BULGARIAN ROAD HAULIERS BLOCKED TRAFFIC AT SIX BORDER CROSSINGS (update)

Road hauliers from across the whole of Bulgaria blocked the traffic through six border check points on 31st of October, the National Association of the Bulgarian Road Carriers said. Kapitan Andreevo, Lesovo, Kulata, Danube Bridge–Rousse and Danube Bridge-Vidin were blocked from 10:00 to 12:00.

The reasons for the protest is the “unbearable” situation, according to the hauliers, at the check points in the recent few months. Drivers say the clearance process was slow and they wait for 40-50 hours to cross the border.

Hauliers and owners of fast forwarding companies demanded that the issue with the long border crossing wait times be solved.

They warned about the protest at the mid of October. They say that after meetings held with the relevant institutions, it was explained that the problem resulted from the actions of the border and customs services of the neighbouring countries.

The drivers say that waiting is exhausting because the hygienic conditions at border crossings and roads are not good. In addition, they have to stay in the lorries to guard the goods and the vehicles. They say that because of the queues, the companies become uncompetitive which causes serious financial damages to the state.

The road hauliers insist on solving the problem permanently and gave a deadline of one month. Otherwise, they said they would stage new protests.