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New road transport social priorities set for 2027
EU | Brussels

New road transport social priorities set for 2027

18 Sep 2026 · People

IRU’s Commission on Social Affairs has laid out its priorities for the year ahead on key social policy areas, including driver shortage, compliance and expanding workforce diversity.

Meeting in Brussels, IRU’s Commission on Social Affairs (CAS) has adopted its 2027 work programme, setting priorities for key social policy issues including the shortage of drivers, the enforcement of EU posting-of-drivers rules, and greater gender diversity in road transport.

At the meeting, IRU CAS members endorsed a position on late payments in commercial transactions and agreed to advance work on attracting third-country drivers.

They also supported further action to remove barriers for young people entering the profession, including continued advocacy on modernising EU driver training rules.

The CAS meeting was followed by the official endorsement of the IRU Charter for Women in Road Transport and IRU’s 12th Enforcement Workshop on the posting of drivers.

New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027

Charter for Women in Road Transport

CAS members officially endorsed the IRU Charter for Women in Road Transport, opening it for signature and marking the start of its implementation phase.

The charter aims to attract and retain more women in road transport, helping the sector address driver shortages by broadening its talent pool.

National associations can endorse the charter, while companies will be able to sign it and commit to implementing its principles, supported by a practical toolkit.

New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027
New road transport social priorities set for 2027

Posting of drivers: remuneration and enforcement

EU rules on posting of drivers have been in force since February 2022, but differences in national guidance and enforcement continue to create challenges for cross-border operators, particularly when determining applicable remuneration.

The 12th enforcement workshop, organised by IRU with the European Labour Authority (ELA) and bringing together enforcement authorities and trade unions, focused on practical guidance for demonstrating compliance with posting and remuneration requirements, as well as ELA’s proposed remuneration calculation tool.

IRU will continue working with EU institutions, enforcement authorities and social partners to advance the priorities set out in the 2027 work programme, supporting a more consistent and workable social policy framework for road transport.