LORRY drivers across England will benefit from better roadside facilities, more secure parking and improved rest areas thanks to £8 million in government funding awarded today.

A total of 39 roadside facility operators across England will each receive a share of £8 million from the department and a further £11 million from industry to significantly upgrade truck stops for lorry drivers.

The improvements will boost welfare facilities like showers, rest areas and restaurants, and increase HGV parking capacity while improving security for drivers.

The funding comes from the Government’s HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme and forms part of the up to £100 million joint investment between government and industry to support the logistics sector, helping to boost economic growth.

Today also marks the launch of the second window for roadside facility operators to bid for further funding to continue improving lorry roadside facilities across England. The window will close on 20 November 2023.

The measure is part of the Government’s 33 actions to address the shortage of HGV drivers and boost recruitment and retention.

The scheme draws on ‘The National Survey on Lorry Parking’  which provides important evidence as to what improvements are needed and where to boost the nation’s roadside infrastructure. 

With hauliers required to take mandatory breaks and rest periods, building better roadside facilities will improve the quality of HGV drivers’ rest and recovery, ensuring everyone can feel safe on our roads.  

Britain’s roads are already among the safest in the world, and the government is committed to helping the sector improve driver welfare, boost drivers’ security, and continue to guarantee road safety. 

In total, both government and industry will look to spend up to £100 million through to March 2025 to improve lorry roadside facilities for drivers.  

The Government’s 33 actions to support Britain’s haulage sector include investing £34 million to create up to 11,000 HGV driver training places through Skills Bootcamps, and increasing the number of HGV driver tests by 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels.