The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is cooperating with regional and international partners to help the road transport industry get through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The IRU’s main advocacy efforts have focused on ensuring that road transport can operate as safely and efficiently as possible given the current restrictions in place to halt the spread of Covid-19.
As a result of the IRU and partners’ work, the European Commission released guidelines on green lanes. These, according to IRU, now need to be implemented in a harmonised way by each Member State, to facilitate border crossings for truck drivers transporting food, medical supplies and other vital equipment to tackle the pandemic.
The IRU has also been in close contact with the International Transport Forum to put in place a series of temporary derogations to the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permit system, with the respective governments agreeing to: mutually recognise and grant extensions to the validity of the ECMT Certificate of Roadworthiness Test; and treat with leniency and recognise the extension of validity of licences that have expired en route due to different administrative procedures in force, until the vehicles are able to complete the journey.
“At the same time, we continue to push for financial and state aid to be provided to road transport operators that are struggling in the current climate, notably in the case of passenger transport companies that have been facing an almost overnight crash in their passenger numbers and revenue,” IRU said in a statement. “We are also in ongoing consultations with the European Commission, regional banks and global institutions, to discuss the financial impact of Covid-19 and to advise on the immediate financial support required by the road transport industry as a whole.”
The IRU calls for closer cooperation across the world in tackling Covid-19 and remains in close contact with international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the International Organisation of Employers, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank.