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"Look, I don't believe what the El Hacho service area is capable of (...) What are you in? A truck with water, soft drinks, sweets, coffee, milk ... Carrier, take whatever you need for free! Let the whole country find out! " One of the truckers who have been carrying hundreds of kilometers on their backs these weeks did not believe what had been found at km 110 of the A-92 at the height of Lora de Estepa (Seville) . In this way, he recounted the surprise for a discovery that has spread like wildfire among the guild and that has turned this restaurant-hotel into a mandatory stopping point for transporters who cross Andalusia .
El Hacho is a family business that with the state of alarm had to shut down. "But we did not want to leave out so many truckers who stop in our service area. Many told us that they couldn't find a place to have a coffee. So we thought ... Let's set a table with some muffins, a cake ... " This is how David Borrego , one of the brothers who manage this business, tells how his solidarity adventure began. This first step became too small and a truck had to be taken out that El Hacho uses for wedding catering .
A 'cuckoo' food truck designed to serve drinks or cocktails nicknamed the 'Gintonetta', as it prays inside "Look that I did not want the sun or the water. And now everything is going to fall ..." Borrego jokes. The El Hacho service area was opened by his father in the early 1980s and has allowed nine brothers to move forward. In large part, thanks to the group of transporters or commercials, who represent 80% of its clientele. It is a crossing point on the A-92 that crosses Andalusia from west to east.
Before closing due to the coronavirus crisis, it was open 24 hours a day . And it continues to do so during the state of alarm, but also in a disinterested way. On the truck there are several signs that make it clear: "Take what you need. We do not accept money . " In addition to others who remember that you must keep a safe distance. "They don't stop passing trucks. We don't want to charge them anything. This is going to be a month or two. Luckily we don't have a mortgage," says the El Hacho hotelier, who also has a hotel with 11 rooms.
This show of generosity differs from the complications that have been encountered by carriers, who on a personal basis or through associations such as Fenadismer and CETM, have denounced the lack of places en route to take a shower or maintenance. The Ministry of Transport recalled through an order the obligation to facilitate the access of these professionals to essential services. Several Autonomous Communities such as Madrid have reported service stations that are prepared to serve essential carriers to guarantee the supply chain. Thousands of drivers who circulate these days without the limit of hours and who have reported other shortcomings such as the lack of masks.
Portables toilets
The Borrego family itself receives them supplied with the pertinent sanitary material made by an association of women from Lora de Estepa . A municipality devoted to the El Hacho initiative that has received a good number of donations for its position. In this one there is water, chocolate, juice, coffee, muffins, sobaos ... And how could it be otherwise, Mantecados from Estepa. But beyond the sweet, David Borrego tells how they try to vary the offer.
"We have made a perolada of chorizo, ratatouille, salmorejo, salads ... Some neighbors have wanted to give us broth. But we say no. We cannot give dishes that have required a lot of previous manipulation . We put it in a tub and take it to vehicles if they need it. " The truck now sports a Spanish flag that uses a mop pole as a mast and was loaned by a carrier. Another has put a stamp on the vehicle.
By law, El Hacho cannot give access to the restaurant's bathrooms, precisely because it belongs to it, which must be kept closed. But they already have a plan B: " We are going to make them portable . There is a company that has taken an interest. We will install the water installation." Yes they are entering a bar for tobacco that they take out of the machine to give to the carriers . In addition, at night they leave the outside light on for their comfort, unlike other establishments that turn them off for savings. They also have a disinfection and cleaning service for transport.
Their activity, far from ceasing, has remained on the rise, which has led them to recover two of the 13 workers who, like so many other Spaniards, had been included in an ERTE. They help them take turns and give rest to the Borrego, who see the future with uncertainty, although now all their efforts are in the present: "When this is over, we will most certainly return little by little. I don't think that all of a sudden and porrazo let's go to open the business. We will do it with turns of clients. In a progressive way. But now the important thing is them, the truckers or the toilets, all those who are on the front line . "
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