PLC Loggers Voice Spring 2019

Volume 13 Issue 2 | Spring 2019
A Quarterly Publication of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Board of Directors
Cover: Jackman Lumber truck loading at a landing in Moose
River in March. Story, p.10.
Jim Nicols, President
Tony Madden, 1 st Vice President
Chuck Ames, 2 nd Vice President
Will Cole, Secretary
Andy Irish, Treasurer
Scott Madden, Past President
Aaron Adams
Kurt Babineau
Donald Cole
A quarterly publication of:
The Professional Logging
Contractors of Maine
William Cole
Tom Cushman
Brent Day
Wes Dube
Steve Hanington
Duane Jordan
Robert Linkletter
Andrew Madden
Ron Ridley
10
110 Sewall St., P.O. Box 1036
Augusta, ME 04332
Phone: 207.688.8195
www.maineloggers.com
Member Showcase
Jackman Lumber
Wayne Tripp
Gary Voisine
PLC Staff
Executive Director
Dana Doran ▪ executivedirector@maineloggers.com
Membership Services Coordinator
Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com
Safety and Training Coordinator
Donald Burr ▪ safety@maineloggers.com
The Logger’s Voice
Editor and Designer
Jon Humphrey Communications and Photography
▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com
Advertising
Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com
Email news, notices, and correspondence
▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com
22
Supporting Member Spotlight
Milton CAT
Also Inside
4 Calendar and Updates
6 President’s Report
7 New Members
8 Executive Director’s Report
14 Wage and Employment Study
16 Annual Meeting
18 Trucking
25 MLOP
26 Safety
34 PLC News Briefs
36 ALC Updates
39 Master Logger
40 Congressional Updates
This newsletter is printed on FLO Gloss Digital Text paper
produced in Maine and donated by Sappi North America.

Event
Calendar
*Oxford Casino, Oxford
NEW LOCATION!
Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
H.O. Bouchard/Comstock, Hampden
4 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Updates
Do you have news to
share?
The PLC is always seeking
news from our Members that
showcases our industry’s
professionalism, generosity, and
ingenuity.
Send ideas to
jonathan@maineloggers.com
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019
5

From the President
By Jim Nicols
Hello everyone,
As I write this, winter is winding down and spring is coming fast. I hope
everyone had a productive and safe winter season. We sure had enough snow in
most parts of the state.
For those of you that weren’t able to attend, we had a great turnout for our
legislative breakfast in late March. We had approximately 100 legislators and PLC
members attend. Legislators got a chance to listen to some of our needs and
concerns and ask questions of the members. A lot of the discussion that morning
centered around labor, energy and road postings.
There is a lot going on in Augusta right now and Dana is doing a great job
representing PLC in the Capital. If you do not receive PLC’s weekly updates
through email, call Jess at the office and she will get you on the email list.
I know Donald Burr is working hard on putting the next MLOP training class
together. It is slated to start this summer in Stratton in late June, the first time it has
been in western Maine. We should have a full class, as I believe we have had more
than triple the applicants for this year’s class. However, PLC members and their
employees get preferential treatment when making recommendations for applicants
so if you have someone in mind that you would like to send, please let Donald know
as soon as possible.
The dates are now out for the PLC’s annual spring safety trainings. If you
haven’t signed up yet, make sure to do so as classes are filling up fast. Last year we
had over 800 people attend these trainings. We are also doing fleet trainings for
truck drivers at various locations throughout the state.
Lastly the PLC annual meeting is fast approaching on April 26th. I hope you
will all take the time to attend and support PLC. It is an informative and fun day and
evening with a chance to see people you may not have seen throughout the year.
Scott Hanington will once again be the auctioneer for the Log A Load for Kids
auction for the Children’s Miracle Network. We want to try and top last year’s
numbers.
Hope to see you all there and have a good spring.
Thank You
Jimmy
6 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Welcome New Members….…….
Contractor Members
Clayton Pelletier Logging Inc. of Rumford,
ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor
Member in March 2019. The company has a
professional staff of one. For more information
contact Clayton at 446-2724 of
email claypel@yahoo.com.
LAS Logging of Hampden, ME joined the
PLC as a new Contractor Member in March
2019. The company has a professional staff of
two. For more information call Alphonse at
(207) 862-4614 or email spencer313@tds.net.
Supporting Members
Fabian Oil of Oakland, ME joined the PLC as a
new Preferred Supporting Member in January
2019. The company is a locally owned and
operated marketer of petroleum products and
has proudly served its many customers for over
30 years. It is a full service company offering all
types of heating and motor fuels and maintains a
full-scale service department for oil, propane
and natural gas. For more information call Ted
Fabian at 465-2000, email
tfabian@fabianoil.com or visit
www.fabianoil.com.
Groundtek Inc. of Fort Kent, ME joined the
PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in
March 2019. The company has a professional
staff of four. For more information contact
Bruce at (207) 834-5047 or
email GROUNDTEK541@YAHOO.COM.
Pelletier Manufacturing Inc. of
Millinocket, ME joined the PLC as a new Forest
Contractor in March 2019. The company has a
professional staff of 17. For more information
contact Jeff at (207) 723-6500 or
email pelletiermfg@myfairpoint.net.
B. Pelletier Logging Inc. of St. Francis, ME
joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor in
March 2019. The company has a professional
staff of two. For more information contact
Buddy at (207) 316-2831or
email bpelletierlogging@gmail.com.
The Winter 2019 Edition of The Logger’s Voice
incorrectly identified PLC Supporting Member
Soleno as a Vermont-based company. Soleno is
based in Canada. We regret the error.
ND Paper, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nine
Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, the largest
containerboard producer in Asia, joined the PLC
as a new Preferred Supporting Member in
March 2019. ND Paper is an environmentallyfriendly
company that manufactures various
types of high-quality pulp, paper and paperbased
packaging materials. Its mills in Rumford,
Maine and Biron, Wisconsin are integrated
paper & pulp facilities, and its mill in Fairmont,
West Virginia is one of only three in the world
that produces air-dried, recycled pulp. The
company is working to restart a currently-idled
pulp mill in Old Town, Maine, with expected
commissioning in the summer of 2019. ND
Paper has 1,100 dedicated employees, who
together produce more than 1.1 million metric
tons of paper annually. ND Paper is
headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. For
more information contact Randy Chicoine
at 207) 754-8752 or email
mailto:randy.chicoine@us.ndpaper.com.
Not a member but interested in
joining the PLC?
Contact Jessica at (207) 688-8195 or
email jessica@maineloggers.com
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019
7

From the Executive
Director
As this article goes to print, the snow
is melting quickly, the road postings are up
across the state and many winter time
operations are grinding to a halt. While mud
season can be a time of frustration for our
membership as cash flow slows down and the
attention turns to maintenance and catching
up on paperwork, it is also a time to recharge
the batteries after the big winter push before
summer rolls around and wood is moving
again.
Spring is also a time to reflect upon
the industry, all that is good, and all that is
bad as well as the opportunities and
challenges. As I talk to our members and get
the lay of the land out there, I have a sense
the challenges are mounting and even though
markets have opened up, there is less and less
optimism about the future.
Back in December, based upon the
instincts of the PLC Board and the input of
the membership, the PLC conducted a survey
of its members to determine what the
employment needs were at that point in time.
We were hearing that it was getting harder
and harder to find help, that the markets were
wide open, and they could harvest wood
without hesitation, but the workforce could
not fill the need. Rumors were rampant that
mill yards were nearly empty week after
week and there were not enough operators,
truck drivers or mechanics to do the work.
The survey we did was striking as we heard
Future
By Dana Doran
back from a majority of our membership and
the numbers do not lie. As of January, just
among the PLC membership, there were
between 750-1,000 job openings and no real
idea how to fill them. This was surprising in
that we knew there were needs, but not at this
size and scale.
At the same time, we also heard from
the membership that competition for labor
was fierce and members were not only having
a challenging time hiring new employees, but
they were losing employees at a rapid pace
because of the opportunity to earn more
money with better benefits and fewer hours
outside of the industry. Some members even
reported that they were losing employees to
local mills that they delivered wood to. This
is a recipe for disaster at exactly the wrong
time as the state has been marketing itself as
having a glut of softwood pulp and biomass
which has motivated new investment in the
state, but now there are real questions about
who is going to do the work. If the contractor
workforce was not really there, could all of
these new investments actually come to
fruition? Would investment continue to occur
if logging and trucking capacity was in
question?
Following the collection of survey
data and the general idea that contractors
could not fulfill the demands they had
presently, not to mention the additional work
they had on the horizon as a result of mill
8 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Nicols Brothers Inc. logging operations underway in Winthrop in March.
expansions, the PLC Board decided it was
time to get a third party assessment of the
labor and wage picture both now and the
future. How do we stack up against other
industries and is the company by company
picture the same on a larger scale?
In February, the PLC reached out to
the Maine Center for Business and Economic
Research at the University of Southern Maine
and asked Dr. Ryan Wallace and his team to
compare logging and trucking against other
similar industries and determine what we are
really up against with respect to wages and
benefits. Is it nearly impossible to hire new
employees or replace old ones if the pool of
people with similar skills are not willing to
work in logging and heavy duty trucking? If
the sense of freedom and autonomy which has
always driven employees to this business,
along with the enjoyment of the outdoors, is
not enough to attract them anymore if the
wages and benefits are not competitive? Is the
labor shortage real and is it attributable to low
wages and long hours and the fact that
contractors can’t afford to pay their
employees more money and still remain
profitable?
What we found was quite astounding
and now we have the data to back it up.
Put simply, Maine is facing a
shortage of loggers and log truckers that will
grow and could hinder the growth of the
forest products industry in the state if wage
growth does not occur. Wages for logging
equipment operators and log truckers in
Maine are lower than those for comparable
jobs in competing industries in the state, and
this combined with a tight labor market and
looming retirement for large numbers of
loggers is not a positive sign.
This analysis simply confirms and
reinforces what many in this industry have
known for a long time. The root of Maine’s
vital forest products economy - the logging
industry - must be able to offer higher wages
to compete for existing workers and attract
new ones at a time when they are desperately
needed to support a resurgent forest products
industry.
The heart of the problem is profit
margins for logging contractors have
dwindled as costs of doing business have
risen, limiting the ability of contractors to
raise pay for workers. With low
unemployment and strong competition for
skilled operators of heavy machinery and
trucks, logging contractors are struggling
simply to keep the workers they have, let
alone attract new ones.
As I mentioned previously, we know
from surveying our own membership, that the
industry is already unable to fill an estimated
750 to 1,000 jobs today. Add to that the
projected loss of upwards of 200 workers per
year over the next 10 years due to retirements,
coupled with the need for more loggers and
truckers to meet rising demand for wood from
expansions that have been announced by mills
in the state recently and you begin to see the
extent of this problem.
In addition to Maine expansions
already announced by mill owners including
Verso, Sappi, Nine Dragons, and Pleasant
River Lumber, the FOR/Maine (Forest
Opportunity Roadmap), a broad coalition that
the PLC is working with to diversify the
Doran Continued Page 13
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 9

J
ACKMAN - Russ Griffin was one year old when his
family moved from Levant to the Jackman area, and
he has lived in this Maine border region ever since,
working in the woods from his early teenage years
through decades of major change in the logging industry
and the state.
His father, Reginald, and grandfather came to the
area in the late 1960s when the industry was booming,
trucking with wheelers for several years before getting into
logging themselves in the 1970s. In 1976 his father was
one of the partners who started Moose River Lumber
company.
“So my father went from trucking to logging to
sawmilling,” Russ laughed, “That’s the woods business.”
Reginald got out of the sawmill business in 1981,
going back to logging, and founding Jackman Lumber.
“That’s about when I got into it,” Russ said. “I
started officially when I was about 15, but from 12 years
old that was all I’ve done my whole life. The name
Jackman Lumber came from when we had thoughts that he
Jackman Lumber Co. truck loading in Moose River in early March.
10 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Jackman Lumber
was gonna build his own sawmills again, but it never
happened and it stayed logging and trucking.”
It still is today.
Back in the 1980s when Russ started full time with
the company, Jackman Lumber was running traditional
hand crews and cable skidders in the woods. The first step
in the move to mechanized logging came when the
company added stroke delimbers so the crews could fell the
trees but leave the limbing portion of the work to the
delimbers on the landings. Over time feller bunchers and
grapple skidders were added to make the company fully
mechanized.
“We only cut softwood in the 80s, and then in the
early 90s we worked with ProPac to build the first
hardwood delimbers, we had the prototype and we worked
with them on building that and it went on to be a pretty
successful thing and they’re still making them today,” Russ
said. “So I figure we pioneered the hardwood delimbing
with stroke delimbers, but now I’ve converted to a cut to
length system, we’ve been cut to length for almost 10
years. We’ve moved more to smaller wood, and I think it
works better with the smaller wood.”
The size of the company has changed a lot
over the years. At its peak in the late 1990s the company
had about 50 employees. There were six feller buncher
crews and more than 20 trucks. Like most logging
contractors in Maine, Jackman Lumber met big challenges
in the next two decades with market changes, rising costs,
and closing mills, and in response the company downsized
repeatedly.
Today Jackman Lumber has gone as small as it
can, down to a five-man crew. The crew includes two truck
drivers, himself running a processor, one man in the
garage, and his long-time feller buncher and forwarder
operator and mechanic, Ed Griffin - no relation, “he keeps
our stuff running,” Russ said. Jackman Lumber has three
trucks; a Peterbilt, a Western Star, and an International.
The company does its own low bedding and also hauls for
Jackman Lumber Continued Page 12
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 11

Jackman Lumber Continued from Page 11
other companies in the area. In the woods, Jackman
Lumber operates a CAT 511 processor, A John Deere 753
feller buncher, and a CAT 564 forwarder. It also has an
excavator, dump truck, and three log cranes. The company
once had two chippers, but the chip market has largely
disappeared. The company also
used to travel to more distant jobs,
but these days works primarily
within an hour of Jackman.
“I have a saying, I’ll work
from here to tidewater,” Russ said.
“I’ve worked quite a bit in
Frankfort, Winterport, Levant,
I’ve cut quite a bit on some of our
family land in Levant, and I own a
lot in Frankfort and Liberty, so
I’ve traveled around quite a bit.”
For the past five years,
Jackman Lumber has worked
about half the time on
Weyerhauser lands and the other
half on private lots. Their primary
markets for wood are the Moose
River Lumber mill which is less
than a mile from their shop, and
the Sappi Somerset Mill in
Skowhegan, 75 miles down Route
201.
Reginald Griffin died in 2014
after a long and respected career in the
woods, but Russ’s mother Linda
remains involved with Jackman
Lumber to this day, overseeing the
books and remaining a part owner of
the company.
Linda Griffin built Jackman
Lumber with her husband and both
were leaders in Maine’s forest products
industry over the years. Linda is a Past
President of the Maine Forest Products
Council. Russ said that over time the
Griffins came to feel that loggers
needed their own organization to better
meet their needs and fight for their interests, and so when
the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) came
along and begin to fill that role, Jackman Lumber joined
the PLC. The company is also Master Logger certified.
“I think it’s become a very good thing,” Russ said,
noting the PLC’s advocacy for loggers in Augusta, its focus
on safety and professionalism, and its work to inform and
educate the public on the logging industry. “I’ve been
pretty happy with the organization.”
Speaking out for the industry is something Russ is
known for. He has a small but devoted following on
Facebook for his regular “Stump Report” where he offers
blunt commentary on many issues of importance to loggers
Top, Jackman Lumber processor in action.
Bottom, Linda and Russ Griffin.
and other small businesses in Maine’s forest economy.
With some of the viewers including lawmakers in Augusta,
it is not unheard of for an issue or viewpoint Russ shares to
make its way into legislative discussions.
One of the most
important issues to Russ is
preservation of the longstanding
tradition in Maine of keeping
forests open to hunting and
fishing and other recreation by
maintaining their status as
working woodlands - a viewpoint
shared and championed by the
PLC.
“The biggest concern I
have is the evaporating land base.
I think over time as loggers we
kind of did our own thing and we
didn’t say much and now I’m
seeing the movement of the
environmental groups buying up
the land bases we depend on and
I’ve become very vocal about it,”
Russ said. “We’re not going to
have a land base to operate on
anymore if we don’t try to combat
this somehow and discourage
landowners from selling to
environmental groups that are basically
locking up land forever. Its dealing a
blow to the people of Maine that don’t
really deserve it.”
For Jackman Lumber, logging
is what pays the bills but Russ has long
enjoyed the trucking side of the
business and sees growth potential for
his company there given the strong
demand for trucking, so he is already
hauling for other companies and hopes
to do more in the future.
“I’m determined to make my
trucking successful,” Russ said. “I think
there’s some future in it because there’s
a need.”
While recent years have been rough ones in
Maine’s logging industry, Russ said he is encouraged by
mills beginning to make a comeback in the state after years
of closings. Overall logging capacity has shrunk as logging
contractors shut down in response to reduced markets, and
now he believes that as demand rises those contractors who
are still standing will be well positioned to capitalize on
that demand.
“Anyone that’s still standing today is a tough son
of a gun,” Russ said. “I do still really enjoy it other than the
winters are starting to be really painful - that’s age I guess,
but I’m gonna stick with what I know to the end.”
12 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Doran Continued from Page 9 16
state’s wood products businesses, attract capital investments,
and develop greater economic prosperity for communities
impacted by recent mill closures has announced an action
plan to grow Maine’s forest economy from the current $8.5
billion (annual) to $12 billion by 2025. This growth would
position the state to compete in and take advantage of
substantial global market opportunities with much of the
projected 40 percent growth coming from new markets for
the state. Such growth would also require a significant
expansion of the logging and log trucking workforce in
Maine.
Key findings of the employment availability and
wage study include:
· Although capital expenses in the logging industry
have risen across the board, rates for wood harvesting and
trucking have not.
· Recently announced expansions increasing demand
for wood will require an additional 100 jobs in the logging
industry in the immediate future. In addition, occupation
projections suggest upwards of 200 workers per year will need to
be replaced over the next 8-10 years due to an aging logger
workforce.
· Business critical occupations in the logging
industry, including equipment operators and truck drivers
which comprise 2 out of every 3 jobs, currently earn relative
wages well below comparable occupations in other industries,
making it difficult to recruit and attract workers. Logging
equipment operators ranked lowest for wages out of 19
comparable skilled occupations surveyed, while logging truck
drivers ranked second to last for wages out of 14 heavy truck
driving sectors.
· The average earnings for all employment in
Maine’s logging industry have increased by 5% since 2010,
an average increase of just over $2,100 per worker compared
to an average increase of $5,500 in comparative industries,
such as construction, wood manufacturing, and pulp and
paper manufacturing.
· Over 400 workers in the industry are at retirement
age (65+), while an additional 850 workers will be reaching
retirement age within the next 10 years. Attracting younger
generations of workers will be critical in replacing the retiring
workforce.
All of this data and the findings of this report brings
me back to a discussion point I mentioned in my last article in
January and one that needs to be revisited. Contractors own
and operate businesses with the intent to earn a return; they
are not in business to subsidize the financial returns of their
customers. During a time of high prices for lumber markets
and increasing pulp demand, far too many contractors in
Maine are running on borrowed time. Despite some price
creep and increased demand for wood, a majority of
contractors are still reporting much lower profit margins. And
when it comes to cost savings in the supply chain, loggers
have nothing left to give. Any business that does not earn a
return, closes down. It’s that simple.
Back in January, I was reading the blog of a
management company who will remain nameless. In that
article, the author discussed a recent timber sale negotiation
that they conducted with a landowner. The management
company took great pride in the fact that they competed
against a logger to earn the sale and boasted that they could
provide more value to the landowner as a service provider,
could hire a logger to work for them and at the end of the day
would provide a greater financial return to the landowner than
if they contracted directly with the logger. Furthermore, the
logger really wasn’t trustworthy, and it was absolutely
necessary for the landowner to have an intermediary involved
as a result of this trust. Wow!! Not only was I angered to hear
this kind of double talk, but I found this to be exactly what is
wrong with the system that contractors operate in today.
Can you imagine what backlash the logger would
feel if they publicly scrutinized a management company this
way?
I guess all is fair in competitive business, but is this
really the kind of environment we want the landowner
community to be subjected to? Further, this is also exactly
why contractors can barely afford to stay in business. We
have a system in place that encourages the control,
manipulation and degradation of the logger at the logger’s
expense. No wonder loggers cannot hire good people and pay
them a living wage when those who exert control use profit as
a four-letter word and try to use scare tactics against them.
To use an analogy, do architects use these same
tactics when working with property owners? Do they scare
the property owner and tell them they cannot trust their
building contractor? Do engineers use these tactics in similar
circumstances when competing against plumbers and HVAC
professionals? I have a feeling it is a violation of their license
and their professional code of ethics. So, if this is the case in
those professions, shouldn’t it be the same in this business?
I bring up this example because I’m hearing stories
like this more and more as the competition for wood
increases. Loggers can compete with anyone, but the playing
field should be equalized and there should be a better level of
respect at this point in time because there isn’t, “just another
logger out there that can take the job.”
We hear all the time that this is a supposed to be a
three-legged stool and the chain is only as strong as its
weakest link. Well, the stool is broken and if it’s going to
stand, it has to stand on its own. If one leg is going to push
the other one down or continues to try to make one leg
stronger than the other, the stool will ultimately fall.
As you start to unwind this spring and look at your
business, please take a look at the study we just released and
see how it compares to your business. If the data is similar
and you don’t see things changing, don’t hesitate to refer to
this in your discussions moving forward. In the end, loggers
are the root of the industry and must speak with one voice.
Now might be the time to use it.
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019
13

Maine Logger and Log Trucker Employment Availability and
Wage Analysis Report Released
AUGUSTA - Maine is facing a shortage of loggers
and log truckers that will grow and could hinder the growth
of the $8.5 billion forest products industry in the state if
wage growth does not occur, an occupational analysis
released in March concludes.
The employment availability and wage analysis
prepared by the Maine Center for Business and Economic
Research at the University of Southern Maine found wages
for logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine
are lower than those for comparable jobs in competing
industries in the state, and this combined with a tight labor
market and looming retirement for large numbers of loggers
is concerning for Maine’s forest economy.
in Maine, that the industry is already unable to fill an
estimated 750 to 1,000 jobs today,” Doran said. “Add to that
the projected loss of upwards of 200 workers per year over
the next 10 years due to retirements, coupled with the need
for more loggers and truckers to meet rising demand for
wood from expansions that have been announced by mills in
the state recently and you begin to see the extent of this
problem.”
In addition to Maine expansions already announced
by mill owners including Verso, Sappi, Nine Dragons, and
Pleasant River Lumber, the FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity
Roadmap), a broad coalition working to diversify the state’s
wood products businesses, attract capital investments, and
“profit margins for logging contractors have
dwindled as costs of doing business have
risen, limiting the ability of contractors to
raise pay for workers”
“This analysis simply confirms and reinforces what
many in the industry have known for a long time,” Dana
Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging
Contractors of Maine (PLC), which commissioned and
partnered with the Center on the study, said. “The root of
Maine’s vital forest products economy - the logging industry
- must be able to offer higher wages to compete for existing
workers and attract new ones at a time when they are
desperately needed to support a resurgent forest products
industry.”
The heart of the problem is profit margins for
logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing
business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to
raise pay for workers. With low unemployment and strong
competition for skilled operators of heavy machinery and
trucks, logging contractors are struggling simply to keep the
workers they have, let alone attract new ones, Doran said.
“We know from surveying our own membership,
which cuts approximately 75 percent of all wood harvested
develop greater economic prosperity for communities
impacted by recent mill closures has announced an action
plan to grow Maine’s forest economy from the current $8.5
billion (annual) to $12 billion by 2025. This growth would
position the state to compete in and take advantage of
substantial global market opportunities with much of the
projected 40 percent growth coming from new markets for
the state. Such growth would also require a significant
expansion of the logging and log trucking workforce in
Maine, Doran noted.
▪ The Executive Summary of the study is available at:
http://maineloggers.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
Professional-Logging-Contractors-of-Maine-Occupational-
Wage-Analysis_final-1.pdf
▪ The Full Report is available here: http://
maineloggers.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
Professional-Logging-Contractors-of-Maine-Occupational-
Wage-Analysis-Data-Appendix-FINAL.pdf
14 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Legislative Breakfast
A great success!
The PLC's Annual Legislative Breakfast
was a great success March 14th, drawing
a crowd of more than 100 to the
Governor's Hill Mansion in Augusta to
hear directly from our Members about
the challenges in Maine's logging
industry and the importance of the
Legislature to our efforts to sustain and
improve that industry.
Thanks to the many lawmakers who
attended, including Senate President
Troy Jackson of Allagash and Speaker of
the House Sara Gideon of Freeport.
Thanks also to our PLC Board Members
who did such a great job standing up to
speak about issues that were highlighted
during the event including worker
shortages and the need for higher wages
for logging operators and log truckers.
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 15

The PLC of Maine 24th Annual
Meeting
April 26, 2019 - Oxford Casino & Event Center, Oxford, ME
An Invitation,
Please join us for our 24th
Annual Meeting to learn and network
with other professional loggers as we
look toward the future.
24TH
ANNUAL
MEETING
Highlights
-Nine Dragons
-Commissioner of Agriculture,
Conservation & Forestry
-Legislative Leadership
-Children's Miracle Network Children
-Log A Load Auction
-PLC Annual Awards
The Morning Session is only for PLC Contractor
Members. During this time, we will: Conduct a
general membership meeting, hold Board elections
and review our legislative agenda. Acadia Insurance
will let us know how the dividend program
performed in 2018, hear from the new
Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry and Nine Dragons to learn
about their expansion plans in Rumford and Old
Town.
During our Luncheon, which is open to all PLC
Contractor Members, Supporting Members and
invited guests, we will hear from the President of the
Senate , Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House, Sara
Gideon about policies to ensure profitability for
Maine Loggers.
We reconvene at 4:00 pm for our social hour and
time to preview the Log A Load Auction items, open
to all PLC Contractor Members, Supporting
Members and invited guests.
To help the Children’s Miracle Network raise
money, our Log A Load Auction will be kicked
off by a Miracle Network Children.
Can we exceed the $46,000 we raised in 2018?
Dinner will include a welcome and remarks from
PLC President, Jim Nicols and remarks from
Congressman Jared Golden, 2nd District (Invited).
The Master Logger Certificate Ceremony will
follow and the night will conclude with the PLC’s
annual awards presentation.
Dinner Guests — Join us for a buffet dinner and the honor
of meeting a couple of the many children helped by the
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), Hazel and Edgar are
wonderful children who would like to share their story!
Meet the amazing people that our fundraising is impacting
and feel the difference that we are making!
In 2018 the PLC of Maine raised over $122,000 to
support local Maine children!
Creating Real Miracles by Raising Funds for Local Hospitals
Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals
have raised more than $5 billion for 170 children’s
hospitals across the United States and Canada. The PLC of
Maine and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS)
Foundation have raised over $1,129,000 since 1996 for
children in Maine. These donations have gone to support
research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for
uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save
and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Some
are battling cancer, some are suffering from a traumatic
injury, and others require constant care because they were
born too early, or with a genetic disease.
14 Professional Logging April Contractors 26, 2019 - Oxford of Maine Casino & Event Center, Loggers Oxford, Serving ME Loggers Since 1995

Meeting Agenda:
24TH
ANNUAL
MEETING
REGISTER NOW!
WE NEED AUCTION ITEMS FOR LOG A LOAD!
Morning Session
PLC Contractor Members Only
7:30 AM Registration
(Coffee & Continental Breakfast)
8:00 AM Full Board and General Membership Meeting,
Board Elections, Legislative Update and Acadia
Dividend Program Update.
10:00 AM Amanda Beal, Commissioner of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry
Director of the Maine Forest Service
11:00 AM Randy Chicoine, Mill Manager, Nine Dragons
- expansion plans in Rumford and Old
Town
Afternoon Session
PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members
& Invited Guests
12:00 PM Lunch Buffet
Children’s Miracle Network Auction
Would you like to donate an item or cash?
Contact Jessica at jessica@maineloggers.com
12:30 PM Luncheon Speakers:
2019 Maine Legislature – Policies to
Ensure Profitability for Maine Loggers.
- President of the Senate, Troy Jackson
- Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon
2:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Break
Evening session
PLC Contractor Members, Supporting Members, Invited Guests
4:00 PM Social Hour—Auction Items Preview
5:00 PM Children’s Miracle Network Children & Log A Load for Kids—Special Guest Auctioneer—Scott Hanington
6:00 PM Dinner Buffet
6:45 PM PLC President’s Welcome & Congressman Jared Golden, 2nd District (Invited)
7:00 PM Presentation of Master Logger Supporter Award & Presentation of Certificates to 2018 Cohort of Certified
Master Logger Companies
7:30 PM Awards Presentation: PLC Logger of the Year, Acadia Insurance Safety Award, PLC Impact Award,
PLC Community Service Award, Supporting Member Award & PLC President’s Award
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 15 17

Photos
Top: Groundtek Inc.
low-bedding
equipment.
OWNERS: Bruce and Meagan Plourde
YEAR FOUNDED: April 2009
ADDRESS: South Perley Brook Road, Fort Kent, Maine.
Below: Bruce
Plourde.
Opposite: Groundtek
Inc. Western Star.
PHONE NUMBER: (207) 316-3006
EMPLOYEES: 6
TRUCKS: 2 Western Star 4900 heavy haul trucks, 1 Western
Star 4900 dump truck, 1 International 9370 eagle dump truck
AREA OF OPERATION: Aroostook County
SERVICES PROVIDED: Construction, excavation, concrete
work, sewer systems, retainer walls, heavy equipment
transportation up to 55 tons, on and off road hauling
PLC FOREST CONTRACTOR SINCE: January 2019
18 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

WHY DID THE COMPANY JOIN PLC: “PLC is a wonderful group with a voice. They work for the
people and give us the opportunity to be heard at different levels of the state. They provide great
trainings and accommodate all areas of the forest industry.”
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE PLC TO WORK ON:
“Currently PLC is assisting us with the process of lowbed transportation permitting, rules and
regulations.”
Trucking section Continued Page 20
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 19

Trucking Industry News...
FMCSA Updates SMS Website...
FMCSA has updated the CSA SMS Website with
the February 22, 2019 results.
Motor carriers participating in FMCSA’s Crash
Preventability Demonstration Program will continue to
see the Agency’s final determinations on SMS for crashes
reviewed as part of the program. Logged-in carriers and
enforcement users with crashes determined to be Not
Preventable as part of the program can view measures and
percentiles calculated with and without those crashes.
View the site here: https://maineloggers.us10.listmanage.com/track/click?
u=50356bc32e7c1ced15b258bf6&id=7bae694128&e=114d
18f9f8
FMCSA Launches Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Website...
FMCSA has launched a new website with
information about the Commercial Driver’s License Drug
and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Visit https://
clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov to learn more about how
CDL drivers and their employers will be required to use the
Clearinghouse beginning January 6, 2020. You will be able
to sign up for email updates.
Canadian Revenue Agency Notice of Fuel Charge
and Registration Requirements...
A new fuel charge, administered by the Canada
Revenue Agency (CRA), was introduced as part of the
Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
The fuel charge is expected to be effective April 1,
2019 for the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick,
Ontario and Saskatchewan and July 1, 2019 for the
territories of Nunavut and Yukon.
The attached informational bulletin, provided by
the CRA, details the fuel charge plan. IFTA, Inc. is
forwarding this bulletin to provide jurisdictions with
20 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

information to assist their carriers. It will also be posted on
the IFTA Inc. website.
The registration materials are available at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/
excise-taxes-duties-levies/fuel-charge.html
Unified Carrier Registration Online Service…
This service allows Maine based individuals and
companies that operate commercial motor vehicles in
interstate or international commerce to register their
business and pay the annual UCR fee based on the size of
their fleet. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing
companies are also required to register and pay a fee equal
to the lowest fee tier. Companies providing both motor
carrier services as well as broker, freight forwarder or
leasing services are required to pay the fee level set at the
motor carrier level.
Roadside enforcement period will begin April 1,
2019. You can access the payment portal at Maine
BMV here: https://maineloggers.us10.list-manage.com/
track/click?
u=50356bc32e7c1ced15b258bf6&id=d4a06e1c92&e=114d
18f9f8
Open Seats for Class A CDL Program…
Eastern Maine Community College's January 14th
CDL class was postponed and the college is seeking to add
a few more participants, like you! Class will run from noon
to 6 p.m. for the first few weeks. Driving and range times
will be scheduled during class to accommodate your
schedule.
The next classes are scheduled to start:
June 3.
Learn more at: https://www.emcc.edu/workforcedevelopment/non-credit-classes/commercial-drivers-license
-cdl-training-center/
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 21

PLC Supporting Member Spotlight
B
REWER - There are few companies as deeply
embedded in Maine’s logging industry today as
Milton CAT.
Milton CAT heavy equipment can be
found working in Maine forests from Fort Kent to Kittery,
and the state’s loggers have been reliable and solid
customers for the company for decades. Now, though the
company is changing some of its approach to the forest
equipment market, its commitment to the Maine logging
industry remains as strong as ever.
“For us, Maine is a big piece of the pie,” Peter
Collins, Forest Industry Manager for Milton CAT said
recently during a discussion at the company’s Brewer
location, the distribution center for all forestry parts for
Milton CAT. “Maine is historically about half the
opportunity in terms of forestry machine sales for the
entire territory.”
Those equipment sales are critical to the
company, and so is the Maine logging industry, Collins
said.
From its start in a dirt floor garage in Concord,
New Hampshire, Milton CAT has grown to 12 locations,
spanning a six-state territory. Two of those locations are in
Maine; Brewer and Scarborough.
Milton CAT has over 1,000 employees, many with
twenty, thirty or even forty years of service at the
company, and it's widely recognized by Caterpillar as
being one of its top performing dealerships worldwide.
Milton CAT still runs on the same philosophy that
made the company successful in its early years. The
company's growth and reputation have been a result of
experience, continuity of purpose, empowering employees,
and a longstanding partnership with Caterpillar.
A privately-held company, Milton CAT is owned
by the Milton family. Dealer principal and Chief Executive
Officer Chris Milton, is the third-generation Milton to be
at the helm of a Caterpillar dealership. Chris Milton's
father, Jack, learned the ropes under his father, Milt
Milton, at former Massachusetts CAT dealership Perkins-
Milton. In 1960, Jack Milton and partner Bill Jordan
founded Jordan-Milton Machinery and represented
Caterpillar equipment and engines in New Hampshire and
Vermont, expanding into Maine with the acquisition of
Arnold Machinery Company in 1982. In 1991, Jordan-
Milton acquired Southworth Machinery and the company
name became Southworth-Milton. That name was changed
to Milton CAT shortly after the company expanded its
territory into western New York with the acquisition of
bordering CAT dealership Syracuse Supply Company in
2004.
Today, the company's products and technology
can be found in logging camps and nuclear facilities; dairy
farms, U.S. Army Defense installations, hospitals, lobster
boats and underground salt mines; solid waste landfills,
data centers, paving projects and ferries; commuter rail
trains, quarries, school buses and on job sites of all sizes.
22 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Peter Collins has been with the company for 36
years and his long-time customers include many founding
members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine
(PLC). He has worked with multiple generations of many
well-known Maine logging families.
Milton CAT’s relationship with the PLC began
long before the organization offered Supporting
Memberships (Milton CAT is an Enhanced Supporting
Member). The company has been a strong supporter of
PLC’s Log A Load for
Maine Kids annual
fund raising efforts
and other initiatives
over the years.
Among the
most noteworthy of
Milton CAT’s more
recent contributions to
the PLC’s efforts has
been the company’s support for the Mechanized Logging
Operation Program (MLOP), launched three years ago to
provide entry level training for mechanized logging
operators. The program was created thanks to a partnership
between three Maine community colleges, the PLC, and
industry partners including Milton CAT and Nortrax.
The program gives students a broad overview of
the most common mechanical systems found in modern
timber harvesting equipment, an understanding of the
variables of timber growth, tree species, and markets, and a
strong emphasis on safety. It also includes hands-on
training in mechanized logging equipment, and Milton
CAT has provided half the equipment for the training
program since its start. On the Milton CAT website, a
video promoting MLOP is prominently displayed in the
forestry section.
Like most companies involved in Maine’s logging
industry, Milton CAT realizes there is a skilled worker
shortage in the state’s forest economy, particularly for
mechanized logging operators and truck drivers, Collins
said.
“I think the training program is a good thing as we
try to deal with the situation, and I think Milton CAT has
put some money and
some emphasis on that
because you’ve got to
try and do something
about it,” Collins said.
Milton CAT
has served Maine
loggers through major
changes and challenges
in the industry, and is committed to maintaining the health
of that industry.
In August 2018 Caterpillar Inc. announced a major
change for the industry itself - Caterpillar had entered into
a preliminary agreement with Weiler, Inc. to sell its
forestry product business, which includes Wheel Skidders,
Track Feller Bunchers, Wheel Feller Bunchers and
Knuckleboom Loaders. As part of the sale, Weiler is taking
ownership of the Caterpillar manufacturing plant in
LaGrange, Georgia, the training center in Auburn,
Alabama and the parts distribution center in Smithfield,
North Carolina.
For Milton CAT the announcement is bringing
change, but not drastic change. Milton CAT already had a
long-standing relationship with Weiler in the paving
Milton CAT has been a strong supporter of the
Mechanized Logging Operations Program since it
began three years ago. Opposite: Graduates of the
most recent class pose with a grapple skidder donated
by Milton CAT for their use in the summer of 2018.
Milton CAT Continued Page 24
Alex Labonville, Sales Manager
Cell: 207-233-4801
www.labonville.com
Ask about special PLC of
Maine member only discounts!
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 23

Milton CAT Continued from Page 23
business, and Weiler will be manufacturing track feller
bunchers, skidders, rubber tired feller bunchers, and
knuckle booms. The machines to mount delimbers on will
still be manufactured by CAT.
Milton CAT will remain the source for sales, parts
and service on CAT forestry products as well as Weiler
forestry products and will remain the source for parts and
service on Prentice product as part of the deal as well.
This spring Milton CAT is continuing to sell
Milton CAT forestry equipment but it is anticipated that
Weiler product will be available this year. Milton CAT is
also selling Logset forwarders and processors, so the
product lineup for the company is diversifying, but
customers so far seem comfortable with the changes,
Collins said.
For Milton CAT the relationship with the PLC and
with Maine’s loggers is a natural one that is mutually
beneficial, and that is not going to change, Collins said.
“The membership needs to know how important
their business is to our business, it’s not just an
afterthought, Collins said. “Long term we’re committed to
this and we’ve got a lot of different products that we’re
working with now and Milton CAT’s still going to be in
the forestry business, we’re not going anywhere.”
Photos, top: MLOP students with CAT delimber in 2017.
Bottom: A CAT log loader in action.
24 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Mechanized Logging Operations Program Recruiting
Students for Summer 2019
STRATTON - Recruiting is now underway for
students in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program
(MLOP), which is beginning its next class June 24 in the
woods of Western Maine.
Students enrolled in the post-secondary training
program will spend weeks harvesting timber using
sophisticated state-of-the-art machines like those they will
encounter in the logging industry. The hands-on experience
students gain operating equipment is
something unavailable anywhere else
in Maine and neighboring states.
This summer’s class will be
the third since the program launched in
2017. Graduation for the class will be
held on Sept. 19.
“I would encourage any
individual with an interest in a goodpaying,
exciting career in the Maine
woods to take a look at the MLOP
program,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the
Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC), said.
“There is literally no better or more efficient way to gain the
experience and knowledge you need to become an
equipment operator in the logging industry.”
The Mechanized Logging Operations Program was
created thanks to a partnership between three Maine
community colleges, the PLC, and industry partners
including Milton CAT and Nortrax.
The program gives students a broad overview of the
most common mechanical systems found in modern timber
harvesting equipment, and an understanding of the variables
of timber growth, tree species, and markets. It also includes
a strong emphasis on safety.
Students who are accepted into
the program pay no tuition, but are
responsible for transportation, housing,
and food costs. Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) is provided by the
program.
A 2014 study by the PLC
found the average annual salary for
workers employed by logging firms in
Maine was $42,795. Mechanized
logging operators are among the
highest paid members of the logging workforce.
Anyone with an interest in the program should
contact Leah Buck at Northern Maine Community College
at 207-768-2768. Information and application instructions
may be found online at https://www.nmcc.edu/industrycustomized-training/mechanized-forest-operations/
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 25

SAFETY
STARTS
WITH ME
2019 Safety Training
Presented by:
SAFETY
STARTS
WITH ME
PLC’s Safety Committee is committed to offering tools to help keep our members safe! The goal of this FREE, for PLC
Contractor members and Maine Master Loggers, training is to provide practical, hands-on instruction to improve
individual & company safety. Still time to register for remaining classes! Go to http://maineloggers.com/safety/
2019 Logger Safety Training: 7:30 AM—3:30 PM
Safety training is designed for all company employees and employees may attend one or both spring trainings.
Topics: STOP The Bleed | Hydraulic Hazards | Road & Job Site Communication
Accident Review - Report, Not Repeat | Falling Safely - I’ve Fallen & I can get up! | Driving Simulator
Training locations:
1S. Friday, April 5 th Denmark— John Khiel III Logging & Chipping, Inc.
2S. Thursday, April 11 th Rumford—Nicols Bros.
3S. Friday, April 12 th Waltham — Elliott Jordan & Son, Inc.
4S. Friday, April 19 th Passadumkeag — Madden Timberlands, Inc.
5S. Friday , May 3rd Stratton—Pepin Lumber
6S. Thursday, May 9 th Millinocket— Gerald Pelletier, Inc.
7S. Monday, May 13 th Lincoln — Treeline, Inc.
8S. Wednesday, May 22 nd Fort Kent—TNT Road Company, Inc.
9S. Friday, May 31 st Jackman—E.J. Carrier
2019 Fleet Training: 7:30 AM—3:30 PM
Fleet Training is specifically designed for drivers, mechanics and loader operators. Employees may attend one or
both spring trainings.
Topics: Legal Liability—You said what?
Troop-K: Practical Pre-Trip
| Not your Daddy’s Diesel
Ditch Diving & Digging Out | Trailer Tech. & Techniques | Driving Simulator
Training locations:
10F. Thursday, April 4 th Denmark— John Khiel III Logging & Chipping, Inc.
11F. Thursday, April 18 th Milford—Randall Madden Trucking
12F. Thursday, May 2 nd Stratton—Pepin Lumber
13F. Tuesday, May 21 st Fort Kent— TNT Road Company, Inc.
NEW FOR 2019 – During Fleet Trainings there are optional, alternative training classes:
• CPR & First Aid certification— $35 a person (Company options available—see registration)
• Maine Driving Dynamics Course—3 point credit on driving record - $10 a person
26 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The PLC would like to thank sponsors of the 2019 Safety
Trainings
Presenting Sponsor
Presenting & Prize Sponsor
Fleet Lunch Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor
Fleet Lunch Sponsor
Break Sponsor
Breakfast Sponsor
Break Sponsor
Knowledge Check & Prize Sponsor
Safety Prize Sponsor
Safety Prize Sponsor
Safety Prize Sponsor
There is still time to register for
Safety and Fleet trainings! Visit
http://maineloggers.com/safety/
to learn more!
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 27

Wearing the right
Safety Sunglasses
By Donald Burr
PLC Safety & Training Coordinator
Today we are going to talk safety sunglasses. One
of the standards that I apply to writing articles is can the
everyday logger use this information to be safer and spend
less money? In today’s topic I think the answer is yes.
Buying the right safety sunglasses you get
protection and you don’t have to spend a lot to get it. The
average price for safety sunglasses is well under $20.00 (I
saw some that meet the ANSI standard for $1.50 each), but
you can spend hundreds if you want but you don’t get any
better protection by spending the big money. Picking the
right sunglasses is one of the most important things you
should consider first before starting your day, every day.
We are entering into longer days with brighter sun with
snow & water bouncing the light around us into our eyes.
You need to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays.
There are three different types of UV rays that we
need to protect from: UVA, UVB and UVC, and it is
important that your sunglasses protect you from UVA & B
and here’s why.
UVA rays affect the inner eye and can cause eye
damage. These rays have a longer wavelength and can
easily pass through glass.
UVB rays also affect the inner and outer eye and
most people have felt the effects of snow blindness and this
is caused by UVB rays.
The last is UVC, the good news here is that this is
blocked by the earth’s upper atmosphere so we don’t have
to worry about this type.
All UV light is cut down by the earth’s
atmosphere. This is not important to you unless you work
in high altitudes areas or you’re a pilot, then you need to
take extra precautions. The pilots wear those cool
sunglasses not just for looks, they are functional too.
Now whether or not you know the names of these
rays or care it is important that you take steps to avoid
exposure to these rays with sun glasses. Look for the
amount of UV protection. Make sure it reads 99 - 100%.
With UV protection settle for nothing less, and you
shouldn’t because full protection does not have to cost a lot
of money.
Get sunglasses that wrap around your face because
light can come in from the sides also and with your eyes
dilated because you are looking through dark glasses you
are letting in more harmful light from the sides. This goes
for sunglasses that don’t have uv protection or have poor
protection also.
Sunglasses should take out most of the visible light
(75% - 90%). This refers to how dark they are and if you
look in a mirror and can see your eyes they are not dark
enough.
Make sure you get glasses that have good quality
lenses. Take them off and look through them an arm length
away and notice if the image stays consistent when moving
over a straight line like a corner of a door or wall. If the
straight line wobbles any these sunglasses are not good
quality.
Here are some special options that you can
consider:
Polarized: Cuts down the glare. Fishermen, river
guides and skiers like these because of the high glare
environment that they are operating in. Be aware that these
will sometimes change your perception of color. A long
time ago we sent a coworker to bring a group of people to
the blue bus. He was wearing polarized sun glasses and the
blue bus turned green. The funny thing was that it did not
change the color of the other buses in line that happened to
be green. So he looked and he looked and came back and
said that there were no blue buses only green. I told him to
take off his sunglasses and then tell us what he found.
Bingo!
Mirrored sunglasses: This is more than just a look.
They are popular in high glare environments and with law
enforcement and they tend to be good at filtering UV rays
but not always. The one caution about these is that you can
sunburn your nose and cheeks easily and then that leads to
skin issues so remember to wear sun screen and reapply
often.
Impact resistant: Look for Z87 stamped on the
frame somewhere. This is a reference to the ANSI high
velocity impact resistant standard. Don’t buy safety
sunglasses without it.
I will leave you with this: put on your safety
sunglasses and Hum a few bars of ZZ Top’s classic song
“Cheap Sun Glasses”
28 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance
Year after year, falls continue to be one of the
leading causes of death and serious injury in the workplace.
Did you know that many of these falls actually occur on the
same level or from a relatively low surface? In fact, recent
studies show that one of the leading sources of falls is
actually from ladders. Luckily, many of these falls are
preventable with only minor changes in your approach. In
this safety meeting we will discuss a few points that will help
reduce your exposure to falls when utilizing a step ladder. In
addition to the following points, it is important to also refer
to manufacturer requirements.
1. Proper ladder selection: Ladder selection is the first of
several critical steps to working safely at height.
A. Many people don’t realize that step ladders
are designed only to be worked off and are
not designed for accessing higher or lower
levels.
B. The ladder also needs to be tall enough to do
the job. Most step ladder manufacturers
clearly state that the ladder is not designed
for the user to stand on the top or the second
-to-top rungs. If you need to step on the top
two rungs, your ladder should be replaced
with a longer ladder.
C. Is the ladder rated for the user’s weight?
Unless it is a heavy duty step ladder, it may
not be rated for more than someone
weighing 200 pounds. Verify the weight
load limits of the ladder by referring to the
stickers on the ladder’s rails.
2. Ladder inspection: One of the most critical but often
overlooked steps is to thoroughly inspect your ladder
before each use.
A. Steps: Steps should be intact, with no dents,
clean, and free of oil and grease. The
manufacturer generally prohibits
modification or repair of the steps.
B. Rails: Rails should be in good condition, with
fiberglass in good shape without divots or
dents. Aluminum should be free of dents
and cracks. Pay special attention to the areas
where the steps are mounted to the rails.
Look closely for cracks in the fiberglass.
The manufacturer labels should be legible
and, therefore, should be protected from
damage when the ladder is new.
C. Feet: Feet should have the manufacturer
mounted slip free pads in place. The pads
should be clear of debris, oil, and grease.
D. Spreaders: These are critical to the stability
of the ladder and proper setup. Therefore,
they must both be on the ladder and must be
intact without any bends or dents.
Quarterly Safety Meeting: Ladders
3. Ladder Setup:
A. Inspect the ground prior to setting up the
ladder. Look for uneven surfaces that will
cause the ladder to rock while working on it.
Look for slippery substances such as oil and
grease and avoid setting the ladder up in
those areas.
B. Avoid setting up in front of closed doors. If
you must leave the door closed, clearly label
it and/or lock it, to avoid someone coming
through and knocking your ladder over.
C. The ladder should NEVER be leaned against
a wall or machine and climbed.
Manufacturers require that the ladder, in
order to work properly, be opened
completely. Not completely opening and
locking the step ladder can result in the
ladder toppling over.
4. Step Ladder Use:
A. When climbing and descending the ladder,
three points of contact is critical. Don’t
carry tools or equipment in your hands.
Generally, you can set your tools on the
ladder prior to climbing or, on taller ladders,
you may need to pull tools up once you are
in place.
B. Always climb, descend and work facing the
ladder. Never stand back-to on the ladder.
C. While working off the ladder, it is critical to
stay balanced. A good rule of thumb is to
keep your belt buckle between the rails of
the ladder at all times. Leaning too far will
cause the ladder to tip over.
D. Step ladders are not designed for the user to
stand on the top two rungs. Standing on the
top two rungs puts the ladder off balance
and the user at risk of a fall.
The above recommendations were generated based
on some of the most frequently observed step ladder misuses.
It is critical to refer back to the manufacturer
recommendations when selecting and working with a step
ladder. This will help assure that the ladder is used within the
design parameters.
*(ASK FOR ANY QUESTIONS)*
Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its
customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be
construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional consulting
services. This material is for informational purposes only, and while
reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no
warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.
*Meeting sign-in sheet on the back! Cut along dotted line to left to detach this section. 29

*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on
page 29. Refer to the cutline on page 29 when removing it from the magazine.
30 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Listen Up: Protecting your hearing on the Job
Can you answer “YES” to one or more of the
following?
▪After a day of work, does it sound like people are
talking to you through a pillow or under water?
▪Do your ears ever feel “full” or “stopped up” after
working near a loud noise?
▪Do they hurt at the end of a work day?
▪Are family members or roommates hollering at you to
turn down the TV?
▪Is your spouse or significant other often accusing you
of not listening?
If you identify with any of the first four questions,
you may be suffering from hearing loss. If you answered
“yes” to question 5, that could be hearing related. You
may also be having relationship troubles, and that’s a
whole other ball of wax (pun intended). One way to find
out is to have your hearing checked at the free logger
health exams being offered this spring through the Maine
Logger Health and Safety Study (see schedule at the end
Hearing Continued Page 32
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 31

of this article for dates and locations).
Hearing loss is permanent. Of the roughly 36
million American adults suffering from hearing loss, 10
million can be attributed to noise-induced hearing loss—for
short, NIHL. A one-time exposure to a loud sound - like a
valve bursting on a hydraulic air pump - can cause NIHL.
Also, repeated exposure at certain sound levels over an
extended period of time can cause NIHL.
NIHL doesn’t just hurt your ability to hear, it can add stress
to a relationship (see question 5) and recently was found to
contribute to the early onset of dementia.
It’s complicated. NIHL doesn’t just make
everything seem quieter – it actually changes how you are
able to hear sound frequencies. The sound of speech, for
instance, is made up of a complex mixture of sound
frequencies. With NIHL, a person’s inability to hear
different frequencies can make another person’s words
sound muffled or mushy and harder to understand.
Background noise only make it worse. Often, people with
NIHL think everyone else is mumbling (when it is really
their own hearing that is not working properly). And, sadly,
wearing a hearing aid and turning up the volume can’t fix
that.
Tuning Out. Losing the ability to hear certain
sound frequencies can also make something we all love -
music - no longer enjoyable. Music can sound distorted,
tinny, muddled, or “harsh.”
Sound damage to a person’s hearing can also cause
tinnitus (ringing or a range of other noises in your ears or
head). That’s a double whammy because, with tinnitus, you
not only have trouble hearing what you want to hear, but
you’re also hearing something you don’t want to hear. If
you’re curious what it’s like to have tinnitus, you can listen
to some examples at www.hear-it.org/impressions-ofhearing-loss-and-Tinnitus.
(In short, it’s irritating.)
Can You Hear Me Now? Though you can’t
restore your hearing once it’s lost, you can save what
hearing you have if you wear the right hearing protection.
If you haven’t had a hearing screening before, the 10-
minute screening can provide you a baseline measurement
of your hearing levels. This gives you a marker by which
you can measure if there are changes over time.
The exam is the first step. Next is to sit down with
an occupational hearing specialist to review your results,
the type of work you do and the type of exposures you
work with—both in terms of noise levels and duration of
exposures. The occupational hearing specialists conducting
32 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

exams for the
Maine Logger
Health & Safety
Study are
CAOHC
certified and can
provide
guidance on
task-specific
personal
protective equipment (PPE) with the most appropriate noise
reduction ratings for your work based on your individual
test results.
The study is a project of the Northeast Center for
Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry
and Fishing. If you are a Maine logger interested in
participating in the study, you can earn up to $250 in LL
Bean gift certificates and will be entered into a drawing to
win one of seven $250 Visa gift cards. You can learn more
on Facebook @MaineLoggerHealthandSafetyStudy or by
calling 800-343-7527.
Decibel level exposures for common logging jobs:
Forestry/Logging Noise Sources
dB Level
Skidder 72-102
Cutter 76-96
Loader 78-108
Bulldozer 84-112
Chainsaw 76-120
Source: www.noisebuster.net/forestry.html
Free health exams, which include a hearing screening, are available to
Maine loggers at the following dates and locations at right. All but the
Logger’s Expo dates will be held at PLC Safety Trainings (see page 26
for detailed locations and times). Maine loggers receive a $25 gift card
for participating. To schedule an appointment, call 800-343-7527 or
email NEClogging@bassett.org
Date Location
4/11/19 Rumford
4/12/19 Waltham
5/17/19 Loggers’ Expo, Bangor
5/18/19 Loggers’ Expo, Bangor
5/22/19 Fort Kent
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 33

PLC News Briefs...
The PLC traveled to Washington D.C. in
early April for the American Logger's
Council's Annual Spring Fly-In. Our
members met with our Maine lawmakers
and with agencies important to our
industry. Thanks to our Congressional
delegation for taking the time to meet with
us, and a special thank you to PLC Board
Members Andy Irish and Chuck Ames,
seen here with Maine Sen. Angus King,
for representing our interests in the
Capitol!
34 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

UMaine Forest Operations Winter Camp 2019
students visited PLC Members and Master
Loggers John Khiel & Sons Logging and
Chipping and Richard Wing & Son Logging
and Chipping in January to see active harvest
operations in Hallowell and Gray. Thanks to
both contractors for sharing their time and
expertise with the students, and thanks to
UMaine for the opportunity. Great day in the
woods with the students!
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 35

On April 4-6, 2019, members and guests of the
American Loggers Council (ALC) will once again travel to
Washington, DC in hopes of making a difference for the
timber and log trucking industry. Our issues remain
basically the same as they have for the past several years,
but one thing has changed since November that should give
us all a little encouragement as we visit the Hill.
In November, the United States replaced 100 U.S.
House of Representative members as well as 10 U.S.
Senators. To our knowledge, not any of them has the first
minute of experience in the logging business and it is
highly doubtful that any of the incoming members have
ever hauled a load of logs.
While we do not anticipate seeing a lot of
significant legislation being passed in the next several
months due to the highly partisan politics that are still in
play in Washington, we do see this as an opportunity to be
the first organization to address the new members on what
the issues and concerns are for the logging community, as
well as work with the administration to effect change in the
industry. It is up to us to educate them on what professional
timber harvesting is, and the how and why of the process.
If we don’t continue to do it, somebody else will, and that
is not something that any of us would like to see happen.
ALC President Chris Potts has already stated that
we will continue to work on truck weight and Commercial
Safety Administration (CSA) issues. He has also indicated
a desire to continue to pursue the Future Logging Careers
Act that would give the 16 and seventeen year old sons and
daughters the opportunity to legally work in their parent’s
logging business.
With a new Chief of the US Forest Service, and the
authorities that have managed to pass through Congress
over the past couple of years, we hope to further engage
that agency to assist in their modernization efforts to both
expedite and implement all of the authorities now given to
them by Congress to increase the pace and scale of forest
restoration efforts that include timber harvesting.
By the time this editorial goes to press, there should also be
a new Secretary of Interior who we should also seek out
and familiarize with our issues.
Energy will still be a priority in order to help
develop new markets that we all need for our smaller
diameter wood, as will deregulation and lessening of the
tax burdens that all of our businesses face.
We asked and you responded favorably in looking
at logging as a part of agriculture, and we intend to
continue to follow up on that as well.
Even with the change in leadership in the House,
there is still hope that those who are elected will once again
follow the wishes of their constituents and lay partisan
politics aside. The “Swamp,” as President Trump has
called it, has been draining, but there are still those that
As We See It February 2019
“It’s Time to Educate ”
By Danny Dructor
hold on to the idea that party politics should take priority
over policy issues.
November 2020 is not that far away, and you
should be paying close attention to what your
representatives in Washington are doing to deserve your
vote again. Meanwhile, let’s continue to educate those
that have been elected to serve, so that the excuse of “I
don’t know” cannot be used when questioning them about a
vote.
Danny Dructor is the Executive Vice President for the
American Loggers Council with offices near Hemphill,
Texas.
The American Loggers Council is a 501 (c)(6) not for profit
trade organization representing professional timber
harvesters in 33 states across the United States. If you
would like to learn more about the ALC, please visit their
web site at www.amloggers.com, or contact their office at
409-625-0206.
We Support Maine Loggers
36 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

As We See It March 2019
“We the People”
“We the People of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.”
Perhaps the most powerful and meaningful 52
words ever put together, the Constitution of the United
States of America is the supreme law of the United States.
Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by
the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states,
it is the source of all government powers, and also provides
important limitations on the government that protect the
fundamental rights of United States citizens.
So why, as United States citizens, do we continue
to blame the government for things that we can change that
are within our power and authority granted in the
Constitution of the United States of America? It is time that
we accepted responsibility, accountability and ownership of
what has become the partisan bickering in Washington, DC
and quit complaining, blaming and making excuses for our
failure to elect representatives that still value the wants and
needs of the citizens of the United States that put them into
office.
The mismanagement of our federal lands is a good
example. Last year, while lives and property were being
lost in Paradise, California, our “representatives” in
Washington, DC spent their time bickering over language in
the 2018 Farm bill that would have helped expedite the
treatment of overgrown national forests, which could help
reduce the number of catastrophic wildfires. The politicians
spent more time debating the cause of the problems than
considering real solutions to this crisis.
The blame game continued as usual as one party
did not want to make it appear that the other party might
actually be right when they called for active forest
management to reduce forest fuels. If this is the new
“norm” in Washington, then it is high time that “We the
People” took back the sovereign power that is vested to us
and fire those whose political interests take precedence over
the needs of the people.
This also goes for the use of our federal interstate
highway system to haul existing state legal loads along the
safest route to the mills. We should not allow the federal
government- or any federal agency- to hold states hostage
by holding back highway funds if they do not comply with
federal mandates. We the People should hold those same
agencies accountable. We should call for the replacement
of personnel as lives are lost due to regulations that only
serve to force haulers onto secondary roads where they’re
much more likely to be involved in an accident.
Members of the American Loggers Council will
once again return to Washington, DC on April 4-6 to
educate the 100+ new representatives on the Hill. We will
give them the truth about our industry and the “who, where,
why and how” of what we do to promote healthy,
sustainable forests. Our strength is in our numbers and the
contacts and relationships that we build during our visits.
We need to tell our story before someone else tries to tell it
for us. You are the expert in your field- no one else- and
only you can convey the message that members of Congress
need to hear. We ask that you please consider joining our
ranks this year and help us, yes, We the People, chart the
future and destiny of this profession that we call logging.
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019 37

Since the Spring of 1997, the American Loggers
Council has walked the halls of Congress seeking to
allow the industry’s trucks the ability to haul state legal
weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway
System in order to have available a safer route to the mills
where those routes are available.
In the 22 years that we have made that request,
not one member of Congress has told us that it was a bad
idea, with the majority stating that it just makes sense.
Over the course of 22 years, there have been many
individual exemptions to allow those tolerances on
sections of the Interstate, but it hasn’t come without us
pressuring Congress to do the right thing. In Maine, case
studies illustrated the safety benefits of this exemption.
Here’s an excerpt of a 2010 report from H.O. Bouchard, a
large logging and trucking firm, which helped lead to a
permanent exemption for their weight tolerances that
allows 100,000 pounds on a large portion of I-95.
H.O. Bouchard - Brian Bouchard, President of
this large logging firm, decided to record some
quantitative data. The company loaded two trucks to
99,800 pounds and measured their performance on two
routes: the conventional state-road route that connects
Hampden and Houlton—a distance of about 120
miles—and the newly accessible Interstate route. The
driver recorded that, over the local-road route, the truck
passed 86 pedestrian crosswalks, 30 street lights, 9
school crossings, 4 hospitals, 4 railroad crossings, and
644 oncoming vehicles. The truck using the Interstate
passed zero of each. The truck confined to local roads
shifted gears 192 times and applied brakes 68 times. The
truck using the Interstate shifted 3 times and applied
brakes only once. Apart from a 10-gallon reduction in
fuel and corresponding reduction in emissions, says
Bouchard, “the avoidance of risk and driver fatigue is
huge.”
As most members of Congress have stated, “It
just makes sense.” Isn’t it time that members introduced
language that allows our trucks to travel on those routes
that are safer for the general public and our drivers as
well?
As we’ve reported in the past, our efforts have
been stymied by the railroad industry and Washington DC
lobbyists, who are resistant to any policy changes that
might invite competition. However, the policies we are
seeking would only pertain to products being hauled in
short distances, in this case from the forest to the mill and
typically within a 150 air mile radius. We are not seeking
exemptions for long-haul, nor to promote competition to
the railroads. This is about safety, not profits.
We will once again be in Washington this spring
making visits to the Hill, seeking the cooperation of our
legislators to introduce legislation that just makes sense
As We See It April 2019
“Safe Routes Save Lives ”
By Danny Dructor
and saves lives and reduces risk in the process. We ask
that you please make us aware with examples as to where
this just makes sense in order to reduce risk and save
lives.
If you have a story that helps illustrate why this
solution would result in a safer transportation system,
please contact me at americanlogger@aol.com.
PO Box 337, Milo, ME 04463
943-7415
info@lumbrahardwoodsinc.com
38 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Northeast Master Logger Certification Expansion Effort
AUGUSTA, ME – The Northeast Master
Logger Certification Program has launched an effort
to expand the ranks of Master Loggers in the region
through promotion and outreach efforts including in
states where numbers of Master Loggers are
currently low.
The effort is happening at the same time as an
American Loggers Council (ALC) push to reinvigorate
and expand the Master Logger brand nationally.
Northeast Master Logger Certification is using
targeted mailings to potential Master Loggers and
organizations representing loggers or whose
membership includes large numbers of loggers to
spread awareness of the program and its
benefits.
The organization is also reaching out to key
people and organizations in the Northeast to promote
the program.
Advertising in key publications including
logging magazines and newsletters reaching large
numbers of landowners or loggers is underway to
promote the Master Logger brand and encourage
more loggers to seek certification and more
landowners to choose Master Loggers for harvests.
The program is also stepping up visibility at
events for loggers and landowners as well as media
releases to increase awareness.
Expansion efforts are being aided by an L.L.
Bean grant to support Master Logger outreach and
communications efforts to Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and New York.
L.L. Bean’s support is based on fostering the
kind of responsible timber harvesting and forest
management in the Northeast that will encourage
landowners to keep their lands undeveloped and
open to the public.
There are currently 110 Master Loggers
in the Northeast.
If you know of any logger who may be
interested in certification, please have them contact:
Ted Wright, Executive Director of the Northeast
Master Logger Certification Program at 207-532-8721
or executivedirector@tcnef.org.
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
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Winter Spring 2018 2019
29 39

Congressional Delegation Updates
The Timber
Innovation Act and Community
Wood Energy Program: Two
Provisions That Will Help
Strengthen Our Forest
Products Industry
‘Maine’s forest-based
economy is an integral part of our
state’s heritage and has helped to
form the bedrock of many rural
communities. The Farm Bill that was
Sen. Susan Collins
signed into law late last year includes
key provisions I championed to
strengthen this vital industry here in our state and
throughout the nation.
The Farm Bill incorporates provisions of
the Timber Innovation Act I co-sponsored that establishes a
performance-driven research and development, education,
and technical assistance program for advancing mass timber
building construction in the United States. Mass timber,
which consists of timber products engineered for use in the
construction of large buildings, is a safe, innovative,
effective, and environmentally sound material that is
currently being used in structures all over the world to great
success. Supporting the use of this material in the United
States will help meet sustainability goals, reduce
construction time, and benefit rural economies across the
country.
The Farm Bill and Maine Forest Products
You wouldn’t think it by watching the arguments
on cable TV all the time, but sometimes bipartisan results
are accomplished in Congress. That kind of compromise is
the product of a lot of hard work and consensus-building.
We were fortunate to see this cooperation with the 2018
Farm Bill, which passed the Senate in December by a vote
of 87-13 and was signed by the President. And though it
may be called the ‘Farm’ Bill, this comprehensive
legislation will have an important impact not only on
Maine farmers, but on rural Maine people from all walks of
life – and particularly on those in the forest products
industry.
As we work across all levels of government and
with private enterprise in Maine to strengthen the rural
economy, common themes have arisen – innovation and
opportunity. How can we protect our state’s traditional
industries, and also ensure that future generations of
Mainers can make a living in the woods? As a friend of
mine in Maine says, “There is no single bullet, but there is
often silver buckshot.” I am proud to say that provisions
we secured in the Farm Bill are part of this buckshot.
Building off the Timber Innovation Act, legislation
I sponsored along with Senator Collins, the Farm Bill
includes language that will accelerate the research and
Maine is in the midst of reorienting its forest
products industry following the downturn of traditional pulp
and paper production in our state, and it is encouraging that
the Farm Bill establishes a competitive grant program to
support innovative wood products research and development
at institutions of higher learning. In awarding this research
and development funding, priority will be given to proposals
that include the use or retrofitting of existing sawmill
facilities with higher-than-average unemployment rates,
which could be helpful to states such as Maine that are still
recovering from the job losses associated with the closure of
traditional mills.
The Farm Bill also includes legislation I cosponsored
to expand the Community Wood Energy program
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better support
investments in energy systems and facilities that use lowvalue
wood. This authorized $25 million per year to support
a grant program for community wood energy systems that
help reduce our dependence on oil, offset the costs of forest
management, and create jobs in rural forest-dependent
communities. In addition to reauthorizing the Community
Wood Energy program, my provision provides support for
initiatives to help manufacturing plants and mills produce
innovative wood products, such as mass timber or wood
products from nanotechnology.
Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products
industry has helped drive local economies and sustain rural
communities. As the economy evolves, I am committed to
working with your industry to meet the challenges and
opportunities of the 21st Century.
development of cross laminated
timber (CLT) and other engineered
wood for use in construction
projects. CLT, which can be used
in place of steel in buildings up to
twelve stories high, is an exciting
new opportunity for Maine’s forest
products economy. Already, the
Mass Timber Commercialization
Center at the University of Maine
is helping our state lead the way in
CLT innovation. The Farm Bill
also includes a provision to require Sen. Angus King
federal agencies to accept more
methods of sustainably harvested wood, ensuring fairness
and increased opportunity in federal purchasing of forest
products. With these provisions in place, we can work to
grow jobs in our state, and lay the groundwork for young
men and women to succeed right here in Maine
communities.
There is always more to do for our state’s forest
products industry – and I’m here to listen – so please be in
touch. Together we can build off the important work
secured in the Farm Bill, strengthen the Maine economy,
and support hardworking men and women throughout our
state.
40 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The 116th Congress has
been off to a running start since
the last edition of the Logger’s
Voice. I’m honored to once again
represent Maine’s first district and
advocate for our state’s unique
needs and resources in the U.S.
House. We are in the midst of a
busy hearing season covering
issues that we address every
year—like the budget—to those
that have not received much
Rep. Chellie Pingree
attention in several years—like
the impact of extreme weather on
our communities.
In this Congress, I will continue to serve on the
House Appropriations Committee—and several
subcommittees which are directly connected to our state’s
logging industry. In February, I was appointed Vice Chair
of the Interior and Environmental subcommittee, which has
oversight of the U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). And I’m once again excited to
serve on the Agriculture subcommittee which has
jurisdiction over agencies ranging from the Animal and
This is my first update for
The Logger’s Voice, so I’ll take
the opportunity to introduce
myself. I’m Jared Golden, your
congressman representing the
people of Maine’s Second
District.
I was born and raised in
Leeds, Maine, and I have a real
appreciation for the significance
of forest products in our state.
Some farmers in Leeds ran
logging operations in the winter
Rep. Jared Golden months, and growing up I was
never too far from the sawmill in
Livermore Falls that is now PalletOne.
In Maine, the forest products industry helps drive
our economy. Generations of loggers who call our state
home are part of Maine’s history and identity. I know the
forest products industry faces challenges: workforce
shortages, crumbling infrastructure, unfair trade policies,
and more. I’m committed to standing up for Maine’s
heritage industries and working with them to confront these
challenges.
That’s why one of the first bills I introduced was
bipartisan legislation with Senator King to encourage
young loggers to learn the ropes of the industry. The Future
Logging Careers Act allows 16 & 17-year-olds in our great
state to work on family logging operations. Under parental
supervision, young loggers can carry on and contribute to
their family’s business.
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to USDA’s Rural
Development.
I’ve also been reappointed to the House
Agriculture Committee. As a long-time farmer, agriculture
is my passion. That’s why I’m so proud to be back on a
committee that has an integral role in creating national
food and farming policy. I’ll also serve on the House
Agriculture Committee’s Conservation and Forestry
subcommittee.
In the coming weeks, Secretary of Agriculture
Perdue, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and the
Director of the Forest Service will all appear before my
committee and I will be raising your concerns regarding
Maine’s forest economy, industry and its current and
upcoming needs. Whether it is a question about what the
Department of Interior is doing to address invasive species
or how the Forest Service can help address the shortage of
loggers and log truckers in Maine, I look forward to asking
the questions and getting the answers that we need.
As always, please reach out to my office at any
time to make your voice heard with issues that you would
like to see us address in Congress. I am eager to hear from
you and hopefully see you out and about in Maine.
Our bill will better prepare Maine’s young people
for good-paying careers in logging, help sustain rural
Maine family businesses, and boost the economy in our
state’s rural communities. Maine’s timber industry hires
over 7,000 people and contributes more than $850 million
to the state’s economy. I’ll do everything in my power to
grow those numbers and support loggers in our state.
This bill is just the start. I am looking forward to
working closely with the forest products industry. Going
forward, you’ll find me all over our state meeting with
loggers, their families, and many others in our heritage
industries. These conversations drive the work I do in
Congress. What I hear from Maine people will help me
find solutions that invest in our infrastructure, work with
Maine’s colleges and universities to support innovation in
logging and forest products, and find new ways to add
value to forestry products right here in Maine.
I’d like to hear from you. Call my nearest office to
share your thoughts or set up a meeting:
Lewiston: (207) 241-6767
Caribou: (207) 492-6009
Bangor: (207) 249-7400
Washington: (202) 225-6306
It’s an honor to represent Maine’s Second District
in Congress. I look forward to working with
you.
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2019
41

34 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Winter 2018 31

Professional Logging
Contractors of Maine
110 Sewall St.
P.O. Box 1036
Augusta, ME 04332