Thread by @pjasinski

Many are wondering why the hell Polish truckers (and now Slovak, too) are protesting & blocking the border with Ukraine.
As usual there are several reasons for such stuff.
(@Levi_Borovychok @olezhechk that'll be very informative for you guys).
I'll break it down for y'all.
1/16

There are two aspects here, minor and major one. None of them, as some are suggesting, are russian sabotage / influence, nor are they an organized action by nationalistic party in Poland. The party in question (Konfederacja) uses the opportunity, but it's pure opportunism.
2/16

I'll start with the minor one: Polish trucks (and drivers) are getting stuck on the Ukrainian side of the border. I'll keep using "Polish trucks", "Polish drivers" & "Polish companies" for reference, but it also applies to other, non-Ukrainian / EU trucks/truckers/companies.
3/16

Minor thing: PL trucks, often empty, are stuck on the UA side. Often for many days, some queue for 10 or 11 days just to return to Poland.
There are two reasons for that: so-called Solidarity Lanes (fast-track lanes for key goods) & e-cherha (e-queue) system, both abused.
4/16

Ukrainian drivers (& border guard) abuse the Solidarity Lanes by letting Ukrainian trucks use them while carrying non-essential goods, while Polish trucks, even empty, have to wait in the queue for checks (it would be fair if it would apply to all trucks and drivers).
5/16

Ukraine has an electronic queue system, similiar to Polish one, called e-cherha (e-queue). Trucks register in the system and queue electronically, getting notified when it's their turn to drive in the crossing and undergo control/checks. Managed by DPSU (UA border guard).
6/16

DPSU abuses e-cherha: pushes PL/EU trucks down in the queue & pulls up UA ones to get them faster to the crossing & clearance.
Those two things are unfair per se, but also mean trouble for EU truckers who have to follow the EU Mobility Package (later, in major section).
7/16

Major issue, multi-layered:
EU transport companies, trucks & drivers have multiple obligations to fulfill. First of all: within the frame of the EU Mobility Package.
Basics here:

It doesn't apply to UA truckers, they don't have to follow those rules.
8/16eurosender.com/en/business/ne…

UE truckers are allowed to operate in the EU, but don't have to follow the Mobility Package, e.g.:
- every 4 weeks, drivers are obliged to return home for a minimum of 45h (UA drives don't have to)
- rest periods can't be spent in the vehicles (doesn't apply to UA drivers)
9/16

- 4 days of break between cabotage operations (not for UA truckers)
- Every 8 weeks, the vehicle (truck / van) has to return to the country of the company’s location, i.e. the country where the vehicle is registered (not for UA vehicles)
The list goes on, but you get it.
10/16

Financial aspects.
Ukraine has lower taxes & social insurance, fixed ones. Poland has progressive taxes & social insurance.
UA trucker makes between 700 and 1000 Euro / month, net. Minimal wage for a Polish trucker is 6000 PLN (~1380 Euro). But a PL trucker makes way more.
11/16

An PL trucker makes 12000 PLN net a month, so around 2800 Euro, consisting of wage (6000 minimum) and employee allowance. Net. The employee has to cover state social insurance, which - at this wage - is, at least (!) another 400 Euro. Plus employee allowance - also taxed.
12/16

Diesel fuel is cheaper in Ukraine than in the EU (by 10-20%, depending on the country), which is also a factor.
All in all:
- truckers/truck companies from Ukraine are allowed to operate in the EU, but don't have to follow EU rules;
- their costs are at least 5-6x lower;
13/16

Compared to Polish/EU companies, UA drivers can work much more, are paid way less & rules that skyrocket operational costs for EU carriers don't apply to Ukrainian companies/trucks/drivers.
This isn't fair competition. It's not even unfair competition. This is dumping.
14/16

Big carriers in Poland (/EU) that operate EU-wide on a large scale, are not endangered, as their customers require them to follow the rules and EU Mobility Package.
But small, local ones, operating mostly in Poland (in this case) are unable to compete and go bankrupt.
15/16

That's why they are protesting: desperation.
They are ok with fair competition. If UA truckers are to operate in the EU and compete - that's fine. But same rules should apply. Otherwise it's not fair. And Ukraine is not a EU country, yet, and won't be one for a long time.
16/16