Fuels: TotalEnergies relaunches a long-disappeared profession

A surprising profession that young people have probably never known is making a strong comeback, thanks to TotalEnergies. In 2024, 300 pump attendants will in fact be on duty in some of the French energy company’s stations. An astonishing decision.

In fact, the latter have gradually left their place since the 1980s. They were replaced by cashiers in an annex building of the station or by machines. Enough to force drivers to refuel themselves.

However, the Covid pandemic has visibly pushed TotalEnergies to review its plans. The need for human contact takes precedence. This is why 100 pump attendants are already present in France. 200 will join them in 2024. Pierre-Emmanuel Bredin, director of the energy company’s France network, details Parisian :

“The Covid pandemic has exacerbated the need for proximity and contact between people. We said to ourselves that it was the right time to reverse the course of things and put more people back into the stations.”

Pump attendants to boost sales?

In the meantime, the stations that already have a pump attendant are visibly delighted. This is evidenced by a station in Drancy taken as an example by The Parisian. Online ratings have skyrocketed, to 4.1 stars out of five. Fuel sales follow the same trend.

An interesting subject, as profound changes are coming to gas stations. This goes hand in hand with the ban on thermal engines in favor of electric ones. Pierre-Emmanuel Bredin remains clear on this subject, since he aims for what is best:

“With the development of electric cars and the ban on the marketing of thermal engines in 2035, it is certain that our profession as a distributor will once again radically change. Our objective is to ensure that, whatever the type of fuel or energy sold, there are always employees in our stations to welcome and advise customers.”

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