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.

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.

Two new features have been added to the Intelligence Platform: fuel prices for compressed natural gas and an interactive map to view all driving restrictions along a trip.

The UN General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution to establish a World Sustainable Transport Day

The European Year of Skills is an opportunity to ramp up efforts to reduce bus and truck driver shortages.

Bus and coach services occupy a vital role in society. In the EU, they’re the most used mode of collective transport. Given the current shortage of drivers, you would think that everything possible would be done to attract more drivers.

In November’s figure of the month, we look at truck driver jobs and what’s behind “44%”. Hint: it’s related to demand.

Diesel prices, driver shortages and drought in Europe have all played a significant role to push average European road freight rates up again in Q3 despite lower consumer spending. However, data from the end of the quarter shows prices softening towards the end of Q3.

Cargo theft is a major threat to supply chains. It hits road transport – and drivers – especially hard, as goods are particularly vulnerable to theft while in transit. IRU’s transport security programme helps operators tackle security woes.

IRU has brought together regulators and industry leaders to exchange ideas, challenges and examples of implementing and advancing e-CMR solutions.

IRU has highlighted the important role that investing in human capital and professionalisation plays in improving transport at Saudi conference on supply chains.

IRU has published a new interactive map for trucks moving between Ukraine and neighbouring EU countries.

We spoke with UPS about the company’s environmental vision, the importance of maintaining renewable biofuels as an option for the sector, the need for investment support in establishing reliable and smart electric recharging grids and what steps UPS is taking to reach its goal of fuelling 40% of ground operations with alternative fuels by 2025.

IRU member and global logistics firm DB Schenker has begun using TIR in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, saving time and CO2 emissions. 

Inflation, weakening demand, social instability and the war in Ukraine are leading to tumultuous developments in road freight prices, reveals the Ti / Upply / IRU Road Freight Rate Benchmark for Q2 2022. For the first time, this edition offers a separate analysis of the evolution of spot and contract rates.

IRU and EU tourism associations are calling for pragmatism in upcoming negotiations on extending the Emissions Trading System to buildings and road transport (ETS II).

Rather than prescribing solutions like electrification to decarbonise road transport, policymakers should focus on creating a framework for innovation that takes a technology-neutral approach, argues MEP Barbara Thaler.

IRU’s Commission on Customs Affairs (CAD) has elected a new president and vice presidents from the Czech Republic, Latvia and Saudi Arabia. 

The IRU Innovation and Development Fund supports members in implementing new solutions for the road transport industry. TIR associations submit project concepts for consideration, outlining research and field test plans, new technology components, partnership engagement and benefits for the sector. 

Erman Ereke has taken the reigns of IRU’s regional office in Istanbul, Turkey for the Black Sea region today.

Participants at IRU’s EU Conference in Brussels next week will have the opportunity to explore two brand new electric vehicles from leading manufacturers.

IRU has participated in two panel discussions at the annual meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA).

IRU has published its annual report for 2021, looking at the organisation’s progress and achievements in a year that saw a renewed focus on its vision.

The Upply Ti IRU European road freight rates index for Europe hit an all-time high in Q1 2022 as rising cost pressures, supply and capacity disruptions, regulatory change and war in Ukraine created a potent mix of rate drivers. The Benchmark index rate rose by 4.3 points over the previous quarter, while it increased 7.5 points over the first quarter of 2021.    

With a view to developing systems for all weather autonomous real logistics operations, the EU funded Horizon 2020 AWARD project is calling on stakeholders in the industry to provide input. IRU is a member of the AWARD project consortium.

Guretruck SL has become IRU’s newest associate member.

IRU’s new North American Transportation Forum has kicked off with a high-level dialogue between senior government trade figures and carriers from Canada, Mexico and the US. 

The European Road Freight Rate Benchmark for Q4 2021 shows that prices ended 2021 at historic highs across Europe, driven by a volatile mix of drivers over the year with supply chain congestion, supply shortages, cost increases and spiking demand from economic reopenings across the region. The potent mix of factors, which pushed the Benchmark to new record highs three times in 2021, shows few signs of unwinding in the immediate term. 

Last week the IRU EU Conference brought together EU decision makers, mobility and logistics leaders, and representatives from industry and non-governmental organisations to discuss key questions on the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package. 

The European Road Freight Rate Benchmark for Q3 shows that prices have hit historic highs across Europe, driven by a mix of robust economic growth, global supply chain bottlenecks, rising costs and scarce capacity. Ti and Upply are joined by IRU for the Q3 Benchmark for the first time.

As the European economy begins to recover from the pandemic, mobility networks and supply chains continue to face an increasingly high shortage of qualified professional drivers, which has been a long standing problem for the road transport sector.

IRU’s Director of Advocacy, Matthias Maedge, spoke at an eFuels Alliance seminar on global technology neutrality perspectives this week, urging policymakers to consider a range of technologies to decarbonise the road transport sector.

Through a new partnership with Upply, IRU is providing its members with pricing information to help them make the best possible business decisions.

For decades, IRU has been running the Flash Info service to provide its members with real-time country information on road traffic, strikes, blockades and roadworks affecting commercial road transport.