PLC Loggers Voice Spring 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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
Page 1: Volume 13 Issue 2 | Spring 2019 A Q
Page 4 and 5: Event Calendar *Oxford Casino, Oxfo
Page 6 and 7: From the President By Jim Nicols He
Page 8 and 9: From the Executive Director As this
Page 10 and 11: J ACKMAN - Russ Griffin was one yea
Page 12 and 13: Jackman Lumber Continued from Page
Page 14 and 15: Maine Logger and Log Trucker Employ
Page 16 and 17: The PLC of Maine 24th Annual Meetin
Page 18 and 19: Photos Top: Groundtek Inc. low-bedd
Page 20 and 21: Trucking Industry News... FMCSA Upd
Page 22 and 23: PLC Supporting Member Spotlight B R
Page 24 and 25: Milton CAT Continued from Page 23 b
Page 26 and 27: SAFETY STARTS WITH ME 2019 Safety T
Page 28 and 29: Wearing the right Safety Sunglasses
Page 30 and 31: *This sign-in sheet is intended to
Page 32 and 33: of this article for dates and locat
Page 34 and 35: PLC News Briefs... The PLC traveled
Page 36 and 37: On April 4-6, 2019, members and gue
Page 40 and 41: Congressional Delegation Updates Th
Page 42 and 43: 34 Professional Logging Contractors
Page 44: Professional Logging Contractors of

PLC Loggers Voice Spring 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?