Italy suspends national truck driver strike after government tax and fuel concessions

A five‑day national truck driver strike planned for 25‑29 May 2026 was called off after the government reached an agreement with transport unions, including Unatras and Confartigianato Trasporti. The meeting at Palazzo Chigi produced a decree‑law that grants a €300 million tax credit to haulage firms, cuts the deadline for quarterly fuel‑tax refunds from 60 to 30 days, suspends tax payments for one month and allows tax instalments.

The decree also extends reduced fuel excise rates – five cents per litre on gasoline and ten cents per litre on diesel – from 23 May to 6 June 2026. Officials said the measures prevented severe supply‑chain disruptions, such as empty supermarket shelves and halted deliveries across industry, commerce and agriculture, that a full strike would have caused. Union leaders urged the government to implement the promises swiftly to ensure stability for the transport sector and the broader economy.