Edward Marchesi Since this morning, the roads of Southern Italy have been overrun by protesting truck drivers, determined to stop the march of trucks to protest fuel prices . The protest, which began in the Salerno area, quickly spread across the entire highway network, blocking key junctions on the A2, A3, and other strategic arteries.
The result is immediate: supermarkets in Campania, Sicily, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, Molise, and Abruzzo are left with nearly empty shelves, while prices for fresh produce have begun to skyrocket. Transportation companies, appliance retailers, and even pharmaceutical distributors are experiencing delays that threaten to turn into long-lasting shortages.
The blockade of the main highways in the South and its consequences for retail outlets
At 09:00 a.m. on Tuesday, protesters occupied the A2 Mediterranean motorway junctions in towns such as Polla, Atena Lucana, Sala Consilina, and Padula-Buonabitacolo. The presence of law enforcement and ANAS personnel ensured the passage of private cars, but trucks remained immobilized, creating traffic jams that extended as far as Eboli, Contursi, Campagna, and Sicignano degli Alburni.
In other parts of the province of Salerno, the patrol moved towards the Buccino junctions and the Pontecagnano Faiano ring road, where the roundabout experienced prolonged delays.
Presidia in the province of Salerno
Authorities have implemented continuous checks on more than forty heavy vehicles along the Agrigento-Palermo state road 189, particularly at the Tumarrano junction. The checkpoint is selective: private cars are allowed to proceed, while commercial vehicles are stopped and held. In Palermo itself, around a hundred trucks are parked in the Via Oreto area and surrounding streets, impeding the flow of goods to warehouses and supermarkets in the city.
Impact on the agri-food supply chain and other sectors
The fruit and vegetable supply chain is under pressure. In Campania, supermarkets have experienced delays in delivering fresh produce; in Catanzaro, fish, milk, and flour are running low, while in Sicily, supplies of meat, water, and pasta are rapidly depleting. In Puglia, farm warehouses are overflowing with vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms, which are no longer available on store shelves. The blockade is also affecting livestock farms in Molise and Abruzzo, where feed shortages could jeopardize animal nutrition.
Products in crisis: vegetables, meat, medicines
According to estimates by Confcommercio, five days of shutdowns in Sicily have caused damages of between €40 and €50 million to large-scale retail trade and the fresh produce supply chain. The Aires Association of Home Appliance Retailers reports delays in home deliveries, with lost sales that will weigh on annual budgets. On the pharmaceutical front, there is tangible concern: the lack of transportation could slow the arrival of essential medicines, creating potential shortages for patients.
Retail prices are skyrocketing. The Rome Agri-Food Center reports that green beefsteak tomatoes have risen from €2,50 to €6 per kilo in one year, while red radicchio has risen from €1,80 to €4,40 (+144%). Peppers, eggplants, and table grapes are also becoming difficult to find in the capital, forcing retailers to import produce from abroad (Albanian tomatoes at €2, Spanish peppers at €3,80), quantities insufficient to fill the gap.
Questions from truck drivers and government measures
The Trasportounito association has requested a 15% increase in transport fares, specifically to offset the soaring cost of diesel. Faced with institutional silence, the organization has warned that it may implement a complete shutdown of services. The government, for its part, has announced €430 million in tax credits to alleviate the fuel burden and €590 million for vehicle fleet renewal, as well as evaluating a strengthening of the Road Transport Fund and the "Marebonus 2026" (Marebonus 2026). An additional €80-100 million in aid is being finalized to meet business requests, but speed is essential to avoid a worsening of the crisis.
Meanwhile, roadblocks continue: over forty heavy vehicles have blocked state road 189, and trucks remain stuck in Palermo and in areas of the SS 18 Calabrian Tirreno (Tortora, Santa Maria del Cedro, Acquappesa-Guardia Piemontese, Fuscaldo). A truck driver, interviewed while trying to deliver goods after the port, said: "I work for a company and I was supposed to make deliveries. They told me to stop, and I stopped ." The situation remains uncertain, with authorities struggling to balance drivers' demands with the need to keep supply chains operational.