Digitalise to boost Central Asian connectivity, IRU stresses at UN forum
IRU’s TIR and Transit Director has urged Central Asian countries to accelerate the digitalisation of transport and trade to better manage the growing volumes of goods flowing through the region.
New combined transport proposal could harm efficient intermodal cooperation
Despite hopes to the contrary, the European Commission’s long-overdue legislative proposal to amend the Combined Transport Directive could harm efficient intermodal cooperation, instead of boosting it, due to the ambiguous incentive framework for combined and intermodal freight.
Sichuan: Southwest China’s growing logistics hub turns to road transport
With the rising role of Sichuan as a leading logistics hub in China, IRU and the Sichuan Transportation Department have explored avenues to boost the region’s international connectivity and further professionalise drivers.
Figure of the month: 41%
Why the shortage of bus and coach drivers in Europe is more serious than you might think.
EU Commission offers reasonable grace period given tachograph 2 shortage
The European Commission has proposed a grace period until the end of the year for trucks and coaches registered since 21 August 2023 to be equipped with the new smart tachograph version 2 (SMT2), for both national and international transport, as advocated for by IRU.
New TIR associations consultative group established by IRU and ECO
The first meeting of the newly created “Economic Cooperation Organization-TIR National Associations Consultative Group (ECO-TIRACG)” reviewed the group’s key responsibilities as well as border optimisation opportunities.
IRU outlines border problems and solutions at Turkic states forum
With shifting trade routes increasing pressure on corridors crossing Central Asia and the Caucuses, IRU unpacked the challenges and solutions at a recent forum with the private and public sector.
Driving resilience and prosperity: road transport leaders head to Tashkent
IRU members, transport companies, development organisations and financial institutions are gathering in Uzbekistan for a key regional conference on pressing transport and transit challenges and emerging opportunities.
New TIR trade route opens connecting China to Pakistan and Afghanistan
IRU member CEVA Logistics and Pakistani transport company NLC completed the first operation along this new TIR route, linking Kashgar, China, to Pakistan by door-to-door road transport for the first time. NLC also extended this route to Kabul, Afghanistan.
IRU and Iranian road transport sector explore key regional opportunities
IRU and the Iranian road transport sector look to harmonise trade and transit along the international east-west and north-south transport corridors and continue expanding TIR.
China’s growing international e-commerce trade turns to TIR
TIR, the only global transit system, is now bringing additional efficiency and security to China’s booming e-commerce trade.
Groundbreaking TIR route boosts China-Central Asia connectivity
The global TIR transit system now connects China’s major manufacturing hub of Shenzhen to, Kazakhstan’s largest city.
Road transport regulation harmonisation remains key as UN GTRs turns 25
The UN has marked the 25th anniversary of the 1998 agreement on Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) as IRU continues to stress the need for harmonised road transport regulation in the face of new challenges and opportunities.
New China-Kazakhstan TIR trade route activated
A new China-Kazakhstan TIR route has opened, following last month’s China-Central Asia Summit where heads of state agreed to deepen trade and transport cooperation.
IRU and TOBB review key trade and transport challenges
Schengen visas, digitalisation, decarbonisation and the TIR system topped the agenda today as IRU’s Secretary General and the President of IRU member the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) reviewed road transport facilitation challenges and opportunities.
Solution to Brenner bottleneck continues to elude the EU
With queues reaching 70km, a solution to the Brenner pass bottleneck continues to escape EU governments and authorities. Discussions may no longer be enough; the EU Commission should open its legal toolbox.