A 2023 report from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management reveals a deficit of 4,400 truck parking spaces across the Netherlands. This shortage is forcing drivers to park in unsafe locations, compromising their safety and the security of their cargo.
“Everyone who drives on the motorway sees every day that the parking spaces are full,” said Elisabeth Post, chair of TLN’s board. “Drivers who want and need to rest professionally often do so in dangerous places out of necessity.”
Legally mandated rest periods require truck drivers to regularly find suitable parking, but the current infrastructure makes this increasingly difficult. Illegally parked trucks not only create personal risks for drivers but can also generate dangerous situations for other road users.
TLN, along with unions CNV and FNV, is calling on the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management to address the parking space shortage. The organisations propose a more comprehensive approach to spatial planning, such as incorporating truck parking facilities when developing new industrial estates and utilising existing industrial sites during off-peak hours.
“The least we can do for drivers who supply our shops, deliver materials for housing construction, and keep our economy going is offer them a good, clean, and safe place to rest,” Post emphasised.
As part of their campaign, TLN will hand over a poster titled ‘Make Room for Drivers’ to the Director-General of Mobility at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, showcasing an ideal parking facility at Maasvlakte Plaza Truckparking.