The UK is in the grip of an HGV driver shortage, something that recently led to a fuel crisis that is threatening to bring the country to a standstill. In a bid to avert the problem, the government has deployed army drivers to begin delivering fuel to petrol stations across Britain.

This will surely come as welcome news to the many drivers who’ve been sat in long queues at empty fuel stations after several days of panic buying. It remains to be seen how effective this measure will ultimately be, however, as there are just 200 military personnel involved, of whom only 50% are actually trained tanker drivers.

Operation Escalin Underway

This mobilisation, dubbed Operation Escalin, is now underway, as army tanker drivers begin transporting fuel across the UK. It’s a move that still went ahead, despite the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak saying that the situation is beginning to improve.

Pumps began running dry at the end of September due to the lack of available HGV drivers, sparking a frenzied period that saw drivers draining reserves to protect their own interests. This has since led to the government extending the foreign driver visa scheme from Christmas Eve to the end of February.

Helping the Worst-Affected Areas

Ministers have been at pains to deny that the fuel crisis was caused by Brexit, pointing to the fact that the HGV driver shortage is one that’s affecting the world as a whole. However, none of the UK’s EU neighbours have experienced any of the same petrol station queues.

Initially, the troops involved will be concentrated in the capital and across the South East, where the worst of the fuel shortages still continue. That said, the Midlands and the North East have also been badly affected, with petrol stations operating on levels under 20%.

Operating Out of Hertfordshire Oil Depot

Those armed forces members who have been drafted in to carry out this emergency work were seen arriving at Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead – the project’s base of operations. Speaking to LBC radio about the crisis as a whole, Mr Sunak had this to say: “We know there’s enough petrol at our refineries and our terminals, and the issue is we’ve had a very steep demand spike”.

He continued: “The good news is that it’s getting better, as every single day since last Tuesday we’ve delivered more petrol to forecourts than has been taken out. The number of people getting deliveries has increased and the volume of fuel getting delivered has increased.”

HGVC – Continuing to Provide New HGV Driving Talent

The events of the past week or so illustrate just how crucial it is to have a well-functioning HGV driver infrastructure in place. At HGVC, we continue to offer industry-leading driver acquisition programs that allow companies and organisations to gain access to the next generation of driving talent.

If you would like to know more about us and what we offer, please browse through our website where you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more. Alternatively, should you wish to speak to us about your training requirements, call us on 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘contact us’ and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs.