Live loads on this route
There are no live loads from Turkey to Bulgaria on GigFreight right now. Loads appear here as soon as brokers and shippers post them. Meanwhile, browse the Turkey board or post your own load.
Distances
- Istanbul → Kapıkule: about 250 km
- Istanbul → Plovdiv: about 420 km
- Istanbul → Sofia: about 550 km
Transit time
Istanbul to Plovdiv or Sofia is usually one day plus border time. Under EU drivers’ hours rules a driver may drive 9 hours a day (10 hours twice a week) with a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours, so one driver covers roughly 700–800 km a day.
Border crossings
- Kapıkule – Kapitan Andreevo: the main truck crossing
- Hamzabeyli – Lesovo: a truck crossing that relieves Kapıkule
Typical freight
- Textiles
- Automotive parts
- Food and fresh produce
- Building materials
Tolls, bans and documents
Customs
Bulgaria is in the EU, so freight is cleared through EU customs at the border or transits under a transit procedure to its destination.
Tolls
Bulgaria charges trucks over 3.5 t a distance-based electronic toll on its main roads.
Tips for carriers
- Border waiting times vary a lot by day and season — build slack into delivery windows.
Questions
What is the main truck border crossing from Turkey to Bulgaria?
Kapıkule (Edirne) – Kapitan Andreevo; Hamzabeyli – Lesovo is the main alternative for trucks.
Carriers and brokers on this route
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