Newsroom

IRU, the world road transport organisation, stressed the importance of an operationally grounded template to make decarbonisation reporting more consistent, usable and clear-cut for industry and governments alike at a recent UNECE roundtable.

With over 1,000 delegates at Kazakhstan's major transport and logistics event this week, IRU highlighted road freight’s transformative role in Central Asia and Eurasia in recent decades, and the need to now focus on the “three Ds” in addition to the overarching “D”, development.

The world’s biggest business-to-business exhibition dedicated exclusively to bus and coach returns to Brussels and IRU is at the heart of it. As a partner of the Busworld Europe Congress 2025, IRU will lead key panel discussions.

The latest Industry Development reports presented during the IRU Presidential Executive meeting in September are now available to members.

As the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union seeks to close negotiations on the long-stalled Energy Taxation Directive, IRU is urging Member States to ensure that all road passenger transport services are treated fairly.

Improving laws, governance, compliance, skills certification and operating conditions to drive safer, cleaner and more efficient commercial road transport is the aim of a new sector reform guide from the World Bank and IRU.

IRU has called on the United Nations to establish global standards for professional drivers, warning that inconsistent qualifications are undermining road safety and efficiency worldwide.

IRU, the European Transport Workers’ Federation and the European Secure Parking Organisation have sent a joint letter to the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President, Roxana Mînzatu, urging concrete steps to accelerate the development of safe and secure truck parking areas across the EU.

In a letter to EU Member States, IRU has urged swift agreement on the Council’s general approach to the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive.

In an urgent letter to the European Commission, IRU is calling for a six-month EU-wide enforcement grace period for the EU’s new customs import control system for goods moved by road (ICS2 release 3), warning of major disruptions at external land borders from 1 September 2025.

The European travel and tourism sector has expressed deep concern over the European Commission’s recent proposal to increase the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorisation fee from EUR 7 to EUR 20 per application, nearly a threefold increase compared to the original amount agreed in 2018.

IRU’s Secretary General outlined three key criteria to ensure that investment in transport is effective at the Global Transportation Investment and Financing Summit today.

IRU welcomes progress on the Package Travel Directive but urges fairer rules for coach tourism operators.

IRU welcomes today’s votes by the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) on new rules for enforcing passenger rights in the EU and in multimodal journeys but warns that some proposals risk placing excessive burdens on bus and coach operators.

IRU joined key EU stakeholders at a high-level Implementation Dialogue on the rollout of the Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2) and the Social Climate Fund (SCF), cornerstones of the EU’s climate strategy.

As global supply chains become increasingly interdependent, regulatory complexity is impeding competitiveness. “Simplify”, the first pillar of IRU’s newly adopted position, Driving Competitiveness – a Collective Call for Action, advocates for a renewed focus on regulatory simplification to improve global trade and transport efficiency and resilience. It follows recent wins at the UN level.

As the EU looks to strengthen working conditions, invest in skills, and modernise infrastructure, IRU and UNTRR met EU Executive VP Roxana Mînzatu to discuss practical solutions for drivers and operators alike.

IRU was at the heart of last week’s International Transport Forum (ITF) summit in Leipzig, championing pragmatic solutions to make road transport not only greener, but also more resilient and competitive in the face of global challenges.

IRU welcomes today’s vote by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee endorsing the provisional Driving Licence Directive agreement reached during trilogue. This follows recent formal approval by the Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives, the first of the EU co-legislators to back the deal. The reform responds to long-standing industry calls to address driver shortages and promote the digitalisation of driving licences while upholding high road safety standards.

IRU’s General Assembly and councils brought together members from around the world for two days of discussions on opportunities to boost competitiveness, mitigate cargo crime, advance decarbonisation, overcome driver shortages and navigate economic shifts.

IRU, the world road transport organisation, has published its 2024 annual report, highlighting key achievements in advancing safe, efficient and sustainable road transport during a challenging year.

IRU and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) have urged European Commission leaders to support the road transport sector by urgently clarifying how EU rules on posted driver pay are applied by Member States.

The European Commission’s proposal for the revision of the Roadworthiness Package is a timely and necessary step to modernise outdated EU rules. It strikes a positive balance between enhancing road safety and embracing digital solutions, while avoiding unnecessary burdens for commercial road transport operators.

IRU’s latest global truck driver shortage report is out. While unfilled positions in 2024 were similar to 2023 due to easing transport demand, alarming figures show a widening age chasm between young and older driver employment rates. But salaries and job satisfaction remain high.

IRU and Lease Europe brought together EU lawmakers and industry leaders in Strasbourg today to chart a realistic path forward to green corporate fleets.

IRU welcomes the EU’s targeted amendment introducing flexibility for manufacturers to reach car and van CO₂ emission reduction targets, but calls for a broader, accelerated revision to support realistic decarbonisation.

Central Asia’s freight transport faces key challenges, but a coordinated regional approach could unlock sustainable connectivity and resilience. Experts recently gathered at an International Transport Forum (ITF) event to assess strategies.

CEOs and senior figures from 30 trucking companies in Canada, Mexico and the US were in Washington D.C. to exchange on cross-border challenges at IRU’s first North American Transportation Forum Leadership Dialogue.

Over 200 policymakers and industry leaders discussed the digital future of EU road transport at the annual IRU spring cocktail in Brussels.

From tourist hotspots to rural areas, everyone is feeling the strain of Spain’s bus and coach driver shortage. Action is needed to turn things around – solutions are already on the table.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Union of Skills Communication and its clear recognition of labour shortages in the road transport sector. This crucial acknowledgment sets the stage for further action.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, particularly the focus on incentives and better infrastructure access to support commercial road transport operators’ uptake of zero-emission vehicles. However, IRU remains deeply concerned about the lack of technology options for road transport – only battery-electric technology is promoted as a clean solution – and the potential purchasing mandates for corporate fleets.

The Council of the European Union’s adoption of its general approaches on passenger rights enforcement and multimodal journey regulation marks a significant step forward in safeguarding passengers and supporting operators. IRU welcomes, in particular, the clarification of the scope and the realistic extension of reimbursement deadlines. However, critical gaps remain, including the need to consider the unique position of small enterprises and set clearer rules on intermediary liability.

IRU, together with two other major transport organisations, has called on EU lawmakers to back critical measures and ensure that EU public transport services remain sustainable and accessible amid a severe shortage of bus and coach drivers.

As the new European Parliament sits for the first time, IRU looks forward to working with MEPs to drive a more sustainable, efficient and innovative EU road transport sector. Priority policy actions are outlined in IRU’s Manifesto.