|
Secured truck parks
Secured truck parks are, for obvious operational reasons, often enhanced with a range of services developed especially for truck drivers and their vehicles.
Although a fixture of the landscape in many European countries, secured truck parks have only been available in France since late in 2005, at the initiative of private motorway companies. Late in 2006, the first secured truck park in the state-maintained network of roads was opened in Béziers (département 34, Hérault) by Truck Etape, a Vinci Concessions company.
The opening of this 350-space secured truck park was followed by the opening of another in Langres (département 52, Haute-Marne) currently managed by APRR of Groupe Eiffage.
These facilities raise the same issues as truck stops, however. Parking, which until then had been free of charge for transport carriers, has become a paying and therefore profit-driven business. This is due to the security and quality of its design and maintenance.
It is more than likely that the major private players, often operators of a concession, will continue to invest in this sector, especially since the implementation of European Union coordination.
Following the example of the conurbation of Moulins (département 03, Allier), local governments could find a satisfactory and innovative solution to truck stop maintenance, expansion and security issues through a Délégation de Service Public (DSP) tender.
The role of CET – to assist local governments and private firms:
- In their feasibility studies
- In the drafting of technical specifications for invitations to tender
- In their definition and scaling of investments
- In profitability analyses
- In the search for partnership
CET acts through a co-contracting agreement with a consultancy specialising in public procurement.
| 
