Based on an interview with ESPORG, the European Secure Parking Organisation[1] – edited for length by EPA and published in Parking Trend International issue 2-2026 PTI edition.
For decades, truck parking was largely viewed as a practical necessity – somewhere drivers could stop, rest and continue their journey. Today, however, truck parking is increasingly recognised as strategic infrastructure, with implications for road safety, logistics, digitalisation, electrification and even military mobility. As Europe seeks to improve freight efficiency, support the energy transition and strengthen resilience, the role of Safe and Secure (Truck) Parking Areas is expanding far beyond their traditional function.
This evolution is reflected in the work of ESPORG, the European Secure (Truck) Parking Organisation. Through its involvement in the development of an ‘EU Parking Standard’, its advocacy for data sharing and interoperability, and its focus on sustainability and resilience, ESPORG sees truck parking as playing an increasingly important role in Europe’s wider mobility ecosystem.
From Industry Initiative to EU Standard
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the introduction of the EU Parking Standard for Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs).
According to ESPORG, the EU Parking Standard is a good example of how industry expertise can inform public policy. It evolved from strong industry demand and technical groundwork. Early studies, including the 2018–2019 SSTPA study coordinated by ESPORG, highlighted the urgent need for harmonised security and service levels across Europe.
This work led to the establishment of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Safe and Secure Parking Areas. The Commission subsequently formalised the standard through Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1012, which supplements the driving and rest-time rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, as amended by the Mobility Package[2].
For ESPORG, this legal connection is crucial.
Professional drivers must comply with strict driving and rest-time requirements. Without sufficient certified Safe and Secure Parking Areas, operators and drivers cannot legally and safely meet those obligations. Certification under the four-level system – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – therefore serves both as a compliance tool and as a quality benchmark.
“Certification raises standards across the board by creating a common, trusted language for the entire supply chain,” ESPORG explains.
The benefits extend across the logistics ecosystem. Drivers, hauliers, shippers, freight forwarders and insurers all gain a clearer understanding of what to expect from a certified facility. Certification also supports improvements in security measures, operational procedures and service provision while helping build confidence among users.
ESPORG’s role is to translate the legal framework into practical implementation through initiatives such as their EU Parking Academy, pre-audit support and the promotion of certified Safe and Secure Parking Areas throughout Europe[3].
Data Becomes as Important as Physical Infrastructure
Like many areas of the mobility sector, truck parking is becoming increasingly data-driven.
Drivers and fleet operators are no longer simply looking for a parking space. They increasingly need real-time information on parking availability, services, security levels, charging facilities and booking options.
According to ESPORG, “Data is becoming as important as physical infrastructure.”
The organisation strongly supports data standardisation, which is also required under the EU ITS Directive and its Delegated Regulation for information services related to safe and secure truck parking[4]. It advocates for both high-quality static information, such as location, security level and available services, and dynamic real-time availability data provided in a standardised format.
ESPORG’s own parking map already provides an overview of certified and developing Safe and Secure Parking Areas within its network across Europe.
However, challenges remain. ESPORG points to uneven implementation of dynamic data across Member States and sees significant opportunities for collaboration with organisations such as EPA and the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) on common data models that could serve both truck and car parking environments.
For drivers, the benefits are immediate. Better information reduces search times, lowers stress levels and helps users find suitable parking more efficiently.
Truck Parking and the Energy Transition
The transition to electric mobility presents both challenges and opportunities for the truck parking sector.
According to ESPORG, heavy-duty vehicle charging operates on an entirely different scale from passenger car charging. Power requirements are significantly higher, grid connections are often insufficient, and investment costs can be substantial.
Yet truck parking facilities are uniquely positioned to support the transition.
“Truck parking areas are naturally positioned to become energy service hubs because drivers already stop there to comply with driving and rest-time regulations.”
This means charging can be integrated into mandatory rest periods, potentially improving operational efficiency while supporting the wider decarbonisation of freight transport.
ESPORG identifies several challenges that must be addressed, including grid capacity, permitting procedures, financing and business-case certainty. At the same time, it sees opportunities in the form of new revenue streams, improved sustainability performance and the development of multimodal logistics hubs that combine parking, charging and other transport services.
To support this transition, ESPORG launched its Voluntary Green Truck Parking Standard[5] in January 2026. Built upon the existing EU Parking Standard, the initiative introduces four progressive green levels and aims to encourage more sustainable parking operations.
ESPORG sees Safe and Secure Parking Areas as key enablers of the energy transition in road freight.
Planning Around User Needs
While technology and infrastructure are important, ESPORG emphasises that successful truck parking projects must begin with a clear understanding of user needs.
One of the key lessons emerging from truck parking development is that “Infrastructure must be planned around user needs rather than simply around available space.”
According to ESPORG, successful facilities combine location, security, services that support driver wellbeing, operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
The organisation also highlights the importance of blending public and private funding. Many transport infrastructure projects generate wider societal benefits that are not fully reflected in direct revenues. As a result, European programmes such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)[6] and its Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) can play an important role in helping bridge funding gaps and accelerating deployment.
To support operators and investors, ESPORG regularly organises webinars on funding and financing opportunities for Safe and Secure Parking Areas. These events focus on the entire financial lifecycle of a project, from project design and securing finance to construction cashflow management and long-term operational profitability.
Based on such a preliminary comparative introduction, ESPORG and EPA seem to have quite a few opportunities for joint advocacy on topics such as digitalisation, alternative fuels, data standards and sustainable mobility. Many of the challenges facing truck and car parking are indeed converging!
Parking and Europe’s Resilience
Perhaps the most striking example of truck parking’s changing role can be found in discussions around military mobility.
Secure truck parking areas are now recognised as strategic dual-use infrastructure within the European Commission’s Military Mobility Package[7] and the European Parliament’s work on a ‘Military Schengen’.
At ESPORG’s Annual Conference in Brussels in March 2026, policymakers, military representatives and transport leaders gathered to discuss the issue. The conclusion was clear.
“In the context of military mobility, parking is no longer peripheral – it is essential.”
The discussions highlighted the growing importance of dual-use infrastructure. While Safe and Secure Parking Areas are designed primarily for civilian logistics operations, they are increasingly expected to support military requirements in both planned and emergency situations.
Under the EU Military Mobility framework, parking areas may be required to support Host Nation Support operations, including planned movements, refuelling and rest activities. They may also be required to provide priority access during emergencies.
As ESPORG notes, “a facility designed for truck drivers today could tomorrow become part of Europe’s crisis response system.”
This evolution requires preparation, common standards and close cooperation between stakeholders, but it also demonstrates how the role of truck parking is expanding beyond its traditional function[8].
One Parking Ecosystem
Although truck parking and car parking are often viewed as separate sectors, ESPORG sees increasing overlap between the two.
“The strongest connections are digitalisation, electrification, user experience and data management.”
Both sectors are investing in reservation systems, occupancy monitoring, payment integration and real-time information services. Both are adapting to the transition towards electric mobility. And both face growing expectations from users regarding safety, convenience and sustainability.
For ESPORG, these shared challenges create opportunities for greater collaboration across a comprehensive parking community.
As mobility systems become increasingly connected, many of the distinctions between truck and car parking are beginning to blur. Data standards, charging infrastructure, user experience and digital services are becoming common priorities across the wider parking ecosystem.
In conclusion, truck parking has gone from being somewhere drivers sleep to being strategic European infrastructure. In many ways, the challenges facing truck parking are no longer confined to truck parking alone. As ESPORG’s experience demonstrates, issues such as digitalisation, data sharing, electrification and user experience are increasingly shared across the wider mobility ecosystem. These themes will be explored further during EPA’s EU Policy Forum on Mobility & Parking on 24 September in Dublin, where ESPORG General Manager Dirk Penasse will join the interactive session Beyond the “Parking Bubble”: The Value of Cross-Sector Collaboration, moderated by EPA President Theo Thuis.
[1] https://esporg.eu/
[2] See https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/1012/oj/eng.
[3] One may notice similarities with EPA’s own European Standard Parking Award (ESPA, https://europeanparking.eu/espa-off-street/), which is currently being revised by EPA’s Policy & Strategy Committee. These developments will also be presented during the EPA Annual General Assembly in September in Dublin.
[4] See https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/smart-mobility/road/its-directive-and-action-plan/safe-and-secure-truck-parking_en
[5] See https://greenparkingstandard.eu/
[6] See https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/connecting-europe-facility_en
[7] https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/military-mobility_en
[8] An evolution EPA is expected to follow, in line with the Belgian Defense Minister’s call to action during last year’s European Parking Conference in Brussels and as part of Policy Priority 1 of the EPA Manifesto 2025-2030 (https://europeanparking.eu/epa-manifesto-2025-2030/).
