IRU has reiterated the urgent need for more safe and secure parking areas at a conference in the European Parliament. The debate was followed by the Excellence in Truck Parking award ceremony. The winners are located in France and Spain.
At the yearly conference organised by the European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG), IRU reemphasised that there continues to be a severe lack of safe and secure parking areas.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian, who joined a panel of industry experts, said, “Despite some positive signs in terms of EU funding allocation, much more needs to be done to create a network of safe and secure truck parking areas across the EU. Member States, regional and local authorities do not consider our drivers’ working conditions, their safety and security as a priority. We hope that additional funding will be made available in the next five years.”
“The recently agreed TEN-T Regulation has set binding targets for Member States to ensure the development of safe and secure trucking parking areas every 150km, but the 2040 deadline is far too late,” she added.
A lack of safe and secure parking areas also contributes to cargo crime. EU countries such as France, Germany and Sweden continue to feature in the list of countries facing major cargo crime and theft, according to the Transported Asset Protection Association. Theft of high-value goods result in millions in losses for transport companies every year.
European truck parking award
The conference concluded with the third edition of the “Excellence in Truck Parking” award ceremony. The initiative aims to promote excellence and spread good practices to improve parking facilities’ safety, security and amenities.
The winner of this year’s award for the category of large parking areas (above 50 places) is the “DELTA PARK” parking facility, located in northern France, close to the French-Belgian border.
The jury also awarded the “On Turtle La Jonquera” parking facility, located in Spain, as the best small parking area (up to 50 places), for the second year in a row.
Raluca Marian said, “IRU is proud to have been on the international jury for a third time and contribute to this year’s Excellence in Truck Parking award.”
“We strongly favour highlighting excellence in the road transport sector, especially when it contributes to the well-being of drivers and helps to attract new truck drivers by improving the image of the profession,” she concluded.