Drive for Britain! U.K. scrambles for truckers amid supply woe
CTV
British energy firms are rationing supplies of gasoline and closing some petrol pumps -- the latest in a string of shortages that have seen McDonald's take milkshakes off the menu, KFC run short of chicken and gaps appear on supermarket shelves.
A big factor behind the problems is a lack of truck drivers. The U.K. is short tens of thousands of hauliers, as factors including Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic converge to create a supply-chain crunch.
Officials urged motorists not to panic-buy petrol after BP and Esso shut a handful of stations because there were not enough trucks to get gas to the pumps.
"The advice would be to carry on as normal," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Friday.
Despite the plea, lines of cars formed at some gas stations across the U.K. as drivers filled up just in case.
