Ashford International Truckstop has been crowned the overall winner of Logistics UK’s Best Truck Stop of the Year 2026 award.
Over 200 nominations were submitted, as HGV drivers around the UK had their say, highlighting the roadside facilities they thought were most deserving of recognition.
The initiative, which was launched in March, is part of Logistics UK’s drive to draw attention to the need to raise the standards of truck stops across the UK roadside network and recognise the critical role they play for the nation’s drivers.
Drivers were invited to nominate truck stops based on how well they performed against criteria including security, lighting, food availability and value for money.
Nominations were scrutinised by a judging panel, consisting of Logistics UK’s interim deputy director of Policy Maddi Solloway-Price, My Truck Stop co-founder and director Sue Alty and Motorway Buddy founder Chris Holloway.
The panel shortlisted six truck stops worthy of special attention, from which Ashford International was determined the Overall Winner.
The five other shortlisted truck stops were The Old Fox near Grantham; The Hollies in Cannock, AWJ Penrith in Penrith; Formula – Premier in Ellesmere Port; and Route 74 near Lesmahagow.
Phil Roe, Logistics UK president, who visited the Ashford International Truckstop today (7 September) to present the award, said: “Professional drivers are the backbone of the UK economy, and Logistics UK’s Best Truck Stop of the Year is a crucial initiative recognising the truck stops that provide drivers with an invaluable and essential service as they keep the economy moving.
“Ashford International Truckstop is a deserving winner of this search, and it was a pleasure to be given a tour of the site today and see firsthand its first-class facilities.
“However, their excellent standards are the exception and not the rule - too often, professional drivers around the country are contending with a lack of acceptable roadside facilities or forced to take their legally mandated rest breaks in locations that aren’t up to standard.
“That’s why we believe it is important to shine a light on the great truck stops that are improving the working lives of commercial drivers nationwide and encourage the operators of other locations to follow their example.”
Ashford International Truckstop was designed around driver welfare. It offers 660 HGV spaces and is the UK’s and Europe’s largest secure truckstop.
Services include a bar and lounge with big-screen TVs and sporting coverage as well as food and drinks; an on-site fitness centre; an outdoor garden area; and accommodation so drivers can sleep away from their cabs.
It also provides truck repair facilities with battery jump-starts available; a truck-washing facility; refrigerated trailer electrical hook-ups and trailer changeover facilities; plus dedicated areas for hazardous, extra-wide and extra-long loads.
Darren Smith, Ashford International operations director, added: “This award reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality facilities, industry-leading security and exceptional customer service for the thousands of professional drivers who rely on Ashford International Truckstop each year.
“Our investment in infrastructure, operational excellence and driver welfare is central to our business, and this recognition reinforces the standards we continually strive to achieve.”
Sue Alty, My Truck Stop co-founder, commented: “The number of nominations we received goes to show that when truck stops do a good job, drivers notice. It was a pleasure to be a part of this initiative and judging panel.”
Chris Holloway, Motorway Buddy founder, added, “Security is a huge part of a driver’s overall experience at a stop and as this initiative shows, it cannot be an afterthought.
“I enjoyed judging all the nominations and recognising the truck stops that are doing a fantastic job.”
Logistics UK said it is continuing to urge government to conduct a national review of the availability of rest facilities for logistics workers and for truck stops to be incorporated into planning frameworks as standard.
In addition, the organisation is pressing for a specific crime code to be introduced for freight crime to enable better data collection and appropriate sentencing.
