European regulators are moving closer to introducing new rules governing truck and bus tyre abrasion, potentially changing how commercial vehicle tyres are tested, developed and ultimately selected by haulage operators. The UNECE Tyre Abrasion Task Force meets in Brussels on 8–9 October, with one of its key objectives being to...
Ireland’s direct freight connections with continental Europe have been formally placed at the heart of the European Union’s latest Atlantic Corridor strategy, strengthening the case for further investment in ports, road links and freight infrastructure. The European Commission has published its first Atlantic European Transport Corridor Work Plan under the...
G7 countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves in an effort to stabilise global energy markets and take some of the heat out of soaring fuel prices. The coordinated release, overseen through the International Energy Agency (IEA), will begin immediately and...
European haulage operators are facing pressure from two directions: the rising cost of keeping trucks on the road and a shortage of drivers to put behind the wheel. For Irish hauliers serving continental markets, the combination threatens profitability, complicates planning and makes it harder to take on additional work. Emergency...
Irish hauliers undertaking domestic transport work in Spain will need to prepare for a new digital freight documentation requirement coming into force on Monday, 5 October 2026. Spain’s Electronic Administrative Control Document, known as DeCA, becomes mandatory for affected domestic road freight operations, including cabotage carried out by foreign operators....
Fuel protests in Portugal have provided another warning of the pressure facing transport businesses—and raised questions about how Irish hauliers can turn mounting frustration into effective demands for support. Hundreds of truckers took part in a go-slow protest on Friday, 25 September, travelling along the A1 motorway from Paredes towards...
European discussions on subcontracting are putting a question to transport operators: when a load passes through several companies, who is responsible for the driver and the work? Subcontracting is part of everyday haulage. It helps operators cover peaks in demand, serve routes outside their own network and keep customers’ goods...
For a local delivery company or a regional service provider, a minor accident can disrupt an entire week of operations. Beyond physical vehicle damage, a collision sidelines drivers, forces missed appointments, damages customer trust, and drains valuable administrative hours. Every vehicle in a small fleet represents a critical share of...
Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational, bringing digital border records to journeys into and out of the Schengen area. For Irish hauliers, its practical impact depends on the nationality of the driver behind the wheel. The system began a phased rollout in October 2025 and became fully operational...
Europe’s leading truck manufacturers have warned that the conditions needed to meet the European Union’s 2030 CO₂ targets are at least three years behind schedule. The chief executives of Europe’s seven largest truck and bus manufacturers issued the warning during a joint appearance at IAA Transportation in Hanover. While reaffirming...
Europe’s freight transport sector is moving steadily towards a paperless future as the European Union prepares for the full implementation of its Electronic Freight Transport Information system, known as eFTI. From 9 July 2027, authorities in every EU member state will be required to accept regulatory freight information submitted electronically...
The International Road Transport Uniuon (IRU) has welcomed the European Commission’s new Fair Labour Mobility Package, saying simpler qualification rules and greater digitalisation could help the road transport sector tackle its continuing shortage of professional drivers. The package includes measures covering social security, recognition of skills and qualifications – including...
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has joined Transport & Environment in calling for renewed political leadership to accelerate the transition to zero-emission trucks, buses and coaches across Europe. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the two organisations have called for the establishment of...
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 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...