German exporters have been told to brace for fresh disruption on the West Balkan corridor after the Serbian truckers’ union PuMedTrans threatened indefinite blockades starting 14 September 2026. A briefing by the Koblenz Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Koblenz) circulated that morning highlights growing frustration among Serbian and Bosnian drivers who hit the Schengen Area’s 90-day limit while hauling to Germany and back. Under current EU rules, third-country drivers can spend only 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen zone unless they secure a national work visa—something transport SMEs say is bureaucratic and costly. Hauliers complain that repeated short trips count against the same clock, forcing them either to rotate crews or park lorries at the border once the allowance is exhausted. The planned protests could affect the A3 corridor through Croatia, Slovenia and Austria as well as Serbia’s crossings with Hungary. IHK Koblenz advises German shippers to build extra transit time into delivery schedules, explore rail or short-sea alternatives and warn customers about potential delays. Longer-term, industry federations are urging Berlin to lead an EU-wide carve-out for professional drivers similar to the seafarer and air-crew exemptions already in place. Though Germany allows simplified C-Visa procedures for regular shuttle drivers on bilateral routes, Serbia’s transport ministry says the monthly quota of 500 permits is “far below demand.” If the blockades materialise, automotive suppliers in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria—many of which rely on just-in-sequence deliveries of wire harnesses and plastic mouldings from North Macedonia—could be the first to feel the pinch.
Source: IHK Koblenz
