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...
Irish hauliers weighing up investment in zero-emission trucks need greater certainty on charging, operating costs and financial support, according to the priorities outlined in a new European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA) policy paper. The paper, Our Road to Zero-Emission Trucks, sets out the alliance’s blueprint for accelerating the transition to...
Irish hauliers collecting or delivering goods in Italy should check access to loading points and confirm delivery arrangements as protests over diesel costs continue to disrupt freight movements and food distribution. Reports from Italy on Wednesday, 21 October, indicate an uneven picture, with some blockades being removed while protests and...
Smaller European haulage operators face a difficult squeeze as driver shortages restrict the work they can accept, while diesel costs increase the financial pressure of keeping trucks on the road. For Irish hauliers, the combination presents a clear business risk: winning additional work offers little benefit if there is no...
Italy has postponed planned restrictions on Euro 5 diesel vehicles in four northern regions for another year, providing welcome breathing space for transport operators, including Irish hauliers travelling to northern Italy. The Italian Government has confirmed that the proposed restrictions, originally scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026, will...
German hauliers are facing a difficult combination of diesel costs, CO₂-related toll charges and lengthy waits for payment, while weak freight demand limits their ability to secure better rates. For Irish operators carrying goods to and from Germany, the pressures underline the importance of recovering journey costs and keeping a...
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) and International Road Transport Union (IRU) have urged the Government to prioritise financial support for struggling hauliers, tackle late payments and push through critical EU transport legislation during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The issues were raised during a meeting...
Europe’s worsening HGV driver shortage is prompting renewed attention in Brussels, with driver training, working conditions and recruitment barriers emerging as key priorities for the road transport industry. With an estimated 500,000 truck driver vacancies across Europe, the shortage is no longer simply a recruitment problem. It is increasingly becoming...
Ireland’s dependence on ferry services and its geographical separation from mainland Europe must be taken into account when Brussels develops transport and environmental policies, according to the concerns raised by Irish MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú. The issue has gained additional significance following the European Commission’s publication of its first EU...