Road haulage accounts for 87% of freight transport in France, and the shortage of safe places for drivers to stop has been a long-running issue. The new facility is intended to improve drivers’ working conditions while also helping protect against cargo theft.
A new stop on a key freight route
The truck park was officially opened in early June in Saint-Hilaire-Cottes on the A26, one of the main corridors used by road transport in France.
Sanef says the location should make it easier for drivers to comply with driving and rest-time rules, while reducing the risk of cargo theft, break-ins and vandalism.
100 secure bays plus driver amenities
The new site provides 100 secure bays for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
It includes 24/7 monitoring, expanded CCTV coverage and on-site security. Driver amenities include a rest area with TV and Wi‑Fi, laundry facilities, toilets and vending machines.
Picnic areas have also been set up, and the first 30 minutes of parking is free.
The facility is operated by Certas Energy, which specialises in managing secure parking for trucks.
A project worth €8.5m
Sanef fully funded the build, with total investment of €8.5m.
The new car park is part of a broader programme to expand HGV infrastructure across the Sanef and Sapn networks, which currently provide more than 6,000 truck parking spaces.
More capacity planned by 2028
The operator says further projects are planned. By 2028, its network is expected to gain 800 additional parking spaces, including 224 secure bays.
More than €45m has been allocated for the 2024–2028 programme. The funding is intended to expand parking infrastructure, improve drivers’ working conditions and strengthen cargo security.
With tighter rules on drivers’ working time and the continued threat of theft, expanding secure truck parking remains a priority for Europe’s transport infrastructure.
