IRU members debate global road transport issues at Geneva meetings

The IRU General Assembly and council meetings in Geneva last week brought together IRU members from around the world to discuss pressing road transport challenges, share solutions and elect the organisation's new leadership.

At its General Assembly, IRU members unanimously re-elected Radu Dinescu as President alongside two new vice presidents.

The 2025-2027 term will mark two significant firsts for women in commercial road transport. For the first time, the IRU Passenger Transport Council will have a woman President, Anna Grönlund (SBF), and the Presidential Executive will have four women, echoing the road transport sector's drive to boost the representation of women in its workforce (full overview of IRU's new leadership).

Over the three-day meetings, IRU shared the latest driver shortage figures and initiatives to boost the participation of women in the sector, the trade benefits of the TIR transit system, and preliminary findings of the ongoing Green Compact survey. The 2025 working programmes for the IRU passenger and goods councils were also ratified.

Lively debates

In addition to the elections, IRU's council meetings and General Assembly held lively discussions featuring a range of regional and global passenger and goods transport perspectives.

Laurens van Remortele and Hugo Visser from Transvision, a Dutch mobility provider founded in 1994, shared their experience of partnering with operators to purchase and test electric coaches. They highlighted how shared commitment enhances partnerships, facilitating the exchange of ideas, opportunities and risks.

IRU also hosted two spirited debates with industry experts from around the world.

During the Goods Transport Council, Robert Costello (ATA), Eyad Karadsheh (DB Schenker), Eduart Kasa (ANALTIR) and Elisabeth Post (TLN) explored how protectionism is increasingly hampering cross-border transport operations.

At major border crossings worldwide, truck drivers are enduring prolonged waiting times due to inefficient, redundant inspections and a lack of digitalisation.