A Night in the Container

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Indeed, thanks to a contact from one of the few WhatsApp groups I have been part of, I got the chance to spend a night in such a container. But I was not the only one who was allowed to sleep there that night.

Roatel

The company Roatel from Düsseldorf is a start-up offering such accommodation options. Currently, there are 4 locations (besides Bremen, Schopsdorf, and Lutterberg, Löningen is being added) where it is possible to stay overnight in such a converted 45ft high cube shipping container. A further 5 locations are currently in the planning/stage of development. I was able to spend my night in Bremen, right next to an excellent bakery called Backhaus, where we also made recordings with Radio Bremen yesterday; a place I couldn’t miss even when driving my truck whenever I was in Bremen. The downside is that it’s closed on weekends, which is actually a pity.

Truck Stops and Service Areas are Target Locations

As is usually the case, the wildest speculations arise on social networks regarding this accommodation option.

Also concerning the locations of the containers, as they are not infrequently criticized for lacking cooking facilities for coffee and food. One has to go back to the truck again.

However, the containers are not just placed somewhere in nowhere. Except for the one in Bremen in the GVZ (Goods Vehicle Zone), the other already installed containers are located on or at truck stops. And that is exactly where they are meant to be, or also on the premises of service areas. So no one needs to cook anything themselves on weekends. Especially considering that in Holland alone, one has to expect a fine if one goes to the truck during this time.

The Booking

The booking itself takes place online via a computer or simply from the road via the mobile phone. Select a location, arrival date, and the number of nights you want/need to stay, and then it can continue. Payment can be made by the employer or dispatcher with a credit card.

Price / Performance

For each overnight stay, 49 € are due (Update: The prices have also increased slightly here. It is now 53 € per night). But what do you get for that?

A bed, shower and toilet, free television with over 1000 channels from all over the world. Breakfast is not included in the price, but still a full 2 € cheaper than the lowest offer on a comparison website.

The room itself, due to its size of around 7.5 m², is certainly not a party house. You are only supposed to sleep inside and, according to legal regulations, not sleep in the truck. That many prefer to do so anyway is clear to me, but that is not what this is about. Nor is it about the sense or nonsense of the Mobility Package. One can thank those who pushed this mess through for that. And yes, I know, it was only a compromise solution. Whatever. Back to the topic.

My Experiences

In Bremen, it was very stormy at that time. Sure, you hear that even when staying overnight in the truck, so also in the container. However, here you hear the noise from outside a bit quieter. I did not hear my room neighbour, nor his television. However, you hear the noise from outside a bit quieter here.

The room itself has a floor area of approx. 7 m²; the truck currently has slightly over 4 m² depending on manufacturer and age of the vehicle.

The equipment, as can be seen in the pictures, not only makes a high-quality impression, it also feels like that. The mattress has, like at home, a width of 90 cm, a length of 200 cm, and is, if I understand correctly, replaced at regular intervals.

With this container, the problem does not yet arise currently; in Bremen GVZ, this one has only been standing there for a week. Not everything that shines is gold

From the basic principle, the whole thing is a good way to comply with the legal requirement of not having to spend the regular weekly rest period of 45 hours in the truck. Leaving aside the current density of inspections for now, the offer in immediate proximity in Bremen regarding food and drink is certainly not very large. That means I have to go back into the truck to eat, because the Backhaus is closed on weekends. I can really only recommend the place!

However, there are considerations from the owner’s side to set up vending machines outside, which would then be filled with the treats of the Backhaus. However, there is no fixed date yet when the vending machines will be installed. Oh, before I forget: If anyone still has a small used 6ft container, the Backhaus is looking for one 😀 Cheaper breakfast for Roatel guests

There is a discounted breakfast specifically for Roatel customers. It consists of the following:

Rustic Backhaus Breakfast

• 2 rolls
• Scrambled eggs
• Various types of ham
• Salami (turkey)
• Butter
• Pot coffee

All of this then for 6.00 € instead of 7.40 €.

Further in the text. There is no space for smokers in the room, meaning you have to go outside to smoke. Here, at least in Bremen, there is also no ashtray outside. I hope it doesn’t end up looking like elsewhere and cigarettes pile up there.

Although I had been warned that the ventilation could be heard, it wasn’t loud, but still annoying for me! There was a constant low humming in the background that disturbed my sleep, especially with the air conditioning that I forgot to turn off.

However, here too, they promise to improve things 😀 How should I conclude this…

All in all, it was an experience that allowed me to form a better opinion about the various speculations circulating on social media. After all, unlike others, I was now able to spend a night sleeping in such a container, aside from the humming of the fan.

In my opinion, the space is sufficient; you don’t drag your entire household with you anyway, so for one bag and possibly a laptop if available, there is room in the room.

You are not supposed to live in these containers until the end of your life, but only spend your 45-hour weekly rest period there, so that there are no problems. After all, unlike in other European countries such as Belgium, here in Germany, drivers are also asked to pay up if authorities were to inspect. And suddenly, under certain circumstances, 500 € could be gone.

But as you can see on weekends in every larger industrial area and even along the motorway parking lots, many drivers spend their regular weekly rest period of 45 hours in their trucks, rarely seeing anything from inspection authorities, and even less so that they take action against it.

I personally find the idea behind this concept brilliantly solved: I have a TV, I have a bed, I can use the toilet when needed, and there is also a shower. Moreover, I can open the room door with my smartphone, or if the driver cannot do it, the dispatcher can do so from the office, provided they are there. But it’s not that difficult.

You receive a booking confirmation; the rooms are ready for occupancy from 3 PM. At this time, you also get another email with which you can check in and open the door. Everything is actually very simple. It even works for those with technical dyslexia.

While writing this article, I looked at the comments on Facebook and could have hit my head against the table again.

Many opinions there could benefit from more knowledge. The concept is poorly spoken of due to lack of background information or simply because it is an overseas shipping container, and that only by people who are not affected anyway, as they spend every weekend at home. Most act as if this contribution and also the one on Buten un Binnen would cause every driver to stop coming home for the weekend and sleep in a container. For the German driver, this will hardly or rarely happen, because there are only a handful of logistics companies where this could occur. Therefore, there is much fuss about nothing. I can understand that someone who does not want to sleep there would rather be at home. Drivers who were forced to spend their weekend break illegally in their truck would also like to do so. And even if I step on the toes of those who would most gladly live in their truck for the rest of their lives, the driver belongs there.

📌 Important

No, I am not trying to sell anything here. It is only about whether one can comfortably spend their 45-hour weekly rest period in such a room. And yes, that is possible. No one says you must spend all 45 hours there. But you can! Of course, it is better if drivers come home for the time. If they don’t, then a Roatel like this is a good solution.

Oh, and about payment

I can only mention again here: it is not the driver who must provide accommodation for the “weekend,” but the company owner. The owner must also pay for everything. Not the driver.

That practice currently looks different, I know that too. And as long as our control authorities do not get their act together and guarantee the implementation of the Mobility Package, nothing will change there. So dear BAG, dear regulatory offices, let’s move: inspections put money into those supposedly empty coffers!

📝 Note

The fact that there are still “exceptions” is irrelevant for this contribution, nor is it relevant that it is not in the Mobility Package but has been in force since 2007 under Regulation (EC) No 561/2006. Whatever. It is not a format for us truck drivers, but for the uninformed general public. And the information provided is completely sufficient for that.

Radio Bremen can conclude

Yesterday, on January 31, 2022, there was also a report on Radio Bremen in the TV show Buten un Binnen. Here it must be explicitly mentioned that the introduction was not wrong, but also not entirely correct. However, due to limited broadcast capacity, the most important points were covered, and even the part about the 45-hour weekly rest period is completely accurate. After all, such reports are made for regular citizens who know nothing about our job, not for the “expert community.”

And here you can go to the TV contribution from Radio Bremen: Currently only visible on YouTube .