Poe’s Rural and City Gas Co.

Location, location, location.

That’s one of the key selling points at Poe’s Rural and City Gas Co. Inc. in Rolla, Mo. Since the family retail business was founded in 1947, its main office has been located directly on train tracks running through Rolla.

Team: From left: (front) Sally Bullock, Gordon Poe and Betty Dean; (back) Travis Bock, Steve Betts and Rick Walker.

“Very few companies keep their trucks running every day, filling tanks every day with no waiting for gas when the weather turns bad,” says owner Gordon Poe, whose father, L.H., started the business more than 60 years ago.

Strong supply

Poe feels the company’s supply sets it apart from the competition. In addition to having direct access to rail and the ability to offer the best prices “right off the line,” Poe’s has raised its storage capacity past the 180,000-gallon plateau by adding new tanks.

“There have been so many changes over the years,” Poe says. “We offer a lot of things to our customers that others don’t. We have the extra storage, and we’re the only rail site in the area – basically the only one in the state of Missouri.”

Other propane companies are taking advantage of Poe’s rail-side location and its transfer station, which is about three years old. This allows other companies to load their transports and bobtails using Poe’s rail and storage facilities.

“It’s been a tremendous help, not only for me but for other dealers in the area,” Poe says of the location. “With the price of diesel and the hours of transport, a lot of times dealers come in here and load up faster and save a lot.”

Heavy traffic

More than 300 railcars passed through Poe’s location last year with propane for Poe’s residential area or other dealers, he says.

That translates to about 10 million gallons for a 12-month period, and Poe expects that to double or triple as more companies become aware of the new facilities.

Poe’s, which serves residential customers mainly for home heating, is located near Interstate 44 – between St. Louis and Springfield. The company, which serves seven communities in Phelps County, has six employees and three new bobtails.

“It’s been a great 60 years, put it that way,” Poe says of the company’s milestone anniversary.

So is he ready to slow down anytime soon? “Gosh,” Poe says, “I hope not.”