Voltim Global runs bonded transit freight by road from Russia through Iran to Turkey, delivering to Mersin. Between 19 August and 30 September 2026 we completed 25 trips on this lane, with cargo loaded in more than 15 Russian cities. The goods cross Iran under customs transit control without being imported there and are cleared for import in Turkey.
What is Russia–Iran–Turkey transit freight?
Russia–Iran–Turkey transit freight is the road carriage of goods from Russia to Turkey through Iranian territory under customs control, with no import into Iran. Bonded transit means that goods cross a country while customs duties and taxes are secured by a guarantee and the load compartment stays sealed until the destination customs office. The cargo is loaded once in Russia and unloaded at the consignee in Turkey; our head office in Mersin sits at the delivery end of the lane.
Is the lane active? How many trips ran in 2026?
Yes. The figures below come from our own operating records:
- Period: 19 August – 30 September 2026
- Trips completed: 25
- Route: Russia – Iran – Turkey, in bonded transit
- Destination: Mersin, Turkey
- Loading cities: more than 15 across Russia
More in our news item on 25 transit trips from Russia to Mersin.
Which Russian cities have we loaded from?
Loading cities on this lane in 2026 include Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Obninsk, Vladimir, Izhevsk, Rybinsk, Sosnovy Bor, Volgodonsk, Novovoronezh, Zheleznogorsk and Morshansk. They range from the Baltic coast and central Russia to the Volga region, the Urals and western Siberia, so cargo does not need to be consolidated in Moscow first. Loading is coordinated by our Moscow office.
How does the transit process work step by step?
- Request and plan: you send the loading city, cargo details and ready date; we plan the route, the transit document and the crossings and send a written quote.
- Loading in Russia: our Moscow office agrees the loading window, the cargo is loaded and secured, and the CMR consignment note is issued.
- Russian export and transit formalities: the export declaration is completed with the exporter or its broker and the transit document is opened; the load compartment is sealed.
- Transit through Iran: the truck crosses Iran under customs control; the required permits and transit documents are arranged as part of trip preparation.
- Entry to Turkey: the main Turkey–Iran gateway is Gürbulak–Bazargan; the crossing used for each trip is fixed in the trip plan.
- Clearance and delivery in Turkey: the goods are cleared at the destination customs office and delivered in Mersin; the CMR is signed and the transit operation is closed.
You receive the truck's position every day through our daily vehicle tracking and reporting service.
Which documents are used in bonded transit?
| Document | Role in transit |
|---|---|
| TIR carnet | International customs transit document under the TIR Convention; covers the sealed cargo across borders, backed by a guarantee |
| CMR consignment note | Contract of carriage between sender, carrier and consignee |
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Value, description, packages and weights for every customs office on the route |
| Russian export declaration | Export of the goods from Russia |
| Origin document | Usually required for import clearance in Turkey |
| ADR documents | Only for dangerous goods |
Russia, Iran and Turkey are all Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention, according to the UN Treaty Collection. IRU calls TIR the only global transit system, with goods carried in customs-sealed load compartments. Our bonded and transit transport and transit customs services cover the document side of the operation.
How does transit via Iran compare with the Georgia and RoRo options?
Cargo from Russia to Turkey can move by three routes we know from our own operations. None is better in every case; the choice depends on the loading city, the cargo and the current border situation.
| Option | Path | Points to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Transit via Iran | Russia – Iran – Turkey (Mersin) | Single truck, bonded transit through Iran; active lane with 25 trips in August–September 2026 |
| Road via Georgia | Verkhniy Lars – Georgia – Sarp – Turkey | Single truck; queue at Verkhniy Lars and mountain weather affect the schedule |
| RoRo | Tuapse – Taşucu by sea | Trailer crosses the Black Sea by ferry; depends on sailing schedules |
Since March 2024 we have handled more than 450 shipments for the Akkuyu supply line from Russia, using the Verkhniy Lars road route and the Tuapse–Taşucu RoRo line. That experience is the basis for comparing the options for each request.
What happens when the cargo reaches Mersin?
Mersin is both the destination of this lane and the home of our head office. On arrival, the goods are presented at the destination customs office and cleared for import by the consignee's customs broker or through our customs clearance service. The truck then delivers to the consignee's address; if the goods are needed elsewhere in Turkey, we can arrange door-to-door delivery to the final site.
What determines the transit time?
We do not publish a fixed number of days. The schedule depends on the distance from the loading city, border traffic, which changed considerably on the Turkey–Iran border during 2026, document readiness and the type of cargo. We check the current situation for each request and state the planned schedule in the quote.
Why Voltim Global for this lane?
- Documented activity: 25 trips from Russia to Mersin through Iran between 19 August and 30 September 2026.
- International road freight since 2014, with more than 1,500 trips across all lanes.
- Offices in Mersin (head office), Istanbul, Moscow and Budapest; no office, partner or agent in Iran, as the operation is managed by our own team.
- Full and part loads, oversized and ADR cargo: see FTL, LTL, oversized cargo and ADR transport.
For the main crossings and documents between the two countries, see our page on Turkey–Iran road freight. Shipping in the other direction? See road freight from Russia to Iran via Georgia and trucking from Europe to Iran through Turkey.
What information should you send for a quote?
- Loading place: city, country and, if known, the exact address
- Delivery place: city and country of the consignee
- Cargo: description of the goods and HS code if available
- Dimensions and weight: gross weight, number of packages, length × width × height
- Packaging: pallets, crates, bags, loose or unpacked
- Ready date: when the cargo can be loaded
- Special status: whether the cargo is dangerous goods (ADR class and UN number) or oversized
Send these details through our contact page and we will reply with a transit plan from your Russian loading city to Mersin and a written quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can goods move from Russia through Iran to Turkey in transit?
Why route cargo from Russia to Turkey through Iran?
From which Russian cities can cargo be loaded?
Is the cargo cleared through customs in Iran?
Which documents are used in bonded transit?
How long does a truck from Russia to Mersin take?
How does this route compare with Georgia and the Tuapse–Taşucu RoRo line?
From the guide: questions about this service
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