Turkish truckers stage protest against digital tachograph requirement

A large group of truckers staged a protest in the western province of Uşak on the highway that connects Ankara to the coastal city of Izmir, in opposition to a regulation that will require trucks to install digital tachographs, devices that record the speed and movement of the vehicle and some of the actions of the driver. Truckers criticize the new system especially because of the nine-hour obligation.

Osman Çaklı / DUVAR 

A large group of truckers staged a protest in the western province of Uşak on the highway that connects Ankara to the coastal city of Izmir, in opposition to a regulation that will require trucks to install digital tachographs, devices that record the speed and movement of the vehicle and some of the actions of the driver. The Ministry of Transportation recently announced that the regulation will be postponed until June of this year. Truckers have staged protests in other provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara. 

The truckers blocked off the highway and demonstrated by honking their horns, after which they read a press statement. Seyhan Mıdık, the president of the Uşak trucker's cooperative, said that they are not against tachographs, but he believes the regulation lacks legal infrastructure in terms of the downloading of data: 

“Whichever rest stop we go to we have 45 minutes to rest. During this time we can have a bowl of soup and two glasses of tea. When that time passes, we continue on our way. When our shift is over, not a single rest stop will allow a trucker to stay there for more than 14-15 hours, they tell you to move your truck. The new system with the tachograph has a nine-hour period. Okay, but when we ask the questions 'how will we earn money and where will we stay?', there is no answer,” Mıdık said. 

“This system is getting in the way of our work. This law has no infrastructure. I am calling on the president: there are 600,000 truckers and 500,000 of them are elementary school graduates. Many of our colleagues do not know how to pay their bills, they do not know how to use online payment systems. We weren't given education, there was no one to offer advice or explain anything. Mr. President, are your only tradesmen the taxi drivers and mini bus drivers? Come and eat beans with us and listen to our troubles,” Mıdık added. 

“I've been following this law in particular for six months, and it is not suitable for truckers. In Europe there is no such practice. The articles coming into law unfortunately lack infrastructure, but were made into a regulation. In most cities, truckers have reacted against this. Whatever needs to be done, we will do what we can,” said main opposition Republican People's Party Uşak Deputy Özkan Yalım, who attended the truckers' demonstration.