Exelby Services Coneygarth has received a 100% HGV driver satisfaction score in Transport Focus’s Lorry Drivers’ Facilities Year Two survey.
The Leeming Bar site on the A1(M) tied for pole position with Junction 31 Secure Parking (M1 Sheffield), with Exelby’s Golden Fleece on the M6 in Carlisle, coming in third with a 99% score.
Taking first place is very impressive given that overall, 62% of the 13,000 drivers surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of available sites in the UK, while 61% were unhappy with the number of suitable stopping locations. These figures have increased since the previous survey, suggesting that concerns are deepening rather than improving.
Since Transport Focus’s first survey, the Department for Transport and National Highways have begun delivering up to £69.5m in joint government and industry funding to improve lorry parking and driver welfare facilities across England.
Rob Exelby, managing director at Exelby Services, is very pleased with the survey result. He says: “Matched funding from the Department for Transport has helped us accelerate improvements at Coneygarth, adding additional parking and upgraded security measures that drivers need.
“Collaboration between government and industry makes a real difference, complementing the investments many operators are already making to raise standards.”
He adds that the funding not only enabled him to refurb existing facilities but he was able to add more too. A case in point is the popular Trucker’s Gym at Conegarth, which he plans to replicate at other sites.
“It’s about giving drivers the facilities that they deserve. We have plans to double the size of the truckstop at Golden Fleece and also add a Welfare Block ,which will include a gym for drivers.”
Elsewhere in the survey, Welcome Break’s top score was 98% for its Rothwell site while Roadchef’s top placed site was Watford Gap Northbound with 92% and Moto’s was Toddington Northbound with 92%. Also featuring in the survey was Westmorland Gloucester Southbound scoring 94%.
The report forms part of a three-year programme led by Transport Focus to improve understanding of HGV driver experiences and drive improvements across the roadside facilities network in England.
