Stoke Truck Stop Facilities Are Finalists In Business Awards
A popular truck park in Stoke-on-Trent is celebrating after making it to the finals of the Staffordshire University Business Awards. Fleetpoint reports that Longton-based ADS Truck Parking are in the finals for the ‘High Street Impact’ category of the awards. The truck stop boasts a range of facilities, and makes use of modular buildings.
The truck park features an on-site restaurant, toilets and showers, an on-site laundry facility and fitness centre, and has nearby hotels, shops, a pharmacy and other services. It’s possible to pre-book spaces, and the site is protected by 27/7 security guards, lighting, CCTV, and an emergency contact system.
The facility was opened in 2018 by Andrew Sargent and his partner Berni Buxton, after they redeveloped the direct site to provide a welcoming rest stop for UK and international drivers, who often work in tough conditions and struggle to find safe and adequate places to stop.
Truck stop challenges facing drivers
All too often, truck stops have too few toilets and washroom facilities, and those available may be unclean or out of order. Food choices can be limited to unhealthy processed snacks, and there are seldom opportunities to exercise. Many truck stops are hazardous due to poor security, which makes them targets for criminals who raid goods lorries.
This situation has contributed to a shortage of HGV drivers, as many have left the sector to seek work with better conditions. Driving can take its toll on physical and mental health, with long days or even weeks away from home, junk food diets, tight timelines and few opportunities to take quality rest or exercise.
HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme Award
Andrew and Berni have won praise for their excellent facilities, which benefited from a £222,500 grant in 2023 as part of the Department for Transport’s HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme. This allowed them to install modular buildings to provide extra toilets, washrooms, a games room and a large cafe serving home cooked meals.
Links with local service providers
As well as providing a good range of facilities at the truck park, Andrew and Berni encourage drivers to make use of the shops and other local businesses in and around the town of Longton, one of the six towns that collectively make up the city of Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. This benefits the local economy and encourages further investment.
Andrew says: “We have local businesses in the town centre saying to us that they have had our drivers in their shops. I regularly visit a barbers in the town and he has said to me several times that he’s seen an increase in footfall over some weekends when drivers have gone out to get their hair cut there – which is just brilliant.”
Berni adds: “We use the local shops and market quite a lot – Longton is a great little town, so why wouldn’t we encourage others to do the same?”
“When a driver comes in we always say, go out of your truck and explore Longton and get a taste of Stoke-on-Trent. It’s not just UK drivers, but drivers from overseas who come back and tell us that they love the town and then they tell others – it’s brilliant.”
What are the benefits of using modular buildings for truck stops?
Modular buildings are a cost-effective solution for truck stop providers. They can be installed in short timescales with minimal disruption, and are inexpensive to run and maintain. Compared to traditional bricks and mortar builds, modular buildings or portable cabins are usually a far more affordable option.
The cabins are highly customisable and can easily be fitted out with a range of amenities, including kitchens, showers, toilets, or even sleeping pods. They can be fitted with WiFi and various entertainment options to provide some safe and comfortable space away from the cab for drivers to relax and unwind.
This opportunity to take adequate rest is vital for drivers to maintain their health, and ensure that they can carry out their driving duties safely. Drivers must take mandatory rest breaks or they can face penalties, yet finding a safe and adequate space to do so can be a challenge.
Portable cabins can be installed almost anywhere, providing an effective solution as the demand for ever-more efficient logistics continues to grow.
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