Security, services and advance booking, the 3 requirements that define a good truck park
Overnight parking spaces for trucks are in short supply in Europe, a known shortfall that worsens when looking for certified parking areas. This is corroborated by the 2019 European Union study, which estimated that there is a shortage of 100,000 places. In 2022, the European body began to lay the groundwork for changing this long-standing demand from the sector, although there is still a long way to go. And, in this regard, governments are urged to draw up and present a plan for the improvement and construction of new certified safe parking areas throughout the European road network.
What is the best parking for trucks like today? There are three key features that define it: security, services and ease of use.
When is a truck park considered safe?
It seems obvious but not all of them are. A truck parking area can be considered safe when it complies with the Standards for Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs), the minimum standards required by the European Union. This requires fenced areas, with 24-hour surveillance and qualified personnel capable of responding to any incident.
There are different degrees of security guaranteed by the certifications of entities such as the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) or the European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG). These are usually visible and guarantee that the facilities are designed so that the truck driver can enjoy their rest with greater peace of mind, without fearing for the goods they are transporting. On this map, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda marks the main safe car parks in Spain.
Among them is our truck park in La Jonquera, one of the five car parks certified by ESPORG and the only one in Spain with TAPA Level 2. With facilities that are constantly being updated, the La Jonquera service area has become our Strategic Customer Service Centre en route through Europe to guarantee comprehensive coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Which brings us to the next point: services.
The benefits of selecting a carrier-friendly service area
It is not only about parking, but also about enjoying the maximum possible comfort during your rest. Hauliers, after a long road journey, require facilities that meet their daily needs, such as toilets, showers, laundry, wifi, a shop, supermarket, restaurant or even a hotel. For all these reasons: Yes, services matter too.
There are also areas oriented to professional transport that go further, including in their portfolio other logistic services that the professional driver may require for his vehicle or even for the cargo.
At our Jonquera-Pont de Molins Translogistic Centre, for example, in addition to a secure car park with 400 parking spaces for trucks, drivers have access to services such as awning and tyre repairs, truck washing, freight exchange or service station. Crossdocking, or the use of Terber, is also available for more efficient road transport.
Schedule the route: pre-book to secure parking
We are aware that it is not always a question of having a well-equipped service area on your route, but that what it offers is available. That’s why OnTurtle has an agreement with SNAP, a platform that enables you to reserve and pay for a parking space in our international secure parking network. In this case, there is the option of downloading the app to your mobile phone so that you can book in advance. The idea is that, with a single click, the haulier can choose their route and plan their stops as conveniently as possible.
We have more than twenty truck parks throughout Europe so that our customers can have an approved parking area in which to leave their trucks and goods. These service areas are equipped with surveillance and other security systems, as well as basic services so that the driver can rest as comfortably as possible.
