IRU and ETF reaffirm their commitment to work together and contribute to the implementation and enforcement of the expected new driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers.

In a joint statement ahead of the trilogue negotiations on specific driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers, the European road transport social partners, IRU and ETF, recognise the specificities of the passenger transport business and confirm their joint willingness to work together and contribute to the implementation and enforcement of the forthcoming rules.

IRU and ETF have also expressed their readiness to work with enforcers and the European Commission to digitalise the journey form as soon as the rules are adopted.

The digitalisation of the coach journey form would be a first step towards the creation of an operational IMI-based platform, by 2027, similar to the one available for the posting declaration of drivers. This would create a solid basis for a step-by-step digitalisation of all control documents in road passenger and freight transport.

IRU Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said, "Together with ETF, IRU is committed to helping implement and enforce the expected new driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers.

"In addition to supporting the new coach driver rules, which are well overdue, we welcome the digitalisation of the journey form and the creation on an IMI-based platform by 2027, as proposed by the European Parliament's Transport Committee.

"The forthcoming driving and rest time rules for coach tourism drivers will not only improve coach tourism drivers' working conditions by giving them rules meant for their profession, they will also improve road safety.

"We now look forward to a speedy conclusion of the trilogue negotiations that will finally give coach tourism drivers the choice to organise their breaks based on the nature of their work and the needs of their passengers, prioritising safety above all else."

Background information on the file and details on the position adopted by the European Parliament's Transport Committee, the file's lead committee, are available here.

The European road transport social partners stand ready to pursue common approaches in the interest of drivers and operators alike, tackling major challenges facing the commercial road transport sector, such as the chronic shortage threatening mobility networks and supply chains.

Source, IRU