TPGA Monday Morning Messenger October 26, 2020

October 26, 2020

In Brief

The COVID pandemic is a unique situation that has not happened in more than 100 years. The pandemic has presented many obstacles for those in the propane business. Several government agencies assisted with some of those hurdles, like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security naming the propane industry as essential workers and U.S. DOT issuing various waivers. Some of those waivers are beginning to start to expire. Read more about some of those expiring waivers in this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger.

It's not all glum news. Read about how we may have one federal waiver extension in the works.

Additionally, TPGA hopes to see all your shining little faces on Zoom on Wednesday afternoon. Read our last official story of the morning to find out how to login and what your logging in for.

Check out our Quick Links for the PSC Product Spotlight (a new item to be featured every week), a link to the latest propane pricing and supply update, link to sign up for the TPGA Legislative Insider's Club and link to the October Texas Propane magazine as we close out the month and go to production on the November issue.

In this issue

In Brief
Driver Medical Cards
Recurrent Hazmat Training
Hazmat Endorsement
Reminder Supply Point App Tutorial
Quick Links

Calendar

October 26 - 30, 2020

October 30, 2020

October 28, 2020

P.L.A.N. App Tutorial

October 31, 2020

PHMSA Hazmat Training

November 2-6, 2020

November 2-30, 2020

November 3, 2020

CDL Related Medical Card Waiver Expiring

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Card waiver is expiring soon.

The termination of the waiver is staggered dependent on when the driver's medical card expired:

For drivers whose medical certification was valid on February 29, 2020, and expired on or after March 1, 2020, but before June 1, 2020, the requirement is waived until October 31, 2020.

For drivers whose medical certification expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement is waived until December 31, 2020.

TX DPS is processing new medical certifications daily. Drivers who have an updated medical certificate can submit it to the Texas Department of Public Safety by email to CDLMedCert@dps.texas.gov or by fax 512-424-2002.

PHMSA Recurrent Hazmat Training

Waiver Expiring October 31, 2020

From, March 25, 2020 to October 31, 2020, recurrent hazmat training requirements found in 49 CFR 172.704(c)(2) were waived.

Following the expiration of the waiver on October 31, 2020, hazmat employers and employees are expected to be in full compliance with the recurrent training requirements found in 49 CFR 172.704(c)(2).

Training options. TPGA has associate members that come to your location and train one or more or all your hazmat employees at once or PERC has an online training OSHA & DOT Hazmat Training program online at https://training.propane.com for those who want to take it on an individual basis online.

For all PERC online Learning Management System existing accounts. Your password has been reset. Your temporary password if you had account is now: propane1. If you have questions, please email Learning@propane.com.

Hazmat Endorsement

Automatic 180 Extension

For hazmat endorsements that expire between March 1, 2020 - October 29, 2020, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had granted an automatic 180 extension on the expiration date.

What about for licenses that expire after October 29, 2020?

TSA is working on a further extension and targeting that one to go through the end of the calendar year (12/31/2020), but it is not approved at this time.

TPGA will alert members as soon as it is approved.

A Texas CDL expiration waiver still in effect. The waiver will expire 60 days after the Governor's COVID 19 Disaster Declaration ends. The Disaster Declaration has continually been renewed every 30 days since March. The declaration is "tentatively" set to expire on November 6, 2020, but expected to be renewed.

Join TPGA on Wednesday via Zoom for a Tutorial on the

NPGA Supply Point App

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is hosting a Zoom meeting exclusively for Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA) members on their Terminal Closure and Waiting Time tool, nicknamed PLAN. You do not need to be a member of NPGA to tune in or use the tool.

Join NPGA & TPGA via ZOOM on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, at 2 PM CDT to learn how this tool works, where you find it online, how to download it to your mobile device, and how you can use it this winter by logging into our Zoom meeting / webinar.

Looking forward to seeing all your faces online!