The Armed Forces could be brought in to the UK to help deliver fuel as petrol stations have been forced to close due to the lack of HGV drivers.
Oil industry company BP said it had been forced to close a number of forecourts across the country because of the staffing problem, as reported by Birmingham Live.
The staff shortages mean there companies are struggling to deliver fuel to forecourts, and petrol stations across the country could close at a moments notice.
Reports suggest the Army could be drafted in to help alleviate the pressure.
The Times reported that contingency plans, called Operation Escalin, would go into action if the situation significantly deteriorated.
Hoyer, one of the UK’s largest fuel logistics companies, revealed it was "struggling to meet deliveries".
It cannot find enough tanker drivers to make fuel deliveries and was said to be typically 20 short of the 400 to 450 a day needed.
The Road Haulage Association said the UK lacked 100,000 HGV drivers.
Hanna Hofer, BP’s head of UK retail, told a government meeting last week the situation was "bad, very bad".
The company said up to 100 of its forecourts were short of at least one grade of fuel. It has started rationing petrol deliveries.
Several have been forced to close entirely due to problems with supplies.
Petrol stations on motorways and major roads are being prioritised for fuel deliveries.
The crisis comes on top of families facing soaring energy bills and empty shelves at supermarkets.
But Downing Street told people to "not panic" and to continue to buy fuel "as normal".
