Peak season can be the most exciting time for your propane business – but it can also be the most stressful. When demand is high and trucks are running nonstop, one breakdown can throw your whole schedule off. Equipment failures during busy months aren’t just frustrating – they can affect your customer service, your reputation,… Continue reading Keep Calm and Keep Delivering – Even During Equipment Failures
In today’s propane industry, many businesses offer similar products and services – reliable deliveries, quality fuel, and dependable customer support. But when every company claims to have the same strengths, the question becomes: what makes yours stand out? Building a distinct, memorable brand is how propane businesses can rise above the competition and create lasting… Continue reading Elevating Your Brand in a Competitive Market
The propane industry seeks to capture the attention of younger demographics, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, who prioritize sustainability, technology, and convenience in their purchasing decisions. Engaging these tech-savvy and environmentally conscious consumers is essential for long-term market growth. Today’s propane businesses must adapt their strategies to resonate with younger audiences. Targeted approaches leveraging digital… Continue reading The Next Big Shift: Marketing Propane to Younger Consumers
Fleet operators face critical decisions when selecting fuels for vehicles, balancing cost, performance, and environmental impact to optimize operations. Propane autogas and diesel are two prominent options, each with distinct characteristics that influence their suitability for commercial and public sector fleets. In early 2026, with the need for reliable and sustainable fuel solutions, the choice… Continue reading Propane Autogas vs. Diesel: A Comparative Analysis for Vehicles in 2026
Over the past decade, the food delivery industry has fundamentally changed how Americans think about convenience. With a few taps on a smartphone, meals now arrive at homes, offices, college campuses, and job sites – usually faster than it would take to pick them up in person. Companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats didn’t just… Continue reading The New Era of Fuel Delivery
Local chambers of commerce play a major role in shaping the business climate of a town or region. They bring together business owners, community leaders, and service providers who all want the same thing – to help their communities grow. For propane companies, partnering with a local chamber can open doors that are hard to… Continue reading The Perks of Partnering With Your Local Chamber of Commerce
Propane businesses across the country are under pressure to operate more efficiently while still delivering the level of service customers expect. Rising labor costs, tighter delivery windows, safety requirements, and seasonal demand swings are pushing many companies to adopt new technology and digital tools. At the same time, there is a real concern that modernization… Continue reading Modern Operations Can Strengthen the Personal Side of Propane
The propane industry may feel local, but its lessons come from every corner of the world. From how fuel is stored and distributed to how customers are served, international propane markets reveal new ways to stay competitive and efficient. For U.S. propane business owners, looking beyond domestic borders can offer valuable insights that improve operations,… Continue reading U.S. Propane Owners Can Learn From Global Markets
Every propane business faces challenges that can appear without warning – harsh weather, sudden price shifts, supply delays, or unexpected equipment breakdowns. While no one can predict the future with certainty, you can prepare for it. That’s where propane scenario planning comes in. It’s a practical way to think ahead, prepare for different outcomes, and… Continue reading Propane Scenario Planning Builds Stronger Operations
Every propane marketer in America understands the rhythm of the business. Winter brings a sense of urgency along with it – long routes, full schedules, and maximum asset utilization. By late spring, that urgency fades. Delivery volumes soften. Trucks that ran six days a week sit idle more often. Experienced drivers see fewer hours, even… Continue reading On Slow Days, On-Demand Fuel Speeds Up
Fleet expenses remain one of the most complex and closely reviewed cost areas for propane businesses, and decisions made this year will directly affect 2026 tax outcomes. Maintenance work, tire replacements, inspections, and driver overtime all create legitimate deductions, but only if records are detailed, organized, and easy to verify. As fleets age, routes grow… Continue reading Tracking Fleet Costs Now for Smarter 2026 Tax Deductions
Reliable propane service depends on more than supply and delivery schedules. It also depends on what customers know about how propane systems work and how their own usage habits affect performance. As weather patterns grow less predictable and customers rely on propane for more applications, their education has become a key part of reliability. When… Continue reading How Education Helps Customers Use Propane More Reliably
When people think of propane demand, winter heating often comes to mind first. But another major source of year-round demand comes from agricultural uses. Farms and other agricultural operations rely on propane not just during the colder months, but throughout the year. This steady need helps keep propane sales active even when average residential deliveries… Continue reading Agriculture’s Year-Round Role in Keeping Propane Sales Strong
For years, remote tank monitoring was seen as a nice add-on for propane companies that wanted to experiment with new technology. That view is changing fast. Rising delivery costs, tighter labor markets, and higher customer expectations are pushing propane businesses to rethink how they manage gallons in the field. At the same time, weather volatility… Continue reading Why Tank Monitoring Is Becoming a Standard, Not a Luxury
As 2026 unfolds, propane businesses are making key decisions that will directly affect their cash flow for the new year – from fleet upgrades to storage improvements and financing plans. This year also brings welcome clarity on the tax side. Recent federal tax changes have permanently extended the 20% qualified business income deduction for pass-through… Continue reading Could Your Business Save More With Pass-Through Deductions?
The winter delivery season is upon us, and with it comes tighter schedules, longer routes, and less room for error. Most propane companies plan ahead, assuming some flexibility for extra hours during peak cold months, especially when harsh weather and customer demand collide. This year, that flexibility will not be coming. On December 2, 2025,… Continue reading Was the Propane HOS Waiver Denied This Winter?
A pivotal federal court ruling has once again reaffirmed that the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline will continue operations throughout the winter, offering last-mile propane delivery businesses much-needed supply certainty as peak heating demand sets in. This decision, which blocks Michigan’s efforts to force a shutdown of the international pipeline, reduces near-term disruption risk for propane… Continue reading Line 5 Ruling Brings Winter Supply Stability, But Delivery Risks Remain
Safety planning is a foundation for any business that depends on vehicles and drivers. Roads are unpredictable, conditions change frequently, and every driver faces unique challenges every day. A safety plan documents how a business keeps drivers safe, but there is one key element that often gets overlooked: driver feedback. The people behind the wheel… Continue reading Why Should Driver Feedback Be Part of Safety Planning?
Accountability matters in every part of propane operations. From delivery visits and safety checks to customer questions and internal reviews, clear records help businesses know what truly happened in the field. In recent years, photos and basic data have become powerful tools for building that clarity. When used correctly, they reduce disputes, improve performance, and… Continue reading Photos and Data Strengthen Accountability in Propane Operations
Commercial kitchens across the country are turning to propane more often for their everyday cooking and heating needs. This shift is not a fad; it comes from clear benefits that matter to kitchen performance, energy cost, and business operations. Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel kitchen, cafeteria, or a food preparation facility, propane provides a number… Continue reading More Commercial Kitchens Are Choosing Propane
Propane tanks are some of the most important assets in your business. They keep your customers supplied, support your service routes, and play a major role in how smoothly your operation runs every day. Tanks also come with long life cycles, ongoing maintenance needs, and real financial value. That value changes over time, and if… Continue reading Stronger Operations Through Propane Depreciation Planning
Cold weather is already tightening propane supply chains across many regions, and that pressure is showing up most clearly at terminals. As winter fuel demand rises, drivers are spending more time waiting to load, routes are getting compressed, and dispatch teams are forced to make faster decisions with less flexibility. These delays are not just… Continue reading Are PLAN Reports Helping Terminal Wait Times?
In the propane industry, long-term accounts are built on trust, timing, and clear communication. Customers rely on steady service, accurate information, and the feeling that their needs are seen before problems appear. While many operations focus on reacting to calls and requests, proactive outreach takes a different path. It shifts the relationship from response to… Continue reading Proactive Outreach Builds Stronger Long-Term Propane Accounts
Winter is often the season when propane companies feel pressure from every direction at once. Colder weather increases delivery demand, operating hours stretch longer into the evening, and costs tied to fuel, labor, and equipment rise quickly. At the same time, many companies are reviewing year-end numbers and getting a jump start on early tax… Continue reading IRS Fuel Tax Credit: What Can You Claim This Winter?
On paper, the U.S. propane market has never looked stronger. National inventories are at record levels, and domestic production continues to climb. These fundamentals reinforce propane’s role as a reliable, affordable, and transportable energy source across residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial markets. Yet many delivery companies are discovering that strong national supply does not guarantee… Continue reading Record Propane Supply, Real-World Bottlenecks
The newly approved strategic plan of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) for 2026 offers important insight into where the propane industry is headed and how delivery companies can prepare. The plan emphasizes three core priorities: safety leadership, workforce development, and targeted market growth – all aimed at strengthening propane’s long-term position in the… Continue reading What PERC’s 2026 Strategy Signals for the Future of Propane Delivery
Recent long-term LPG contracts between U.S. suppliers and India highlight a significant shift in global propane and LPG dynamics. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing LPG markets, is actively securing long-term supply agreements to support expanding household and commercial usage. These contracts, set to begin in the next few years, demonstrate increasing international demand for… Continue reading India’s Growing Interest in U.S. LPG Signals Long-Term Supply Competition
Winter supply disruptions and extended driver hours continue to expose staffing gaps at propane delivery companies, making early driver recruitment and structured training critical to maintaining safety, service reliability, and customer trust. Winter has arrived with increased propane demand, just as supply-side disruptions have placed added strain on delivery operations. In mid-December, a significant issue… Continue reading How Ready Is Your Team for Driver Recruitment This Winter?
Service interruptions and emergency situations place propane companies under intense scrutiny. Whether caused by extreme weather, supply constraints, or operational challenges, these moments test not only logistics but customer trust. During disruptions, customers are often anxious, uncertain, and heavily dependent on timely information – making communication as critical as the service response itself. How a… Continue reading Clear Communication When Service Is Disrupted
Looking ahead over the next five years presents a mix of challenges and opportunities for propane businesses of every size. The energy sector is shifting, global demand is rising, and forecasts show steady growth for propane markets through at least 2030. While change can feel overwhelming, overreacting to every trend can lead to costly decisions… Continue reading Building a Steady Five-Year Strategy for Your Business
