Despite recent legislative changes allowing distribution vehicles to use bus lanes at night, logistics companies say the reform offers limited relief. According to Sharm Trading CEO Vakhtang Sadzaglishvili, the company sees little practical benefit, as it operates at night only for a single retail chain, while most deliveries still occur during the day.
Sadzaglishvili says the main challenges for the sector remain high fines and a severe shortage of parking spaces near retail stores. He notes that city-designated unloading zones are too few and too far from delivery points, forcing companies to violate parking rules simply to complete deliveries. As a result, Sharm Trading pays between 100 and 130 fines per month, significantly increasing operating costs.
He adds that existing restrictions during peak hours have already forced companies to expand logistics capacity. To maintain supply chains, Sharm Trading had to add six vehicles and 12 employees, costs that are ultimately reflected in higher prices for consumer goods, including household chemicals and hygiene products.
Under new amendments to the Administrative Offences Code, approved by Parliament, distribution vehicles will be allowed to use bus lanes between 01:00 and 06:00, including for parking and unloading. However, industry representatives argue that without solving parking infrastructure and penalty policies, the reform will have only a limited impact on urban logistics efficiency.
