The importance of secure parking
Safety on the road
It’s a no-brainer that well-rested drivers are important for general road safety. While truck drivers are used to driving long distances without stopping, they still need short and long breaks. There are rules and regulations regarding driving and resting times to ensure a safe working environment for truck drivers and other road users. For example, truck drivers in the European Union can drive 9 to 10 hours a day, with a maximum of 4,5 hours in one go. They can drive a maximum of 56 hours per week and 90 hours per two weeks. These regulations requiring mandatory rests were set to prevent drowsy driving. Needless to mention, tiredness can have terrible negative consequences for the driver and all other road-users.
Safety while parked
Truck drivers must also be safe when they park their vehicles to take their well-deserved (and obligatory) breaks. The same goes for their trucks and their cargo. You can sometimes see trucks parked on the side of the road or in the emergency lane when a ‘highway rest stop’ is full. Doing this, there is always a danger of another vehicle hitting the parked vehicle, so parking on the roadside is not safe. Trucks should be parked at parking suitable for trucks, preferably a parking area dedicated to trucks. When regular cars and trucks are mixed, chances are higher of unsafe situations. But safety alone is not enough. Good truck parking should also be secure.
Security while parked
Whether your trucks carry valuable cargo or not, you don’t want criminals breaking and entering your trailer to try and steal cargo or even worse, steal the whole truck. It creates an unsafe situation for the driver. Even if nothing is stolen, there is a risk of cargo being damaged, and specific seals on the container may have been broken, causing delays at customs. This not only poses a risk and highly insecure situations to everyone involved but also issues or delays if stowaways are found in your truck.
Safe and Secure Parking Facilities for Peace of Mind
Security measures that one can find at a secure parking location are a fence, lighting, cameras, and gated access. To make things more comfortable, driver facilities are also essential. These can vary from simple and clean toilets and showers to facilities like a restaurant, a gym, a game room, or sleeping pods where drivers can take their well-deserved rest. Since finding new drivers is so challenging, it is essential that you make sure the drivers you have are happy. Making sure that they feel safe and secure while on the road is a crucial part of that.
