The BTB-ABVV trade union says truck, bus and coach drivers across Belgium continue to face unsafe conditions, poor sanitation and a shortage of proper rest areas. Its latest study serves both as an appeal to policymakers and as a call for investment in driver welfare.
In 2025, professional drivers in Western Europe are still dealing with problems that should have been resolved years ago. Despite Belgium’s role as a major transport hub, conditions for drivers remain deeply concerning.
Based on visits to more than 50 truck parks in Belgium and abroad, and a survey of over 400 drivers, the BTB study identifies three persistent issues: lack of parking space, lack of security and lack of comfort.
Key findings:
- 80% of drivers do not feel safe in Belgian parking areas, where theft and crime are common.
- Toilets and showers are frequently dirty, broken or unavailable.
- Healthy, affordable food is scarce, forcing drivers to rely on expensive fast food.
- Shortages of parking spaces often force drivers to stop in unsafe or illegal locations, including emergency lanes.
- Digital tools, such as apps showing real-time parking availability, remain poorly developed compared to neighbouring countries.
“Our road heroes deserve better,” said Tom Peeters, BTB’s Federal Deputy Secretary for Road Transport.
Belgium trails the rest of Europe
BTB’s analysis, carried out as part of the European ESPORG initiative, shows that Belgian parking facilities fall far behind those in France, Denmark, Spain and Italy.
Examples of Europe’s best truck parks:
- Recharge City (Denmark) – 9.5/10
- Truck Arena Toulouse (France) – 9.5/10
- Truckparking Béziers (France) – 9.5/10
- Truckparking Delta Park (France) – 9/10
- Truckparking On Turtle La Jonquera (Spain) – 8.5/10
- Truckparking Andamur La Jonquera (Spain) – 8/10
These facilities offer modern sanitary installations, free Wi-Fi, hotels and restaurants with discounts for drivers. In Belgium, by contrast, the absence of basic amenities and security remains the norm.
“It’s time for the government to allocate billions from kilometre-charge revenues to infrastructure for the transport sector – not only for road maintenance, but also for parking facilities and basic amenities,” said Frank Moreels, BTB President.
Digitalisation – key to safer parking
Modern truck-park management in Europe already includes:
- real-time information on available spaces,
- reservation options,
- on-site security ratings, and
- digital signage along motorways.
In Belgium, however, most parking areas are still not connected to a central database. The lack of transparency adds stress for drivers and prevents efficient use of infrastructure. Only a few privately run truck parks offer booking systems, and these are often limited to selected clients.
BTB is calling for the creation of a nationwide digital platform linking all Belgian truck parks, operating with real-time data and compatible with EU-wide systems.
Action plan and policy proposals
The Blacklist sets out a number of concrete proposals, including:
- a federal master plan for HGV parking areas,
- SSPA certification for Belgian rest areas,
- provision of basic facilities at every site,
- a nationwide system showing parking availability, and
- access to nearby hotels to help drivers comply with EU driving and rest-time regulations.
“The Blacklist is not just a report – it’s a working document and a call to action for all levels of government,” emphasised Tom Peeters.
BTB stresses that without safe and comfortable rest areas, the road transport sector cannot function properly – and the entire European supply chain depends on it.
