Driving resilient, green and competitive road transport: IRU at ITF 2025

He urged coordinated policies across regions and called on ministers to set clear targets while trusting the industry to deliver – in line with the goals of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport.

Umberto de Pretto also addressed the integral role of professional drivers in fostering resilient transport systems, highlighting road transport’s importance to the care economy, at a plenary session on workforce resilience and emergency preparedness.

Road transport plays a vital yet often overlooked role in the care economy – from delivering aid during crises such as Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, to supporting communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.

IRU Senior Director of Strategy and Development Vincent Erard also spoke at a series of events. At a special ministers’ roundtable on Ukraine’s transport sector, he drew attention to how road transport continues to play a crucial role in keeping trade moving, even under the most challenging circumstances, particularly at borders. Aside from putting enormous pressure on drivers and customs, long queues at Ukraine’s borders are severely restricting the flow of goods, notably food and agricultural products.

By prioritising TIR traffic, the number of trucks transporting goods from Ukraine to the EU could increase by 100-200%. This would make a huge difference without requiring significant financial investment.

At a session organised by the Dutch Ministry of Transport on digital infrastructure for resilient supply chains and competitive economies, Vincent Erard emphasised the importance of pragmatism in digitalising road transport.

While new technologies and AI are advancing rapidly, basic digitalisation – particularly for regulatory compliance – continues to lag behind. Commercial vehicles crossing borders must sometimes carry dozens of different documents, all on paper. Governments and the industry can swiftly digitalise documents with solutions such as e-CMR, eTIR, eVisa, and e-Permits.

In another session, IRU Senior Adviser Jens Hügel outlined key measures to ensure the success of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. He noted that to strengthen global efforts, it is essential to set clear targets. IRU recommends a measurable goal based on current trends: 100 ratifications and 50 effective implementations of UN transport conventions, which apply across all regions and modes.

Brave new world?

Moderated by Vincent Erard, IRU’s side event, titled “A brave new world: Can transport be greener, more resilient and more competitive?”, explored whether road transport can be competitive, resilient and green at the same time.

Following opening remarks by IRU President Radu Dinescu, speakers from three IRU corporate members, and long-standing partner The World Bank, debated key questions such as: Are decarbonisation and competitiveness compatible? In the face of disruptive change such as AI and alternative fuels, what balance of market and regulatory policy forces will best drive innovation? And what does the transport sector need from policymakers and vice versa?

The roundtable speakers were Kai von Lübtow (Head of Sales and Acquisition Management Connected Services, Bosch), Marina Lussich (Principal, Europe Operations Sustainability, Policy & Partnerships, Amazon), Nicolas Peltier (Director, The World Bank) and Thomas Noto (Head of Commercial Road Freight Europe, DP World).

High-level talks

IRU held many bilateral meetings with transport ministers and leaders from international organisations on an array of pressing issues, including professionalisation and certification, decarbonisation and trade facilitation.

Meetings included talks with Juan Carlos Muñoz (Chile’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications), Eugenijus Sabutis (Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications), Serhii Derkach (Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories) and Caroline Tastesen (the Danish Ministry of Transport’s Director of International Affairs).

Ahead of the Summit, Radu Dinescu spoke at an event on transport innovation organised by GIZ, the German government’s main development agency. He underlined the role of TIR and its digital tools in enhancing the resilience of transport corridors interconnecting Europe and fostering connectivity with its partners near and far, notably with Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, as well as with countries along the Middle Corridor between Europe and China.

IRU also participated in the SuM4All Advocacy Working Group Meeting with the World Bank and other international partners.