Safe and Convenient Parking in Focus at Hegelmann Group

The Hegelmann Group is committed to solutions that benefit drivers, cargo, and vehicles, and seeks dialogue with strong partners. The EU Mobility Pact will prevent truck drivers from overnighting in their vehicle cabins on weekends in the future.

(Bruchsal) – It is getting tight now. The EU Mobility Pact has been published. According to this regulation, overnight stays of truck drivers in their vehicle cabins will no longer be possible at least on weekends. The regulation aims to increase driver protection but also traffic safety. For the logistics companies, the planned regulations pose problems. In addition to the lack of hotel capacities for the hundreds of thousands of truckers and the associated costs, the issue of safety is also in focus: damages, thefts, and vandalism are already a daily occurrence. The Hegelmann Group, a large international player with more than 4000 trucks, is now looking for solutions.

Developing Exemplary Solutions for the Industry

“We are in close contact with strategic partners,” emphasizes Siegfried Hegelmann, Managing Director of the Hegelmann Group, highlighting the urgency of the issue. These strategic partners include Niels de Zwaan, Managing Director of Truck Parking Europe, Dirk Penasse, Managing Director of Esporg, and Tim Baumeister, Project Manager at KRAVAG Truck Parking. Together, they discuss possibilities and solutions that should serve as exemplary for the entire industry. “We want to be pioneers here and take all aspects into account,” assure the four logistics experts.

High Fines for Violations

The Hegelmann Group alone handles thousands of international long-distance transports that are on the road every day across Europe. Being on the road every day across Europe also means that truck drivers often cannot be home on weekends. And that, in turn, means they spend their weekend rest time at a rest area. For now, because this is supposed to change due to EU regulations. The fines for violations are correspondingly high. However, this is easier said than done. It is already a significant challenge for each individual driver to find a suitable and, above all, safe parking space where they can sleep peacefully without fear that their cargo will be stolen from the trailer or their vehicle will be damaged by the next morning. Especially abroad, there is a lack of official secure parking spaces with features such as video surveillance, lighting, fencing, barriers, and license plate recognition at entry and exit.

Mobility Pact Practically Unfeasible

European legislation is once again well-intentioned in principle, but hardly feasible in practice. “As of today, this is unrealistic,” makes Siegfried Hegelmann clear. He describes the problem for logistics companies as follows: “Either the driver parks in a parking lot that is not classified as an official secure parking lot to spend the night in a nearby accommodation, risking leaving the truck unattended, or he parks in an official secure parking lot and then has to find a way to get to an accommodation several kilometers away.” This does not fit together. Even now, hotel capacities are just as insufficient in many places as parking spaces along the route. Everyone can see the precarious situation at rest areas and highways. Even without the necessary security measures and EU resolutions, the situation is tense.

Hegelmann Group Ready for Investments

However, Hegelmann does not just want to complain about the conditions. He is looking for solutions – with suitable partners. And he is ready to invest in the interests of his drivers. Initial talks are underway, and he reports that they are on a very good path. They will find a way to safeguard all interests and meet all requirements.

About the Hegelmann Group

The Hegelmann Group aims for sustainable solutions with these three project partners. “We want to solve the problem constructively – for ourselves and the entire industry. All major logistics companies in long-distance transport face this urgent challenge,” Hegelmann knows. Together, he wants to provide relief and calls on the entire industry for dialogue and co-design. “Our discussions are not a closed shop. We seek exchange and the best ideas – also with the politicians who are involved here.” Those who set regulations must also create the necessary infrastructure, demand the dialogue partners around safe parking. They are happy to contribute to information and solution finding. Everyone in the industry is also willing to invest. But solutions can only be implemented in concert with political decision-makers. “We call for dialogue here!”www.hegelmann.comImage: © Hegelmann Group