Turkish truck drivers face entry denials at European Union borders

Turkish truck drivers transporting goods to and from the European Union are reporting entry denials amid stricter checks, saying the measures are causing disruptions to road freight transport and trade flows.

The main problems are linked to Schengen rules, under which visa holders may stay in the bloc for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period, Hürriyet Daily News reports.

Şerafettin Aras, president of the International Transporters Association, noted that commercial truck drivers inevitably reach this limit because of the time required to load and unload goods, as well as waiting times at border crossings.

According to Aras, the issue extends beyond the transport sector. He stressed that nearly half of Türkiye’s exports go to EU countries, while 42% of those goods are transported by road.

“Fifty percent of exporting companies producing in Türkiye are European-owned firms. We transport their products. Turkish drivers also provide transport services to destinations where EU trucks do not operate. This is not only a problem for Türkiye but also a situation that negatively affects the foreign trade of EU countries,” Aras emphasised.

The restrictions have affected around 25,000 of Türkiye’s 50,000 international truck drivers, he said.

As inspections intensified, transport operators were forced to adjust their routes to avoid further disruptions. The impact, Aras added, is not limited to trade between Türkiye and the EU, as the restrictions are also affecting freight movements from Europe to third countries.

By Jeyhun Aghazada