Ashford International Truckstop is the only site in the South East to have achieved the national Park Mark Freight standard.
The police-endorsed safety accreditation for truckstops and lorry parks in the UK signifies high standards in security, management, facilities and customer service to combat cargo theft and improve driver experience. Ashford International Truckstop has now won the award for three consecutive years.
Awarded by the British Parking Association (BPA) in partnership with Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, it assures drivers that a facility has undergone rigorous assessment for safety, security (including preventing cargo crime) and operational quality, making it a trusted choice for HGV drivers.
Darren Smith, operations director of Ashford International Truckstop, said: “This is a massive achievement for the team here at Ashford. Giving peace of mind to the driver, their companies and ultimately their customers that their vehicles and cargo are safely parked is vital for their mental health and commercial wellbeing.
“To achieve this award, we go through an in-depth assessment of everything we do on site, culminating in a rigorous annual review.”
The 660-space Ashford International Truckstop is the largest in Europe and is operated by GSE Truckstop Developments, which has recently revealed plans to develop a new truckstop at the last junction on the A20 before the Port of Dover.
Darren added: “It’s great to get continued recognition for the hard work we put in. Just recently, we were interviewed by French TV, which wanted to talk to us about the facilities we provide for our drivers.
“As a country, we have a lot to learn from the continent with regards to the standard of facilities provided to drivers, so to get that international recognition was incredibly rewarding for us. They were excited to hear about our plans to provide similar facilities as part of our proposals at the Court Wood Interchange near Dover.
“Across the region, there is a shortage of secure lorry parking, and this can have a detrimental impact on the lives of HGV drivers and performance of the industry.
“Recent research, funded by UKRI’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), found that 54% of HGV drivers reported that their job had negative impacts on their physical health and 32% felt it was detrimental to their mental health.
“Having access to safe and secure truckstops like ours at Ashford can also reduce the negative impacts of illegal parking and anti-social behaviour on nearby communities.
“The road freight industry is one of the most regulated in the country, and according to National Highways, driver welfare is a national priority.”
