Version 2 of the free Truck Parking Europe app available

Version 2 of the free Truck Parking Europe app provides its truck driver community with a wide range of new functions helping drivers to find suitable truck parking spaces. These new features allow them to find, assess, add and edit information on truck parking facilities even more easily. Moreover, drivers can now enter the occupancy status of HGV parking spaces. Version 2 is available for iOS 7 and Android.

Truck Parking Europe is Europe's largest free platform for truck parking facilities. The constantly growing parking database contains both officially designated truck and motorway parking spaces as well as other suitable parking spots, e.g. in industrial areas, all updated and verified by its community and Truck Parking Europe's editorial team. Numerous new functionalities offer more added value. For example, the evaluation function shows drivers which parking spots they should avoid and which are preferable, and which ones are lit, supervised or next to supervised areas such as factory sites. The app, which has been downloaded more than 15,000 times, now includes 12,000 truck parking spaces.

New: Drive mode

The new 'Drive Mode' function shows parking spaces along the route that drivers can reach with a maximum detour of six kilometres (there and back). All they have to do is to enter their direction of travel (e.g. direction 'Rotterdam'). The list is then updated continually during the journey and shows the distance and additional detour to the parking spaces. The calculation is based on the road network suitable for truck movements and the actual route. Thanks to Truck Parking Europe's unique routing intelligence it only shows matching results.

Moreover, drivers can enter their remaining driving time to see which parking spaces can still be reached. The radius search for parking spaces can now be performed for the driver's present location or for a point on the map. The coordinate or address of the parking space selected by the driver can be sent to the navigation system installed on the smartphone.

New: Occupancy status

Another helpful feature is the new function 'Occupancy Status' of HGV parking spaces. This function can be used within a 1,200-metre radius. Parking spaces for which occupancy information is available are shown on the map and lists in green (sufficient space), yellow (official parking space occupied), and red (no vacancy). Depending on how old the notification is, the icon will become paler. The status will expire after a maximum of 3 hours.

New: Incentives for active users

The app is based on an active community – and active users will now be rewarded: There are points for creating parking spaces (10 points), modifying and rating (2 points) and notifying of the current occupation status (1 point). Drivers can view the rankings and compare their points with others – weekly, monthly or in the all-time ranking. The most active users can win attractive vouchers, for example at petrol stations, and Truck Parking Europe coffee mugs (limited edition).

Moreover, it is now even easier to create a notification for unsuitable parking spaces. When entering new parking facilities, existing parking spaces can be viewed in order to prevent duplicate entries.

Stephan Ruppert, Product Manager, PTV Group, says: "We will of course continue to update the app with new functions. So the next step will be to link the app to current parking reservation systems, enabling truck drivers and dispatchers to find truck parking spaces even more easily."