Dangerous truck parking

Truck drivers in Europe face a serious challenge when it comes to finding safe and secure truck parking areas for their vehicles. According to the International Road Transport Union IRU, there is a significant shortfall of 100,000 truck parking spaces in the European Union EU, compared to the total demand 1. What does it mean? many drivers have to park their trucks in non-secured parking zones or unsafe locations, such as hard shoulders, exposing themselves and other road users to potential thefts and a high risk of accidents.

Data source: Truck Parking Europe, Chart by: Piktochart

Europe sees the problem

The European Commission EC is aware of this problem and has taken several measures to improve the situation. One of them is the development of rest areas on motorways approximately every 100 km. That is a part of the revised 2013 TEN-T guidelines for the road transport infrastructure of the core network 2. These rest areas are supposed to provide appropriate parking spaces for commercial road users with an appropriate level of safety and security.

Digitalization means security

Another measure is the adoption of specifications for the exchange of data related to safe and secure parking areas, as part of the ITS Directive 2010/40/EU 3. These specifications aim to ensure EU-wide accessible information on the location, equipment, and facilities of existing parking areas. The important thing is as well as the possibility to book them in advance using for example mobile apps. is also managing a European Access Point for Truck Parking Data, which provides access to safe and secure truck parking data in DATEX II format 4.

Data source: Truck Parking Europe, Chart by: Piktochart

We need know-how

Will all those bright ideas solve the truck parking problem in the EU immediately? Not so fast. Current measures are not enough to solve the problem completely. There is still a need for more capacity, more transparency, and more standardization of security ratings for parking locations. The IRU has launched the European Truck Parking Award (ETPA) initiative, which aims to promote best practices and encourage parking operators to improve their services. The ETPA is based on a set of criteria that cover the security, comfort, convenience, and sustainability aspects of parking areas. The ETPA also provides a platform for drivers and planning managers to share their feedback and reviews on parking locations 5.

The ETPA is not the only initiative that seeks to address the truck parking problem in Europe. There are also other organizations and stakeholders that are working on this issue, such as Esporg 6 and TAPA 7, which provide security certification schemes for parking locations. Moreover, there are digital solutions that help drivers and managers find, book and review parking locations.

Data source: Truck Parking Europe, Chart by: Piktochart

It takes time

Ok then, we have truck parking, but is it a secure place to park? And why it should be secured? According to Trans Info, the theft of goods is becoming an increasingly serious problem in the European Union 8. A digital forwarder sennder.com describes that the visibility of shipments is crucial for customers from a business perspective 9. The need is also noticed by IRU. The IRU EU Advocacy Director Racula Marian said this second EU call for proposals for safe parking builds on last year’s call and is a unique opportunity for the sector. While we welcome much-needed financial support for the construction of new parking lots or the modernization of existing parking certain criteria must be closely inspected to ensure that the funds are put to the best possible use. For instance, the comprehensive infrastructure should be included in the scope of funding, the percentage of private funds required should be lowered, and an updated map of locations in need of secure truck parking must be created 10.

Present solutions

Worth adding that IRU provides a map of truck parking within the EU that can be used via PC 11 or as an app on mobile phone 12. Truck drivers can also rely on trans.eu in finding a free and safe truck parking spot via PC 14 and a mobile app 14 and truckparkingeurope.com 15. It works simply: an internet connection is needed and you put an origin and destination place of your trip. Then you see parking places on the road. You can also click on a parking location to see more details about that place. If you are a driver, you can use your smartphone to navigate. If you are a planner, you can use PC and send your driver the location of a parking to park there safely.

Will truck drivers be able to use all amenities and new parking next year? That is definitely too short a time to test, project, build and put them into use. Nevertheless, the EU and associate organizations have to be united, gather feedback from parking users and work on a common agreement that helps to solve our European problem.