Newsroom

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.

At the European Parliament today, Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) met with travel and tourism industry leaders to advance strategies for enhancing sustainability and resilience within the sector.

The Council of the European Union’s adoption of its general approaches on passenger rights enforcement and multimodal journey regulation marks a significant step forward in safeguarding passengers and supporting operators. IRU welcomes, in particular, the clarification of the scope and the realistic extension of reimbursement deadlines. However, critical gaps remain, including the need to consider the unique position of small enterprises and set clearer rules on intermediary liability.

The European Parliament has advanced the CountEmissionsEU proposal, setting the stage for trilogue negotiations, recognising road transport needs, especially for SMEs.

A new training initiative is helping bus and coach drivers across the UK deliver inclusive and accessible journeys for blind and partially sighted passengers.

At their annual meeting, IRU Academy Associate Training Institutes (ATIs) from around the world explored the critical role of harmonisation, innovation and transparency in fostering a skilled professional road transport workforce.

With driver shortages showing no sign of easing, IRU highlighted the win-win potential of third-country drivers at the EU Labour Mobility Practitioners’ Network Conference.

World Sustainable Transport Day, celebrated on 26 November, is a special occasion to highlight and advance safe, accessible and sustainable transport.

At COP29’s ministerial roundtable on greening urban transport, IRU’s Secretary General highlighted the critical role of collective bus, coach and taxi transport in meeting global decarbonisation targets.

The key distinction between young bus and truck drivers and private car drivers lies in the professional nature of their activity. In letters addressed to Council and Parliament negotiators, IRU has challenged the misconceptions underpinning the minimum driving age debate during the Driving Licence Directive revision.

By offering access to one of the largest energy-agnostic acceptance networks in Europe, DKV Mobility is helping road transport operators maximise the benefits of all available decarbonisation fuel solutions.

Decarbonisation is one of the key challenges facing road transport operators. Help the sector obtain reliable data to fuel our insights as well as advocacy with international organisations and governments.

The IRU General Assembly and council meetings in Geneva last week brought together IRU members from around the world to discuss pressing road transport challenges, share solutions and elect the organisation’s new leadership.

The General Assembly of IRU, the world road transport organisation, has unanimously re-elected Radu Dinescu as President along with new vice presidents and a new Presidential Executive. The 2025-2027 term will mark two significant firsts for women in commercial road transport.

IRU, together with two other major transport organisations, has called on EU lawmakers to back critical measures and ensure that EU public transport services remain sustainable and accessible amid a severe shortage of bus and coach drivers.

Which truck powertrain has the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO)? Which one reduces CO₂ emissions the most? And what determines the TCO? We did the analysis in our latest Intelligence Briefing.

IRU and partners have called on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to revive the EU’s focus on the fundamental role of public transport.

IRU and FIA will run eco-driving awareness sessions for 5,000 public bus and taxi drivers in Baku ahead of COP29 to help reduce CO₂ emissions during the world’s biggest climate conference.

IRU has called on the European Commission to formally clarify the practical implications of the Court of the European Union’s recent judgment on several contested Mobility Package 1 provisions.

IRU has joined leading industry stakeholders in a joint call to revise EU CO₂ emission standards, urging policymakers to embrace a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising road transport.

The FREENOW app provides multiple mobility choices to its users across Europe.

Road transport leaders from across the EU and members of the new European Parliament came together last week for a dinner debate on the sector’s top priorities for this legislative term.

Industry leaders and Members of the European Parliament meet today to discuss and define the next steps for the EU commercial road transport sector.

Driven by technological innovation and decarbonisation goals, transport and logistics are undergoing significant change. How can we best support the transition to a more sustainable industry?

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

At the opening of Lithuania’s annual International Transport Innovation Forum, IRU stressed key measures to raise resilience, focusing on driver shortages, decarbonisation and digitalisation.

Why road transport is the way to go for countries across Asia – and how IRU’s Secretary General and China’s Vice Minister of Transport see the future of cross-border trade.

Every year, millions of tourists hop on coaches and travel sustainably across the world. To help its members operate even more efficiently and sustainably, IRU has launched a coach tourism journey planner.

The annual Swedish Bus and Coach Driver Championship has long been an opportunity to celebrate the professionalism and commitment of bus drivers. This year, the first prize for Sweden’s best bus driver went to a woman.

IRU RoadMasters, a skills profiling programme to assess drivers’ abilities, target training and monitor progress, comes to Estonia.

Change has been slow. What can be done to accelerate it?

The new champion trainers will train over 200 Iranian instructors based on internationally recognised standards.

Road freight operators are spending more on wages, equipment and services. This article, based on the latest IRU Intelligence Briefing, breaks down their investments and costs.

As the new European Parliament sits for the first time, IRU looks forward to working with MEPs to drive a more sustainable, efficient and innovative EU road transport sector. Priority policy actions are outlined in IRU’s Manifesto.