Earlier, the State Duma asked the government to ban the passage of Polish trucks through the territory of the Russian Federation
Deputies of the State Duma at a meeting on May 23 unanimously adopted an appeal to the government of the Russian Federation to ban the passage of trucks from Poland through the territory of our country. As well as depriving them of the opportunity to refuel at Russian prices, setting the cost of fuel for Polish carriers at the level of EU prices. We asked the President of the National Association of Freight Road Transport «Gruzavtotrans» Vladimir Matyagin to comment on this initiative.
“A very correct initiative,” notes Vladimir Matyagin. — In my opinion, it is necessary not only to ban Polish trucks from driving on the territory of Russia, but also to all freight transport from Europe. Sanctions and restrictions were imposed against us, and Russian carriers were banned from traveling across Europe. But Russia has made concessions on the delivery of certain types of goods. The list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade includes more than 50 goods that trucks from Europe transport directly to Russia without reloading them at the border.
Vladimir Vasilyevich recalls that they considered that it was impossible to stand idle for transport with perishable goods — with meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, confectionery. What you need to deliver medicines to the consumer as soon as possible.
— But tobacco and alcohol were also included in this list. In my opinion, it's just the big manufacturers lobbied their interests. I think this is wrong. Our carriers have been blocked from entering Europe, and we allow their drivers to work with us in peace. Everything should be based on parity.
Vladimir Matyagin says: back in April last year, when restrictions were imposed on Russian carriers, their Association of Freight Road Transport wrote letters to both the president and the government of Russia.
— We proposed that all foreign carriers, without exception, transfer their cargoes at customs terminals to our drivers for passage through the territory of Russia. So that there are no concessions. And only now they decided to punish Poland, they remembered both the Russophobic policy and the demolition of monuments to our soldiers and officers.
Vladimir Vasilyevich reminds: it takes 15-20 minutes to reattach a semi-trailer, the container can be rearranged in 30 minutes, on it takes two hours to reload the standard 24 pallets of goods.
Transfer and reloading is carried out in customs terminal complexes in the Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Pskov regions, as well as in St. Petersburg and the Republic of Karelia.
“There are not so many of them now, but they continue to deliver a number of products and goods that are not subject to restrictions. They travel all over Russia all the way to the Far East. But, again, there is an agreement between Russian and Polish companies — 10 thousand of our trucks enter their territory, the same number of Polish trucks enter Russia. But they don't let us in now, but they were left with the opportunity to import goods.
— I want to say that drivers are forced people, both from the Polish side and from ours. There are no «graters» and disagreements between Polish and Russian truckers. It happens, of course, that someone «carries». But basically — all hard workers, everyone wants to work. All these sanctions, all this «turbulence» and strife are not needed by hard workers. Because it affects work, business.
Vladimir Matyagin draws attention: some Belarusian and Russian carriers, in order to work both in Europe and in Russia, registered their companies in Poland.
— The measures taken may to some extent now affect them.
Experts have calculated that the costs of the Polish side in the ban on transit from Poland through the territory of Russia could amount to about 8.5 billion euros. About 2,000 transport companies employ more than 20,000 people in these transportations. Many of them may go bankrupt.