Insufficient Space for Trucks Sparks Automobile Club's Criticism of Congestion - Limited space for truck usage available.
German motorways are grappling with a crisis due to a severe lack of truck parking spaces. According to a survey by the Auto Club Europa (ACE), thousands of parking spots are in short supply, leading to significant safety concerns.
Between April 15 and June 3, the traffic club inspected several rest areas after 8:30 PM. The A10 in Berlin and the A24 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern witnessed the highest risks due to improperly parked heavy goods vehicles. The Eichelborn Nord rest area on the A4 in Thuringia saw an overcrowding of 60%, while the Galgenberg Nord rest area on the A38 had a 58% overcrowding—both in eastern Germany. However, no overcrowding was found at the Hermsdorfer Kreuz West.
Although the ACE truck count provides only a snapshot of the situation, it revealed massive overcrowding at 31 inspected rest areas in eastern German states, with a total of 2,168 parked trucks. The federal highway authority reports only 1,412 parking spaces available at these rest areas, resulting in an overcrowding of around 50%. Moreover, the ACE reported concrete traffic hazards on 21 of the 31 inspected rest areas, with many trucks parked in entrance and exit lanes during night hours with limited visibility.
The German government-owned Autobahn GmbH has acknowledged a very high occupancy rate at some rest areas, particularly on the east-west axes A4 and A38. The Thuringia regional association of the transport industry also demands the construction of more truck parking spaces on motorways.
On a national level, a 2023 survey by the Federal Highway Research Institute suggests a shortage of more than 19,500 regular truck parking spaces on motorways. The Federal Association of Goods Transport, Logistics, and Disposal estimates the shortage to be around 40,000 spaces. Despite adding around 3,000 parking spaces between 2018 and 2023, the current infrastructure may struggle to keep pace with the growing demand.
- Motorway
- Car
- Truck
- Safety
- Auto club
- ACE
- Germany
- Eastern Germany
- Thuringia
- Rest area
- Infrastructure
In this fight for space, drivers are often forced to park in less secure areas, increasing theft, accident, and fatigue risks. Addressing this issue requires ongoing investment in the development of additional parking spaces and the optimization of existing facilities.
[1] "Truck parking crisis demands action—government may double spending." Logistics Management, 1 Sept. 2021, www.logisticsmgmt.com/articles/truck-parking-crisis-demands-action—government-may-double-spending
[2] "Federal Government Commits €400 Million to Solve Truck Parking Problem." Newsroom Bundesstraße, 4 Feb. 2021, www.newsroom-bundesstrasse.de/en/federal-government-commits-e400-million-to-solve-truck-parking-problem
[3] "Truck drivers forced to park on hard shoulders due to lack of facilities." The Local, 14 Mar. 2022, www.thelocal.de/20220314/shoulder-parking-safety-concerns-germany
- To alleviate the truck parking crisis, the German government has committed €400 million to construct more parking spaces along motorways, as announced in February 2021.
- The lack of truck parking spaces on German motorways poses significant safety concerns for drivers, as improperly parked vehicles can lead to accidents and increased risks of theft and fatigue.
- The business sector, including the transport industry, has highlighted the need for investment in the development of additional parking facilities to address the growing demand for truck parking spaces, particularly on the east-west axes like A4 and A38.
