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Feature Articles

In-depth feature stories examining the trends, challenges and innovations shaping the propane and LPG industry.

  • Crane Rule, Jones Act Central Issues of Propane Days

    As the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) prepares to host Propane Days June 3-6 in Washington, D.C., exemptions from several rules that most in the propane industry find very unnecessary and costly are the key challenges to discuss with lawmakers. In the case of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Crane Rule and the Jones Act, which will be discussed in detail with lawmakers, no one is strongly advocating why it is beneficial for the federal government to require the propane industry to follow these rules. “Inertia and resistance to changing anything in the final OSHA Crane Rule is what we’re up against,” said Phil Squair, senior vice president of public and governmental affairs at NPGA. “The Jones Act is different though, because…
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  • Schwan’s Home Delivery Service Deploys 600 Autogas Vehicles

    Schwan’s Home Service Inc. (Marshall, Minn.) is continuing its decades-long commitment to clean-burning propane autogas vehicles. The company has deployed 200 ROUSH CleanTech E-450 cutaways and has plans to lease an additional 400 by the end of this year. “Propane-powered vehicles have played a key role in Schwan’s product delivery for more than 40 years,” said Danielle Stariha, senior manager of fleet and procurement at Schwan’s Home Service. “Total costs of ownership for propane autogas are much lower than traditional fuels and other alternative technologies, which is why we are continually implementing the newest propane technology.” Schwan’s, which has one of the larger privately held fleets in the U.S., will take delivery of its first 200 Ford E-450 cutaway vehicles this month. Each frozen food…
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  • Positive Feedback, Attendance Growth Hallmarks of 2018 NPGA Expo

    The National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo returned to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this year after being held in Nashville the past two years. The 71st annual gathering, held April 6-8, drew nearly 3300 participants. This marked a 6% increase compared to the last time the event was held in Atlanta in 2015. The three-day event attracted participants from 48 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and 31 foreign countries and territories. In addition, the nearly sold-out 180,000-square-foot exhibition hall included more than 240 exhibiting organizations. Program highlights included a keynote presentation by Greg Gumbel of CBS Sports; PERC Update Live by Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC);…
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  • Freightliner S2G: An Overview of Issues and Improvements

    PERC hosted the third annual Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) S2G Forum in conjunction with the 2018 NPGA Southeastern Convention in Atlanta, an event designed to provide a venue for propane marketers and body manufacturers to communicate openly with members of the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. staff. Topics reviewed included recent actions implemented to correct open items with the propane-fueled S2G bobtail, product enhancements for future S2G bobtails, and service after the sale. Attendees were very excited and supportive of the steps taken by FCCC. “With PERC having made an investment in developing the S2G, we take great ownership in wanting a partner to provide a product that works,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), who addressed…
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  • Lessons Learned From 20 Years of Valuing Propane Businesses

    By Tamera Kovacs… Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many retail propane marketers on a wide range of projects. It seems that each and every project had the same underlying theme — building value. I have learned that to build value, business owners must set clear goals/plan ahead, work as one with partners/family members, employ and train great staff, and document everything. Above all else, each owner or business manager is in charge of making the company the best it can be. One of the areas of greatest opportunity for retailers, and probably the most difficult, is planning. It appears to take valuable time away from other tasks that seem more important…and, it’s not fun. Forethought can be the difference between…
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  • Is Your Business Prepared to Attract a Future Workforce?

    The propane industry — like every other industry — is facing a shortage of knowledgeable and skilled workers. With 78 million baby boomers projected to retire by 2025, a number of factors are contributing to a workforce shortage situation, including new priorities of the millennial generation, a focus on every student being advised to get a college degree, changes in labor market demand, and a shifting focus of the education and workforce system. Research tells us that industry will need at least 4.7 million new workers with post-secondary certificates and that we will fall short of that goal by three million workers. Research also tells us that millennials are more diverse than any other generation, and their approach to learning and work is unlike what’s been seen in previous…
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  • PERC Survey Completion Ensures Your State Receives Accurate Rebate Funding

    (May 14, 2018) — The Annual Retail Propane Sales Survey helps your state receive an accurate amount of rebate funding from 20 percent of PERC’s annual revenues. The survey also ensures your assessment dollars are used in the most efficient way to support market opportunities and trends. 
 The Annual Retail Propane Sales Survey, conducted by ICF on behalf of the Propane Education & Research Council, remains the only source of state-level and market specific consumption information for propane in the US. This survey covers the Calendar Year 2017 and will be used to generate the annual estimate of U.S. odorized propane sales by state and segment. This survey information is used in the allocation of state rebate funding, representing 20% of the annual PERC…
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  • Freightliner Custom Chassis Delivers 50,000th Chassis to UPS

    GAFFNEY, SC – (May 10, 2018) – A two-decade partnership among two of the most trusted and respected names in the work-truck and parcel-delivery industries reached a major milestone, as Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) delivered its 50,000th chassis to United Parcel Service (UPS). Leaders from UPS and FCCC recently gathered at Freightliner headquarters in Gaffney to mark the official delivery of the milestone chassis, which was specially branded and displayed for the event. Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of FCCC parent company of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), was on hand with other DTNA leaders for the celebration, along with elected officials and civic leaders from Gaffney and Cherokee County. “This is a momentous and special day for FCCC, one that is the culmination…
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  • EDP Acquires Commercial Propane Service in Los Angeles

    (May 9, 2018) — Sal’s Propane, Inc., a family-owned company based in Los Angeles, California, has sold its commercial propane business to Chicago, Illinois-based Energy Distribution Partners (“EDP”). Sal’s Propane provides propane and propane equipment to commercial and industrial customers throughout Los Angeles, and also operates a wholesale business in the same territory. The company, which has been serving customers in the Los Angeles area since 1984, will retain its wholesale and transportation operation. “It was extremely important to me that the legacy of the business my dad and I built was respected, said owner Sal Balsamo. “It was also vital that my employees continued to be employed, EDP has a history of honoring those things. They remained consistent and fair from the initial offer…
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  • LPG Flows from Gulf Coast To NWE Expected to Rise

    Flows of LPG from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Northwest Europe (NWE) are expected to rise in May, with three VLGCs and one handysize vessel seen arriving in the first week of the month alone, according to data from S&P Global Platts. The 49,999-deadweight-ton (DWT) Yushan is expected to arrive in Flushing in the Netherlands from Houston early this month. In addition, the 53,658-DWT Levant is to arrive from Freeport, Texas; the 51,700-DWT Gas Summit is scheduled to arrive from Houston; and the 23,640-DWT Navigator Pegasus is to arrive in Flushing from Houston, implying a sharp uptick in overall arrivals from April. As a result, notes S&P Global Platts, there is been a swift drop in the large spot propane cif (cost, insurance, freight) cargo…
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  • ADD Systems Awarded NJBIZ Best Places to Work in NJ Distinction

    Flanders, New Jersey (May 3, 2018) — ADD Systems was recently recognized as one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in New Jersey. This awards program “recognizes and honors the state’s top employers who show a dedication to their employees’ professional growth and quality of life.” ADD Systems stated it is thrilled to be part of this group and eager to continue to improve and enhance the lives of its employees and their families. Among medium-sized companies, those with 50-249 employees, ADD Systems placed at #27 on the list of best places to work in the state. Gale Bott, Secretary/Treasurer of ADD Systems and wife of founder, Bruce A. Bott, said, “ADD Systems, at its core, is a family business with family values. ADD…
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  • Growth Forecast For 2018 Propane Vehicle Sales To Add 36.8 Million Propane Gallons

    WASHINGTON (May 2, 2018) – More than 13,000 propane autogas fleet vehicles were sold in 2017, according to data compiled by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). The new vehicles will annually consume approximately 36.8 million gallons of clean propane autogas, and many will be displacing fuels with higher emissions like gasoline and diesel. While the 13,045 propane autogas vehicles sold in 2017 were down slightly from the previous year (14,045 were sold in 2016), the relatively flat sales are actually signaling to industry officials that more propane autogas growth is around the corner. “Propane autogas overcame significant challenges in 2017 — from the absence of federal incentives for alternative fuels from the federal government, to incredibly low gasoline and diesel prices throughout much…
    Read More →: Growth Forecast For 2018 Propane Vehicle Sales To Add 36.8 Million Propane Gallons

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