This newly revised edition of the Road Transport Services Reform: Guiding Principles for Practitioners and Policy Makers is a joint initiative of the World Bank, the International Road Transport Union (IRU), and the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP). First published in 2016 and fully updated and expanded in 2025, the Guide is a unique reference designed to help governments and transport authorities diagnose challenges in the road transport sector and define a comprehensive, inclusive path to reform.

Recognizing that countries and regions face distinct challenges shaped by unique histories, socio-economic contexts, and institutional capacities, the Guide begins with a robust diagnostic framework to identify common inefficiencies, their underlying causes, and tools for collecting actionable data. It then lays out a flexible set of reform options tailored to local realities, spanning freight and passenger transport services.

This edition expands the Guide’s scope to reflect evolving priorities in many countries, where urban passenger transport, vehicle fleet renewal, safety improvements, and decarbonization have taken precedence alongside freight sector reforms. It offers practical guidance on professionalizing the sector, improving access to the profession and market, modernizing licensing and vehicle standards, and supporting green, inclusive growth.

With concrete examples from Africa and beyond—including reforms supported by SSATP—the Guide is intended for all stakeholders involved in financing, managing, regulating, and supporting road transport services. It serves as a practical tool to strengthen national transport systems, enhance logistics performance, and advance broader goals of economic integration, sustainability, and mobility for all.