Scale of truck driver dissatisfaction with facilities revealed

Drivers say they often do not feel welcome, safe or able to get a decent meal or a proper rest, according to a new survey from Transport Focus.

The independent watchdog’s new Lorry Driver Facilities Survey surveyed more than 7,000 lorry drivers about their experience at a third of all motorway services, ‘A’ road services and truck stops in England.

Less 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.

It is a major issue for the sector when the UK driver shortage remains a significant challenge. According to Department for Transport (DfT) statistics, the vacancy gap currently sits at 24%, with the situation likely to worsen as a significant portion of the workforce approaches retirement. Women, meanwhile, account for just 2% of all drivers, representing an untapped potential workforce. 

Alex Robertson, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Lorry drivers are crucial to the economy, transporting goods across the country to fill supermarkets shelves and get medical supplies to hospitals. 

“Many of us take for granted our ability to use the toilet, make a hot drink and get a proper rest when we need to. But for lorry drivers, these basic needs often aren’t being met.

“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.”

Of the sites in this year’s survey Formula truck stop in Ellesmere Port was the best rated site by lorry drivers with 99% of drivers satisfied, highlighting the good practice within the sector and a benchmark for improvement. 

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 (for Transport) and industry are investing up to £43.5 million 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.”

Transport Focus is calling for work to be done to drive up standards and ensure consistent quality of facilities across sites, with a sustained focus on increasing parking capacity and lorry driver facilities in the right places to ensure that availability meets the growing demand.

It also says that standards must be improved, particularly at sites where there are security concerns, so that drivers and loads are safe and feel safe.

Furthermore, the approach of some services, which leaves lorry drivers feeling less valued than other customers, must be challenged.

The survey results come ahead of a roundtable next year, hosted by Transport Focus, which will gather Government, truck stop owners, motorway service operators, trade associations and the wider roads industry to develop a long-term solution to keep lorries, and the people who drive them, moving safely.

Michelle Gardner, deputy policy director at Logistics UK, said: “Just like other workers in the economy, drivers deserve to have access to safe, secure and clean facilities to take mandatory rests and to look after basic human needs, with space to provide them with the rest they are legally entitled to, when they need it.

“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.”

The launch of the survey comes at the start of National Lorry Week, which recognises the vital role of lorry drivers and the importance of the people and organisations out on the nation’s roads.

Ashton Cull, policy manager at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: “We’re proud to hold our 10th National Lorry Week campaign once again celebrating our industry and its people, and the critical role they play in driving the economy.

“Transport Focus’s survey highlights the very real challenges lorry drivers face day in day out when trying to take a break and do their jobs safely. We look forward to working with Transport Focus and the wider sector on solutions to improve our roadside facilities for the better.”