Newsroom

IRU welcomes today’s vote by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee endorsing the provisional Driving Licence Directive agreement reached during trilogue. This follows recent formal approval by the Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives, the first of the EU co-legislators to back the deal. The reform responds to long-standing industry calls to address driver shortages and promote the digitalisation of driving licences while upholding high road safety standards.

IRU joins the global call this week for safer roads, reinforcing the need to formalise, professionalise and certify the commercial road transport sector across the globe.

IRU’s General Assembly and councils brought together members from around the world for two days of discussions on opportunities to boost competitiveness, mitigate cargo crime, advance decarbonisation, overcome driver shortages and navigate economic shifts.

IRU, the world road transport organisation, has published its 2024 annual report, highlighting key achievements in advancing safe, efficient and sustainable road transport during a challenging year.

How far along is the road freight sector on its journey to net-zero? We shared exclusive insights from the IRU Green Compact survey during our latest webinar with leading players from the sector, revealing how companies are navigating challenges and reshaping investment strategies and operations.

IRU welcomes Germany’s coalition agreement as a step forward for a pragmatic and enabling approach to decarbonising commercial road transport. But the lack of concrete support measures for clean fuels alongside zero-emission vehicles is a missed opportunity.

The European Commission’s proposal for the revision of the Roadworthiness Package is a timely and necessary step to modernise outdated EU rules. It strikes a positive balance between enhancing road safety and embracing digital solutions, while avoiding unnecessary burdens for commercial road transport operators.

IRU and Lease Europe brought together EU lawmakers and industry leaders in Strasbourg today to chart a realistic path forward to green corporate fleets.

DLL, a global leader in asset finance solutions for equipment and technology, has partnered with IRU to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.

IRU welcomes the provisional agreement reached following trilogue negotiations between EU institutions on the revision of the EU Driving Licence Directive. The outcome reflects long-standing priorities of the road transport sector and supports efforts to ensure road safety and alleviate the growing shortage of professional drivers.

We have expanded the IRU fuel price service to include weekly updates for alternative fuels and one-week price forecasts.

IRU’s EU Goods Transport Liaison Committee (CLTM), Passenger Transport Council for EU Affairs (CTP-EU) and Taxis and Hire Cars with Driver Group (TA Group) recently met in Brussels to address key legislative developments and elect new leadership teams.

A market leader in health and safety training, Qatar International Safety Centre (QISC) has joined the IRU Academy as its newest Associate Training Institute.

How did they achieve this remarkable feat?

Over 200 policymakers and industry leaders discussed the digital future of EU road transport at the annual IRU spring cocktail in Brussels.

From tourist hotspots to rural areas, everyone is feeling the strain of Spain’s bus and coach driver shortage. Action is needed to turn things around – solutions are already on the table.

IRU and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) are partnering on road safety. In this joint article, Vincent Erard and Willem Groenewald outline the solutions provided by the two organisations for companies in the sector.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Union of Skills Communication and its clear recognition of labour shortages in the road transport sector. This crucial acknowledgment sets the stage for further action.

Once considered a “male-oriented” sector, road transport is now increasingly led by women. IRU dedicates the 2025 International Women’s Day to all the women driving road transport forward.

IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, particularly the focus on incentives and better infrastructure access to support commercial road transport operators’ uptake of zero-emission vehicles. However, IRU remains deeply concerned about the lack of technology options for road transport – only battery-electric technology is promoted as a clean solution – and the potential purchasing mandates for corporate fleets.

Governments are accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles with evolving incentives, subsidies and regulations. How do they compare across regions? We’ve mapped the latest policies and incentives, for both passenger and goods transport, to help you navigate the shift.

Over 20 organisations have called on the European Commission to conduct an early, technology-neutral revision of the CO₂ standard regulations, and provide the enabling conditions and incentives needed for a further uptake of clean vehicles.

The Clean Industrial Deal recognises the role of competitiveness in achieving decarbonisation goals. However, it overlooks critical sectors that support manufacturing and provide essential clean mobility services. Ensuring all decarbonisation solutions are implemented in a cost-effective manner is equally essential.

At the EU- and ILO-backed THAMM Plus event in Rabat, Morocco, this week, IRU outlined how improving driver mobility from third countries to the EU tackles two challenges: chronic driver shortages and subpar professional qualification standards.

Decarbonising road transport and developing the necessary skills took centre stage at this week’s Green Impact Expo & Summit in Morocco, where IRU laid out actionable strategies for a sustainable, skilled future in mobility.

IRU joined the European Commission and industry leaders at the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry today, reinforcing the need for a realistic approach to the clean mobility transition.

The fourth IRU Green Compact roundtable, hosted by IRU member TotalEnergies, brought together key industry players to discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing alternative fuels in commercial road transport.

IRU has presented key findings from an EU study on the recruitment of third-country professional drivers at the final STEER2EU workshop. The study, entrusted to IRU by the European Commission, supports efforts to tackle Europe’s growing driver shortage.

IRU and industry partners have signed an open letter urging EU Member States and the European Commission to preserve and strengthen dedicated European transport funding in the next EU budget. The call comes as discussions intensify on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework review, which will shape the bloc’s budget priorities for the coming years.

As part of the organisation’s 2025 staff kick-off, IRU teams got a front-row seat to the exciting challenges and opportunities of road transport, visiting top mobility companies in Geneva and Brussels and exploring the history of customs in Beijing.

We turned to Global Petrol Prices for insights into key trends and projections.

IRU’s first roundtable on technology and innovation centred on the challenges, integration and potential of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in commercial road transport.

As road transport heads towards carbon neutrality, we spoke with fuel platform specialist xavvy for insights on the latest challenges and opportunities. From renewable natural gas and ultra-fast charging to digital interfaces and fleet management, here’s what’s shaping the future of alternative fuels.

IRU acknowledges the Council’s efforts to update the Package Travel Directive (PTD) with the removal of payment restrictions. However, concerns over unclear cancellation rules, vouchers and strict refund timelines remain, posing challenges for bus and coach operators and SMEs.

IRU has awarded the prestigious IRU Diploma of Honour to 1,847 outstanding bus, coach, taxi, and truck drivers from 23 countries worldwide in recognition of their remarkable driving and safety achievements.