Europe’s commercial transport is shifting gears on green and digital challenges

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) – the world road transport organisation – recently presented their manifesto, calling for an easing of access to the driver profession and improving working conditions, setting realistic decarbonisation targets with grid upgrades, and digitalising transport documents to streamline regulation.

The commercial road transport sector, which is essential to the EU’s economy, moving over 77% of inland goods and connecting millions of people daily, has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

The IRU argues that bus, coach and taxi services should be financially supported and promoted by policymakers as part of efforts to reduce individual car journeys.

With the market for clean vehicles developing rapidly and a 39% increase in new electric bus registrations, combined with a 234% increase in new electric truck registrations in 2023, the sector is changing dramatically.

This special report looks at the challenges facing the road transport sector, including what the IRU describes as a need for 500,000 professional drivers across Europe.