Newsroom

IRU welcomes Member States’ decision reached in the Road Transport Committee to introduce a two-month grace period for the EU’s upcoming legal retrofitting deadline. This provides critical support operators urgently need.

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.

The European Parliament has backed the road transport industry in a key vote, initiating negotiations on driving licensing and greening reforms.

IRU takes note of the Court of the European Union's decision on the Mobility Package 1 challenges brought forward by Member States. The Court annulled the rule on the return of the vehicle, but it confirmed the validity of all other contested provisions.

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.

IRU will lead a fact-finding research project, financed by the European Commission, to explore the legal and administrative framework for third-country drivers to access the profession.

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 European Parliament has officially approved the provisional agreement with the Council on the Platform Workers Directive at today’s plenary session. Pending confirmation from the Council, the focus now shifts to Member States.

IRU and its member federations from France, Romania and Spain have met with EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean on actions to protect drivers and road transport services amid the ongoing French farmer protests.

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.

Mobility Package 1 provisions regarding the posting of drivers became applicable almost two years ago in the EU. Transport operators are already expected to follow the new rules when they pay drivers posted in host countries. But national renumeration rules are often very unclear. IRU and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) have asked the European Commission to develop a standard salary calculation template.

IRU and ITF have reinforced their commitment to drive a just transition and improve the accessibility and attractiveness of the commercial driver profession with a Just Transition for Transport pledge.

The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) adopted today the compromise amendments tabled by its lead rapporteur on driving and rest time rules for coach drivers.

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.

Industry representatives warn that a lack of a pre-established EU-wide criteria on employment relationships in the Platform Workers Directive could be detrimental for small and medium-sized businesses and self-employed workers.

In the second edition of this special series spotlighting some of the women leaders of our industry, we feature Anna Grönlund, Deputy Managing Director of IRU member the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation, and Vice President of IRU’s Passenger Transport Council.

One year on from the main EU Mobility Package 1 (MP1) provisions entering into force, IRU brought together the road transport industry and enforcement groups in a workshop to assess the situation. Since February 2022, most of the EU’s MP1 provisions have been in force. The industry is working under new rules governing driving and rest periods, the posting of drivers, and access to the road transport market and profession.

European social partners have called upon EU commissioners to ensure that social dialogue committees have the necessary financial and political support needed. In a joint letter to Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, IRU has joined forces with social partners representing 17 sectors to voice their concerns over the EU Commission’s proposal of multiyear, “project-based” financing for social dialogue committees.

IRU is in contact with its members in Türkiye and Syria following yesterday’s devastating earthquake, offering its deepest condolences to the victims and support to help coordinate relief efforts. On behalf of the global IRU family, Secretary General Umberto de Pretto has offered his heartfelt sympathies to all caught up in the tragedy in Türkiye, Syria and elsewhere.

The European Parliament, meeting in plenary yesterday, has given the green light to its Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) to negotiate with the Council on new rules to reclassify platform employees. The Parliament has taken the right turn by limiting the Platform Workers Directive’s scope to purely digital platform players.

IRU is concerned about the announced changes to the UK government’s Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme for road hauliers, which will enter into force on 13 February 2023, and the potential impact it could have on UK-Europe supply chains.

The European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) voted on new rules to reclassify platforms’ self-employed collaborators as digital platform employees. The Platform Workers Directive takes the right turn by limiting its scope to pure digital platform players.

EU Member States yesterday agreed on a version of the TEN-T Regulation which will improve people’s mobility, but waters down key European Commission proposals to boost truck driver working conditions and intermodal goods transport.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) joined IRU in Strasbourg to discuss the most contentious points of the proposed Platform Workers Directive – new EU legislation aiming to reclassify platform workers as employees.

Major industry representatives are concerned by the direction that the European Parliament is taking in negotiations over the Platform Workers Directive, which reclassifies self-employed collaborators in the EU as digital platform workers.

Driver shortages are everywhere in Europe, threatening the stability and continuity of mobility and supply chains. IRU’s recent EU Dinner Dialogue in the European Parliament brought together the road transport sector and public authorities to explore solutions.

IRU has welcomed the launch of the European Labour Authority’s EU-wide #Road2FairTransport campaign for professional drivers and their employers.

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

IRU partner Middle East Logistics High Institute (MELI), a subsidiary of Almajdouie Group, has trained, assessed and certified over 4,000 truck drivers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by following and applying the standards set by IRU to ensure a high quality of service in the transport of dangerous good by road. 

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the Republic of Botswana conducted, in close collaboration with World Trade Organization (WTO), a session on improving the connectivity of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) last week. The session took place during the Aid for Trade Global Review 2022.

The International Transport Forum in Turkmenistan brought together leaders from business, government and international organisations to discuss a range of issues. IRU was there. 

With recent evidence concerning Uber's unlawful business practices coming to light, IRU underlines its support for each worker's right to dignity and decent working conditions, whether employed or self-employed.

IRU, the world road transport organisation, has launched a new portal for the transport sector bringing together, in one place and in an easy-to-read format, key information on the application of Mobility Package 1 rules across the EU.

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).