IRU Academy highlights driver mobility, digital training at global meeting

International Road Transport Union (IRU) said its global training network is placing greater focus on driver mobility, digital learning and international certification standards as the road transport sector faces persistent driver shortages worldwide.

More than 45 participants from around 30 countries joined the first 2026 e-meeting of the IRU Academy Accredited Training Institute (ATI) network, the organization said in a statement issued on May 11.

The discussions centered on the future of professional road transport training, particularly challenges related to attracting and retaining drivers, dangerous goods transport, and the modernization of certification systems.

IRU said driver shortages remain a major issue in Europe and many other regions due to an aging workforce and limited inflows of new drivers. European Union-backed initiatives are currently seeking to improve recruitment pathways and mobility opportunities for drivers from non-EU countries.

Against this backdrop, the ATI network is expected to play a larger role in aligning training standards, strengthening capacity building and facilitating the integration of professional drivers across markets.

IRU said recent studies, including the STEER2EU and Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe (SDM4EU) projects, identified significant structural gaps in recruitment practices and professionalization models between EU countries and third countries.

Participants also discussed the Modernising Road Transport (MRT) project, which is supported by the European Union under its Global Gateway strategy. The project aims to modernize road transport systems along trade corridors in Central Asia and West Africa through reforms focused on professionalization, digitalization, transport facilitation and green transition initiatives.

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The meeting also highlighted developments in dangerous goods transport training. Following discussions within the United Nations ADR Working Party, remote ADR training and e-learning programs are expected to be formally introduced starting in 2027, expanding access to professional dangerous goods certification.

IRU also introduced its new Academy Certification Scheme, which features three certification levels — Completion, Competence and Professional Competence — aimed at creating more flexible and internationally recognized qualifications while maintaining consistent training standards across the network.

Participants were also introduced to the new IRU Certify Platform, a digital system integrating training, examinations and certification processes.

The IRU Academy network currently includes more than 50 accredited training institutes worldwide, comprising transport associations, operators, government agencies, vocational schools and universities that train and certify thousands of transport and logistics professionals annually.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak