ECG — 2025-08-22
News from ECG
After seven years, Andreea Maria Serbu bids farewell to ECG – the Association of European Vehicle Logistics, as she embarks on a new professional chapter with CINEA, the European Commission’s Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, in Brussels.
“I’ve been privileged to work alongside some of the most dedicated and inspiring professionals at ECG,” Andreea says. “While I’m moving on, I’m staying in the transport sector, and I carry forward a deep appreciation for the impact ECG enables.”
Andreea’s ECG journey began in April 2018 as a communications and administration intern. After a short stint at the Council of the EU, she returned in January 2019, this time as Research and Projects Manager, a role that would grow to encompass key pillars of the organisation’s mission, including health and safety, capacity, and sustainability.
“I wanted a challenge where I could make a real, visible impact. At ECG, I found that space and a great team.”
Throughout her time at ECG, Andreea worked closely with a small but dynamic and highly committed team, a core part of what made her years at the association so rewarding.
Whether coordinating cross-European projects, managing events, or navigating complex policy files, the collaborative spirit within the ECG Secretariat was key to turning ambitious ideas into tangible outcomes.
One of her most influential projects was the ECG Guidelines for Safe Loading Process, developed in collaboration with Toyota Motor Europe and an international team of experts from the ECG membership. The result: a training toolkit for drivers now translated into 13 languages and widely used across the vehicle logistics sector, even by non-members.
“When I speak to companies exploring ECG membership and they already recognise the guideline, I know we’ve created something that has made a difference for the drivers working in the sector,” Andreea reflects.
Toyota Motor Europe strongly supported this initiative, which helped reduce severe loading accidents measurably and set a reference point for operational safety in the industry.
Pushing the envelope further, Andreea coordinated the creation of an incident reporting platform, encouraging members to share anonymised data to inform continuous improvement.
“Health and safety wasn’t always an easy sell, but with Toyota’s commitment and our persistence, we built trust. And in return, we got the kind of data that can truly shape better standards.”
Another key achievement was launching a sector-wide effort to standardize emissions reporting and calculations. Started in January 2023, it aimed to develop a harmonized methodology tailored to the FVL sector’s needs.
“This was another form of industry advocacy, aligning environmental goals with operational realities. I’m proud to have helped lay the groundwork for something that can have long-term impact.”
As she moves on, Andreea believes there is still much to do, with the ambition of eventually making the methodology an industry standard implemented by all car manufacturers.
In her role as Senior Manager for External Affairs, Andreea also played a key role in the advocacy efforts for the harmonization of loaded length of car transporters at EU level, leveraging her background in EU institutions and policy making to bridge the gap between industry needs and legislative frameworks.
“My academic background in international relations and European affairs helped me understand how legislation is made, and ECG gave me the platform to apply that knowledge pragmatically.”
At the end of August, Andreea will join CINEA, working on EU-funded research and innovation projects in transport. There, she will focus on emerging technologies, market viability, and the societal impact of clean mobility initiatives.
Frank Schnelle, ECG Executive Director, comments on Andreea’s departure: “We are truly pleased to see Andreea take this next step in her career, even though her leaving is naturally a significant loss for ECG. Her move to CINEA reflects the exceptional talent she built up at ECG. Andreea has made a lasting contribution to our mission, and we are confident that her connection to ECG will remain strong as she continues to support the European transport from a new perspective."
“I'm excited to help assess and support the innovations shaping the future of transport and to be part of Europe’s clean transition.”, says Andreea.
The ECG Board and colleagues sincerely thank Andreea for her energy, leadership, and unwavering commitment over the years. Her legacy is visible in safer operations, stronger collaborations, and a more sustainable FVL sector.