The Costa Rican presidency decided that from May 18, only transporters that make direct transit from border to border would enter Costa Rican territory, whose units would be subject to police surveillance. In response to this announcement, Central American business and transport associations have spoken out against it and called for the restrictions to be lifted.

Given the pressure from the countries of the region, the Alvarado administration has begun to evaluate some options to overcome the difficulties that have so far caused chaos on its borders with Nicaragua and Panama.

See "Cargo Transport: Nicaragua Closes Border"

Given this scenario, certain controls that will be implemented to minimize the risk of covid-19 infection were analyzed. These include streamlining border procedures to minimize waiting time for carriers in the border area and monitoring of trucks by GPS to monitor scheduled routes and time of the carrier in the country, reported the presidency of Costa Rica.

Also see "Cargo Transport: Request to Lift Restrictions"

The statement of May 21 specifies that "... Specific stopover points will also be made available under controlled conditions, so this scenario will allow carriers to set up in a site with basic facilities for a pre-determined time and help the authorities to have the carrier's route defined.

In addition, alternatives such as the hitching and unhitching of trailers or the change of drivers for the transfer of the cargo in the country are kept in place, according to the needs of the carrier. These controls are for both entry and exit of trucks in our territory. The objective of these proposals is to work under constant monitoring of the transporters and to avoid the spread of Covid-19."

More on this topic

Cargo Transport: Nicaragua Relaxes Measures

June 2020

From three to five days, the time that Costa Rican carriers have available to stay in Nicaraguan territory, to unload goods or for regional transit, was increased.

The measures imposed on heavy transport in the region have gradually been relaxed. The difficulties began when Costa Rica, arguing that it was trying to mitigate the outbreak of covid-19, unilaterally decided that as of 18 May only carriers carrying out direct border-to-border transit would enter Costa Rican territory, whose units would have to be subject to police surveillance. 

Regional Trade: Panama Applies Reciprocal Measures

May 2020

After Costa Rica imposed several restrictions on the movement of cargo entering its territory, the Panamanian government limited the permit for Costa Rican carriers to remain in the country to 72 hours.

The transit of goods in the region is becoming more complicated every day, since it is argued that the propagation of the covid-19 is being mitigated.

Cargo Transport: Honduras Replies to Costa Rica

May 2020

After the Costa Rican government decided to impose several restrictions on heavy transport units entering its territory, the Honduran government decided to grant Costa Rican pilots only 72 hours in the country.

The difficulties affecting intraregional land trade are increasing, since arguing that it is trying to mitigate the spread of covid-19, the Costa Rican presidency decided that as of May 18 only transporters who make direct transit from border to border would enter Costa Rican territory, whose units must be subject to police surveillance.

Cargo Transport: Costa Rica Tightens Restrictions

May 2020

In order to mitigate the spread of the covid-19, the government decided that as of May 18, only transporters that make direct transit from border to border will enter Costa Rican territory, whose units must be subject to police surveillance.

On 15 May, President Carlos Alvarado issued two decrees aimed at keeping the number of foreign transporters in the country as low as possible, reported the Costa Rican presidency.