1. This is the IRU
Geneva, 2009
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

2. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

3. Evolution of IRU Membership
Members 74 Countries
Created 1948
8 Founder States:
Belgium
Denmark
France
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden UK
Switzerland
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

4. Evolution of IRU Structure
1948
IRU founded in Geneva
1973
IRU Permanent Delegation to the EU established in Brussels
1998
IRU Permanent Delegation to the CIS established in Moscow
2005
IRU Permanent Delegation to the Middle East established in Istanbul
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

5. Evolution of IRU General Secretariat
The Number of IRU Staff:
Geneva Brussels Moscow Istanbul
2009 *
* IRU employees include 32 Nationalities, from 5 Continents
But the IRU Secretariat General cannot act alone…
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

6. Goods Transport Council Presidential Executive
IRU Structure
General Assembly
Goods Transport Council
Presidential Executive
Passenger Transport Council
Secretary General
Task Forces
Secretariat General (Geneva)
IRU Academy (Geneva)
Commissions
EU Delegation (Brussels)
EU Liaison Committee
Working Parties
CIS Delegation (Moscow)
CIS Liaison Committee
Mid East Delegation (Istanbul)
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

7. IRU International Commissions & Working Parties
Social Affairs
Economic Affairs
Customs Affairs
Legal Affairs
Technical Affairs
Road Safety
Services to Transport Operators
Dangerous Goods
Combined Transport
Taxis and hire cars with driver
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

8. IRU Priorities 2009 – Overview As per Art. 2 of the IRU Constitution
Sustainable Development
Innovation
Incentives
Infrastructure
Facilitation
Trade
Tourism
Road Transport
These are also the priorities of the IRU Academy
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

9. Sustainable Development
IRU Charter for Sustainable Development (1996)
IRU Initiative “Driving Towards Sustainable Development” (1997)
IRU Guide to Sustainable Development (2000)
IRU Reports on Road Transport Best Industry Practices (2002/4)
Industry as a Partner for Sustainable Development UNEP (2002/6)
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

10. IRU’s 3 “i”s for Sustainable Development
1. innovation – to develop ever more effective “at-source” technical measures & operating practices to reduce environmental impact.
2. incentives – to encourage faster introduction by transport operators of best available technology and practices.
3. infrastructure – without free-flowing traffic, the above measures are useless. Adequate investment in new infrastructure to remove bottlenecks and missing links, plus fullest use of existing infrastructure, are essential.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

11. Sustainable Development
Innovation
Accident research: European Truck Accident Causation Study (ETAC)
Proactive industry approach: Bus & Coach Road Safety Programme
Promotion of intermodal transport: the Modular Concept
High standards through professional training
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

12. Sustainable Development
2. Incentives
Promote real business incentives
Encourage fast introduction of clean technologies
Advocate a sustainable energy policy and professional fuel, as road transport is 100% dependent on oil.
Incitate policies to reward best practices
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

13. Sustainable Development
3. Infrastructure
Infrastructure charging – call for a level playing field
Advocate best use of existing infrastructure and removal of missing links
Ask for safe and secure infrastructure
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

14. International Network of IRU Academy Accredited Training Institutes (ATIs)
In a market that is more competitive and driven by more and more regulations,
The IRU Academy is uniquely positioned to drive the harmonisation of training standards,
incorporate international best practices and verify in an independent capacity that these
training standards are in full compliance with the EU conventions and other
legal international instruments as well as with the needs of the road transport industry.
The international network of IRU Academy Accredited Training Institutes (ATIs) counts a total of
38 CPC ATIs in 32 countries and from 2008 a presence on 3 continents.
38 ATIs
32 Countries
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

15. Members of the Advisory Committee
2008 – IRU ACADEMY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ADC)
UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
IRU ACADEMY INITIATIVES ALSO SUPPORTED BY:
International
Recognition 
In its many initiatives, the IRU Academy enjoys the full support of its high-level IRU
Academy Advisory Committee (ADC), presided by Martine-Sophie Fouvez (ITF). The
IRU ADC is composed of representatives from the World Bank, the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Transport Forum (ITF),
the European Commission, the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) and
the European Training Foundation (ETF). The IRU Academy is also supported by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Parliament.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

16. www.iru.org/academy IRU Academy…
CPC DRIVER PROGRAMME
CPC MANAGER PROGRAMME
IRU Academy…
A Partner to all Professional road transport training institutes
TACHOGRAPH PROGRAMME & DRIVING & REST TIME RULES
The IRU ensures excellence in road transport training through its international network
of IRU Academy Accredited Training Institutes (ATIs) and provides graduates with internationally
recognised IRU Academy Certificates and Diplomas as testimony of their
professional competence. The IRU Academy is a partner to national training institute and provides them with professional training framework:
Training programmes
Administrative system (AOL)
IRU Diplomas
Promotional material
DANGEROUS GOODS (ADR) PROGRAMME
“IRU ACADEMY ONLINE“ INTERNET APPLICATION
IRU ACADEMY MEETINGS & RELATED EVENTS
TRIPARTITE HIV/AIDS PROJECT
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

17. “IRU ACADEMY ONLINE“ Internet Application
The first Graduate Viewing Code provides a recommendation to Potential Employers (/J1)
The IRU Academy certifies that John Doe has received the Internationally Recognised IRU Academy CPC for the Road Transport Manager Diploma and is thus an excellent candidate for any transport manager position.
View my Online Résumé
The second Graduate Viewing Code provides a recommendation to Potential Clients (/P1)
The IRU Academy certifies that John Doe has received the Internationally Recognised IRU Academy CPC for the Road Transport Manager Diploma and is thus a highly qualified transport operator.
View my Online Résumé
AVAILABLE TO
ANYONE
ANYTIME
ANYWHERE
PROVIDING
IRU ACADEMY CERTIFICATION, VERIFICATION & PROMOTION ONLINE !
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

18. Facilitation General Trade, Tourism & Road Transport Facilitation
Security – balanced approach
Waiting times at borders – border crossing facilitation by means of efficient customs transit systems, modern control tools
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

19. Border Waiting Times – IRU BWTO
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

20. Border Waiting Times – IRU BWTO
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

21. Facilitation Tourism Driving & rest time rules
Access to cities and touristic sites
IRU Coach Classification System
Partnership between public transport & taxis
Awards
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

22. Facilitation Freight Transport Transit freedom – GATT
Free trade for the cargo
Facilitated market access for the vehicle,
no transit restriction
Visas for professional drivers
Access to the profession: strict qualitative
regulations – no cowboys, thank you
Electronic transport documents: e-CMR
Driving & rest time rules: EU and AETR
Survey on attacks on truck drivers
– secure parking sites!
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

23. TIR System an overview Facilitation
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

24. Internationaux Routiers Managed by the IRU since 1949
Transports
Internationaux Routiers
Managed by the IRU since 1949
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

25. What is the TIR System?
The best multilateral facilitation instrument for international transport and trade
Based on TIR Convention of 1975
Currently signed by 68 contracting parties, with the possibility to be implemented globally and multi-modally (road-rail, road-maritime, road-air)
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

26. Geographical scope of the TIR Convention
Contracting
Parties 68
TIR Operational
Countries 56
Contracting Parties
in admission process 2
In negotiation
process 3
Interested 6
regular growth
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

27. Key aspects of the TIR System
Secure vehicles and containers
International Chain of Guarantee
TIR Carnet
Mutual Recognition of Customs Controls
Controlled Access
SafeTIR
TIR Convention
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

28. Benefits of the TIR System
Facilitates trade through the implementation of harmonised controls & documents
Ensure the secure and sustainable development of international trade (controlled access, traceability)
Through mutual recognition of Customs Controls and the guarantee, transport costs, formalities and delays are reduced.
Gives access to 56 TIR operational countries
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

29. Secure Trade Facilitation = Facilitation
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

30. WCO SAFE Framework  Requirement fulfilled by Slide 10
Now into the heart of the matter: security challenges.
SAFE: adopted by WCO in 2005; commitment by ca. 150 countries.
TIR satisfies WCO requirements, and helps to implement the Framework.
TIR share the same objectives, as it encourages the secure and sustainable development of international trade (controlled access, traceability)
TIR provides for mutual recognition, which is essential for an effective implementation of the SAFE.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

31. Provision of Advanced Cargo Information
WCO SAFE and AEO requirements can be fully satisfied by the TIR Convention
The four core elements of WCO SAFE are:
Pre-departure
examination
Provision of Advanced Cargo Information
Risk
Management
to security and
safety
Benefits
For
Trade 1 2 3 4
Mutual recognition &
Controlled Access
Electronic
Pre-declaration
Risk
Management
In TIR
convention
(e.g. Annex 10)
Communication
Platform
between AEO &
Authorities 1 2 3 4
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

32. Silk Road revitalisation
If the Silk Road worked for Marco Polo then, why shouldn’t it work for trade and transport today?
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

33. The combined efforts of 29 companies in 18 countries
What is Globalisation?
What does it take to have a cup of coffee in a café?
The combined efforts of
29 companies in 18 countries
If to have one cup of coffee at an affordable price, it takes 29 companies in 18 countries, you imagine how much more it would cost if all items came from the country where the end product is consumed?
If we know that it takes 10’000 suppliers, which in turn have their own suppliers, to create an affordable motor car, you can imagine the vital role of road transport in a liberalised economy.
Therefore, to stay in business, we need to see globalisation as an opportunity and not as a threat. To do so, we need to develop together the entrepreneurial spirit currently lacking in Europe.
Road Transport has become a vital production tool!
Source: IRU
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

34. Road transport tonnage distances in modern economies
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

35. Interlinking all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
Saturated
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
As you know, China has become the factory of the world. 75% of your goods are produced in China. Wal-Mart, the biggest company in the world, produces 80% of its goods in China.
What is the impact of this huge growth? The ports are saturated. (UDP – click – saturated)
Why and where are the ports so saturated?
Let me show you.
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

36. Evolution of sea containers in ports
Global Container Overslag
The container movements in the main ports started with the birth of world containerisation in the 1970s.
Here, the green dots demonstrate a high density of container ports in the various countries.
This high number of ports is linked with a high number of small container vessels.
*****
The evolution of the container in the port at ten-year intervals is even more explicit.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

37. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To East Coast
Saturated
To US East Coast
Labour costs = $200/month
Diesel fuel = 30 cents / litre
To Black Sea
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
This is why I am ready to share with you this dream that has already become a reality.
Currently China-US trade is mainly transported through the Pacific, which as I have just shown you …
causes saturation and unnecessary costs.
But to reach 60% of your market you still need to reach the East coast.
Instead of looking East, be a pioneer. “Go West young man”, like any modern-day cowboy, by truck, to the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea, and from there with the container vessels directly to your East ports.
By doing so, without mentioning the reduction in mileage, you will benefit from modern trucks, but a fuel price of $1.18 per gallon, instead of $2.65 …
and labour costs of $200 dollars per month.
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

38. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To CIS
To East Coast
To EU
Saturated
To US East Coast
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
To Mid East
By doing so, we are not only transporting goods from China to the States, but we are interconnecting all the businesses along the 8,000 mile Silk Road, thus realising new business opportunities.
In fact, by “looking West, young man”, you will also find your Middle Eastern markets, and we can interconnect all those businesses along that Middle East route, you can find your EU markets, and we can interconnect all the businesses along the EU route, you can find the CIS markets and we can interconnect all those businesses along the CIS route.
*****
A truck is not a boat, it is not a train, it is not a plane. Truck service is not concentrated in a handful of ports. A truck is always, everywhere, at the disposal of everyone. Thus, “looking West”, you could find fabulous new business opportunities.
Remember, a truck provides door-to-door service. A truck is therefore the best tool to unite people and to improve the distribution of wealth.
You might be looking at me and saying, “Martin, you’re crazy!”
But I say to you again, “wake up and smell the coffee, my dream has become reality.”
25% of world trade with neighbours sharing common border
50% of world trade between partners less than 3,000 km apart
Trade between Canadian provinces 22 times greater than trade between a Canadian province and US state of similar size and distance
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

39. Beijing Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference and Ministerial Meeting, 26-27 September 2005
Visit of high-level governmental representatives, under the leadership of the IRU Secretary General, to Ju Huang, Deputy Prime Minister of the PRC.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

40. Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Launch of Historic
Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Brussels
Beijing
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

41. Black Sea Ring Highway Truck Caravan
The Caravan was initiated and promoted with the aim of promoting the future BSEC Ring Highway and identifying the physical road conditions and the non- physical barriers to road transport.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

42. IRU New Euroasian Land Transport Initiative - NELTI
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

43. UNESCAP-IRU Caravan 2009
The caravan will demonstrate the regional connectivity made possible by the Asian Highway network, and that sustainable road transport can best meet the objectives of the Agenda 21
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

44. 5th Euro-Asia Conference: Almaty
11-12 June 2009!
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

45. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009