Edward Marchesi From 12:01 a.m. on October 16th until midnight on October 22nd, all heavy goods vehicles belonging to Sicilian road haulage companies will be stopped. The decision was made by the Transport Section of Confindustria Catania , which announced the stoppage as an urgent measure in the face of an economic situation deemed unsustainable.
A unanimous agreement after months of fruitless dialogue
The measure was "adopted unanimously after months of institutional discussions that failed to yield the expected responses ." Negotiations with regional and national authorities failed to produce tangible solutions, prompting businesses to resort to collective action to make their voices heard.
Diesel price increase: the data that triggered the protests
According to MESE data, the average monthly price of diesel fuel for motor vehicles increased by approximately €0,35 per liter compared to February, exceeding €2,16 in September. For a single heavy-duty vehicle traveling 100.000 kilometers per year, the additional cost exceeds €8.000 in just eight months.
Direct impact on the budgets of Sicilian companies
Rising fuel prices, combined with the cost of maritime transport, make the daily management of trucks extremely burdensome. Island companies, in fact, also suffer from the reversal of maritime tariffs due to ETS charges and fuel adjustments imposed by shipowners, creating a double penalty: "the same journey is hit twice . "
The consequences for the local logistics market
The planned blockade will have repercussions on the island's entire logistics chain. Delays in the delivery of goods, disruptions to distribution services, and increased transportation costs due to the disruption could jeopardize trade both internally and with the mainland.
The companies have therefore requested urgent intervention from the institutions to find a tariff balance and establish support measures for the sector, in order to avoid further blockages and ensure the continuity of transport activities.
Future prospects and possible scenarios
If the requests are not met by the deadline, the parties involved are considering extending the suspension or organizing new forms of demonstration. The pressure exerted by Confindustria Catania is aimed at pushing for a revision of the diesel price calculation mechanism and a renegotiation of shipping tariffs, factors that currently disproportionately penalize the island's isolated businesses.