Romania’s customs agency has recently activated two advanced X-ray scanners at major crossing points along its borders with Serbia and Ukraine in an effort to reinforce the EU’s outer borders. The stationary scanning units have been set up at Moravița, the largest border customs office on the border with Serbia and at Isaccea which ranks as the third busiest crossing on the border with Ukraine. As reported by Romania’s Ministry of Finance, the technology allows for the inspection of small cargo and passenger vehicles so that customs personnel can identify concealed items without having to open the vehicles.
For freight forwarders, the impact of these systems extends well beyond border security. They help minimize the physical handling that can compromise cargo integrity, enable more consistent route planning, and reduce operating costs across multiple points in the supply chain.
Less Handling and Risk of Damage
Scanning systems at crossing points reduce the need for manual inspections. Thus cargo is less likely to be unpacked, moved, or handled by customs staff which lowers the risk of damage. When cargo is manually inspected, items may be dropped, improperly handled, or exposed to unsuitable conditions such as moisture, heat, or dust. Even short exposure during inspection can have consequences. Dust, for example, can settle into packaging seams or surfaces, especially with unwrapped goods, which compromises hygiene and contaminates materials like textiles and mechanical parts. By limiting such risks, these systems bring tangible advantages for freight forwarders who face fewer damage claims, reduced repackaging expenses, and more improved delivery reliability.
Predictable Routes for Reliable Scheduling
Faster processing with the help of scanners means fewer forwarder vehicles are diverted for inspections and left idle at borders for long period. This allows forwarders to prioritize scanner-equipped crossing points that save them time. As a result, they can allocate time slots more precisely, coordinate more reliably with warehouse intake schedules, and reduce the risk of missed delivery appointments.
Shorter Waits for Lower Freight Overheads
As faster border clearance shortens idle time, this reduces fuel consumption from prolonged engine idling and repeated engine starts in stop-and-go queues. Shorter waits also mean that drivers are less likely to reach the legal limits of their driving hours while stationary at the border. This limits the need for unscheduled breaks and overnight rests near the crossing point and helps prevent delays at warehouse intake, missed slot reservations at European distribution centers, and disruptions to handovers in multimodal logistics chains. Moreover, keeping vehicles moving rather than static allows forwarders to avoid overnight holding of freight in buffer zones near the border where fees are often charged for space usage, utilities, and on-site surveillance.
Lastly, shorter waits help logistics providers avoid charges for containers that remain in their possession beyond the agreed period. Many container leasing agreements impose fees when units are not returned on time, and faster border crossings allow forwarders to manage return logistics without facing escalating penalties for each extra day.