There are many resources designed to help hauliers find safe and secure rest locations along, or near to, their route.
Ever wanted to see a hauler, insurer, and shipper fight over something? Ask them about secure parking areas and enjoy the drama! This never-ending debate is infiltrating its way into insurance terms, customer contracts and more.
What’s all the fuss about?
A recommendation by shippers for haulers to opt for secured parking areas is more than just friendly advice. Ignoring such instructions could well result in gross negligence because of theft. Shippers have their reasons for requesting that hauliers select a secure location for rest stops, especially if they are transporting valuable electronic items, fashionable clothing, or other thief-attractive goods: TAPA declares that 78.8% of consignments are stolen from unsecured parking locations.
On the flip side, it’s true more often than not that a haulier won’t find a secure parking place enroute, or even somewhere to park with a light. Even though the European Commission talks about increasing investments in developing secured parking areas, things are moving at a snail’s pace, and finding a safe parking location outside Germany and Benelux countries is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, it’s essential a haulier does some research to find out if they are going to be able to meet the shipper’s secure parking requirements and advise them accordingly. For example, if a delivery route goes near Berlin and the haulier is planning a rest stop there, they should be aware that there is no secured parking area within a 100 km radius.
How to find secure rest stops
There are many resources designed to help hauliers find safe and secure rest locations along, or near to, their route. The most notable ones are:
In addition, it’s always good to remind the hauler/driver not to leave the trailer unattended, even if a secure rest location has been selected. The best way to achieve that as a freight forwarder is to add a clause to the transport order, such as:
“The driver is prohibited from leaving the vehicle with the cargo unattended (i.e., moving away at an unsafe distance that makes it impossible to properly monitor the vehicle with the cargo). Otherwise, the carrier’s actions may be considered wilful negligence. In this case, the carrier will face unlimited liability for lost cargo.”
Gediminas Dauksa
Group Practice Leader Transportation & Logistics
T +370 616 08451
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