Fuel disruption and possible impacts on trucking, school bus fleets

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The fuel disruption caused by the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack is far-reaching. You've seen the long line at gas stations, but the impacts are felt in the trucking industry and in fleets of school buses, as well.

Truckers waited in long lines Tuesday at a truck stop on Highway 209, just off of Interstate 40.

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All things considered, trucker Jeff Frady says it wasn't too long a wait at mid-day -- about 15 minutes.

He hopes the supply of gas and diesel to the east coast gets back to normal soon, hearing by week's end as a target.

"We all hope it's going to be over with. But look for the worst and keep your tank full," Frady said.

He said it'd been a challenging year along with the pandemic.

"Seems like all the fuel drivers have definitely stayed busy. I guess they're making up for all the ones that's not," Frady said.

Western Carolina University Economics Professor Edward Lopez said, "The fuel supply disruption appears to be impacting trucking already, and the longer the disruption goes, the worse the problems will get."

The timely delivery of goods can impact supply and demand, which affects prices.

Another trucker says he's not been impacted yet by the fuel supply disruption.

"I wouldn't be worried about it. I'm sure it will be somewhere I can fill up at, but I just got out here this week," Chris Davenport said.

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"Currently, we have no issues with a fuel shortage," says Trevor Putnam, Association Superintendent for Haywood County Schools.

Putnam says the school system has three 10,000-gallon tanks to fuel busses, two for diesel, one for unleaded with 8,000 gallons of diesel delivered Monday.

"So, approximately 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which should last us for two to three weeks," Putnam said.

Putnam said fuel will be needed, though, for summer school.

Everyone News 13 spoke with said they hope for a quick end to the disruption.

Some truckers say once filled up, they're heading west and away from the supply issue.

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