Trucking Stop
Some of our biggest clients here at The Lead Generation Group Ltd are Britian's hauliers. They are working night and day through all the seasons of the year.
When I'm travelling around a lot I tend to notice how packed most of the lay-bys are on our dual carriageways and the truck stops on the motorway services are always rammed, but I also notice how little resource is dedicated to truckers.
I know when drivers go across the channel they have access to proper rest areas, with showers, restaurants and of course, toilet facilities, but how many of those do you see when you look into our lay-bys?
For decades now the European continent has made sure that truckers are looked after, but in this country we still seem to be lagging too far behind.
With the introduction of tachographs drivers have to take set breaks. However, when I drive by and see a packed parking area with no facilities, I must admit I feel two emotions – sympathy for the drivers and anger that they are stuck, usually on the side of a busy road, with nothing or nowhere to go to eat, drink or have a proper comfort break. They spend enough time in their vehicles without having to eat and sleep in them as well.
Sometimes at The Lead Generation Group Ltd we wonder if it's really the twenty-first century when we still lag so far behind other countries in terms of making life more comfortable for our knights of the road.
We are now entering the darkest period of the year when there is much less daylight, the nights especially are really cold and driving in such harsh winter conditions demands more concentration than ever. Then the driver has to take a break and pulls into a big, long lay-by with about half a dozen other lorries and, basically, stays alone to eat, sleep and no doubt pee in the hedge, never mind turn into a bear. . .
It's bad enough these days having to drive on the appalling roads in this country without not being able to take a leak in comfort, have a freshly made cup of coffee and sit down in a nice warm room and chat to fellow drivers over a proper cooked meal.
It still seems synonymous that the "greasy spoon" and truck drivers go hand in hand, however, without these diminishing roadside cafes and mobile food trucks, our drivers would have nothing. Motorway services are extortionate and busy day and night, so not ideal when you need some rest.
How often do you give a thought to the drivers of those vehicles parked up when you whizz down a dual carriageway or nip into the motorway services for a comfort break? Perhaps you are a driver reading this; It would be great for us here at The LG Group to hear YOUR views.
Hauliers are going greener, tachographs are designed to ensure drivers take enough rest but how far advanced are the powers that be in ensuring the person behind the wheel is treated to somewhere warm and comfortable and with a bit of dignity when they need a rest stop?
