Professional Logging Contractors 49 Pineland Dr.

Suite 201A New Gloucester, ME 04260 Phone: (207) 688-8195 Fax: (207) 688-8197

August 30, 2011 The Honorable Susan Collins United States Senate 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Collins, I am writing to express the Professional Logging Contractors of Maines full support for your proposed legislation which would permanently allow trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds to use federal Interstate highways in Maine and Vermont. Our logger members rely on trucks to deliver raw materials from the forest to our mills and shipment of finished product to market. We are surrounded by states and Canadian provinces which allow higher Interstate truck weights, putting our loggers at a significant disadvantage. Many of our members are small business owners and the increased costs of being forced to make longer, less efficient trips on secondary roads can make the difference between profitability and unprofitability which could lead those members to exit the market place, placing additional strain on wood supplies and our Maine economy. The federal Interstate system is designed and built to handle these loads. Wherever possible, trucks should be able to utilize this system, taking unnecessary traffic off of state and local highways and out of communities. The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine believes that each state should have the right to adjust weight limits on the Interstates within its borders to conform to its needs. Without being able to utilize the Interstate system, our trucks are forced onto undivided secondary roads through school zones, hospital zones and into congested downtown areas. In speaking to our membership, the greatest concern they have is the safety of general public, their drivers and their trucks. On secondary roads there are a greater number of interactions with oncoming and intersecting traffic, railroads, pedestrians, and with the arrival of fall, school children and school buses. Permanently allowing 100,000 pound, 6-axel trucks on Maines Interstate is one action the Congress can take which immediately benefits both industry and the public without imposing new burdens on taxpayers. The benefits of the increased weight limits are clear: Safety Fewer miles travelled, on safer roads, with reduced contact with pedestrians, automobiles, rail crossings and school zones Environmental Reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions from start and stops Economic Reduced secondary road and bridge wear, improved truck efficiency for loggers

Executive Board: Tom Cushman ~President~ Bob Linkletter ~1st Vice President~ Brian Souers ~2nd Vice President~ Rodney Wales ~Secretary~ Andy Irish ~Treasurer~ Board Members: Steve Hanington Jim Nicols Willard Hanington Tony Madden Ron Ridley Richard Thomas Scott Madden Richard Delaite

Please let me know if there is anything the PLC of Maine can do to promote your legislation and thank you again for your continued support for Maines forest products community. Sincerely,

Michael A. Beardsley Executive Director