Historic 320M euros on the table in new truck parking open funding call | IRU | World Road Transport Organisation

Oct 29, 2024

The EU road transport sector has reached a significant milestone in its journey towards safer, more supportive working conditions for drivers.

After years of consistent IRU advocacy, which resulted in significant EU funding being made available over the past few years, the European Commission has announced a historic EUR 320 million funding commitment under CEF to develop safe and secure truck parking areas across Europe.

This call for proposals is a pivotal step in addressing driver safety and the lack of secure parking options, marking a step towards enhancing the appeal and sustainability of the profession. By meeting high security standards, new parking facilities will benefit drivers’ well-being and improve cargo safety, directly addressing key attractiveness issues undermining the driver profession.

IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “We very much welcome this funding. It comes at a time when finding drivers for long-haul routes is becoming increasingly difficult. Now is the time for stakeholders to take full advantage of this opportunity and submit projects that tangibly improve the industry.”

“However, we recognise that this is a challenge, and that EU funding alone will not be sufficient to resolve the parking issue. Many projects cannot materialise because local authorities either refuse to issue the necessary permits or take too long. The EU must establish, as soon as possible, a plan to complete the core EU network of secure truck parking areas, and governments should pass on the sense of urgency to local authorities,” she added.

EU drivers face a significant shortage of secure parking areas, frequently forced to rest in unsafe or poorly equipped locations. This widespread shortfall has impacted driver safety and cargo security, contributing to challenging working conditions that deter newcomers from joining the profession. The lack of safe, accessible rest areas has made driver recruitment and retention difficult, exacerbating EU driver shortages.

With applications open until 21 January 2025, IRU encourages all eligible industry stakeholders to apply and use this essential safety initiative, particularly since there is currently uncertainty regarding the next round of funding.

The next CEF budget will be renegotiated during this legislative term, creating several years of uncertainty regarding the next round of funding for truck parking.