Every propane marketer budgets for fleet maintenance, but not every company realizes how expensive deferred maintenance can become. A delayed service appointment or overlooked repair may seem like a way to save money today, yet the long-term costs often show up elsewhere – in higher fuel consumption, unexpected breakdowns, driver frustration, and lost revenue. For… Continue reading The Hidden Cost of Skipping Bobtail Maintenance
The propane industry continues to see steady consolidation as distributors look to expand their geographic reach, strengthen supply networks, and improve operational efficiency. The latest example comes from the Upper Midwest, where Central Farm Service (CFS) has announced the acquisition of Minnesota-based O’Connell Oil Company, a move that reflects the growing importance of scale in… Continue reading Growing Through Consolidation: What Central Farm Service’s Latest Acquisition Means for Propane Marketers
Inflation Surge Forces Propane Marketers to Reevaluate Pricing and Operations Inflation remains a growing concern for propane businesses as new economic data points to continued pressure across the entire energy sector. Recently released consumer price index figures showed energy costs climbing sharply compared to a year ago, marking one of the most significant increases seen… Continue reading Rising Energy Costs Put New Pressure on Propane Margins
Growing a propane customer base has traditionally come with a familiar concern: more tanks mean more opportunities for run-outs, emergency deliveries, and dispatching headaches. For years, many retailers viewed expansion as a balancing act between gaining new accounts and maintaining dependable service. Today’s dispatching technology is changing that equation. A Proactive Approach Modern propane operations… Continue reading More Tanks, Fewer Run-Outs: How Tech Busts a Dispatching Myth
Regional market conditions continue to create significant cost differences for propane retailers across the country National propane pricing often dominates industry headlines, but for many marketers and distributors, local market conditions have a much greater impact on profitability than any national average ever could. Recent residential propane pricing data illustrates the challenge. While national averages… Continue reading National Propane Price Averages Tell Only Part of the Story
One‑Tank and Myriota launch Pulse platform designed for remote locations where cellular coverage falls short. Propane marketers serving remote customers may soon have a new option for tank monitoring. One‑Tank, operating under LPG Tank Solutions, has partnered with satellite‑IoT provider Myriota to launch Pulse, a satellite-connected monitoring system that can transmit tank data from locations… Continue reading Satellite Tank Monitoring Expands Into Rural Propane Markets
Transporting propane safely requires more than experienced drivers and reliable equipment. It also requires a workforce that understands hazardous materials regulations, follows established procedures, and maintains up-to-date training records. Even a single mistake during transportation can have serious consequences for employees, customers, and the public. For propane delivery companies, compliance isn’t simply about avoiding penalties;… Continue reading Audit-Ready Drivers Start With Strong Hazmat Training
Successful propane marketers are treating workforce development as a long-term business strategy rather than an emergency hiring effort. Finding qualified CDL drivers with hazardous materials endorsements has become one of the propane industry’s most persistent challenges. As experienced drivers retire and competition for commercial drivers intensifies, many fuel marketers are discovering that waiting until a… Continue reading Building a Stronger Propane Driver Pipeline Starts Before You Need One
The latest crop progress data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture points to a strong start for the growing season, with corn and soybean planting moving ahead of historical averages in many key agricultural regions. For propane marketers serving farming communities, early planting progress is more than an agricultural headline. It can provide valuable insight… Continue reading USDA Crop Report Signals a Busy Season Ahead for Agricultural Propane
For propane marketers, fleet operators, and commercial customers, selecting a propane supplier is one of the most important business decisions they make. While pricing often receives the most attention, the lowest rate does not always translate into the best value. Reliability, safety, customer support, and long-term operational capabilities can all have a significant impact on… Continue reading Choosing the Right Propane Supplier Can Protect More Than Your Budget
FMCSA audit confirms NPGA curriculum meets federal training standards for hazardous materials drivers. Safety training has always been one of the propane industry’s most important investments. Now, that commitment has received a significant endorsement from federal regulators. The National Propane Gas Association’s ACE (Advanced Commercial Education) driver training program has successfully passed an audit conducted… Continue reading ACE Driver Training Program Earns Federal Validation, Raising the Bar for Propane Fleet Safety
New proposed revisions to NFPA 58 are expected to significantly change how propane companies manage ASME tank inspections – particularly for older residential tank fleets. For many small and mid-sized propane marketers, the impact could show up quickly in both compliance workload and operating costs. A Major Shift in Tank Inspection Requirements Under the proposed… Continue reading NFPA 58 Inspection Changes Could Raise Costs for Propane Fleets as Early as 2027
Termination of safety‑concerned employee underscores need for stronger whistleblower protections in propane and gas infrastructure projects The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered a New Mexico‑based construction company to reinstate and compensate an inspector it fired after he raised safety concerns during a gas pipeline installation at an Oklahoma… Continue reading OSHA Charges New Mexico Firm for Wrongful Firing of Pipeline Inspector
During peak demand, supply constraints rarely announce themselves clearly. One of the more disruptive realities for propane marketers is the quiet imposition of load caps at terminals, limits on how much product a carrier can lift per day or per trip, often communicated informally or only after drivers are already in line. These restrictions are… Continue reading When Terminals Cap Loads Without Notice
LP Gas Magazine revisits Ryan McPherson, the 2022 Rising Leader who now serves as district manager for Pico Propane and Fuels. McPherson shares how he leverages data‑driven routing and crew safety tools to keep his territory profitable, noting that “the biggest margin driver this year is minimizing truck idle time.” His insights underline the growing importance of… Continue reading Today in Propane
Union Pacific Recognizes 138 Firms for Zero‑Release Rail Safety Excellence Union Pacific Railroad recently announced the recipients of its 2025 Pinnacle Award, a distinction reserved for companies that demonstrate “zero‑release” performance in hazardous‑material rail transport. Among the 138 honored firms, several propane distributors and logistics providers were highlighted for their rigorous safety protocols, advanced tracking… Continue reading Propane Transport Companies Honored with 2025 Pinnacle Award
Rising Travel Demand Is Tightening Fuel Markets Across the U.S. As Americans prepare for one of the busiest summer travel seasons in years, energy analysts are warning that rising gasoline and diesel demand could put pressure on fuel supply chains nationwide. Higher fuel prices, strained trucking networks, and increased transportation demand are already creating concern… Continue reading Summer Fuel Crunch Could Create New Challenges for Propane Delivery Companies
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) officially launched its new “Your Power Play” campaign on May 20, positioning propane as a dependable backup energy source as concerns about grid reliability continue to grow across the U.S. The campaign arrives amid increasing strain on electric infrastructure driven by extreme weather, rising power demand, wildfire-related shutoffs,… Continue reading PERC Launches “Your Power Play” Campaign to Promote Propane Reliability
Improving the efficiency of propane cylinder exchange programs is crucial for maintaining both customer satisfaction and operational speed. Here, we detail a number of practical strategies for streamlining your exchange process and enhancing your overall business performance. Streamlined Logistics Effective logistics are the heart of a successful cylinder exchange program. Start by optimizing your delivery… Continue reading Boosting Efficiency in Propane Cylinder Exchanges
Operational discipline in a propane business is not a policy; it is a system. Many companies have procedures that look solid on paper, but execution breaks down in the field, in dispatch, or in the office. That gap carries real consequences. Missed safety checks, incomplete documentation, inefficient routing, and inconsistent customer handling all increase liability,… Continue reading Building Accountability Systems That Enforce Daily Discipline
The energy landscape is changing fast, and propane businesses must be ready to keep up with these shifts. Adapting to these changes is essential for staying competitive as a propane business owner. Let’s explore the best ways to adjust your operations to meet the evolving energy needs of various customers and industries. Recognizing Market Trends… Continue reading Adapting Your Propane Business to New Energy Demands
Data-driven forecasting helps propane marketers improve delivery reliability and operational efficiency. Customer expectations in the propane industry continue to evolve. Residential and commercial customers increasingly expect reliable deliveries, clear communication, and convenient digital access to their accounts. For propane marketers, predictive delivery analytics is becoming an important tool for meeting these expectations while improving operational… Continue reading Enhancing Customer Experience Through Predictive Delivery Analytics
Mid-season regulatory updates rarely arrive at convenient times. They surface during peak demand, when bobtails are fully scheduled, transports are tight, and customer expectations are high. A revised state adoption of NFPA 58, an emergency hours-of-service waiver, or a sudden clarification from a fire marshal can alter operating assumptions overnight. The operational risk is not… Continue reading Managing Mid-Season Regulation Shifts in Propane Operations
Weather drives propane operations more than any other external factor, yet dispatchers are increasingly forced to build routes when forecasts disagree sharply. One model shows a hard freeze, another delays it 24 hours. One predicts heavy rain, another a slight drizzle. When those differences shape run priorities, driver hours, and customer risk exposure, guessing wrong… Continue reading When Forecasts Collide: Dispatch Rules for Conflicting Weather Models
Automation has become a regular part of how propane businesses operate today. From routing software to digital safety records and automated billing, technology now touches nearly every part of the delivery process. With ongoing labor shortages, rising operating costs, and increasing customer expectations, automation is often viewed as a practical way to do more with… Continue reading What Automation Can and Can’t Solve for Propane Businesses
Predictive Maintenance Tools Help Propane Fleets Reduce Downtime and Improve Operational Reliability For propane marketers and fuel distributors, fleet reliability remains one of the most important operational priorities. Delivery trucks represent a significant capital investment, and when a vehicle is unexpectedly taken out of service, the impact can quickly ripple across dispatch schedules, customer deliveries,… Continue reading Optimizing Fleet Maintenance with IoT and AI
Insurance costs for propane marketers have moved from a routine line item to a board-level concern. Across multiple regions, underwriters are tightening standards, increasing deductibles, and reassessing fleets with a sharper lens on risk controls. For propane delivery companies operating bobtails, service trucks, and bulk transports, the message from carriers is clear: documented, verifiable safety… Continue reading Insurance Premiums Surge: Why Propane Delivery Fleets Are Turning to Digital Safety Records
The next decade will not reward propane marketers who operate on stable assumptions. Supply patterns are shifting alongside export demand, infrastructure constraints are tightening in key corridors, and weather volatility is creating sharper demand swings. These changes are no longer theoretical, they are already affecting rack pricing, delivery timing, and customer expectations. For operators, this… Continue reading How Propane Marketers Must Think for the Next Decade
Small, frequent deliveries are quietly eroding margins across the retail propane industry. On paper, a 60-gallon stop still generates revenue. In practice, it often fails to cover the fully loaded cost of rolling a bobtail: driver time, truck depreciation, insurance, dispatch labor, and working capital tied up in inventory. With tighter driver availability and higher… Continue reading Stop Losing Money on Small Propane Drops
For many propane marketers, compliance still shows up as a spike on the calendar. Internal audits happen in a rush before a state inspection. CETP records get updated after a near-miss. Vehicle files are reviewed when insurance renewals approach. That annual scramble creates operational drag and exposes the business to preventable risk. NFPA 58 is… Continue reading Build a Monthly Compliance Cadence That Prevents Surprises
