Orhan Yilmaz, Chairman Of S. S. Düzce Truck And Trucking Rig Motor Carriers Cooperative: ''There Must Be A Ton-Kilometer Pricing To Be Determined By The Load

"The Logistics World Worked Very Well During The Pandemic″

Chairman Yılmaz, who made evaluations about the sector, said that; “7 people come together and go to the Provincial Directorate of Industry and Trade and easily form a cooperative. It should not be like this; because if this happens, there are too many cooperatives.”

Stating that he has been in the sector for a long time and that the profession has problems that need to be solved, Chairman Yılmaz said that; “For 25 years, I am the Chairman of S.S. Düzce Truck and Trucking Rig Motor Carriers Cooperative. It is not easy to stand in front of people with your decency and morality in this sector. It is not easy to manage the people of a such a tiring profession. In other words, when you say to a person who drove too long with all his exhaustion, "do this and that way", it can immediately cause an explosion of anger. My father worked as a truck driver and raised me that way. As people who grow up in this way, I think we should be loyal to our industry, have faith and move our industry to good places. We also have troubles and problems to be solved. Can we solve them? We can but we have problems even in ceoneving together.”

"The Logistics World Worked Very Well During The Pandemic Period ″

Emphasizing that the logistics sector did not stop and continued to work during the pandemic period, Yılmaz indicated that the logistics sector will always continue and said that; “During the pandemic period, the logistics world worked very well where cafes, stores and shopping malls were closed. We went ahead and didn't stop. We ran around where the coffee shop closed, we earned money. Our job was good; I'm not the only one saying that. All cooperatives should say. Of course these might not be where the industrial sector is not strong. But now, there is a job in logistics wherever you go. Certain sectors stopped, but they did not stop here. Therefore, we are comfortable with this.”

“Today We Have a Good Place and a Good Cooperative ″

Mentioning about the cooperatives and talking about cooperative process, Yilmaz said that; “I'm one of the few people in Turkey started to pay taxes in 1978. I have a tax identity as a continuous carrier for 42 years and I know that the logistics world, in other words the road transportation, is very important. I have driven by myself and did this job myself. I've only done one thing in my life: road transportation. What were our troubles at first? It was to try not to let the shipping brokers abuse us. Because it made us unable to earn money by taking a huge price over the work we received. This is how our cooperative started. There was only a table and a chair here in the cooperative 25 years ago but now, let me tell new friends that if you work, everything happens. Today, Düzce Truck and Trucking Rig Cooperative has assets of over 20 Trillion TL, this is a serious amount. We have a gas station built on 3 thousand square meters. This 15 decare area is the own property of Düzce Truck and Trucking Rig Cooperative. Our members made efforts in this. Today we have a good place and a good cooperative.

“I Think That If A Cooperative Chairman Speaks And Brings Our Problems To Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu, He Will Take Initiatives That Will Lead Our Way ″

Indicating that the sector's problems can be solved if they can be delivered to the Chairman of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Yilmaz said that; “The problems of our sector are common, but you are commercial partners in cooperative structure, and we are linked to the Chamber of Commerce. Chambers of Commerce are the chambers of our professional groups. I would like to call my colleagues in 81 provinces and districts where all Chambers of Commerce are located. Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu is a person who immediately intervenes wherever he sees a problem. I believe that if a cooperative chairman speaks and brings our problems to Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu, he will take initiatives that will lead our way.”

"It Is Necessary To Fulfill Certain Conditions In Order To Be A Cooperative ″

Defending that certain conditions should be set in order to establish a cooperative, Yılmaz said that; ”In order to establish a joint stock company, you need to set a certain limit, and a certain capital is required for a limited company. One of the forms of merger is cooperatives; but 7 people come together and go to the Provincial Directorate of Industry and Trade and easily form a cooperative. It should not be like this because if it does, there are too many cooperatives. In order to be a cooperative, certain conditions must be fulfilled; your certificate of authorization, closed area… It is a cooperative enterprise, a commercial organization, a commercial logistics company. Then we try to make our voice heard like “they don't solve our problems”. How should they solve it? There is no outdoor area to pull your vehicle. A ten thousand square meters of outdoor and indoor area is needed in the slightest cooperative organization. Because if there is a load for partial transportation, you will combine it.”

“We Say We Are Both Cooperative And Joint Stock Company; Even Our Notebooks Are Subjected to A Joint Stock Company ″

Evaluating the main source of the problems of the cooperatives is their structure as commercial organizations, Yılmaz said that; “There is a limit problem, that is, you have to put a certain transaction volume. We say we are both a cooperative and a joint stock company; even our notebooks are subject to joint stock companies. As Düzce Truck and Trucking RigCooperative, we need guests to operate. When there is plenty of work and our vehicle is not enough, we buy vehicles from outside. As soon as you get these, your cooperative feature will be up to a point. Then we enter the joint stock company. We are currently a commercial organization. Everyone should know that this is the root cause of our problem. I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce, which is a building block of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Düzce. So my Cooperative is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce. I wish Mr. Rıfat organizes a meeting and we can create this structure that you may also pioneer as My Truck Magazine with the participation of someone from each cooperative in 81 provinces and we can convey our problems to him and get the solutions.”

“We Don't Have Too Many Problems As Mentioned By Our Colleagues; Nobody Can Determine The Price of The Work of Anyone Else ″

Expressing his thoughts on ton kilometer procedure, Yılmaz said that; “We don't have too many problems as mentioned by our colleagues; nobody can determine the price of the work of anyone else. The cost of going from place to place changes according to its climate, speed and course. For example, I am carrying bricks and I will deliver them in five days, but you need to deliver your loaded fruit and vegetables as soon as possible. Would both of these cost the same per kilometer? It is not possible to have tons / kilometers. It varies according to each region in fast transports, heavy transports, ramps and descents. Mr. Binali told us that the holders of R1 authorization documents create a certain list in their own province, get this list approved by the Governorship and Regional Transportation Directorates, kilometer prices are formed according to the type of load, and you give them to certain factories by saying that these are the prices I received from the Ministry of Transport.”  This is how it should be calculated. Everybody talk about the ton / kilometer principle. There should be the ton / kilometer pricing to be determined according to the load. People who have an R1 Certificate of Authority in that region should issue this.”

"We Postponed Some Things In Order Not To Cause Trouble To The State, But Now It Is Time”

Expressing solutions to the problems, Chairman Yilmaz said that;” If there is the plenitude of tomato in bazaar, the price of the tomato drops; and if it is the shortage, the prices increase. This is what we call supply and demand balance. Let's say there are 10 thousand trucks in Turkey, but not that much work. If a car driver comes to work every 5 days, it means there is an excess of vehicles. If someone leaves the sector in this sector, we can ensure that there are new entries. A restriction may be placed on Authorization Certificates, license plates. Let's make it difficult to enter the sector. Mr. Binali Yıldırım invited us and stated that he had prepared a draft law. As a result of this draft, he requested our adaptation to the law numbered 4925. We trusted and entered, but some of the parts they promised us were left unfinished. For example, when Binali Yıldırım said, "We will discipline the sector, but you will put your hands under the responsibility," we said, "We are ready". The real place where the law numbered 4925 would bring us was the license plate. We postponed some things in order not to cause trouble to the state, but now it is time. If you look back a little, you will see what was spoken and promises made that day. We obtained our R1 certificates, K Documents, Psychotechnical Certificate, SRCs and Professional Competence Certificates and adapted rapidly. It is not difficult to say ‘Let's discuss these truck drivers' problems once again”. We don't have to wait; they may form a team of 15 people and listen to us. It is not difficult to find people who are qualified in this regard. ‘We disciplined this sector and they adapted. Let's talk about what we can do now. They should invite some of us and listen to us. ″

"There are Many Idle Vehicles in the Sector ″

Making evaluations about the K1 Certificate problem, Yılmaz said that; “Binali gathered us under TOBB when he was the Minister of Transport. ‘Read Law 4925 thoroughly, this is a dress. This sewn dress can be tight or loose. Then we will do what is required” he said. Thank you for that. They were saying us that this information is needed and the door is always open. It was they who said, "Come on, tell us". However, we cannot do what is necessary and convey these problems. What do we want? There are many idle vehicles in the industry. We should not allow another vehicle to exit without entering a vehicle. There are thousands of vehicles on the R1 Certificate of Authority. Some solutions found for K1 authorization. Some says “Give 3 thousand liras, work with me.” It should not be like this. You don't need to get a K1 certificate. Take your vehicle and work it with the R1 Certificate of Authority. This must have a limit. It should be said that if you have 10 self – owned property, you can register for 10. There is no restriction in the law, there is only for C2's. Anyone do registration as many times as they want. Our Minister should prevent these. If it is needed to give a K1 authorization certificate, they should look at the reasons for not to give it. It may be said that this K certificates are given just for once only”.

"No Control Mechanism ″

Expressing that invoices are issued with the Fee Certificate and K1 Document and these should be inspected, Yılmaz said that; “R1 Certificate can issue invoices according to the law, receive and invoice from the vehicle it has taken. Someone does this with the fee certificate and K1 certificate. Do not the financial officials see this? It issues a transportation invoice with K1 Authorization Certificate. He takes his friend's bill for transportation and bills the other party. It is not important to have a TIO Certificate. There is no control mechanism.”

“Our Friends Use Smart Vehicles, Put Aside The Smartphones”

Yılmaz, who made evaluations about U-ETDS and stated that any driver can do this, said that; “The real problem was passenger transportation. You go to work two or three times a week. You have to report 3 times a week. It is not difficult for us to make this statement. My friends use smartphones. They drive smart vehicles, just put aside the smartphones. They says to the system in vehicle, "I'm going to Adana, show the ramps." The vehicle tells what it will use on which ramp. Is it possible that the one using this vehicle can not enter data into U-ETDS? Even if he cannot enter, our staff do it here.”

"A Model with a Weekly Working Time Not More Than 45 Hours Could Be Created ″

Stating his views on the tachograph, Chairman Yılmaz said that; “Our state officials are looking for a model but do not question whether it will fit. They took this tachometer device and came. How did they adjust it for what? They didn't ask their users. There are no waiting places; a system where you go for 4 and a half hours, rest for an hour and go again. For example, you go to Antep in 3 days from here. Our country's economy will not manage this system either. A model with a working time not exceeding 45 hours per week could be created, which would be used day or night. For example, the private vehicle leaves Ankara and will go to Antalya. The driver fall into sleep and crushes the trucking rig with 70-80 km of speed. Does this have a tachometer? Let's ask, he doesn't have a tachometer, but he's sleeping while driving. We have a bed, we pull up and sleep somewhere. Let me also mention the lack of resting places. Even the stationers don't let us to stop. There is the Directorate General of Highways in Turkey. They will give a rest facility beside the median, but not. The rules are clear, okay they obey the rules, but they should give a place for it.”

“When We Receive This Money, We Think It Is Our Own Money and Spend It ″

Drawing attention to the fact that VAT is an important issue for the sector, Yılmaz said that; “The main thing for us is VAT. When we issue an invoice of 5 thousand TL, 900 TL of it is VAT. Actually, VAT is not a money belonging to us. We say; ‘Mr. Minister, when we receive this money, we think it is our own money and spend it. Let the issuing company take this money. Later on, we have difficulty paying this money ′. This time the bill inflation begins. VAT is considered as an income. When I have difficulty in paying, they start saying “give bill to me”. Then it is said that the truckers use fake invoices. VAT rates should decrease or these VAT rates should not be received by us. The issuing company issues an invoice of 5.900 TL. The firm that issues says “I invested in your name”. I can see how much I have. So, I should be the claimant. This is our biggest problem.”

“As Düzce Truck and Trucking Rig Cooperative, We Will Take Part In Your Organization Materially and Spiritually″

Stating that a meeting should be held for the unification of the sector and the solution of the problems, Yılmaz said that; “Plate constraint is the most important thing for this sector. Then our friends need to unite in order to reunite. Everyone is talking, but I can go to those meetings 3 times. Because of my job, I have to be here. There is TOBB for me; I will write my problem and there will be a solution. I cannot go and hold meetings all the time. There is the Tradesmen Credit and Surety Cooperatives Union in Commercial Cooperatives. Its arrangement and institutional structure is very nice. It has a great head and organization. They drive money and nothing as difficult as that. Under the control of the state, they direct the money in a way that supports the state with the interest rates announced by the state and become the life source of our tradesmen. It's a nice structure. We also have two friends in the Central Union. It is not clear what it does or determines. The main problems of people are not considered, a structure cannot be created. In this sense, there is only one thing to do. There are certain people in certain cooperatives; we will call them, a new structure will be established. Young people will lead this. There is no other solution. We, as Düzce Truck and Trucking Rig Cooperative, promise that we will take part materially and spiritually in all your and organizations as My Truck Magazine.