Germany is introducing further improvements for professional drivers. Thanks to an agreement between transport organisations, drivers will be able to use free toilets, and at selected locations also free coffee, showers and discounted meals. Unfortunately, not every driver will be eligible.

New Facilities at German Truck Stops

Access to adequate sanitary facilities is one of the basic challenges faced by drivers engaged in international road haulage. This is especially true in Germany, where the quality and availability of public toilets along the motorways have long been a source of complaints.

The answer to these problems is a new agreement between the German haulage association BGL and VEDA, an organisation representing the owners and operators of more than 100 Autohof truck stops.

Under the partnership, eligible drivers will be able to use toilets free of charge at participating truck stops. Some sites will also offer additional amenities.

Free Coffee, Showers and Discounted Meals

The programme offers professional drivers several benefits:

• Free access to toilets at truck stops in the VEDA network.
• Free showers at selected sites.
• Free coffee at some service points.
• Meal discounts, helping drivers cut their daily expenses while on the road.

Although these may seem like small perks, over the course of a month they add up to real savings. Just as importantly, they improve the day-to-day working comfort of drivers who often spend many weeks away from home.

Who Is Eligible for the Programme?

To access these benefits, a driver must hold a BGL-Brummi-Card.

The card is available to drivers employed by haulage companies that are members of the German BGL association. It costs just €2 per year.

Interestingly, this is not the first initiative of its kind. Thanks to earlier cooperation between BGL and Tank & Rast, cardholders can already use free toilets at around 400 German motorway service areas, including those operated by Sanifair.

The new agreement further extends access to sanitary infrastructure.

What About Drivers Working for Polish Companies?

Unfortunately, the programme does not currently cover drivers employed by Polish carriers.

BGL represents German transport companies, so eligibility for the BGL-Brummi-Card is limited to drivers working for member companies of the organisation.

This means that drivers carrying out haulage through Germany on behalf of Polish companies still have to pay for many toilets and showers out of their own pockets.

Driver Comfort Should Be the Standard

At Logistic-Evex, we fully understand how demanding the work of an international truck driver is. Covering hundreds of kilometres every day, taking rest breaks at truck stops and spending long periods away from home make access to proper facilities hugely important.

That is why we believe similar solutions should be available to all professional drivers, regardless of the country in which their employer is registered.

A positive step would be the introduction of universal subscription cards that give access to sanitary facilities at truck stops across Europe. Such a solution would also allow employers to offer drivers additional benefits.

The German organisations’ initiative is a step in the right direction. We hope that in the future similar facilities will also be extended to drivers working for Polish haulage companies.