Newsroom

In this IRU Intelligence Briefing, we delve into the key trends shaping road transport in the EU: Which types of goods dominate road freight? How do trip distances vary by product category? What are the main trade routes within the EU, and which goods flow across them?

IRU member CEVA Logistics recently hosted the third IRU Green Compact roundtable exploring industry challenges and opportunities.

Fuel accounts for a third of a road transport operator’s costs. Emissions trading, taxes, supply uncertainty and alternative fuels will all impact fuel prices in the EU. Where are we headed?

Both road freight spot and contract rates fell in Q1 2024. Here are three key trends shaping European freight rates right now.

In celebration of International Coaching Week, IRU opened its doors to the international Geneva community, hosting an engaging event on coaching for international workers and organisations.

Which EU countries have the highest volumes of imports and exports by road? Where are the busiest country-to-country corridors? Which transport modes are moving the most imports and exports inside the EU and between the EU and other countries? Are trends changing over time? How much road freight moves by combined transport – using more than one mode of transport – across the EU, and in individual countries? This Intelligence Briefing breaks down modal split and combined freight transport trends

The trucking industry is facing a chronic shortage of drivers. How are companies dealing with it? IRU member CEVA Logistics has turned its focus inward to reduce their exposure to the risks associated with driver shortages.

IRU member CANACAR discussed the role of women in Mexico’s trucking industry and elected new leaders at its General Assembly.

IRU’s new European truck driver shortage report has found that over half of operators are unable to expand their business due to the shortage of drivers.

The Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) is equipping current and aspiring Indian truck drivers with the latest internationally recognised training standards.

What are the challenges and opportunities facing the European logistics sector’s journey to carbon neutrality? IRU and POLIS will address your pressing decarbonisation questions during a three-part webinar series. Join us tomorrow for part one.

From Beijing to Brussels, the entire IRU global team have visited road transport operator facilities as part of their joint 2024 kick-off meeting, exploring opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index shows that the Q4 spot rate index was down 14.8 points year over year. However, the quarter-over-quarter fall in the contractual rates index was limited to 0.9 points, due to high costs and, in particular, the toll increases in Q4 2023.

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.

IRU’s EU-funded research and innovation projects H2Haul and H2Accelerate presented findings and engaged with key industry players at Europe’s flagship hydrogen event.

The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index for Europe shows that the Contract Rate Index is down 0.2 points quarter on quarter, although it remains up 2.8 points year on year. Meanwhile, the Spot Rate Index is down 3.5 points quarter on quarter and down 7.5 points year on year.

Two new features have been added to the Intelligence Platform: fuel prices for compressed natural gas and an interactive map to view all driving restrictions along a trip.

The UN General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution to establish a World Sustainable Transport Day

The European Year of Skills is an opportunity to ramp up efforts to reduce bus and truck driver shortages.

Bus and coach services occupy a vital role in society. In the EU, they’re the most used mode of collective transport. Given the current shortage of drivers, you would think that everything possible would be done to attract more drivers.

In November’s figure of the month, we look at truck driver jobs and what’s behind “44%”. Hint: it’s related to demand.

Diesel prices, driver shortages and drought in Europe have all played a significant role to push average European road freight rates up again in Q3 despite lower consumer spending. However, data from the end of the quarter shows prices softening towards the end of Q3.

Cargo theft is a major threat to supply chains. It hits road transport – and drivers – especially hard, as goods are particularly vulnerable to theft while in transit. IRU’s transport security programme helps operators tackle security woes.

IRU has brought together regulators and industry leaders to exchange ideas, challenges and examples of implementing and advancing e-CMR solutions.

IRU has highlighted the important role that investing in human capital and professionalisation plays in improving transport at Saudi conference on supply chains.

IRU has published a new interactive map for trucks moving between Ukraine and neighbouring EU countries.

We spoke with UPS about the company’s environmental vision, the importance of maintaining renewable biofuels as an option for the sector, the need for investment support in establishing reliable and smart electric recharging grids and what steps UPS is taking to reach its goal of fuelling 40% of ground operations with alternative fuels by 2025.

IRU member and global logistics firm DB Schenker has begun using TIR in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, saving time and CO2 emissions. 

Inflation, weakening demand, social instability and the war in Ukraine are leading to tumultuous developments in road freight prices, reveals the Ti / Upply / IRU Road Freight Rate Benchmark for Q2 2022. For the first time, this edition offers a separate analysis of the evolution of spot and contract rates.

IRU and EU tourism associations are calling for pragmatism in upcoming negotiations on extending the Emissions Trading System to buildings and road transport (ETS II).

Rather than prescribing solutions like electrification to decarbonise road transport, policymakers should focus on creating a framework for innovation that takes a technology-neutral approach, argues MEP Barbara Thaler.

IRU’s Commission on Customs Affairs (CAD) has elected a new president and vice presidents from the Czech Republic, Latvia and Saudi Arabia. 

The IRU Innovation and Development Fund supports members in implementing new solutions for the road transport industry. TIR associations submit project concepts for consideration, outlining research and field test plans, new technology components, partnership engagement and benefits for the sector. 

Erman Ereke has taken the reigns of IRU’s regional office in Istanbul, Turkey for the Black Sea region today.

Participants at IRU’s EU Conference in Brussels next week will have the opportunity to explore two brand new electric vehicles from leading manufacturers.