The EU office is based in Brussels, where IRU has been a trusted partner at the EU institutional level since 1973.
The team works on two main areas – Advocacy and Research & Innovation, to uphold the interests of bus, coach, taxi, hired car with driver and truck operators as well as the broader mobility and logistics industry.
The IRU Brussels office supports its EU members by monitoring and contributing to the legislative and awareness building processes on road transport issues dealt with by the EU institutions.
Our advocacy activities
The IRU team works on advocating for a dialogue between policymakers and the road transport industry to establish a simple and balanced EU legal framework for an even safer, more efficient and sustainable road transport system in Europe.
Read here our call to action for EU stakeholders to know more about our policy asks in Europe.
Helping Europe reach its carbon neutrality goal
Europe aims to be the first carbon-neutral economy in the world and the European road transport industry is committed to contributing to this goal.
Sustainability must be the guiding principle of all greening efforts. Solutions already available now must be used to the fullest to yield immediate and lasting results.
- Eco-trucks: Eco-trucks carry larger loads than standard vehicle combinations and their use offers economic and ecological and economic advantages; they offer a significant opportunity for reducing CO2 emissions by up to 40%. In the EU, two Eco-trucks can carry the same load as three regular trucks, reducing energy consumption, CO2 emissions and congestion. To take full advantage of all the benefits, an EU legislative framework to harmonise the cross-border use of Eco-trucks across the region is needed.
- Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs): Bus and coach operators are continuously striving to further green their operations but they currently lack commercially viable alternatives to diesel. Cities should be more conscious of this reality, in order to propose adapted urban vehicles access regulations. EU rules are needed to harmonise the local decision-making and ensure that buses and coaches are allowed to play their role as an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to car use.
- Alternative fuels - Because commercial vehicles serve different purposes, they need to have the whole range of alternative fuels available in order to pick the most appropriate fuel and technology from an environmental and business perspective. The EU should adopt a well-to-wheel approach that considers emissions reduction opportunities beyond tailpipe emissions.
Ensuring safer and fairer working conditions
IRU is the official social partner recognised by the European Commission to engage in negotiations with trade unions on behalf of EU road transport employers. In that role, IRU together with its partners in Europe have initiated comprehensive work on tackling the root causes of the increasingly acute driver shortage.
- Driver shortage: Europe is facing the most acute driver shortage in history with over 20% of the jobs unfilled. The lack of drivers represents a real threat to the smooth functioning of supply chains and the EU mobility and economy as a whole. IRU is regularly surveying its European members to evaluate the scope of the problem. Based on collected insights, IRU has established a roadmap to tackle the different aspects of driver shortage. We are also working with several partners to promote driver opportunities. Read more about our actions on driver shortage here
- Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSTPAs): Europe is lacking 100,000 parking places for truck drivers to take their rest, while most of the existing parking areas for 300,000 trucks are below acceptable standards.
Check our actions with EU stakeholders: - Enforcement: IRU follows closely all the regulations affecting drivers and transport operators. As part of our focus, we pledge for a coherent and comprehensive vision and strategy on the enforcement of road transport rules.
Driving prosperity
A more connected world is key to building more prosperous economies, so IRU and its partners promote clear and transparent standards necessary to build prosperity and growth. In Europe, IRU focuses its activities around:
- Digitalisation: The road transport industry incurred administrative costs amounting to € 6 billion in 2018. Digitalisation will help to significantly reduce these costs. Open data, the digitalisation of transport documents, the interoperability of platforms and new business models such us Mobility as a Service (MaaS) are set to become daily realities, bringing both opportunities and challenges. If you want to know more about MaaS, take a look at IRU’s page and position on the topic.
- Mobility Packages: The European Commission's three Mobility Packages represent the biggest change to the EU road transport rules to date, covering many aspects of the industry's activities. The Mobility Packages are intended to address a number of problems or support specific developments within the European road transport sector aiming to achieve a better harmonisation and simplification of the rules for a more consistent enforcement across all Member States. IRU developed a microsite explaining the impact of the proposed rules and IRU’s positions on the different aspects of the three packages.
- Brexit: Each day, between 7,000 and 10,000 trucks use the Calais-Dover route alone. Every year, several million passengers cross the Channel by coach. A no-deal Brexit therefore represents a major threat to trade and mobility. A deal between the EU and UK is needed in order to allow commercial road transport activities to continue in the smoothest possible way. Read IRU’s position papers and different analysis on Brexit.
Building the industry’s future
The IRU research and innovation team engages with projects funded by the European Commission, to see innovation become a reality on the road.
These projects look at the future of transport by developing new technologies and ways of operating that will support the commercial road transport industry face the challenges of tomorrow. Their ultimate goal is to foster increased sustainability and safety for road transport while also taking into account the social impact of innovation in the sector.
Click here to learn more about our current projects.
IRU in Europe
The core topics we cover in Europe include sustainability and environmental issues, mobility, road safety, access to the market and fair competition.
The EU office is based in Brussels, where IRU has been a trusted partner at the EU institutional level since 1973.
The team works on two main areas – Advocacy and Research & Innovation, to uphold the interests of bus, coach, taxi, hired car with driver and truck operators as well as the broader mobility and logistics industry.
The IRU Brussels office supports its EU members by monitoring and contributing to the legislative and awareness building processes on road transport issues dealt with by the EU institutions.
Our advocacy activities
The IRU team works on advocating for a dialogue between policymakers and the road transport industry to establish a simple and balanced EU legal framework for an even safer, more efficient and sustainable road transport system in Europe.
Read here our call to action for EU stakeholders to know more about our policy asks in Europe.
Europe aims to be the first carbon-neutral economy in the world and the European road transport industry is committed to contributing to this goal.
Sustainability must be the guiding principle of all greening efforts. Solutions already available now must be used to the fullest to yield immediate and lasting results.
IRU is the official social partner recognised by the European Commission to engage in negotiations with trade unions on behalf of EU road transport employers. In that role, IRU together with its partners in Europe have initiated comprehensive work on tackling the root causes of the increasingly acute driver shortage.
Check our actions with EU stakeholders:
A more connected world is key to building more prosperous economies, so IRU and its partners promote clear and transparent standards necessary to build prosperity and growth. In Europe, IRU focuses its activities around:
Building the industry’s future
The IRU research and innovation team engages with projects funded by the European Commission, to see innovation become a reality on the road.
These projects look at the future of transport by developing new technologies and ways of operating that will support the commercial road transport industry face the challenges of tomorrow. Their ultimate goal is to foster increased sustainability and safety for road transport while also taking into account the social impact of innovation in the sector.
Click here to learn more about our current projects.
IRU regional office
General Delegate: Raluca Marian
71 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels,
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 743 2580
Regional news
Brussels
Eurovignette: IRU calls for level playing field and reinvestment into road
Brussels
EU must act now on driver shortages to safeguard public transport
Geneva
Europe road freight rates Q3: Contract rates flat as spot rates fall
Brussels
Alternative versus traditional truck powertrains in the EU
Gothenburg
Advancing zero-emission vehicles: Insights from ZEFES
More about IRU in Europe
See our links to know more about our related events & documents.
Learn more
Innovation
Steer2EU
Examining the EU framework for third-country drivers
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H2Accelerate TRUCKS
Testing 150 hydrogen-powered trucks on corridors connecting Scandinavia to Italy
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AIthena
Connected and Cooperative Automated Mobility (CCAM) sparks development in trustworthy artificial intelligence
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ZEFES
Redefining long-haul transport: innovations for reliable, efficient and zero-emission transport
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AWARD
Testing driverless heavy-duty vehicles in adverse weather conditions
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CAD Study
Exploring the impact of connected and automated driving on employment
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Modales
Tackling vehicle emissions holistically
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Steer2Career
Preparing truck drivers for the challenges of tomorrow
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H2Haul
Testing hydrogen fuel cells in a real-world logistics environment
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Drive2theFuture
Automated transport - exploring drivers’ acceptance and developing potential training methods
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MORE
Considering and understanding urban road traffic holistically
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Safer-LC
Integrating and optimising road-rail infrastructure
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ARCADE
Harmonising Connected, Cooperated & Automated Driving
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HiReach project
Innovative mobility solutions to cope with transport poverty
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SSTPA Study
Study on Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas in the EU
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AEOLIX
Digital streamlining of logistics exchange
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MyCorridor
Mobility as a Service in a Multi-Modal European Cross-Border Corridor
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C-MOBILE
Accelerating C-ITS Mobility Innovation and Deployment in Europe
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CAPITAL
ITS and C-ITS Capacity Building for the Future of Mobility
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LEARN - Logistics Emission Accounting and Reduction Network
Harmonised carbon emission accounting for a greener and more efficient supply chain
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Commercial Vehicle of the Future
The latest report on freight transport of the future examines what measures need to be undertaken to ensure that tomorrows’ commercial vehicles would best suit a green vision of the future.
Find out more
The EcoEffect project
By driving in an eco-friendly way, we can not only protect our environment, but save money at the same time.
Find out more
I_HeERO - ecall Project
Saving lives through in-vehicle communication technology
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Guides for Animal Transport
In order to support the industry to provide good animal welfare, IRU Project has joined a consortium consisting of 16 partners, aimed at developing best practice guidelines for the transportation of these animals.
Find out more
NOVELOG
Improving efficiency of road transport in the different human environments
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SEED
A harmonized road transport space in Europe is becoming more and more vital for the entire economy
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TRANSFORMERS
Trucks that change shape to accommodate their cargo and improve fuel efficiency.
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I-CVUE
Electric cars for greener cities. Discover the future, here.
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CORE
Security across supply chains with an integrated approach to risk assessment.
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CO-GISTICS
Using smart technology to improve efficiency and protect the environment.
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Smartfusion project
Showing the road to a greener future through creative ways that make urban transport greener and leaner.
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MOBiNET Project
The massive online marketplace for all of Europe’s transport needs.
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Compass4D
Improving road safety and efficiency by sharing information wirelessly
Find out more
GPST®
GPST®, Global Partnership for Sustainable Transport®, Leading the way towards an environmentally-friendly industry
Find out more
IRU members in Europe
Brussels
ACEA
Sofia
AEBTRI
Paris
AFTRI
Sarajevo
AIRH
Vienna
AISÖ
Berlin
AIST
Madrid
ALSA
Luxembourg
Amazon
Tirana
ANALTIR
Rome
ANAV
Madrid
ANETRA
Lisbon
ANTRAL
Lisbon
ANTRAM
Porto
ANTROP
Bern
ASTAG
Madrid
ASTIC
Valletta
ATTO
Lyon
Axxès
Stockholm
BA
Berlin
BDO
Skopje
BEST MOBILITY
Frankfurt
BGL
Roeselare
Busworld Foundation
Berlin
BVTM
Sofia
CBRH
Belgrade
CCIS-AT
Vienna
CC Taxi center
Prague
CESMAD Bohemia
Bratislava
CESMAD SLOVAKIA
Madrid
CETM
Madrid
CONFEBUS
Rome
CONFETRA
Hannover
Continental
London
CPT
Essen
DB Schenker
Copenhagen
DI- DTF
Ratingen
DKV Mobility
Copenhagen
DPT
Berlin
DSLV
Copenhagen
DTL
Guyancourt
Easytrip Transport Services
Brussels
ECG
Tallinn
ERAA
Prague
EUROWAG
Zoetermeer
EVOFENEDEX
Wrocław
EwiCenter
Rome
FAI
Brussels
FBAA
Brussels
FEBETRA
Paris
FFC Constructeurs
Rome
FIAP
Luxembourg
FLEAA
Munich
Flixbus
Paris
FNTR
Paris
FNTV
Hamburg
FREENOW
Gibraltar
GCC
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Geopost
Ljubljana
GIZ INTERTRANSPORT
Luxembourg
Groupement Transports (former CLC)
Brussels
GTL
Irun
Guretruck
Raufoss
Hexagon Agility
Zagreb
HGK
Thessaloniki
HIT-CERTH
Paris
In Groupe
Limassol
INTERTRANSAUTO
Dublin
IRHA
Padborg
ITD
Brussels
ITLB
Turin
IVECO
Roosendaal
Jan de Rijk Logistics
The Hague
KNV
Riga
LATVIJAS AUTO
Vilnius
LINAVA
Vienna
LKW Walter
Kent
Logistics UK
Clermont-Ferrand
Michelin
Budapest
MKFE
Oslo
NLF
Athens
OFAE
Zoetermeer
Panteia
Podgorica
PKCG
Bucharest
RAR
Peterborough
RHA
Stockholm
SA
Stockholm
SBF
Södertälje
Scania
Helsinki
SKAL
Plovdiv
SMP
Stockholm
Stoneridge
Nicosia
TDA
Zoetermeer
TLN
Montoro
TN Torello
Paris
TotalEnergies
Eschweiler
Trailer Dynamics
Paris
Transfrigoroute
Weesp
Transport In Nood
Vilnius
TTLA
Rome
UICCIAA
Paris
UNIT
Bucharest
UNTRR
Brussels
UPS
Cardiff
Veezu
Warsaw
ZMPD
IRU partners in Europe