Future-proofing transport: Skills, technology and transition

Europe’s road transport sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The green transition, combined with accelerating digitalisation and automation, is reshaping vehicles, operations and workforce requirements. At the same time, the sector continues to face acute skills shortages and growing operational complexity.

On 3 March 2026, IRU will host its annual flagship EU conference, followed by a networking lunch. This year’s edition, Future-proofing transport: Skills, technology and transition, will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and operators to examine how Europe can effectively prepare its transport workforce for the transitions ahead.

The conference will open with remarks by Ambassador Cosmin Boiangiu, the Executive Director of the European Labour Authority, and will also feature high-level contributions from Jean-Luc Crucke, Belgium’s Federal Minister of Transport, and Roxana Mînzatu, the Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness of the European Commission. 

The programme is structured around two high-level panel discussions, addressing the green and digital transitions and their implications for skills, safety and daily transport operations.

The first panel will examine how the green transition is reshaping daily transport operations and workforce requirements. Discussions will focus on zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure, evolving skills needs, safety considerations and the interaction with regulatory frameworks, with a strong emphasis on what works in practice on the ground.

The second panel will explore how digitalisation and automation are transforming road transport operations and skill requirements. The discussion will address workforce readiness and training, as well as the regulatory conditions needed to support the safe and workable deployment of digital and automated solutions.

By bringing together operators, technology providers, policymakers and professional drivers, the event aims to foster a practical, solution-oriented dialogue on how Europe can future-proof its road transport workforce.