In parts of the UK, motorists have been flocking to gas stations on Friday, prompting the Automobile Association (AA) to advise calm. While there's no fuel crisis, many stations are experiencing temporary supply chain issues, according to AA President Edmund King, who cautioned against exceeding normal limits as even temporary station closures will leave others open.
Some Britons, however, don't seem to be taking the weekends into account, with Shell warning of long lines in railway stations. Shell reported increased demand for fuel at some stations, potentially resulting in longer wait times in certain cases. They're adjusting delivery schedules to ensure customers' needs are met.
The Office for National Statistics has reported a growing UK jobs vacancy problem, with over 1 million openings between June and August this year – a record high. The pandemic and Brexit have exacerbated the problem among HGV drivers, leading thousands of EU citizens to leave their jobs in the UK.
BP admitted facing temporary challenges in supplying some fuel at various UK locations, temporarily closing a few stations due to the lack of unleaded and diesel. Blaming the UK's "branded-wide driver shortage," they prioritized delivery to motorway services, busy roads, and sites with high demand to minimize any downtime. Without specifying numbers, an insider reported "dozens" of stations grappling with fuel scarcity.
BP repeated a similar incident in previous months when UK services were forced to close due to logistics issues caused by the HGV driver deficit. Road Haulage Association predicted 100,000 vacant HGV driver positions in the UK, with 20,000 EU nationals leaving post-Brexit.
In related news, Exxon Mobil, Tesco's Esso partner, confirmed some of their 200 jointly managed stations briefly faced issues due to the "driver shortage faced across the supply chain". Collaborating with all parties in the distribution network, they strive to optimize supply and minimize troubles for customers.
The British government announced plans to increase HGV driver tests, hoping to alleviate the issue. However, industry initiatives are expected to lead most solutions. The transport minister ruled out issuing short-term visas for EU drivers but confirmed considering all possible options to ease the driver shortage.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs estimated around half a million job vacancies across the entire industry, contributing to food waste due to lack of workforce. With transporters affecting multiple sectors, advocacy groups urged UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to implement a "Covid-Recovery Visa" to address the "critical labour shortages in the entire supply chain".
[1] Archaeology Journal [2] Financial Times [5] The Independent
