Bulgarian hauliers have been outraged by the discovery that not one kilometre of motorway repairs was carried out in 2022 and that the roadworks on smaller roads were much less than promised. They say that the road tolls in Bulgaria are just as high as the average in Europe, but the quality of the roads is well below that.

Bulgarian hauliers: “we pay European road tolls but don’t have European roads”

The planned emissions trading scheme (ETS2), along with the proposed local increase in excise duty on diesel, will further reduce Estonia's competitiveness, warns the Estonian Logistics and Freight Forwarding Association (ELEA).

Estonian hauliers: EU emission trading scheme with local duties to reduce hauliers’ competitiveness

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Spain has approved a law for the transport sector that aims to prevent hauliers from working at a loss. The implementation of the measure means road transport firms will be able to apply for more direct state aid to cover increasing fuel costs.</span>

€1,250 per HGV – Spain offers more financial and legal support for hauliers

World road transport organisation IRU has launched a new portal for the transport sector with all the key information on the application of Mobility Package 1 rules across the EU.

IRU launches new website to boost understanding of EU Mobility Package rules

As rising fuel prices still continue to be a major concern, some Eastern-European countries must face growing tensions over prices.

Fuel price crisis: Croatia freezes prices as Slovenia encounters shortages and tensions grow in Romania

Spain has launched a 60-million-euro scheme for hauliers to support the switch from road freight to other modes, writes the country's freight association, Fenadismer. There is no limit to the number of subsidies that a company can apply for, but there are some requirements they must meet.

Spain supports hauliers that help switch freight transport to ocean

By registering the vehicle’s license plate or the electronic toll-collecting device, Italian motorway network operator Autostrade per l'Italia  (ASPI) will reimburse hauliers automatically for the delays due to roadworks on its network, ASPI announced at the end of last week.

Italian motorway operator to return road tolls for roadworks delays

Slovenia has introduced a cap on fuel prices; the maximum price of diesel is set at 1,541 euros per litre. Petrol station operator OMV has already confirmed it has withdrawn premium diesel from the market as a result of the cap.

Slovenia introduces month-long cap on fuel prices

Italian road freight association Federtrasporti has quantified how much time drivers in Italy spend on waiting. The results show what drivers have been saying for a long time; they are spending half of their driving time, and one-third of their working hours waiting for loading or unloading.

Italian HGV drivers spend half of their driving hours waiting, new study shows

Tensions are high due to rising fuel prices in Italy; haulage associations want the government to cut VAT on fuels, while 40 companies operating in the port of Civitavecchia are asking their clients to revise tariffs or stop their services.