MEP Kosma Złotowski opened the ESPORG 2024 conference at the European Parliament, during which this year’s winners of the ESPORG Excellence in Truck Parking Award were announced.
During two panel discussions, event participants discussed how to improve working and rest conditions for drivers in international transport. Kosma Złotowski noted that the award-winning parking areas prove that it is possible to ensure the highest standards and that there are rest areas in Europe where drivers can spend the night without fearing for their health and safety.
The PiS politician emphasized that the issue of safe parking areas has been very close to his heart since he began serving as a member of the European Parliament. “For many Polish families, road transport is an important source of livelihood. Unfortunately, aside from declarations of concern for drivers’ working conditions and the adoption of stringent regulations, Brussels is doing little. It is not a ban on sleeping in the cab that improves a truck driver’s rest, but a clean hotel with sanitary facilities and a safe parking area. We need funding for investments and incentives for member states to build such infrastructure. If we want to encourage young people and women to work in this much-needed profession, we cannot accept a situation where finding a clean restroom, shower, or parking space is a daily challenge. Both the pandemic and the war have shown that even a minor disruption in the transport of goods leads to tangible problems for all citizens of the European Union. We must take care of this sector of the economy and its workers!” said Kosma Złotowski as he opened the event.
The winners of the 2024 European Truck Parking Awards were announced as Delta Park Truck Secure Parking in Dourges, France, and On Turtle La Jonquera in Spain, which were honored as Europe’s leading truck parking facilities in the large and small categories, respectively.
The ESPORG international jury particularly praised the high quality of services offered to drivers by the winners, their ability to adapt to drivers’ specific needs, and their commitment to innovation.
Fred Notte, Vice President of Delta Park Truck Secure Parking for the Mediterranean region, said: “Receiving such a prestigious award is an honor for us. When we built Delta Park, our goal was to create a facility offering the best possible rest conditions for drivers, without compromising on safety and security. This award, granted by industry experts, proves that we have achieved our goal.”
Pablo Combalía, Business Development Manager at On Turtle, said: “We are grateful to ESPORG for recognizing us as the European Truck Stop of the Year 2024. This award underscores our goal of providing the highest quality of service while maintaining the highest level of safety for our customers.”
ESPORG is a European organization bringing together all stakeholders interested in safe truck parking. The goal of the ESPORG Excellence in Truck Parking Award is to promote excellence and share best practices to improve safety, security, and the quality of services offered to professional truck drivers by truck parking operators throughout Europe and beyond.
