Russia’s Digital Customs Officer Will Greenlight Cargo in Just 10 Minutes
Russia is deploying AI‑powered border‑crossing systems capable of completing customs checks for cargo trucks in as little as ten minutes, reshaping logistics efficiency along key international corridors
Intelligent Checkpoints at the Border
In 2026, the first five Russian border‑crossing points will be able to complete customs inspections of cargo trucks in approximately ten minutes. The initiative is part of a broad modernization program led by the Ministry of Transport and the Federal Customs Service.
The upgrade centers on advanced inspection‑scanning systems and components of an intelligent checkpoint—technologies that automatically analyze information about vehicles and cargo.
Testing in Real Conditions
Portal‑style inspection systems are already being tested in several locations: Mashtakovo and Petukhovo on the border with Kazakhstan, the Zabaikalsk checkpoint on the China route, and Tagirkent‑Kazmalyar on the border with Azerbaijan. These complexes scan trucks as they move, without requiring them to stop—dramatically reducing inspection time and easing the workload on customs officers.
Risk Assessment Before the Truck Arrives
A key feature of the new complexes is the intelligent‑checkpoint system that integrates technical and information components to automatically analyze documents, cargo data, and truck routes. This allows risk factors to be evaluated in advance and minimizes the need for manual checks.
At Tagirkent‑Kazmalyar, the system has already passed experimental modeling and, since December, has been operating continuously in live traffic.
No More ‘Live’ Queues
Infrastructure modernization is progressing in parallel with the rollout of an electronic‑queue system. Carriers can now reserve a time slot for border crossing at five checkpoints, making traffic flows more predictable. This is especially important for routes tied to the North–South international corridor and transport lines leading to China.
According to the Federal Customs Service, by 2030 accelerated inspections will be available at 25 checkpoints. The use of intelligent systems, automated scanning, and digital oversight is expected to reduce border‑crossing time and increase the predictability of cargo flows—crucial for Russia’s “pivot to the East” and the growth of cross‑border trade.
