Britain says we will do whatever it takes to solve the trucker shortage

LONDON, Sept. 24 (Reuters) – Britain on Friday pledged to do everything in its power to resolve a truck driver shortage that has forced oil giant BP (BP.L) to close some gas stations and strained supermarket supply chains.

BP has temporarily closed some of its 1,200 service stations in the UK due to a lack of both unleaded and diesel qualities, which it blamed on a shortage of drivers. ExxonMobil’s Esso (XOM.N) said a small number of its 200 Tesco Alliance retail locations were also affected. Read more

“We will be moving heaven and earth to do all we can to make sure shortages are alleviated with heavy truck drivers,” Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News.

Suppliers have warned there could be more gasoline shortages due to a lack of drivers to transport fuel from refineries to retail outlets, but Shapps said the government is taking action to double the number of Truck driving tests would soon solve the crisis.

“There are a lot of other tests out there now, so we should see things move pretty quickly,” he said.

The road haulage industry says it currently needs around 90,000 more drivers after around 25,000 returned to Europe before Brexit and the pandemic halted the process of qualifying new workers in Britain.

Shapps said COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem and Britain has been unable to test 40,000 drivers during lockdowns.

Supermarkets and farmers have called on Britain to alleviate labor shortages in key areas – especially truckers, processing and picking – which have strained the supply chain food.

Editing by Guy Faulconbridge

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