The future of passenger transport: Busworld Europe 2025
IRU has wrapped up a successful week at Busworld Europe 2025 in Brussels, driving policy dialogue and industry collaboration on key issues shaping the future of passenger road transport.
European organisations warn against disruptive zero-emission truck mandates
Four leading European associations representing the road transport, freight forwarding, shipper and cold chain sectors have jointly called on the European Commission to avoid introducing mandatory zero-emission truck demand targets, warning that such measures risk disrupting Europe’s green transition if enabling conditions are not yet in place.
IRU welcomes Eurovignette amendment, but urges improvements in new proposal
The European Parliament’s vote on the Eurovignette amendment is a clear step in the right direction. However, further work is needed on the new proposal to ensure a fair and effective path to decarbonisation.
Balanced implementation needed as EU updates road charging directive
IRU acknowledges the Commission’s new proposal on EU tolling rules but underlines that fair and balanced implementation is vital to ensure decarbonisation goals do not come at the expense of road transport operators’ competitiveness and Europe’s supply chains.
Road transport is like electricity: IRU to Almaty
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.
IRU leads policy discourse at Busworld 2025
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.
Latest industry development reports
The latest Industry Development reports presented during the IRU Presidential Executive meeting in September are now available to members.
IRU Green Compact roundtable at ACEA tackles alternative fuels and vehicles
How can commercial road transport transition to zero-emission vehicles while keeping costs under control? This was the question at the heart of the latest Green Compact Roundtable, hosted by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
World Bank and IRU launch new road transport sector reform guide
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.
Road transport reform in Africa: Efficiency and sustainability for all
IRU was back in Togo recently at a major international seminar on transport and research in Sub-Saharan Africa presenting, with the World Bank, how countries can reform their road transport sector to transform mobility and trade.
Decarbonisation isn’t just about future tech – it’s today’s smarter driving
Decarbonisation isn’t just about future tech – it’s today’s smarter driving Do not overlook efficiency measures. They can cut the road transport industry’s emissions by half. So where should fleet operators start?
Parliament extends toll exemption: IRU urges wider green incentives
IRU welcomes the European Parliament’s vote to fast-track an extension of toll exemptions for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) under the Eurovignette Directive. The measure, if confirmed, will prolong the current exemption from 31 December 2025 to 30 June 2031, providing critical financial certainty for operators investing in clean vehicle technology.
Green, smart and inclusive: Tackling road transport’s ‘three Ds’
One of the most complex transformations facing modern businesses is the management of corporate fleets. From decarbonisation and digitalisation to chipping away at the informal economy, Edenred’s unique insights chart a practical path forward for Europe and Latin America.
Commercial passenger road transport in the EU: a 360 view
Did you know that buses make up only 0.3% of all EU passenger vehicles yet carry nearly 9% of total inland passenger traffic? That the Italian fleet accounts for over 20% of all EU bus transport? Or that the number of electric buses in the EU grew by 4,600% between 2015 and 2024? We take a comprehensive look at bus and coach operations in the EU in our passenger transport Intelligence Briefing.
Green bus boom takes Flanders by storm
Since 1 July 2025, public transport in Flanders, Belgium, has become significantly greener, thanks to the private bus sector.
Incentives, not obligations, key to success: IRU at EU fleets dialogue
At today’s high-level dialogue on accelerating the transition to zero-emission corporate fleets in the EU, IRU’s President stressed the importance of removing real-world barriers, rather than imposing damaging, counterproductive mandates.
Tourism and travel bodies unite in Gothenburg to drive sustainability
One year after the adoption of the Rhodes Declaration, Europe’s leading tourism and travel organisations are in Gothenburg to renew and strengthen their shared commitment to sustainability and climate resilience.
Can the grid handle electric trucks?
A fully electric truck fleet in Germany would require a quarter of the electricity available for consumption today.
Unlocking Brazil’s sustainable road freight and trade potential
With the Bioceanic Corridor and COP30 on the agenda, Brazil is setting ambitious goals to expand trade and make its crucial road freight sector more sustainable. IRU was in Brazil last week, with its member NTC&Logística, for high-level meetings on TIR and decarbonisation.
Brazil Vice President meets IRU on Bioceanic Corridor, TIR, green logistics
Strengthening Brazil’s logistics, accelerating decarbonisation, and implementing the TIR system were at the heart of a high-level meeting between IRU, NTC&Logística and Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin.
IRU drives decarbonisation discussion at Road Transport USA 2025
Organised by Reuters Events, Road Transport USA brought together transport leaders, retailers and technology innovators to equip fleet operators with the tools and insights needed to navigate the path to carbon neutrality and maintain a competitive edge in a fast-evolving market.
Netherlands paves the way for cleaner taxis
The Netherlands is a European leader in taxi decarbonisation: one in four taxis are zero-emission vehicles. But as the country pushes forward, a critical question emerges: how effective are the increasingly ambitious greening targets if the conditions needed to achieve them are not yet in place?
Decarbonising logistics fleets: the infrastructure gap
IRU spoke to UPS about the real-world challenges of decarbonising logistics fleets. Without urgent investment in grid capacity, depot charging and energy storage, even the most advanced electric vehicles risk standing idle.
IRU joins high-level EU dialogue on emissions trading and climate finance
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.
Electric truck trial runs 5,000km long-haul operation across China
In a groundbreaking pilot, CEVA Logistics has run an electric heavy-duty truck, crossing China from Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, to Alashankou on the Kazakh border.
EU lawmakers and road transport industry in decarbonisation dialogue
The EU’s road transport sector is already decarbonising. But scaling up progress requires smart regulation, targeted investment and coordinated action. This was the central message from IRU’s recent high-level conference in Brussels.
Decarbonising EU road transport: Solutions for 2030 and beyond
Road transport operators are beginning to invest in new vehicles. But for the decarbonisation transition to succeed, the sector needs clear, coordinated support. EU policymakers and road transport industry leaders are coming together to debate practical and scalable solutions to deliver environmental and economic benefits at IRU’s high-level event tomorrow in Brussels.
Driving resilient, green and competitive road transport: IRU at ITF 2025
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 maps decarbonisation and workforce strategies at ITF summit
The Secretary General of IRU, the world road transport organisation, outlined a pragmatic decarbonisation vision at a special closed-door ministers’ roundtable yesterday in Leipzig. Today, he charted the key to a resilient workforce primed for emergency preparedness.
Black Sea region trade bottlenecks in focus at BSEC-URTA 45
Border delays, permit digitalisation, and visa hurdles dominated discussions at BSEC-URTA’s General Assembly last week, as regional leaders tackled urgent threats to road transport and trade in the Black Sea region.