February 2020 Texas Propane Magazine

TexasPropane Texas Propane February 2020

Volume 76 No. 2

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E T E X A S P R O PA N E G A S A S S O C I AT I O N

You’ll “Like” What Social Media Can Do for Your Business Engage Farmers at the 2020 Farm Commodity Classic ProCOT Launches New & Improved Website

Maintaining the Legacy You’ve Built

You have worked hard to build your business. Pinnacle Propane is committed to preserving your legacy.

Have you considered selling your propane business but concerns for your customers and employees are holding you back?

At Pinnacle Propane, our values of Customer Service, Integrity, and Safety emphasize providing the best possible experience for our customers and employees. We focus on providing local service to our customers and empowering our employees via competitive pay, a robust benefits package, and advancement opportunities.

As you think about next steps, let us work with you to develop a fair purchase plan and a seamless transition so that you can relax and enjoy the results of your efforts.

Bill Webb Senior Vice President Business Development 936-329-1440

Matt Terry Director Business Development 210-560-5418

Call us today for more information and a confidential assessment of your business.

About Pinnacle Propane: Pinnacle Propane is a leading propane distributor in the U.S. and is part of a global group of

LPG companies owned by SHV Energy, the largest dedicated global LPG distributor. Pinnacle Propaneʼs operations include bulk gas storage and delivery, cylinder filling and distribution, and community gas systems. Learn more at www.pinnaclepropane.com.

TexasPropane February 2020

8408 North IH 35 Austin, TX 78753 512-836-8620 or 800-325-7427 512-834-0758 fax E-mail: info@txpropane.com www.txpropane.com

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R T H E T E X A S P R O PA N E G A S A S S O C I AT I O N

TPGA staff Bill Van Hoy Executive Director bvanhoy@txpropane.com Jackie Mason Education & Marketing Regulatory & Legislative Affairs jmason@txpropane.com Debbie Simpson Executive Assistant Membership Meeting Planner Publication Coordinator dsimpson@txpropane.com Propane Service Corporation

Debbie Simpson 800-392-0023 dsimpson@txpropane.com Publisher

Kim Scheberle Account Manager/Managing Editor Sail House Publishing 512-346-0892 kscheberle@austin.rr.com Joanne Pantaze Advertising Sales 512-273-2639 jpantaze@pvco.net Kiki Pantaze Art Director 512-924-7566 kpantaze@pvco.net

Features You’ll “Like” What Social Media Can Do For Your Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 How to get started, and get more engagement

Engage Farmers at the 2020 Farm Commodity Classic. . . . . 17 Sorry, That’s Our Policy!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always fit the situation.

Departments Highlights from Headquarters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TPGA Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ProCOT Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Fleet Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Safety Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Autogas News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 People in Propane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Inside the Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Classified Advertising.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Index to Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Propane with Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Highlights from Headquarters

Let’s Get Social Bill Van Hoy TPGA Executive Director With this issue of Texas Propane, we are beginning a series of articles that focus on social media and your business. Social media is a powerful tool that can help your business by staying engaged with customers and recruiting new ones in the process. According to Hootsuite’s latest social media statistics, “3.48 billion people now use social media – put another way that is 45% of the total world population.”

This means there is a good chance that your customers and potential customers are on social media. Read on!

Last month PERC awarded the Georgetown ISD with a Clean Energy Innovation Award, highlighting the district’s decision to replace nearly a quarter of its bus transportation fleet with cleaner propane buses.

Georgetown ISD is on the third organization to receive such an award from PERC. Read all about it on page 24.

ProCOT’s annual end-of-year report card for 2019 is also included in this issue starting on page 14.

Hope to see you at the upcoming board meeting in early March.

RETURNING MEMBER MARKETER CRIST PROPANE & FUEL • Wildorado, TX

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2019-2020 TPGA Board of Directors President: Mark Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946 President Elect: Josh McAdams, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444 Secretary: Harris Baker, HBH Systems, 512-587-8347 Treasurer/Finance Chair: Allen Wells, Baygas, 281-332-2630 District 1 Director: David Collett, Gas and Supply, 903-780-2488 District 1 Alternate: Open District 2 Director: Josh McAdams, McAdams Propane, 936-598-7444 District 2 Alternate: Open District 3 Director: Jeremy Gentile, Hill Butane, 409-296-2001 District 3 Alternate: Open District 4 Director: Danny Meyers, Bellville Butane 979-865-2698 District 4 Alternate: Matt Peterson, Buster Brown Propane, 281-689-3946 District 5 Director: Ryan Tudyk, Howdy Propane Services, 361-771-1900 District 5 Alternate: Open District 6 Director: Omar Garcia, Mr. G Propane, 956-581-1063 District 6 Alternate: Open District 7 Director: Steve Smith, Smith Gas, 830-393-2533 District 7 Alternate: Sharon Seal, Bell Hydrogas, 210-533-7103 District 8 Director: Rodney Sladek, Fayetteville Propane, 979-836-7044 District 8 Alternate: Open District 9 Director: Bill McCullough, Butane Gas, 800-242-69010 District 9 Alternate: Brad Quisenberry, Gene Harris Petroleum, 888-336-4474 District 10 Director: Josh Nowlin, McCraw Propane, 9003-583-7481 District 10 Alternate: Chad Gregg, Enderby Gas, 940-482-3225 District 11 Director: Steve Adams, Hardwick LPG, 254-647-3402 District 11 Alternate: Open District 12 Director: Laci Jo Stone, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109 District 12 Alternate: Open District 13 Director: Open

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

District 13 Alternate: Open District 14 Director: Terry Perez, Perez Propane, 512-318-9780 District 14 Alternate: Open District 15 Director: Don Heinrich, Slaton Gas, 806-828-6501 District 15 Alternate: Open District 16 Director: Open District 16 Alternate: Open Past President: Jack Walzel, Tri-Co Propane, 254-642-3885 Past President: John Walter, Schneider Distributing, 800-901-9109 Past President: Ben Wood, Northwest Propane, 972-247-6121 Past President: John Kelly, Kelly Propane, 940-586-1208 Vice President: Jeremy Gentile, Hill Butane, 409-296-2001 Vice President: Matt Terry, SHV-Pinnacle Propane, 210-560-5418 Vice President: Larry Baty, Cadenhead Servis Gas, 800-722-8654 Sr. Vice President: Don Heinrich, Slaton Gas, 806-828-6501 Sr. Vice President: Bill Collins, Collins Propane, 972-442-1078 Sr. Vice President: Joe Green, Green’s Blue Flame Gas, 713-462-5414 Assoc. Supplier Service Director: Rusty Walker, Marshall Young Insurance, 817-645-9155 Assoc. Supplier Service Alternate: Steve Johnson, Midstream Transportation, 512-787-3777 Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Director: Anna May Etheredge, Bishop Energy, 940-665-4672 Assoc. Producer/Marketing Gas Alternate: Jimmie Grant, Martin Gas Sales, 713-851-6155 Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Director: Jim Diehl, Squibb Taylor, 214-357-4591 Assoc. Manufacturer/Distributor Alternate: Joe Ezernack, Meeder Equipment, 903-877-9401 Assoc. At Large Director: J.R. Anderson, Gas Equipment Company, 972-406-3817 Assoc. At Large Alternate: John Becraft, Targa Resources, 817-416-7757 Nominating Chair: John Kelly, Kelly Propane 940-586-1208 NPGA Director: Chad Gray, Dixie LP Gas, 254-582-5359

Feature

You’ll “Like” What Social Media Can Do For Your Business How to get started, and get more engagement

By Amber Thurlo Pearson While the younger generation may already be dancing on TikTok and other social media venues some of us have barely heard of, there are those of us who need to crawl before we dance, as far as social media to promote our business is concerned. This month we are speaking to industry experts, both on marketing and on promoting their own propane business, about what has worked for them.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Feature

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Feature Enderby Gas in Gainesville sees social media as a touchpoint with its customers, posting video blogs to multiple platforms.

Most of us are familiar with Facebook, and industry marketing experts say that is a great place to crawl… er... start: “The main purpose for a marketer in practicing social media is really brand awareness,” says Ben Gutkin, VP Marketing Services with Warm Thoughts Communications. “It’s essentially a platform to deliver your brand and message to a wider community that may or may not include existing customers. The reach of social media gives you broad access to a much larger group than you’d otherwise be able to reach.”

Chad Gregg, regional manager of Enderby Gas in Gainesville said that being involved in their local community has translated into more Facebook followers. When they restarted hosting an annual picnic, and posting photos and information on it, they saw an uptick in their number of followers.

Gregg sees social media as a touchpoint with customers. “Drivers don’t have as much relationship with their customers as they used to, with more dual-earning families. Local parades or posting about how you are involved or contributing to something in the community, helps to bridge the gap on not getting to visit with people in person anymore. You will pick up a few more followers when posting about things that they may be included in,” he said.

“Online and in video is how we now communicate with each other,” Gregg said. He hopes to further integrate their online and social presence by posting video blogs to multiple platforms. He said this is especially important for a family-owned company such as theirs, since a more humanized relationship is a selling point for them. Enderby has also gotten involved in the app world, and touts it as their biggest technological investment. They have an online customer portal.

Gutkin advises that if you’re starting from square one in social media, the first platform to use in this homeowner-oriented space is Facebook. However, for commercial businesses, Linke-

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

dIn works well. He said that Instagram and Twitter rely more on images and news and are used less here, but can still be useful.

Along with a robust Facebook presence, Texas Star Propane in Plantersville, recently launched a YouTube channel.

“Our Facebook page led to more business exponentially,” said Josh Kasprzak, co-owner with Joel Sopchak. “Joel and I both had our minds blown,” said Kasprzak. They also use Instagram and simultaneously post to both, since both are owned by Facebook.

They also exemplify how you can dovetail your social media efforts by leading people from their Facebook page to their YouTube channel, “A few days ago we launched our Texas Star Power YouTube channel! Spread the news and help us get to our first goal of 100 subscribers. We will be posting how-to videos, informational videos, and general videos about the wild world of home standby generators.”

Not only did Texas Star Power cross-promote its social media platforms, it had a clear call to action by asking people to become one of the first 100 subscribers.

While just reading posts doesn’t immediately translate into dollar signs for your business, it’s important in building your brand presence. “Using it as an outbound marketing tool is not just about pushing out the benefits of your business,” Gutkin said. “For it to be effective, it’s about being ‘social.’ People have to ‘engage’ by liking, sharing, viewing, and commenting.”

“You can use this medium to convey what type of business you are. Cutting-edge technology? Convenience-oriented? Then you might illustrate how many locations you have and the cities/ organizations you are involved with, etc. You may want to follow others representing what your values are, or share news on the new and upcoming industry trends, and/or do cross-promotions,” Gutkin said.

You can also use social media for promotions. One example is if you want to offer something like a $50 first fill promo, you could use Facebook ad manager, select the demographics, and either create an actual ad or boost a post.

“One thing that’s really important to be aware of is engagement,” said Gutkin,”which is anytime someone takes an action on your post; they like it/share it/comment/view video, etc. If you don’t have engagement, you basically have no audience. It could be that it’s simply too boring; use lots of photos and video!

Feature TOP Texas Star Propane recently launched a YouTube channel where they plan to post informational and how-to videos.

BOTTOM An example of how one propane marketer has used their Facebook page to engage with their community. Facebook image courtesy of Koppy’s Propane, PA, and Warm Thoughts Communications.

It shouldn’t be self-serving or business and industry-specific all the time. You might just want to post fun things and things people are interested in and want to share. You may have lots of followers, but if nobody engages, people won’t see the post. Recent changes to the Facebook algorithm have made that even more of an issue, pushing down anything that looks like an ad or doesn’t have engagement (since they want you to pay for their ads).”

Gutkin said he can’t stress enough how important Facebook is for reputation management. What that basically means is that people like to look at online reviews before they do business, and Facebook is the second most popular site for that. Studies have shown that online reviews are given more credence than those from family and friends.

“Getting people to review you and like you on Facebook is very important,” he said.

“Many worry this then opens the door to negative reviews being posted on them.

That’s why it’s important to address those and check your pages often. “Remember in posting responses that you don’t want to win battles in that venue, but you do want to look empathetic and responsive.

You can personally contact them to resolve their issue. Because you CAN respond,” said Gutkin, “it’s better that they do post reviews on Facebook than with the Better Business Bureau!”

Michelle Wilson, VP at Consumer Focus Marketing, echoes that social media is an effective method to engage customers, expand your reach online, and achieve marketing goals. She offers these tips: February 2020 •

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Feature TOP An example of how a propane marketer has humanized their brand. Facebook image courtesy of Northwest Propane and Consumer Focus Marketing.

BOTTOM Deiter Bros., an HVAC and propane company, used targeted ads to increase traffic to their site and drive sales.

Facebook image courtesy of Deiter Bros., PA, and Consumer Focus Marketing.

Demonstrate your superior customer service

Communicate and respond to your followers. Insert yourself in conversations on your page and reply to comments.

Respond to all recommendations and reviews, whether good or bad. Your responses demonstrate your customer service skills and will be used by potential customers to consider your services.

Diversify your social media options

While Facebook has the most users, there are many social media choices. Expand onto Instagram to reach a younger audience, LinkedIn to reach businesses if you offer commercial services, and YouTube if you have videos to share. Each social media platform has unique benefits and audiences. Select the social media that will work best for your business and message.

Humanize your brand

Put a face to your business by engaging in conversation with your followers. Post photos and stories viewers won’t see on your website or other marketing. Your social media posts reveal your company’s personality. Have fun with it. Take photos, include events and charities your company supports, and get your employees involved. Make sure to post regularly and drive engagement.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Run targeted social ads

Social media advertising increases your reach beyond your followers. Establish your goals and target your audience by choosing their age, location and interests. Track your metrics and analyze your results to refine and improve your advertising. Make sure your website is highlighted or there’s a call to action driving viewers back to your site.

Wilson said that Jamie Deiter of Deiter Bros. (an HVAC and

Feature propane company) told her the social media strategy they prothat post regularly about propane vehicles, news and the like.” vided has increased traffic to their website, improved SEO and PERC offers some ready-to-go templates that provide propane driven sales. retailers social media posts targeting different sectors (go to https:// Emily McComas, communications manager with Propane propane.com/ resource-catalog and click on FORMAT under the Education and Research Council (PERC) augments some of search bar and choose Social Post from dropdown menu. the approaches these companies are using. She said some of the Also, there are many photos on the resource catalog to add imtop reasons to use social media are to convey timely safety inforages to social posts. Just type photography into search bar once mation that might change due to the season or regulations, etc. “If you get to https://propane.com/resource-catalog. it’s grilling or mowing season, or a holiday kicking off the grilling Other PERC resources that propane retailers regularly link to season, such as Memorial Day, those are opportunities,” she said. and use on social media can be found at www.propane.com under McComas added that companies may also want to impart alerts the News section or at the following URLs listed: depending on severe weather or crises.

• Can Do Journal https://propane.com/newsroom/can-do-journal/ On a lighter note, she says that profiles of employees can help dif• Articles https://propane.com/newsroom/articles/ ferentiate their company and community-feel of their industry, because these are often locally-owned businesses. Further exemplifying that, posting if your company has made charitable donations or helped to collect items for, say, Toys for Tots, can score you lots of (engagement) points with your “neighbors” reading your posts.

Also, McComas advises to make different posts for different applications and markets: agriculture, onroad fleets, heating, etc. She says PERC has many drop-in “Propane can do that,” campaigns and resources to guide you. She says to talk about your customers, or customers in general, such as school districts using propane. “If a school district is using propane, people will say, if a school chooses it around sus• About your propane company ceptible populations such as • Service offerings children, it must be a great • Company history & throwback photos choice,” said McComas.

• Share company milestones & successes She said an additional so• Community involvement cial media venue that she’s seen some luck with in this • Employee profiles space is Pinterest to showcase • Customer testimonials & positive reviews outdoor living photography • New products and current products in your showroom (i.e., grilling).

• Links to your latest company blog post or newsletter McComas said coming up • Contests & promotions with enough content to post in • How to Videos (e.g. how to read your gas gauge) a regular manner is easier than you may think. “You don’t have • Answers to FAQs to overthink it: you can just • General information on propane share posts from PERC’s pages • Propane tips & safety on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, • All that propane can do and Instagram, or from industry

Content Ideas Recapped & New

partners like Roush CleanTech,

February 2020 •

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Feature Propane marketers looking to create a consistent social media presence should utilize PERC’s resource catalog, which includes tons of free templates that can be personalized. Visit www.propane.com.

• Safety Videos https:// propane.com/safety/safetyarticles/safety-seriesvideos/ PERC is not the only one with a source for social media, the Propane Council of Texas is also very active on their Propane Can Do That Texas Facebook page, which many Texas marketers have shared on our own company Facebook pages. The page, which ProCOT started in 2017, has over 15,600 followers.

The Propane Can Do That Texas page highlights different propane applications inside and outside the home, reasons why people should be using propane, general propane safety tips, Texas news stories featuring propane and pop culture or funny thing to increase engagement.

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We hope that these tips have you at least crawling, maybe even walking, on your way to more social media presence, followers, and ultimately more business. Leave the TikTok’ing to your teens…or maybe your customers WANT to see you dancing! Like the article said, adopt what works for YOUR business.

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ProCOT Corner

ProCOT Year 2019: A Year in Review Your State PERC Dollars at Work

Over $4M

retailers in getting safety information to their customers through its annual Duty to Warn Safety mailing program.

This program is designed to help educate customers on important propane safety and help marketers comply with LP Gas Safety Rule 9.32 to provide the consumer safety notification to every customer.

propane agricultural solutions and promoted the national propane ag incentives in Texas Agriculture, the official publication of the Texas Farm Bureau.

in grant dollars awarded to school districts, propane retailers and fleets.

In 2019, the Propane Council of Texas offered Texans complimentary grant writing assistance to leverage propane autogas grants. With our help, millions of dollars were awarded to put more propane autogas vehicles on Texas roads. ProCOT hopes to continue with this momentum in 2020.

2.5M

Texans reached with Texas Monthly ads each month during the heating season.

As part of their consumer outreach campaign, the Propane Council of Texas advertised in Texas Monthly to augment PERC’s consumer education campaign and spread the Propane Can Do That slogan. The ads highlight all that propane can do, including outdoor living, gas fireplaces and central heating.

Over 220,000

Duty to Warn safety brochures mailed to Texas propane customers.

For over a decade, the Propane Council of Texas has assisted Texas propane

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Over 60,000 calendars produced.

Our longest running project is our Propane Consumer Safety Tip & Recipe Calendar. For nearly two decades, the Council has produced this safety tool to educate propane consumers throughout the year on important propane safety tips.

Every other month spotlights a different important propane residential safety reminder, along with recipes accompanied with cooking and grilling tips. It has propane customers thinking safety all year long.

Over 100,000

Over 100,000 newsletters distributed each quarter.

In 2019, the Propane Living quarterly consumer newsletter educated propane customers on the benefits of using propane, propane safety and promoted propane recipes. The newsletter was branded with participating propane marketers’ logos and offered to marketers at minimal cost.

43,000

Farmers and ranchers educated during the heating season.

Texas builders reached during heating season with builder ads and newsletter.

The Council spotlighted a variety of

Not only did the Propane Council of

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Texas advertise in Texas Builder, the official magazine of the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), but the Council also has started sending a printed quarterly newsletter to all of TAB’s builder and developer members through a special partnership with the Texas builder association.

has engaged Texas Facebook users with what makes propane so great, hosted contests, shared seasonal propane tips, published safety reminders and much more. Not following ProCOT’s consumer facing Facebook page?

Like the page at https://www.facebook.com/ PropaneCanDoThatTexas/

Emergencies Training for Texas firefighters and the propane industry at the world renowned TEEX Brayton Training Field.

Both emergency responders and propane retailers received continuing education credit for the two-day training.

2020

Over 15,600

following us on Facebook.

On ProCOT’s consumer facing Facebook page, Propane Can Do That Texas, ProCOT

Nearly 100

Propane emergency responders and retailers trained.

In 2019, ProCOT held its annual Propane

Learn what’s coming up in 2020, by visiting www.propanecounciloftexas.org, following our industry facing social accounts at https://www.facebook.com/PropaneCouncilOfTexas/ and at https://twitter.com/LPGCouncilofTX and reading Texas Propane magazine each month.

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ProCOT Corner

Propane Council of Texas Launches New Website for 2020

At the beginning of this year, the Propane Council of Texas, more commonly referred to as ProCOT, unveiled a new website with an enhanced, modern look.

Not only did it get a facelift, but it’s more user-friendly and things are easier to find and access.

The original website was more of an industry-facing site, a resource for propane marketers to research and sign up for Pro-

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COT programs like many of the projects and programs described on Pages 14-15 of this issue of Texas Propane.

The 2020 site includes a lot of information for consumers about propane, propane appliances, tanks and propane safety. The site also has educational and informational pages for farmers, builders, landscapers and fleets, as well as incentive information for each sector.

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

The site is now a one-stop shop. The consumer does not need to go to other websites; we have a lot of the information, right here, both state and national.

Propane marketers can still tap into and sign up for their favorite consumer education programs and other things ProCOT offers to the marketer segment.

Visit the site at www.propanecounciloftexas.org or www.procot.org.

ProCOT News

Engage Farmers at the 2020 Farm Commodity Classic February 27-29, 2020

Join the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) for the 2020 Farm Commodity Classic, America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience on Thursday, February 27, 2020, through Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

The Commodity Classic trade show is expected to attract over 9,000 attendees from across the country (which includes over 4,500 farmers) and will feature some 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest ag technology, equipment and innovation.

Farmers consistently rate the trade show highly.

The Council will be attending to educate farmers on the expanded propane ag equipment incentives from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and propane ag applications.

Join us at the tradeshow for a chance to engage with farmers from all across the country with concentration from Texas.

Propane retailers can RSVP and secure your shift in the Propane Council of Tex-

as booth at www.propanecounciloftexas. org. Badges are available first come, first serve, one badge per Texas propane retail company, for those working at least one full shift in the ProCOT booth.

Schedule

Thursday, February 27, 2020 9 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. Tradeshow: Media Only Preview 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tradeshow Open Friday, February 28, 2020 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tradeshow Open Saturday, February 29, 2020 8:30 a.m. – noon Tradeshow Open

February 2020 •

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Fleet Safety

Recognizing and Avoiding Distracted Driving adjusting the radio or anything that causes you to take your hands off the steering wheel.

3. Cognitive distractions include mulling over your schedule, worrying about being late for a pick up or delivery, day dreaming about your next vacation, thinking about problems at home or anything that causes you to take your mind off the road.

One distraction is bad enough, but even worse is anything that involves two or even all three types of distractions. Two of these triple threats are texting and talking on the phone. They can both involve taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and our mind off the task of driving.

How did I get here?

Distractions are everywhere. Anything that diverts your attention away from the task of driving is a distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 alone.

There are three types of distractions, and you are in control of all of them:

1. Visual distractions could include looking at wildlife, billboards, landscape, crash scenes, items in the vehicle or anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road.

2. Manual distractions include entering information into a mapping application, reaching for items in the vehicle, eating, drinking,

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Have you ever been motoring along and then thought, “Wow, I just drove for miles, and I don’t remember any of it!

What happened in the last ten minutes or so?” People tend to go on auto-pilot when performing highly practiced activities like driving.

This state of mind is called inattentional blindness. When you don’t see something that’s in your line of sight – like the road on which you’re driving – you’re experiencing inattentional blindness.

Worse yet, you fail to comprehend seeing it because your attention is not focused. Your mind has wandered or is focused on something else.

Recognize Signs of Distraction

Some signs of inattentive or distracted driving of other vehicles on the road include: • Movement faster or slower than other traffic • Dramatic changes in speed • Sudden braking to squeeze into a lane • Erratic behaviors Distance yourself from a distracted driver by increasing your following distance. Guidelines suggest that at 55 miles per hour, in good driving conditions, you need about one second in following distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length

Fleet Safety between you and the vehicle ahead. When you suspect another driver is distracted, double that following distance to two seconds for every 10 feet of your vehicle’s length. Make sure you have a big enough safety cushion between your vehicle and the distracted driver’s vehicle.

If you are on a freeway, move to the right lane as soon as you can safely do so.

This should encourage a distracted driver to move past you and allow you to keep a better eye on them. If you are not on the freeway, signal and pull off the road as soon as it is safe to do so to let the distracted driver get around you.

Establish eye contact. If you cannot create a safety cushion and you are unable to move out of the other driver’s way, try to establish eye contact with the driver – without becoming a distracted driver yourself.

Do not sound your horn, flash your lights or make a rude gesture. Such actions may cause the driver to make a sudden maneuver and lead to a dangerous road rage situation.

Now What?

There are three proactive steps you can

take to avoid distracted driving disasters: 1. Commit to not driving while you are distracted.

2. Watch out for distracted drivers around you.

3. Respond by managing distracted drivers once you spot them.

Make the Commitment

According to the 2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 94.5 percent of drivers view texting or emailing by other drivers as somewhat or completely unacceptable. However, 34.7 percent of those same drivers also admitted to having read or sent a text message or email in the past 30 days and 25.8 percent typed or sent them. So, although most motorists believe they are threatened by distracted drivers, they are distracted drivers themselves.

What will it take to make you stop reasoning away the dangers and ignorance of driving while distracted? A near miss? An injury? A crash? Maybe someone has to die. A text or call is not worth your life or the life of anyone else.

Stay focused on driving. Avoid being distracted by being prepared to drive before you start your trip.

• Be well-rested • Adjust your mirrors • Set the GPS • Check vehicle controls • Tune the radio • Make any necessary calls before you head out • Secure items If you have to reset your mapping application, make an important phone call or perform a task that could distract you, pull over or deal with it at your next planned stop. It might take more time to pull over and perform the activity, but consider what could happen if you don’t pull over for these tasks. Your trip may come to a very abrupt stop.

This article is courtesy of information compiled by Crum & Forster. This material is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be a representation of coverage that may exist in any particular situation under a policy issued by one of the companies within Crum & Forster

Call us and get a quote now!

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February 2020 •

Texas Propane

19

Safety Talk

Using & Maintaining Fire Extinguishers Safety Meeting Most extinguishers carry multiple ratings.

— Type A: Paper, wood, or other similar fires — Type B: Flammable liquid or propane — Type C: Electrical 3 Per NFPA 58, all propane delivery vehicles should carry one portable fire extinguisher having a minimum capacity of 18 lb. of dry chemical with a B:C rating. Check your local or state codes if they require a higher rating.

STORING, INSPECTING, AND MAINTAINING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: 3 Know the location(s),

Because propane is flammable, fire extinguishers must be available at all facilities and on all vehicles. They can keep a small incident from becoming a major accident. It is important that all workers and operators understand how to maintain and use fire extinguishers, in the event of a safety-related issue.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: 3 NFPA 58 requires at least one fire extinguisher be available

at a bulk propane plant. Multiple extinguishers are a good idea in a large or spread-out facility.

3 OSHA requires that employees be trained to use fire extinguishers when they are first hired and every year thereafter.

Advise your supervisor if you are due for training.

3 Fire extinguishers are vital for creating escape routes or for small fires, such as those involving combustible materials. They are not intended to put out a large blaze or propane fire.

3 Make sure no propane leaks are present when using a fire extinguisher.

UNDERSTANDING FIRE EXTINGUISHER RATINGS: 3 Fire extinguishers are rated by the NFPA by the class(es)

of fire they are suitable for suppressing.

20

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

condition, and limitations of all fire extinguishers at your plant or on your vehicle.

3 Monthly Inspections — Every propane facility must verify that fire extinguishers are intact and fully charged each month. Check with your supervisor for your site’s schedule.

3 Annual Inspection — Once a year, all units must be inspected by a fire inspection company or the fire department.

These agencies will affix a special tag to the extinguisher, showing the test date.

It is your job to frequently check the fire extinguisher in your work area or on your service vehicle. If the extinguisher is due for inspection, low on charge, damaged, or missing an inspection tag, notify your supervisor immediately.

DISCUSSION TOPICS 1. You are ready to leave for a job site and notice that your vehicle’s fire extinguisher is missing. How should you respond?

2. What could occur if you use a fire extinguisher not rated for the specific incident?

LEARNING ACTIVITY Conduct a demonstration on the proper use of extinguishers for various types of fires. Cover specific suppression strategies applicable to paper, electrical, or propane incidents.

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Call your agent to get a quote or call Curtis Heptner, Master Agent H (940) 397-2771 H Curtis@certessentials.com

YOUR BOBTAIL

HEADQUARTERS White River Distributors, Inc. has loyaly served Texas since 1949. White River is an active and responsive force in the Texas propane industery. We have tanks 600 to 8000 gallons, your choice of chassis. White River can customize your bobtail to your specifications. New, used, and refurbished propane bobtails, change-overs, and repairs. Financing available.

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February 2020 •

Texas Propane

21

Business Beat

Sorry, That’s Our Policy!

Few business phrases can be as disheartening and conversation-stopping as “Sorry, that’s our policy.” Rules, regulations, and policies are there for a reason, and ideally, your team members will provide the best service possible within those guidelines. But the reality of some situations is that a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t always fit.

Sometimes, customers make reasonable requests that may run counter to the black-and-white rules outlined in your company’s policy. The important thing for you, your employees, and your organization to consider is that your customer is your customer: they’re normally not out there to rip you off or to bend the rules merely for the sake of bending the rules.

Sometimes, standing too firm on a policy will alienate and ultimately lose your customer. That’s a frightening consequence considering that getting new customers is far more difficult and expensive than retaining your existing ones.

So what’s the answer?

Let’s take a step back. There’s an old joke that goes something like, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe that everything can be divided into two categories…and the rest of

22

you.” When it comes to delivering world class service, not everything can be divided into two categories, into absolute right or absolute wrong. But sometimes, employees may act out of fear—such as fear from messing up, not doing the right thing—rather than compassion, and compassion and empathy are where the solutions exist. Let’s take a look at what each of these words mean: Compassion means being able to feel the concerns and misfortunes of others, especially when they’re not your concerns or misfortunes.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Neither of these mean “pity,” which is about feeling bad for someone else.

Compassion and empathy are about feeling alongside another person, taking into account what it would feel like if it were happening to you. Or, in short, it’s being able to put yourself in another’s shoes.

When you say, “Sorry, that’s our policy,” you’ve immediately shut the door on compassion and empathy. You’ve created an “us vs. them” dynamic that can be a very steep hill to climb. And rather than retreating to the lead-lined bomb shelter of company rules and regulations, what

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

if you stepped into the customer’s shoes and considered what he or she were experiencing? Are you able to make a second effort to accommodate a client’s reasonable request? Maybe extenuating circumstances truly put the customer in a bind that caused the “policy referees” to reach for their penalty flags.

In today’s world of abundance and information, many companies and competitors likely provide services similar to yours. This is another area where empathy and compassion become game-changers.

By encouraging your employees to exhibit these traits and to meet reasonable customer requests, you are doing two hugely important things: You are differentiating yourself from the competition.

You are encouraging an environment of authenticity, which builds client trust.

The first point is a cornerstone of marketing: offer something that no one else does.

But the second? Just try and put a price tag on building customer relationships.

Now all of this isn’t to say that every customer sob story needs to be met and mopped up with an endless supply of tissues. That’s why you’ll find the word “reasonable” used throughout this post.

Business Beat

RCC IS READY TO BE YOUR TECHNOLOGY PARTNER

buses always late. In the end, yin always needs yang.”

Pink goes on to note that it’s our ability to be logical that makes us human. But our world is saturated with information and analytical tools, the rules and regulations of company policies. In other words, logic alone just doesn’t cut it.

What separates those who merely exist and those who succeed are the folks who recognize the humanity of our professions. Simply stated, expressing care and concern for your customer can forge and

strengthen relationships.

And that’s a policy that anyone can support.

This article is courtesy of the Telephone Doctor, www.telephonedoctor.com, a company created

by Nancy Friedman. She called an insurance agency one day and requested all of her policies be cancelled after being on the receiving end of poor customer service. The insurance agent invited her into the office to provide training to their staff. Her company was the result of that first encounter.

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This also doesn’t mean that logic needs to be thrown out the window and that your company should be moved to a picturesque mountainside retreat where you talk about feelings and hug out all of your client issues. Logic and emotion are both entirely useful, vital components to any business.

Yes, logic without emotion is cold, sterile, and unfeeling, but, as Daniel Pink writes in A Whole New Mind, “Emotion without logic is a weepy, hysterical world where the clocks are never right and the

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1) Some have grown frustrated with the lack of timely response and personal service from their current agent.

2) Many have discovered a missing piece of coverage after meeting with us.

3) Most tell us they have no idea what companies insure their industry and are surprised to learn there are multiple options available.

“Before we met Rusty we didn’t know there were Insurance companies that would compete for our business. Rusty is always looking for the best options available for our business and the propane industry. He has also explained our policy coverages to us in a way that others haven’t. We recommend Rusty and Marshall Young Insurance to any owner looking for options and personal service for their business.”

— Steve Johnson Owner Johnson’s Testing Service

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February 2020 •

Texas Propane

23

Autogas News

Georgetown ISD Recognized for Clean Energy Innovation for Propane Use

This past January 2020, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) presented Georgetown ISD (GISD) in Williamson County Texas with a Clean Energy Innovation Award, highlighting the district’s decision to replace nearly a quarter of its bus transportation fleet with cleaner propane buses. Georgetown ISD is only the third organization to receive such an award from PERC. Twenty-one of the buses were purchased as part of the 2018 voter-approved bond to replace buses nearing the end of their useful life. GISD was able to purchase an additional 12 propane buses thanks to $1.3 million in a combination of grant funds from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program and the Texas Clean Fleet Program, both TERP programs. All of the buses will be on the road by the end of January 2020.

The usage of propane buses provides significant cost savings.

“Money stays in the classroom instead of outside the diesel tailpipe,” said Kirby Campbell, Director of Support Services for Georgetown ISD and former Transportation Director for Leander ISD.

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The cost of diesel fuel is approximately $2.25 per gallon, compared to propane costs at 98 cents per gallon. Propane buses also require less maintenance, adding to the lifetime savings.

“Every decision we make is studentcentered,” said Superintendent Dr. Fred Brent. “By utilizing grant opportunities and cost-efficient alternatives for transportation, we’re able to provide a cleaner, healthier way to get kids to and from

Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

school, while directing the savings into other opportunities that support teaching and learning.”

In addition to being environmentallyfriendly, the propane school buses provide noticeably quieter rides for passengers and bus drivers. Bus drivers love it, because they do not have to shout over the diesel engines. Drivers know what’s going on inside and outside the bus, one Georgetown bus driver attested to.

The propane buses are stationed at the Westside bus terminal, which is also the site of a new $300,000 propane fueling station.

Photos courtesy of Georgetown ISD

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J LP GAS INSTALLATIONS J FUEL SUPPLY February 2020 •

Texas Propane

25

Inside the Industry

People in Propane Michael Daily, 73, of Austin, passed away on December 17, 2019. Mike worked alongside his family at American Propane in Austin for many years.

Upon retirement, Mike enjoyed many passions including watching UT Longhorn sports, reading history books, enjoying weekly coffee and story swapping with his friends and playing with his grandson. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may send memorial donations in honor of Mike to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Go to https://mlf.org/ways-togive/ to donate.

Edsel Eugene “Gene” Morrow, 85, passed away on January 4, 2020.

After marrying his sweetheart, Gene served in the Army National Guard for 7 years, and started working in the insurance industry shortly after college. He spent 25 years at Association Risk Management (ARM) in Austin, TX, becoming one of the foremost experts in the state of Texas for third-party claims administration for large associations. He loved coaching basketball, baseball and softball and spent countless hours coaching his kids and later attending extracurricular activities of his children and grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Sarah McLallen joined NPGA on January 6 as Vice President of Communications and Member Services. Sarah has spent her 25-year career representing trade associations: first the American Chemistry Council, then CropLife America (which represents the nation’s pesticides industry), and she most recently was the Head of North American Public Affairs for the Copper Development Association.

Also on January 6, Morgan Doggett joined NPGA as a Communications Manager. Morgan comes from a 5th generation, propane-using, family farm in southern Illinois. She has multiple agriculture degrees, has worked with U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL), and has just completed a yearlong USAID project in the agriculture sector as a communications specialist. Morgan will report to Sarah McLallen.

Clean Fleets North Texas Grants

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)/ DFW Clean Cities has reopened the Clean Fleets North Texas 2019 Call for Projects!

Application Deadline: February 14, 2020 Eligible Applicants: • Local Governments • Private Companies that Contract with Local Governments Eligible Activities: • Replacement of On-Road Diesel Vehicles • Replacement Non-Road Diesel Equipment Funding Levels: • 35% Cost if New is Powered by Engine Certified to California Air Resource Board Optional Low-NOx Standards • 25% Cost for All Others For more information and to apply: www.nctcog.org/aqfunding.

Eddy (Spoons) Laxson, Sr, 84, of Buchanan Dam, passed away on January 11, 2020. Mr. Laxson joined the carnival at age 11 and later the circus. He proudly served his country in the US Army for 10 years.

Eddy worked for a propane company for 18 years and volunteered at the Buchanan Dam fire department for 15 years. He enjoyed playing spoons, singing, macramé, arts and crafts, woodwork and taking care of his family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.

Samuel E. McTier, 93, passed away on January 11, 2020 in Lake Forest, IL. Sam was born in El Paso and was a child prodigy, playing the violin and viola at age ten in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and graduating high school at age 14. After graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder, he served in the Navy in both WWII and the Korean War. Sam started his career in the propane industry with Bastian Blessing. After working as a RegO salesman, he eventually founded McTier Supply Company, serving at President and CEO for over 40 years. Upon his retirement, he worked at Propane Technologies and McTier Consulting. Sam received the Distinguished Service Award from NPGA and the World’s Distinguished Service Award from the World LP Gas Association. He was the only person to receive Member Emeritus status on the NFPA Technical Committee on LP Gas. In April 2019 he was placed in the Inaugural Class of the Hall of Fame by LP Gas Magazine. In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Forest Symphony, 400 E Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 or the NPGF Samuel E. McTier Memorial Scholarship (donations are tax-deductible). Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Last Chance to Apply for Texas Alternative Fuel Station Grant

Alternative Fuel Facilities Grant Program Synopsis: Station Type. Eligible facilities that will be open to the public will be considered for funding before private facilities.

Grant Amounts. Covers 50% of eligible expenses up to $600,000 Eligible Areas. Clean Transportation Zone. 83 county area in Texas.

Deadline. The competitive grant deadline is March 18, 2020.

Interested in applying? Complimentary grant writing assistance is available from

Inside the Industry the Propane Council of Texas. Email info@propanecounciloftexas.org to see if you might be a good candidate for the competitive grant.

Details are available at https://propane.com/train-the-trainer.

Spring Propane Living Subscription Deadline: February 18, 2020 PERC Contest: Enter HVAC/Plumbing Trainers

Building on last year’s Train the Trainer success, PERC will be offering four inperson events in 2020 to train instructors how to teach the Overview of Propane Distribution Systems for HVAC and Plumbing Professionals course. Up to 80 winners will be selected to help get propane curriculum into more classrooms across the country.

If you know someone who teaches or trains plumbing and HVAC professionals, nominate them to win a free trip and training to one of the locations below: Nashville, TN - April 8-9 Ocean Springs, MS - May 18-19 Chicago, IL - June 1-2 Phoenix, AZ - June 25-26 The deadline for entries is March 1, so submit your nomination today, and encourage instructors you know to enter themselves for a chance to win a free trip.

Save the Date: February 21 Charity Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament

Join the LPG Charity Fund on Friday, February 21, 2020 for a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament at Dave & Buster’s on Richmond Avenue in Houston, TX. Lunch and registration will be at 11:30 a.m. with the poker tournament starting at 1 p.m.

All donations for the Poker Tournament and raffle prizes go directly to the charity fund to assist those in the industry who are in need of assistance.

Register at www.lpgfund.com.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to send your customers the popular Propane Living newsletter. Receive it in bulk and distribute to your customers or let us mail it for you.

The quarterly newsletter branded with your company logo in black & white takes away the burden of creating a company newsletter for your customers; let the Propane Council of Texas do it for you.

Each quarter the newsletter highlights propane residential applications, safety, reminders and tips.

Covered by a PERC docket, propane marketers only have to incur a $49 fulfillment fee each quarter and less than 4 cents list processing fee to get your name or logo on there.

ProCOT covers the printing of the newsletter, postage and shipping.

Subscribe to our Kitchen Remodel Spring 2020 edition, which includes important information about converting stoves, at www.procot.org by February 18, 2020.

The Big Game Approaches You can score a touchdown with Propane Service Corporation

Visit the one stop shop for your compliance, safety & promotional materials www.propaneservicecorp.com • 800-392-0023

February 2020 •

Texas Propane

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Classifieds BOBTAILS FOR SALE

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN TEXAS PROPANE MAGAZINE? For Advertising, contact: Joanne Pantaze at 512-273-2639 or by email at jpantaze@pvco.net

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CHERYL@LONGHORNPROPANE.COM or WENDY@LONGHORNPROPANE.COM, 830-964-2525

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Texas Propane • www.txpropane.com

Calendar FEBRUARY

3 PERC Webinar Facebook/Social Media Calendar Development https://www.candotraining.com 3-5 2020 AHR Expo Orlando, FL 4-5 WLPGA Technical Summit & Industry Council Meeting Washington, DC 9-11 NPGA Winter Board of Directors meeting Scottsdale, Ariz.

11-13 World Ag Expo Tulare, CA 12 PERC Council Meeting Confernce Call 15 Deadline for Submitting National Propane Gas Foundation Scholarship Applications

17 TPGA & PSC office closed for President’s Day 18 Spring Propane Living Deadline 21 LPG Charity Fund Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament Houston 27-29 Farm Commodity Classic Show ProCOT Booth San Antonio, TX

MARCH

1 HVAC/Plumbing Training Contest Deadline 2 PERC Webinar Email Marketing www.candotraining.com 3-4 TPGA Board & Committee Meetings Lakeway, TX

3-6 The Work Truck Show 2020 Including the Green Truck Summit Indianapolis, Ind. 8-10 NPGA Spring TS&S Comm. Meeting San Antonio, Tex. 12-13 NPGA Spring Benchmarking Council Meeting Irving, Texas 12-14 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo New Orleans, La.

APRIL

6-8 Manufactured Housing Institute 2020 Congress & Expo Las Vegas 6-8 NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo Nashville 9 PERC Council Meeting Nashville

Index to Advertisers Bergquist 18 BLT Tanks 5

Cunningham Gas Products 17 Enterprise Products 31 Ferrellgas 27

Fisk Tank Carrier Inc. Outside Back Cover Gas Equipment Company 12 Lone Star Energy Group 21 Longhorn Propane 28

Lumbermen’s Insurance Agency 31 Marshall Young Insurance 23 Meeder Equipment Co. 13 Metsa Tanks Inc. 19 MK Gas 25

Click LIKE on the Texas Propane Gas Association Page Follow Us with TPGA’s twitter @txpropane1

Pinnacle Propane Inside Front Cover Propane Service Corporation 27 Rural Computer Consultants 23 White River Distributors 21

February 2020 •

Texas Propane

29

CALLIE STEWART Marketing Representative o / 713.381.4586 m / 832.264.4775 CBStewart@eprod.com

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Contact John S. Porter, CIC Mark D. VanDover, CIC Miles T. McFann

1305 South First Street • Lufkin, Texas (936) 634-3326 • 1-800-223-1289 Emails: john.porter@lumbermen.net • mark.vandover@lumbermen.net mmcfann@austin.rr.com • www.lumbermen.net

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