PERC Celebrates Propane Drivers During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
RICHMOND, Va. (September 15, 2026) — During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 13–19, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is recognizing the bobtail and transport drivers who safely and reliably 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,” said Bridget Kidd, chief operating officer at PERC. “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 driver 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 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 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.
| Charles Brasell
ThompsonGas Camden, Alabama |
Jackson Cosby
J.S. West & Companies Oakhurst, California |
Jesus Higuera
Windmill Propane Visalia, California |
| Paul Silva
Van De Pol Madera, California |
James “JD” Barber
Agfinity Inc. Eaton, Colorado |
Ruslan Plotkin
DCC Energy (DBA Enviro Gas) Commerce City, Colorado |
| Scott Carito
Northeast Oil & Propane Danielson, Connecticut |
Timothy Swift
Northeast Oil and Propane North Franklin, Connecticut |
Jack Wilson
Delaware Propane Smyrna, Delaware |
| Donald Taylor
Suburban Propane LP Wildwood, Florida |
Julian Lancaster
Thermotane Propane Sanford, Florida |
Terry Sharp
Sunrise Propane Hudson, Florida |
| Alvin Fontanez
Superior Plus Propane (DBA Freeman Gas) Ellijay, Georgia |
Clifford Brent Defoor
Superior Plus Propane (DBA Freeman Gas) Ellijay, Georgia |
Dennis Brown
Cumberland Gas Kingsland, Georgia |
| Greg McGuire
Blossman Gas, Inc. Cartersville, Georgia |
Jeff Smith
Viking Transport Alma, Georgia |
Johnnie Hall
Valley Propane Inc Eatonton, Georgia |
| Kevin Latimer
Amicalola Propane, Inc. Dawsonville, Georgia |
Lorenzo “Tiger” Watkins
Evergreen Propane Forsyth, Georgia |
Mike Dudney
Viking Transport Milner, Georgia |
| Brockton Wagner
Valley Wide Cooperative Cascade, Idaho |
Kevin McCarthy
Holiday Propane Driggs, Idaho |
Rick Howell
Hicksgas Decatur, Illinois |
| Lewis Whittaker
Purity Cylinder Gases LLC Elkhart, Indiana |
Randy Bruer
Ceres Solutions Crawfordsville, Indiana |
Dennis Demmer
Demmer Oil Company Worthington, Iowa |
| Robert Jay Roberts
DCC Propane (DBA Propane Central) Wichita, Kansas |
Daniel Herron
Henderson Propane, Inc. Henderson, Kentucky |
Gregg Chavers
H.J. Poist Gas Company Savage, Maryland |
| Anthony Colaianni
Devaney Energy Bridgewater, Massachusetts |
Kevin Holland
Robys Gas Wareham, Massachusetts |
Zac Lecronier
Stanford’s Propane Gas, LLC Midland, Michigan |
| Dave Swartz
Superior Fuel Company Duluth, Minnesota |
David Lewis Dworshak
Farmward Cooperative Morgan, Minnesota |
Dennis Schubert
Centra Sota Cooperative Buffalo, Minnesota |
| Scott Fladung
Glacial Plains Cooperative Benson, Minnesota |
Tyler Merz
Olson Oil Co. Fergus Falls, Minnesota |
Anthonny Stewart
Blossman Gas, Inc. Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Anthony “Tony” Gilbert
Blossman Gas, Inc. Laurel, Mississippi |
Christopher Kelly
Blossman Gas, Inc. Newton, Mississippi |
Tony Ezell
Viking Transport Petal, Mississippi |
| Neil Kaup
Frontier Cooperative Waverly, Nebraska |
Randy Tietz
Farmers Pride Battle Creek, Nebraska |
Yaovi Ehon
Wells Propane Inc. Wells, Nevada |
| Alsn “Toad” Horne
Eastern Propane Rochester, New Hampshire |
Bob Dean
Stafford Oil & Propane Laconia, New Hampshire |
Brian Driscoll
Davis Oil and Propane Keene, New Hampshire |
| Joe Fleck
Stafford Oil & Propane Laconia, New Hampshire |
John Swenson
Proulx Oil & Propane Epping, New Hampshire |
Keith Opdyke
Stem Brothers, Inc. Milford, New Jersey |
| Cody Shaw
Pico Propane and Fuels Carlsbad, New Mexico |
Ervin Conn
Paraco Gas Corp Saugerties, New York |
Thomas Trotti
Paraco Gas Corp Saugerties, New York |
| Brendan Dalzell
Sharp Energy Ahoskie , North Carolina |
David Brown
Campbell Oil Company Elizabethtown, North Carolina |
Jamie Williamson
Viking Transport Apex, North Carolina |
| Joey Kennedy
Pico Propane Siler City, North Carolina |
Logan Reneau
Southern States Cooperative Siler City, North Carolina |
Mark Bridgers
Viking Transport Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Randy Hall
Southern States Cooperative Siler City, North Carolina |
Teddy Jenkins
Sharp Energy Rich Square, North Carolina |
Andrew King
Superior Energy Troy, Ohio |
| Chris Leimbach
Coles Energy Milan, Ohio |
Edmond “Donnie” Bourassa
Mount Perry Propane Mount Perry, Ohio |
Jeffrey Whitney
Miami Erie Propane St. Marys, Ohio |
| Larry Castle
Coles Energy Milan, Ohio |
Tommy Yoder
Peak Propane Bellefontaine, Ohio |
James Donald Holcomb
Pitmon Oil and Gas Lindsay, Oklahoma |
| Barry Reno
EDP ProGas Zelienople, Pennsylvania |
Dwain Snyder
Countryside Fuel Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
Gardell Burkholder
Countryside Fuel Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
| Kendall Weaver
Elite Fuel Service LLC Reading, Pennsylvania |
Leon Oberholtzer
Countryside Fuel Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
Mahlon Stoltzfuz
Shaffer’s Bottled Gas Hooversville, Pennsylvania |
| Michael Towner
Bluhms Gas Aales Wyalusing, Pennsylvania |
Mike Verna
Countryside Fuel Myerstown, Pennsylvania |
Genisis Vargas
Paraco Gas Corp Woonsocket, Rhode Island |
| Edward Bartoli
Viking Transport Cheraw, South Carolina |
Freddie Pendergast
Carolina Propane Orangeburg, South Carolina |
Marion Murdaugh Jr.
Carmichael Propane Walterboro, South Carolina |
| Ronald Schlenker
Hamlin County Farmers Coop Hayti, South Dakota |
Aaron Byrd
Bob Baze Propane, LLC Grandview, Texas |
Brandon Mitchell
Offen Petroleum Sherman, Texas |
| Bryce Champagne
Targa Resources Mont Belvieu, Texas |
Jack Thompson
Sumrall Distributing Company, Inc. Palestine, Texas |
Jose Chavarria
Pico Propane & Fuels Eagle Ford, Texas |
| Joshua McMeans
Sumrall Distributing Company, Inc. Palestine, Texas |
Markus Timothy Garza
Pico Propane & Fuels Weslaco, Texas |
Theresa Castaneda
Pico Propane and Fuels Beaumont, Texas |
| Todd Haley
Meritus Texas Terrell, Texas |
Richard Johnson
Bourne’s Energy Morrisville, Vermont |
Dan Reil
Valley Energy Purcellville, Virginia |
| Donald “Donnie” Lee Ellis
Phillips Energy, Inc. Hayes, Virginia |
Edward “Eddie” Samuel Dutton, Jr.
JCB Transport, Inc. Hayes, Virginia |
Chris Hood
Sunshine Propane Port Hadlock, Washington |
| Mark McClellan
American Distributing Marysville, Washington |
John Christianson
Country Visions Larsen, Wisconsin |
Thad Kluge
Landair Menasha, Wisconsin |
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About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.
