Professional road transport of passengers and goods, in today’s globalised economy, is no longer merely a mode of transport but a vital production tool, interconnecting people and every business to all world markets.

In this context it must be understood that commercial road transport is and will remain dependent on oil with no economically viable alternative for the foreseeable future.

On 26 June 2008, the IRU and its Members held in Brussels an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the growing unrest in the road transport industry worldwide due to the fuel price crisis.

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Dramatic price hikes in fuel over the last two years, due to rising oil prices and burdensome taxation accounting for up to 56% of the price at the pump, are having a devastating impact on road transport operators.

Therefore, the IRU and its Members are calling upon governments and intergovernmental institutions to reduce the overall heavy fiscal burden imposed on road transport operators and to introduce a single professional fuel duty – significantly below the current minimum duty – applicable to all commercial transport industries, i.e. road, air, rail and maritime transport.

• IRU Resolution on the fuel price crisis. Read...
• Road transport industry calls for urgent action to address fuel price crisis. Read...   
• Presentations:

		Emergency Meeting on the Fuel Crisis. Watch... (Powerpoint presentation)
		Road Transport and Oil in the IRU. Watch... (Powerpoint presentation)

• IRU Istanbul Declaration “Road Transport, Driving Peace and Prosperity”. Read... 
• IRU Declaration on the current fuel crisis. Read...
• This is the IRU 2008. Read...
• The IRU and CO2. Read...

Specific policy initiatives

• The new European Commission proposal on commercial fuel duty. Read... 
• IRU Position on road transport and oil. Read...
• IRU Position on the effectiveness of CO2 emission taxation. Read...
• IRU Position on emission trading for the road transport industry. Read...

Background analysis

• Impact of fuel prices on the profitability of transport operators. Read...
• Analysis of the influence of fuel price development on bankruptcy rates. Read...
• Second Generation Biofuel – Still not an economically viable alternative. Read...
• Efficient cost management. Read...

Additional IRU material

	“Did you know…? Fact on Road Transport and Oil”. Read...
	Latest fuel prices. Read...
	Standard contracts for goods transport and coach operators. Read...

Other sources:

	“Bunker Adjustment Factor” by International Transporters Association, UND > website
	Cost development tools by Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung e.V. BGL > website
	Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internationaler Strassenverkehrsunternehmer Österreichs, AISOE > website
	Association des Transporteurs Routiers Hongrois, MKFE > website
	Road Haulage Association Ltd, RHA > website
	Recovery of diesel taxation by Vialtis > website

Read more about IRU Sustainable Development policy

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