From the Main to Milan: How Swiss transit really works

Your truck needs to get from Germany to Italy. The most logical and fastest route? Straight through Switzerland. On the road, that is routine. On paper, however, it can quickly become a real obstacle course through NCTS, the New Computerized Transit System. To keep the truck from spending hours at customs, let us look at how to set up the transit process properly, from the first declaration to the digital border crossing.

Departure: How do we get the transit document?

Before a wheel starts turning, the transit procedure has to be opened. In most cases this is a T2 for Union goods. In practice, there are two ways to do this.

The convenient route: Authorized consignor

This is the option for anyone who wants to save time and nerves. The goods are loaded directly at your own site or at the logistics provider, and the customs declaration is handled fully electronically. After a short, predefined waiting period, the system automatically releases the transit document.

The driver receives the document on paper or on a tablet and can head straight for the motorway. No detour, no stress. This route is only available, however, with the relevant authorization as an authorized consignor.

The classic route: Pre-declaration

If authorized consignor status is not available, the LRN process remains. LRN stands for Local Reference Number. You or your customs service provider declare the goods online and generate a routing slip with an LRN.

The catch is that the truck still cannot cross the border with this alone. It first has to be presented at an inland or border customs office to receive the actual transit document. There, the goods are presented in the system, customs may take another look at the load, and the LRN finally becomes the proper transit document with the desired MRN (Movement Reference Number). Only then does the actual journey begin.

The cargo passport: What is in the transit document?

Whether the procedure starts through authorized consignor status or an LRN, the result is the accompanying transit document. Think of it as the passport for your freight. These are the key data points:

• MRN: The central barcode and identifier for the entire customs procedure.
• Parties: Who is shipping and who is receiving? Both with the required EORI numbers.
• Route plan: The office of departure in Germany, the office of destination in Italy, and the exact Swiss border crossings to be used.
• Goods details: Gross and net weights, number of packages, and the customs tariff number, meaning the HS code.

No movement without a guarantee

Why is all of this necessary? A transit procedure is ultimately a tax deferral. Customs allows the goods to move, but it wants security in case the goods disappear on the way and the state loses duties and taxes. That is why every NCTS procedure has to be covered by a guarantee.

Freight forwarders and customs brokers usually solve this elegantly through an NCTS comprehensive guarantee. In simple terms, it works like a rolling overdraft facility with the main customs office. Using the GRN (Guarantee Reference Number), the system calculates in the background how high the potential duties and import VAT would be for this specific load.

That amount is blocked against the comprehensive guarantee. Once the truck arrives cleanly at the customs office of destination in Italy, the amount is released again immediately.

The border: Green light through the ACTIV app

Remember the old days at the Swiss border? Park the truck, grab the papers, get out, and queue at the counter. Fortunately, Switzerland is investing heavily in digital processes. The real game changer for transit is the ACTIV app.

As soon as the transit document exists, the MRN can be linked directly to the truck's license plate in the app. This can be done conveniently in advance from the office. When the driver approaches major crossings such as Basel or Thayngen, smart camera systems recognize the license plate, or the app uses GPS tracking to detect that the driver is nearing the border.

If everything has been stored correctly, the confirmation appears automatically on the smartphone. In most cases, the driver no longer needs to get out at all. They literally get the green light and can roll straight through.

Conclusion: Preparation makes the journey faster

Transit through Switzerland to Italy is not magic, but it depends entirely on preparation. Clean data quality in NCTS and smart digital tools such as the ACTIV app are now essential if you want to avoid waiting times and frustrated drivers.

Teams that set up the process properly in advance save real money at the end of the day.