While within the Schengen Area of the European Union border controls are largely abolished, some states occasionally reinstall controls in response to specific security concerns. Moreover, forwarders also pass through border crossings from and to non-Schengen countries where their trucks may face idle times. To reduce these delays, border agencies offer measures such as advanced customs clearance, expedited trade lanes, and the option to book border crossing slots, and real-time monitoring.
Advanced Customs Clearance
Known as pre-arrival processing, submitting the required customs documentation electronically in advance can expedite clearance. This involves providing transport and merchandise details such as the carrier’s name and mode of transport, departure and arrival locations, and detailed routing, including any transshipment points. Additional information to submit before reaching the border includes container or trailer identification, a detailed description of the cargo such as commodity or HS code numbers, and a breakdown of freight costs.
Expedited Trade Lanes
Fast or green lanes also expedite crossings and reduce idle times for European logistics providers. These lanes are provided by non-Schengen countries like Serbia and Turkey at key border gates to promote a smoother flow of trade with neighboring countries.
These designated lanes are usually reserved for pre-cleared and low-risk shipments. Pre-cleared cargo is one that has been processed by the customs authorities before its physical arrival at the border and can bypass standard inspection. This pre-clearance is often part of a broader trusted trader program where companies with a history of compliance and security can receive faster processing to avoid delays associated with standard customs checks.
Low-risk shipments, in turn, are assessed based on the potential for cargo to pose security or compliance issues. These shipments present minimal risk of smuggling, contamination, or customs violations and are processed quickly through expedited lanes.
Border Crossing Slots
In regions where trade flow is dense and border delays are a common issue, some border agencies either require or offer the option to book a time slot for crossing. This service is available in European countries such as Estonia at crossings with Russia and in Lithuania for all goods vehicles exiting the country via the external EU border.
Forwarders can book these time slots through designated online portals provided by the border customs authorities. The process typically involves registering the company details, the specific cargo being transported, and the anticipated time of arrival at the border. In addition, forwarders may need to submit information such as special permissions and clearances for oversized cargo, restricted goods, and controlled substances, exact crossing location, and intended route through the border if using designated transit corridors or customs warehouses.
Real-Time Monitoring
Some border crossing points are equipped with real-time monitoring systems that provide up-to-date information on border congestion. This happens through advanced sensor networks, RFID tagging, and predictive analytics platforms that track individual vehicle movements, assess volumes and types of traffic, and predict bottlenecks before they happen. Forwarders can access this information via online portals or mobile apps and adjust schedules or reroute shipments to less congested border crossings if necessary.