Sustainability of Trucks Parking in European Union

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Parking in road freight transport has been a problem for a long time. Several EU legislative decisions have contributed to reducing the sustainability of the parking system in recent times. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to point out the negative impact of social law requirements on the parking of freight vehicles. The aim is also to propose the methodology of determining the necessary number of parking spaces for possible compliance with the requirements of social law. METHODS: Own research is realized by the numbering of parking spaces on selected routes in the EU and comparing with the number of freight vehicles on the route. RESULTS: We have shown that there are not enough parking areas for current transport flows in frame of whole EU. In assessing of the requirement of EU social law to prohibit weekly rest in the cab of a vehicle, we have come the conclusion that in current capacity of hotels in highway resting areas, it is not possible to meet this requirement of social law. CONCLUSION: The proposed methodology defines the needed number of parking places for a specific area. From the point of view of the sustainability of road freight transport, it is essential that parking areas are planned in accordance with regulatory requirements. Otherwise, drivers are forced to cheat, what leads to distortion of the whole road freight transport market.