Newsroom

IRU calls on the European Commission to provide targeted support to road transport operators amidst surging diesel prices and reaffirms its commitment to dialogue.

IRU called for faster grid connections, affordable energy, accessible financing and fit-for-purpose regulation at two major Brussels policy events, as the EU negotiates its grids package and prepares to review the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

IRU member KazATO has signed up to implement IRU Examiner through its training centre to strengthen national capacity for professional training, examinations and certification.

Seven in ten operators say customers won’t pay the extra cost of greener transport, according to IRU and Trimble’s 2026 Green Compact survey.

Customs leaders from across the Organization of Turkic States have reaffirmed their support for expanding TIR and eTIR, placing them at the heart of stronger regional connectivity and faster, more secure border crossings.

HARMO, a new Horizon Europe project, will help automated vehicles better anticipate real-world human behaviour. IRU leads the work on safety acceptance, regulatory evidence and policy engagement.

IRU welcomed a high-level Chinese delegation in Geneva, bringing together automotive associations CATARC and CASIC, as well as companies BYD, Huawei, Xiaomi and Great Wall Motor, for an in-depth exchange on the global road transport sector.

Georgia’s Land Transport Agency will strengthen professional standards in road transport by implementing IRU Examiner for the examination and certification of drivers and transport managers.

Together with its member the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), IRU held high-level talks with Sean Canney, Ireland’s Minister of State for Transport, on how the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the road transport sector can work together to deliver practical progress for operators.

IRU regrets the Irish Presidency’s intention to cut transport funding under the Connecting Europe Facility. Europe’s competitiveness, climate and security ambitions depend on stronger infrastructure investment.

What does it take for a town to welcome coaches? IRU member the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) answers that question through its Coach Friendly scheme. It accredits destinations that invest in coach parking, signage and facilities, and encourages local authorities to plan for coaches.

IRU and Transport & Environment (T&E) are calling on the European Commission to establish a supportive EU framework for semi-private charging as part of the upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

The China Automobile Standards Internationalization Center (CASIC) has joined IRU as its newest member, strengthening cooperation between China’s automotive industry and the global road transport community.

IRU’s two new EU position papers call for semi-public depot charging and 30-day payment terms for road transport services. They address two practical conditions operators need to invest in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure: charging access and predictable cash flow.

At Connecting Europe Days 2026, IRU called for practical rules, infrastructure and investment conditions that can turn the EU’s transport ambitions into reality.

With an accident rate of just 0.1%, Spain’s bus and coach sector has an exceptional road safety record. IRU member CONFEBUS explains how it got there – and how to maintain it.

Fuel prices are not the only thing going up. Truck tolls in Europe have risen by around 20% since 2023, directly impacting transport costs and operators' bottom lines. Toll regimes changed almost every month across the EU in 2026, and early 2027 looks to be just as busy. The trend is clear: more kilometre-based charging and CO₂ pricing.

The Convenience Express initiative shows how digitalisation, flexible services and coordinated branding can modernise intercity coach transport. Passenger numbers have risen significantly, with some routes increasing more than tenfold. Even some previously discontinued routes have been revived.

The world road transport organisation distances itself from any claims or attempts to suggest that there is a unified position among road transport operators across the EU calling for EU-level intervention on subcontracting.

IRU brought the perspective of the coach and bus sector to the CIVITAS Forum 2026 in Thessaloniki, Greece, highlighting the need for coordinated urban access rules, investment in infrastructure and modernised skills to make urban mobility more sustainable, inclusive and connected.

Connectivity, innovation and partnerships were on the agenda this week for IRU Secretary General Habib Turki. His series of high-level events and bilateral meetings with Chinese authorities, transport companies and IRU members has set the course for the next decade of international road transport cooperation.

Speaking at the Global Sustainable Transport Forum 2026 in Beijing, IRU outlined how buses and trucks, trade facilitation measures, and technology-neutral decarbonisation help make transport universally accessible.

The Swedish Bus Driver Championship, organised annually by IRU member the Swedish Bus & Coach Federation (Sveriges Bussföretag), has long been an opportunity to recognise the skill and professionalism behind bus driving.

Belgian innovation goes beyond chocolate. Through a series of initiatives led by IRU member the Belgian Federation of Bus and Coach Operators (FBAA), the sector is helping destinations manage visitor flows, improve accessibility and develop new tourism products.

Artificial intelligence, automation and greater connectivity can help road transport respond to major challenges. But successful deployment will depend on common standards, trusted governance and keeping people at the centre, IRU President Radu Dinescu told transport leaders in Seoul.

IRU’s Commission on Innovation and Technology (CIT) brought together members and industry experts in Brussels to exchange views on the technologies, regulatory developments and practical challenges shaping the future of commercial road transport.

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.

While Brent is still below its spring peak, the other cost components of diesel are on the rise. National measures are still in place in most of the EU, but they are being tapered rather than deepened, with limited impact on prices at the pump. Here’s the latest overview for the road transport sector.

The shortage of drivers is a major constraint on the industry, with implications extending far beyond road transport. Local recruitment efforts must be accompanied by legal driver mobility pathways, IRU said at the Budapest Process meeting on legal pathways for migration in Islamabad, Pakistan, this week.

Road transport operators need effective access to the data generated by the vehicles they own, lease and operate. But how can this be achieved while protecting manufacturers’ intellectual property and maintaining cybersecurity and vehicle safety?

IRU has launched a new practical toolkit to help road transport companies unlock its largest untapped recruitment pool.

IRU and the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities (EMTA) are urging the Irish Presidency and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to fix key provisions in the Industrial Accelerator Act's proposed “Buy European” rules for electric vehicles. They warn that the current approach risks forcing working electric buses off the road and penalising public transport operators and authorities that bought them in good faith.

One of the greatest strengths of coach tourism is its ability to connect travellers with places that other transport modes often cannot reach. While rail and aviation naturally concentrate passengers around major hubs, coaches provide the flexibility to reach smaller towns, rural communities and cultural routes, spreading the benefits of tourism more evenly.

The European Commission’s proposal for a new Public Procurement Regulation is a significant step towards quality-based competition, but further improvements are needed to ensure fair and competitive public procurement for road transport.

Affordable, accessible and sustainable transport helps more people discover more places. Spain's Verano Joven programme shows what is possible when public policy and a strong coach network work together.