...if there is a border which works like clockwork then surely it is here: the boundary between two countries known for their efficiency - Switzerland and one of its EU neighbours, Germany.
Things did not look good on my approach to the Weil am Rhein border crossing near Basel. While cars were whizzing through the crossing because Switzerland is in Schengen with no need for passport checks, the entire inside lane of the motorway was clogged with trucks.
It was the same on the other side, heading from Switzerland into Germany.
Thomas Fischer runs the border crossing and we chat on the roof of the customs building. Inside, it is full of truckers with papers to be stamped.
From the roof, I can see a line of trucks snaking off into the distance. Some are in a slow moving queue, which stretches from a series of manned kiosks back for a few kilometres, while others are parked in a lorry park which looks like it needs expansion.
Over on the other side of the road, it is an identical procedure with similar queues.
As we talk, it dawns on me that this is what an external EU border looks like - even with close alignment to EU regulations. Despite all this, Mr Fischer is upbeat. He is proud of its efficiency.
"The lorry drivers are sometimes surprised how fast they can pass the border in Switzerland," he says.
We watch different goods passing through the kiosk - barcodes are scanned and papers stamped. We have the full guided tour.
A transporter of new cars edges forward as two boats on a low loader are cleared to pass in front. Behind are countless trucks with who-knows-what inside.
But the customs officials here know what is inside because they are required to.
"On the other side of the road, for exports from Switzerland, it's the same," says Mr Fischer.
"Then you start with Swiss customs then you go to German (EU) customs."
Whether all this is seen as efficient or not, the point is - even with close alignment between both sides - these checks are what is required. From boats to cars and everything in between, if it is commercial then it has to be checked in one way or another.
