Newsroom

Border delays, permit digitalisation, and visa hurdles dominated discussions at BSEC-URTA’s General Assembly last week, as regional leaders tackled urgent threats to road transport and trade in the Black Sea region.

At a recent meeting held at IRU in Geneva, US and global trucking industry stakeholders compared and addressed solutions to key challenges undermining road goods transport operations.

IRU and its member associations from Ukraine and seven neighbouring countries have called on the European Commission to prioritise TIR trucks to ease lengthy border queues and boost goods transport flows between Ukraine and the EU.

With a booming transcontinental Middle Corridor between Asia and Europe, IRU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other development partners focus on further enhancing east-west connectivity.

War in Ukraine has dramatically increased goods transport south of the Black Sea, putting more pressure on congested borders. IRU and members from the region came together in Greece to look at solutions.

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

IRU has welcomed European Union Transport Ministers’ commitment to better coordinate their response to the transport challenges posed by the war in Ukraine.

The European Commission announced today a temporary crisis framework for state aid economic support measures in relation to the war in Ukraine. It does not go far enough to support commercial road transport operators overwhelmed by escalating fuel costs.

IRU member FlixBus has responded immediately to the war in Ukraine by offering free rides and additional connections as well as providing support on the ground to refugees fleeing the country. The company is working with governments to include it in their planning of humanitarian relief plans.

IRU passenger transport members in the European Union, meeting in Brussels, have launched an initiative for coordinated action to match private bus and coach operators with Ukrainian refugee transport needs, together with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

In response to the crisis in Ukraine, countries have adopted simplified procedures for humanitarian cross-border transport. IRU has updated information from seven European countries along major transport routes towards Ukraine.

Along with offering their buses, coaches and trucks to help transport refugees and essential goods, the people of the road transport sector are also driving many spontaneous initiatives to raise funds to help people affected by the crisis in Ukraine. Here are a few examples.

Showing solidarity for all the people affected by the crisis in Ukraine, the drivers, workers and companies of the logistics sector are going the extra mile to get basic humanitarian necessities to affected regions.

More than a week into the Ukrainian crisis, here is a quick summary of the current status of border crossing points with all of its neighbours, for commercial goods and passenger transport.

Following ongoing and alarming reports of stranded drivers and seized cargo and vehicles, IRU has contacted the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs. IRU is asking Ukrainian authorities to release stranded drivers and prioritise their return to their home countries with their trucks and cargo.

IRU members and road transport companies are continuing to rise to the challenge of the war in Ukraine. The sense of solidarity and responsibility is strong across the industry in helping all those caught up in this crisis. 

In close cooperation with our members and partners, IRU has launched a Ukraine crisis hub, a global source of first-hand, real-time updates by, and for, the commercial road transport sector.

IRU and its members in the EU have jointly helped the European Commission to shape and communicate new guidelines on border procedures between EU Member States and Ukraine during the current crisis. 

Many people from IRU members, partners, friends and the wider road transport industry have asked us how they can help support humanitarian relief to help the millions caught up in the Ukraine crisis. 

Amidst the Ukrainian crisis, international humanitarian organisations are being deployed in Poland to organise the transport of humanitarian cargo into Ukraine to assist people in need. 

With the support of our members, IRU is continuously in contact with authorities and partners across Europe and Eurasia to help solve problems of trucks stranded due to the Ukraine crisis – both in Ukraine and in other countries.

IRU, its members and the road transport sector in Europe and beyond, are responding and working night and day to help people caught up in the Ukraine crisis.

Open letter to government leaders and authorities in Europe and Eurasia

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto has addressed the 15th annual meeting of TRACECA governments on measures that remain to be acted upon by governments.

IRU has announced the winners of its Best Eurasian Road Transport Operator Award, which recognises excellence in economic performance, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability. 

BSEC transport ministers met with IRU to discuss economic recovery from COVID-19 and the development of digital tools. How can transport digitalisation support the recovery? What other measures are needed?

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) member states involved in the BSEC permit project have agreed to increase the region’s quota of permits for commercial road transport operations.

The Ukrainian government has ratified e-CMR, the electronic protocol of the standard consignment note under the United Nations Convention for the carriage of goods. This move from paper-based to electronic consignment notes will improve the efficiency and safety of goods transport.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has released a significant report on the Iran-Turkey eTIR pilot project, endorsing the digitalisation of the TIR system and encouraging further contracting parties to adopt digital transport operations.

Save Lives: #SlowDown” – IRU endorses UN Global Road Safety Week. IRU calls for more training, the use of new technologies and standardised speed limits to address the issue of speed management.

The Business Forum put the focus on the digitalisation of road transport services and the development of new trade routes connecting Europe and Asia

The digital eTIR system has been endorsed as the future of TIR – the only global cross-border transit system – with the first pilot project between Turkey and Iran hailed a resounding success.

Ukraine and Turkey recognise benefits of going digital with plans for an eTIR pilot project.

Mr Igor Tehsa was awarded the IRU Grand Prix d’Honneur, as an international recognition for his act of courage and bravery in saving five lives during a terrorist attack.