CNI News

16 Feb 2023

Myanmar truck drivers have been allowed to drive through the Chinese border gate in Kan Pai Ti in Kachin State, according to drivers there.

As a measure for prevention of COVID-19, truck drivers from Myanmar were not allowed to drive through the border gate and they were replaced by Chinese truck drivers at the border. Now, the restriction has been lifted and Myanmar drivers have been permitted to drive through the border gate to China.

Allowing Myanmar drivers to drive through the border gate to China, damage to vehicles can be reduced and drivers will get higher wages, Ko Shan Gyi, a truck owner in Kan Pai Ti, told the CNI.

 Freight trucks

He said, "It is beneficial for us. Damage to vehicles can be reduced and save repair costs. As Myanmar drivers have been allowed to drive through the border gate, they will get MMK 300,000 per trip. When they were not allowed to drive through the gate, they got MMK 200,000 per trip."

When Myanmar drivers had to be replaced by Chinese drivers, truck owners suffered losses due to damage to their vehicles caused by Chinese drivers, who were not as competent as their Myanmar counterparts.

When vehicles were damaged by Chinese drivers, truck owners did not get enough compensation and had to spend their own money to repair their trucks.

Freight trucks seen on the Chinese side of the border

As Myanmar drivers have been allowed to drive through the border gate to China, loading and unloading of goods can be carried out very quickly, Ko Thawdar Aung, a truck driver told the CNI.

He said, "I think loading and unloading of goods can be carried out very quickly. As we drive our truck by ourselves, they cannot skip the queue as before. They have to use the first-come-first-serve system. There were not many trucks transporting goods to China. There were only about 200 trucks.

Myanmar exports tissue-cultured bananas, rice, corn and watermelons and imported construction materials, electric appliances and consumer products from the border gate.