Transportation Law

What is transportation law? The Turkish Transportation Law, which covers a variety of forms of transportation, including highway, railway, airway, and maritime transport, is a dynamic and developing area of law. The Turkish Transportation Law includes a thorough set of rules that control numerous facets of transportation, assuring the security, effectiveness, and sustainability of the country's transportation infrastructure.

Let’s take a look at this field in more detail.

The Structure of Turkish Transportation Law 

A nation connecting Europe and Asia, Turkey's legal system governing transportation is of utmost significance. The structure of Turkish transportation law includes many factors, such as highway transport, maritime transport, railway and metro transport, and airway transport. These transport types, part of the Turkish transportation law, are explained in more detail below.

Highway Transports 

Considering Turkey’s strategic location connecting Europe and Asia, highway transportation in Turkey is an essential aspect of the country's transportation network. Turkey has an extensive system of roads, including provinces, counties, and national highways. Also referred to as the Contract for the International Transport of Goods by Road (CMR), the Convention governs international cargo transportation on land routes. To implement this, the contract of carriage must be of international quality and comply with international transportation law.

Maritime Transport 

The Turkish Commercial Code's 'Maritime Trade' provision effectively governs marine shipments within Turkey. In addition to this, The Cabotage Law is another law that is significant in maritime transportation. With the implementation of this regulation, profitable employment, particularly in the transportation industry, is often restricted to Turkish citizens. Only cargo from foreign ports to Turkish ports or foreign ports inside Turkish ports can be transported by alien ships.

Railway and Metro Transport

Turkey's overall transportation system greatly benefits from the use of railway and metro, connecting multiple locations for passenger and freight services. After the Law on Liberalization of Railway Transport in Turkey came into effect in 2013, which opened up the railway industry to the private sector, the legal framework governing commercial activity on the trains also underwent a significant change. 

With the help of this law, the General Directorate of Turkish State Railways was set up as a railroad infrastructure operator. A business known as the Republic of Turkey State Railways Transport Corporation was also founded as a railroad train operator. Moreover, the stipulations in the book 'Transport Affairs' do not override the regulations concerning rail transport TCC 852/1, as mentioned in The Turkish Commercial Code. In addition, significant cities in Turkey, like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, have developed comprehensive metro systems to address urban transportation needs.

Airways Transport 

The Turkish Civil Aviation Law regulates airport transport within the structure of Turkish transportation law. In addition, when air travel is conducted in the nation, the terms of the international agreements to which the TSHK and Turkey are parties and the terms of the Turkish Commercial Code are applied.

Licensing and Permits in Turkish Transportation

Obtaining licenses and permits regarding Turkish transportation law includes several regulations and procedures established by relevant authorities. If you want to learn more about licensing and permits in Turkish transportation or get a license in Turkey, it is recommended to consult a Turkish law firm for a smooth and better process. For this reason, you can contact our Istanbul Lawyer Firm. 

Licensing Procedures and Requirements 

Licensing procedures and requirements for obtaining licenses and permits in Turkish transportation can change based on various factors, including the specific type of transportation. For instance, for a railway operating license, one should apply to the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and it requires a detailed operational plan and technical standards compliance. 

Violations and Penalties

Penalties and legal consequences might result from Turkish transportation licensing and permission requirements violations. The penalties may vary depending on the type of transportation. For example, within the public transportation laws, fines and operational suspensions may be imposed for providing public transportation services without the required licenses or violating license requirements.

FAQ About Transport Law in Turkey

There are some frequently asked questions about transport law in Turkey. The three common questions about Turkish transportation law are stated below. If you have more questions about Turkish transportation law or want to get a legal consultancy in this field, you can contact our Turkish law firm, Istanbul Lawyer Firm. As an Istanbul Lawyer Firm, our practice areas include transportation as well. With our English-speaking lawyers, we are ready to provide you with all the necessary information about Turkish transportation law and solve your legal cases related to this field. 

How Do I Obtain a Transportation License in Turkey? 

Based on the specific transportation license type you want to obtain, you need to follow specific procedures and fulfill particular requirements:

  • Before applying for a transportation license in Turkey, you must collect all required documents like the application form, financial records, and proof of ownership of the vehicles you intend to use. 
  • In addition, you need to establish a legal entity for your transportation company.
  • After these, you can submit them to the authority responsible for transportation licensing.

Considering these, you can contact Istanbul Lawyer Firm if you have questions about establishing a company. 

What are the Penalties for Violating Transportation Regulations in Turkey?

Penalties for violating transportation regulations in Turkey may change depending on the specific rule broken, the severity of the violation, and the type of transportation. For instance, operating services like railways, highways, or aviation without a license may result in fines. Their amount may also vary. 

How Does Turkish Transportation Law Differ From EU Regulations?

Turkish transportation law is created based on Turkey's legal system. For this reason, it may differ from EU regulations regarding licensing procedures, requirements, conditions for obtaining transportation licenses, or other related factors. In addition, since Turkey is officially not a part of the EU, the international laws related to transportation law may change due to this. 

Our Turkish law firm, Istanbul Lawyer Firm, tries to help you with your legal cases in Turkish citizenship and immigration law. With our professional and qualified professionals who are also experienced in the field of citizenship and immigration law in Turkey, we provide you with legal consultancy services and all the information you need. If you are looking for an immigration law attorney, you can contact us and get information from our English-speaking lawyers in Turkey.