Keeping Europe moving: why Road Transport matters
The road transport sector stands as a cornerstone of the European Union’s single market, enabling the seamless movement of goods and people across borders. More than just a facilitator of trade, the sector plays a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth, generating employment, and maintaining the mobility that underpins modern European economies.
A recent European Commission study[1] reveals a parking shortage of over 390,000 parking spaces, expected to rise to 483,000 by 2040 and is under growing pressure due to a critical shortage of Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs) for professional drivers. This infrastructure gap not only hinders compliance with mandatory rest periods but also exposes drivers and cargo to increasing safety and security risks, particularly in freight-heavy corridors such as Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain.
Despite the importance of safety standards, many existing parking areas remain uncertified under EU guidelines. Certification is essential to ensure protection for drivers and goods, especially as crime targeting transport vehicles remains high. The absence of sufficient certified SSPAs leaves transport operators vulnerable—to theft, to fines for regulatory breaches, and to deteriorating driver welfare.
The study underscores persistent structural challenges in the road transport sector, including driver and parking shortages, outdated or inadequate parking infrastructure, and growing security concerns. These issues are compounded by the impact of regulatory changes, technological developments such as digital tachographs, and evolving labour dynamics. The result is a fragile operational environment that puts both drivers and businesses at risk.
Stakeholder consultations emphasize the urgent need for standardized security certification, improved parking management, and targeted investments to rapidly upgrade facilities. A particularly effective strategy identified is the certification of already compliant parking areas, which allows for fast, cost-efficient scaling of secure infrastructure. However, the study also notes an important behavioural challenge: although safety and security are universally acknowledged as priorities, there is a gap between recognised need and actual utilisation of certified parking. Understanding and addressing this disconnect is critical for future infrastructure planning.
Digitalisation and enhanced connectivity also emerge as key enablers for making SSPAs more accessible, user-friendly, and integrated into broader logistics networks. With around 65 new parking areas already built or under construction through the Connecting Europe Facility, the EU is moving in the right direction—but at a pace still too slow to match demand.
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas said:
“Professional drivers are the backbone of Europe’s road transport system—keeping industries running, supermarkets stocked, and passengers moving. They deserve safe and secure places to rest. This study provides a roadmap to closing the gap, and we must work together to deliver the solutions they need.”
Unless this challenge of parking shortage is met with decisive and accelerated action, the transport sector will continue to face operational inefficiencies, increased costs, and declining driver satisfaction due to the parking shortage. By 2040, the vision is to establish a comprehensive, safe, and sustainable parking network across the EU—one that supports compliance, enhances security, and keeps Europe’s logistics engine running smoothly.
According to a new European Commission study
« The absence of adequate facilities exposes drivers to the risk of theft, vandalism and other security threats, such as those emphasised in the 2019 study on Safe and Secure Parking Places for Trucks. (…) Article 8a of Regulation 2020/1054 amending Regulation 561/2006 on driving, breaks and rest times, defines that, by the 31st of December, the Commission shall present a report on the availability of suitable rest facilities for drivers and of secured parking facilities, as well as on the development of safe and secure parking areas certified. This report could list measures to increase the number and quality of SSPAs12. Moreover, this was an essential step in empowering the European Commission towards defining standards and procedures for SSPAs in an Implementing Act. »[2]
[1] Study on the availability of suitable rest facilities for professional drivers and of secured parking facilities, as well as on the development of safe and secure parking facilities in the EU – Publications Office of the EU
[2] Study on the availability of suitable rest facilities for professional drivers and of secured parking facilities, as well as on the development of safe and secure parking facilities in the EU – Publications Office of the EU
The compliance dilemma: Article 8a Regulation 2020/1054 vs. incomplete infrastructure:
In this context, how can transport operators ensure 100% compliance with the Article 8a of Regulation 2020/1054 amending Regulation 561/2006 on driving, breaks and rest times when the EU road infrastructure—specifically the availability of certified Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs)—is far from ready to support the requirements?
The secure, certified with proper rest facilities parking shortage makes full regulatory compliance not just difficult, but in many cases, logistically impossible. This disconnects places hauliers in an unfair position—legally obligated to meet standards without the means to do so, while risking penalties or operational disruption.
Conclusion for all participants from this study: call to action
For fleet operators and logistics companies, the message is clear: secure and certified parking is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Business must factor certified SSPA availability into route planning and driver scheduling and actively support infrastructure development through public-private partnerships or by voicing needs in industry consultations.
For policymakers, the challenge lies not only in funding new sites but in accelerating certification processes, removing administrative bottlenecks, and incentivizing private investment in compliant parking areas. Harmonised standards, real-time availability data, and cross-border coordination will be essential to building a truly pan-European parking network.
The EU transport sector cannot afford to lag behind. Without urgent and coordinated action, the parking crisis will continue to drive up costs, increase driver turnover, and compromise supply chain security. But with strategic investment, digital integration, and stakeholder collaboration, a safer, more efficient future for European road transport is within reach. The groundwork is laid—now it’s time to build.
