SNAP, who provide a well-known smart parking payment system used throughout the UK and Europe, has said that a majority of lorry drivers who responded to its “social listening” campaign are less likely to park in a truck stop or motorway services than a lay-by.
The company says it had called on the drivers following its social media profiles to share any dangerous or worrying moments they had experienced whilst parking in a lay-by.
The resulting feedback, based on the opinions of over 400 drivers, then revealed that 70% of respondents were less inclined to park at service stations or truck stops. According to SNAP, a lack of security was their sole reason for this, with many often opting for a lay-by instead.
“I only park in lay-bys or industrial estates. I have had my curtains cut when parking in services/truck stops. I refuse to pay for parking that is not properly secure,” responded one driver, in a comment SNAP cited as being representative of its research.
Another trucker responded:
“Truck stops and service areas cost, and there is still a risk if they do not provide a security service.”
It’s not just drivers coming to this conclusion either, notes SNAP. The company says that 30% of respondents had stated their fleet companies were unwilling to pay for truck stops or service stations.
One driver commenting on the situation told SNAP: “Less and less companies, unfortunately, are paying for overnight parking. Facilities remain open by the skin of their teeth, cutting staff to meet bills and less parking coming in.”
Unsurprisingly, another issue SNAP picked up on in its research was the limited lorry parking capacity in the UK. A whopping 70% of drivers stated that secure truck stops nearby them are at maximum capacity by the early evening.
One trucker told SNAP: “You can tell which stops have security because they are full by 6 pm.”
SNAP also asked truckers to compare facilities in the UK compared to those on mainland Europe. A noticeable majority (59%) said that they were of the opinion that the UK lacks sufficient safe and secure truck stops compared to Europe.
Additionally, in its press release, SNAP cites data showing the disparity in quality between truck parking in the UK and mainland Europe – specifically when it comes to security. Using the TAPA security recognition as a reference point, SNAP notes that many locations across Europe hold Level 1, 2, or 3 certifications.
However, the UK has just two locations carrying such certification; Formula Services and The Red Lion, both of which carry a Level 3 certification.
Figures referred to by SNAP show that more secure parking can’t come soon enough. In 2023, Cambridgeshire police alone reported a 380% rise in cargo crime from June to July. 46% of this occurred in streets or lay-bys, with 24% occuring at service stations.
A 2022 report by Transport Focus also noted increased theft as being one of the main reasons why lorry drivers’ experience at service stations had gotten worse. Moreover, just one in five of the lorry drivers interviewed were satisfied with the quality and quantity of facilities available to them in the UK, with over half actively dissatisfied.
Commenting on SNAP’s research, Matthew Bellamy, Managing Director at SNAP, said:
“We have received a lot of invaluable feedback from drivers regarding the safety and security of service stations and truck stops across the UK. It has highlighted the huge amount of work that still needs to be done to improve the quality of truck parking.”
Bellamy added:
“With a growing network of truck stops and MSAs adopting SNAP Account across the UK and Europe, we must ensure drivers and their cargo are kept safe. We understand the work that needs to be done and will continue to work with service providers to improve their offerings.”
Besides its smart payments service, SNAP is also in the business of improving security levels at lorry parks. Back in November, Myra McPartlin, Head of Commercial at SNAP, told trans.iNFO that many facilities in the UK still lack the basics:
“It’s the basics, it’s exactly what you think it would be. Good lighting, CCTV, detection and strong access control. Also, fencing around the perimeter is absolutely crucial.”
McPartlin added that technologies like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) are becoming increasingly popular too. SNAP has installed such a system at the La Londonienne lorry park near Calais, which has achieved a gold-level security certificate from ESPORG and a TAPA PPO.
Other security technologies that McPartlin believes can be effective, particularly in risk areas, are night vision and thermal cameras.