The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) used National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to recognize the bobtail and tank truck drivers who deliver propane to homes, businesses, farms, and communities across the country.

“What stands out in these nominations is the trust propane drivers earn every day,” Bridget Kidd, chief operating officer at PERC, said in a news release. “They put safety first, build lasting relationships with their customers, and step up when their communities need them most. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week gives us an opportunity to recognize the skill, dedication, and dependability they bring to this industry.”

Those qualities were reflected throughout nominations submitted by propane companies and customers across the country. Safety was at the center of many stories. Drivers were recognized for their attention to detail, adherence to proper procedures, ability to identify potential hazards, equipment maintenance, and commitment to performing inspections and leak tests correctly. Their nominators repeatedly described professionals who refuse to cut corners, even when schedules are demanding or conditions are difficult.

“He is concerned with safe operations first but then really serves his customers in an extremely professional manner and has become a cornerstone to our team and our community,” said Paul Lilley, who nominated Lewis Whittaker.

Nominations also reflected the strong relationships drivers build with the people they serve. Drivers remember customers’ properties, tanks, families, pets, and individual needs. For many customers, their propane driver has become a familiar and trusted face, and some specifically request their favorite delivery professional by name.

“Many customers specifically request Teddy as their delivery driver because they know they can count on him for safe, timely, and exceptional service,” said Emily Pierce, who nominated Teddy Jenkins.

The nominations also highlighted the extraordinary dependability and willingness of drivers to go above and beyond. Drivers were recognized for working weekends and holidays, volunteering for overtime, responding during severe winter weather and storms, taking difficult routes, helping coworkers complete deliveries, troubleshooting equipment, and stepping into other roles when needed.

“He has earned the confidence of our customers and coworkers through thousands of deliveries, countless on-call hours, holidays away from his own family, and an unwavering commitment to doing his job safely and well,” said Kari L. Bevers, who nominated Ronald Schlenker.

For some drivers, that commitment spans decades.

“For 41 years, John Christianson has exemplified what dedication, reliability, and community trust truly mean in the propane industry,” said Brandi Burr, who nominated Christianson. “Wisconsin weather is unforgiving, yet John has never let it stand between him and the people who depend on him.”

PERC invited propane companies and customers across the country to nominate outstanding drivers as part of its celebration. Nominees will be highlighted across PERC communications channels, giving the industry an opportunity to recognize the professionals whose work often happens behind the scenes but remains essential to the customers and communities they serve.

Nominated drivers include:

• Alabama: Charles Brasell (ThompsonGas, Camden)
• California: Jackson Cosby (J.S. West & Companies, Oakhurst); Jesus Higuera (Windmill Propane, Visalia); Paul Silva (Van De Pol, Madera)
• Colorado: James "JD" Barber (Agfinity Inc., Eaton); Ruslan Plotkin (DCC Energy/Enviro Gas, Commerce City)
• Connecticut: Scott Carito (Northeast Oil & Propane, Danielson); Timothy Swift (Northeast Oil and Propane, North Franklin)
• Delaware: Jack Wilson (Delaware Propane, Smyrna)
• Florida: Donald Taylor (Suburban Propane LP, Wildwood); Julian Lancaster (Thermotane Propane, Sanford); Terry Sharp (Sunrise Propane, Hudson)
• Georgia: Alvin Fontanez & Clifford Brent Defoor (Superior Plus Propane/Freeman Gas, Ellijay); Dennis Brown (Cumberland Gas, Kingsland); Greg McGuire (Blossman Gas, Inc., Cartersville); Jeff Smith & Mike Dudney (Viking Transport, Alma & Milner); Johnnie Hall (Valley Propane Inc, Eatonton); Kevin Latimer (Amicalola Propane, Inc., Dawsonville); Lorenzo "Tiger" Watkins (Evergreen Propane, Forsyth)
• Idaho: Brockton Wagner (Valley Wide Cooperative, Cascade); Kevin McCarthy (Holiday Propane, Driggs)
• Illinois: Rick Howell (Hicksgas, Decatur)
• Indiana: Lewis Whittaker (Purity Cylinder Gases LLC, Elkhart); Randy Bruer (Ceres Solutions, Crawfordsville)
• Iowa: Dennis Demmer (Demmer Oil Company, Worthington)
• Kansas: Robert Jay Roberts (DCC Propane/Propane Central, Wichita)
• Kentucky: Daniel Herron (Henderson Propane, Inc., Henderson)
• Maryland: Gregg Chavers (H.J. Poist Gas Company, Savage)
• Massachusetts: Anthony Colaianni (Devaney Energy, Bridgewater); Kevin Holland (Robys Gas, Wareham)
• Michigan: Zac Lecronier (Stanford's Propane Gas, LLC, Midland)
• Minnesota: Dave Swartz (Superior Fuel Company, Duluth); David Lewis Dworshak (Farmward Cooperative, Morgan); Dennis Schubert (Centra Sota Cooperative, Buffalo); Scott Fladung (Glacial Plains Cooperative, Benson); Tyler Merz (Olson Oil Co., Fergus Falls)
• Mississippi: Anthonny Stewart (Blossman Gas, Inc., Hattiesburg); Anthony "Tony" Gilbert (Blossman Gas, Inc., Laurel); Christopher Kelly (Blossman Gas, Inc., Newton); Tony Ezell (Viking Transport, Petal)
• Nebraska: Neil Kaup (Frontier Cooperative, Waverly); Randy Tietz (Farmers Pride, Battle Creek)
• Nevada: Yaovi Ehon (Wells Propane Inc., Wells)
• New Hampshire: Alsn "Toad" Horne (Eastern Propane, Rochester); Bob Dean & Joe Fleck (Stafford Oil & Propane, Laconia); Brian Driscoll (Davis Oil and Propane, Keene); John Swenson (Proulx Oil & Propane, Epping)
• New Jersey: Keith Opdyke (Stem Brothers, Inc., Milford)
• New Mexico: Cody Shaw (Pico Propane and Fuels, Carlsbad)
• New York: Ervin Conn & Thomas Trotti (Paraco Gas Corp, Saugerties)
• North Carolina: Brendan Dalzell (Sharp Energy, Ahoskie); David Brown (Campbell Oil Company, Elizabethtown); Jamie Williamson & Mark Bridgers (Viking Transport, Apex & Raleigh); Joey Kennedy & Randy Hall (Southern States Cooperative, Siler City); Logan Reneau (Pico Propane, Siler City); Teddy Jenkins (Sharp Energy, Rich Square)
• Ohio: Andrew King (Superior Energy, Troy); Chris Leimbach & Larry Castle (Coles Energy, Milan); Edmond "Donnie" Bourassa (Mount Perry Propane, Mount Perry); Jeffrey Whitney (Miami Erie Propane, St. Marys); Tommy Yoder (Peak Propane, Bellefontaine)
• Oklahoma: James Donald Holcomb (Pitmon Oil and Gas, Lindsay)
• Pennsylvania: Barry Reno (EDP ProGas, Zelienople); Dwain Snyder & Gardell Burkholder (Countryside Fuel, Myerstown); Kendall Weaver (Elite Fuel Service LLC, Reading); Leon Oberholtzer & Mike Verna (Countryside Fuel, Myerstown); Mahlon Stoltzfuz (Shaffer's Bottled Gas, Hooversville); Michael Towner (Bluhms Gas Aales, Wyalusing)
• Rhode Island: Genisis Vargas (Paraco Gas Corp, Woonsocket)
• South Carolina: Edward Bartoli (Viking Transport, Cheraw); Freddie Pendergast (Carolina Propane, Orangeburg); Marion Murdaugh Jr. (Carmichael Propane, Walterboro)
• South Dakota: Ronald Schlenker (Hamlin County Farmers Coop, Hayti)
• Texas: Aaron Byrd (Bob Baze Propane, LLC, Grandview); Brandon Mitchell (Offen Petroleum, Sherman); Bryce Champagne (Targa Resources, Mont Belvieu); Jack Thompson & Joshua McMeans (Sumrall Distributing Company, Inc., Palestine); Jose Chavarria (Pico Propane & Fuels, Eagle Ford); Markus Timothy Garza (Pico Propane & Fuels, Weslaco); Theresa Castaneda (Pico Propane and Fuels, Beaumont); Todd Haley (Meritus Texas, Terrell)
• Vermont: Richard Johnson (Bourne's Energy, Morrisville)
• Virginia: Dan Reil (Valley Energy, Purcellville); Donald "Donnie" Lee Ellis (Phillips Energy, Inc., Hayes); Edward "Eddie" Samuel Dutton, Jr. (JCB Transport, Inc., Hayes)
• Washington: Chris Hood (Sunshine Propane, Port Hadlock); Mark McClellan (American Distributing, Marysville)
• Wisconsin: John Christianson (Country Visions, Larsen); Thad Kluge (Landair, Menasha)