IDEAL Friday Member Update: Fuel-Local® Announced in LP Gas!

Oct 9

7 min read

This Week's Highlights:

October is Partner Appreciation Month
Board Officers Elected for 2026-2027
Fuel-Local® Announced in LP GAS

Quick Reference Links

PROFITABLE. PROVEN. HERE FOR YOU.

Friday Member Update

The Latest IDEAL News!

Partner Appreciation Month Has Arrived!

October is here, and Partner Appreciation Month has finally arrived! This month, we’re celebrating the incredible Partners who support our Member-Owners with products, services, expertise, and solutions that help keep your businesses moving forward.

As we finish up our Business Services Partner Spotlight, let’s keep the attention where it really belongs — on our Partners! Member-Owners, have you taken a minute to say thank you to the IDEAL Partners you’re working with? Maybe it’s also time to take another look at where you could do more business with an IDEAL Partner. There are some great resources, products, services, and people in this network — and October is the perfect time to put those relationships to work, show a little appreciation, and make sure you’re taking advantage of what’s available to you through IDEAL!

And just like that, those colder mornings are showing up! Heating season is coming, so now is the time to make sure you’re prepared, connected, and ready for the busy months ahead.

We also have some exciting Fuel-Local® news to share! Our press release was picked up by LP Gas Magazine, giving Fuel-Local even more visibility. Be sure to check it out — and please share it with your customers, local Chamber, community groups, newspaper, or on your social media. The more we share, the more we can keep the Fuel-Local® momentum going!

More Partner focus, more Fuel-Local® momentum, and lots to be excited about this month.

Thank you for being part of IDEAL, and a BIG thank-you to all of our Partners for everything you do for our Member-Owners. Happy Partner Appreciation Month! Let’s make it a great one!

Happy to help,

Amy West - Cooperative Administrator

The IDEAL Business Services Partners

Meet the Team: Business Services Partners – Part Three

And we’re not done yet! Our Business Services Partner Spotlight continues with another great group of IDEAL Partners who can help you tackle the day-to-day challenges of running your business — and maybe even make things a little easier along the way.

As the end of the year starts sneaking up on us, it’s a great time to look around your business and ask, “What could we be doing better?” Are your insurance policies coming up for renewal? Is it time to take another look at your company policies and prepare for 2027? Looking for ways to improve efficiency, use technology more effectively, or make your day-to-day operations run a little smoother? Maybe it’s time to put your company — and the people behind it — in front of your customers through better marketing and storytelling.

From AI and technology to operations, human resources, energy expertise, marketing, insurance, and more, our Partners bring knowledge and resources that can help. Take a look at this month’s featured Partners, see what catches your eye, and don’t be afraid to reach out and start a conversation!

Drinkwater Productions

Drinkwater Productions helps businesses get noticed and, just as importantly, stay connected with their customers. From digital marketing and social media to branding, and creative campaigns, they can help you tell the story of your business and put the faces behind your company in front of your customers. If marketing has been on your “we really need to get to that” list, this could be a great place to start.

Angus Energy

Angus Energy brings deep energy industry expertise to the table, helping fuel businesses navigate the market, understand opportunities, and make informed decisions. They also offer the Gremlin Tank Monitor, a practical tool that helps keep an eye on tank levels and provides valuable visibility for both businesses and their customers. Another great resource to have in your toolbox as you navigate the energy industry and the day-to-day challenges of running your business.

Nessit

FTechnology is a huge part of running a business — and when it doesn’t work, everyone knows it! Nessit provides managed IT services and support to help keep your systems running, your team productive, and your business protected. From day-to-day technology needs to cybersecurity and ongoing IT support, Nessit helps take some of the technology worry off your plate so you can focus on the business.

New England Human Resources Consultant

Your people are at the heart of your business, but managing the HR side of the business can be a lot to take on. New England Human Resources Consultant provides practical HR guidance and support to help businesses navigate employee policies, workplace issues, compliance, documentation, and the many people-related questions that come up along the way. As you look toward 2027, this is a great area to review and make sure your policies and practices are working for you.

Kozy Ops

KozyOps was built with fuel and service businesses in mind, bringing important parts of your operation together in one platform. From dispatching and routing to service management, customer information, payments, and field operations, KozyOps is designed to help businesses improve efficiency and make the day-to-day easier to manage. If you’re looking for ways to streamline operations or get more out of your technology, it’s worth taking a look.

Avoca AI

What happens when your phone rings and your team is already busy? Avoca AI helps fuel and home service businesses make sure those calls don’t go unanswered. Their AI-powered solution can help handle customer calls, capture opportunities, schedule appointments, and provide support around the clock. It’s a practical way to use technology to improve customer service while taking some pressure off your team.

heating services software Todd Kipperman Kozy Ops

IN THE NEWS

Dyed Diesel Update: What Member-Owners Need to Know

There’s been a lot of conversation this week around the President’s Executive Order addressing dyed diesel and potential relief from high diesel prices. We know this has raised questions for many in the industry, so we wanted to share a quick update.

The Executive Order directs the U.S. Treasury to provide conditional federal excise tax deferral and certain penalty relief related to the highway sale and use of dyed diesel through December 31, 2026. However, there are still important details to be worked out. The Executive Order itself does not eliminate the federal fuel tax or automatically make dyed diesel legal for highway use.

So, what should you do right now?

Keep doing business as usual until additional guidance is issued. Continue following the current federal and state rules for clear on-road diesel and dyed diesel, including applicable tax and reporting requirements.

A few important reminders:

Check with your own state regulators. Federal guidance does not automatically override state fuel taxes, licensing, reporting requirements, or other state regulations. Requirements may vary from state to state.
Talk with your fuel supplier before making any changes to the products you sell or how you sell them.
Don't assume the tax has been eliminated. The current language refers to potential deferral, not forgiveness.
Keep good records. Continue documenting fuel purchases, sales, customers, gallons, and taxes.
Be cautious about customer communications. Until the rules are finalized, avoid telling customers that dyed diesel is now generally approved for highway use or that the federal tax has been eliminated.

Additional federal guidance is expected, and industry associations are continuing to work with regulators to better understand how the program may work in practice.

Bottom line: There may be an opportunity for meaningful relief, but there are still too many unanswered questions to make changes based on the Executive Order alone. Stay the course, check with your state regulators, stay in touch with your supplier, and watch for additional guidance.

IDEAL will continue to keep an eye on this and share updates that are relevant to our Member-Owners as more information becomes available.

Source: CTEMA.com

FMCSA Extends Hours of Service Waiver Period to 30 Days

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has finalized a rule extending the automatic relief period for regional Hours of Service (HOS) waivers from 14 days back to 30 days.

The change provides additional flexibility for drivers and motor carriers during periods of peak demand when HOS waivers are necessary, including situations that can impact fuel transportation and supply.

The 30-day period restores the longer waiver timeframe that was previously in place. NPGA supported the change and advocated for the extension, working with an industry alliance to encourage FMCSA to reverse the reduction to 14 days. FMCSA ultimately agreed with the industry’s position.

Why it matters: A longer waiver period can provide fuel haulers and other carriers with greater flexibility to respond to periods of increased demand or emergency conditions while maintaining the transportation of essential products.

[Read the full FMCSA Final Rule]

Energy Markets Remain Volatile

Energy markets are climbing again, with diesel leading the rally as several supply concerns converge.

Strait of Hormuz: Tanker traffic has fallen sharply following additional vessel attacks, raising concerns about Middle East supply and shipping capacity.
Global supply: Disruptions to Russian refining and soaring tanker costs are adding pressure to refined-product markets.
U.S. inventories: Crude and gasoline stocks remain at very low seasonal levels, while diesel inventories continue to be tight, particularly in the Northeast and West Coast.
Strategic reserves: The IEA says previously pledged oil reserves could be released, while France has announced plans to release 10 million barrels of diesel over the next several months.
Hurricane Isaias: The first Atlantic hurricane of the season is approaching the Gulf Coast, with approximately 25% of offshore U.S. oil production temporarily shut in.

Bottom line: Tight inventories, geopolitical risks, transportation costs and weather are keeping energy markets highly volatile as we move further into the heating season.

Source: TACenergy Market Talk