Co liczy się jako "bezpieczny parking dla ciężarówek"? Kierowcy zabierają głos

From general driver unhappiness to the recent driver CPC changes to delays to the , 2024 has been a whirlwind for the logistics industry. And there’s plenty on the horizon for 2025 – here we explore the trends expected to shape the sector. It's anticipated that automation will play a key role in the year ahead. There will be developments in autonomous vehicle technology, transportation management systems, and electronic logging devices – resulting in more adoption and considerable changes within the industry. Plus, an increase in for , predictive maintenance, and fleet management is on the cards. This will trigger better results such as improved operational efficiency and reduced costs. The Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning will be particularly valuable, being utilised to foresee equipment malfunctions, which will curtail downtime. On a similar note, telematics will share valuable live data related to vehicle performance, driver behaviour, and cargo status – leading to better safety and compliance. Attracting more female truckers is a way to deal with the . Employers could provide a wider range of roles, introduce training programmes and policies that would benefit women, and make the working environment more inclusive. With the latter, ideas include mentoring or working patterns that better suit the lives of truckers (like day shifts and covering circular routes to support those with family commitments). However, discussion on the revealed both male and female drivers need change. While some pointed out that certain things could be better for women (for instance, one remarked that 90% of depot facilities don’t have sanitary bins), there were many comments about the overall employee package and truck stop amenities: And so, companies should look at how to entice and retain their entire workforce. They may offer better compensation, working conditions, and opportunities for development. Likewise, they can implement training to ensure people have all the right capabilities – for now and the future. Another core focus will be – especially due to increasingly stricter environmental laws, the move towards net zero, and skyrocketing fuel prices. Alternate fuel vehicles didn’t meet expectations in 2024, so it’s anticipated that while innovation in this area will still happen, there will be more of a shift towards focusing on how fleets can boost operational efficiency (for example, by using technology, data, and AI to reduce wasted time). Companies will also look to build greener supply chains by working with more eco-friendly suppliers and carriers. Similarly, the move to electric trucks is on the rise – there will be more of a rollout of EV charge points in truck parks this year. However, fleet companies face barriers such as substantial upfront costs and an insufficient amount of charging infrastructure. Lastly, there’s a predicted surge in air and ocean cargo, which will have a knock-on effect on the trucking industry. This is only heightened by global supply chains becoming more and more interconnected. As a result, there will be a rise in long-distance freight – making it even more important that drivers have adequate breaks at safe truck stops. And this is where can help. Our has over , including in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Romania. We help make fleet management simple and ensure both operators and truckers can adhere to in 2025 and beyond. To learn more, get in touch with our team on +44 (0)1603 777242.

A from independent watchdog, Transport Focus, found that nearly half of lorry drivers aren’t satisfied with the amount and quality of truck stops in England. They feel the latter has deteriorated in the last year too. Here at SNAP, we have a network of offering superior services (in fact, we’ll soon be launching our own awards celebrating the best truck stops!). So, if there are plenty of great ones out there, it begs the question: why are drivers so unhappy? First, let’s take a look at what they’re not content with. Drivers are saying they don’t feel welcome and safe at every stop. On top of this, they’re unable to properly rest or enjoy a good meal. Some of the feedback included that there’s not always available or clean showers and toilets. A female driver also commented that there isn’t a shower in the women’s bathroom – meaning she had no choice but to go into the men’s to wash. However, it’s important to point out the statistics are from those who opted to take their breaks at these rest stops, so there is likely some level of fulfilment. What’s more, the survey only asked drivers about their experience at a third of the total number of truck stops, motorway services, and those on A roads in England. Plus, there were many truck parks achieving satisfactory scores of at least 95%, with overall contentment at 86%. So, perhaps the problem isn’t as big as it seems. Though, the industry certainly can’t ignore it – especially given what our findings uncovered. We found that 70% of drivers chose lay-bys over service stations or truck stops, with a key reason being insufficient security. For instance, they’ve experienced the likes of having their curtains cut previously. Though, it’s worth noting that in 2023, Cambridgeshire police reported , compared to 27% at service stations – which suggests maybe drivers are putting their worry in the wrong place. On our social media pages, over half of lorry drivers revealed that they thought the UK’s rest stops weren’t safe and secure in comparison to those in Europe. And for spaces that do have a higher level of protection, 70% have seen these full by the early evening. Although this implies there’s an insufficient amount to meet demand, many of our sites have fantastic security. So, for those that don’t, they should consider how to improve this. We provide a variety of services to better the experience all round – including our industry-leading security packages via SNAP Access & Security. From and to , we ensure the best protection for truck stops and therefore drivers and all cargo. You can learn more about , or discover our other services (like parking and washing) .

Scheduled to launch in November but delayed due to concerns, the EU will introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area requiring anyone with a UK passport to register biometric details such as fingerprints or a photo. EES will replace manually stamping passports when visitors enter the EU. We've collated everything you'll need to know ahead of the change.Any country using the EES will require the following information from travellers:• Place of entry and exit• Date of entry and exit• Travel documents.The EES has the following benefits:• It modernises the management of the EU's external borders improving the experience for those travelling. • The EES combats identity fraud by collecting biometric data.• It can identify overstayers and reliably provides data on entries, exits, and refusals. • Improved border checks, electronic records, and biometric data will strengthen the security within the EU.• It provides real-time information sharing allowing border authorities across the EU to see the correct information at the right time. In the long term, the new EES will streamline operations and benefit non-EU travellers. However, there are several concerns surrounding the new system:• At least three EU countries are not fully prepared for the launch.• Several countries may not be able to introduce the advanced biometric system.• No proper testing of the system occurred at the Port of Dover one of the UK's busiest crossings.• The initial launch could cause increased delays at border checkpoints. Further delays to the official launch of the EES could eradicate several of these concerns. UK HGV operators have expressed concerns regarding the 90 days out of 180 Schengen travel limit maintaining regular business operations within the EU could be challenging. Fleet companies with non-EU drivers could face travel restrictions or fines if the limit is exceeded. There isn't much that fleets and drivers can do to prepare for the new system most of it will occur in person at the port. However, fleets and drivers can take the following measures to ensure a smooth transition:• When booking travel, ensure you have all the information required before travelling to the port. • Know what to expect when you arrive practical differences mean the process will vary in different places. • Allow enough time to complete pre-travel formalities especially if you are travelling close to the start date.The following countries will be using the EES:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.There are several exemptions to the new EES:• Nationals of the countries using the EES (Including Cyprus and Ireland).• Non-EU nationals immediately related to an EU citizen. They must hold a residence card.• Any non-EU national who holds a residence card or permit immediately related to a non-EU national can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen. • Citizens with a residence permit or long-stay visa. • Nationals of Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino.• People with a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See.• Anyone exempt from border checks (such as heads of state or cross-border workers)• Citizens holding a valid local border traffic permit.• Crew of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys. • Anyone not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points during fixed opening hours.If you fail to provide the required personal information, you will be denied entry to EU countries using the EES. For fleet companies, this could result in a loss of income if their drivers do not provide the relevant information.Both biometric and non-biometric passports are accepted under the new EES. Automated systems to cross the border require a biometric passport.