USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has delivered 8 electric forklifts to the Yahodyn, Chop (Tysa), Luzhanka, Uzhhorod, Diakivtsi, Starokozache, Rososhany, and Krasnoilsk road border crossing points (BCPs) on Ukraine’s western borders. These forklifts will be integral to multiple stages of the cargo handling process at the BCPs. Primarily, they will be used to unload targeted cargo from trucks, especially for customs inspections. This will expedite the inspection process, enabling border agents to access goods quickly and safely without the need for manual handling, which is both labor-intensive and potentially risky.
Following inspection, the forklifts will be used to transport and organize cargo within the BCP facilities or designated storage areas, preparing it for onward transportation or reloading onto other vehicles for continued transit. By automating and accelerating these processes, the forklifts will help alleviate bottlenecks, enhance overall throughput at the BCPs, and enable processing more trucks in a shorter period, thereby reducing delays and improving the flow of goods across the borders.
Each of the forklifts supplied is powered by a 20V Li-Ion battery and equipped with a high-resolution LCD display that provides real-time updates on speed, battery status, and the duration the forklifts have been active, ensuring consistent high performance even under demanding conditions. BCP staff received training on forklift operation and maintenance to ensure the long life of the equipment. Each forklift came with a 24-month warranty. These forklifts will improve day-to-day operations and the overall user experience at these critical BCPs by increasing throughput, reducing operational costs, and maintaining high safety standards.
Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).