The poor quality of facilities for HGV drivers across the UK was top of the agenda at a recent roundtable discussion hosted by Transport Focus.
The RHA spoke to key decision makers at the event, which sought to identify what industry experts could do to address the estimated 11,000 safe and secure parking spaces required for lorry drivers, as well as improving the existing facilities for them.
Ashton Cull, RHA senior policy affairs lead, said organised freight crime had increased sharply and safe parking was more important than ever.
Last year, it found that HGV and cargo crime was reaching epidemic levels; Corley services had experienced 76 offences of freight crime, Stafford 138, Thurrock 103 and Warwick 87 offences.
Its report also found there had been 5,370 incidents of crime in 2023 and £68.3m of goods were stolen.
Cull said: “We have made real progress in improving facilities for drivers, but there is still a long way to go and there is much work ahead.
“Better consideration of the needs of road freight at all levels of policy making is needed.
“More safe and secure parking spaces need to be provided, and a unified standard strongly encouraged if not enforced.”
Last month, Warwickshire and Bedworth MP Rachel Taylor tabled a Bill in parliament calling for action to tackle organised freight crime.
The Bill includes introducing a specific crime code for freight crime, something the police and the freight industry said would make a huge difference in helping them tackle the problem.
