Thomas Logging and Forestry

those big piles of logs stacked up at the end of the day –there is no doubt for the right person nothing compares to logging. Thomas is one of those people.

“I do this because I love it,” Thomas said, noting his company is strictly a logging company and while they do build roads for themselves, they have not branched off into other businesses as many logging firms have in recent years. “I don't do dirt work and to be honest with you I don't plan to, I don't want to, I want to work in the woods.”

Logging is in Thomas’ blood. He came up in the industry working in the family business, RA Thomas Logging, founded by his grandparents more than five decades ago.

Thomas was only 23 when he took over his grandparent’s business a decade ago after the passing of his grandfather, who was a longtime PLC Board member. In January of 2015, he purchased the family business from his grandmother and started Thomas Logging and Forestry.

“Then all the mills closed,” Thomas laughed, recalling the shutdowns of Maine mills that began that year and have continued over the years since.

Many Maine loggers would agree the past decade has been the most difficult for the industry in living memory. In spite of the challenges, Thomas Logging and Forestry is still going strong today. The Master Logger® certified company is professional and well-respected, building on its good reputation in the greater Guilford area one quality

Thomas Continued Page 18 logging job at a time. Big enough to handle large jobs but small enough to be a tight-knit group, it is an adaptable and resilient company that has weathered challenges and kept on going. In 2021, the company won the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine’s Logger of the Year Award.

Forest Briggs, a Sappi wood buyer for central and eastern Maine who spent 5 years as a forester for the Sappi Stumpage program and supported Thomas Logging and Forestry receiving that award, worked extensively with the company over the years and always found it professional, easy to work with, and committed to achieving the best outcomes for landowners and the forest.

“When things get tough, whether it be market conditions or adverse weather, Thomas is always levelheaded, open to suggestions, and willing to make things work. Thomas Logging is easily one of the best around at product utilization. If that means three sorts for soft maple logs, so be it, they’d do it,” Forest said.

Thomas Logging and Forestry has an experienced and reliable group of seven employees, including Thomas’ father, John. Thomas himself is the 8th member of the team, and together they add up to what Thomas calls two and a half crews, with him sometimes being the “half” when needed to keep multiple sites going at once.

The company has three processors - The Rottne and 2 Komatsus, one tracked and one wheeled. It also has three Rottne forwarders and one truck. Crews are generally operating on at least two sites at once. When it’s “go time” in the busy seasons, hours are long, and the logging combined with firewood processing and delivery keeps everyone busy.

Thomas is also a forester, a graduate of Unity College with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science

Maine logging firms are dealing with: Rising costs on literally everything, including fuel, parts and equipment; shorter winters and earlier road postings cutting deeply into the time and access needed to harvest and move wood; long delays for parts needed for repairs; finding good workers and keeping them; and at the top of the list - wood prices too low to cover the increase in costs, leaving profit margins slim to nonexistent on some jobs.

While Thomas acknowledged wood prices have generally risen and some mills have tried to boost prices to help loggers, the skyrocketing costs of operating a logging business mean loggers are taking home less money despite that. Like most Maine loggers, he has a hard time reading about some mills reporting record profits while loggers are struggling to survive.

“It's fine that they want to break records with their profits, that’s okay, they’re in business they’ve got a lot of money invested and it’s great that they can make money, but don’t tell us you're making record profits and then only give us just a slim portion of it,” Thomas said. “What I will say is that I would like to think the mills will eventually figure out that they need to pay more money for wood if they expect to have strong inventory levels over the long term.” and forestry. He is a believer that education is a key ingredient in success in the industry and a supporter of programs in Maine’s technical high schools and the PLC’s Mechanized Logging Operations Program, created with the Maine Community College System, that are raising the bar for education and training in Maine logging. His company faces the same challenges most

At this point, Thomas worries the window to do that is closing, if it has not already shut. About three or four years ago raising prices significantly could have done a lot to stabilize the logging industry. Now, many loggers nearing retirement have opted out early, and others are choosing not to invest in their businesses and equipment and are downsizing. Many are also doing other things and cutting back on logging. Wood production is falling, and he worries about the future ability of the logging industry to supply Maine’s forest products industry if these trends continue.

Thomas’ grandfather was one of the earliest members of the PLC and believed strongly in its mission. Since becoming owner of the company, Thomas has stepped up repeatedly for the organization to host woods tours for students, teachers, and legislators. He supports PLC’ Log A Load for Maine Kids efforts, and the legislative efforts of the organization in Augusta. Without the PLC working on behalf of loggers, he believes the industry would be in far worse shape than it is.

“If we didn't have an organization like that, most of us would be lost trying to make any kind of progress on our own,” Thomas said. Loggers are often of the mindset that if you just work harder than you already are that will solve problems, but like many in the industry Thomas has come to realize that approach isn't working any more. Loggers are already working incredibly hard and still not getting rewards that equal what other professions are getting.

At the end of the day, he’s not expecting to get rich in the woods, he just wants a fair shake for himself and his employees, a chance with hard work to make a decent living doing something they all love.

Thomas said no matter what the challenges are, he is still committed to logging, and as his children grow up, it would be nice if the logging industry could offer a decent career path for a young person wanting to work in the woods.

“If they want it,” Thomas said. “I’d like to think it will be there for them.”

BREWER - What does the work done by a logging business and an information technology company have in common? In both businesses it is like looking at an iceberg

90% of it is below the surface.

S.J. Rollins Technologies Inc. of Brewer understands there is much more to logging than cutting down some trees and hauling them to a mill. Not only do loggers have the logistics of running a logging operation, but they must also contend with safety and environmental regulations, employee training and retention, taxes and insurance, the costs of owning and operating harvesting equipment, landowner and forester expectations, and mill contracts and quotas. And like everyone else in business, loggers deal with computer issues.

S.J Rollins joined the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine as a Preferred Supporting Member in October of 2021. The company has been providing hosted services, managed services, network security, software development, and phone and communication solutions for

37 years. Today, the company works with a wide range of companies, including Contractor Members of the PLC. “The point is that there is also much more to information technology than buying a computer and occasionally calling tech support to fix it,” the company says. “The IT Iceberg (see image this page) shows some of the other issues that must be considered to keep a network efficient, stable, and secure. Think about how much more you could do in your business if you were not distracted by IT problems. Our mission is to remove the burdens of technology by providing solutions that create efficiency, stability, and security.” The company recommends loggers consider reaching out to S.J. Rollins for advice if:

∙ They want confidence that their data is backed up.

∙ They are concerned about their network and computer security.

∙ They keep saying to themselves that there must be a better way to do this; or

∙ Their computers are running slower than they used to.

“Strong, long-term relationships with landowners, equipment dealers, mills, and foresters are important for your business. Adding an IT company to that list will help as well. S.J. Rollins Technologies will work with you to solve your business and technology problems,” the company says.

S.J. Rollins has a large team, including 35 technicians and 10 support staff to meet the needs of businesses through planning, design, implementation, maintenance, and management of information technology solutions. The company understands technology has the power to make our lives easier but making everything operate in unison is difficult and sometimes frustrating.

S.J. Rollins prides itself on looking for opportunities to increase value for their clients; doing things the right way and not taking the easy way out or cutting corners in their work but always providing the right solution; developing long-standing relationships with their clients; providing consistent service, so their clients are always better than they were the last time they worked with them; and on accepting any problem or challenge and being innovative and committed to get the job done.

“We are a Maine company that has been providing information technology solutions for hundreds of businesses and organizations since its inception in 1986. Serving all major industries – including logging, forest management, and wood products – we help our clients achieve their objectives by lowering cost and maximizing the performance of their technology,” the company says. “We joined PLC in 2021 because we recognize the importance of the forest industry to Maine’s economy. Several of our employees have direct ties to forestry, logging, and wood products. In fact, the early days of our company were spent providing computers and software solutions to mills in Rumford (Boise Cascade), Jay (James River), and Bucksport (St. Regis).”

To learn more about the company call 207-9410264, email info@sjrollins.com, or visit www.sjrollins.com