Live loads on this route
There are no live loads from Turkey to Germany 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 → Munich (road): about 1,900 km
- Istanbul → Kapıkule border: about 250 km
- Trieste → Munich (after Ro-Ro): about 500 km
Transit time
By road, Istanbul to southern Germany usually takes three to five days with one driver, depending on border waits. 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.
Routes
- Road: Kapıkule (Edirne) – Kapitan Andreevo into Bulgaria, then Serbia – Hungary – Austria, or Romania – Hungary – Austria
- Ro-Ro: Turkish ports to Trieste, then road through Austria to Germany
Typical freight
- Textiles and clothing
- Automotive parts
- Household appliances
- Food (dried fruit, nuts)
Tolls, bans and documents
Customs and transit
Freight leaves Turkey under an export declaration; transit through non-EU countries such as Serbia typically uses a TIR carnet.
Permits and drivers
Turkish-registered trucks need bilateral or ECMT road permits for the countries they cross, and Turkish drivers need Schengen visas.
Tolls and bans
Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria and Germany all charge trucks road tolls. Germany bans trucks over 7.5 t on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00, and on many motorways on Saturdays in July and August from 07:00 to 20:00.
Tips for carriers
- Allow for queues at Kapıkule and the EU external border.
- Turkish accounts on GigFreight see European and UK loads too — plan the return leg from Germany before you leave.
Questions
How long does a truck take from Istanbul to Germany?
Usually three to five days by road with one driver, depending on border waits; Ro-Ro to Trieste plus road is an alternative.
Carriers and brokers on this route
Load boards can be browsed without an account. Visitors see the route, dates, equipment and price of each load, but not the poster’s contact details. Broker and shipper contact details on a load are shown only to members with a fully paid, active subscription. A trial gives access to the platform but not to load contact details.