Italy’s main road-haulage union, Trasporto Unito, warned today it will call a 48-hour national strike starting 22 October unless the government offers fuel-tax rebates and eases restrictions on cabotage. Spokesman Pasquale Russo said “everything from groceries to car parts” could be halted, with pickets planned at Genoa, Trieste, and Gioia Tauro ports. While the dispute is domestic, its impact would ripple across international mobility. Approximately 68 % of Italy’s export cargo moves by truck to EU markets; previous strikes in 2022 caused 30-hour queues at the Brenner Pass, forcing companies to shift loads onto rail at short notice. Global-mobility managers coordinating relocations or project deployments should anticipate delays in shipping household goods and temporary shortages of rental vehicles and fuel cards. Automotive multinationals with just-in-time plants in northern Italy have contingency contracts with Austrian rail carriers but warn capacity is limited. The Infrastructure Ministry says talks are scheduled for 18 October and that it is “open to a targeted rebate tied to eco-upgrades”. However, if no deal is reached, foreign suppliers may need to re-route via Marseille or Koper and budget for demurrage charges. Airlines also fear possible fuel-tanker shortages at Milan Malpensa if pickets block refinery depots, potentially disrupting international flights. Companies should review Force Majeure clauses in mobility and shipping contracts and brief assignees on the possibility of last-minute itinerary changes during the strike window.
Source: ANSA (English)
