You can't kept blaming it on that, Europe also has driver shortages as mentioned by Vince a few days ago, one paper actually blamed the rise on online shopping, which is probably closer to the truth, as drivers may prefer to switch to driving vans and stay local to where they live.
David
I think you are both right !
It's a combination of the two I feel
Today here the news related your petrol shortage, they did say it was due to lack of truck drivers, and did say that the UK government final realized it was due to all the truck drivers running away from the UK due to Brexit (as was already outlined in a previous news piece the other day), and as a result decided to TEMPORARILY loosen the string, make it easier to get a VISA, so that truck drivers could come back to the UK and fix the situation...
As for France, news here report that, like Factory suggested, drivers now want an easier life. Transport companies said it is now IMPOSSIBLE regardless of money, to recruit a native French driver to do long haul / international trips. Drivers now want to be home every day and have their week-ends, they are starting to value quality of life over money (and so do I).
This might be why as Factory said... I noticed recently that now when I order piece of TE from some random dude online in France, hence no long haul involved.. I now get the parcel in RECORD time, way faster that I got it pre-covid, sometimes in barely 48 hours instead of a week or so usually.
This COVID made many people rethink what's important in life... happened to me when I got fired 2+ months ago. I now don't give a shit of an employer or job. I will never let any employer drive me nuts. First time they try to manipulate me of fuck with me in any way, that's going to be bye-bye. My tolerance to be shit on, is now zero. I am OK to work for them, not to be their slave or be treated like shit. I need them but they need me too. If they are too stupid or arrogant to get that, to bad for them.