Roads and Roadside Services

Category Winner

Photo: Chris Cooper

Early on in my career I was continental for some 14 years. This photo of my truck was taken at a Spanish café on the outskirts of Vitoria. Facilities in Europe compared to those in the UK were astronomically different.

Judges' remarks - This photo taken in Spain in the 1980s/90s shows a truck outside some services with text stating “Facilities in Europe compared to those in the UK were astronomically different” – something that truckers continue to say today. It is important to reflect on why this might be, and how we can work to improve services for lorry drivers in the UK.

As a HGV tramper driver I need to find a facility to have a good rest, secure, offering clean toilets and showers, however on a recent visit to a truckstop of the year contestant, having won in the past I was flabbergasted at what I found. The toilet facility was smelly then I encountered the shower room to find dirty, dusty, smelly and mould in the shower cubicle, grr... then I also had the privilege of paying £2.50 for the use, disgraceful and we are expected to put up with this standard. Unfortunately there are many UK road services of this standard. @The Hollies, Cannock

Photo: Ian Ruffet

On a long trip down to Wales and run out of driving time so had to park up. I decided to get the drone out to get some pictures of the area and of my truck. What I didn't realise was how isolated and alone I was which could easily be a metaphors for a lorry driver's life.

Photo: John Harvey

Whilst on break I will do a litter pick. Great to get out the cab and move around and make a positive impact on the environment. I'm part of a group called 'Truckers Cleaning up Britain.'

Photo: Emma Foster-Smith

On route back to my yard from Dublin the roadside services gave me the opportunity to stop and use the facilities that I don’t have access to majority of the day. These services also allow me to stop and meet other drivers, such as my dad who also benefited from the services. A coffee between me and my dad, before us both driving back up the road again after a long day of delivering and collecting goods.

Photo: Taylor Bingham

I call this photo Watford Gap in the Tarmac. It is representative of the state of a significant amount of the services we are expected to rest and sleep in imagine trying to get a good nights sleep with a wheel stuck down that pothole.

Photo: Penelope Boon

I am entering this photo to show the varied definition of ‘roads’ that you might encounter when driving in the UK. Everything from field tracks, loose gravel, tight single lanes to 4 lane motorways. Thank goodness for diff lock.

Photo: Chloë Brooks

Taking advantage of a bit of sunshine on a break with my truck Daisy

Photo: Emma Brown

Avonmouth Bridge, not everyday you get underneath it...

Photo: Chris Taylor

Accommodation on the boat for lorry drivers.

Photo: Ryan Rudd

If you go 1 minute over the ‘2 hours free parking’ at a motorway services a camera picks that up and you get fined. Yet when someone takes an angle grinder to my trailer to rob it ‘there are no cameras covering that area’, and the police don’t investigate. The motorway services in this country are a disgrace. There is zero security and I genuinely dread it when I have to park up in one.

Photo: Michael Marsh