IRU’s EU goods and passenger transport committees have adopted two new policy positions on driver qualifications and vehicle inspection rules, setting out practical reforms for current and future challenges.
The two new positions adopted by the EU Goods Transport Liaison Committee (CLTM-EU) and the Passenger Transport Council (CTP) aim to make transport policy more efficient, innovation-driven and aligned with operational realities.
The first position concerns EU rules governing periodic training for heavy-duty vehicle drivers (the EU Driver Training Directive 2003/59/EC).
The second one is on the revision of the Roadworthiness Package, which includes several legislative proposals recently presented by the Commission to EU legislators.
IRU EU Director Raluca Marian said, “The EU road transport sector needs modern rules that make training more accessible and inspections more efficient.
“Our recommendations give policymakers a realistic path to safer, smarter and more attractive road transport.”
Modern driver training
The road transport sector is facing a chronic driver shortage, with over 230,000 truck driver positions already unfilled across the EU – projected to hit 700,000 by 2028 if no action is taken.
Only 5% of drivers are under 25, while a third are over 55, highlighting a rapidly ageing workforce and the urgent need to attract new entrants.
“Attracting and retaining professional drivers starts with how we train and support them,” said Raluca Marian. “Training must be modern, modular and digital, not a bureaucratic obstacle.”
“By making it more flexible and tailored, Europe can open the road to the next generation of skilled and motivated drivers,” she added.
IRU’s position promotes the wider use of simulators and e-learning, better recognition of certified in-house training, and shorter, targeted training that is more relevant, attractive and accessible.
It also supports recognising drivers’ experience and third-country drivers’ qualifications, aligning the professional driving age for bus and coach drivers at 18, and introducing a fully digital Certificate of Professional Competence to simplify procedures.
Roadworthy
IRU welcomes the Commission’s plans to modernise vehicle registration documents, periodic roadworthiness tests, and technical roadside inspection rules.
The position calls for proportionate measures that reflect new vehicle technologies, ensure fair and consistent testing for light-duty and zero-emission vehicles, and strengthen digitalisation, especially for cross-border enforcement.
It also highlights the need to increase testing capacity across the EU and avoid unnecessary administrative or operational burdens for operators.
For technical roadside inspections, IRU’s position calls for:
- Basing targets on risk or intelligence rather than quantity
- Phasing in the use of remote sensing technologies for the pre-screening of motor vehicles
- Maintaining the current cargo securing check regime
Together, the two positions outline a clear and pragmatic path for modernising EU rules in line with the sector’s innovation, safety and sustainability goals.