Ukraine is preparing to launch a GPS monitoring system that will become a new tool for controlling the movement of logging trucks. It’s not just about tracking vehicles — the system will verify the legality of each trip, from the forest site to the warehouse, said Viktor Smalia, Head of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, according to Humanitarian Media Hub. The platform will show whether a truck has the right to enter the forest, whether all documents are in place, and whether the volume of timber matches the permitted amount.
“This GPS platform is designed to answer the question of what status each logging truck in the country currently has: whether it has a legitimate reason to enter the forest and whether all necessary documents are in place to leave it,” the interview states.
The system will integrate with electronic logging tickets, transport invoices, and load sensors. If a truck starts moving without generating a transport invoice, this will be visible in real time. This approach will help detect violations before the timber even leaves the forest. In the future, police, forest rangers, and other regulatory bodies will have access to an interactive map showing the status of each truck. This will allow inspectors to verify documents directly from their vehicles without stopping the transport.
Up to 60,000 logging trucks operate in Ukraine annually, with around 10,000 considered active. The system will cover all of them, regardless of ownership. For private carriers, the cost of equipment is expected to be around $200–$300, depending on quality. For the public sector, a rental model is being considered, where one enterprise would purchase the devices and others could lease them for about 100 UAH per month.
The project was initially planned to be funded by USAID, but due to changes in circumstances, the financing model is being revised. Nevertheless, the concept has already been approved by the new ministry leadership, and the system is expected to launch soon. According to Smalia, the platform will deliver tangible benefits within its first year of operation.
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