Less than four in 10 lorry drivers are satisfied with the number of stopping places available in the UK, according to the Lorry Driver Facilities Survey by Transport Focus.
The survey also found that drivers often don’t feel welcome, safe or able to get a decent meal or proper rest. Transport Focus is now calling for better facilities for the country’s lorry drivers.
If services are unavailable or not up to standard, drivers are sometimes forced to park in lay-bys or industrial estates. These lack basic amenities like toilets and have little to no security. The transport watchdog surveyed over 7,000 lorry drivers and asked them about services at a third of all motorway services, A-road services and truck stops in England, revealing issues for the majority of drivers.
Transport Focus has called for improvement across four key areas: consistent quality of services, parking capacity, safety and security, and ensuring a welcoming environment. The survey also revealed that the top-ranked site was the Formula truck stop in Ellesmere Port, with a satisfaction rate of 99% among lorry drivers.
Alex Robertson, chief executive at Transport Focus, said: “Lorry drivers are crucial to the economy, transporting goods across the country to fill supermarket shelves and get medical supplies to hospitals.
“Our new research shows the scale of the problem that persists and that’s why we are bringing government and industry together to develop a long-term solution so we can keep our lorries, and the people who drive them, moving safely.”
The UK has a shortage of lorry drivers. Department for Transport statistics state that the vacancy gap in the trucking industry is currently at 24%.
Lillian Greenwood, future of roads minister, said: “Lorry drivers are the unsung heroes of our economy, and they deserve easily available parking, secure rest areas, and modern welfare facilities so that they can work and drive with confidence.
“That’s why the department and industry are investing up to £43.5m to upgrade truck stops all over the country, on top of £26m from National Highways and industry, and we will work closely with Transport Focus and the sector to continue improving working conditions for lorry drivers, supporting jobs, and getting us back to growth.”
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