World · Middle East · 7 hrs ago
Truck drivers end sit-in at Turkey’s Kapıkule border crossing
About 300 international truck drivers staged a sit-in near Kapıkule, a border crossing in Edirne, north-western Turkey, that leads to Bulgaria.
They said visa problems, long border queues and limited parking make their work difficult, and also complained about high prices at businesses serving drivers.
The drivers called for easier visa arrangements, special passports for eligible professional drivers, better parking and the return of a system for booking border-crossing times.
Their concerns come amid severe delays: drivers have reported waits of four to five days at Kapıkule, while queues at nearby Hamzabeyli have reached 30 kilometres.
A permit-related problem that had held up trucks was resolved around 14:00, according to Edirne Deputy Governor Şevket Atlı, who met four driver representatives.
Atlı said about 1,600 waiting trucks were expected to cross within one to two days, while some vehicles were being sent to Hamzabeyli to ease congestion linked to construction on the Bulgarian side.
The drivers ended their sit-in after the meeting, and Atlı said the concerns would be followed up by the relevant authorities.
About 300 international truck drivers staged a sit-in at the Kapıkule border crossing in Edirne to protest visa difficulties, long waits, limited parking and high prices.
The drivers ended the protest after meeting Edirne Deputy Governor Şevket Atlı, who said the issues were being followed up by relevant authorities.
Drivers’ representative Koray Torun said waits at Kapıkule could reach four to five days and called for special passports for eligible drivers and a return to appointment-based crossings.
Atlı said a permit system problem causing delays had been resolved around 14:00 and that about 1,600 waiting trucks were expected to cross within one or two days.
The protest came amid wider congestion: a report on October 17 described a 30-kilometre truck queue at the Hamzabeyli crossing.
- Who
- About 300 international truck drivers, represented by Koray Torun, staged the sit-in.
- What
- They protested over visa problems, long border waits, inadequate parking and high prices, then ended the sit-in after meeting a deputy governor.
- When
- October 21, 2026. The sit-in lasted five hours.
- Where
- Outside the truck park at the Kapıkule border crossing in Edirne, Turkey.
- Why
- The drivers sought attention to working conditions and called for changes including special passports for eligible drivers and a return to appointment-based crossings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cumhuriyet reported a 30-kilometre truck queue at the Hamzabeyli border crossing.
About 300 drivers gathered at Kapıkule and began a sit-in after making a statement about their concerns.
Deputy Governor Atlı said the permit-system problem behind delays at Kapıkule had been resolved.
The drivers ended the sit-in; Atlı said about 1,600 waiting trucks were expected to cross within one or two days.
- Drivers at sit-in
- About 300
- Kapıkule wait
- Up to 4–5 days
- Trucks waiting at Kapıkule
- About 1,600
- Hamzabeyli queue
- Up to 30 kilometres
- Sit-in duration
- 5 hours
3 sources
What people are saying
We are not tourists. The specific conditions of our profession must be taken into account.
We want to do our work in conditions worthy of human dignity and traffic safety, not privileges.
Know that your problems are our problems, too.