Deliver promise on safe parking spaces for HGV drivers, Logistics UK urges government

Thursday 27 May 2021

In response to the launch today (27 May 2021) of Transport Focus’ 2020-2021 Logistics and Coach Survey: Strategic Roads, Michelle Gardner, Head of Public Policy at Logistics UK comments:  

“Logistics UK is pressing the Department for Transport (DfT) to take urgent action to tackle the nationwide shortage of parking spaces for HGV drivers; the findings of today’s report – that 56% of respondents rate the availability of spaces for lorries as fairly poor or very poor – reconfirms a desperate industry need. Three years ago, the government pledged to increase the availability of secure, safe parking spaces for lorry drivers – who work tirelessly to transport the goods the nation needs – but it has not yet delivered on its promise. With the industry already needing to fill 76,000 HGV driver vacancies, the parking shortage and resultant need, on occasion, for drivers to take legally mandated breaks in unsafe locations could discourage new entrants from joining the profession.” 

Ms Gardner continues: “Our members need government to listen carefully to the concerns of businesses shared in the report. The logistics industry needs an efficient and fully maintained road network, with plentiful supplies of good quality parking options, to operate effectively; this is vital to enable logistics businesses to support the economic recovery of UK PLC.”  

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.