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we’ll do whatever it takes to resolve trucker shortage By Reuters

by Mike Robinson

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© Reuters. FILEPHOTO: Driver wearing face mask passes lorries at Ashford International Truck Stop. This is because EU countries have imposed a travel ban for the UK due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Ashford (Britain), December 22, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Da

By Sarah Young and Victor Jack

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Friday vowed to do whatever it takes to resolve a trucker shortage that has forced oil giant BP (NYSE:) to close some petrol stations and strained supermarket supply chains to breaking point.

BP closed down some 1,200 UK stations temporarily due to a shortage of diesel and unleaded grades. This was blamed on drivers’ shortages. ExxonMobil (NYSE :)’s Esso stated that a limited number of its 200 Tesco Alliance retail stores had also suffered.

Sky News was told by Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary. “We will move heaven and Earth to ensure that there is no shortage of HGV drivers.”

Although suppliers have expressed concern that petrol shortages could worsen due to a shortage of drivers who transport the fuel from the refineries to the retail outlets, Shapps stated that the government’s plans to increase the number of driver testing for lorries will soon solve the problem.

He said that many more testing are now available so it should be possible to see the situation improve quickly.

After 25,000 European workers returned from Europe, the British pandemic and Brexit, the haulage sector says that it needs 90,000.

Shapps stated that COVID-19 had exacerbated the situation and that Britain couldn’t test 40,000 drivers in lockdowns.

Farmers and supermarkets have called for Britain to address the shortage of workers in critical areas, such as truckers and processing. This has strained food supply chains.

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