4.1.7 Volatility in border traffic. Customs officials typically note that a reason for
delay at the border crossings is the high variability of daily traffic during the week.
Even with the effort to improve the efficiency of border processes, such fluctuations are
likely to turn the border into a bottleneck and create long queues.
Congestion is a problem at border checkpoints. Even in process efficient Singapore
there are 1-2 hours of traffic jam at the checkpoint. For Laos, although the shipment
volume is low, bureaucracy is very high. An LSP has to provide ample advance notice.
Shippers do not want their cargo to get stuck at any of the terminals. Culture plays a part
too. For example, on Friday since the Malaysian customs do not operate 24 hours for
religious reasons, a number of trucks have to queue overnight at the Singapore-Malaysia
border. Problems in domestic land transportation are also faced in Thailand due to
traffic congestion and restricted hours for entry of trucks into Bangkok.