Safer refugee services in Africa: World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Safety is at the heart of our work. For decades, we, together with our members, have worked to make road transport safer for everyone, including for drivers operating vital life-saving services.
European Parliament endorses a balanced solution on platform workers
The European Parliament has officially approved the provisional agreement with the Council on the Platform Workers Directive at today’s plenary session. Pending confirmation from the Council, the focus now shifts to Member States.
Parliament backs EU’s overly ambitious new heavy-duty vehicle CO₂ targets
Despite a last-minute push for technology neutrality, the European Parliament’s plenary vote on CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles fails to recognise other solutions that can play a role in decarbonising the commercial road transport sector.
Driving change: Key takeaways on zero-emission freight in and around cities
In the second of a three-part webinar series, IRU and POLIS brought together European leaders working to achieve carbon neutrality in road freight transport in and around cities. The group debated key issues on the complex road to 2050.
IRU unpacks latest bus and coach developments in Mexico City
At the coveted biennial Expo Movilidad, IRU discussed key decarbonisation, digitalisation and driver shortage challenges and opportunities with leading bus and coach companies, manufacturers, suppliers and public authorities.
Vote beyond myths: Back EU transport committee’s pragmatic licence position
Young professional drivers in the EU have been the target of a misguided safety campaign. The European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) provides concrete steps to address the EU’s youth unemployment and driver shortage while carefully considering and addressing road safety aspects. Its vision should be endorsed by the plenary.
EU transport committee OKs new CO₂ incentives but ignores proven solutions
IRU welcomes today’s European Parliament Transport Committee vote on vehicle weights and dimensions. They confirmed key CO₂ emission incentives, but, disappointingly, placed additional obstacles against wider use of European Modular System vehicles.
EU environment committee backs mixed deal on heavy vehicle CO₂ standards
IRU takes stock of today’s vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles. It is a mixed bag for the commercial road transport sector.
Protecting animals during transport: EU needs better, more applicable rules
IRU’s EU goods transport members have unanimously approved the organisation’s position on the European Commission’s proposal to amend rules governing the protection of animals during transport.
From long-haul to last mile: IRU and POLIS tackle zero-emission logistics
What are the challenges and opportunities facing the European logistics sector’s journey to carbon neutrality? IRU and POLIS will address your pressing decarbonisation questions during a three-part webinar series. Join us tomorrow for part one.
IMERA: IRU welcomes needed EU deal on crisis management protocol
The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on a new crisis coordination framework requiring Member States to be transparent on their crisis measures. This now needs to happen in practice.
French protests: European Commission weighs options with IRU
IRU and its member federations from France, Romania and Spain have met with EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean on actions to protect drivers and road transport services amid the ongoing French farmer protests.
Global driver shortages: 2023 year in review
In 2023, IRU, backed with on-the-ground information from its members, continued to report and analyse global driver shortages: a chronic issue threatening mobility networks and supply chains. This article offers an overview of some of IRU’s efforts to analyse the situation, raise awareness and advance solutions.
IRU welcomes EU Passenger Mobility Package but warns on operator burden
IRU welcomes the new EU Passenger Mobility Package to improve passenger rights across all transport modes. But many bus and coach operators will struggle to cope with a heavy additional burden on their IT and digital system resources.
Transport companies and unions sign sustainability and just transition pact
IRU and ITF have reinforced their commitment to drive a just transition and improve the accessibility and attractiveness of the commercial driver profession with a Just Transition for Transport pledge.
EU road transport industry supports cross-party coach driver agreement
Ahead of Thursday’s vote in the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN), IRU urges MEPs to vote in support of the compromise amendments tabled by TRAN’s lead rapporteur on driving and rest time rules for coach drivers, making the much-needed distinction from rules set for truck drivers.
Mongolian president meets IRU for high-level talks on trade and transport
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto and the President of Mongolia have held high-level talks on measures to further streamline trade and professionalise the country’s road transport industry.
Operators, drivers and parking groups call for urgent EU truck parking deal
The ongoing revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation is of critical importance to the EU’s road transport sector. An agreement between legislators is desperately needed, followed by commitment from Member States.
European Parliament backs intelligent systems, EU states must now step up
IRU welcomes the endorsement of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) directive by the European Parliament's plenary. Member States must now provide complete and up-to-date publicly available traffic data to users.
European Road Freight Rate Benchmark Q2 2023: spot rates drop below contract rates for first time in 6 years
The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index for Europe shows that the Contract Rate Index is down 0.2 points quarter on quarter, although it remains up 2.8 points year on year. Meanwhile, the Spot Rate Index is down 3.5 points quarter on quarter and down 7.5 points year on year.
New tachograph partially ready for EU deployment, IRU asks for grace period
Starting today, the new smart tachograph version 2 (SMT2) is mandatory for all newly registered commercial heavy-duty vehicles. But given the delays in the availability of SMT2 devices, IRU is asking the European Commission to recommend that Member States provide a grace period until the end of 2023 to prevent the blockage of tens of thousands of new trucks and coaches.
IRU outlines decarbonisation transition scenarios in United Arab Emirates
The latest UAE National Dialogue for Climate Ambition, focused on mobility, took place this week in Abu Dhabi. IRU outlined key scenarios to achieve net zero CO₂ emissions in commercial road transport.
EU emergency mechanism must guarantee freedom of movement
Today’s European Parliament vote will help to preserve the free movement of people and goods in the EU in the event of future emergencies. Restrictions on mobility and logistics services must be avoided at all costs.
MODALES delivers low-emission driving techniques
There are plenty of proposed legislative and technological solutions to reduce road vehicle emissions. The EU-funded MODALES project took a different approach: it focused on driver behaviour. The results are now in.