Over in parts of the United Kingdom, motorists have found themselves jostling for fuel at petrol stations on Fridays, leading the Automobile Association (AA) to encourage a sense of calm. While there's no imminent fuel crisis, numerous petrol stations are experiencing temporary hiccups in their supply chains, as per AA President Edmund King. He urged drivers to avoid stockpiling fuel as even temporary station closures will leave other open.
Some British individuals, however, seem to be disregarding the weekend's implications, prompting Shell to issue a warning of lengthy lines at railway stations. Shell reported a surge in fuel demand at certain stations, which could potentially result in longer wait times. In response, they're adjusting delivery schedules to cater to customers' needs.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics reveals a growing employment quandary in the UK, with over a million job vacancies between June and August this year – a record high. The ongoing pandemic and Brexit have worsened this situation among Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers, leading to an exodus of thousands of EU citizens from their jobs in the UK.
BP admitted encountering temporary issues in supplying fuel at various UK locations, resulting in temporary station closures due to the lack of unleaded and diesel. They attributed this predicament to the UK's "branded-wide driver shortage," prioritizing delivery to motorway services, busy roads, and high-demand sites to minimize any downtime. Unspecified sources reported dozens of stations grappling with fuel scarcity.
This isn't the first time BP has faced such challenges. Previous months saw UK services being forced to close due to logistics issues caused by the HGV driver deficit. The Road Haulage Association estimated 100,000 vacant HGV driver positions in the UK and anticipated 20,000 EU nationals leaving post-Brexit.
Exxon Mobil, Tesco's Esso partner, acknowledged some of their jointly managed stations briefly faced difficulties due to the "driver shortage prevalent across the supply chain." They collaborate with the entire distribution network to optimize supply and minimize customers' troubles.
The British government announced plans to increase HGV driver tests, aiming to tackle the issue. Nonetheless, industry initiatives are expected to drive most solutions. The transport minister ruled out issuing short-term visas for EU drivers but conceded considering all potential methods to address the HGV driver shortage.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs reported approximately half a million job vacancies across the entire industry, contributing to food waste due to a lack of workforce. Transporters impact multiple sectors, prompting advocacy groups to urge the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to introduce a "Covid-Recovery Visa" to combat the "critical labour shortages in the entire supply chain."
[1] Archaeology Journal [2] Financial Times [5] The Independent
The HGV driver shortage in the UK is a complex issue fueled by several factors, including an aging workforce, stricter immigration policies, increased demand, training and licensing challenges, and unfavorable working conditions. To mitigate the consequences of this shortage, potential solutions involve competitive pay and benefits, improved working conditions, training and upskilling initiatives, industry-specific training programs, government support, collaboration with schools and colleges, better facilities at truck stops, and technological innovations.
