Road freight crime is increasing throughout Europe, including the Netherlands. It's estimated that this type of crime costs the transport industry 300 million euros annually in the Netherlands alone.

Road freight crime is increasing throughout Europe, including the Netherlands. Criminal gangs are slashing the tarpauline covers, for example, to see whether it's worth their while to steal the cargo. They're also attacking drivers and spraying sleeping gas in the cabin so they can steal the cargo and the driver's possessions. It's estimated that road freight crime costs the transport industry 300 million euros annually in the Netherlands alone.

To fight this crime, secure truck parking areas have been created in several European countries. The Netherlands now has one of these secure parking lots in Alblasserdam, near the port of Rotterdam. The lot was built by the Maatgroep transport company at a cost of two million euros. Drivers pay a euro an hour to park their vehicles, though regular customers can get a smart card, giving them the right to park an entire day for only six euros. Most of the drivers come from the surrounding area, though the company is also trying to attract drivers transporting merchandise to and from the port of Rotterdam. The parking area still isn't making a profit, but on average 60 to 70% of the spaces are occupied every day, and the figure is increasing.

Drivers want more to be built
Drivers who park their vehicles in Alblasserdam welcome this new secure parking area, but they say many more should be built in the Netherlands. European Union rules strictly limit the amount of time drivers can be on duty or at the wheel, and often they wind up sleeping in unprotected and unsafe parking areas. Elco Plaisier of Maatgroep believes Dutch municipalities, provinces and the national government could do much more to establish secure parking areas throughout the country by making land available and helping with the start-up costs.

Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings has made a goodwill gesture, freeing 10 million euros to provide greater security at parking lots. He also recently unveiled a special road sign to help lorry drivers find the new secure parking area near Rotterdam