IRU members meet on innovation

IRU’s Commission on Services to Road Transport Operators gathered in Geneva last week to focus on the wider uptake of e-CMR, road user charging solutions, and a platform for freight exchange. 

Participants reviewed charging solutions provided by innovative service providers DKV Europe, Eurotoll and Vialtis, and Qualis Logistics’ exchange platform. They also discussed business intelligence carried out by the American Trucking Associations, quality assurance solutions, and potential steps towards establishing an open Business & Innovation Forum. 

Participation at this event has tripled over the last three years with some 40 national associations from 25 countries, including Iran, Russia, Turkey and USA, gathering to discuss digitalisation, innovation and new services. 

Present at the meetings, Boris Blanche, Chief Operating Officer at IRU, commented,

“It is inspiring to see how the Commission on Services has grown over the last few years. It is quickly becoming the place to propel innovation and delivery of services. Our rapidly changing industry calls on all of us to become change agents. It’s time to bring this Commission to the next level and open it up to more stakeholders.” 

Zeljko Jeftic, who leads IRU’s work on global innovation, said, 

“In these times of rapid industry change it is essential that we bring the road transport community together to leverage the benefits of innovation. With Slovenia becoming the 12th country to accede to e-CMR, and close to 10 additional countries working towards accession, we need coordinated action from the road transport industry. The situation is similar for road user charging, freight exchange platforms and other innovative solutions.”