Valero Running on Empty

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A lack of drivers from Valero's deliverer, Houston-based Mission Petroleum Carriers, has resulted in a fuel shortage here over the past few days.

The fuel shortage is expected to continue for a couple days, said Valero spokeswoman Mary Rose Brown. As a result of the shortage, she added, Valero stores have not gotten their scheduled deliveries, and it will take a few more days to get the stores back on the right track.

To ease the problem for drivers, prices will be dropped. "If we run out of regular gasoline but have midgrade, we will sell the midgrade fuel for the regular price," she explained. "If we run out of midgrade but have premium, we will sell the premium for the midgrade price."

But Brown adds that drivers may have already seen the worst of the shortage, "The situation is already improving as several of [Mission's] trucks are back in service and our other carriers are delivering more loads of fuel to make up for the short-fall."

Mission Petroleum Carriers specializes in bulk commodity transportation across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives were not available for comment.

Valero operates 18 refineries with a capacity of 3.3 million barrels per day. It also operates a convenience store chain of more than 4,700 Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon stores.
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