LINCOLN (AP) – Fears are being expressed that soaring fuel costs could force independent logging truckers off the road and put a severe crimp on the state’s forest products industry.

About 400 members of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine and the Coalition to Lower Fuel Prices in Maine met with federal and state officials Saturday to discuss how to get some relief from high diesel prices. Diesel is now averaging about $3.50 a gallon in the state, a price that is taking a toll on truckers who haul logs from the woods to mills across Maine.

John Kerry, the head of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, said he would pass on suggestions from the group to Gov. John Baldacci and other officials. Some of those suggestions included looking at temporarily suspending gas taxes and buying fuel in bulk.

“The governor wants to take immediate action within his resources and his authority,” Kerry said. “He’s very concerned about people being able to meet their weekly budget and ongoing costs. Some people have stretched their credit, budget and cash reserves to the limit.

“Some are in serious trouble,” he added. “There are people who are on the margin (of failure), and I am sure there will be others.”

Landowners, loggers, logging company and mill owners, and independent truckers who filled the Knights of Columbus hall said fuel prices are forcing them into shutdown mode.

Some people in the industry will hold out, but others have already reached the limits on their credit cards and borrowing lines, said Sandy Brawders, executive director of Professional Logging Contractors, an association of 83 state logging companies.

“We have some truckers who should have shut down 30 days ago,” she said.

After the meeting, Kerry said he would pass on the group’s ideas in search of relief.

One idea was to have state officials meet with banks and the large fuel sellers to discuss fuel pricing or credit or loan schemes to help truckers survive.

In addition, the group was interested in exploring the temporary suspension of gasoline taxes for truckers and state rules over how long truckers can drive, Kerry said. There was also talk about creating temporary diesel fuel stops on logging roads so drivers wouldn’t have to burn extra fuel getting to the fuel pumps.

For now, the industry is anxious, said Donald Bubar Jr., owners of D.E. Bubar & Son in Lincoln.

“Something’s gotta be done and I hope we all stick together,” he said.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-11-19-07 1137EST