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All that's a direct impact of the response to coronavirus. Among it's strange and unpredicted ripple effects, a possible shortage of gasoline.
It's not because there's less crude oil or a find gas to buy. It's because there's a shortage of truck drivers needed to get that gas to the stations.
The National Tank Truck Carriers, an industry trade group, says roughly 20 to 25 percent of tanker trucks are parked right now because there aren't enough qualified drivers to run them. That number was 10 percent before coronavirus hit. Where did the drivers go?
When the shutdowns occurred last year, there was very little demand for gasoline, so without work many drivers left the industry. Some took other jobs, some retired. Driver schools were shut down so there's been a delay in the qualified workers that come out of those and there are new safety rules in place that have reduced the number of drivers. Tanker companies are raising pay to attract new workers but that increases prices for customers. So as the summer driving season heats up, experts say higher gas prices are almost certain and gas shortages are possible.
