SD lifts regulations on propane carriers

Source: American News, Aberdeen, S.儲存倉D.Oct. 25--Propane haulers are traveling longer distances to obtain their product and meet local demand in South Dakota. As a result, officials with the propane industry have asked the state for a temporary exemption of federal transportation rules that regulate the number of hours a driver can log.A state executive order approved by Gov. Dennis Daugaard Wednesday exempts delivery of propane from the federal motor carrier regulations on drivers' hours of service until Nov. 30.Highway Patrol Captain John Broers said the executive order was put in place in response to a shortage of the propane supply in South Dakota, which is causing propane companies to drive out of state for propane.It's a situation that's not uncommon, he said, but also one that's not a consistent, year-long problem.Dawna Leitzkecq, association executive for the South Dakota Petroleum and Propane Marketers Association, said this year the executive order was requested because inventories are low at pipeline terminals in South Dakota and demand is increasing because of the wet fall and corn drying activity following harvest.While inventory at in-state terminals is getting built back up, Leitzke said, the process takes about three to four weeks.Leitzke said companies are sending drivers to Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas and some face long waits when they arrive. In one instance, Leitzke said, a driver sat 30 hours in Iowa before he received the propane, and all that time the driver is considered on-du迷你倉最平y, which eats into his maximum allowed driving time."Even though there's an hours of service alleviation, they do exercise extreme caution and are making sure they pull over if they're tired," Leitzke said.South Dakota isn't alone in this action.North Dakota's governor signed an executive order Tuesday that extends hours of service for propane, gas and diesel carriers. The order is valid through Nov. 22. According to the South Dakota Secretary of State's website, South Dakota has issued similar executive orders in 2012 and 2011."This happens every single year, but people don't know it," Leitzke said. "We want to make sure consumers know we get our hours of service throughout the year, but the petroleum and propane industry makes sure our customers have product.""The hours of service allows a driver to go to Kansas, load up and return. If they didn't have it, they'd have to take time off," she said.Leitzke said these executive orders are not uncommon and can happen in different states at various times of the year."Throughout the year, there are shortages in different terminals," said Leitzke, explaining the public will not be impacted by the local shortage."The general public probably won't see anything," she said. "Our companies always make sure there's a product so there's uninterrupted service."Follow @ElisaSand_aan on Twitter.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at .aberdeennews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉