Empty shelves, fuel shortages, and road blockades. Trucker protest is paralyzing southern Italy.

What began as an industry dispute is now affecting other parts of the economy, as blockades at key points in the supply chain increasingly disrupt trade and distribution.

Campania is facing the most serious disruption. In the Carinaro industrial area of Caserta province, protesters are hindering loading and unloading operations at warehouses serving major food retailers.

Vincenzo Schiavo of Confesercenti Campania said some shops were only around half stocked, while fruit and vegetable deliveries had not arrived for several days. Disruptions have also been reported in the provinces of Caserta and Salerno and in parts of Naples. Fresh produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products, is in particularly short supply. Agriculture is also being affected: Confagricoltura Campania warns that large quantities of fresh goods could spoil if they cannot be collected from farms.

Medicine deliveries are exempt from the blockades. According to the latest reports, wholesalers in Italy are still supplying pharmacies.

Around 150 fuel stations run out of fuel as airports issue warnings

One of the most serious consequences of the protest is the disruption to fuel supplies. Access to the Eni refinery has been blocked since 12 October. The company reported that by 15 October, around 150 of Eni’s 270 stations in Apulia had run out of fuel. Basilicata and Calabria are also affected, while attempts to bring in fuel by tanker from other parts of the country are being hampered by blockades and congestion.

The situation has become serious enough for Bari and Brindisi airports to advise airlines to refuel outside Apulia before flying into the region.

Diesel reaches €2.30 per litre as carriers demand an automatic fuel surcharge

The dispute is being driven by a sharp rise in operating costs for transport companies. Data from Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises shows that diesel prices have reached €2.257 per litre on non-motorway roads and €2.297 on motorways.

Industry groups, including Transportounito, say the fuel surcharge should now be around 15% but is not being applied consistently. Some customers in northern Italy include the surcharge in transport rates, while carriers in the south reportedly encounter the problem much more often.

Carriers are calling for a mechanism that would automatically pass changes in diesel prices on to transport invoices. Protesters are also accusing the government of delaying promised compensation payments and tax relief.

Blockades create queues stretching for kilometres

The protest is increasingly affecting road traffic. Early on 19 October, the A1–A30 link on the Caserta–Salerno route was closed to vehicles travelling from Naples because of the protest.

After traffic resumed on the A1, a queue of about eight kilometres formed between the Caserta Sud and Santa Maria Capua Vetere junctions in the direction of Rome.

Disruptions were also reported around Napoli Nord, Caserta Sud and Caserta Nord, as well as Palma Campania, Sarno and Nocera-Pagani.

Protest reaches the port of Naples

Access roads to the port of Naples were affected as well. Several HGVs blocked access to the Bausan gate, making it difficult for vehicles heading for ferry services to pass.

Port authorities later said that all gates had reopened. However, services to Ischia, Capri and Procida were disrupted, along with evening ferry connections to Palermo. Some hauliers tried to bypass the protest using the city road network, while shipments to Ischia and Procida were also rerouted through the port of Pozzuoli.

Apulia: HGV convoy heads towards Bari

In Apulia, the protest moved towards Bari. A convoy organised by the Acar consortium from Altamura included approximately 35 HGVs and around 100 participants. The vehicles travelled along the SS96 towards the regional capital.

The protesters are raising concerns not only about fuel prices but also about delays in releasing financial support and tax credits, as well as the representation of the industry’s interests.

A separate protest continued near the Poggio Imperiale junction on the A14 in the Foggia area.

Calabria and Basilicata: more protest sites emerge

In Calabria, Fedralog established another protest site on the SS18 at Fuscaldo. Trucks occupied part of the southbound carriageway and periodically slowed traffic, while organisers said emergency vehicles would be allowed through immediately.

In Basilicata, vehicles were reported near the Potenza Est and Potenza Ovest junctions, in the Tito industrial area and on the road towards Sicignano degli Alburni. Disruptions were also recorded on the Jonica national road.

Sicily joins the action, but the united front is weakening

The action has taken a somewhat different form in Sicily. The Sicilian Hauliers’ Committee says participating companies are leaving their vehicles in parking areas rather than organising road blockades. Organisers also say fruit and vegetable transport across the Strait of Messina will continue.

Independent actions have nevertheless been reported on the island. On the A18 between Messina and Catania, traffic near the San Gregorio toll gate was reduced to one lane. In the Tremestieri area, trucks left only two toll booths open.

The Sicilian protest is no longer fully coordinated. Associazione Imprese Autotrasportatori Siciliani has announced that it will leave the committee and organise its own actions.

Government talks scheduled for 20 October

The next phase of the protest will depend largely on talks scheduled for 20 October. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini is due to meet first with organisations represented in the official carriers’ register, followed by representatives of the groups organising the protests and vehicle stoppages.

The industry is primarily seeking measures to address fuel costs, financial support and mechanisms that would allow higher diesel prices to be reflected more quickly in transport rates.

Some protesters, including representatives of the Sicilian committees, say they will suspend the action only after the government makes specific commitments.

It remains unclear how long the protest will continue. What is clear is that the dispute has moved beyond a conflict between carriers and the government and is now affecting retail, supplies and the operation of supply chains across southern Italy.