Greece to Tbilisi via Turkey
The heavy transport from Greece to Tbilisi runs overland via Turkey: from northern Greece across the Kipoi/İpsala border crossing into Anatolia, straight across Turkey and over Sarp or Türkgözü into Georgia and on to the capital Tbilisi. The distance is around 2,000 to 2,500 km. Alternatively, the overland leg through Turkey can be shortened by a Black Sea ferry to Poti, which saves mountain stages and is gentler on the cargo. In neither case is Russia crossed; the lane connects to the Middle Corridor.
Oversize Transports plans both variants as a complete project and selects the route according to item size, ferry capacity and timeframe.
Permit chain Greece–Turkey–Georgia
The Greek section of the route is covered by the national special permit for heavy transports; the German §29 StVO rule (German road traffic regulations) does not apply on this lane, as no German section of the route is touched. It is followed by the national special permits of Turkey and Georgia. The journey through Anatolia is mountainous; gradients, tight turning radii and clearance heights at tunnels and bridges have to be surveyed in advance. We check the route for load-bearing capacity and clearance profile before the equipment is assigned.
Customs clearance: T1 and TIR
From the Turkish border at Kipoi/İpsala – which is also the external EU border – the consignment travels under a transit procedure as T1 and/or under a TIR carnet. TIR reduces checks at the intermediate borders; import clearance takes place in Georgia. On the sea route, the cargo is transferred into road transport at the port of Poti. We align the documents with the border posts in advance so that no waiting times arise at Kipoi/İpsala and Sarp.
Equipment selection and load securing
Steered axle lines and sufficient ground clearance are important for the mountainous sections in Turkey; the right equipment selection follows the cargo strictly. Heavy single items are loaded onto low-bed or modular axle trailers and secured by positive and friction locking in line with recognised engineering standards – lashed, chocked and braced against tipping. On the sea route across the Black Sea, the cargo must additionally be secured for ferry loading and the crossing.
Escorting and time windows
Depending on dimensions and requirements, we accompany the transport with escort vehicles up to BF3/BF4 escort; in Turkey and Georgia an official escort may additionally be mandatory. Night driving bans, weekend restrictions and the opening hours of the Kipoi/İpsala and Sarp borders feed into the scheduling. On the sea route, the ferry frequency sets the time window.
Georgia as a corridor hub
Tbilisi is the logistics node of the South Caucasus: from here, lanes branch off to Baku (Azerbaijan), Yerevan (Armenia) and onwards towards the Caspian Sea. This connectivity makes Georgia a cornerstone of our international heavy haulage services. Country details can be found on our page on heavy haulage to Georgia.
Feasibility study as the first step
Every Tbilisi lane starts with a technical review: weight, length, width, height and centre of gravity of the cargo determine the axle load distribution, the vehicle type and – on the sea route – the required ferry capacity. For the mountainous journey through Anatolia, climbing ability, turning radii and ground clearance are assessed with particular care. The route is driven virtually in order to identify critical bridges, tunnels and town passages at an early stage.
Oversize Transports as an independent project partner
Oversize Transports is the brand of HSNK s.r.o., based in Prague, and acts as an independent heavy haulage forwarder. For Georgia lanes we combine feasibility, route comparison, permits, escorting and customs in one hand – whether overland through Turkey or by Black Sea ferry. Send us your project by phone or via the enquiry form – we check feasibility and recommend the more robust route.
Typical cargo types on this lane
Consignments moving to Tbilisi via the Turkey route frequently include construction machinery, transformers, boilers, vessels and plant modules. Such goods often involve excess width, excess height or point loads that shape the equipment choice for the mountainous journey through Anatolia. We match trailer, axle lines and securing equipment precisely to the item and document dimensions and condition before departure, so that the permit data remains consistent across all transit countries. Whether a single oversize machine or a complete plant delivery: we cost every Caucasus lane individually and accompany it from the first feasibility study to unloading in Tbilisi.
Insurance and risk management
Heavy cargo towards the South Caucasus calls for suitable transport insurance and clear risk management. We align cover, declared values and the contingency concept with each individual project, so that in the event of damage, responsibilities and handling are unambiguously defined.