On 16 March 2025, a meeting of the Trasportounito Italian haulage association was held in Anagni, in the province of Frosinone. At the conclusion of the assembly, members approved the national transport strike proposed by the organisation’s leadership a few days earlier, specifying that the protest would take place from Monday, 31 March, to Friday, 4 April. In a statement released on 17 March, the association clarified that the strike will be coordinated by “an executive committee made up of entrepreneurs affiliated with Trasportounito as well as members of other representative organisations who share the reasons for the protest and acknowledge the ongoing crisis affecting the entire haulage sector.”
Trasportounito has submitted to the Ministry of Transport a platform of demands it considers “essential and no longer postponable for regulating the haulage market, in addition to further proposals to address the emergencies faced by professional drivers,” as stated by Secretary-General Maurizio Longo. However, the ministry’s responses have been described as “elusive and devoid of any substance,” even following the meeting between associations and the Transport Ministry on 11 March.
Trasportounito has emphasised the urgent need for new regulations in the haulage sector, highlighting how the current legal framework fails to provide adequate protection for businesses. The primary demand is for legislation that ensures fair competition among haulage companies, preventing unfair practices that have significantly reduced profit margins for many Italian firms. This regulatory framework should also tackle the issue of cabotage and international competition, which is perceived as being heavily skewed against Italian businesses.
A crucial point in Trasportounito’s demands is the adjustment of transport tariffs based on the actual costs incurred by companies. Rising operational expenses, particularly in fuel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance, have placed many firms in serious financial difficulty, as they are unable to pass these cost increases onto their clients.
The shortage of drivers is another major concern addressed by Trasportounito. The Secretary-General has stressed the need for “structural measures” to resolve this crisis, including modifications to the procedures for obtaining the Driver Qualification Card and new training schemes to be carried out in accredited companies.
Trasportounito has also strongly criticised recent amendments to the Highway Code, arguing that they “fail to adequately consider professional drivers of industrial vehicles.” The association is calling for specific protections for truck drivers, distinguishing them from private motorists.
Trasportounito’s mobilisation is taking place within a wider context of growing unrest in the haulage sector. On 1 March 2025, the union USB called for an “immediate and indefinite” strike of industrial vehicle drivers, also citing the lack of responses from government ministries. USB’s demands include the protection of professional licences, improved financial conditions, and greater investment in safety and professional development.
A more cautious but still critical stance on the 11 March meeting has been taken by Unatras, which has announced that its executive committee will convene to decide on potential protest actions.
