When a delegation of Brazilian truck stop owners and executives from Vibra Energia visited Barcelona on October 27th, they met the European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG) for a deep dive into Europe’s best practices in safe, sustainable, and innovative truck parking. This exchange marked a milestone in international cooperation on logistics infrastructure — a step toward harmonizing international best practices that prioritize both driver wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
The visit formed part of a Learning Experience Program in Barcelona, during which the group of Brazilian entrepreneurs — owners of truck stops and roadside service stations — combined field visits to European truck parks with insights from leading European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG).
For the delegation, understanding ESPORG’s mission and its impact on the European truck parking market was a central focus. ESPORG’s General Manager, Dirk Penasse, provided valuable perspectives, as Brazil faces similar challenges in developing safe, sustainable, and digitally connected parking infrastructure for professional drivers.
The 40-members Brazilian delegation, representing owners of highway stations with truck parking facilities, along with Vibra’s commercial management team, came to learn from Europe’s model — exploring how structured certification, harmonized standards, and innovation can elevate Brazil’s roadside infrastructure.
“We strive to make Europe’s roads safer, drivers’ lives better, and the logistics sector more sustainable through secure, high-quality truck parking facilities,” said Dirk Penasse, General Manager of ESPORG.
With over 120 members – truck parkings operators across Europe, ESPORG works closely with the European Commission, national governments, and private operators to ensure that certified parking areas deliver uniform standards and measurable quality improvements.
Transatlantic perspectives: Brazil’s logistics challenges
Brazil’s logistics sector faces many of the same challenges Europe is confronted — limited secure parking capacity, lack of harmonized quality standards, and growing driver fatigue and security concerns.
As Vibra Energia, Brazil’s largest fuel and lubricants distributor, leads a new wave of innovation through its 8,200 Petrobras-branded stations, including 1,100 highway sites, the company’s goal extends beyond energy supply: it is about connecting people, businesses, and communities through innovation and sustainability.
Driving the Future of Truck Parking in Europe and Beyond: ESPORG’s Best Practices
During the learning exchange in Barcelona, ESPORG and the Brazilian delegation explored:
- The EU Parking Standard and legsilation for safe and secure truck parking facilities, prioritizing safety and service quality across the EU
- The competitive advantages of certification, including increased customer trust and stronger partnerships with transport operators.
- The role of innovation and digitalization — such as online booking systems, real-time capacity updates, and integrated driver apps.
- ESPORG “Green Truck Parking” initiatives, linking sustainability goals with logistics efficiency.
- European Wellbeing Initiative and strategy for Truck Parking
- Truck parking market outlook and future trend
“Innovation in truck parking is innovation in logistics itself,” noted Dirk Penasse.
“By ensuring drivers have secure, clean, and comfortable places to rest, we are directly investing in road safety, economic efficiency, and environmental protection.”
The Barcelona meeting underscored the potential for international collaboration. As Brazil looks to integrate lessons from Europe, ESPORG’s model provides a blueprint for structured, future-oriented development. The cooperation between ESPORG and Vibra Energia thus stands as a symbol of shared ambition — to raise the standards for logistics services and recognize truck drivers as the true backbone of global supply chains.
