Trucker protests are set to be called off over the Easter bank holiday weekend following an agreement between logistics sector leaders and the government over a new aid package.
The Organisation des Transporteurs Routiers Européens (OTRE) “obtained some progress from the government, admittedly imperfect, but nonetheless significant,” it said in a press conference last night (April 1).
The new agreement grants the expansion of certain cash-flow loans and social security deferral schemes to companies of all size and type (logistics, passenger transport, medical, etc). It also includes renewable payments to partially cover fuel costs for truckers as long as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
“In the interest of calming tensions and acting responsibly, OTRE requests the temporary suspension of all ongoing [demonstrations] in French regions,” it said.
Local branches are autonomous but widely expected to comply. As of yesterday (April 1), only protests in Besançon (Doubs) were confirmed, although more were expected.
It has not been confirmed but it is thought likely that the fellow logistics sector group the Fédération nationale des transporteurs routiers (FNTR) will also ask members to stop action.
The group had not called for any nationwide action in the initial bout of protests, but some FNTR members had joined OTRE demonstrations in the south of France.
Easter traffic set to be busy
Although demonstrations may not block Easter travel plans, some areas are still set to see heavy traffic.
Traffic watchdog Bison Futépredicts traffic across the country on Friday (April 3), with all regions seeing ‘heightened’ traffic and orange alerts.
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In the Île-de-France and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions, this increases to a red level alert, the second-highest possible.
The alerts are in place for drivers departing major cities, and a map later in this article shows departments impacted.
Heightened traffic is also expected along the Mediterranean coast as people return from early Easter holidays.
Traffic is expected to remain mostly calm on Saturday and Sunday, before the north of France sees red warnings on Monday (April 6) as families return to the capital region.
Normandy, Brittany, Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Centre-Val-de-Loire and the Pays-de-la-Loire all see red level alerts.
The following warnings are in place:
Friday April 3
Leave or pass through Île-de-France region before 10:00 or after 23:00
Avoid the A13 motorway in the direction Paris-Rouen from 16:00 to 22:00
Avoid the A63 motorway in the direction Bordeaux-Bayonne from 16:00 to 21:00
Avoid the A7 motorway in the direction Lyon-Orange from 17:00 to 19:00 and Orange-Marseille from 16/00 to 18:00. Avoid it in the direction Marseille-Orange between 15:00 and 20:00
Avoid the A61 motorway in the direction Toulouse-Narbonne from 18:00 to 23:00
Avoid the A42 motorway in the direction Lyon-Pont d'Ain from 18:00 to 20:00
Avoid the A43 motorway in the direction Lyon-Chambéry from 17:00 to 20:00
Avoid the Mont Blanc Tunnel (N205) in the direction France-Italy from 10:00 to 22:00
Avoid the A8 motorway in the direction Italy-La Fare-les-Oliviers from 17:00 to 20:00
Avoid the A55 motorway in the direction Martigues-Marseille from 17:00 to 19:00
Avoid the A54 motorway and the N113 in the direction Salon-de-Provence-Nîmes from 13:00 to 20:00
Saturday April 4
Leave or pass through the Île-de-France region before 07:00 or after 15:00
Avoid the A7 motorway in the direction Lyon-Orange from 12:00 to 15:00
Avoid the A42 motorway in the direction Lyon-Pont d’Ain from 10:00 to 13:00
Avoid the A43 motorway in the direction Chambéry-Fréjus Tunnel from 11:00 to 13:00
Avoid the Mont Blanc Tunnel (N205) in the direction France-Italy from 07:00 to 18:00
Monday April 6
Return to or cross the Île-de-France region before 11:00 or after midnight
Avoid the A25 motorway in the direction Socx-Lille from 16:00 to 19:00
Avoid the A13 motorway in the direction Caen-Rouen from 15:00 to 18:00, and Rouen-Paris from 15:00 to 19:00
Avoid the A85 motorway in the direction Tours-Vierzon from 17:00 to 19:00
Avoid the N165 in the direction Quimper-Nantes from 16:00 to 18:00
Avoid the N24 in the direction Lorient-Rennes from 16:00 to 19:00
Avoid the A11 motorway in the direction Angers-Paris from 15:00 to 17:00
Avoid the A10 motorway in the direction Orléans-Paris from 14:00 to 22:00
Threat of future truck driver protests
Despite the request to suspend action the risk of future demonstrations remains as the OTRE seeks an extension of aid, particularly for coaches, commercial vehicles and ambulances that are not yet receiving payments to cover fuel cost increases.
It also wants easier processes for companies to delay social security contributions, and says it will be ‘vigilant’ about ensuring government payments remain in place throughout the duration of the conflict.
“The OTRE strongly reaffirms the need to implement, without delay, ambitious structural measures enabling the many micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the road transport sector to earn a decent living from their work.”
Note surprise protests are thought unlikely, and any future action will be made public by the OTRE prior to demonstrations taking place.
