all the petrol stations near me have bollards across the entrance/exit

We drove up to Norfolk on Friday, once we got outside London, the petrol became more plentiful and we were able to drive in and get petrol as normal with no queuing just outside Norwich, same on the way back, only when we hit London outskirts did the queues start

So basically, it seems like a "London problem" is being reported in the press as a "Nation-wide problem"?

I think it's affected the Manchester area as well and maybe some other larger cities but I do think the reporting should be clearer about the types of areas affected, and that outside of the bigger population centres there isn't really an issue.

Pretty much, and the irony is that it is in areas where public transport is pretty plentiful, we were in rural Norfolk where people would be much more reliant on their cars, we came across a station now and again with no petrol but the majority were running as normal.

Even with regard to London the reporting last night was that 20% of stations were closed, but flipping that 80% are open, what we noticed as well is that drivers were attaching themselves to long queues but if they drove on a bit further there was a petrol station with no queue or a small queue :laugh:

The garages near me don't seem to have had the problems that they've had further south. Last time I drove into Sainsbury's, three out of four pumps were not being used. I did come past a rather long queue at Morrison's about a week ago and it was entirely full of delivery drivers and elderly people. My Dad queued up for petrol when he had three quarters of a tank. If everyone chilled out a bit things would improve.

my local station clearly got a delivery recently as there is now a mile long queue for petrol. Guess I need to wait a bit yet for it to settle down

It's very easy to blame this all on brexit, and rather lazy.

The real reason is that the big companies can afford to pay drivers to sit at home,the big companies maybe need 50 drivers, but will employ 80 to make sure they have cover at all times.

The working conditions for the drivers as well plays a huge role. It is a clear factor as to why nobody wants to take this on as their first trade after school or college.


Your average driver that works for a smaller company will have been witht he company for over 15 years.

These small companies cant get drivers because of the big supermarkets snaffling all the agency workers up, mostly on higher wages now that agency workers are no longer self employed.

The fact you cant just go straight for your class one licence anymore and have to go through all the classes first is a big factor as to the the older drivers not wanti g to start a new journey in the hgv world. The costs to maintain the licences as well, and the constant medicals just makes it unappealing for anyone who hasnt done it, to want to start doing it.

The insurance companies have a lot to answer for as well as they raised the cost of the eu drivers insurance policies because the tests are not as gruelling, or as testing as the uk ones are, this caused accidents involving non uk nationals to become a problem. Hence the rise in insurance for non uk drivers. They also wont touch a young driver because they ain't driven for 2 years. So how on earth do they get their experience, so they can be insured..young drivers schemes also gone.

The shortages have been happening for 10 to15 years now.

The facilities for these drivers are disgusting, the charges for parking are disgusting. The lack of privacy now with truck cams is disgusting.

There is just no appeal to anyone thinking about becoming a driver, the are treated with contempt.

At the start of covid these guys were heroes, now they are treated like 4th class citizens

Its not an issue around here

but lorry drivers have been treated like 2nd class workers for a while and now we reap the outcome of human greed

Anyone with a brain would have changed the marathon to saturday and kept the course locked to traffic on sunday and filled it with tankers driven by the army.

Muppet sadiq.

London still struggling to get all pumps filled.

It was mainly diesel available this week

No it's not enough................................Kawsi

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBUm81dW...g&name=900x900


Yes .... Folks today, not as Driven
as the WW2 workers.

no issue getting petrol here today :smug:

Same here .. Gtr Manchester


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBh8IykV...jpg&name=small


Due to lack of Lorry Drivers
some UK ports are now sending ships away.
So much not collected yet

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10...4087006060.jpg

['Scared' shipping bosses say surge in imports and
lack of HGV drivers means electricals
and toys will be stranded at sea 'until well in to 2022']

Not Stranded - Sent to a North England Port, for now.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nded-2022.html

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10...4037079636.jpg

Bollocks - to Eco Bamboo Flooring.

[Agriculture Secretary George Eustice said about 800 pig butchers
from overseas are needed to get the
situation under control and he expects
to see them arriving in November.]

https://news.sky.com/story/overseas-...cklog-12433884

Sadly the British farmers
are due to start killing their pigs from next week.

First pig I would kill is that rapist ****.

dont worry its all sorted now with this new scheme:

https://www.facebook.com/april.coope...93534305400561

Yes LT they will get a few
still need more

correct me if i'm wrong, but wont a crim just leg it with a lorry full of goodies