LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order in the hopes of helping ease Nebraska's fuel shortages.

The order, which temporarily allows truck drivers to work extended hours hauling gasoline, diesel, fuel, oil, ethanol, and propane, took effect immediately and will remain in effect through the end of November.

The Governor noted that, in order for Nebraska to obtain fuel products, commercial motor vehicles are having to transport fuel longer distances and wait longer times at terminals. The order, he said, aims to make fuel more readily available to consumers by facilitating fuel transportation.

According to an Energy Information Administration released last month, the nation's supply of diesel fuel was at its lowest point since 2008.

The chief cause of this shortage is the cutoff of Russian oil imports. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. was importing nearly 700,000 barrels per day of petroleum products.

On top of this, normal seasonal demands, which increase as farmers harvest crops and citizens by fuel oil for winter, is exacerbating the problem.

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