Susie Jones
Nachrichten und Updates • 4 min lesen

Der Red Lion Truckstop - ein Erfolgsmodell

Erstellt: 28.08.2024

Aktualisiert: 28.08.2024

Nur 200 Meter von der M1 an der Anschlussstelle 16 entfernt befindet sich die Raststätte Red Lion. Das Red Lion wurde vor mehr als 30 Jahren gegründet und hat sich zu einem beliebten Ziel für Fahrer entwickelt. Das Gemeinschaftsgefühl, das köstliche Essen und die zahlreichen Einrichtungen machen diese preisgekrönte Raststätte zu einem beliebten Ausflugsziel für Trucker. Ali Sadrudin, der Betreiber des Red Lion, erzählt uns von dem Standort.

"Der Standort kann über 200 Lastwagen pro Nacht aufnehmen. Es gibt eine Hochgeschwindigkeitstankstelle, die nicht nur Diesel und AdBlue, sondern auch komprimiertes Erdgas (CNG) ausgibt. Außerdem gibt es eine neu gebaute, bemannte Waschanlage mit 3 Bürsten für Lkw. Das Freizeitgebäude verfügt über ein Restaurant und eine Bar, einen Laden für Lkw-Zubehör, einen Waschsalon, ein Spielcenter, Geldautomaten, bemannte Duschen und Toiletten sowie Veranstaltungsräume und Versammlungsräume."

Einrichtungen

Manche sehen in den Raststätten nur einen Ort, an dem sich die Fahrer ausruhen können, aber sie spielen auch eine wichtige Rolle bei der Verbesserung des Wohlbefindens der Fahrer. Wir bei SNAP wissen, dass es unerlässlich ist, den Fahrern saubere Einrichtungen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Aber was brauchen Lkw-Fahrer sonst noch?

"Ich glaube, dass die Kunden das Wesentliche suchen, aber richtig gemacht. Gutes Essen, saubere Einrichtungen und Sicherheit für ihre Fahrzeuge und ihre Ladung. Wenn man das bieten kann, wird man zufriedene und wiederkehrende Kunden haben", sagt Ali.

Ein kurzer Blick auf die Facebook-Seite des Red Lion verrät, dass sie dieses Mantra mit Sicherheit befolgen, und es funktioniert. Kommentare wie "toller Truckstop, der beste im Land" und "möglicherweise einer der besten Truckstops in England" unterstützen die über 4.000 positiven Google-Bewertungen.

Sicherheit und Schutz

Köstliche Mahlzeiten und saubere Einrichtungen sind jedoch nicht das Einzige, worauf Ali und sein Team Wert legen. Sie nehmen auch die Sicherheit sehr ernst. Im Jahr 2020 wurden im Vereinigten Königreich schätzungsweise über 4.000 Straftaten in den Bereichen Lkw, Fracht und Ladung verübt, die das Land 250 Millionen Pfund gekostet haben. Standorte wie das Red Lion haben Sicherheitsmaßnahmen eingeführt, um diese Zahl zu verringern.

Ali erklärt: "SNAP hat uns geholfen, die TAPA PSR Level 3 Zertifizierung zu erlangen." Im Februar 2023 wurde The Red Lion mit dem Park Mark Freight Award ausgezeichnet. Ali erklärt uns, welche Sicherheitsmaßnahmen getroffen wurden, um diese Auszeichnung zu erhalten.

"Der Standort ist von vornherein sicher. Wir haben rund um die Uhr bemannte Wachleute, die auf dem Gelände patrouillieren, und eine dritte Partei überwacht die Videoüberwachung. Das Gelände ist von einem 3 m hohen, ununterbrochenen Zaun umgeben, der an allen Stellen von fest installierten Kameras überwacht wird, um unbefugtes Betreten oder Beschädigungen der Zaunfelder zu erkennen. Das Gelände ist außerdem vollständig mit der von der Polizei vorgeschriebenen Beleuchtungsstärke beleuchtet, und es sind strategisch um das Gelände herum Kameras zur Bewegungserkennung angebracht, um jede unbefugte Bewegung zu erfassen und sicherzustellen, dass jeder Teil des Geländes überwacht wird. Ein ANPR-System zur Erfassung von Nummernschildern, die auf das Gelände ein- und ausfahren, und ein Schnellwarnsystem, das die Polizei alarmiert, falls ein Anruf erforderlich ist."

Das Red Lion hat außerdem zusätzliche Maßnahmen ergriffen, damit sich weibliche Fahrer bei ihren Besuchen wohl und sicher fühlen. Annehmlichkeiten wie Frauenduschen, Toiletten und Umkleideräume sind vorhanden. Diese Maßnahmen sind nicht unbemerkt geblieben, denn im Januar 2023 wurde die Raststätte zur besten britischen Raststätte für weibliche Lkw-Fahrer ernannt.

Umsatz und Expansion

Einer der vielen Vorteile für Standortmanager, die SNAP nutzen, ist die verbesserte Rentabilität und Optimierung. Als Gründungskunde von SNAP erklärt Ali, wie SNAP dem Unternehmen seit seinem Beitritt im Jahr 2009 zusätzliche Einnahmen beschert hat.

"Es war ein schrittweiser Prozess über die Jahre, aber da sich die Kaufgewohnheiten der Autofahrer ständig ändern und immer mehr bargeldlos werden, kann ich mir vorstellen, dass sich eine neue Website, die SNAP übernimmt, sofort rentieren würde. Ungefähr 65 % der Gesamteinnahmen der Website stammen von SNAP".

Seit 2009 haben sich die Dinge in der Branche sicherlich stark verändert. Ali erklärt, wie sich die Website an die veränderte Branche und die gestiegene Nachfrage anpassen musste.

"Ursprünglich konnte der Standort nur 130 Lkw pro Nacht aufnehmen, aber 2018 wurde der Standort auf 200+ erweitert, um der gestiegenen Nachfrage gerecht zu werden", erklärt Ali. Für Fahrer und Flotten, die SNAP nutzen, werden diese 200 Plätze leicht buchbar.

Nur vier Jahre später wurde der Standort mit der Einführung einer neuen Lkw-Waschanlage weiter ausgebaut. Die im November 2022 eröffnete hochmoderne Lkw-Waschanlage mit drei Bürsten ist für die meisten Lastkraftwagen geeignet.

Beitritt zu SNAP als Servicepartner

Durch den Beitritt zu SNAP wird Ihr Standort 160.000 Fahrern und 7.000 Fuhrparks zugänglich gemacht. Für Raststätten wie Red Lion, die ständig bestrebt sind, neue Initiativen und Einrichtungen für ihre Kunden anzubieten, bietet SNAP die Möglichkeit, dies zu tun.

"SNAP ermöglichte es der Website, eine alternative Zahlungsmethode anzubieten, die für den Kunden nur von Vorteil sein kann und ihn auf die Website lockt", sagt Ali.

Die Vorteile von SNAP

Über 160.000 Fahrer nutzen das SNAP-Konto. Daher sind hohe Standards unerlässlich. Obwohl es sich bei den Servicepartnern, die SNAP-Kontozahlungen akzeptieren, um unabhängige Unternehmen handelt, überprüfen wir jeden Standort und stellen sicher, dass er unseren Standards entspricht. Darüber hinaus steht unser Netzwerkteam bei Bedarf zur Verfügung.

"SNAP hat uns seit unserem ersten Beitritt immer unterstützt", sagt Ali.

Auf die Frage, was für sie das Beste an SNAP ist, antwortet Ali: "Es ist das Serviceniveau, sie sind weit darüber hinaus gegangen, um das Ticketingsystem an unsere Anforderungen anzupassen."

Und was rät er den Besitzern von LKW-Parkplätzen, die darüber nachdenken, ihren Standort für SNAP-Fahrer zu öffnen?

"Tun Sie es! Warum sollten Sie nicht zusätzliche Kunden auf Ihre Website bringen wollen?"

Melden Sie sich bei SNAP an

Um Ihre Rentabilität zu verbessern und den Betrieb Ihrer Website zu optimieren, besuchen Sie snapacc.com.

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Mittwoch 02 Juli 2025 • Nachrichten und Updates

WIE SICH DIE BRITISCHE INFRASTRUKTURFINANZIERUNG AUF DIE MOBILITÄTSBRANCHE AUSWIRKEN KÖNNTE

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After years of patchy investment and mounting congestion, the UK government has committed to more than £700 billion in infrastructure spending over the next decade – much of it earmarked for the nation’s roads. From new freight corridors to cutting-edge digital traffic systems, the impact of the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy on commercial drivers and the wider mobility industry could be transformational.Roads are just one part of the UK’s transport mix – but they carry the overwhelming majority of goods. , 81% of domestic freight and 75% of imports and exports move by road, making it the backbone of UK logistics and the economy.And, despite making up just over two per cent of the UK’s road network by length, the carries 34% of all road journeys – including many of the most time-sensitive, high-volume freight routes. For the drivers using them, their condition and capacity have a direct impact on safety, efficiency and delivery performance. However, data shows that around 24,500 miles – more than one in every 10 miles – of the network in England and Wales is likely to require maintenance in the next 12 months.A number of recent emergency bridge closures have further exposed how vulnerable the network has become. In some areas, cracked support structures and decades-old concrete have created dangerous conditions for all road users – especially HGVs, which are often the first to face weight restrictions or forced rerouting.The government has responded with a new £1 billion fund to repair and rebuild deteriorating bridges, crossings and flyovers as part of its infrastructure strategy. It’s a welcome step – and one that reflects growing industry pressure. For professional drivers, it could mean fewer detours, fewer sudden restrictions, and less time lost to infrastructure that isn’t fit for modern logistics.But safety isn’t just about avoiding catastrophic failures. It’s also about long-term resilience – ensuring roads, bridges and lay-bys are maintained properly before they become hazards. This renewed focus on maintenance signals that road upkeep may finally start to match the scale, size and speed of the vehicles that depend on it.While high-profile projects dominate announcements, it’s often the everyday condition of the road surface that has the biggest impact on drivers. For those in haulage, potholes are more than a nuisance – they’re a persistent safety hazard and a costly burden.Repeated exposure to uneven surfaces increases wear and tear on HGVs, damages tyres and suspension and contributes to driver fatigue. In some cases, pothole damage has forced vehicles off the road for emergency repairs, disrupting deliveries and affecting service-level agreements.For drivers, the risks are personal. Trying to avoid potholes – especially on narrow or busy roads – can lead to dangerous manoeuvres. Add poor weather, limited lighting or tight delivery schedules and the stakes only rise.As part of its wider infrastructure push, the government has allocated as part of the Plan for Change to upgrade local infrastructure, including potholes, cracked surfaces and worn-out carriageways. The aim is to bring roads up to a safer, more reliable standard – particularly on freight-heavy routes.It won’t fix the problem overnight, but it marks a shift in priorities – recognising that driver welfare starts with the basics, and that a safe, comfortable journey depends on well-maintained roads.For fleets, the knock-on benefits include fewer unplanned repairs, lower insurance claims and less driver downtime. For drivers, it means fewer jolts, less stress and one less thing to worry about on a long shift.Driver welfare is front and centre of modern transport conversation. Long hours, delayed schedules and inadequate facilities have taken their toll. But the government’s latest plans offer hope for a safer, better-connected network.Across the UK, driver facilities have struggled to keep up with demand. Parking is often limited, services are stretched and many rest areas fall short on comfort and security – especially for long-haul operations. That’s why the government is also : more secure parking, better welfare amenities and planning reforms to speed up the development of new sites.At the same time, investment in charging and refuelling hubs for electric and hydrogen trucks is accelerating. Moto, for example, has committed to installing over 300 HGV electric chargers at 23 motorway locations, while Ashford Truckstop is being transformed into a major charging hub for cross-Channel freight. 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Real-time traffic alerts, smart detection systems and better traffic management will help fleet managers and drivers respond quickly to disruptions and reroute where needed. is already laying the groundwork, with smart infrastructure that can detect hazards earlier, manage traffic flows more intelligently and communicate clearer, real-time updates.A step forward for mobility and driver welfare. The coordinated national effort to tackle the UK’s infrastructure backlog and to modernise the roads in a way that benefits the drivers who rely on them most.The real test will be in delivery. 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Mittwoch 18 Juni 2025 • Nachrichten und Updates

WIEDERERÖFFNUNG DER POLNISCH-UKRAINISCHEN GRENZE: WAS FLOTTENBETREIBER WISSEN MÜSSEN

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After months of disruption, freight traffic between Poland and Ukraine is moving freely again. But with tensions still simmering and the threat of renewed blockades on everyone’s minds, fleet operators must remain alert to the risks – and prepared to protect driver welfare on both sides of the border.This article explains what caused the disruption, how it affected drivers, and the steps you can take to reduce the impact if industrial action returns.The situation began in late 2023 when Polish truck drivers began protesting at major border crossings. They claimed that the EU’s decision to waive permit requirements for Ukrainian hauliers – introduced as a temporary wartime measure – led to an influx of lower-cost operators undercutting Polish firms.The protests escalated, blocking key freight routes into Ukraine and trapping thousands of vehicles in queues stretching for miles. At its peak, the blockade left at the border, some waiting more than a week to cross. Non-Ukrainian EU drivers, too, suffered long delays, strained schedules and poor conditions. What began as a logistical dispute evolved into a broader protest by Polish truckers over Ukrainian imports, market access, and the impact of emergency EU transport measures. Polish farmers soon joined in, frustrated by the effect of Ukrainian agricultural products on domestic prices.Polish drivers also for border crossings – known as eCherha – arguing that it put EU hauliers at a disadvantage. While the system was designed to streamline freight movement by allowing carriers to pre-book crossing slots, Polish operators claimed it gave Ukrainian firms greater flexibility and faster access. Issues such as language barriers, limited integration with EU logistics systems and inconsistent implementation left many EU drivers waiting longer at the border, further fuelling the perception of unfair treatment and contributing to the broader unrest. Protests begin at Dorohusk, Hrebenne and Korczowa crossings. More crossings are blocked, including Medyka; three Ukrainian drivers die waiting in queues. The Polish government comes to an agreement to pause the blockade until March. Sporadic blockades resume at smaller crossings. A new four-month blockade began at Yahodyn-Dorohusk but was overturned in court. All major border crossings remain open, but the risk of future disruption remains.In response to the disruption and its wider implications, the Polish government has taken a proactive stance. Border crossings with Ukraine have been designated as critical infrastructure, giving them greater protection from future blockades and helping to ensure the continued flow of freight, humanitarian aid and military support. A new Council for Cooperation with Ukraine has also been established to generally strengthen ties between the two countries. Part of its remit is to improve coordination across trade and transportation. 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Mittwoch 04 Juni 2025 • Nachrichten und Updates

DIE AUSWIRKUNGEN DES STROMAUSFALLS AUF DER IBERISCHEN HALBINSEL 2025 AUF DEN STRASSENGÜTERVERKEHR

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On 28 April 2025, a widespread power outage swept across the Iberian Peninsula, leaving millions of homes, businesses and public services in Spain and Portugal without electricity. The Spain-Portugal blackout, which began at 12:33pm local time, affected major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon and Porto, as well as large parts of the surrounding regions. In some areas, power returned within four to six hours; in others, the disruption lasted well into the following morning.Although the precise cause is still under investigation, early reports suggest a failure in the cross-border transmission network disrupted electricity flow across both national grids. The impact was swift and widespread, halting train services, grounding aircraft, affecting hospitals and public services and paralysing digital infrastructure. For the transport and logistics sector, the challenge was immediate, touching every aspect of road-based operations, from freight and fuel supply to traffic control and driver welfare.“When power fails, so do many of the systems we rely on to keep roads safe – from traffic lights and signage to communications,” says Raquel Martinez, European Sales Manager at SNAP. “For both drivers and fleet operators, the 2025 blackout highlighted just how quickly routine journeys can become high-risk and how important it is to be aware of where drivers can stop to maintain the security of themselves and their loads.”For transport firms, the first and most pressing issue was the suspension of freight movement. Across the Iberian Peninsula, operations at warehouses, fulfilment centres and cross-docking hubs slowed or stopped entirely. International movements were also affected, with trucks held at borders as authorities worked to restore basic traffic control and ensure road safety.With rail freight at a standstill, some operators attempted to shift loads onto the road network, but this brought its own limitations. Congested routes, inoperative traffic systems and patchy fuel access meant that road transport couldn’t absorb the demand. It took several days to clear the backlog and restore supply chain reliability.The Iberian power cuts also revealed the extent to which modern infrastructure depends on digital systems. Traffic lights in major cities went dark, causing congestion and increasing the risk of accidents. Electronic signage, motorway sensors and smart routing systems all failed, depriving drivers of real-time guidance and updates.Toll booths were similarly affected. With automatic barriers and electronic payment systems out of action, staff in some areas had to lift gates manually or collect cash. This led to delays on major routes, lost revenue for toll operators, and concerns about system integrity once power was restored.One of the clearest signs of the sector’s reliance on electricity came at the fuel pumps. As power failed, petrol stations across Spain and Portugal were forced to close. Pumps and payment systems stopped working, leaving only a small number of forecourts with emergency generators able to serve customers. These were quickly overwhelmed, leading to long queues and, in many cases, drivers stranded without fuel.The disruption also extended upstream, with port facilities and fuel distribution networks unable to operate at normal capacity, delaying the movement of fuel to inland areas and further compounding supply issues.For operators of electric vehicles, the outage posed a particular challenge. EV charging across Spain and Portugal were out of service, rendering EVs unusable unless they already had enough charge to complete their route. With no access to recharging, some deliveries were suspended and electric vehicles temporarily taken off the road.For logistics businesses considering the transition to electric fleets, the Iberian power cuts underlined the importance of contingency planning and backup infrastructure to maintain operations during grid failures.Perhaps the most pressing concerns centred around driver welfare. Rest areas and service stations were plunged into darkness – many without lighting, heating, hot food or functioning toilets. Some drivers were left without a safe or secure place to rest during enforced delays.Communication was another major issue. With mobile networks disrupted, drivers struggled to contact depots, request support or access traffic updates. For many, local radio became the only reliable source of information. The situation served as a stark reminder of how exposed the industry can be when critical infrastructure fails.Although the Spain-Portugal blackout lasted less than 24 hours in most places, the disruption to road transport and haulage was significant. The power outage effects on logistics covered everything from fuel supply and infrastructure resilience to emergency preparedness and driver wellbeing. However, it also prompted renewed discussion around how fleet operators can improve business continuity and safeguard their people in the face of similar events.Establishing and testing a robust business continuity plan is an important first step. This should cover communications protocols, fuel access, routing alternatives and vehicle deployment. Where possible, alternative schedules and delivery partners should be identified in advance – particularly for time-sensitive or critical loads.Supporting driver wellbeing is crucial in situations like this. Emergency kits – containing snacks, water, torches, power banks and reflective clothing – can offer reassurance and practical help. “Operators may also wish to review facilities at depots to ensure drivers have safe places to rest, especially during longer delays,” says Raquel. “Knowing that there is a network of truck stops in the region, such as our partner network, can provide reassurance that there is somewhere to stop until the power returns. “Blackouts of this scale may be rare, but the risk is real. Operators must consider how they build resilience and adapt to situations to keep moving – from securing fuel access to re-evaluating route planning and rest provision during emergencies.”We have an extensive network of truck stops and service areas across Spain and Europe.