a line of about 1,000 trucks stretches back more than 20 miles into Poland because of the blockade of the Dorohusk border crossing with Ukraine, because? Ukraine is not in the EU, but relies on access to the EU to sell goods

Trucks back up for 20 miles on the approach to the Dorohusk-Jagodin border crossing, Ukrainian drivers are stuck in Poland, unable to return home, because Polish transport companies and truckers are blocking border crossings to Ukraine as part of a protest against cheap competition from their southeastern neighbor.

For two months, Polish truckers have been blocking traffic at the Ukraine-Poland border, holding up thousands of trucks waiting to cross. They are outraged over the European Union's decision to remove limits on how many Ukrainian drivers and businesses can enter Poland and the EU.

Polish protesters are letting just five trucks cross per hour; on other days, it slows to just a trickle of two or three. In November, the first month of the blockade, Ukraine experienced a $160 million loss in exports and imports were down by $700 million compared with the previous month.

With airports in Ukraine shut down and the Black Sea mined by Russia, the land borders with Poland — the longest of its neighbors — became Ukraine's main connection to the European Union. The number of trucks crossing shot up, the majority of those being driven by Ukrainians.

about 5,000 Ukrainian drivers have been waiting weeks at border crossings throughout. Poland Most of the drivers have been waiting in line for 13 or 14 days, and some say they're running low on food, water and money.

 

After a month of protest at the borders with Ukraine, Poles were joined by truck drivers in Slovakia. On December 4, Ukraine and Poland agreed to open an additional border crossing, but only for empty trucks.

Also, it's important to note that Polish protestors are not delaying humanitarian aid, perishable foods, or military transports. (Very cool to be humane about that, as Russia could possibly conquer Ukraine, and then be on Poland's south Eastern border) 

Also, there are reports in the Polish media, which say that corruption is flourishing on the Ukrainian side and claims that a €600 bribe is enough to get a vehicle across the border without any hitches.

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/29/1222096363/why-polish-truck-drivers-are-blocking-traffic-at-the-poland-ukraine-border

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/07/1223065019/20-mile-backup-as-polish-truckers-blockade-border-in-standoff-with-ukrainian-dri

https://www.euronews.com/2023/12/05/chaos-at-the-polish-ukraine-border-as-row-over-transport-permits-continues

https://www.dw.com/en/polish-truckers-protest-unfair-competition-by-blocking-ukraine-border-crossings/a-67580337

Everyone familiar with the trucking issue between Mexico and the USA knows what this is all about. Blue collar truckers trying to make a living while the multi millionaire politicians are chauffeured to and from their offices and mansions, unconcerned with the problems at the countries borders

the "expansion" of Ukrainian transport companies on the EU market was the result of the EU facilitating the transportation of goods between EU member states and Ukraine after Russians declared war, and airports and maritime cargo transport shut down.

And, just like the damage that NAFTA did to USA truckers, and benefitted Mexico, and central American countries, the EU has allowed cheaper Ukrainians who don't have to meet any European standards, to have an advantage, by carrying any load in Europe for less, while Polish transport companies have to meet all EU standards and pay high social security contributions.

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Shas wrote a very thorough comment, and I want to make sure it gets read, so I'm putting it here as well as publishing it in the comments... thank you Shas!

It's a "little" more complex problem.

 Former Polish government did nothing to solve that problem, current one did not find solution for now, it's is a case of good intention of EU turn in to bad situation on border that probably few expected at first. But there are limitations, you have indeed no limits for cargo (earlier it was 100k permissions for entry and 60k for transit) but the cross-trade and cabotage is forbidden. In that form Ukrainians can't overflow the EU market with cheap transport services, but still on route between any single EU country and Ukraine, they now dominate. And that was lucrative transport route for many companies in EU, but mostly from Poland. And because Ukrainian companies are accused that don't comply that cabotage rules, Polish companies start that strike.

 Also there is now much less strict control for Ukrainian transports when the EU trucks need to get the same treatment as always. Also, Ukrainian electronic check-in system is at least according to drivers "adjusted" towards anyone who will pay a "additional unofficial fee", you know what I mean. 

Also whole situation is played by the Kremlin for anti-Ukrainians sentiments, crisis is building between Ukraine and Poland, accusations ect. And Ukraine is building in express speed, literally 24/7, a new highway to Romania to avoid Polish border crossings.

 Complex situation, complex problems, no simple solutions... some even are maliciously happy as Polish truckers now receive the same treatment as they give German and Dutch truckers many years ago, when they did to them what Ukrainians are doing now.