Politics · Italy · 8 hrs ago
Fuel costs spark trucker protests and shortages in southern Italy
Rising fuel costs have prompted protests by truck operators in southern Italy.
Independent blockades have appeared in Puglia, with more planned in Calabria and Sicily.
Fuel shortages are leaving many stations without petrol and diesel, causing long queues and disrupting travel in parts of Puglia and Calabria.
The crisis is linked to a strike at the Taranto refinery, as well as problems in the fuel distribution network.
Trucking groups say money allocated in May to offset high diesel costs has not reached businesses, and they want more support.
Diesel has risen by more than 50 cents a litre since the start of the war, according to the head of Conftrasporto.
The government has scheduled talks with transport operators for 27 October, after which metalworkers' unions reportedly agreed to remove blockades.
Trucking groups have warned they could consider a national stoppage if the government does not act urgently.
Rising fuel costs have triggered trucker protests and fuel shortages in parts of southern Italy.
Autonomous roadblocks have appeared in Puglia, with further protests planned in Calabria and Sicily.
Several service stations in Puglia and Calabria have run out of petrol and diesel, causing long queues and disruption.
Truckers’ associations say funds allocated in May to offset diesel costs have not reached businesses and are seeking further support.
The government has called a meeting with the road transport sector for 27 October.
- Who
- Truck drivers and transport businesses are protesting. Their associations include Conftrasporto and Unatras.
- What
- Fuel-price protests have led to roadblocks and shortages at service stations in southern Italy.
- When
- The article was published on 15 October 2026. Further protests were planned from the following day in Calabria and in the coming days in Sicily.
- Where
- Puglia, Calabria and Sicily, with shortages also reported in Basilicata.
- Why
- Transport businesses say fuel costs are rising and funds allocated in May to counter diesel costs have not reached them.
Truck transport associations
Italian government
Urgency of talks
Truck transport associations
Conftrasporto and Unatras called for an immediate meeting with the government.
Italian government
The government called a meeting with the road transport sector for 27 October.
Funds were allocated to counter rising diesel costs.
Diesel prices have risen by more than 50 cents per litre, according to Conftrasporto president Pasquale Russo.
ANSA reported autonomous roadblocks in Puglia and fuel shortages in parts of Puglia and Calabria.
Autonomous protests were planned to begin in Calabria.
The government scheduled a meeting with the road transport sector at the Transport Ministry.
- Government meeting
- 27 October
- Diesel price rise
- More than 50 cents per litre since the start of the war
- Roadblocks
- Puglia
- Planned protests
- Calabria and Sicily
- Fuel shortages
- Puglia and Calabria
What people are saying
These are spontaneous protests, not controlled or proclaimed by trade associations, which makes the picture even more worrying because it means businesses are acting out of desperation.
We are asking the government to urgently summon the road transport associations immediately, otherwise we will have to consider a national stoppage and the country will be brought to a standstill.
If it does not call a meeting as a matter of maximum urgency, it will be responsible for delivering the sector to total paralysis.
Many businesses risk stopping because of the lack of fuel: from transport to infrastructure and construction.