The Louisiana Loggers Association among with the help of Representative Jack McFarland, Chief of Staff Mark Cooper and Governor John Bel Edwards are thankful to report that we are essential to the workforce of not only our state, but our country. Details are provided in the links below.
SOURCES:
GOVERNORS OFFICE STAY AT HOME ORDER
MEMORANDUM ON IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE
The Louisiana Loggers Association hosted the FIRST Legislative Day in Winn Parish. We want to thank the Louisiana Political Museum for allowing us to entertain in such a unique space! Also, to the seven Louisiana senators and seven representatives, the chief of staff for Congressman Abraham, former congressman Rodney Alexander, local police jurors and city council and of course our Louisiana Loggers! The amount of rain fall discouraged our onsite logging job tour, but we will reschedule that for a later, dryer date!
Thank you to our amazing, informative speakers! Todd Martin of Southern Loggers Coop Dave Cupp of Walsh Timber representing the American Logging Council Cade Young of Roy O Martin Peyton Weeks of Weyerhaeuser Luke Letlow representing Congressman Abraham Jody Woodard of Timberland Services representing Pace Insurance Representative Jack McFarland of McFarland Timber Arthur Robinson of Adrian James Logging Josh McAllister of Winn Parish Police Jury The purpose of the day was to build relationships with our legislators and to present information for everyone to know all about the day of the life of a Louisiana Logger. At the conclusion of the meeting we used drone footage of logging sets and also showed tree rows of different ages and explained how loggers work to harvest crops and protect the ground and, how timber owners replant and how our relationship works together to keep Louisiana forests as healthy as we can. 16% reforesting and one timber company can replant over 28 million trees a year. ** J&J Catering, Denise Hebert and the Grant Parish Home Ec department, Winn Parish 4-H, Louisiana CAT (Chad Smith) & Louisiana Loggers Self Insured Fund
Winn Parish-based, Louisiana Logger’s Association and PAC’s (LLA) Board President Josh McAllister, has been appointed by the governor to serve on the newly formed Louisiana Trucking Research and Education Council. The purpose of the Council is to promote education, training, research, and development for enhanced safety and efficiency within the industry. “I’m excited to be appointed to the council because this gives the logging industry a seat at the decision-making table and a voice in legislation drafted for our industry, neither of which we have had until now,” said Josh McAllister.
LLA’s Executive Director Toni McAllister has been appointed to a study group created by Louisiana House Concurrent Resolution 76 (LA HCR76) that authorizes and request- the Louisiana Department of Insurance to work with commercial freight companies to develop a good driver discount option for drivers with newly obtained commercial driver’s license.
LLA’s mission is to promote the logging industry in Louisiana by supporting research, providing education and giving Louisiana Loggers a voice. Membership costs $300.00 and associate membership is $150.00.
The LLA will continue its advocacy on behalf of Louisiana Loggers in 2020 by working with legislatures on tort reform for commercial liability insurance for log haulers, as well as making plans to host a Legislative Day in Winn Parish that will invite the legislative body to come visit our rural area, visit onsite jobs and experience a day in the life of a logger. Later in the year, the association will be planning a Legislative Day at the capital what will include taking association logging members to the capital.
H.R. 2453 allows log trucks to utilize federal interstates for short-haul trips.
May 2, 2019, Hemphill, TX— The American Loggers Council (ALC) today applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Safe Routes Act of 2019 (H.R. 2453) allowing log trucks to utilize federal interstates for short-haul trips. The legislation was announced today by U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI); other original sponsors include U.S. Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jared Golden (D-ME) and Jim Sensebrenner (R-WI).
The ALC along with its partners have advocated “Safe Routes” legislation to allow the industry’s trucks to haul state legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway System, which often provide safer routes to mills. Due to inconsistent truck weights in many regions throughout the country, trucks hauling logs to mills are often forced to use city, county and state roads, where more than 96 percent of log truck collisions occurred, according to a study.
“Preventing fatal log truck collisions is a high priority in our industry and our communities,” said ALC Executive Vice President Daniel Dructor. “One proven solution is to give log trucks the option of using federal interstates on short hauls, where they can be routed away from schools, crosswalks, city intersections, railroad tracks, and other challenges. A few individual states have received exemptions that lifted federal truck weight limits on interstates, and in each case it resulted in fewer collisions, reduced driver fatigue and improved equipment safety.”
Dructor says improving log truck safety will help in the recruitment of new operators to replace an aging workforce, and with few insurance carriers willing to write policies for log trucks, the Safe Routes Act may help reduce those costs as well. The legislation only applies to short hauls typically within a 150-mile radius, and does not apply to long hauls.
“The ALC would like to thank the Democratic and Republican members who are supporting this bill as original co-sponsors, including Congressman Mike Gallagher for being its first champion in the 116th Congress,” Dructor said. “We also thank our partners, including the Forest Resources Association, and our members for educating their federal representatives and staff on this important safety issue. We’ll continue to work across the aisle, in the both the House and Senate, until this safety solution reaches the president’s desk.”
Click here to urge your federal representatives to support this important measure!
Article Source: American Loggers Council
Sign up with your email address below to receive news and updates from us.