Logistics Tip: Check Ukraine’s Border Queues Before Planning a Delivery

Planning an international shipment to or from Ukraine? Before confirming a delivery date with your customer, warehouse or production team, check the current workload at the border.

Even when a truck has been booked, the documents are ready and the route has been agreed, congestion at the selected crossing can add several days to the journey. This is particularly important for time-sensitive deliveries, inventory replenishment and shipments linked to contractual deadlines.

Where can customers check the situation?

Current border workload is available in the “Workload” section of the official eCherha portal.

The service allows you to:

- select a country and border crossing;
- view information specifically for trucks;
- check how many vehicles are waiting;
- compare congestion on different routes.

It is also useful to review updates from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, which publishes information about repairs, temporary restrictions and changes in checkpoint operations.

How should this information be used?

Suppose the normal transit time is three days, but a significant queue has formed at the planned border crossing. In that case, promising delivery exactly on the third day would be unrealistic. A time buffer should be added and the recipient should be given a reasonable delivery window.

The figures shown online are a planning reference, not a guaranteed border-crossing time. Conditions can change because of traffic intensity, processing speed, technical failures, additional inspections or the operation of authorities on the neighbouring side.

A practical tip from LOADSTAR

Check the border situation at least twice:

- before booking the truck, to estimate a realistic delivery time;
- before loading, to review current conditions and discuss an alternative route if necessary.

Choosing the least congested crossing is not automatically the best solution. A long diversion may cost more and take longer than waiting in the original queue. Your freight forwarder should compare waiting time, distance, additional costs and checkpoint restrictions before changing the route.

LOADSTAR monitors border congestion while arranging shipments, helps customers select a suitable route and communicates potential delays in advance.