News Archives - Page 2 of 38

Simplifying CDL and Hazmat Training: NPGA’s ELDT Program Makes Compliance Easy

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) offers a comprehensive Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) program designed to assist individuals in obtaining their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME). This program aligns with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, which mandate specific training requirements for new CDL and HME applicants. Understanding… Continue reading Simplifying CDL and Hazmat Training: NPGA’s ELDT Program Makes Compliance Easy

The First Year Matters Most When Building Customer Loyalty

Building customer loyalty starts from the very first day someone signs up for your propane service. While long-term customers often run on habit and well-established trust, first-year customers are still figuring out if they made the right decision by choosing your company. They are looking at everything you do, judging how you treat them, and… Continue reading The First Year Matters Most When Building Customer Loyalty

Modern Strategies to Market Your Business in a Changing Landscape

In today’s dynamic digital world, traditional propane marketing methods are becoming less effective. Consumer behaviors have shifted, new platforms have emerged, and companies that fail to adapt are at risk of falling behind. To remain competitive, propane retailers must embrace change, focus on digital engagement, and leverage tools that foster growth and strengthen customer relationships.… Continue reading Modern Strategies to Market Your Business in a Changing Landscape

How Do You Make Big Decisions With Confidence?

Running a propane business means regularly facing tough choices. From equipment purchases and staffing changes to territory expansion or new service offerings, the pressure to make the right call can build fast. Getting caught in a cycle of overthinking is easy, but second-guessing your choices can slow down growth and cause missed opportunities. The key… Continue reading How Do You Make Big Decisions With Confidence?

Decoding the Impact of Propane Inventory Dynamics

In the propane industry, inventory levels play a crucial role in determining market prices. Fluctuations in supply and demand, influenced by various factors, can lead to significant price volatility. For propane businesses, understanding these dynamics is essential for strategic planning and maintaining profitability. The Role of Inventory in Price Determination Propane inventory levels are a… Continue reading Decoding the Impact of Propane Inventory Dynamics

Beyond the To-Do List: Leading with Strategic Intent

In today’s fast-paced business environment, leaders often find themselves inundated with tasks and responsibilities. However, it’s essential to recognize that being busy doesn’t always equate to being productive. Effective leadership involves discerning which activities drive meaningful results and which merely fill up the calendar. The Challenge of Mere Activity Leaders frequently face the temptation to… Continue reading Beyond the To-Do List: Leading with Strategic Intent

Fueling Future Talent: How to Grow Young Technicians Into Pros

Attracting young talent to the propane industry is important, but keeping them is what really shapes the future of your company. Many businesses hire promising technicians only to lose them after a few years because there is no clear path forward. If you want to build a stronger team, you need to offer young technicians… Continue reading Fueling Future Talent: How to Grow Young Technicians Into Pros

Planning to Expand? Bring Your Insurance Agent to the Table

When you think about growing your propane business, your first calls are probably to your banker, supplier, or marketing team. But one expert you should not overlook is your insurance agent. They play a bigger role in your success than you might think. Planning for growth without them can leave you exposed to risks that… Continue reading Planning to Expand? Bring Your Insurance Agent to the Table

Is Propane Ready for Subscription-Based Energy?

The energy industry is shifting. What once was a transaction-based service – deliver, bill, repeat – is being slowly replaced by something more familiar to modern consumers: subscriptions. Just as consumers now pay monthly for streaming services, software, and groceries, many are becoming more open to subscription-based energy models. For propane businesses, this change might… Continue reading Is Propane Ready for Subscription-Based Energy?

Your Best Intentions Could Be Costing You

In propane, as with every industry, every cent matters – especially when margins are tight. Yet many companies quietly lose thousands of dollars each year without even realizing it. How is this possible? Financial losses are not always due to big mistakes or fraud. Often, they stem from your team doing favors for long-time customers,… Continue reading Your Best Intentions Could Be Costing You

From Print to Pixel: A Practical Guide to Embracing Digital Marketing

In the propane industry, traditional marketing methods like direct mail, newspaper ads, and word-of-mouth referrals have long been the norm. While these approaches definitely have their merits, the digital age offers new avenues to connect with customers, enhance visibility, and drive growth. Transitioning to digital marketing doesn’t mean abandoning tried-and-true methods; it simply involves augmenting… Continue reading From Print to Pixel: A Practical Guide to Embracing Digital Marketing

Empowering Sales by Engaging the True Decision-Maker

In the competitive realm of propane sales, understanding the dynamics of the purchasing process is crucial. Often, sales efforts are directed toward individuals who are involved in the buying process but lack the authority to make final decisions. To enhance sales effectiveness, it’s imperative to identify and engage with the actual decision-makers within prospective client… Continue reading Empowering Sales by Engaging the True Decision-Maker

Positioning Your Business for Private Equity Investment

In the evolving landscape of the propane industry, private equity firms are increasingly seeking platform companies – businesses that serve as a foundation for growth through acquisitions. For propane business owners aiming to attract such investment, understanding what makes a company appealing to private equity is crucial. Key Attributes of an Attractive Platform Company Private… Continue reading Positioning Your Business for Private Equity Investment

Six Propane Sales Strategies You Can Implement Now for Long-Term Growth

The propane industry is more competitive than ever. Growing demand over the years has attracted more propane marketers, raising customer expectations beyond just receiving fuel. Today’s customers expect reliable service, seamless communication, accurate billing, and safe, on-time deliveries. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. propane consumption reached 1.48 million barrels per day… Continue reading Six Propane Sales Strategies You Can Implement Now for Long-Term Growth

Fueling Trust Where It Counts: Building Appliance Store Partnerships

Appliance stores sell the tools. You supply the fuel. However, many propane companies overlook how strong a relationship can become between those two types of operations. Partnering with appliance retailers – especially those that sell propane-powered products – can help you grow your customer base, boost referral traffic, and build greater brand visibliity in your… Continue reading Fueling Trust Where It Counts: Building Appliance Store Partnerships

Losing Commercial Clients? Here’s What to Check First

When your propane business starts seeing a dip in commercial sales, the reaction can range from mild concern to full-on panic. But before you change pricing or chase new markets, it’s worth stepping back to ask one key question: Where exactly is the breakdown happening? Diagnosing a decline in commercial sales takes more than looking… Continue reading Losing Commercial Clients? Here’s What to Check First

From Delivery to Discovery: How Drivers Can Fuel Growth

In the propane industry, your delivery drivers often have the most face-to-face time with your customers. They’re in the field daily, pulling up to farms, homes, job sites, and commercial locations. They see things that others on your team don’t – like new construction, a business expanding its footprint, or a competitor’s tank sitting on… Continue reading From Delivery to Discovery: How Drivers Can Fuel Growth

Registration Now Open: 2025 NPGA Mid-Year Board Meeting & Propane Days in Washington, D.C.

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is inviting propane industry professionals to register for the 2025 Mid-Year Board Meeting and Propane Days, taking place June 8–10, 2025 at the Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol Hill, located at 525 New Jersey Avenue NW in the heart of the nation’s capital. This annual event is a cornerstone of… Continue reading Registration Now Open: 2025 NPGA Mid-Year Board Meeting & Propane Days in Washington, D.C.

California’s Propane Future: Bright, Bold, and Building Momentum

California is known for its bold energy goals and strict environmental policies. However, recent developments there demonstrate that propane is carving out a stronger role in the state’s clean energy conversation. From new laws to local victories, propane is proving that it decidedly belongs in California’s energy future. A Major Win for Propane Vehicles One… Continue reading California’s Propane Future: Bright, Bold, and Building Momentum

Get Ahead of the Season: Win Over Rural Contractors Early

When propane companies think about growing their commercial base, they look to the usual channels – restaurants, schools, or larger facilities. However, rural contractors are one often overlooked group that can be a steady source of long-term business. These builders, remodelers, and service crews depend on fuel in remote areas, especially during peak building seasons.… Continue reading Get Ahead of the Season: Win Over Rural Contractors Early

What Can an Outside View Teach You About Your Business?

When you’re in the thick of daily operations, getting used to how things are done is easy. You know your team, your routes, your customers. You trust your process because it works – most of the time. But sometimes, that same comfort can quietly block growth. That’s where an outside perspective can make a big… Continue reading What Can an Outside View Teach You About Your Business?

Hidden Habits That Are Draining Your Crew’s Energy

A propane business is more than trucks and tanks. It’s a team working daily to deliver heat, comfort, and service. But even the most loyal team can feel tired, disconnected, or discouraged when company culture slips. Often, it’s not the significant changes that affect morale; it’s the small, repeated habits that go unnoticed until people… Continue reading Hidden Habits That Are Draining Your Crew’s Energy

Expanding Pricing Stability to Strengthen Your Business

Propane businesses operate in a market where price fluctuations create uncertainty for both companies and customers. Offering programs that lock in rates is one way to provide stability, but many retailers limit these options to a short seasonal period. Extending pricing stability throughout the year can offer significant benefits, helping businesses improve customer retention, manage… Continue reading Expanding Pricing Stability to Strengthen Your Business

Vendors Can Fuel Growth or Drain Profits

As your propane business grows, so does your list of vendor partners – from tank manufacturers and software providers to fuel suppliers and printing services. These partnerships are meant to help your business run smoother and grow faster. But sometimes, what looks like a good deal on paper can subtly drain your profits over time.… Continue reading Vendors Can Fuel Growth or Drain Profits

Smart Ways to Put Off-Season Profits to Work

When the busy season wraps up, and the winter rush slows down, your propane business might see a welcome boost in cash from those high-demand months. But that extra profit can slip away quickly if there’s no clear plan to put it to work. Reinvesting wisely during the off-season is one of the best ways… Continue reading Smart Ways to Put Off-Season Profits to Work

Propane on the Move: Should Distance Shape Your Delivery Pricing?

Every mile your truck drives costs money. Fuel, labor, vehicle wear, and employee time all add up, especially if you’re serving rural or hard-to-reach areas. For propane companies, determining how to price deliveries fairly and profitably is one of your most significant decisions. One way to manage that cost is by adjusting your pricing based… Continue reading Propane on the Move: Should Distance Shape Your Delivery Pricing?

Knowing When a Commercial Account Becomes a Liability

Every propane company works hard to win new accounts. So, the idea of firing a commercial client might seem risky or even wrong at first. But there are times when continuing a business relationship can cost you more than it’s worth. Knowing when to let go can protect your operations, your team, and your profits.… Continue reading Knowing When a Commercial Account Becomes a Liability

Bigger Tank, Smarter Move: When Upsizing Makes Sense for Your Customer

If you’ve been serving the same propane customers for years, chances are some of them are still using tanks that no longer match their needs. As usage patterns change – due to larger families, new appliances, or seasonal business spikes – it becomes important to evaluate whether their current tank size is still a good… Continue reading Bigger Tank, Smarter Move: When Upsizing Makes Sense for Your Customer

Key Strategies for Propane Business Leaders

In the fast-paced world of propane distribution, it’s easy for managers and business owners to become overwhelmed with daily tasks. However, constant activity doesn’t always equate to meaningful progress. To drive real success, it’s essential to focus on priorities that align with your company’s goals and delegate tasks effectively. Understanding the Importance of Prioritization Effective… Continue reading Key Strategies for Propane Business Leaders

Staying Competitive Through Informed Pricing Decisions

Even if your propane company prides itself on top-quality service and strong customer loyalty, that doesn’t mean you can ignore what other businesses are charging. Keeping an eye on competitor pricing isn’t just for companies trying to be the cheapest in town. In fact, watching price trends can help you protect your position, build smarter… Continue reading Staying Competitive Through Informed Pricing Decisions