Summary and Conclusions by Mr. David C. Green

"Road Transport - the Essential Element to Improve Mobility" Summary and Conclusions by Mr. David C. Green IRU President Brussels, 20 May 2000

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While we still have some surprises for you up our sleeves, I think that we can already conclude that the challenge issued to Martin and his staff as well as our Belgian hosts 2 years ago in Marrakesh was met with flying colours.

IRU Congresses, and I should add "International Exhibitions", are truly becoming the global road transport event not to be missed!

For the tireless efforts required to achieve this growing reputation, I would like to thank our Belgian friends from FBAA: Paul Laeremans, who did a splendid job Presiding over this Congress, Yves Mannaerts and Annie D'Handschotter and from FEBETRA: the man with the golden voice Rémy van Ransbeeck, as well as Philippe Degraef and Marleen Heyman.

Let me also extend my deepest gratitude to our Congress partners, IVECO and VDO Mannesmann. Their commitment and efforts to make this a great event will be remembered by us for a very long time.

Let it be known that our expectations for 2002 in Bucharest and 2004 in Kyoto have just gone up yet another notch!

But that is for tomorrow. Today, what can we conclude from our proceedings? Moreover, what must we do to ensure the mobility of people and goods 2000+?

• Mobility must be seen as a modern day expression of liberty and freedom, and thus as a fundamental human right. Policy makers should consider that restrictions on mobility constitute an infringement on individual rights and a hindrance to economic growth.
• Improved transport links and particularly high quality roads are an essential means of ensuring the mobility of people and goods. Governments must recognise that making best use of existing infrastructure, eliminating bottlenecks and providing additional infrastructure are key if we are to realise the economic, social and environmental goals of sustainable mobility.
• The IRU and its Member Associations must continue their commitment to work in partnership. Initiatives such as the IRU Agenda for sustainable development, the IRU Safety Management Manual and the IRU Academy, will ensure the provision of high quality, reliable, cost effective and environmentally friendly road transport services.
• Our historic strength has been the adaptability of road transport to meet its customers’ needs. In a world dominated by change and new ways of doing business, we will need to redouble our efforts to confront those demands; remaining competitive requires not just improved transport efficiency but the creative ability to add value in related parts of the business.
• Road transport's governmental partners must recognise solutions will not be found acting unilaterally. Nor will we achieve sustainable mobility by penalising and restricting road transport. Trucks, buses, coaches and taxis are part of the solution not part of the problem. All relevant players have to work together to find and implement complementary policies. Learning and borrowing from industry success stories and best practice, governments must recognise that incentives are the most effective way of delivering sustainable mobility.
• In a globalised economy, competitive distortions due to higher transport costs threaten the mobility of goods and put business at risk. The study conducted by KPMG demonstrated that with transport costs 279% higher in Europe than elsewhere, European policy must focus on eliminating obstacles to road transport or face the consequences of losing production and jobs to other parts of the world.
• Ensuring the mobility of people and goods requires us to work with our governmental and commercial partners to make best use of IT and changing technologies. The aim must be to reduce or eliminate excessive transport documentation, and make operations safer and more efficient.
• Road transport's modal partners must view our industry as their best ally in the creation of commercially oriented multi-modal transport services. The road versus rail argument has for too long dominated transport debate; in the 21^st Century co-operation is the only way to ensure sustainability.
• Noise and emission levels have already shown dramatic gains through improved vehicle technology. We must continue to work closely with our equipment suppliers to accelerate those improvements in the years to come.
• It is clear that only by building effective public-private and business-to-business joint partnerships that the IRU and its members will be able to play their full role in achieving the sustainable mobility of people and goods. And in so doing, we will contribute significantly to uniting mankind, allowing underdeveloped regions to flourish; and maintaining a level of profitability in the road transport sector that enables the continuation of efficient, high quality and environmentally friendly services for the benefit of all.
  

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Ladies and gentlemen, before I ask you to come join me and Martin on stage for the signing of the IRU Mobility 2000+ Declaration, which reflects these conclusions and the path we must follow if we are to succeed in our mission, I want to highlight one last point.

Our profession is a great profession. Our profession is the backbone of modern life but society does not understand the irreplaceable role road transport plays in ensuring the mobility of people and goods. Moreover, the benefits of pursuing a career in road transport are frequently overlooked….. we particularly need to attract dynamic young, committed drivers to the profession.

Drivers, as the Grand Prix d'Honneur demonstrates, are modern day heroes. Drivers are the ambassadors of our profession. They are the human contact between shippers and receivers. International drivers represent today perhaps one of the last truly adventurous professions.

The IRU recognises their crucial importance to our businesses in providing increasingly complex and high quality services…and for achieving sustainable mobility!

As a tribute to drivers, we would like to show you a video presentation of a very special couple, Paola and Flavio Borra from Italy, who exemplify everything that is positive about the profession and are model drivers that we are proud to promote. May I draw your attention to the screens for "TIR for Two".

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Before John asks you to join us on stage to sign the IRU Mobility 2000+ Declaration, I want to stress that what we are about to do demonstrates the commitment of our industry to work together. It demonstrates the commitment of our industry to work with our governmental partners. And, it demonstrates the commitment of our industry to work with our commercial partners, all with the aim of tackling the challenges of the future.

Working together we can ensure the mobility of people and goods 2000+!

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