Lorry parking Keep on trucking Louise Parfitt finds out more about the issues and risks facing lorry drivers in finding safe, secure parking and how the parking profession is offering its support R ecently, I attended a forum run by transport industry organisation Freight Link, where I learned among other things two mindblowing facts: The haulage sector needs an extra 11,000 parking spaces to meet demand More than 95m of cargo was stolen from lorries in 2020 alone. According to Mike Dawber, of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), this is not opportunist theft, but is carried out by organised criminal gangs. They understand drivers shifts, where carriers will stop, and police tactics and are very well organised, he says. Criminals see it as low risk and high reward. Lesley OBrien is president of Freight Link. She is passionate about safe and welcoming parking facilities because they play such an important role in the security and wellbeing of her drivers, vehicles and customers goods. But there isnt sufficient parking capacity, she says. Most lorry driving is done on the motorway network, but all too often when a driver pulls into a service area there is literally no space left. They then have to go on to the next services or find somewhere else to pull over which means they could go over the hours they are permitted to be driving, risking a fine or court appearance. As a DVSA earned recognition scheme operator,* OBrien has to send information from her drivers tachographs which record how many hours they have been on the road to the DVSA. If my drivers infringements go over a certain percentage, I have to report why this is happening and could face a penalty. But far more serious is that a tired driver is more likely to be involved in an accident. When asked why they didnt stop, they have to say it is because they had nowhere to park and drivers not being able to find parking happens an awful lot. If my drivers infringements go over a certain percentage, I have to report why this is happening and could face a penalty. But far more serious is that a tired driver is more likely to be involved in an accident Different standards OBriens company insists that its drivers use safe parking facilities. I need to look after my drivers, my equipment and my customers. If I keep having trailers being slashed and goods stolen, my reputation is going to go down and insurance premiums are going to go up and this can put you out of business. But herein lies another problem: not only are there not enough spaces available, but not all that are available offer safe, secure parking. There is a big difference between the standard of parking available, says Dawber, adding that 47 per cent of crime occurs in the early hours, which is usually when lorries are parked up. Cargo at rest is cargo at risk. In August 2020, the regulations governing driver hours were tightened up. Drivers must take their regular weekend rest, which is 45 hours, in a location that has gender-friendly parking facilities, says OBrien. But how would you like to spend your 38 britishparking.co.uk PN July 2021 pp38-41 Lorry parking.indd 38 25/06/2021 12:30