Landowner Assistance Forester and hit the ground running in the position working with multiple logging contractors with all ranges of equipment, through every aspect of harvesting on private lots and company ground. The acreage of these lots ranged from 10 to 5000. This was where I really got my ears wet, and through the school of hard knocks learned the perspective of the logger, the challenges loggers face and the good work that can be gained by everyone working together and respecting each others knowledge base and strengths. It was also a lesson on markets and the sometimes-fickle nature of landowner expectations. I especially appreciated the one logger who would cook me shrimp on his manifold when he knew I was going to visit the job. This was a great spring board for working as a District Forester for MFS for 20 years. In that role came the regulatory side of things as well as educating and assisting loggers and landowners on forest management, the laws etc. It was always very satisfying to have a logger call before going on a job to get my advice; I took that as a compliment. I so respect the job loggers/contractors and all the employees involved in the logging business, it isn’t easy, and I certainly felt it wasn’t my place to make it any more difficult and that trying to always find that balance of on the ground reality in logging when dealing with the laws can be a challenge. I just want to assure anyone on the logging industry, I am an advocate for you and the forest; It is just

“The MFS has a long history of protecting Maine’s forests from wildfires, insect and disease outbreaks, poor forest practices and providing timely information to help foster informed decisions. These various MFS activities focus on having Maine’s forests more enjoyable, productive, healthy and well managed.” This is off our website. I see our role as keeping the forest engine running if you will. There are many pieces to the puzzle that makes up the Maine forest Industry and I will do everything I can to facilitate who needs to get with who to expand the industry. The Maine logging industry is part of our brand of the past, present and future. A big part of that is we will continue our outreach to landowners about working with their land, we need to get across to landowners that it is not a scary event, it should be a satisfying one that employs resource professionals such as loggers to achieve their goals. This is all adds to the supply part of things. A question that always needs to be reviewed is are we treating everyone fairly in the regulatory side of the house. Our role is to try to intervene with any issues first to assist with compliance. I also see my (MFS) role as supporting the entomology staff to monitor the insect invasions that have the potential to affect all aspects of forest uses from the forest products industry to recreational uses, to support the forest protection folks with respect to protecting Maine’s forests from fires and to support the management staff in their efforts of logger/ landowner/forester education. It is all connected and we all have a dog in the fight, as you said, forest products industry/logging industry is Maine and we all need to fight for it.

What can our industry do to work with you to strengthen Maine’s forest economy for the benefit of our rural communities and forest health?

Q&A

PattyCormier

MaineForest Service Director

This biggest thing we could use at MFS is everyone’s help with is ideas and suggestions, we can’t be everywhere at all times, so if there are ways for us to help with the industry that we don’t’ know about, let us know. What are we not addressing? What groups can we get together that we haven’t thought of? Let’s work together on this. Another way to help is we are looking at substantial cuts to Federal funding to private and state forestry initiatives. These initiatives allow for us to reach out to landowners who hold the wood supply, and educate and advocate for good forest management practices, which in turn helps the logging and forest products industry as well as other uses of the forest. If folks would reach out to their delegation and inform them of how these cuts affect them, it would all help. If everyone out there enjoying the woods for their business, their own woodlot, recreation, anything, for folks to be vigilant and report sightings of the invasive insects so that we can react quickly. As with most organizations we have lost positions and are doing much more with less, so guidance from our clients (i.e. the public) is imperative.

I want to slip in a reminder to those in the logging business, that logging jobs are a form of communication, what is your job communicating to the person driving to the polls to vote on forestry issues?

What is your top priority for Maine’s forests?

I have a few top priorities in mind, but being new on the job, I’m still formulating. My top one at this point is to make sure all users of the forest are represented by us, making sure that the right people are at the table as we formulate programs and policies. Another is to ensure that we have the best data and information to be ready for the insect invasions whether we are talking Emerald Ash Borer or Spruce Budworm. Another priority is looking into how we collect

Water Crossings

ByTomGilbert WaterResources Specialist MaineForestService

Properly installed water crossings preserve water quality, protect your investment in the crossing, and reduce future maintenance costs. Recent findings in the 2016-17 Forestry BMP Use and Effectiveness Report, released by the Maine Forest Service in spring of 2018, show a spike in instances of sedimentation at crossing structures during installation and closeout activities. Below are a few tips to ensure protection of your crossing as well as water quality.

Keep in mind that most permanent crossings should be designed for at least a 25-year flood event. This is the minimum standard in any organized town. Reference

data concerning forest resources, are we consistent and on the right track? Another is to make sure we are budget balanced with making sure our clientele is served and employees have what they need to work efficiently and safely.

Would you commit to meeting with our PLC board members at some point this year to hear directly from Maine loggers on the issues they face and the needs of the industry?

Absolutely, not only do I welcome that, I need that.

Do you have other thoughts you’d like to share with our members?

It is my hope that anyone with any connection to the forest, whether that is someone in a town park to the big woods, that they think of the Maine Forest Service as a branch of government that they trust and look to for solid answers for their questions or concerns with regards to all things forest. We have a solid crew here at MFS, when you look at the range of what makes up the organization, it is impressive; from Foresters to Rangers, Pilots, Aircraft Mechanics, Entomologists, Pathologists, Forest Inventory Specialists, Biometrician, Urban Forester, Stewardship Forester, Water Quality Specialist, Computer Specialists and support staff.

If you are willing, share one interesting fact about yourself and/ or your family that our members would be unlikely to know.

I was the axe throwing champ for one year on the woodsmen's team at Orono, now I probably wouldn’t be close!

the Maine Forest Service BMP manual for step by step instruction on installing a crossing that complies with the minimum 25-year flood event standard.

It is also recommended that crossings span a stream channel, sized to 1.2 times the bankfull width of the channel, on any stream channel that contains fish. This is to ensure that your crossing does not become a barrier to fish and will not inhibit the flow of water or debris during extreme storm events. The minimum 25-year flood standard will be smaller than the recommended 1.2 bankfull standard.

BMPs for all stream crossings

1. Install water diversions on the approaches to disperse runoff into adequate filter areas, preventing it from entering the stream channel. Adequate filter area width varies depending on percent slope, but in no case should it be less than 25 feet.

2. Maintain a bed of slash over exposed soils on approaches within the filter area, ensuring that it remains effective throughout the harvest and adding additional

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material when needed.

3. Minimize work during wet weather or when the soil is saturated.

Temporary crossings

1. Install any temporary, portable bridges at an adequate height above water level (about 3 ft.), allowing for high flows.

2. For temporary bridges, use sill logs to protect stream banks and to create a stable bearing surface for the bridge to rest on.

3. During closeout, make sure to lift the crossing before attempting to relocate, being carful not to allow loose soil to fall into the stream.

PLC News Briefs...

Permanent crossings

1. If possible, build crossings when streams are dry or at low water.

2. If excavation is necessary during periods of regular or high flow, temporarily divert the water using coffer dams and pumps while installing the crossings.

3. Design bridges using closed decking to minimize the amount of material that falls through the deck and into the stream.

4. Armor side slopes on both sides of the crossing using rock that is angular in shape, preferably no bigger than a basketball. There should be no exposed soil along the side slope of the road-stream crossing.

Thank you to Milton CAT for hosting the PLC Board in May for a meeting with Chris Milton and Pat Weiler to talk about Weiler’s acquisition of CAT Forestry Equipment. Thanks as well to Milton CAT for your partnership on the MLOP program and we are excited to have both Milton CAT and Weiler supporting Maine’s professional loggers.

In May the PLC released a new video describing the impact and importance of the logging industry on the Maine economy and the PLC’s work to strengthen and sustain it. The video, “Maine’s Professional Loggers: The Root of Maine’s Forest Economy” has gotten a great reception and we encourage you to view and share it. It is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=MBHwgVY1FG8&feature=youtu.be

The PLC was at May 10ths 7th Grade Outdoor Careers Fair in Hinckley organized by Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry and Jobs for Maine Graduates. Talked to many future loggers at this event!

Great to see so many of our members, supporters, and friends at the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo in Bangor May 17-18! Thanks for stopping by our booth!

As [She] Sees It: May 2019

“The Future of Logging Depends on ourYouth”

By Chrissy Kimball, Kimball & Sons Logging

Editor's Note: This month's As We See It column was written by Chrissy Kimball of Kimball & Sons Logging of Poland, Maine. In light of the recent introduction of the Future Logging Career Act and the release of the report commissioned by PLC of Maine, we thought Chrissy's original blog post offers an inspiring message on the future of logging. Kimball & Sons Logging has graciously given us permission to share this column.

Hey there! It’s Chrissy, the supporting actress of Kimball & Sons Logging and Trucking. I tend to be busy raising the “sons” part of the operation but I wanted to take the opportunity to write a little bit about the articles I have been reading lately regarding the recent study conducted by the PLC of Maine siting low pay as a barrier to our industry and also the bill that Angus King and Jared Golden are introducing, Future Loggers Career Act.

I have actually never been more excited and optimistic about the forest products industry in our state. Perhaps that’s because I am a glass half full kind of person. There is amazing technology on the brink of revolutionizing how forest products can be used. Researchers in our very own state are working on technology to covert biomass into jet fuel. There is nanocellulose from wood products which are fibers that can be used in textiles and medical products, pulp and paper mills are moving away from print media and into packaging products, and wood products can even give us cellulosic sugars which can be used as a preservative in foods! With all of this technology coming down the pipes, we can’t forget that if there are no loggers and no truckers, these products can never go into production. As evidenced by the study conducted by the PLC of Maine, it is no secret that the logging contractors in Maine struggle to keep up with paying competitive wages. Trust me, it is not because we are keeping it all for ourselves. In order to keep great employees, we might even pay them MORE than we make as the owners. I’m just being honest here.

However, I do know that there is a ton of work being done on our behalf and I see a future for our industry that includes competitive wages and benefits for our employees coupled with the enjoyment that comes from working with a family owned business. While we may not currently be the highest paying gig in the area, there are other amazing benefits to working in the woods for a small company. The camaraderie in the woods is superior to any other type of work, the views from your “office” are always amazing, and there is nothing more invigorating than a beautiful sunrise from the woods! We are the kind of employer that cares if your children are sick, we would attend your wedding, and we truly care if you are happy in your job because we will do anything within our power to keep you. In a small business, a good employee is certainly not “replaceable”.

We frequently brainstorm about the best ways to grow our company and are often paralyzed by the fear of being unable to find quality help. The problem being, margins are tight, and it’s expensive to train someone from the ground

up but I believe it is an investment we must make. Everybody wants someone who already knows how to do the job. Well, it’s not going to happen. I know there are young people who would be interested in this profession if we could give them a chance and actually teach them. Since the beginning of time we have all heard “kids these days…….” followed by some rude comment about how they don’t do this and they don’t do that. I get it. Technology, education, and policy have changed everything, but I still hold the optimism that our youth are teachable if given the appropriate mentor. The future of the forest products industry is in our youth and if we continue to sweep them under the rug as some useless gamers sitting in their parent’s basements then they will BE exactly what we expect them to be. When I did my mindless scroll through Facebook this morning, I came across something not so useless that made me excited enough to sit down and write this.

Angus King and Jared Golden are introducing a bill to allow 16 and 17 year olds to be allowed to work in the heavy equipment in the woods. Forget virtual reality, that IS reality! Part of the problem as I see it, is that we shelter our youth from all danger. It is much safer to play a game cutting down trees that it is to actually go learn how to cut the tree! We have 2 young boys and a third on the way. They are naturally obsessed with logging. Randy tells me stories of when he was very young and his dad would have to bring him and his brothers to the woods and they would ride in the skidder all day with him, play in the woods, and occupy their own time often times unsupervised. Can you imagine “Nowadays”? What kind of parents would we be if we put our children in that kind of harm’s way?! They must be better off at daycare where they color pictures and make arts and crafts. I think most of us want our children to grow up and be able to actually DO something. Not fear failure. Not fear risk, be it physical, emotional, financial, or otherwise. We are fortunate to be able to teach our kids to respect the equipment and its dangers. They understand how to stay safe in the woods. My 6 year old recently purchased an old hack saw at the local flea market with his earned $2 so we can do some logging at home!

My long winded point here, is that not all hope is lost. I think our society is recognizing that faulty policy and over protecting our youth is driving them to uber safe careers, sitting behind a desk and leaves no one behind to do the work. I am inspired by this introduction of the bill by Angus King and Jared Golden because I am hopeful it reflects a paradigm shift in our society to treat children as capable of learning and maintaining their own safety without the need for constant protection from danger. It is time we, as adults, mentor our children again. Let them participate, learn, scrape their knees a bit and then and only then will we improve our work force for the future.

Chrissy Kimball is with Kimball & Sons Logging of Poland, Maine. Kimball & Sons Logging provides Maine landowners with quality timber harvesting. For more information, visit https://www.kimballandsons.com/

As We See It June 2019 “It’s NotAll Politics”

By Danny Dructor

While much of the time your State, Regional and National Logging Organizations are busy working at the local State and Federal level on policy issues that impact your businesses, their work does not end there, not by a long shot! Oftentimes logging associations are also engaged in training, safety and transportation issues, to name a few. They are also ensuring that the well-intended thoughts of others outside of the logging industry who believe that they are working in the best interests of the logging industry are actually having a positive impact and not just another cost to the price of doing business.

In 1994, members of the American Forests and Paper Association rolled out a program titled the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. At the time, it appeared to be a great idea with one exception, they forgot to invite the logging businesses to the table. That was the impetus that brought logging contractors together 25 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri: the need to have a voice of our own representing the issues that are important to loggers.

Over the past 25 years, loggers have come together in any states that did not have a trade association either as a stand-alone organization or under the umbrella of a State Forestry Association. Working together, loggers have addressed workman’s comp insurance rates, truck weights on state and county roads, ad valorem and sales tax exemptions for logging equipment and supplies, and other on-the-ground issues away from Washington, DC and State Capitol buildings

that have a real impact on their businesses.

The American Loggers Council recently welcomed the Ohio Logging Standards Council as the newest voting member to our Board of Directors. As of this writing, we are working in Pennsylvania to assist professional timber harvesters to form an organization that would work in the best interests of their logging workforce in the state and tackle those issues that are important to loggers.

We believe that all States with commercial timber harvesting operations should be organized through membership in either a state or regional logging association and that there is truly not only strength in numbers, but also the wisdom of many of our peers, both past and present, that can prevent us at all levels from reinventing the wheel when it comes to looking for ways to accomplish goals. Next stop, Bangor Maine! We are “Loggers Working for Loggers!” for profit trade association representing professional timber harvesters throughout the United States. For more information please contact the American Loggers Council at 409website at

We Support Maine Loggers

As We See It July 2019 “Relationships Matter”

By Danny Dructor

In today's political environment, getting things done in Washington D.C. is difficult, if not impossible. Yet the American Loggers Council is making progress in this divided 116th U.S. Congress. Why? Loggers understand the importance of building relationships. When it seems every idea these days is framed in partisan terms, our ability to build relationships explains why both the Future Logging Careers Act and the Safe Routes Act have now been introduced with bipartisan support.

Relationships are key, both in our personal lives and our professional lives. Loggers are drawn to the ALC because they see the value of building and maintaining relationships with other loggers across our nation. Loggers also see the value of having good relationships with the equipment manufacturers and others that help make our industry possible. We take the same approach to Capitol Hill, as evidenced by another year of record attendance at our 2019 D.C. Fly-in.

The ALC has long-valued our relationship with Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, the only forester in the United States Congress and past recipient of the ALC President's Award. Bruce is not just another politician seeking our votes or campaign donations, he is a true friend and advocate of our industry because he understands what we do and why we do it. Recently we were pleased to endorse his introduction of the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019. We also provided a statement of support that was included in his office's press materials.

Congressman Westerman has introduced past versions of the Resilient Federal Forests Act in previous years, and was instrumental in passing this legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives multiple times. Though it has previously stalled in the U.S. Senate, some minor components of this comprehensive legislation has been adopted through federal spending measures. Yet there are still areas that are in need of attention in order to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and help prevent the loss of lives and property as witnessed last year in and around Paradise, California and other Western States.

The Resilient Federal Forest Act continues to build on the bipartisan support that Congress has agreed to in the past that would allow expedited environmental reviews on areas of the forest where there is degradation of wildlife habitat, wildland urban interface exposure to life threatening wildfires, and overall improving the health of our nation’s federal timber lands. The Resilient Federal Forest Act also proposes an alternative to litigation in the form of arbitration where litigants bring alternative management options to the table rather than just offering up “no” as a solution. Our national forests are one of this country’s greatest assets. We believe that members of Congress should be concerned about the overall health of those forests and the need to restore and improve those forests as quickly as possible by giving the US Forest Service and other agencies all of the tools that they need to accomplish that task.

Congressman Westerman could easily spend his time focusing on other issues that are important to his district, such as health care. Yet he continues to introduce comprehensive forest management reforms because he believes in our ability to restore these federal lands back to health. This is one benefit of our relationship with Congressman Westerman, and we must reciprocate. Even if you don't have a federal forest within your working circle, please tell your own federal representatives that you support the Resilient Federal Forests Act. Because relationships matter

The American Loggers Council endorsed Master Logger Certification Program (ALC/MLC) is a true third party certification for logging contractors. It involves on-the-ground assessment of a logging contractor’s activities. This assessment is performed by independent and unbiased verifiers evaluating whether and how the logger meets the standard in their own unique way. We all know that the steps to achieve objectives can vary from one woodlot to another. This is also true for the loggers themselves-one logger may take a completely different path to achieve the Master Logger certification standard, but the important part is that whatever they do is done to a high standard, which benefits everyone.

The ALC/MLC standard is unique in that it gives each state the right to adopt its own program, under the “Seven Areas of Responsibility” that ALC adopted for all member organizations to follow, that is specific to that particular state. Each state submits a template to the MLC committee for approval. This template then becomes the basis for the program and how it is implemented.

One thing that is a requirement of the ALC/MLC program is a mandate that there is an independent field audit for each logging company that becomes Master Logger Certified both initially and on an ongoing basis. These can come in different forms and can come from different parties.

In Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin and the states in the Northeast, the field verifiers are typically foresters or loggers that have a deep understanding of logging operations. There is a checklist that each auditor must review in the field to show compliance with the “Seven Areas of Responsibility”. They report on what they observe in the field and how it relates to the standard. The reports are required to be professionally written, of high quality and are to be produced in a timely manner. The field verification report is crucial for the certification board to understand the logger’s practices.

After the application and interview process is complete, the Master Logger applicant will receive a call from a field verifier, who will ask for five harvest sites and their locations, with one of the harvest sites being active. The field verifier will schedule a time to meet and begin the audit and three sites will be chosen at random to visit. The field verifier will communicate with the logger to go over what to expect and what to have on hand at the time of inspection.

Warren Suchovsky has been a logger member of verifier teams in MI, MN and WI since ML certification began in each of these states. He currently is a member of the WI Certification Board and still does field audits for new applicants in MI.

“I think that an important distinction between ML Certification and Logger Education Programs is that logger certification measures how well the loggers actually apply what they have been taught,” Warren said. “It sets a higher standard

for quality workmanship than does merely meeting a set number of hours of training.”

“

It is important to recognize that a Master Logger is responsible for the quality of workmanship of the company's employees and subcontractors. They also need to challenge foresters and landowners when they feel an aspect of a harvest plan will probably have a negative impact on the sustainability of forest resources,” Warren added.

An opening statement once on the site of the first visit may be, “Tell me what you did here and how are you meeting the landowner’s objectives?” This opening statement allows the applicant to talk about the site prep, the harvest, the goals, the landowner objectives, and outcomes. This could lead to a discussion of the harvest plan and how that process was achieved.

Next Soil and Water protection is looked at. The verifier will inspect a water crossing, if one exists, and water bars or other water controlling methods. They will consider things including: How has soil been protected? Is there brushing in the trails? Are there swamp mats at the landing? Flotation tires or tracks? This is an opportunity for the logging contractor to discuss their methods and how they achieve this standard.

Other questions a verifier considers include: How are aesthetics being managed, historical features and biodiversity maintained? This is opportunity for the contractor to discuss how they interpret and meet the landowner’s aesthetic objectives. Do they want the landing seeded? Slash management near roads and buildings? Have they minimized skid trails to the yard or contoured the trails with the road? Are there any historical features such as old homesteads? Rock walls? Cemeteries? If, so how did they address them? Were there any sensitive areas of biodiversity? Did the landowner have specific management goals for wildlife?

Safety of the employees and operational function is paramount for meeting the high bar set by Master Logger. A logger should expect to have their safety plan available. This is not for a simple tick of the box, but a logger must be ready to answer when the last time was that they used the safety plan and did it work correctly? Do they have first-aid kits available in each machine? Are people CPR-1st Aid trained? Does everyone know the emergency action plan? These questions are pretty standard during an audit. The auditor may also ask to look at a machine to determine things like are the seat belts functioning? ROPS? Does the operator operate in a safe manner? Is PPE being worn and HiVis?

All of these questions and fact finding are part of the auditing of field performance in Master Logger. For many candidates, they know they are meeting or exceeding the standard, now they just need an independent verifier to prove it.

Congressional Delegation Updates

Driving the Forest Products Industry Forward

Maine’s forest products industry is entering a new era marked by innovative products, such as engineered wood building materials, that combine the traditional basis of our rural economy with technological advances. As Maine continues to make great strides in the forest products sector, we must ensure that the industry has the supply chain support it needs to take full advantage of this growth. This includes addressing the shortage of truckers needed to transport logs to mills and finished products to market.

The shortage is severe and growing. Currently, America’s trucking industry is in need of 51,000 additional drivers. By 2026, just seven years from now, that shortage could increase to 175,000 drivers. This is particularly troubling for Maine, where more than 84 percent of communities rely solely on trucks to move goods and where 95 percent of our manufactured products move by truck.

This shortage is exacerbated by a federal law that prohibits drivers under 21 years of age from driving

Research into 3D Printing Opens New Doors for Forest Products Industry

Maine is a state made of resourceful people who look at challenges and see new possibilities; where others may see low-value byproducts, we see the potential to create something new. That creative drive is what has sustained our forest economy for generations, driving us to innovate as the world becomes increasingly digital and find new ways to maximize rural Maine’s abundant natural resources. In short – we need to use every part from the pig but the squeal.

Fortunately, there is important and meaningful progress being made to diversify market opportunities for this important sector. Following work by the Economic Development Assessment Team requested by myself and Senator Collins, and the ensuing industry-led efforts of the Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR)/Maine, there have been many important advancements, from biomass technology to mass timber, that are helping to revitalize and strengthen this industry that is so important to communities across our state. Among these exciting developments: in May, the University of Maine and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced a $20 million partnership to advance efforts to

across state lines. It simply makes no sense that a driver under 21 can haul freight from Kittery to Fort Kent – 362 miles – but cannot go from Kittery to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, just three miles away. Most young people who do not go to college have already chosen careers, received training, and gotten jobs by the time they turn 21.

To address this shortage, I have cosponsored the DRIVE Safe Act that would establish an apprenticeship program for drivers under 21 years of age to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. These apprentices would be required to complete 400 hours of training and probationary status, during which time the apprentice will have to demonstrate a thorough command of safety procedures, from maneuvering the truck on the roadway to properly securing loads.

The drivers providing the training would have to be experienced with good driving records. The trucks used in this training would be required to include advanced safety features such as automatic active breaking systems, event recorders, and speed limiters.

Reflecting the high training requirements for apprentices, the DRIVE in DRIVE Safe Act stands for Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy. This legislation will help attract more young people to a field that provides steady work at good wages. It will expand economic opportunity and keep Maine’s forest products industry moving toward a bright future.

3D print large structures with biobased, forest products. This partnership between two of the nation’s premier research institutions is a major new opportunity not only for Maine’s wood market, but also for the future of manufacturing in Maine and the country. The research done by UMaine and ORNL – in tandem with the forest products industry – will create endless opportunities to produce new bio-based materials that can be used to 3D print products ranging from boat hull molds to shelters, and much more. Progress in this area will also set up future economic growth, including the possibility of 3D printing larger, more ambitious structures like large beams for large buildings and girders for bridges, which would enable Maine to be a global center of new manufacturing industries. This is who we are: innovative, forwardlooking, and ready to do the hard work to build something great. I can’t wait to see the work that’s done, and the ways it will allow our forest products industry to grow for future generations.

Sen. Susan Collins

Sen. Angus King

As we fight the climate crisis in Congress, lawmakers must recognize opportunities for foresters to mitigate climate change on the ground. On average, the net growth in US forests offsets between 10 and 12 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions. Promoting sustainable forestry is going to be a critical aspect of the national debate.

As a Mainer, I know just how impactful the forestry industry is on our state’s economy. Recent estimates show that the impact of the forestry industry is valued at around $3.1 billion dollars and around one out of every 20 jobs in Maine is in the forest products sector. And as a lawmaker, I know that rural economies, foresters, and loggers are key partners in the fight against climate change and that lawmakers must consider the unique impact of these industries as we move towards solutions.

Foresters, loggers, and rural communities feel the

Growing up working on my parents small business in Leeds, I have an appreciation for small, family-run businesses that operate all across Maine and the challenges they face. Small businesses make up over 90 percent of all Maine’s businesses and hire the majority of our workers, so it’s crucial that we make sure they have the resources they need to succeed.

The importance of small businesses to Maine is why I serve on the House Small Business Committee. Last month, each member of the committee had the opportunity to invite a small business owner down to Washington to testify before the committee and tell Congress what they needed us to focus on.

For me, inviting members of the forest products industry to testify was an obvious choice. It’s a cornerstone of our state’s economy, and I know that most logging operations in Maine are family-run small businesses. So about a month ago, I had the privilege of hosting Pleasant River Lumber co-owners, Chris and Jason Bruchu, in Washington D.C. Pleasant River Lumber is a fourth generation logging company based in Piscataquis County. The small business employs around 300 Mainers big by Maine’s standards, but still a small business. One of my favorite details about Pleasant River’s business is that they stamp every piece of their lumber with a “Made in America” seal.

effects of climate change on their business every day. Politicians can’t ignore the impact of climate change and expect rural economies to thrive in future generations. Instead, we must give foresters, loggers, and rural communities the tools and resources they need to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and preserve their industries in the future.

Forest owners and farmers are the original green jobs, helping to mitigate climate change by improving the health of our natural resources. By being effective stewards, they increase the amount of carbon stored in trees, soil, forests, and even everyday household products.

We’ve made great strides thus far like the 2019 Farm Bill’s supports for low-emission energy practices in forestry but I know lawmakers can do better to lean on the experts who know our natural resources best.

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.

During the Small Business Committee hearing, Jason Brochu emphasized America’s need to engage in trade practices that protect American workers and products, such as the administration’s duties on softwood lumber. Jason and I also talked about the importance of expanding reliable broadband services throughout rural Maine and about the need to prepare young people to enter the logging workforce.

With input from the Brochus and other Maine logging businesses, here are some of the things I’m working on to help loggers address these issues:

• I’m supporting the administration’s softwood lumber tariffs. Canada should not be allowed to subsidize their timber industry without retribution from our government.

• I’m drafting legislation called the Small Business Last Mile Act. It will provide grants to small businesses to connect them with broadband service in rural areas.

I’m working to pass the DRIVE-Safe Act, which would help address the shortage of truck drivers in the logging industry. The legislation would provide a rigorous apprenticeship program to 18-21 year olds and allow them to drive trucks across state lines upon certification and completion of the program.

It’s important for Congress to hear directly from loggers to help guide our work. That’s why every chance I have, I come back to Maine to talk to folks throughout the Second District and visit their small businesses to learn first-hand how I can best represent them.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Congress. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on the issues that matter to you.

Rep. Chellie Pingree

Rep. Jared Golden