The Council’s general approach takes small steps towards addressing driver shortages with the revision of the driving licence rules, better news is expected from the European Parliament. During the same meeting, the Council reached a historic agreement on the recognition of specific driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers.

So many operators are finding it hard. What’s the solution?

Speaking at the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai today, IRU has outlined a realistic and practical roadmap to effectively decarbonise commercial road transport without undermining vital mobility and logistics services.

IRU’s EU-funded research and innovation projects H2Haul and H2Accelerate presented findings and engaged with key industry players at Europe’s flagship hydrogen event.

Mobility Package 1 provisions regarding the posting of drivers became applicable almost two years ago in the EU. Transport operators are already expected to follow the new rules when they pay drivers posted in host countries. But national renumeration rules are often very unclear. IRU and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) have asked the European Commission to develop a standard salary calculation template.

IRU’s TIR and Transit Director has urged Central Asian countries to accelerate the digitalisation of transport and trade to better manage the growing volumes of goods flowing through the region.

Industry leaders, the United Nations and civil society are coming together today to celebrate the first ever World Sustainable Transport Day, officially marked on 26 November.

On 1 December 2023, Germany will become the first EU country to apply the bloc’s new road user charging framework, highlighting three primary issues with the law and its implementation.

Cross-border facilitation, digitalisation and decarbonisation led the discussions in Istanbul as IRU celebrated its 75th anniversary with members and partners from the region.

The European Parliament's plenary vote on CO₂ emission targets for heavy-duty vehicles today sets unrealistic targets for zero-emission vehicles, feebly tries to factor the role of carbon neutral fuels in decarbonisation, and attempts to bring the EU transport sector in line with totalitarian regimes by mandating purchase targets for transport operators.

NatRoad, the largest national association for the Australian road transport industry, has joined IRU as its newest member.

Geneva, 20 November 2023 – IRU’s 2023 driver shortage report has found that over three million truck driver jobs are unfilled, or 7% of total positions, in 36 countries studied. With the huge gap between young and old drivers growing, it will get much worse over the next five years without significant action.

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.

For the next IRU 75th anniversary event, our eyes turn to Türkiye, the home of New Industry Shaper Gülsen Demirci, a mother of two living her dream.

Indian training institution the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) has teamed up with IRU to elevate its driver training programmes.

IRU and EU Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit met to discuss the recruitment, employment and integration practices for third-country drivers in the EU.

IRU’s Secretary General presented key measures to address connectivity gaps in Asia and beyond at ITF’s regional high-level conference in Mongolia.

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.

With 20 years of experience operating across Europe and Asia, Intertransauto has joined IRU as its newest member.

Despite hopes to the contrary, the European Commission’s long-overdue legislative proposal to amend the Combined Transport Directive could harm efficient intermodal cooperation, instead of boosting it, due to the ambiguous incentive framework for combined and intermodal freight.

Pakistani transport company NLC has completed the first operation along a new TIR route connecting Pakistan to Kazakhstan via China and Kyrgyzstan.

IRU members, transport companies, development organisations and public authorities, including both Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Trade, are gathering in Istanbul for a key regional event on pressing challenges.

The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index for Europe shows that the spot rates index moved further below the contract rates index in Q3 2023. The spot index fell for the fourth consecutive quarter, while the contract spot index climbed for the first time since Q4 2022.

At a recent conference with senators and ministers in Brazil, IRU outlined how the Bioceanic Corridor, South America’s new transnational corridor, would benefit from the TIR system.

IRU members and the European Commission exchanged on legislation that can maximise the benefits offered by autonomous vehicles during a recent workshop on the EU’s AWARD project.

With the rising role of Sichuan as a leading logistics hub in China, IRU and the Sichuan Transportation Department have explored avenues to boost the region’s international connectivity and further professionalise drivers.

Easytrip Transport Services, provider of international transport and mobility solutions, has joined IRU as its newest member.

The Middle Corridor reduces dependency on traditional transit corridors while offering a faster trade route. How do we maximise its potential? IRU outlined how in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Following joint IRU-Hellenic Federation of Road Transport (OFAE) advocacy and e-CMR trials, the Greek government has joined the e-CMR Protocol.

IRU, the world road transport organisation, outlined the sector’s critical role in fostering a circular economy as it marked its 75th anniversary with its members and partners from the region at Saudi Arabia’s Supply Chain and Logistics Conference.

IRU welcomes the Council’s formal adoption of the revised Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Directive, which ends the legislative cycle following the previous formal endorsement of the negotiated deal by the European Parliament. Member States must now adhere to the commitments outlined in the legislation and prioritise mobility data sharing and availability.

The European Commission has proposed a grace period until the end of the year for trucks and coaches registered since 21 August 2023 to be equipped with the new smart tachograph version 2 (SMT2), for both national and international transport, as advocated for by IRU.

Almajdouie Logistics has become the first logistics service provider in Saudi Arabia to adopt IRU RoadMasters’ goods transport programme.

EU road transport industry leaders, joined by their American counterparts, were at the European Parliament to outline why some legislators need to reassess their approach to CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles.