IRU, ETF call for EU action on third-country driver rights and conditions
IRU and ETF delivered their joint statement on third-country drivers to the EU Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner today. Both organisations commit to working together to enhance the working conditions of third-country drivers, in full respect of their rights.
IRU at Connecting Europe Days: key insights
IRU addressed the urgent need for better alternative fuel options, secure parking solutions and road transport’s role in multimodal transport at Connecting Europe Days in Brussels.
CountEmissions EU: Parliament confirms pragmatic reporting framework
IRU welcomes the endorsement of the CountEmissions EU report by the European Parliament’s plenary. The adopted text adds clarity on the steps that road transport companies are expected to take in order to report their greenhouse gas emissions.
IRU unpacks latest bus and coach developments in Mexico City
At the coveted biennial Expo Movilidad, IRU discussed key decarbonisation, digitalisation and driver shortage challenges and opportunities with leading bus and coach companies, manufacturers, suppliers and public authorities.
Platform Workers Directive: National implementation is now key
EU Member States have reached a last-minute consensus on the Platform Workers Directive, aiming to regulate the gig economy while accommodating diverse national models. The focus now turns to national implementation.
Respect drivers: A targeted and intelligence-led enforcement for Europe
IRU outlined key measures to improve the treatment of drivers during roadside checks and to digitalise control documents at a high-level conference on road control organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Mobilising Poland’s road transport know-how for Europe and beyond
IRU member EwiCenter equips operators and drivers with information, data and software to set wages, navigate the EU’s Mobility Package and boost the attractiveness of the driver profession. We caught up with the company’s CEO, Mariusz Hendzel, to better understand how.
Our young bus and coach drivers are safe and Europe’s future
A young bus or coach driver is often viewed – mistakenly – as being unsafe. But with the training that they undergo, they become skilled and reliable professional drivers on par with their older colleagues, safely performing a vital societal service. In this article, Meyering Verkehrsbetriebe’s Bus & Coach Business Manager and Trainer explains just why we need to revisit our perception of young bus and coach drivers.
Vote beyond myths: Back EU transport committee’s pragmatic licence position
Young professional drivers in the EU have been the target of a misguided safety campaign. The European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) provides concrete steps to address the EU’s youth unemployment and driver shortage while carefully considering and addressing road safety aspects. Its vision should be endorsed by the plenary.
EU environment committee backs mixed deal on heavy vehicle CO₂ standards
IRU takes stock of today’s vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles. It is a mixed bag for the commercial road transport sector.
Done deal: Major victory for EU coach drivers and tourism
Coach tourism is finally recognised by European legislators. The Council presidency and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement that gives coach tourism drivers rules meant for their profession.
Smarter local rides: Veezu joins IRU
The UK's fastest-growing taxi and private hire technology platform has joined IRU as its newest member.
Have you ever driven a truck? Reinventing driver training
Surprised by the training system for truck drivers in his country, IRU New Industry Shaper Lenno Põder decided to become a truck driver himself to truly understand the profession. He now offers accessible, innovative and inclusive training in Estonia.
Global driver shortages: 2023 year in review
In 2023, IRU, backed with on-the-ground information from its members, continued to report and analyse global driver shortages: a chronic issue threatening mobility networks and supply chains. This article offers an overview of some of IRU’s efforts to analyse the situation, raise awareness and advance solutions.
From Geneva to Istanbul: The past, present and future of road transport
IRU marked its 75th anniversary this year with special events in Geneva, Brussels, Tashkent, Cancun, Beijing, Riyadh and Istanbul. Relive the dialogues, debates and celebrations with more than a thousand public and private sector leaders from around the world.
EU ends road transport state aid discrimination, opens new door to decarbonisation help
IRU welcomes the revision of rules governing small amounts of aid that Member States can grant to companies without clearance from the European Commission. In addition to a much-needed indexation of the de minimis amount, the amendments correct a historical injustice, removing limits on de minimis aid for road freight operators, providing them with equal rights as other EU undertakings.
Coach drivers continue to win: European Parliament backs EU tourism
The European Parliament’s plenary has adopted today the compromise amendments on driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers supported by the Parliament’s Transport Committee last month. This vote gears coach tourism drivers, passengers and operators for a positive outcome during the upcoming trilogue negotiations in January 2024, finally giving coach drivers rules meant for their profession.
EU driving licence: Parliament displays leadership in driver shortage fight
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) adopted today its position on the EU Driving Licence Directive, constituting a considerable step forward in eliminating crucial barriers discouraging entry into the bus and truck driver profession.
New IRU study maps best net-zero 2050 plan: less disruption, lower cost
IRU has assessed the effectiveness and cost of three scenarios for commercial road transport to be carbon neutral by 2050 in Europe. A parallel focus on both efficiency measures and alternative fuels is less disruptive and less costly.
Mixed progress on EU driving licence and coach tourism driver rules
The Council’s general approach takes small steps towards addressing driver shortages with the revision of the driving licence rules, better news is expected from the European Parliament. During the same meeting, the Council reached a historic agreement on the recognition of specific driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers.
IRU welcomes EU Passenger Mobility Package but warns on operator burden
IRU welcomes the new EU Passenger Mobility Package to improve passenger rights across all transport modes. But many bus and coach operators will struggle to cope with a heavy additional burden on their IT and digital system resources.
EU truck and bus CO₂ vote made even worse by absurd mandatory purchase idea
The European Parliament's plenary vote on CO₂ emission targets for heavy-duty vehicles today sets unrealistic targets for zero-emission vehicles, feebly tries to factor the role of carbon neutral fuels in decarbonisation, and attempts to bring the EU transport sector in line with totalitarian regimes by mandating purchase targets for transport operators.
EU road transport industry supports cross-party coach driver agreement
Ahead of Thursday’s vote in the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN), IRU urges MEPs to vote in support of the compromise amendments tabled by TRAN’s lead rapporteur on driving and rest time rules for coach drivers, making the much-needed distinction from rules set for truck drivers.
EU tourism calls on MEPs to back lead rapporteur’s coach driver proposal
Ahead of the critical vote in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, the European tourism sector calls on MEPs to support the driving and rest time rules for coach drivers proposed by the Commission and Transport Committee’s lead rapporteur.