The Road Haulage Association (RHA) handed a petition to No 10 Downing Street on 25 April calling for more safe and secure parking for truck and coach drivers.

 Dozens of MPs have added their voices to the campaign which is urging ministers to help improve roadside facilities.

Parliamentarians have signed an open letter co-ordinated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Road Freight and Logistics, who say improved facilities should be central to the government’s plans to recruit, train and support commercial vehicle drivers.

The MPs joined over 20,000 signatories, including truck drivers, on an RHA petition pressing the government to do more to tackle the poor standards commercial vehicle drivers experience at service stations and truck stops. 

The RHA is also pushing for more safe and secure parking and estimate there is a need for another 11,000 spaces across the country. 
 
Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director said, “We’re delighted with the support we’re getting from parliamentarians, businesses, people in our industry and the public for our campaigning to secure better driver facilities on our roads.”

“Commercial vehicle drivers are vital to our economy so better food, toilets, showers and somewhere safe and secure to sleep are the very least they deserve.”

“We’d like to thank the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and thousands in our industry for backing our campaign as we press the government to help us kick-start a new culture for drivers to feel safer and more respected.”
  
Greg Smith MP, Chairman of the APPG on Road Freight and Logistics added, “A key element of the issues around driver recruitment and retention is the poor state of our roadside facilities. It is imperative the UK ups its game, ensuring drivers have safe, secure, comfortable, and affordable options that they know they can rely on.” 

Firms, including service station giant Moto, have also signed up to the campaign.

 
Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto Hospitality said, “Moto are absolutely delighted to support this campaign. We have believed for a long time that the UK’s unsung heroes have been the HGV drivers and they deserve, given the challenges of their role, good, secure conditions where they can rest, eat, sleep and shower. That’s not too much to ask, but sadly they are very wanting at the moment in many parts of the UK and we all have to do more.” 

Photo: Greg Smith MP, Chairman of the APPG on Road Freight and Logistics, outside No 10 Downing Street in April.