The government has recently announced an investment for improved roadside facilities in the UK. Our drivers will be aware, we carried out our wellbeing survey back in December 2021. The feedback from it strongly said that you wanted better facilities in service stations, with secure parking and washing facilities. We are really pleased to share with you that the government has now allocated £20 million to improve security, lighting, catering and shower rooms at roadside services for HGV drivers. Roadside service operators are being encouraged to apply for the multimillion-pound fund immediately for improved roadside facilities.
Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto hospitality said:
“This announcement is a welcome boost for the UK’s hardworking HGV drivers and the sector. It is encouraging to see that the input provided by Moto and other industry figures have been acknowledged and acted upon by the Department for Transport. Moto continually invests in refurbishing and cleaning the services we provide for HGV drivers and has been investing £12.5 million in upgrading all our showers and toilet facilities.
We look forward to making an application to this £20 million fund, which would allow us to accelerate our plans for enhanced security and increase the physical number of showers we can offer.”
The government are aiming to improve working conditions, standards, safety, and driver welfare, to retain HGV drivers, which is backed by overall £52.5 million investment in driver facilities to avoid the ongoing issue of a driver shortage in the UK. Other actions taken to support the haulage industry have been to train more drivers and speed up vocational licence applications.
Nick Harris, National Highways Chief Executive, stated:
“We are dedicated to improving the experience of everyone using our roads and remain committed to working closely with operators of roadside facilities to help improve the standard of parking and other amenities they provide on motorways and major A-roads. We are hopeful that the £20 million being announced today will go some way towards achieving this goal.”
It is positive news but in addition, we will continue to support our valued drivers by sharing information about current service station facilities and continue support through our ongoing wellbeing campaign “On the Road to Better Health”. If any driver has not signed up to our private closed group which focuses on specific driver wellbeing issues, please click here
