The Ashford International Truckstop is not only the largest heavy truck stop in Europe, but it will also be secure; It has a security barrier, a 7-foot-tall security fence with razor wire, a motion-sensitive LED floodlight, as well as an infrared-lit parking area, motion-sensitive surveillance cameras, and security patrols.
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The truck stop and all its facilities must be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Besides showers and toilets, the complex has washing machines and dryers, a restaurant, gym, lounge and TV area, and will soon offer accommodation.
The truck stop was scheduled to open on November 1, but due to supply chain issues in sourcing materials, the opening dates were postponed. Truck drivers can start using the facility from Monday 6 December.
There are only a few days left until the Industry Open Day!
The whole team looks forward to showing you the new facilities and we look forward to seeing you there!
🚛 Industry – Friday, December 3
👪 General – Saturday, December 4th
😃 Client – Monday, December 6 pic.twitter.com/HVgWXI3zot— Ashford Truck Stop (@AITruckStop1) November 29, 2021
Poor and inadequate truck parking and driver safety are a major cause of the driver shortage
The most recent official data on the number of lorry parking spaces in the UK comes from 2018, when the Department for Transport identified a national deficit of around 3,700 lorry parking spaces. The lack of truck parking means that drivers often end up sleeping in industrial areas and areas.
Duncan Buchanan, policy director at the Road Haulage Association, said the life of a lorry driver could be “very difficult”, and said the industry had been calling for more parks for years without success.
“We’re asking drivers to sleep on the sidelines, without food or hot water. Many end up becoming victims of crime. These are the things that really stop people from joining the industry, and they need to be solved,” Buchanan said when the driver shortage was discussed.
The government announced in September that “luxury” truck parks would be built to make the profession of heavy truck drivers more attractive to young people. Also in October, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps asked for £50 million from the Treasury to improve lorry parks across the country, making a career as a driver more attractive.