Fuel shortage | Mumsnet

ReaX · 2021-09-25T12:41:49+00:00

Hi Everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has insight on the real reason of fuel shortage. I know the official reason is driver shortage but I am struggling to find any ADR vacancies that are for fuel so it seems a bit fishy. My partner is a class 1 driver that’s why I started reading up on it.

LateDecemberBackInLowB12 · 25/09/2021 13:45

For the same reason as the toilet paper situation at the start of the pandemic probably.

CindersPumpkin · 25/09/2021 13:49

If there was a rumor that there is going to be a bleach shortage, what do you think would happen?

Original poster

ReaX · 25/09/2021 13:51

But who came up with idea of panic buying fuel this time? I must’ve missed the news about any initial warnings of shortage. I assume that’s what could’ve prompted it then.

OP posts:

elf1985 · 25/09/2021 13:55

I work in a petrol station and its all absolute rubbish. Esso and BP have their fuel delivered by a company called hoyer. They treat their staff terribly and used to employ mainly from the eu. All of these drivers have now jumped ship as the conditions are terrible. Therefore esso and BP have closed loads of garages to cope. The media have blown this out of proportion as now all other garages are running out due to panic buying and taking up the load from BP and esso. Tesco have massive amounts of fuel and the normal amount of drivers they just cannot get it out quick enough to cope with the demand now. Be nice to petrol station staff, I've been called all manner of nasty names this week.

madroid · 25/09/2021 13:56

It started when Shell closed about 8 garages because they had no fuel to sell.

Cue panic buying which creates fuel shortages.

It's not the first time, it won't be the last. I'm supposed to be travelling half way across the country next week and worrying about what will happen if I can't get petrol. I might just not go.

CindersPumpkin · 25/09/2021 14:00

I think a few places had closed in one part of the country and a few petrol stations were planning on closing if I recall correctly.

We have been living with empty shelves for a while and we had the loo roll issue so I guessed panic buying would happen, I went out before everyone else as soon as I read reports and put £10 worth of petrol in my car to tide me over and enough so I would have no guilt, as my tank was low. Then next thing others started to twig there may be panic buying and the ques attracted others.

I bought lots of loo roll at the end of January, I could see people in various countries start to fight over it and lockdown and thought oh no everyone will eventually do that here so put lots away and months later it happened here.

Prices are going to go up for many things in October apparently that's when the container price increases are planned to hit, according to a business man I know, because all his suppliers have that date in mind.

TheChosenTwo · 25/09/2021 14:10

Sorry you’ve had to deal with that shit @elf1985 - there’s just never any need is there?
I’m on my petrol light (have been for 3 days), driven to work and back Wednesday Thursday Friday. Not using the car today and won’t be tomorrow either, will probably just have a long walk to work next week but it’s okay. A bit annoying because I should be visiting an elderly relative today who’s dependent on me but I can take the train up tomorrow and try and give him my food delivery slot.
I’m not going out for petrol until it’s safe. Apparently queues of an hour and a half in my local Sainsburys today - I don’t have enough fuel to last me that long!!

Neonplant · 25/09/2021 14:11

What do you mean who came up with the idea? There's not a memo goes out. People behave selfishly....

Autumngoldleaf · 25/09/2021 14:44

Elf 1985 that's interesting isn't it!!

Hoyer treated their staff so badly they all left.

Wow

Truth is often always a little deeper than we think it is...

Original poster

ReaX · 25/09/2021 19:45

Thank you for all the responses. It does make sense now.
@elf1985 I’m so sorry to hear that. I work in retail and haven’t experienced anything like it but when I go to supermarkets and other places it becomes so obvious that people have just lost all their patience and good behaviour during lockdown. I think most people are frustrated because they feel like they’ve been locked away for 18 months and once things opened up they still couldn’t enjoy the summer by going on holidays because of the restrictions, then for weeks now they haven’t been able to get their usual grocery items off the shelves and now the fuel issue. None of this is an excuse of course but I assume this is how we got to this point.
@madroid I hope you don’t have to cancel your plans. Although I must say the fact that we went to 7 different fuel stations today and they were all out isn’t very promising. The stations next to motorways are probably best stocked though so good luck!
@TheChosenTwo that just all sounds so unfair. I really hope things will go back to normal soon. Not everyone can cope with a situation like this.
@Neonplant I meant which news article, media update suggested that there is fuel shortage which then sent people panic buying.

OP posts:

gardeninggirl68 · 25/09/2021 19:47

So when do petrol stations usually get deliveries?

When is best to try and get diesal? Early morning?

Original poster

ReaX · 25/09/2021 19:54

I would think so but couldn’t really find a clear answer. If anyone knows, please let us know.

OP posts:

elf1985 · 25/09/2021 21:43

As early as possible.

anon12345678901 · 25/09/2021 21:47

@elf1985

I work in a petrol station and its all absolute rubbish. Esso and BP have their fuel delivered by a company called hoyer. They treat their staff terribly and used to employ mainly from the eu. All of these drivers have now jumped ship as the conditions are terrible. Therefore esso and BP have closed loads of garages to cope. The media have blown this out of proportion as now all other garages are running out due to panic buying and taking up the load from BP and esso. Tesco have massive amounts of fuel and the normal amount of drivers they just cannot get it out quick enough to cope with the demand now. Be nice to petrol station staff, I've been called all manner of nasty names this week.

This. I work in the industry and there is no shortage of fuel, it is simply a case that huge demand has made them run out quicker than anticipated. If they hadn't announced the temporary closures, the media wouldn't have got ahold of it and spin it out of control.

middleager · 25/09/2021 21:50

Well OP, the Daily Fail and others splashed it over the paper on Thursday. By Friday panic buying was happening.

HeartsAndClubs · 25/09/2021 21:53

The reason for the shortage is the press.

What better way to cause a shortage than to tell people there’s going to be a shortage, people will then rush to panic buy and hey presto, we have a shortage, and the press can say “I told you so.”

Zeal · 25/09/2021 22:04

@elf1985

I work in a petrol station and its all absolute rubbish. Esso and BP have their fuel delivered by a company called hoyer. They treat their staff terribly and used to employ mainly from the eu. All of these drivers have now jumped ship as the conditions are terrible. Therefore esso and BP have closed loads of garages to cope. The media have blown this out of proportion as now all other garages are running out due to panic buying and taking up the load from BP and esso. Tesco have massive amounts of fuel and the normal amount of drivers they just cannot get it out quick enough to cope with the demand now. Be nice to petrol station staff, I've been called all manner of nasty names this week.

That is really interesting @elf1985 It accords with my own professional experience. A company that does not value its people does not have a strong strategic chain. You see this in the military in particular - just look at a recent example of total collapse. I suspect the fuel crisis will be resolved within 10 days, but that is a stop gap and the wider problem across many sectors: living wage, zero hours contracts etc will take the best part of a decade to resolve.

MargaretThursday · 25/09/2021 22:14

One of the local pubs has a sign outside:

"Beer shortages forecast, come and get yours here"

The fuel shortage is approximately that.

CustardySergeant · 26/09/2021 13:47

Similar to this MargaretThursday

MargaretThursday · 26/09/2021 13:59

that's even better.

kurtney · 26/09/2021 14:11

I work in a petrol station and its all absolute rubbish. Esso and BP have their fuel delivered by a company called hoyer. They treat their staff terribly and used to employ mainly from the eu. All of these drivers have now jumped ship as the conditions are terrible

Haven't finished reading the thread but I just wanted to comment on this. My DH works in an industry (not petrol) that relies on HGV drivers and he's told me the same thing. His company is going down to one shift, rather than four, because they can't get the drivers to shift the product. Working conditions for them have been shit for a while, and now that the wagon companies don't have their pick of cheap labour, the drivers are going to the companies that offer better wages and working conditions.