New research from Transport Focus provides one of the most detailed examinations yet of the conditions faced by lorry drivers stopping in the UK — and many describe a network that is inconsistent, overstretched and increasingly unfit for purpose. Across three new reports, drivers speak of unsafe parking, malfunctioning CCTV, unusable showers, and night-time environments that feel threatening rather than restful. Several female drivers told researchers that colleagues had left the profession entirely because they could no longer find secure places to sleep.
The findings come from the 2024/25 Lorry Drivers’ Facilities Survey, supported by qualitative interviews with drivers and logistics operators. Together, they show a system that many say is deteriorating even as investment continues.
Dissatisfaction rising
The survey shows a marked shift in driver sentiment. Sixty-two per cent now feel dissatisfied with the quality of available stopping sites, up from 49% the previous year, while 61% say there are not enough suitable places to stop at all.
Transport Focus describes this as a widening “satisfaction gap”: individual sites may score well, but drivers’ overall experience of the network is worsening.
One operator interviewed in the study summarised the mood bluntly:
“Basic human dignity is lost in the UK… drivers are treated poorly.”
Many drivers echoed this perception, describing nightly struggles to find safe, clean facilities as one of the most stressful aspects of the job.
Women turning away
Safety concerns are particularly pronounced among female HGV drivers. Many avoid laybys entirely, even when approaching their legal driving limits, because the environments feel too isolated or poorly lit. Others reported planning their entire working day around reaching a trusted truck stop before nightfall.
One participant told researchers:
“I know three women who have left the industry because of the parking situation.”
Poor hygiene exacerbates the issue. Several women said they had skipped washing due to shower blocks being “too dirty to use” or feeling unsafe accessing them late at night.
Security breaking down
Security is the most important factor in whether drivers feel able to rest. When they believe their vehicle is secure, most report being able to sleep. When they do not, restful breaks become impossible.
Drivers frequently described situations where CCTV footage was unavailable after thefts, or where cameras appeared present but were not functioning. One driver described the situation as:
“Fake security, really. When something happens, they say the camera doesn’t work.”
These experiences align with broader industry concerns. Freight crime cost UK hauliers £111.5 million in 2024, a figure drivers directly link to the chronic shortage of secure, fully enclosed parking.
Truck stops shine, motorway service areas struggle
The reports draw a sharp distinction between facility types. Truck stops continue to outperform Motorway Service Areas (MSAs) across almost all key metrics, often scoring close to 100% for satisfaction. Drivers praised their stronger security, cleaner showers, better food and more welcoming environments.
In contrast, MSAs were frequently criticised for hygiene issues and poor design for HGVs. Drivers recounted arriving to find toilets without soap, no hot water, wet floors and showers in visibly poor condition.
“The toilet was absolutely disgusting… no hot water, no soap,” one driver said.
Another admitted: “I sometimes skip washing because the showers are so bad.”
Food options also remain a significant concern. Several drivers described spending large sums on basic meals simply because nothing else was available at night. “I spend £70 a week here,” one said. “It ought to be subsidised for lorry drivers.”
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Parking in crisis
Parking capacity remains one of the most pressing issues. Many sites reach capacity long before nightfall, leaving drivers to improvise in industrial estates, slip roads or unlit verges. These areas offer no security, lighting or facilities, but often become the only option to avoid breaching driving-hour regulations.
Drivers told researchers they had returned to their vehicles to find signs of attempted break-ins or had been forced to block other vehicles due to a lack of space. Operators note that these nightly struggles have a real impact on driver well-being:
“You’ll generally see a drop in their positivity… they don’t enjoy UK trips.”
The qualitative research adds important nuance. Drivers have developed highly strategic stopping routines, using experience, smartphone apps, online reviews and fallback locations to avoid sites they consider unsafe or unhygienic. Very few are directed by operators on where to stop; the responsibility — and risk — rests almost entirely with drivers themselves.
Insights from the AECOM-led operator research show the challenges extend beyond staffing or pricing. Many sites suffer from poor drainage, uneven surfaces, potholes and flood-prone parking areas, all of which reduce usable capacity and can damage vehicles.
Operators also highlighted issues with temporary capacity reductions during construction works, and the difficulty of expanding sites due to land constraints and planning restrictions. Even when upgrades are funded, these structural limitations slow visible progress.
Upgrades are underway, but slow to reach drivers
Around a third of the sites included in the survey are receiving or have received funding through the joint Department for Transport and National Highways programme, valued at up to £69.5 million. Planned improvements include upgraded CCTV, better lighting, expanded parking areas, refurbished showers and pilot schemes such as driver lounges and wellbeing spaces.
However, much of this work was still in progress when drivers were surveyed, meaning many had not yet seen the benefits on the ground.
An ageing workforce and a growing risk
The findings also highlight a looming demographic challenge. More than half of UK HGV drivers are aged between 50 and 65, while fewer than 2% are under 25. Poor facility standards — alongside safety fears and inconsistent experiences — risk accelerating retirements and discouraging new entrants.
For many drivers, the nightly struggle to find a clean, secure and affordable place to stop has become a defining feature of the job — one that shapes both their well-being and their long-term commitment to the industry.
As one driver put it:
“We are just a means to make money.”
