RHA: motorway driver facilities must improve

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has spoken out about what it called the ‘woefully poor’ state of the country’s motorway service areas (MSAs), and called for government support to improve the condition of roadside facilities.

In a recent edition of the BBC’s Breakfast programme, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said that the problem needed to become an election issue – and highlighted the negative impact of poor service area facilities on truck drivers.

“While others use the roads to get to work, for HGV drivers, the roads are their place of work and, like any employee, the conditions under which they work are of critical importance and they have the right to expect a good standard,” he said.

“The facilities provided at the vast majority of motorway service areas fall woefully short of what can even be considered to be an acceptable standard.”

Burnett added that in the context of the driver shortage, every issue with the potential to impact adversely on recruitment should be taken seriously.

“Who would want to take a job knowing that the basics, for example toilet facilities, are in a shocking state of repair? Professional drivers quite rightly object to filthy and ill-maintained washing and other hygiene facilities.

“This industry is heavily regulated and drivers, by law, have to take rest breaks. The current standard of facilities at many ‘official’ areas is so inadequate that parking in a layby is often a preferable option. This is unsafe for drivers, their vehicles and their loads.”

He concluded: “There can be no excuse for poor standards. We welcome the government plan to set up ‘design panels’ of architects and experts to look at the quality of MSAs. This must also include secure parking and facilities for HGV drivers. We will be pleased to work with them to bring about the change that is so desperately needed.”

The remarks are the latest in a series of concerns raised about the lack of adequate facilities for truck drivers on the road network, with the Freight Transport Association also recently citing the issue as a contributing factor to the driver shortage.