Road haulage from Turkey: transit permits and ECMT

A carrier established outside the EU needs a country's permit to use that country's roads. For a Turkish carrier heading to Europe, permits come by two main routes: transit permits based on bilateral agreements and the ECMT multilateral permit system. Because permits are issued in limited numbers, your permit stock often decides which loads you can take.

Bilateral permits

A bilateral agreement is an arrangement between two countries. The agreement between Turkey and another country usually sets a fixed number of permits for carriers of both sides. These typically include:

• Bilateral transport permit: valid for trips between Turkey and the country concerned.
• Transit permit: needed just to cross a country; goods are not loaded or unloaded there.
• Third-country permit: some agreements let a Turkish carrier transport to a third country.

Which permit is valid for which country, how many trips it covers and how it is obtained varies by country and by year. In Turkey permits are distributed through the competent bodies; for the current application method and quotas, follow announcements from the Ministry of Trade and the carrier associations.

The ECMT multilateral permit

The ECMT permit is an annual document issued for a specific vehicle and valid among member countries. Its difference from a bilateral permit is that one permit lets you work in several member countries. It is issued under a quota system: each country fixes the total once and distributes it among carriers.

Key points:

1. The quota is limited. There are not enough permits for every carrier; the allocation method differs by country.
2. There are usage rules. For example, after the first trip between member countries, the number of trips between countries other than the country of registration can be limited; the rules are in the user guide.
3. It does not cover cabotage. An ECMT permit gives no right to domestic carriage inside a country. We cover this in our Mobility Package article.
4. Vehicle conditions may apply. Compliance with emissions and safety standards can be decisive depending on the permit type.

How it affects planning

• Check your permit stock before you quote. A carrier without the permit should not offer on the load; being turned back at the border or fined means both delay and cost.
• No permit means a lost load. A shipper should ask about the vehicle's permit at the offer stage.
• Permits are seasonal. Quotas open at the start of the year; by the end of the year permits may be used up. Look at your stock before planning for busy periods.
• It shapes route choice. A route through countries where you hold permits may be better than a shorter route without them.
• The permit must match the vehicle. If plate and permit do not agree, there will be a problem at a check.

Transit and customs

A permit does not replace customs formalities. The goods may need transit documents such as T1 and declarations; that is a separate subject.

This article is general information. Permit types, quotas and application methods change often; follow the competent authority's announcements and review your contract with an expert.

A short list for shippers

1. Ask the carrier which countries it holds permits for.
2. Confirm the permit's validity date and that it matches the plate.
3. Write the loading, transit and delivery countries plainly in the listing so the carrier sees the permit need at once.
4. Leave time for an alternative route or carrier if permits fall short.

On Order And Load a carrier is verified with its transport licence before it can post or offer. Short definitions of the terms are in the Freight Glossary.