In the traditional logistics perspective, truck road transportation is suitable for short intermediate distances and not for long-distance transportation. Trucks are limited by the volume of their carriages and are not suitable for carrying large amounts of cargo.

However, the powerful and convenient advantages of road transportation are incomparable to any other mode. As long as it can be connected to the road, door-to-door transportation can be achieved.

The efficiency of road transportation is slightly inferior to air transportation, but higher than sea and railway transportation. With its high cost-effectiveness, roads can be the preferred solution for international transportation.

However, there are also some obstacles in road transportation between China and Europe, such as the inspection procedures of passing countries that may delay the overall transportation efficiency. Only by breaking through tradition can road transportation have stronger competitiveness.

Previously, trucks were transported between China and Europe, and all countries along the way required security checks. For example, from China to Slovakia, they would pass through countries such as Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania, covering a total distance of over 7000 kilometers。

  Every time entering the country, the local customs will require trucks to open their containers for inspection. If there are any doubts about the customs clearance documents, they may be detained, which seriously affects the efficiency of customs clearance。

  Every time the unpacking inspection process is carried out, there may be an impact on the quality of the goods. For example, if there are temperature and humidity control requirements for the goods, there is a risk of failure. In addition, there is a risk of theft and loss of the goods。

  Customs security inspection will increase the clearance time of goods at the port, affect the transportation efficiency, and indirectly increase costs, which is an obstacle to promoting cross-border road transportation。

  The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is a global road transport industry federation aimed at promoting sustainable circulation of passengers and goods worldwide。

  IRU was established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1948, with members and activities in over 100 countries worldwide. IRU actively promotes the development of the global transportation industry. Relying on its rich experience, IRU helps China's "the Belt and Road" and promotes mutual cooperation。

  In order to simplify the transit process, reduce the management costs of customs authorities and transportation and logistics companies, IRU has launched the Transport International Router (TIR), an international road transportation facilitation agreement. The purpose is to simplify the customs clearance process, improve customs efficiency, shorten the waiting time for goods to transit, and save logistics costs。

  TIR stipulates that freight vehicles, after being loaded at the place of origin, shall be sealed by customs and clearance documents (TIR certificates) shall be issued. This way, before arriving at the destination, the vehicle can pass through (the country passing through must be a contracting party to the TIR Convention) without opening the box for inspection and pass through customs directly. In July 2016, China officially became the 70th contracting party to the TIR Convention。

  TIR can be understood as a "passport" for freight vehicles. With this identification, the vehicle can be exempted from local customs inspections when passing through various countries along the way, thereby reducing the clearance time of goods at the port, improving the clearance efficiency and timeliness of goods, and reducing transportation costs。