Public and private sector leaders came together in Turkmenistan to chart a sustainable future for global road transport, with a focus on driver shortages, decarbonisation and digitalisation.
At the ¡°International Transport and Transit Corridors: Interconnection and Development 2024¡± conference in Turkmenistan, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵjoined over 600 delegates from 40 countries to celebrate World Sustainable Transport Day and explore solutions to critical issues facing the road transport sector.
Speaking during the high-level plenary session, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵSecretary General Umberto de Pretto said, ¡°The global shortage of truck drivers is projected to double by 2028. The real problem is not the shortage of drivers, but the shortage of professional drivers.¡±
He underscored that solving driver shortages, alongside advancing decarbonisation and digitalisation, is key to strengthening the resilience of road transport.
¡°To decarbonise while continuing to meet growing transport demand, we must focus on efficiency measures, and, in parallel, have a longer-term strategy to implement alternative fuels, which is mainly dictated by the availability of necessary infrastructure,¡± said Umberto de Pretto.
¡°With the right enabling environment, legislation and incentives, the road transport industry can already cut its carbon footprint by 50% through efficiency measures alone. The TIR system is cutting carbon emissions at borders by over 90%,¡± he added.
Umberto de Pretto also stressed the transformative potential of digital tools such as eTIR and e-CMR in streamlining customs and transit processes, reducing paperwork and enhancing trade transparency amid increasing transport demand.
