Truck drivers protest against the high cost of fuel in Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata and Campania

Truck drivers have begun protests across southern Italy against rising fuel prices, with demonstrations affecting traffic in Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata, and Campania. The protests, organized by regional logistics federation Fedralog, are set to continue until October 20. Truckers are positioning themselves along roads without implementing full blockages, under police supervision. However, traffic disruptions persist due to narrowed lanes. Approximately fifteen protest sites have been identified in Calabria, including areas near Lamezia Terme airport, Gioia Tauro port, and near exits on the A2 motorway in Cosenza. These protests coincide with ongoing demonstrations by farmers who have been protesting for several days. In Basilicata, spontaneous committees of truck drivers have caused complications in road traffic, compounded by an emergency fuel shortage due to an Eni refinery strike in Taranto. Major disruptions were reported along the Jonica highway at the border with Calabria and Puglia, and on the Bradanica road in the Vulture-Melfese area. Most fuel stations in Potenza and other Lucanian towns displayed signs stating "out of stock." A mobilization of farmers, organized by Coldiretti and supported by several local administrators, was scheduled for around 9:15 AM at the Regional headquarters in Potenza. In Campania, the protest began at midnight and continues, with heavy trucks stationed near the Nola interchange on the A30 Caserta-Salerno motorway and the Caianello interchange on the A1 Milan-Naples motorway. Presidios allow passage for other vehicles but still create traffic issues. Additional trucks are stationed in Caserta South. Road Police are monitoring the situation. According to Autostrade, the exit at Nola on the A30 has been temporarily closed from both directions due to the demonstration, causing a one-kilometer queue between the junction with the A16 Naples-Canosa and Nola heading towards Caserta. Authorities recommend using the Tufino exit as an alternative. In Sicily, transporters participating in the strike against high fuel prices have blocked access to the Santa Lucia dock in Palermo port. A truck that had loaded goods and was exiting was stopped and forced to return. One transporter stated, "The strike shouldn't start on Friday because that would only block cargo for one day, considering there are weekends afterward. It should have started on Monday." Another added, "We shouldn’t send empty trucks north so they can come south with goods. Northern companies... At Gela in Caltanissetta, dozens of trucks and lorries have joined the farmers' protest over fuel prices, stopping at the roundabout entrance to Gela. Transporters who halted their vehicles along the road leading into Gela claim they can no longer afford the increased costs, citing an additional €8,000 annually for each vehicle traveling 100,000 kilometers, with diesel prices reaching over €2.16 per liter, up €0.35 since February. This morning, a new procession of agricultural machinery and tractors traversed a section of the Gela-Catania provincial road. In Basilicata, truck drivers have halted operations today in protest against rising fuel prices. The mobilization centers around the Jonica highway between Policoro and Scanzano Jonico in Matera province, the same route used last week for a tractor march. The primary reason for the demonstration is the increase in diesel prices, with demands for a price ceiling to ensure sustainable continuation of work activities. Vehicles are parked on the side lane, while traffic proceeds slowly.