A new guide published this week by the World Bank and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) sets out how governments can reform the road transport sector to tackle emissions, improve safety and address labour shortages. The report points to outdated laws, weak enforcement and poor working conditions as key barriers for operators worldwide.
According to the guide, trucks and buses emitted 1.8 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2021, making up 23% of global transport emissions. While total EU emissions fell by 30% between 1990 and 2023, those from heavy vehicles rose by 30% over the same period. In 2022, US-registered fleets produced 0.45 Gt CO₂e, compared with 0.2 Gt in the EU.
The report notes:
“Road transport is not taken here in isolation, and targets do not follow the IPCC suggestion that transport must decarbonize faster than other industries to stay in the 1.5°C agenda.”
Safety remains a costly challenge
Road crashes continue to pose a major risk for hauliers. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.19 million people die each year in traffic accidents worldwide. In the US, large trucks and buses made up only 3.6–5.2% of the fleet between 1975 and 2021, yet were involved in 10–14% of fatal crashes.
The economic impact is also significant: crashes cost the US $340 billion in 2019, equal to 1.6% of GDP. Globally, road crashes represent about 3% of GDP, rising to 5% in low- and middle-income countries.
The report stresses the need for consistent driver training and vehicle maintenance:
“Road safety is a serious concern for the road transport industry. Safe driving training for the drivers, and proper maintenance of the vehicle are two key areas where the industry can improve road safety for all road users.”
Driver shortages and gender imbalance
The guide also highlights structural issues in the workforce. Women account for less than 13% of transport workers worldwide, and only 6% or fewer truck drivers in most regions. In Europe, women make up 16% of bus and coach drivers, but just 14% of ground transport workers overall.
“Harsh working conditions, insufficient training, and limited professional development opportunities make it difficult for women to build long-term careers in transport,” the report notes.
Weak enforcement and corruption
Overloaded trucks and inconsistent checks remain a problem in several regions. The report is blunt on enforcement practices:
“In practice, everyone ignores the regulations except when enforcement officers want favours from the truckers.”
The effectiveness of weighbridge stations is undermined by poor funding and technical failures, while electronic pre-declaration systems such as TIR-EPD in Romania and Moldova are cited as examples of progress.
Support measures and fleet renewal
The EU has recently revised its De Minimis Regulation, raising the ceiling on small-scale state aid for hauliers from €200,000 to €300,000 over three years. These funds can be used for tax relief, accelerated depreciation and registration fee exemptions. The guide also points to retrofitting diesel trucks with electric or hydrogen systems as a potential strategy, though investment costs remain high.
Global call for reform
The reform guide, developed with the World Bank’s Africa Transport Policy Program, urges governments to adopt a cooperative approach with industry. Nicolas Peltier, World Bank Global Director for Transport, said the guide is intended to help public authorities “create safe, less polluting, and inclusive road transport networks in all parts of the world.”
Vincent Erard, IRU’s Senior Director for Strategy and Development, stressed that governments must work with operators:
“This new guide will help governments work closely with the private sector to build systemic reforms that create an enabling environment to drive safer, greener and more efficient supply chains and mobility networks.”
