No "basic human needs" for layby lorry drivers, says Rutland logistics boss
Thousands of drivers are still being forced to sleep on the side of motorways
Some lorry drivers at a Rutland-based logistics firm are being left without access to "basic human needs" when they're forced to stop in lay-bys.
According to new Press Association (PA) analysis of a government-commissioned report, a severe shortage in designated lorry parks is still causing drivers to find alternative places to rest.
Managing director of C.S Ellis Group, Steve Gray, says it's not helping the current HGV driver shortage in the UK:
'It's been a contributing factor as to why people have left the industry and it's a barrier to entry as well. It's a basic human need and, as you can imagine, at the end of the day you'll have been driving for 15 hours on some occasions.'
'Like anyone at the end of their shift, we want to go home and put our feet up, rest, have a hot meal, access to running water, and then a good night's sleep. That's something which a lot of people don't realise - imagine trying to get a good night's sleep at the side of a busy motorway.'
'There are times where our own drivers are having to stop in lay-bys or service stations where, fundamentally, there are either no facilities available or the level of facilities available to the driver are just woefully inadequate.'
A haulage hotspot
Consultancy firm Aecom was asked by the Department for Transport (DfT) to study overnight lorry parking within five kilometres (3.1 miles) of motorways and major A roads in England.
Research conducted in March recorded an average of 21,234 parked lorries each night, which is 4,473 more than the capacity of secure car parks (16,761).
That means truck stops and motorway service stations in England do not have space for more than one-fifth of the lorries parking overnight near major roads.
That's particularly the case in the East Midlands, where 92% of dedicated parking spaces are filled to capacity every night - the third highest figure behind the East of England (95%) and the South-East (94%).
Mr Gray said the Midlands, Stamford and Rutland, are a 'hotbed for logistics' - and wants the Government to do more to implement better facilities:
'It's a workplace health and safety regulation that states it's the responsibility to provide suitable and efficient washing facilities, but a large percentage of places that they (drivers) visit don't meet those requirements.'
Last year the Government pledged to tackle the issue, and in April 2022 announced £20m would be set aside to improve the quality of existing facilities and to explore measures for increased parking.