INPERSON
Tucker Perkins is president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council
(PERC), a nonprofit organization funded and operated by the U.S. propane industry.
PERC promotes the safe and efficient use of propane.
Perkins joined PERC five years ago as chief business development officer and then served
as chief operating officer before being promoted to his current role. He has worked in the
propane industry for nearly 30 years in a variety of roles for both large national companies
and small regional propane marketers.
Tucker Perkins of the
Propane Education &
Research Council
COMPARED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
A: Propane will continue to be the fuel of
choice for most in the lift truck market
compared with electric options because
propane can provide savings throughout ownership. Propane forklifts are less
expensive at acquisition than electric by
almost 30%. Plus, with electric models,
there are some hidden costs that are
important not to overlook, including the
utility costs of keeping them charged.
Battery life and power output for electric
forklifts also diminish over time and lead
to future costs that aren’t always considered before it’s too late, including additional costly batteries.
Q: HOW DOES PERC EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY
ON THE SAFE HANDLING AND USE OF
PROPANE?
A: Nothing is more important to PERC
than the safety of those who work with,
sell, or buy propane. Through proactive
outreach to consumer safety organizations, trade groups, emergency responders, and the public, PERC increases
awareness of safe propane storage and
handling practices. The best way for DC
VELOCITY readers to engage with the various propane safety resources the Propane
Council provides would be to visit www.
propane.com/safety.
Q: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PROPANE
EDUCATION & RESEARCH COUNCIL?
A: The Propane Education & Research
Council was established to expand the
adoption of propane as a clean, American-made energy source. The organization does
that by implementing safety and training programs, conducting research, and
investing in technology development with
leading equipment manufacturers in a variety of industries, including material handling, on-road transportation, and agriculture.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION
ABOUT PROPANE USE TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN INDUSTRY?
A: We are constantly talking to the supply chain industry about
the benefits of propane equipment and how propane as an energy
source can help them get more work done in an efficient way.
Whether that’s through a video testimonial showcasing how a
company is using propane to get ahead or an educational resource
detailing how a facility can start a conversation with a propane
supplier in its area, the amount of content we have available for the
industry to learn about propane is immense. I invite your readers
to visit our website at www.propane.com and see for themselves.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF USING PROPANE TO POWER
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS?
A: Propane is a leader in the material handling market because it
offers a number of key advantages over other fuels. Propane boasts
lower emissions, greater productivity, and performance that’s
proven to work for supply chain facilities of any kind.
Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE CURRENT MARKET FOR PROPANE FORKLIFTS
In our continuing series of
discussions with top supply-chain industry executives,
Tucker Perkins discusses
propane’s role in powering
the nation’s material
handling operations.
