In addition to the Texas hours-of-service waiver secured by the Texas Propane Gas Association, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has worked closely with the FMCSA to obtain an emergency declaration during Winter Storm Blair. After multiple requests and meetings with FMCSA senior staff, NPGA announced that the FMCSA has issued a Regional Emergency Declaration.

The newest Emergency Declaration waives hours of service requirements for the transportation of propane, among other commodities, to customers impacted by the severe weather in the states below, including Texas. The declaration is in effect until January 31, 2025.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, & Wyoming

View and report wait times on NPGA’s Propane Logistics Analysis Network (PLAN) tool. During the heating season, remember that PLAN is a free tool to make your company more efficient. It allows your drivers to spend less time waiting in lines for fuel and more time delivering fuel to your bulk plants and customers.

PLAN relies on marketers, drivers, dispatchers, terminal managers, and wholesalers, all of whom play a part. Submitting a wait time from your mobile device or desktop computer takes less than a minute. Your use of PLAN will encourage others to use it, too.

PLAN is available online at https://plan.npga.org and through the NPGAction app. To get the NPGAction app, visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Please note PLAN does not represent supply levels, pricing, or other market variables and may be subject to error. With your help and continued use, this tool will grow and provide timely information to the industry.

Please contact NPGA at plan@npga.org with any questions.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) offers a wealth of resources for employers. These include our free hotline for employers, the Texas Guidebook for Employers, Texas Employer Webinars, the Texas Business Today newsletter, the Texas Intern Network, and Texas Conferences for Employers.

Employers can attend a regional Texas Conference for Employers annually to stay up to date on the latest legal issues related to operating a business in Texas and hear from expert attorneys without legal jargon. The conference is tailored for a wide range of professionals, including small business owners, HR specialists, and payroll managers. Topics covered are chosen based on the questions TWC receives from Texas employers, ensuring the information is relevant and timely.

Regional conferences are scheduled now through September, including multiple January conferences. To view the list of confirmed locations and register, visit the TWC Texas Conference for Employers webpage.

Texas Employer Hotline

Also, remember that the Texas Employer Hotline (1-800-832-9394) is available to all Texas employers. The attorneys answer this hotline and provide guidance on employment law questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They answer anything from the simplest to the most complex questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact TWC for assistance by phone or email employerinfo@twc.texas.gov.

Registration is still open for the 2025 National Propane Education & Training Conference hosted by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

Join PERC on February 20th and 21st at the Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel for the annual National Propane Education & Training Conference. During this two-day event, propane professionals interested in industry-specific safety, education and resources will gather to hear the most up to date information to help keep safety a priority across the country.

The 2025 conference will feature two tracks to choose from: Education and Safety & Compliance.

The Safety & Compliance track includes panel discussions on Workplace injury trends and prevention, accident and incidents trends and prevention, as well as sessions on PEP Recognized Instructors and Field Trainers, consumer safety education, and safety educational tools.

The Education track will offer a two-part workshop on how to utilize and customize PEP learning paths for your students.

The registration fee is $50.

Agenda

Discount hotel block ends January 16, 2025.

 Check out the landing page at https://propane.com/2025-national-propane-education-training-conference for more details and to register.

EPA National Clean School Bus Grant Deadline Extended Deadline is Jan 14, 2025

Governmental Alternative Fuel Fleet Grant Program (GAFF)

Deadline Feb 5, 2025

TCEQ Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program (includes LPG) Deadline Mar 4, 2025

Check out January 8, 2024 

Weekly Propane Prices, Supply, NOAA Forecast & Heating Degree Days (HDD)

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The NPGF Scholarship Application Round is Open NPGA members are invited to apply.

The deadline is February 15, 2025