The UK’s lorry drivers are the unsung heroes of our economy. Day and night, they keep Britain moving – delivering everything from fresh food to medical supplies, construction materials to online shopping orders. Yet these essential workers, who contribute so significantly to our £170 billion logistics sector, continue to face challenges when it comes to the most basic requirement of their job: the ability to rest safely.
At Transport Focus, we recently published the findings from year two of our Lorry Driver Facilities Survey, and the message from drivers could not be clearer. Security at rest stops is not a luxury – it is fundamental to driver welfare, road safety, and the effective functioning of our freight network.
The Security-Rest Connection
Over the past two years, we have gathered insights from more than 13,000 HGV drivers, building a comprehensive picture of their experiences on Great Britain’s strategic road network. The data reveals a clear connection: nine in ten drivers who rated vehicle security as good also reported being able to rest properly. By contrast, fewer than four in ten felt they could rest when they perceived security to be poor.
This is not merely a matter of comfort or convenience. Lorry driving is safety-critical work. Drivers operate vehicles that can weigh up to 44 tonnes, often for extended periods and through challenging conditions. According to a recent article by the road safety charity BRAKE, drivers ability to rest effectively can impact their alertness, reaction times, and decision-making on the road. When security concerns prevent proper rest, we create conditions that compromise road safety for everyone.
The variation in security satisfaction across the network is particularly striking. Scores range from just 25 per cent at some sites to 99 per cent at others. This inconsistency means that a driver’s experience and sense of safety can depend entirely on where they happen to need to stop – a lottery that must be addressed.
The Real Cost of Freight Crime
The security concerns drivers raise are far from unfounded. Freight crime is estimated to cost around £700 million annually in the UK. This is not victimless crime. Beyond the immediate financial impact on haulage companies and their clients, these incidents take a real toll on drivers themselves. Many have experienced theft, vandalism, or threatening behaviour. Some have been physically harmed. All carry the psychological burden of working in an environment where such incidents are an ever-present possibility.
For an industry already facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining talent, poor security at rest facilities adds another barrier. Why would someone choose a career – or remain in one – where feeling unsafe is simply accepted as part of the job?
An Industry at a Crossroads
The timing of these findings is particularly significant. The HGV driving workforce is aging, and the industry faces a recruitment and retention crisis that threatens its ability to meet future demand. An increasing number of drivers in their 30s and 40s are leaving the sector, with one in six choosing not to renew their Driver Qualification Cards. The Road Haulage Association suggests we will need an average of 60,000 new drivers each year for the next five years to meet demand. In late 2024, nearly a quarter of HGV businesses reported driver vacancies.
These are not merely statistics – they represent a fundamental challenge to an industry that employs more than eight per cent of the UK workforce and plays a crucial role in supporting the Government’s growth objectives. Nearly all of Great Britain’s freight journeys use the strategic road network. If we cannot provide drivers with safe, secure facilities where they can fulfil their legal rest requirements, we risk undermining the entire logistics supply chain.
Progress and Priorities
It is encouraging to see recent investment from the Department for Transport and National Highways bringing renewed focus to improving lorry driver facilities. Security has rightly been prioritised alongside parking capacity and driver welfare. We recognise that implementing improvements takes time, and we are beginning to see positive changes at some locations.
However, our year two survey findings show there is still work to do. Just under two thirds of drivers remain dissatisfied with the number and quality of available sites in the UK – a slight increase in dissatisfaction compared with the previous year. This tells us that whilst investment is welcome, the pace and scale of improvement must accelerate if we are to genuinely transform driver experiences.
A Call for Sustained Action
Improving rest stop security requires sustained commitment from multiple stakeholders. Facilities operators must prioritise security infrastructure and staffing. National Highways must continue to invest in and work to drive up site standards. The freight industry must work collaboratively to share best practice and hold facilities to account. And government must maintain policy focus and funding to drive long-term improvement.
At Transport Focus, we will continue our role as the independent voice for transport users, bringing together partners across the industry to monitor progress and ensure efforts are focused where they will make the greatest difference for drivers. Our survey provides an evidence base that can guide investment decisions and help measure the impact of improvements over time.
The Road Ahead
Lorry drivers deserve to work in an environment where security is not a lottery, where rest stops are genuinely safe spaces, and where their welfare is treated as the priority it should be. This is not only right in principle – it is essential for road safety, for the health of the logistics industry, and for the effective functioning of our economy.
The link between feeling safe and being able to rest properly is clear in our data. Now we must translate that evidence into sustained action. Britain’s lorry drivers keep our country moving. It is time we ensured they can do so safely, securely, and with the facilities they need to rest properly. The future of our freight industry – and the safety of all road users – depends on it.
