Drivers have spoken of the chaotic scenes caused by hundreds of motorists scrambling to get petrol amid panic buying.
People heading for the pumps caused traffic problems across Colchester, Clacton and Harwich on Friday.
The rush to get petrol sparked long queues across the areas with many people left stuck in standstill traffic.
While no petrol stations said they were facing fuel shortages concerns over a lack of lorry drivers and deliveries lead to motorists filling up.
Read more >> 'It’s chaos and crazy' - pictures show long queues at petrol stations in north Essex
There were queues leading up to Highwoods Tesco along Highwoods Approach and onto Ipswich Road.
Staff at the petrol station tried to help direct cars near the petrol station to try and keep traffic moving.
Arriva Essex said it had to stop serving stops on Derwent Road due to the long tailbacks caused.
One resident who tried to fill up in Clacton said: "There is standstill traffic at pretty much every petrol station in Clacton.
"It took about 30 minutes to get petrol It’s chaos and crazy."
Read more >> LIVE: Updates as huge queues form at petrol stations across Essex
On Twitter Colchester Council Adam Fox said: “Government telling people not to panic but queues forming at petrol stations all over Colchester. Reports some petrol stations are completely out of fuel already.”
Nikki Smith said: “I genuinely have no petrol in my car. Hands up, I am one of those drivers who is constantly on empty.
“I couldn’t get near a petrol station today and if I did it was because they had run out!! Absolute madness.”
Stu Brewer added: “They did say get fuel like you would normally but everyone is panic buying same as they did in the shops for food... this is why there is a fuel shortage because everyone is filling up to full and the fuel isn't coming in fast enough atm.”
The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday that motorists should “carry on as normal”.
It comes as ministers faced fresh pressure to ease immigration rules as an emergency measure to attract HGV drivers from overseas amid warnings that 100,000 more were needed across the industry.
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