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IRU welcomed a high-level Chinese delegation in Geneva, bringing together automotive associations CATARC and CASIC, as well as companies BYD, Huawei, Xiaomi and Great Wall Motor, for an in-depth exchange on the global road transport sector.

Efficient borders, modern regulation and stronger professional standards must advance together for Eurasian transport corridors to deliver their full economic potential, experts stressed at the IRU-UN-OHRLLS dialogue in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Diesel pump prices have eased slightly from their late-September record, but they are edging up again. Wholesale market diesel is back where it was a month ago, at around USD 200 a barrel. What has changed is what makes up that price: the refining premium that drove it in September has halved, and higher crude and shipping costs have taken its place. Crude is flowing out of the Middle East again, but diesel is not, and refineries elsewhere are already running close to their limits. The IEA now e

New IRU Secretary General Habib Turki and UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean have held their first bilateral meeting, setting out priorities to strengthen their longstanding partnership, accelerate digitalisation and expand the reach of international road transport conventions.

The digital ECMT permit system is proving how paperless processes can simplify international road transport. At the latest ITF Group on Road Transport meeting in Rome, IRU called for that momentum to extend to eCMR, eVisas and other cross-border tools, while warning that unresolved AETR issues risk undermining the multilateral permit system.

IRU regrets the Irish Presidency’s intention to cut transport funding under the Connecting Europe Facility. Europe’s competitiveness, climate and security ambitions depend on stronger infrastructure investment.

What does it take for a town to welcome coaches? IRU member the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) answers that question through its Coach Friendly scheme. It accredits destinations that invest in coach parking, signage and facilities, and encourages local authorities to plan for coaches.

IRU and Transport & Environment (T&E) are calling on the European Commission to establish a supportive EU framework for semi-private charging as part of the upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

IRU’s two new EU position papers call for semi-public depot charging and 30-day payment terms for road transport services. They address two practical conditions operators need to invest in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure: charging access and predictable cash flow.

The Convenience Express initiative shows how digitalisation, flexible services and coordinated branding can modernise intercity coach transport. Passenger numbers have risen significantly, with some routes increasing more than tenfold. Even some previously discontinued routes have been revived.

The world road transport organisation distances itself from any claims or attempts to suggest that there is a unified position among road transport operators across the EU calling for EU-level intervention on subcontracting.

At the 39th session of the UNECE Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics, IRU highlighted how TIR trucks can turn international transport corridors from lines on a map into resilient operational trade routes.

IRU brought the perspective of the coach and bus sector to the CIVITAS Forum 2026 in Thessaloniki, Greece, highlighting the need for coordinated urban access rules, investment in infrastructure and modernised skills to make urban mobility more sustainable, inclusive and connected.

Belgian innovation goes beyond chocolate. Through a series of initiatives led by IRU member the Belgian Federation of Bus and Coach Operators (FBAA), the sector is helping destinations manage visitor flows, improve accessibility and develop new tourism products.

How can road transport operators reduce trade costs, improve efficiency and strengthen their competitiveness? Join industry leaders in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 14 October to explore practical solutions for more efficient, professional and resilient road transport.

Artificial intelligence, automation and greater connectivity can help road transport respond to major challenges. But successful deployment will depend on common standards, trusted governance and keeping people at the centre, IRU President Radu Dinescu told transport leaders in Seoul.

IRU’s Commission on Innovation and Technology (CIT) brought together members and industry experts in Brussels to exchange views on the technologies, regulatory developments and practical challenges shaping the future of commercial road transport.

IRU’s Commission on Social Affairs has laid out its priorities for the year ahead on key social policy areas, including driver shortage, compliance and expanding workforce diversity.

The shortage of drivers is a major constraint on the industry, with implications extending far beyond road transport. Local recruitment efforts must be accompanied by legal driver mobility pathways, IRU said at the Budapest Process meeting on legal pathways for migration in Islamabad, Pakistan, this week.

Road transport operators need effective access to the data generated by the vehicles they own, lease and operate. But how can this be achieved while protecting manufacturers’ intellectual property and maintaining cybersecurity and vehicle safety?

IRU has launched a new practical toolkit to help road transport companies unlock its largest untapped recruitment pool.

IRU and the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities (EMTA) are urging the Irish Presidency and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to fix key provisions in the Industrial Accelerator Act's proposed “Buy European” rules for electric vehicles. They warn that the current approach risks forcing working electric buses off the road and penalising public transport operators and authorities that bought them in good faith.

More than 50 experts from across the road transport ecosystem came together this week for the second edition of IRU’s Innovation and Technology Event. They explored avenues to unlock eCMR uptake.

A beautiful landscape, a historic town or a unique visitor attraction does not automatically attract coach groups. What does? We asked Anna Grönlund, Deputy Managing Director of the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation (Sveriges Bussföretag) and Vice President of IRU.

Europe is redefining the future of tourism. The forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy is an opportunity to build a tourism model that is greener, more resilient, more inclusive and more beneficial for local communities. Achieving these ambitions will require looking beyond traditional assumptions and recognising the transport solutions that are already delivering tangible results.

IRU’s latest global driver shortage report finds that recruitment difficulties are worsening, with the shortage topping operators’ concerns across most surveyed markets.

IRU takes note of the Council’s agreed negotiating position on the grids package as an important step towards strengthening the EU’s energy infrastructure to support electrification and decarbonisation.

How has IRU changed over the past 30 years? This was the question we put to IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto as he prepares to hand over to his successor.

IRU welcomes the launch of the European Commission’s final Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport call under the current 2021–2027 EU budget, which provides dedicated funding for three long-standing priorities of the commercial road transport sector: alternative fuels infrastructure, external border efficiency and digital innovation. The package includes EUR 130 million for alternative fuels infrastructure, EUR 20 million for external border-crossing improvements, and EUR 20 million for digi

Protect the North American trade deal, modernise borders and keep goods flowing. That was the message from IRU’s recent North American Transportation Forum webinar. The discussion focused on the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), also known as CUSMA in Canada and T-MEC in Mexico, as the three countries move through the agreement’s six-year review process.

A new industry initiative is injecting fresh momentum into the uptake of eCMR, the UN digital consignment note standard, targeting interoperability across vendors, users and countries.

The Netherlands is not yet facing the same acute truck driver shortage seen in some European markets. But a deeper structural challenge is already taking shape. We spoke with Nadia Goverde, HR Director at IRU member Jan de Rijk, to better understand how Dutch operators are experiencing the shortage and preparing for the years ahead.

IRU brought the voice of commercial road transport operators to POLITICO’s Energy & Climate Forum in Brussels, joining European Commissioners, national policymakers, members of the European Parliament, industry leaders and energy experts in discussions on Europe’s energy, climate and competitiveness agenda.

IRU and a cross-sector industry coalition have called on EU policymakers to prioritise infrastructure, investment support and enabling conditions in the transition to zero-emission corporate fleets.

At a recent TIR roundtable in Geneva, IRU members from across Eurasia discussed how to strengthen corridor connectivity, address bottlenecks and accelerate digitalisation.