Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein Logistics Association has called for more toilets to be installed at commercial and industrial areas for lorry drivers.
The Schleswig-Holstein Logistics Association says that although there are rest stops along the motorways, many truck drivers have had serious problems in commercial and industrial areas. The association has also said it is concerned by the amount of companies that no longer let the drivers use their sanitary facilities due to fears over coronavirus.
Thomas Rackow, managing director of the association, wants to see sanitary facilities at such locations become a legal requirement:
As a rule we are concentrating on commercial and industrial areas. An obligation to equip the parking lots with sanitary facilities for our industry could be organised.
Truck driver Dirk Niedner, who recently encountered a petrol station in Kiel with its toilets closed due to coronavirus, told ndr.de that too little attention is being paid to hygiene for truck drivers.
The association also claims there is a problem with lorry parking spaces along the motorways. It says there is a shortage of almost 400 spaces on the motorways in Schleswig-Holstein alone.
One solution the organisation believes can help in this regard is the introduction of a Germany-wide app. The app would allow logistics companies across the country to register if they have parking space available. Drivers from other companies could then find a place to park up, making it easier to observe rest times properly.
Photo credit: Anagoria / Wikimedia Commons
