The International Road Transport Union (IRU) attended the Green Impact Expo & Summit in Casablanca, Morocco, last week, where it presented actionable solutions for decarbonising road transport through workforce and sector professionalisation.
The summit, hosted by the Fédération Du Transport Et De La Logistique, saw the IRU’s participation and action plan presentations across two panels.
In the first panel – Decarbonisation of Transport: Strategic Framework for a Successful Energy Transition – IRU Director of Certification and Standards, Patrick Philipp, showcased how the Union’s Green Compact global directive to achieve carbon neutrality in commercial road transport by 2050 is driving decarbonisation efforts, using a dual approach which leverages both efficiency measures and alternative fuels.
“The IRU Green Compact study has shown that we can reduce 50 per cent of road transport’s carbon emissions through efficiency measures,” he said.
“These actions can be implemented today.”
Green Compact’s efficiency measures specifically include targeting certain aspects of logistics, like the optimisation of routes and sustainable vehicles, in tandem training drivers to monitor their carbon emissions while on the road. Additionally, the second level of Green Compact’s action, focusing on alternative fuels, refers to the development of robust, practical and economic transition to these fuels within the industry.
“Of the significant 50 per cent reduction in emissions, 15 per cent can be achieved through eco-driving training. Transport operators can lower both costs and emissions by improving driving efficiency,” Philipp added.
In the event’s second panel – Skills Transition for Sustainable Mobility: Preparing Businesses and Talents for Tomorrow’s Challenges – Phillipp further expanded on IRU’s position and efforts to enhance the commercial transport sector’s safety, efficiency and sustainability.
“With decades of experience in developing, implementing, certifying and monitoring standards, IRU is the global leader in championing professional excellence in commercial road transport,” he said.
“Skills development, certification and monitoring improve recruitment, motivation and retention, as well as productivity and profitability for mobility and logistics companies.”
Philipp supported his claims with references to two of the Union’s programs which significantly contribute to promoting industry-wide safety, efficiency and sustainability practices.
The IRU RoadMasters program acts as a talent and risk management solution, providing digital dashboards to help companies make informed decisions during and after their hiring processes, and is tailored to specific types of transport.
Furthermore, the IRU examiner enables governments and examination bodies to assess and certify road transport professionals based on international standards, establishing professional qualifications for road transport that any country or region can adopt for both passenger and goods transport.
Philipp expressed his consideration for programs like these as vital to positively changing the commercial transport sector.
“Formalising and professionalising the road transport sector is essential for building a resilient, future-proof industry,” he said.
“By implementing internationally recognised standards, we can create a skilled workforce that adapts to the sector’s evolving needs.
“This transformation improves safety, efficiency and sustainability, while enhancing the sector’s competitiveness. It empowers businesses to innovate, workers to grow, and the industry as a whole to thrive in a fast-changing world.”
In other news, the IRU recently met with transport ministers amid UN talks.
