LPG Spotlight: Vickery Propane

In 1998, Brandy Vickery created Vickery Dirt, a dirt-hauling company, as a side business. He was only 20 years old.

Eight years later, he resigned from his full-time job to focus solely on his side business, which has since grown from one dump truck to 10, along with two excavators, two bulldozers, one mini-X and more than 300 acres of dirt pits.

“It was a great business March through November,” Vickery shares with LP Gas. “Then you needed to save all your money to get you through the winter.”

As the company continued to grow, Vickery decided to establish a second company in 2010: Vickery Propane. With both companies’ steady growth – and the fact that one company’s busy season occurs from March to November, while the other’s busy season comes during the winter – Vickery has been able to use one team of employees for both the dirt and propane businesses.

“During the spring, summer and fall, I need about 10 dump truck drivers since Vickery Dirt is busier at that time,” Vickery says. “Then, when it gets cold from November to March, my dump truck drivers will operate my six propane trucks.”

Vickery’s use of employees for both companies during each of their peak seasons has been a win-win, as he has overcome the high costs of labor, along with the downtime associated with each company’s slow seasons.

“Each business helps each other out with floating drivers wherever – and whenever – they are needed,” he says.

While using his employees across both companies, Vickery has witnessed Vickery Propane achieve consistent growth throughout the last 14 years. Polk County, Texas’ last locally owned propane company is focused on bringing propane to its customers as quickly and affordably as possible.

Striving to achieve this two-fold goal, Vickery Propane sells and installs above-ground and underground propane tanks, which are available in four sizes: 120, 250, 500 and 1,000 gallons.

Presently serving 5,500 customers across southeast Texas, including counties that surround Polk County, Vickery Propane is focused on eight cities – Cleveland, Coldspring, Dayton, Harden, Liberty, Livingston, Onalaska and Woodville.

To ensure customers’ properties are as warm, comfortable and energy-efficient as possible, Vickery Propane also sells and installs tank monitors. The company is automatically alerted whenever its customers’ tank levels are low.

As a result of these tank and service offerings, Vickery Propane had its most successful year yet for total gallons in 2024. While looking ahead, Vickery believes the company will continue to expand, as it remains focused on its small-town appeal and supportive local community.

“My plans are to grow slow and give my customers great hometown propane delivery service, just like a ‘mom and pop’ business,” he says. “After all, without our customers and local community, there wouldn’t be a Vickery Propane.”

Company profile: Vickery Propane

Year founded // 2010
Headquarters // Livingston, Texas
Founder and owner // Brandy Vickery
Propane vehicles and storage // Six bobtails, a 12,000-gallon tank and a 30,000-gallon tank
Annual gallon sales // 700,000
Employees // Two full time and seven part time during the winter