Imagine that you are a truck driver who travels hundreds of kilometers a day and carries goods from one city to another under the scorching sun or in the middle of the night. After a long day of driving and concentration, you are looking for a safe place to stop your truck and rest a little, but unfortunately you do not find a suitable place. You are forced to stop on the roadside between other trucks in an unallocated or possibly dangerous place. This is not a fairy tale, but a reality experienced by thousands of drivers around the world every day.
Lack of truck parking has become a global problem that threatens drivers' safety, affects transport efficiency, and increases operating costs. With increasing demand for road transport, the crisis has become more severe than ever. In this article, we will review the dimensions of this problem, its causes, effects, and the most important possible solutions.
We'll show how companies like Derbek can play a role in improving the driver experience and providing smart and sustainable solutions for the future of transportation.
Analyzing and determining the magnitude of the problem: how many deficient positions are there?
According to a recent report from the Truck Parking Club, the shortage of truck parking costs the U.S. Transportation sector more than 100 billion dollars a year due to lost time and fuel spent searching for parking. Statistics show that there is only one legal parking lot available for every 11 truck drivers.
In Europe, a study by the European Transport Union indicates that there is a shortage of 400,000 safe parking spaces for trucks, causing drivers to resort to stopping in unsafe places or on the outskirts of highways.
In the Arab world, although accurate statistics are rare, many drivers suffer from the same problem, especially in industrial areas or near ports where trucks are crowded at night without regulation or supervision.
The shortage of dedicated parking spaces is not just a logistical problem, but a real crisis affecting human safety and economic efficiency.
What is the reason for the shortage of truck parking lots?
Before we talk about details and figures, it is important to understand that the problem of lack of parking did not arise suddenly, but has accumulated over years of rapid growth in the transport sector without adequate infrastructure planning. With the expansion of cities and the increase in demand for road transport, the number of trucks has doubled while the spaces allocated to stop them remain limited. This gap is what created the roots of the crisis. There are several factors that have contributed to the worsening of the truck parking crisis, Among these factors are the following:
- Traffic growth:
With the increase in e-commerce and the demand for fast shipping, the number of trucks on the roads has increased by more than 30% in the last decade, according to Fleetowner's report. Unfortunately, this growth has not been matched by a sufficient expansion of parking infrastructure.
- Hours of Service (Hours of Service) rules:
Laws that require drivers to rest after a certain number of driving hours have made the need for parking more urgent, but these laws have not been accompanied by an appropriate expansion of facilities.
- Higher land costs:
Establishing safe and equipped parking lots requires large areas and a huge financial investment. With the rise in land prices, some companies prefer to use spaces for more profitable commercial purposes.
- Poor coordination between the concerned authorities:
In many countries, there is no effective coordination between transport ministries, municipalities and the private sector to build integrated truck parks.
The above confirms that tired drivers are looking for a safe place in the middle of the night, but in the end they are forced to park randomly on the roadsides, increasing the risk of accidents.
How does the shortage affect drivers personally?
Before we go into the details of the realistic effects on drivers, it is useful to imagine their daily suffering in long trips that extend for hours without rest. Drivers who do not have a safe place to stop and experience physical and psychological stress are not felt by others. This daily suffering makes the lack of parking a humanitarian issue before it is logistical, and therefore affects their daily lives directly:
- Stress and fatigue:
A driver who does not find a suitable situation is forced to drive for extra hours in search of a place to rest, which increases his fatigue and reduces his concentration while driving. NHTSA studies show that fatigue is responsible for about 13% of truck accidents annually.
- Personal safety:
Stopping in non-designated places exposes the driver to the risk of theft or assault. In Europe, more than 8,500 incidents of theft of goods from trucks parked in unsafe places were recorded in 2023 only.
- Psychological stress:
The daily search for a situation that always causes tension. Imagine that every business trip ends with anxiety because there is no place to park safely.
- Extra costs:
Every minute a driver spends searching for a parking lot is wasted work time, and parking in illegal places may subject him to fines of up to hundreds of dollars.
How does the lack of attitudes affect companies and the supply chain?
Before we talk about the broad economic impact, it is important to realize that the parking crisis does not stop at the wheel limit, but penetrates the entire transport system, affecting supply chains and the efficiency of companies. Every minute a driver delays stopping or resting is a minute eliminated from delivery time and productivity. It does not stop with the driver, but extends to transport companies and global supply chains, This is through the following:
- Delayed shipments:
When the driver has no place to rest, they may have to stop at places far from the delivery location, resulting in delays in schedules.
- Increased operational costs:
Looking for parking means greater fuel consumption and an increase in paid working hours.
- Low productivity:
Every hour a driver spends looking for a parking lot is an hour he doesn't spend on transportation or delivery.
- High rates of leaving the profession:
Drivers who experience frequent parking problems lose enthusiasm and leave the field.
According to the ATA (American Trucking Association) report, difficulty finding parking is one of the top three reasons why drivers leave their jobs.
Real-life examples and experiences:
In the United States, a Trucking Research Study shows that the average number of parking spaces available at public rest stations is only 19 per location, a small figure compared to daily demand.
In Europe, a study issued by Bosch Secure Truck Parking stated that more than 90% of truck parking in the EU are unsafe, forcing drivers to sleep in unsafe conditions.
In some Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, initiatives have started to address the problem. The Saudi Ministry of Transport has launched programs to expand gas stations and logistics services on ways to include dedicated parking lots for trucks, as part of Vision 2030 to improve transport infrastructure.
How can we improve the situation and solve the problem of lack of truck parking?
Before we review practical solutions, we must realize that the truck parking crisis is not a problem that can be solved by a single decision or a limited project. Rather, it needs a comprehensive vision and cooperation between government agencies and the private sector.
The solutions are not only in building new spaces, but in smart thinking about how to manage these parking lots and ensure that they are actually in the service of drivers, Here are a number of solutions that help solve the problem of lack of truck parking:
- Investment in infrastructure:
The basic solution is to build new parking lots with integrated services that include security, showers, restaurants, and maintenance stations.
- Partnership between the public and private sectors:
Private companies can co-finance parking for a small fee, creating a sustainable economic model.
- Smart technologies:
Recently, there have been recent applications that help drivers find the nearest available parking lot such as: TruckSmart and ParkMyTruck, some of which allow pre-booking a place.
- Improving urban planning:
Municipalities should allocate sufficient space for trucks at ports and industrial areas to avoid random overcrowding.
- Awareness and training:
Raising drivers' awareness of the importance of pre-planning the trip and using modern technical tools.
What can a driver do today?
Before presenting the practical steps, it is important to remember that the driver is the most important link in the entire transportation system.
Even with government plans or smart solutions, driver awareness and management of their journey remains the most important factor in maintaining their safety and efficiency, Here are some practical tips that he can apply daily:
- Plan your trip in advance:
Use apps or maps to identify safe stops along the way.
- Collaborate with other drivers:
Share information about good situations through networking groups or forums.
- Avoid stopping in dangerous places:
Even if I have to drive an extra mile.
- Keep an eye on the time allocated for rest:
Do not exceed the legal driving hours for your safety.
The role of Darbek in supporting drivers:
In light of these challenges, Darbek is emerging as a reliable brand that seeks to support drivers and improve their daily experience on the road. While drivers face a lack of parking, Darbek is working on another equally important aspect: Providing safe and durable tires that reduce breakdowns during long trips.
- Trail tires are designed to withstand high temperatures and long driving hours without losing balance or grip.
- Obtaining the Saudi Quality Mark (SASO) means that it has passed performance and safety tests in the most difficult conditions.
- The company also offers a free consultation service that helps drivers choose the most appropriate tire depending on the type of road and the nature of the load.
In this way, Darbek does not only support drivers through a product, but also through a culture of safety and professionalism.
In conclusion...
The lack of truck parking is not a marginal problem. It is an issue that affects the lives of drivers, road safety and the safety of supply chains. It is a crisis that needs concerted efforts between governments, companies, and drivers themselves.
In order to provide adequate and safe parking, drivers must act carefully and rely on prior planning and reliable tires that withstand long distances and difficult conditions.
With Darbek tires, you can drive confidently wherever you are, knowing that the road benefit you is safe and that the tire that carries you is designed to withstand the most difficult conditions.
Train you... Because your path deserves the best.
