The International Transport and Logistics Service Providers Association UTIKAD's Webinar series, “Problems and Future Forecasts in International Road Transport Before and After COVID-19” took place on 17 June. Important information about the future of road transport was shared in the webinar, where sector representatives showed great interest.
Moderated by UTİKAD General Manager Cavit Uğur, the meeting started with the presentation of Ayşem Ulusoy, UTIKAD Board Member and President of the Highway Working Group. Evaluating the problems experienced in road transportation during the pandemic period, Ulusoy said, “The coronavirus outbreak not only affected our entire life and all sectors, but was also very effective in the logistics industry. We are confronted with new information and announcements almost every moment, we continue to stay, so we need to produce new scenarios. ” Ulusoy commented what happened in the pandemic process as follows: “Border-country-process management and follow-up-sustainability played an important role in the pandemic process. As you know, there are two important regions in Turkey's foreign trade. The first of these is undoubtedly EU countries. EU countries have almost become the center of the epidemic. Strict measures were taken in almost every EU country, especially Italy, Spain and France, transition times at the border gates were extended and it was allowed to act gradually. This extended the country / customs transit times, which caused the transit times to be extended and negatively reflected in the processes.
The most important advantage in this process was the application-oriented differences in the tachograph controls. Increasing the 9-hour driving permits to 11 hours positively affected the journey times of the vehicles.
The other region where logistics activities are carried out intensely is the Middle East and Central Asian countries. Two important points of our country opening to the Middle East have also shown the effect of virus outbreak in Iraq and Iran. At these points, we experienced disruptions arising both from Iran and Iraq and the measures taken by our country. The majority of these disruptions are currently affecting road and rail transport. Up-to-date information is very important here, because almost every minute a new country can come across the border crossing. TIR queues formed at the border gates, loads waited. Freight increases of 15 percent were observed as a result of non-rotating trailers and containers.
Our drivers had problems at the border gates, had to wait in an environment of uncertainty, had difficulties in meeting their basic needs, and during this difficult period they had communication difficulties with their families.
These experiences showed us that our drivers supported us very much in this process, they were at the beginning of their work, they continued to work by living the risk one-on-one and taking the risks. Transport on the field
We would like to thank all our employees who do, palletize, pack, handle and support the transportation business. They continued this process by working more for the missing employees. ”
Ayşem Ulusoy, who shared the predictions about the future after the pandemic, continued as follows: “In our country, a transportation policy based on road transportation is followed. Road transport accounts for about 40% of the increase in global oil demand. This shows that emissions from road transport tend to increase rapidly.
For this reason, the road transportation sector and the businesses that want to exist in the sector, which are among the leading sectors that have the greatest impact on greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, should apply strategies that will threaten the ecosystem and minimize their negative effects and improve their service quality by prioritizing their environmental sensitivity. It should be directed.
Loads should be able to cross borders in under 15 minutes, transport corridors should be kept open for freight transport, national restrictions on transport should be lifted and administrative procedures applied to everyone working in the transport sector should be reduced.
Logistics Master Plan urgently should be put on the table, the measures to be taken on a national basis should be discussed first, and the process should be improved.
After that, we should express our plan on international platforms and discuss these issues through bilateral relations or multiple agreements with countries and draw a road map.
Within the framework of the aforementioned problems, a new process is carried out so that transactions and transportation operations can be carried out under control freely and the transactions can be done quickly. 'Green Line' It should be established.
UTİKAD General Manager Cavit Uğur and UTİKAD Board Member Ayşem Ulusoy came to the agenda last week European Green ConsensusHe also mentioned. The items considered within the scope of the agreement were listed as follows:
- Investing in environmentally friendly technologies,
- Encouraging the sector's environmentally friendly technology investments,
- Increasing the use of sustainable alternative fuels and electric vehicles,
- Increasing investment support during the transition to green technologies,
- Increasing the use of environmentally friendly (electric) vehicles in road transport.
Countries that do not produce environmentally friendly products in the changing world order after the pandemic face obstacles in trade with Europe. In this framework, arrangements should be made in a manner not to prevent trade of our country with other countries.
After Ayşem Ulusoy, Migle Bluseviciute, CLECAT Highway, Seaway and Sustainable Logistics Policy Manager, was promised. Describing CLECAT's work in the pandemic process, Migle Bluseviciute also touched on their work with the European Union. Turkey in particular experienced visa problems and allow evaluating the current situation regarding the documents to Bluseviciut, also noted the need to develop different approaches to similar global crisis. Announced in December
European objectives and outlining the work to be done in the EU framework for reconciliation Green CLECAT manager was to evaluate the implications of this agreement to neighboring countries, including Turkey.
Following the efficient presentation of Bluseviciute, IRU Commercial Operations and Transport Corridors Officer Erman Ereke took the floor. Ereke said “COVID-19 and related restrictions, commercial road (goods and passengers) has had a huge negative impact on companies operating in this field” and said, “The total turnover in 2020 will decrease by 18 percent due to disruptions on the global logistics network. it is predicted. ”
Stating that restrictive measures such as health measures, additional border controls and closed doors have been put into practice, Erman Ereke said, “Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa regions were the most damaged parties in the pandemic. "The total turnover loss in this region has reached 21%."
Turkey's close to where the epidemic including assessing the impact on road transport in the region Erek, identified by the IRU were listed as follows:
- Loss projection for total turnover in 2020 22%
- Closing the border gates has caused major losses to road transporters.
- Long waiting times at border crossings, quarantine procedures, health control practices at the borders revealed operational difficulties.
Ereke also mentioned the preventive measures that can be taken after the pandemic process, and collected them under three headings.
- Regional collaborations to simplify trade
- Financial support (road toll, tax, etc.)
- Convoy, stopping quarantine applications in TIR drivers
Indicating that the IRU has formed the recovery plan, Erman Ereke said, “Continuing commercial road goods transportation activities without interruption and without interruption will reduce the negative effects caused by COVID-19 in all countries and form the basis of economic and social recovery.” Underlining that the IRU Recovery Plan prepared under two financial and non-financial titles contains “3 Main Objectives”, Ereke listed these targets as follows:
- Safety of drivers, industry workers and citizens
The health and safety of our employees, customers and society is the priority of the industry.
- Ensuring the continuity of the supply chain and logistics service network
In cases where transport rules change rapidly and restriction measures are implemented, goods and people should be able to move in the most efficient way.
- Ensuring the continuity of road transport companies
Generally, small and medium sized enterprises experience financial difficulties and need financial support to overcome these difficulties.
Following the informative presentation of Erman Ereke, IRU Commercial Operations and Transport Corridors, UTİKAD Highway Webinar ended with answering the questions of the participants.
UTİKAD will continue to inform the logistics industry with its webinars on “Container Transport, Ports and Demurrage Applications in the Pandemic Process” on June 24, 2020, and “Digitalization and Concrete Initiatives in Logistics” on July 1, 2020.
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