As the Government considers bringing in the Army to drive HGVs amid a driver shortage, there are claims that 40,000 HGV driver applications are “sitting on the desks in Swansea waiting to be processed”.
Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association, made the claim to BBC Breakfast, adding that the fuel shortage problem was caused by the leak of a confidential BP document.
This news comes as petrol stations across the Westcountry have run dry, with queues forming at the remaining forecourts with some supply left.
READ MORE: Fuel panic live as Boris Johnson considers calling in army to help deliveries - updates
Mr Madderson said: “This is a problem caused by somebody who leaked a confidential BP submission to a cabinet meeting about 10 days ago. We had problems of HGV shortages of drivers getting fuel tankers to the forecourts, but it wasn’t a critical situation at that stage.
“The fact that she or he leaked the document, broadcast, there was panic buying right across main urban centres in the UK.
“We understand there are as many as 40,000 HGV driver applications sitting on the desks in Swansea waiting to be processed. Now that is just ridiculous, and is just one of many issues that have arisen to create the driver shortage we have today.
“We heard yesterday at the Government meeting that some of the hauliers are desperate to have their drivers go back on the road, but because of the strict medical requirements they have had to submit details to Swansea and there’s a lack of process.”
Half of the petrol stations in the UK have run out of fuel due to panic-buying over the weekend, with around 400 forecourts imposing £30 limits per motorist, reports Mirror Online .
BP has also warned that around a third of sites are completely dry.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced over the weekend that the government was suspending the Competition Act 1998 in order to share information between oil companies and optimise supply.
Officials say that this will enable oil companies to share information on where supplies are most needed.
Mr Madderson said that the short-term supply of fuel could return to normal, but that that is up to consumers.
He added: “If they start buying in their normal quantities, £20 worth, 20 litres to fill up every week, we could see by the end of this week some return to normality – it won’t be perfect, but some return.”
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