Montenegro’s road transport operators are set to participate in a regional freight protest at European Union borders starting on September 14. This action comes as the enforcement of the Schengen 90-day stay regulation increasingly limits the operational days available for their drivers within EU territories.
Carrier associations from Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia have announced coordinated efforts following unsuccessful attempts to address the challenges faced by professional drivers under the rule that restricts stays to 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.
Regional representatives report that drivers have encountered entry denials, deportations, and other sanctions for exceeding their allowed duration of stay. For Montenegro, this issue has evolved from a mere immigration concern into a significant capacity challenge.
Đorđije Lješnjak, leader of Montenegro’s road hauliers association, noted that domestic firms have already cut over half of their capacity for certain international operations due to these driver limitations. This situation raises the likelihood that foreign carriers may take over freight previously managed by Montenegrin businesses.
The current constraints are altering the financial viability of expanding fleets. Acquiring additional trucks does not enhance EU freight capacity if there are no available drivers with sufficient Schengen days remaining.
As a result, companies might need to consider larger driver pools, implement shorter rotations, develop relay systems, or establish partnerships with EU-based carriers. Each of these alternatives could lead to increased operational expenses.
Smaller trucking firms are particularly vulnerable due to their limited number of drivers available for rotation. Rising labor and compliance costs may ultimately impact freight rates for importers and exporters in Montenegro.
The industry is also at risk of losing market share. EU-registered operators, whose drivers face fewer restrictions, can maintain continuous operations on routes that Montenegrin companies might struggle to cover consistently.
This situation could shift part of the logistics profit margin from domestic carriers to foreign fleets, even when Montenegrin trucks remain physically present.
The upcoming protest on September 14 represents an escalation in a dispute that has been intensifying over recent months and could potentially disrupt freight movements through EU border crossings if it proceeds as planned.
For Montenegro’s transport sector, the ongoing issue is evident: international freight capacity is increasingly influenced not just by vehicles and permits but also by the number of Schengen working days remaining for each driver.
Without a regulatory resolution, this limitation on human capital may pose a long-term cost disadvantage for Montenegro’s road haulage industry.
