A proposed €91.3 billion EU infrastructure budget could help deliver better freight connections, secure truck parking and alternative fuels infrastructure, with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) calling for road transport to receive a substantial share. IRU has welcomed the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Industry, Research and...
Irish hauliers operating on continental routes are reminded that the next European Truck & Bus enforcement week takes place from Monday, 16 November to Sunday, 22 November 2026. The ROADPOL campaign will focus on commercial vehicle safety and compliance, with officers targeting overloading, breaches of driving and rest-time rules, and...
European hauliers operating zero-emission trucks could save between €11,000 and €53,000 per vehicle annually in road tolls, according to a new study examining the impact of the EU’s Eurovignette Directive. The findings suggest that toll discounts and exemptions could play a major role in improving the financial viability of battery-electric...
A pioneering road safety initiative in Italy is demonstrating how practical, hands-on training can help HGV drivers, transport operators and other industry professionals reduce risks and improve safety across the heavy-duty transport sector. The Safer Truck initiative, developed by Efficient Driving Enterprise in Italy, has been recognised by the European...
The European truck industry is intensifying pressure on EU negotiators to ensure battery-electric and hydrogen trucks can carry commercially competitive payloads. At the centre of the debate is the proposed revision of the EU Weights and Dimensions Directive—the legislation governing the maximum weight, axle load and dimensions of heavy commercial...
European truck manufacturers are seeking a two-year delay to Euro 7 emissions rules for heavy-duty vehicles, raising questions over the timetable Irish hauliers should use when planning fleet replacements. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has also requested a separate five-year postponement of heavy-duty brake-emission requirements. In a statement published...
European truck registrations are recovering, but fuel bills, financing commitments and the cost of cleaner vehicles continue to put pressure on haulage businesses. New figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), published on 28 October, show that EU truck registrations increased by 7.5% to 245,079 units during the first...
Irish hauliers delivering to Denmark or travelling through the country on Scandinavian routes need to factor kilometre-based road tolls into their transport costs—and watch a proposed extension to lighter trucks in 2027. Denmark introduced its KmToll system on 1 January 2025, replacing the Eurovignette with a charge linked to distance...
Irish hauliers operating to or through Slovakia should check their toll payment arrangements ahead of a system change on 1 January 2027, which will require users of the country’s SkyToll service to re-register and replace their on-board units. Slovakia’s National Motorway Company, Národná diaľničná spoločnosť (NDS), will take ownership and...
Irish hauliers operating across Europe could benefit from reduced motorway charges under newly adopted EU legislation, but the savings will depend on national decisions and the emissions performance of individual trucks. The European Union has formally adopted new road charging rules that could allow transport operators to benefit from discounts...
With Brussels under pressure to extend emergency fuel assistance until the end of 2027, questions are growing over whether Ireland will take full advantage of EU rules allowing governments to compensate hauliers for up to 70% of additional fuel costs. The European Union could extend its emergency fuel-crisis support framework...
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has called for extended EU fuel-crisis support and enforceable 30-day payment terms, warning that rising diesel costs and overdue invoices are weakening transport operators’ finances. In an appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, IRU is seeking a one-year extension of the...
European diesel supplies remain tight, but there is currently no physical shortage of the fuel, according to the European Commission. The distinction will offer some reassurance over availability, but it provides little comfort to Irish hauliers paying more than €2 per litre and attempting to price transport contracts in an...
Seven in ten European road transport operators say their customers are unwilling to pay more for greener freight services, raising serious questions about how the industry can finance its transition to low-emission transport. A new survey from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and Trimble reveals that rising vehicle costs...