“We see rush demand for cargo transportation”: according to what rules truck drivers work today

- The borders are closed . Truck drivers are one of the few categories for which an exception is made. What is the time limit for their permit at the border?

- There are no changes, except for enhanced control measures when crossing the border. The driver is assessed. In particular, temperature measurement. The questionnaire is being conducted: where did the driver come from, which countries did he visit in the last two weeks. In some countries, including Kazakhstan, there are restrictions on the entry of drivers who have visited coronavirus epicenter countries in the past 14 days. In this regard, drivers require a passport, although it was not required before.

- Is there any difference in admitting to our country for a Russian driver and a foreigner?

- Russian and foreign citizens who drive freight motor vehicles have the right to cross the Russian border and are not required to go through quarantine. At the moment, for drivers, there are no differences between citizens of the Russian Federation and foreigners, in terms of transportation. The verification procedure itself on our border in other countries is generally the following: temperature measurement and questionnaires (where the driver came from, which countries he visited in the last two weeks).

- How do our drivers travel around the most infected countries , Italy, for example? Do masks give out other means of protection?

- They don’t give out security measures, but they ask you to have the necessary tools with you when loading.

- The authorities promised to simplify the procedures for customs clearance of food and essential goods.

- Yes, this promise has been fulfilled. Essential goods are made out at the border crossing, and then at the customs terminals inside the country in the first order.

- Is the volume of import transportation reduced today due to a shortage of goods from suppliers? The world is in quarantine.

- Imported essential goods come from the countries of the European Union, as well as from the EAEU. Separate categories come from China. So far, we have not observed problems with deliveries on previously concluded contracts. Moreover, while we see a rush of demand for cargo transportation, volumes are growing. Entrepreneurs are guided by a sharp jump in demand for some goods in anticipation of a deficit and a rise in price due to devaluation. In addition, they themselves fear the termination or restriction of delivery - they bring more than usual.

- The transportation tariffs have not changed yet?

- According to the business community, tariffs for freight transportation in the spot market have already increased due to the growth of speculative sentiment amid general uncertainty. Tariffs will definitely increase if there is a shortage of transport associated with possible problems for the carriers themselves. The key risk was the exclusion of car tires and auto parts from the list of essential goods. At the moment, before the clarification appears, this means that these categories of goods will not be able to be delivered to settlements when restrictions on entry and exit are introduced. Vehicles cannot be repaired. The accident rate and downtime of vehicles may increase, freight logistics will suffer, including the delivery of food and socially important goods. This is the worst possible scenario, but without solving the problem with auto parts, it is, alas, impossible to exclude it.

- Something has changed in domestic transport, have buckwheat cars given priority?

- Of the positive, it is worth noting the beginning of the abolition of spring restrictions on the movement of freight transport in the regions related to the drying of roads (this means the seasonal restriction on the admission of heavy vehicles to regional routes. - RT ). We informed the Coordination Council for the Control of Coronavirus under the leadership of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation about the risk of interruptions in the delivery of goods. And now we welcome the decision of the regions to refrain from drying out roads this year.

- How did quarantine affect the logistics system?

- We expect a significant decrease in demand. The market now has general uncertainty, which is increasing every day. In the whole country, there is a slowdown in the movement of freight flows. For speculators who want to use the situation, this is an opportunity to demand higher tariffs for transportation. For conscientious companies in the transport and logistics complex, this is an opportunity to rally as much as possible for an expert assessment of the threats to the entire Russian economy and the most constructive interaction with authorities.