The transport watchdog has called for improved facilities for lorry drivers after a survey revealed that drivers often don't feel welcome, safe or able to get a decent meal or proper rest.
Fewer than four in 10 lorry drivers said they were satisfied with the number of stopping places available in the UK.
When no services are available, drivers can be forced to park in laybys or industrial estates, which lack basic amenities like toilets and have little to no security.
The new survey of more than 7,000 lorry drivers was carried out by transport watchdog Transport Focus and coincided with National Lorry Week, which recognises the vital role of lorry drivers and the people and organisations out on the nation’s roads.
The Lorry Driver Facilities Survey spoke to lorry drivers about their experience at a third of all motorway services, A road services and truck stops in England. The remaining sites will be included in the next two years of the survey.
Transport Focus is calling for four key areas to be addressed:
- Better and consistent quality of services - work must be done to drive up standards and ensure consistent quality of facilities across sites.
- Parking capacity that meets demand - there should be a sustained focus on increasing parking capacity and lorry driver facilities in the right places to ensure that availability meets the growing demand.
- Safety and security for drivers and vehicles - standards must be improved, particularly at sites where there are security concerns, so that drivers and loads are safe and feel safe.
- Providing a welcoming environment - the approach of some services, which leaves lorry drivers feeling less valued than other customers, must be challenged.
Chief executive Alex Robertson said: 'Lorry drivers are crucial to the economy, transporting goods across the country to fill supermarkets 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.'
Future of roads minister Lillian Greenwood 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 truckstops 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.'
Michelle Gardner, deputy policy director at Logistics UK said: 'Transport Focus’ survey demonstrates just how urgent the need for better facilities is for our industry.
'We are working hard to attract new recruits, particularly younger and more diverse candidates, but we are being let down by a nationwide lack of suitable rest facilities. It is vital that the government and private sector prioritises this issue and provides the facilities that our workforce deserves.'
According to Department for Transport statistics, the vacancy gap in the trucking industry currently sits at 24%.
Of the sites in this year’s survey, the Formula truck stop in Ellesmere Port was the best rated site by lorry drivers with 99% of lorry drivers satisfied, highlighting the good practice within the sector and a benchmark for improvement.
