Irish Road Haulage, Transport & Commercial Vehicle News

Ireland’s Leading News & Information Hub for the Road Haulage Industry

Author: John Loughran

Conference aims to keep Northern Ireland fleet operators on the straight and narrow

The operation of commercial vehicles is one of the most highly regulated industries in the economy. To help those operating these vehicles in Northern Ireland, Logistics UK’s highly respected annual Transport Manager conference returns to Belfast this autumn, helping operators to stay informed about current regulations, avoid penalties and maintain...

ETS2: don’t penalise hauliers without alternatives

Irish road haulage accepts that transport must play its part in reducing carbon emissions. What the industry cannot accept is being progressively penalised for using diesel when, for many HGV operations, there is still no practical or commercially viable alternative, writes John Loughran. That is the challenge the Government must...

Countdown on to IRHA Annual Conference in Killarney next weekend

The countdown is on to the Irish Road Haulage Association’s Annual Conference and Dinner, which takes place at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney next weekend, Friday and Saturday, 4–5 September. One of the most important events in the Irish road transport calendar, the two-day conference will bring together hauliers, transport...

Register Now for CV WORKSHOP EXPO 2026

Registration is now open for CV WORKSHOP EXPO 2026, Ireland’s leading exhibition for the commercial vehicle maintenance, repair and aftermarket sectors. Taking place at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, on Saturday and Sunday, 10th–11th October, the CV WORKSHOP EXPO will bring together workshop owners, commercial vehicle technicians, fleet engineers, transport operators, parts...

Commercial Driver Apprenticeship continues to build momentum

Ireland’s Transport Operations and Commercial Driving Apprenticeship Programme is continuing to provide an important new route into the haulage and logistics sector. The two-year “earn while you learn” programme combines full-time employment with academic study through ATU Sligo. Apprentices spend four days a week gaining practical experience with their employer...

European haulage rates rise as fuel costs bite

European road haulage rates increased sharply in the second quarter of 2026 as operators sought to pass rising fuel and operating costs on to customers. The latest IRU/Upply/Transport Intelligence European Road Freight Rate Benchmark shows the contract rate index reaching 148 points, up 7.9 points quarter-on-quarter and 15.2 points year-on-year....

Europe’s HGV driver shortage hits 500,000

Europe’s HGV driver shortage has reached a critical new level, with approximately 502,000 truck-driving positions currently unfilled. But the headline figure may only tell part of the story, as Europe’s ageing driver population points towards an even more serious capacity problem before the end of the decade. The latest IRU...

Enterprise Flex-E-Rent targets fleet digitisation innovation with SureCam partnership  

Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, a leading provider of commercial vehicle hire solutions, has teamed up with SureCam to explore innovation within the marketplace and support its connected fleet strategy. The partnership takes advantage of SureCam’s video-enabled telematics ecosystem, bringing together a growing number of industry specialists – including Peoplesafe and Optimize –...

Diesel Rebate Scheme extended to year-end in boost for hauliers

Irish hauliers have received a welcome boost with confirmation that the Diesel Rebate Scheme (DRS) will remain in place until the end of 2026, providing continued support to transport operators facing high fuel and operating costs. The scheme allows qualifying road haulage and passenger transport operators to reclaim a portion...

The highlight of the year for Ireland’s road transport sector

The CV Workshop EXPO and 271 Truck, Trailer & Van EXPO are shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year for Ireland’s road transport, haulage and commercial vehicle sector. Taking place at the RDS, Dublin on Saturday and Sunday, 10–11 October, the two events will bring together...

Sustainable Transport Seminar 2026 – a much wider conversation about the future of transport

Sustainability may be in the title, but FTA Ireland’s Sustainable Transport Seminar 2026 will go far beyond decarbonisation. “The transport and logistics sector is facing challenges on multiple fronts. Rising operating costs, increasing regulation, digitalisation, driver recruitment and retention, insurance, road safety and compliance are all demanding greater attention from...

New Stena Line passport requirements – hauliers advised to prepare

Hauliers and commercial vehicle operators using Stena Line services between Ireland and Britain are being advised of new passport requirements coming into effect from Monday, 28 September 2026. From that date, passengers travelling on the Dublin–Holyhead and Rosslare–Fishguard routes will be required to present a valid passport or passport card...

IRHA welcomes postponement of excise duty increases

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has welcomed the Government’s decision last Friday evening to postpone the reintroduction of excise duty, which had been due to come back into effect on 1st September. The IRHA says there is no doubt that this decision is a direct result of the strong...

New 271 Truck, Trailer & Van EXPO on the horizon

Adding another exciting dimension to the CV Workshop EXPO / Auto Trade EXPO, taking place at the RDS, Dublin on Saturday and Sunday, 10–11 October, will be the new 271 Truck, Trailer & Van EXPO, staged outdoors at the entrance to the south Dublin venue. The new outdoor showcase will...

Germany extends internal border checks to March 2027

Germany has notified the European Commission that checks at all nine of its land borders will continue from 16 September 2026 until 15 March 2027. The affected borders include France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Poland, Czechia, Austria and Switzerland. Irish operators travelling through Germany should allow for unpredictable inspections,...