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Alarming lack of parking spaces for trucks in Lower Saxony – ACE sounds the all-clear!
A new survey shows alarming truck parking shortages in Lower Saxony, while the ACE urgently calls for solutions.
Alarming lack of parking spaces for trucks in Lower Saxony – ACE sounds the all-clear!
There is real traffic chaos brewing in Germany, and not just on the streets. The Auto Club Europa (ACE) is sounding the alarm about the massive shortage of truck parking spaces on motorways, which is a problem not only for drivers, but also for the entire logistics industry. From April to June 2025, volunteer members of the ACE examined the situation on motorways, particularly on the A2 and A7 routes. The results are more than alarming.
In a large-scale survey that included 132 rest areas nationwide, 5,088 officially designated truck parking spaces were recorded. But reality shows a different picture: When counted at night, a whopping 7,664 trucks were parked in these spaces at the same time, resulting in an average occupancy rate of 151 percent. In Lower Saxony, for example, where 13 rest areas were examined, 77 percent of the parking areas were overcrowded, and many trucks were parked in entrances and exits or on the hard shoulder, which further increases the risk of accidents. The situation is particularly dire at the Zweidorfer Holz Süd service area, where 195 trucks fought for space for only 94 vehicles - a capacity utilization of an incredible 207 percent. NDR
Traffic safety is at risk
The busyness of the rest areas is not only a nuisance for truck drivers, but also poses significant safety risks. Frank Fleischhauer from ACE criticizes the fact that many vehicles are parked in bus and caravan parking spaces, which further aggravates the situation. The overcrowded rest areas force drivers to park illegally, jeopardizing legally required rest periods. A tragic example illustrates the dangers: an accident in which a car collided with a parked truck resulted in two deaths. In the industry, the current lack of parking spaces is seen as one of the main reasons for the declining number of truck drivers, which reduces transport capacity. daily news
The ACE is therefore not only calling for the immediate expansion of tens of thousands of truck parking spaces, but also for the improvement of the existing infrastructure. Dangerous alternative areas that are used by truck drivers as unattended parking spaces are particularly addressed. These areas should be closed or modified to increase highway safety. A digitalized system for displaying free parking spaces is currently being tested and could help ease the situation. Traffic review
A challenge for the future
The lack of space on motorways could increase to up to 600,000 parking spaces by 2040, according to estimates by the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Waste Disposal (BGL). Despite the creation of almost 3,000 additional truck parking spaces by Autobahn GmbH from 2019 to 2023, the problem is still serious. It is obvious that without urgent measures, the situation on the motorways will remain critical.
The challenges of the lack of parking spaces on the highways are not easy to solve, but it is clear that there is a need for action. Driver safety and logistics efficiency must be at the top of the agenda. Anyone who has a good hand here may be able to find a way to solve these pressing problems and make Germany's roads a little safer.