In Summary
Road transport in the EU employs millions of professional bus, coach and freight drivers.
However, the sector struggles with a shortage of labour. Unfriendly work schedules, inadequate rest conditions, weekends away from home and poor levels of pay fail to meet the expectations of today’s job seekers. For all these reasons, young people and women think twice before choosing to work in the sector.
There is a vast legal frame that regulates the road transport activities, but controls and enforcement lag behind. We expect that the newly adopted Mobility Package – a massive revision of EU rules in road transport – will contribute to improving working conditions for professional drivers across Europe.
The ETF Road Transport Sector is committed to building a fair future for the road transport industry by campaigning for better enforcement, fairer working conditions and a more sustainable and dynamic sector.
Latest news about road transport
View allETF and IRU call on EU Commissioner to Shed Light on Posted Driver Pay
The ETF co-signed a letter with the IRU voicing once again concerns about the lack of complete information on remuneration levels in the EU Member States. This prevents drivers from checking whether they have been paid correctly for the full range of their activities and prevents trade unions from supporting drivers’ pay claims.
Building Roads to Fair Transport: Conclusions from the ETF Conference on Posting of Workers and Third-country Drivers in Road Haulage
One clear takeaway from the conference was the united call for stronger enforcement of the Mobility Package. The participants, including trade unions, employers, labour authorities demanded not only improved tools and resources for enforcement, but also proper support for trade unions, which play a key role in flagging violations and offering expertise on workers’ rights.
ETF’s Reaction to EU Study on “Safe and Secure Parking Areas”
A new EU-commissioned study on Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs), published on 11 April, puts professional drivers’ wellbeing at risk by recommending changes to the Mobility Package that would allow regular rest in vehicle cabins. Unions were not consulted at any stage of the process – a glaring omission that casts serious doubt on the credibility of the study. We reject its misleading conclusions and call on the European Commission to uphold the Mobility Package and protect drivers from a return to exploitative practices.