The IRU Loading Bay Guidelines consist of three recommendations:

• a voluntary code of conduct, with best behavioural practices to adopt in case a conflict arises between the driver and ramps' personnel;
• the integration of specific clauses in transport contracts, clarifying the each party's responsibilities in loading and unloading, as well as the monitoring of waiting times;
• the use of IT applications enabling transport operators, where feasible, to book loading and unloading slots and providing visibility for shippers and carriers on availability of loading bays, labour and warehouse schedules

[...] The other societal challenges are also very relevant to transport. For example, Europe wants to achieve a 60% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050. Transport accounts for as much as a quarter of current emissions.

We also want to halve the use of conventionally-fuelled cars in cities and achieve virtually CO2-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030.

We cannot achieve these goals without radical changes in the transport sector - and that is why transport is one of the six main societal challenges tackled under Horizon 2020. [...] 

[...] I want the transport industry to be a leading player in Horizon 2020. As the backbone of an integrated, mobile economy, and with a major role to play in tackling many of our societal challenges, I would not settle for anything less!

Horizon 2020 will address transport as an integrated system. But it will not ignore the specifics of the different modes of transport, particularly where we need to achieve technological breakthroughs. Actions will focus on four areas:

• Resource-efficient transport;

• Better mobility, less congestion, more safety and security (this is where we expect a cross-over between transport modes);

• Global leadership for the European transport industry; 

• Forward-looking activities to feed into future policy making.

[...] With the demand for mobility increasing world wide - the number of cars in the world will almost double by 2030, for example - these priorities respond to a global need for greater sustainability. [...]