Monthly Archives: December 2024

Whether you are just finishing your HGV training and imagining your upcoming jobs or are discussing the best places to stop with others on your ADR training course, knowing the best truck stops in the UK can be valuable! 

So, what are the UK’s best truck stops ranked? 

The experts at HGV Training Network reveal all in this handy guide – so read on to find out where you should stop while out on the road!

What is a truck stop? 

Unlike car drivers who have a choice of motorway service stations and no real obligation to stop during journeys, HGV drivers face very different conditions. 

As a professional HGV driver who has passed CPC training, you will be required by law to take regularly allotted breaks – or risk losing your licence. 

Failure to do so can impact you personally but can also lead to accidents and even fatalities with other road users, most often caused by tiredness. 

Truck stops then, give HGV drivers somewhere secure where they can leave their lorry and go and relax and rest, so they are fully prepared for the next leg of their journey. 

*Are you an existing HGV driver looking for your next role? Consider HIAB training with HGVTN today and enjoy enhanced career progression opportunities! 

UK best truck stops ranked 

With over 328 truck stops to choose from (5% more than in 2017) how did we narrow down our selection to the top 5 in the UK? 

Easy – with our years of hands-on experience, we know just what it takes to be the most enjoyable place to stop!

So, if you want to know where you should be stopping on your future routes, keep reading. You’ll find an expansive facilities list (in ascending order) and a postcode for easy navigation in future, too! 

Honourable mentions

Not quite cracking the top five, our honourable mentions are worth a visit if you are in the area:

Smokey Joe’s Truck Stop – Off the M30 near Redruth

Route 74 – Junction 10 of the M74, South Lanarkshire, Scotland 

Tebay Services – Junction 38 of the M6, Cumbria

Ulceby Truck Stop – Just off the M180, near the Immingham Docks

5. The Trucker’s Rest – WA11 1SF

Offering a family-style welcome and homemade meals, The Trucker’s Rest is located between Junctions 11 and 12 of the M6. 

Recently renovated, there is now a choice of indoor and outdoor WCs and the owners are careful to position refrigerated HGVs further away so everyone can sleep peacefully. 

Just be sure to book your spot in advance to avoid disappointment.  

General facilities include: 

• Shower and WC facilities for men and women – free shower with overnight parking
• Secure parking for 110 HGVs 
• Licenced bar 
• Restaurant with home-cooked meals – offering hot and cold food
• Top food hygiene rating – 5/5 
• Rooms for hire
• Free Wi-Fi 
• Live sports showings
• No EV charging reported

Security features:

• CCTV monitoring

4. Formula Services – CH65 4LB

If you are in the North West for work, you can’t go wrong with Formula Services! 

Found near the Birkenhead and Liverpool ports, just off the M53, it’s designed to be modern and secure – making it known as one of the safest stops in the country. 

General facilities include: 

• 24-hour fuel station
• Top-rated shower facilities
• Secure parking for 120 lorries
• A shop that sells travel essentials and snacks 
• Restaurant on-site offering hot and cold food
• Free Wi-Fi 
• Self-serve kitchen access – if you prefer to make your own meals 
• On-site gym
• Games room
• Laundrette 
• Live sports showings and gaming in the 24-hour lounge – complete with massage chairs
• No EV charging reported but multiple nearby at the National Waterways museum or Cheshire Oaks

Security features:

• 60 CCTV cameras 
• 24/7 manned security guard 
• ANPR camera 
• Fully fenced site 

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3. Ashford International Truckstop (AIT) – TN24 0FL

Found at junction 10 of the M20, AIT is remarkably well-located for haulage drivers using the Folkstone terminals and the Port of Dover.

It is also very large and well-equipped providing a comfortable rest stop for drivers – just make sure you book in advance as it can get busy! 

General facilities include: 

• Fuel station
• Shower and WC facilities – for men, women, and disabled drivers
• Space for a huge 389 parking bays – but book in advance! 
• 24/7 shop, restaurant, and bar 
• Coffee shop
• Well-stocked shop with electricals, food & drink, and medication
• Bar with sports screenings
• Restaurant with a choice of nutritious meals, from carveries and steak to curries and pizza 
• Top food hygiene rating – 5/5 
• Outdoor seating
• Laundrette facilities
• Gym and weights room
• Games room 
• Lounge and TV area 
• Free Wi-Fi 
• Accommodation on-site
• Cash machine
• 4 Ionity EV chargers 

Security features:

Barbed wire fences

50 motion-sensor infrared CCTV cameras 

24/7 security patrols 

2. Chippenham Pit Stop – SN15 5LH

Found off junction 17 off the M4, this family-run business offers respite for those on the east and westbound carriageways. 

Winner of the Best Medium-Sized Truck Stop in 2023, you could find much worse! 

General facilities include: 

• 24/7 refuelling 
• Shower and WC facilities with underfloor heating
• Space for 87 parking bays
• Well-stocked shop with electricals, food & drink, and medication
• Bar with TV 
• Restaurant with locally-sourced hot meals 
• Outdoor gym 
• On-site barbershop
• Top food hygiene rating – 5/5 
• Wi-Fi 
• 4 Ionity EV chargers 

Security features:

• 24/7 CCTV monitoring 
• Night patrols from dedicated security guards 
• Membership with the Park Mark Scheme 

1. Red Lion truck stop – NN7 4DE

Located just off junction 16 on the M1, this Northampton truck stop has been voted the best in the UK by many, including the BBC! 

Described as a little gem and not one to be missed, the Red Lion offers charming, traditionally British hospitality to all who choose to stop there. 

General facilities include: 

• Comfortable separate shower and WC facilities for men and women 
• Secure parking for 150 HGVs 
• Well-stocked shop with HGV essentials, toiletries, and medication
• Bar complete with a beer garden 
• Restaurant with home-cooked meals – offering a choice of cuisines 
• Top food hygiene rating – 5/5 
• Free Wi-Fi 
• Laundry service 
• Cash machine 
• Live sports showings
• No EV charging currently but planning has been granted for 4 electric charging points (offering CHAdeMO and CCS2 charging) 

Security features:

• Infrared CCTV monitoring 24/7
• 24-hour patrols from dedicated security guards 
• Large and high mounting banks to deter intruders 
• Membership with the Park Mark Scheme 
• Security lights 

HGV Training Network – industry leaders for a reason 

HGVTN offers high-quality, effective, and personalised HGV training – while also ensuring current and future HGV drivers are happy, healthy, and up-to-date with all advancements within the industry. 

This includes making sure you know the best places to relax and explore on your allotted breaks! 

For more information about training or for anything else HGV, email the team at contact@hgvtrainingnetwork.com or fill in our contact form and our approachable but experienced staff will be in touch to see how they can help.    

Wondering what trailer you’re allowed to tow with your car?

You’re not alone; plenty of people wonder how to tow trailers safely, what the legal requirements are, and whether there are any specific towing laws they should be aware of.

If you’re unsure, don’t just go hooking any old trailer to the back of your car hoping for the best. Not only could you be putting yourself and other drivers in danger by going above a maximum towing capacity, you might be breaking the law.

At HGV Training Network, we’re experts in HGV training and heavy vehicles in general – including trailers – which is why we offer expert trailer training to equip you with the knowledge and confidence you need to move trailers of all kinds safely. To find out more, get in touch with a HGVTN expert today, or keep reading to learn more.

Am I allowed to tow a trailer with my car?

Whether or not you’re allowed to tow a trailer with your car depends on when you received your driver’s licence:

If you received your licence after the 1st of January 1997, your MAM must not exceed 3,500kg.

If you received your licence before the 1st of January 1997, you can drive a vehicle and trailer with a total weight of 8,250kg (MAM).

What is maximum authorised mass (MAM)?

MAM stands for ‘maximum authorised mass’ but is also sometimes referred to in other ways, such as ‘gross vehicle weight’, ‘maximum towing weight’, or ‘gross train weight.’ In short, it is the maximum weight of a vehicle and trailer combination. 

For example, if your MAM is set at 3500kg, but the combined weight of your vehicle and trailer goes beyond this figure, this is unacceptable.

Exceeding the legally recognised MAM is a serious offence and is punishable with on-the-spot fines of up to £300. When excessive weight becomes a clear danger to other drivers, you may also be summoned to court, which is why having full knowledge of your MAM before travel is essential.

If you’re unsure what your car’s towing capacity is, you can usually find it in your car owner’s manual or attached to your trailer via a sticker somewhere on the body. Beyond this, you should contact your car or trailer manufacturer directly for more information or consult the DVLA.

Did You Know – HGVTN has over 50 professional driver training centres across the country? Click here to see a full list!

What caravan can I tow?

If you’re one of many people in the UK who enjoys a good caravan holiday, you’ll be pleased to know you’re able to tow a caravan with a standard car licence, depending on the weights listed above. 

Once again, if you passed your car driving test before Jan 1st 1997, your MAM (vehicle and caravan total weight) can not exceed 8,250kg.

If you passed your test after Jan 1st 1997, the combined MAM between your car and caravan can not exceed 3,500kg.

You should also ensure your tow bars meet all relevant EU regulations, so that they’re safe to attach to both your car and the caravan in question. If you have any concerns, speak to a HGVTN expert and we’d be happy to enlighten you.

What driving licence do I need to drive a caravan?

In either of the above scenarios, you’ll need a Category B (Cat B) licence – also known as a standard car licence – if you wish to tow caravans.

If you have this licence, simply following the rules and dates outlined above should be enough to keep you safe and legal on the road.

However, the rules change once again if your MAM exceeds 8,250kg:

• If your MAM between your caravan and car exceeds 8,250kg, you will be required to apply to the DVLA for a C1E entitlement. This licence lets you drive heavy vehicles and trailers up to 12,000kg in total weight.
• You will also need to pass a driving test to prove you’re able to handle such vehicles and trailers safely.

To find out more about this test, and the training involved, speak to a member of the HGVTN team today.

Explore trailer training with HGVTN

If you want to tow a trailer or caravan and ensure you’re fully equipped to deal with the added weight, while also being aware of all UK towing laws, speak to HGV Training Network.

We offer professional trailer training and a trailer driving test – as well as horsebox training – so you’re completely prepared to deal with the pressures of driving such vehicles and add-ons safely and competently.

To find out more about towing vehicle training and to book your place, get in touch with HGVTN today.

When beginning your HGV training, trying to understand the differences between manual and digital tachograph cards may seem confusing at first.

Today digital cards are the norm, but manual cards may still pop up from time to time.

Both cards allow drivers to record information, such as miles driven on a shift, but what’s the difference between the two?

Read on to learn more.  

What is a tachograph card?

A tachograph card is paramount in ensuring the safety of HGV drivers and others on the road. It allows domestic driver’s hours rules and weekly rest periods to be monitored and adhered to. Drivers can either use digital printout paper records or an analogue tachograph record sheet, usually depending on the vehicle.

Which digital tachograph card is only available to enforcement authorities?        

A control card is a type of digital tachograph card which is only available to enforcement authorities such as the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) and the police. Control cards can be used to carry out any necessary checks. An example of this might be making sure drivers are complying with working hours rules.

What is a digital tachograph card?

A digital tachograph card is considered current HGV industry standard. These cards can store data, including driver activities like rest breaks. Sometimes they’re called smart tachograph cards.

Similarly to a driver’s licence, a digital tachograph card, also known as a driver’s card, contains information personal to each driver, such as their name, date of birth, expiry date of the card, and a passport style photograph of the driver.

Digital tachograph cards are deemed generally more accurate than manual cards. This is due to reduced tampering risks and being less susceptible to human errors during manual entry, as they record information automatically.

How to use a digital tachograph

Cards can be checked at the beginning of a shift by another staff member. The driver then inserts their digital card into the tachograph to record information. The driver will have three options to work from: availability, break/rest and other (for example, loading or unloading goods). The digital card automatically records data and stores it onto the driver’s smart ID card.

The tachograph card can only be removed at the end of the shift, by law.

How much is a digital tachograph card?

A digital driver card costs £32 initially, with a renewal fee of £19 every five years.

Can I drive an HGV without a digital tachograph card?

It is legally required that HGV drivers use a tachograph card. But in circumstances where a tachograph card has been lost, stolen, broken, or damaged, drivers can drive without a tachograph card for 15 days or longer if necessary.

In these circumstances, drivers must prove that they cannot use their card and must keep Vehicle Unit (VU) records. These records are important if drivers are stopped by enforcement such as the police or Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). Generally, new cards are issued within five days of receiving an application.

While manual cards are still accepted, they are less common, as all HGV vehicles require a digital card due to EU regulations (as of 2006), although analogue tachographs are still in use in some older vehicles.

What is a manual tachograph card?

Manual tachograph cards were industry standard up until around 20 years ago, which have become slowly phased out since 2006. They’re sometimes referred to as analogue tachograph cards. Manual cards use wax-coated paper discs which are inserted into the vehicle to record information. However, manual cards can be more prone to error than digital and are also easier to tamper with.

How to use a manual tachograph card

The analogue tachograph card requires manual entry from the driver. They write their details onto the wax-coated paper disc. Once completed, the driver can insert their card into the tachograph and begin their shift. The card records the vehicle’s speed, distance travelled and driver’s activity, by using a stylus to mark the paper.

At the end of the shift, the manual card needs to be removed by the driver and given to a supervisor or admin, for the information to be recorded properly.

Ready to start your career as an HGV driver?

HGV Training Network is here to guide you through the start of your career and beyond!  For more information regarding the CPC course, the team is available to support you through your training.

Have any questions?

If you have any more questions regarding HGV Training Network or a career in driving, you can get in touch with one of our friendly experts.