Blog Archives - Propane Insider

Insurance De-Risking That Improves Productivity

Insurance conversations in propane usually start with premiums and deductibles, but that framing misses the operational impact hiding underneath. Carriers are tightening underwriting, scrutinizing loss histories, and pushing more responsibility back onto operators. The businesses that respond best are not just lowering risk on paper; they are quietly reducing reruns, callbacks, overtime, and fatigue across… Continue reading Insurance De-Risking That Improves Productivity

Emergency Declarations and Customer Communication Limits

Emergency declarations change the rules of the game overnight. Whether triggered by extreme cold, snow, ice, or infrastructure disruption, they compress demand, strain logistics, and put propane companies under public and regulatory scrutiny at the same time. The operational risk is not only whether you can deliver, but also how clearly you explain what you… Continue reading Emergency Declarations and Customer Communication Limits

When Propane Inventories Move Quickly, Margins Are Made or Lost

Propane inventories are no longer moving in slow, predictable patterns. In recent seasons, stock levels have shifted rapidly due to weather volatility, export pull, and transportation bottlenecks that surface with little warning. For propane operators, these swings directly affect margins, purchase timing, and working capital. A sudden inventory draw can raise replacement costs within days,… Continue reading When Propane Inventories Move Quickly, Margins Are Made or Lost

What Lenders and CPAs Expect From Propane Marketers Today

For propane marketers, financial management is no longer a back-office exercise that only matters at tax time. Clean books, credible reporting, and defensible capital plans increasingly affect access to credit, insurance terms, acquisition opportunities, and even regulator confidence after an incident. CPAs and lenders who work with fuel businesses are seeing the same pattern across… Continue reading What Lenders and CPAs Expect From Propane Marketers Today

Competing in an Oversupplied Propane Market Without Encouraging Churn

The current pricing environment is uncomfortable for many propane operators. Supply is ample, spot prices are soft, and competitors are quick to undercut to protect gallons. On paper, this looks like a win for customers. Operationally, it creates a trap. Price-only competition trains customers to shop every renewal, weakens margin discipline, and shifts risk onto… Continue reading Competing in an Oversupplied Propane Market Without Encouraging Churn

HR in Peak Season: A Practical Plan for Backup Drivers and Burnout

Peak heating season places sustained pressure on propane delivery operations, and staffing is often where those pressures surface first. Demand rises quickly, extreme weather disrupts routes, and customers expect reliable service regardless of conditions. At the same time, driver availability remains tight, and compliance requirements limit how much flexibility dispatch teams truly have. Without a… Continue reading HR in Peak Season: A Practical Plan for Backup Drivers and Burnout

Two-Month Trade Show Prep That Pays Off on the Show Floor

Most propane trade shows look productive from the outside. Busy aisles, polished demos, and packed calendars can create the feeling that value is guaranteed. In reality, the difference between a productive show and an expensive distraction is what happens in the two months before you arrive. With a full slate of regional, state, and national… Continue reading Two-Month Trade Show Prep That Pays Off on the Show Floor

Equipment Finance in 2026 and the Buy or Delay Decision

Propane marketers are heading into 2026 with tighter margins, higher labor costs, and a market shaped by ongoing consolidation. Financing conditions have shifted from easy money to selective credit, and that reality is changing how owners think about trucks, service vehicles, and bulk equipment. In a consolidating industry, capital decisions ripple beyond the balance sheet.… Continue reading Equipment Finance in 2026 and the Buy or Delay Decision

Strengthening Team Unity in Your Business

Every propane business relies on two core groups of people to keep operations moving: the office team and the field team. Both roles are important, but they experience the workday in very different ways. Office employees handle schedules, customer questions, billing, and planning. Field employees face weather, traffic, physical labor, and direct customer contact. These… Continue reading Strengthening Team Unity in Your Business

Elevating Your Brand in a Competitive Market

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 Next Big Shift: Marketing Propane to Younger Consumers

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

The New Era of Fuel Delivery

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

The Perks of Partnering With Your Local Chamber of Commerce

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

Modern Operations Can Strengthen the Personal Side of Propane

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

How Education Helps Customers Use Propane More Reliably

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

Why Tank Monitoring Is Becoming a Standard, Not a Luxury

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

Could Your Business Save More With Pass-Through Deductions?

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?

Why Should Driver Feedback Be Part of Safety Planning?

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?

Photos and Data Strengthen Accountability in Propane Operations

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

More Commercial Kitchens Are Choosing Propane

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

Are PLAN Reports Helping Terminal Wait Times?

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?

Proactive Outreach Builds Stronger Long-Term Propane Accounts

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

Clear Communication When Service Is Disrupted

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

Building a Steady Five-Year Strategy for Your Business

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

Why Trust and Consistency Matter More Than Price

In today’s energy market, customer loyalty can no longer be taken for granted. Propane companies operate in an environment shaped by rising client expectations, increased competition, and greater transparency around pricing and service quality. Customers now compare providers not only based on cost, but on reliability, communication, and how well their energy partner supports them… Continue reading Why Trust and Consistency Matter More Than Price

Training New Hires Faster Without Lowering Standards

Bringing new team members up to speed quickly is one of the biggest challenges any propane business faces. The sooner a new hire becomes confident and competent in their role, the sooner they can help deliver fuel safely, keep customers satisfied, and reduce pressure on the more experienced staff. However, many attempts to speed up… Continue reading Training New Hires Faster Without Lowering Standards

Strengthening Your Team for Peak Delivery Season

Peak delivery season is the most challenging time period for propane businesses – demanding precision, coordination, and endurance from every member of the team. Longer routes, increased customer demand, unpredictable weather, and tight schedules put pressure on drivers, dispatchers, and management alike. Even with ample supply and efficient technology, operations can falter if teams are… Continue reading Strengthening Your Team for Peak Delivery Season

How Trade Associations Help Retailers Beyond Advocacy

Trade associations are often seen as groups that focus only on laws, rules, and government talks. Advocacy is important, but it is only one part of what these organizations actually do. For retailers across the propane industry, trade associations provide daily support that reaches into safety, training, operations, data, and long-term planning. These services quietly… Continue reading How Trade Associations Help Retailers Beyond Advocacy

The True Cost of Propane Runouts on Your Business

Propane runouts are more than a simple missed delivery. When a tank goes empty unexpectedly, the financial impact stretches beyond one skipped fill. A runout affects delivery schedules, adds extra labor hours, and can create safety risks that are expensive to fix. For propane businesses of all sizes, understanding the real cost of runouts and… Continue reading The True Cost of Propane Runouts on Your Business

How Funnels Drive Steady Propane Growth

Every propane business depends on a steady and reliable flow, both in operations and in sales. Just like a pipeline moves fuel from one point to another, your business needs a clear path that guides potential customers from initial awareness to documented purchase. This process, often called a sales funnel, is what turns prospects into… Continue reading How Funnels Drive Steady Propane Growth