Turkish Truck Drivers Hit by Schengen 90-Day Rule

Turkish truck drivers are reportedly being turned away at EU border crossings due to the Schengen 90/180-day rule.

Nearly half of Türkiye’s exports to the European Union are transported by road, meaning the issue is also affecting the flow of trade. Reports that drivers have been turned away from Italy’s Trieste port and Bulgaria’s Kapıkule border crossing have triggered concerns across both the transportation and export sectors.

“Drivers spend time not only loading and unloading cargo but also waiting at border crossings. For this reason, the 90-day limit is not sufficient for international road transport. There are already order cancellations, and these cancellations could increase in the coming days,” said Aras, president of the International Transporters Association (UND).

Echoing Aras, Fatih Şener, head of the DEİK Logistics Business Council, has also called for an agreement between Türkiye and the European Union to introduce a Type D visa for Turkish truck drivers without a fixed limit on the number of days they can stay.

How Much Goods Are Transported to the EU by Truck?

In 2025, goods worth $111 billion were transported from Türkiye to the European Union by road.

Source: Hürriyet