July 6, 2020
In Brief
In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger, in our Top Story of the morning, the Texas Propane Gas Association brings to your attention a nationwide roadside enforcement event coming up this weekend. Read more about it in our first story of the morning.

In our second story of the morning, we connect you to a FREE webinar hosted for businesses on handling frivolous unemployment claims through the Texas Workforce Commission. Read more about it below.

Over the weekend, the President signed the extension of an important federal resource for businesses, read more about it in our third story of the morning.

As COVID-19 continues to rise here in Texas, TPGA shares some reminders that you can share and even use as a safety meeting with your drivers on preventative measures they can take when out in the field to limit their exposure to the coronavirus.

Check out our Quick Tabs section in the Messenger's footer for fast access to all TPGA news feeds, a listing of all waivers & their statuses, and the TPGA store, PSC, where members save a host of compliance items. Like, follow & engage with TPGA on Facebook so you can see propane industry updates on the go.
In this issue
  • In Brief
  • Roadside Enforcement
  • Employer Webinar
  • PPP Extension
  • Driver COVID-19 Tips
  • Association Quick Tabs
Major Roadside Enforcement
Event Starts This Weekend
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week will go on as scheduled, Sunday, July 12- Saturday, July 18, 2020.

During this week-long traffic enforcement safety initiative, law enforcement personnel nationwide will be looking for drivers who are engaging in unsafe driving behaviors on our roadways. Identified drivers will be pulled over by law enforcement and may be issued a warning or citation.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, less traffic may be encouraging some drivers to ignore traffic safety laws, including speed limits. Despite there being far fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, many jurisdictions are seeing a severe spike in speeding.

Data shows that traffic enforcement interactions between drivers and law enforcement reduces targeted problematic behaviors. CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week aims to reduce high-risk driving behaviors through traffic enforcement strategies.

In addition to a focus on speeding, examples of other dangerous driver behaviors that law enforcement will track during Operation Safe Driver Week include distracted driving, failure to use a seatbelt, following too closely, improper lane change, reckless or aggressive driving, failure to obey traffic control devices, etc.
What You Need to Know About Frivolous
Texas Unemployment Claims
Tune in July 9, 2020 at 10 AM for a FREE webinar, Decoding the Texas Workforce Commission hosted by Texas State University. The rules seem to be clear to your employees because they win frivolous unemployment claims which leaves you frustrated. Find out the secrets to winning! The webinar will demystify the process and the rules for how to successful fight unemployment claims. 

  • Learn how Unemployment Claims work 
  • Learn how TWC evaluates claims 
  • Learn tips on how to avoid expensive pitfalls
  • Learn how Chargebacks work
Paycheck Protection Program Extension
On July 4, 2020, the President signed federal legislation that temporarily extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). At the time of the signing over $130 billion remained unspent in the PPP program. The 5-week extension until August 8, 2020 will give more time to employers to apply for the program.

The guidelines and what the program will look like under the extension have not been released yet. TPGA will keep members up to date as more information comes available.
bobtail and driver
Tips for Propane Delivery Drivers during COVID-19
As COVID cases in Texas begin to spike, here are some tips based on article recently published in LP Gas magazine on steps delivery personnel can take while making deliveries:
·        Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
·        Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol.
·        Clean with a sanitizing wipe all touch points in and outside of your vehicle as part of pre- & post-trip inspections.
·        Inform drivers on the proper use & disposal of sanitizer, wipes, gloves and masks.
·        Limit contact with frequently touched surfaces during deliveries, such as doorbells or door handles. Use a foot, shoulder, elbow, hip, or forearm when opening doors, instead of hands, if possible.
·        Limit interactions. Instead of a handshake, nod or wave.
·        Stay 6 ft apart or greater from customers and colleagues.
·        Don’t share personal items like pens with customers & colleagues to avoid cross contamination.
·        Utilize electronic payments & receipts whenever possible.
·       Tell drivers & other employees to stay home if you have an elevated temperature or other symptoms of an illness and avoid close contact with others.

Resources can be found both on CDC ( click here ) and OSHA ( click here ) websites.
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