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Truck parking provision ‘to improve’ after DfT decision
The government’s decision to allow full-service truckstops on motorways will drastically improve the availability of lorry parking, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
Responding to transport minister Mike Penning’s announcement this week that he would allow the development of truckstops on the UK’s motorway network, RHA infrastructure manager Chrys Rampley says: “His decision to allow full-service truckstops on motorways will attract the investment we need for a step-change in the availability of lorry parking on major routes.”
“This is good news for employers and their drivers. Mike Penning has delivered the most important policy development on truckstops for many years.”
Following last year’s roadside facilities consultation, Penning says he identified strong support for dedicated truckstop facilities, including motorway truckstops, from the industry and has therefore changed policy to reflect this.
Last September the Unite union called for more and better UK truckstops on behalf of its members. You can find a map of existing parking with our interactive truckstop feature.
Unite calls for better truckstop provision in UK
Union Unite has called on the industry to support its campaign to stop truckstop closures, improve standards at ones already in operation, and get new facilities built.
The union has set up an email hotline – truckstop@unitetheunion.org – so that drivers can send photos and information highlighting the problems they face.
Unite says it will use the information to lobby the government for improvements in truckstop provision.
According to the union, several of its member drivers have been keeping diaries of their experiences at truckstops around the country. These have drawn attention to problems including inflated parking charges, poor food and drink, dirty toilets and washing facilities, or truckstops closed during public holidays when drivers still require them.
Unite spokeswoman Karen Viquerat says: “Secure and affordable truckstops are vital for our haulage industry. The union knows it is what members want, and Unite says it is not much to ask.”
Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), says the organisation supports any initiative to improve facilities for truck drivers.
He adds: “The FTA is supporting two EC initiatives: Secure European Truck Parking Operational Services (SETPOS), which is a pilot project aimed at improving parking security; and LABEL, a project aimed at establishing a certification system for truck parking areas in Europe.
“We are also supporting the Department for Transport’s strategy to encourage the provision of lorry parks in England. Anything that can be done to improve the comfort, security and dignity of our drivers is most welcome.”
A spokesman for the Road Haulage Association says the organisation discussed truckstop provision at its meeting with transport minister Mike Penning last week.
“We are wanting more capacity and more security, especially at motorway service areas. The problems aren’t going to be resolved overnight, but I am optimistic that we will make progress,” says the spokesman.
Only 30% of lorry drivers use secure truckstops
Just three in 10 lorry drivers use secure truckstops, while just over half (54%) of haulage bosses demand employees use them, according to a driver survey by Logistics Security Network (LSN).
Only 30% of HGV drivers park overnight in truckstops in a survey of 318 drivers questioned by LSN, the freight crime-reduction initiative for Yorkshire and Humberside operated by the Business Crime Reduction Centre (part of the regional police charity People United Against Crime).
The Secure Parking Survey 2010, conducted between June and September 2010, also revealed 23% of drivers normally park in lay-bys, while 20% use industrial estates. And 46% of respondents say their employers do not operate a secure parking policy or actively encourage them to use truckstops.
Cost, security and good facilities are ranked as the most important factors for choosing a parking site and the average price considered to be fair for overnight parking was £13. However, many drivers claimed there are not enough reasonably priced truckstops and that there are not enough of them in the UK.
One driver told the survey: “How many of you would expect a noisy hotel with no facilities to wash, or no toilet, and then be expected to pay full price for it? In a truckstop you may get this and still have to worry all night about someone trying to rob your trailer contents.”
Another added: “Provision of reasonably priced, secure parking should be a legal requirement for all local councils.”
