Included in the COVID 19 key worker definition, fuel distributor members of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) have over the last few weeks faced unprecedented demand for liquid fuels.
UKIFDA Chief Executive Guy Pulham comments: “It is business as usual at UKIFDA member depots. Our members are working flat out delivering heating oil to households, red diesel to farming and construction industries and fuel to blue light services and due to this increased demand, UKIFDA and our members have been urging the public not to panic buy.
“Members have changed processes and protocol in order to meet Government COVID 10 guidelines including staff segregation, remote working systems, basing drivers at major terminal locations rather than the depot and cab sanitisation. All this whilst trying to answer 4 or 5 times the normal level of calls for the end of March with declining staff and driver numbers due to the virus. Being based at major terminal locations aids deliveries straight from refineries but due to the unprecedented demand tanker drivers are experiencing queuing and long waits when collecting fuel and this has also added to the already increasing overheads for many members – but these measures are all necessary in order to meet the growing demand from consumers and ensure they can prioritise the elderly and most vulnerable.
“The situation has been changing daily over the last week and UKIFDA has been offering support to UKIFDA members across the UK and Ireland as well as liaising with the Government’s Energy Resilience Teams in Westminster and Scotland and the Irish Government.
UKIFDA sought and has received from the Department For Transport (DFT) in the UK and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in Ireland a relaxation of drivers hour’s regulations which should help Members meet this unprecedented demand although we recognise that there are limitations to the relaxation, especially around working time directives, which we will continue to push with the relevant bodies. There has also been relaxation on UK regulations regarding MOTs, PDP and ADRs in which UKIFDA have been involved.
In Ireland UKIFDA Irish Representative Nick Hayes has been liaising closely with the Health and Safety Authority (HAS) and they have agreed to an extension on ADR licences which expire over the next 6 months to the end of November. Nick Hayes has also been working alongside fellow trade association IPIA lobbying the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Transport.
UKIFDA is also offering advice to consumers on its website ukifda.org including:
- Be patient – trust your regular supplier. Tell them when you will run out so that they can prioritise. Be honest.
- Explain your circumstances – perhaps you are self-isolating or in one of the vulnerable groups classified by the Government or aged 70+.
- Don’t order if you don’t need oil at the moment. This will help spread demand over a wider time period and better fit to resources available given that any driver who shows signs of the virus must self-isolate.
“The wellbeing of our Members staff and customers remains our priority and our Members are putting in place reasonable and proportionate arrangements to protect their staff (both office based and delivery drivers) and customers.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation, which UKIFDA together with our Members are monitoring carefully. The situation is kept under constant review and any change in guidance will be based on Government and scientific advice,” adds Guy Pulham
