Turkish truck drivers transporting goods to and from the European Union say stricter border checks and visa restrictions are causing disruptions to road freight and trade flows.

The main issue is linked to the Schengen rule limiting visa holders to 90 days of stay within any 180-day period, according to Hürriyet Daily News.

Şerafettin Aras, president of the International Transporters Association, said commercial truck drivers can inevitably reach the 90-day limit because of the time required for loading and unloading cargo, as well as long waits at border crossings.

Aras said the problem extends beyond Türkiye’s transport sector. Nearly half of Türkiye’s exports are destined for EU countries, while road transport accounts for 42% of those shipments, he noted.

He also said around half of export-oriented manufacturing companies operating in Türkiye are European-owned and rely on Turkish truck drivers to deliver their products.

Aras said that the restrictions have affected around 25,000 of Türkiye’s 50,000 international truck drivers, raising concerns about potential disruptions to trade between Türkiye and the EU.