Overflowing Highways in Lower Saxony: A Truck Parking Nightmare Unveiled by Auto Club Europa
Insufficient truck parking spaces identified in Lower Saxony - Insufficient Parking Spaces in Lower Saxony: A Problem Highlighted by Autoclub
When it comes to truck parking on highways in Lower Saxony, there's a crisis - and it's only getting worse. That's according to a survey by the Auto Club Europa (ACE) which found an alarming shortage of truck parking spaces.
Here's a reality check: during the survey period from April to June, the occupancy rate of parking areas averaged double the capacity, with trucks parked on the shoulders, entrance and exit lanes, and even blocking the designated spots. The snapshot observations revealed that the parking facilities were officially overcrowded.
To gather their data, ACE volunteers inspected 13 highway rest areas on the A2 and A7 motorways between April 15 and June 3, once each. They counted 690 parking spaces but found 1,032 parked trucks, which means that over 50% more trucks were taking up space than there were available. At 77% of the inspected parking facilities, trucks were parked in illegal areas.
The crowding was particularly acute at the Zweidorfer Holz Süd rest area on the A2 between Peine and Braunschweig, where 195 trucks were parked in just 94 spaces - that's a staggering 207% occupancy rate. Nationwide, the occupancy rate was 151%, with 7,664 parked trucks for 5,088 parking spaces.
But ACE warns against overblowing individual observations. A spokesperson admits that these were always snapshots, and individual observations should not be overinterpreted. Yet, they emphasize that the overall shortage of parking spaces is a clear problem, and call for solutions such as the creation of tens of thousands of additional truck parking spaces nationwide. They also want to improve the safety of all roads by focusing on risky areas used as emergency parking.
The situation in Lower Saxony is a symptom of a broader problem across Germany. But fear not, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has recognized the nationwide shortage of truck parking and has committed to spending €400 million over four years to create new truck parking spaces. They are investing approximately €100 million annually to increase the total capacity substantially over the next years.
New measures being considered include building more rest areas like Rosi's Autohof Dorfmark, which offers around 100 truck parking spaces in addition to 20 car spaces, and land acquisitions for truck parking and related facilities, such as the 24,000 square meter site purchased by Zimmermann Group for the development of parking and storage areas, along with a truck workshop, planned to start construction in 2025.
Germany is also piloting "compact parking" systems using telematics and digital management tools. These systems aim to optimize the use of existing parking facilities, and though currently limited to only three rest areas, their potential to increase efficiency and alleviate the pressure in Lower Saxony is massive.
In short, addressing the truck parking shortage in Lower Saxony involves a combination of building new parking areas, investing in infrastructure, and using modern technology for optimizing parking facility usage. The hope is that these measures will not just alleviate the current pressure in the region but make freight transport safer and more efficient in Lower Saxony.
[1] Expansion of Truck Parking Infrastructure: https://www.transportationtoday.global/news/new-motorway-rest-areas-tackle-truck-parking-shortage-germany[2] Federal Investment and Policy Initiatives: https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/EN/Artikel/I/2021-12-27-novationen-fur-landesgrenzueberwachung-in-deutschland.html[4] Zimmermann Group Land Acquisition: https://news.wirt-schifffahrt.de/nachrichten/zimmermann-kauft-platte-fuer-tiefladerparken.html?ds=ysp&fbclid=IwAR3R-0JtXLybE834qjrNMo_BW_Z9vIHGnJ7g_KBm2tsI13pZXdM5viVyhPs
- As a part of addressing the truck parking crisis in Lower Saxony, German authorities are considering the implementation of "compact parking" systems, leveraging telematics and digital management tools to optimize the use of existing parking facilities, potentially alleviating pressure on overcrowded rest areas.
- The progress of vocational training programs in the transport industry could aid in improving safe practices and efficient usage of truck parking spaces, thus contributing to a solution for the ongoing parking shortage crisis. Moreover, industry partnerships with financial institutions might facilitate the sponsorship of such training programs, fostering a skilled workforce to enhance the overall operational efficiency within the transport sector.
