August 17, 2020
In Brief
In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger, another major roadside enforcement event is almost here; this one starts this upcoming Sunday, find out what they will be checking for.

In our second story of the morning, TPGA wants to alert you to a cyber attacker who is preying on small businesses disguising themselves as the SBA and offering COVID disaster relief loans. Learn more about what this email may look like and share this alert with employees in your office.

In the third story of the morning, we highlight one of the new LP Gas Safety rule changes.

In the last story of the morning, check out our Marketing Minute section, where we give you the details on an upcoming PERC sales training webinar that teaches your propane staff how to customer objections.
In this issue

  • In Brief
  • Enforcement Brake Safety
  • Email Security Alert
  • Rule Spotlight
  • Marketing Minute
  • Quick Links
Calendar
August 21-October 30, 2020

August 23-29, 2020
CVSA Brake Safety Week

August 24, 2020

August 27, 2020

August 31, 2020

September 1, 2020
2017 NFPA 58 & 2018 NFPA 54 go into effect in Texas
CVSA Brake Safety Week is August 23-29, 2020
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 23-29, 2020, across the nation. In addition to CVSA’s Brake Safety Week, August is also Brake Safety Awareness Month.

Roadside enforcement officials nationwide will inspect commercial motor vehicles throughout next week. Vehicles found to have critical out-of-service brake violations, or other critical vehicle out-of-service inspection violations will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected. Vehicles that pass satisfactory inspections may receive a passed-inspection CVSA decal.

During one of last year's major roadside enforcement blitz's, brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for 45.1% of all out-of-service conditions. That’s more than any other vehicle violation category.

Brake Safety Week is part of law enforcement’s effort to reduce brake-related crashes by conducting roadside inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways.
Warning! Cyber Attackers Sending Phishing Emails About the COVID-19 SBA Loan Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns of a malicious cyber attacker spoofing the Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 loan relief webpage via phishing emails. These emails include a malicious link to the spoofed SBA website that the cyber actor uses for malicious re-directs and credential stealing.

"These emails include a malicious link to the spoofed SBA website that the cyber actor is using for malicious re-directs and credential-stealing."

The phishing email contains:
 • A subject line, "SBA Application – Review and Proceed"
 • A sender, marked as disastercustomerservice@sba[.]gov 
 • The body of the email urges the recipient to click on a hyperlink to:
 hxxps://leanproconsulting[.]com.br/gov/covid19relief/sba.gov
 
The malicious email directs the individual to click on a link that sends them to a fake login page for SBA's Economic Disaster Loan Portal. The hackers are then able to steal the individual's login credentials for the real page. 

U.S. CISA recommends enforcing a strong password policy, using up-to-date antivirus software, scanning for "suspicious" email attachments, and using caution when opening email attachments.

According to The Hill, "Malicious cyber activity has spiked during the pandemic, and coronavirus stimulus funds have been a major target of hackers trying to cash in on federal funds meant for businesses."
Spotlight on LP Gas Safety Rule Change
§9.308. Installation of Piping
In the Railroad Commission's original rule proposal to this section of the LP Gas Safety Rules, the RRC wanted the propane industry to ensure all bonding requirements were met according to code.

However, after comments from the association and the industry, LP Gas Safety Rule §9.308 was changed will require LP-gas operators to just verify that a new piping system is bonded when connecting to or supplying the new system with corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST).

Changes to LP Gas Safety Rule (effective September 1, 2020) will now require: (d) In addition to 2017 NFPA 58 §5.11.5, which outlines training requirements for joining poly pipe, licensees and registrants shall retain written proof regarding any current certifications required by the manufacturer for installation and repair methods for CSST, polyethylene, and polyamide pipe and tubing, including heat-fusion.
Marketing Minute:
Propane Sales Training Scheduled
August 27, 2020 – 9:00 am to 10:30am (90 min)
Handling Objections During the Propane Sales Process

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) knows that propane sales can be a part of everyone’s role, not just the sales professionals or CSRs. How do you make that happen for your company? Whether you handle sales directly in the office, are out in the field, or supporting your company in another role, learning how to truly understand a customer’s objection will give you and your business a leg up on excellent customer service and educating others about propane.

PERC’s sales webinar, Handling Objections During the Propane Sales Process, will provide you with valuable lessons on how to tackle the tougher interactions you may encounter. Attendees will also practice answering objections on price, quality of service, safety concerns, environmental impacts, and other common objections propane marketers face.
Quick Links
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