Montenegro’s freight operators are dealing with uncertainty over drivers’ access to EU markets while customs collections have risen by €51.74 million compared with the previous year. The CEFTA Secretariat is monitoring concerns surrounding the status of professional drivers and the duration of their permitted stays in the Schengen area. Restrictions affecting how long drivers can remain in those markets can complicate transport scheduling and vehicle utilisation.
For freight companies, the issue extends beyond the movement of individual shipments through border crossings. Operators need drivers to remain available for planned routes, delivery periods and return journeys. Montenegrin officials have also promoted the use of joint border crossings and digital procedures as measures to accelerate passenger and freight movements. Such arrangements could reduce administrative delays, although they address a different issue from restrictions related to drivers’ immigration status.
Meanwhile, the Customs Administration reported a €51.74 million increase in collections compared with the previous year. The higher customs receipts contribute to public revenue but do not demonstrate that border clearance has become faster. Changes in customs revenue can have different causes, while transport efficiency depends on evidence concerning processing times and operating conditions.
For importers and exporters, predictable delivery schedules are important alongside road and border infrastructure. Improvements to transport infrastructure do not eliminate disruptions caused by restrictions affecting driver availability. Freight operators therefore require greater certainty over access rules and border procedures to organise routes, delivery schedules and return journeys and to meet customer commitments with fewer interruptions.
