Overflowing Truck Parking Woes on Highways in Lower Saxony: ACE Survey Reveals Extreme Shortage
Inadequate truck parking spaces identified as a major issue in Lower Saxony, according to the Auto-Club. - Inadequate parkings spaces abundant in Lower Saxony according to AutoClub's assessment
represent a significant concern on the highways of Lower Saxony. This stunning revelation comes from a comprehensive nationwide survey by the Auto Club Europa (ACE). The survey unveiled a severe deficit of parking spaces, with an "off-the-charts" shortage. According to the survey findings, the occupancy rate of parking spaces during the assessment period from April to June averaged a whopping 150%, indicating overcrowded parking lots.
For the sake of clarity, ACE volunteers examined 13 highway rest areas on the A2 and A7 motorways between April 15 and June 3, inspecting each location once during workdays from 20:30 hours onwards. They discovered 690 parking spaces but counted 1,032 parked trucks, meaning that 77% of the inspected parking lots had trucks parked in entrance and exit lanes or on the hard shoulder.
The highest occupancy rate in Lower Saxony was observed at the Zweidorfer Holz Süd rest area on the A2 between Peine and Braunschweig, where an astonishing 195 trucks were parked in just 94 parking spaces, resulting in an occupancy rate of 207%. On a national level, the occupancy rate was 151%, with 7,664 parked trucks for 5,088 parking spaces.
ACE advises against over-interpreting individual observations. Since these observations were always snapshots, individual findings should not be over-emphasized, said an ACE spokesperson. However, the association emphasizes the undeniable shortage of parking spaces. As a result, they demand the creation of tens of thousands of additional truck parking spaces nationwide. Particularly dangerous areas used as emergency parking lots should also be developed and improved.
Enriching Insights:
Current proposals and initiatives to alleviate the truck parking deficit in Lower Saxony, Germany, are part of broader national efforts that encompass specific regional projects:
- Germany is addressing the truck parking scarcity with a substantial investment of approximately €400 million over the next four years, aiming to add new parking spaces nationwide[2]. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is also advocating for innovative alternatives like "compact parking," which optimizes the utilization of existing rest areas by enabling tighter truck parking arrangements. However, this system is presently being implemented at only a few locations such as Inntal-West (A93), Jura-West (A3), and Montabaur (A61), and does not appear to be a focus in Lower Saxony[2].
- A new motorway rest area has recently been inaugurated with capacity for 100 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) parked closely in a single row. Although the exact location in Lower Saxony is not specified, such developments highlight a shift toward creating larger rest areas to accommodate more trucks[1].
- In Lower Saxony itself, the Zimmermann Group is pursuing plans for parking and storage areas along with a truck workshop at their site in Liebenau, Lower Saxony[5]. While primarily intended for the company, this venture contributes to local parking infrastructure. The project involves a substantial land acquisition (24,000 square meters) and detailed planning is underway, with construction slated to begin in the second half of 2025[5].
- The overall truck parking capacity in Germany is estimated at between 30,000 and 50,000 spaces, with ongoing efforts underway to expand this number through both new construction and efficiency improvements[2]. The shortage is a nationwide issue, with regions like Lower Saxony adding to the demand.
- To alleviate the inadequate truck parking facilities in Lower Saxony, Auto Club Europa (ACE) suggests the creation of tens of thousands of additional parking spaces nationwide.
- As part of broader national efforts, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is investing around €400 million over the next four years to add new truck parking spaces, including exploring innovative alternatives like "compact parking" for optimized space utilization, although its implementation seems limited in Lower Saxony.
