Major disruption is expected on French motorways and in cities this week, as lorry drivers across the country protest to demand wider direct fuel aid from the government.
Logistics sector leaders announced on Friday (March 27) that regional branches had been given the green light to strike following a breakdown in negotiations with the state.
Blockades of the A7 near Lyon and the A71/A89 near Clermont-Ferrand took place over the weekend – with two of the A7’s three lanes blocked on Saturday by a convoy of 25 trucks – with wider action having started today (March 30).
Paris saw significant disruption this morning, and further action is planned this week across other parts of France such as the Pays-de-Loire, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions.
Insufficient aid offered
Sector leaders are demanding direct aid similar to that seen at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, including direct fuel subsidies for all transport companies.
On Friday evening, the government announced a 20c per litre fuel discount to lorry drivers and fishing vessels covering the month of April.
It is only available to very-small, small, and medium-sized businesses that can prove they are facing cash-flow difficulties due to the increase in fuel costs.
For context, diesel prices have increased by around 50c per litre, and petrol prices 26c per litre, since the end of February.
Costing around €50 million to €70 million, funds will be covered by cancelling ministerial credits, used to finance certain measures across several sectors.
This discount was deemed insufficient by sector leaders, who point to 30c per litre discounts given in 2022 and a total of around €400 million in aid.
The government plans “do not appear to be commensurate with the gravity of the situation, the difficulties encountered by the professionals concerned… [the aid] therefore appears woefully inadequate” said the Organisation des Transporteurs Routiers Européens (OTRE, logistics sector leader) in a press release.
The government says the current budgetary situation makes providing comparable aid impossible – a line it is also taking in regards to cutting fuel duties – leading to a breakdown in negotiations with sector leaders.
However, it announced on Monday (March 30) that it would offer furlough (chômage) to logistics sector employees who have been impacted by a loss of business.
Capital in firing line, snail operations
The OTRE began protests with an initial ‘escargot’ (snail, or go-slow operation) in Paris today.
It saw around 200 lorries and cars block the city’s ring-road by driving extremely slowly, leading to heavy traffic in and around the capital.
At around 11:45 vehicles headed towards the 15th arrondissement where the Île-de-France prefecture is located to meet with regional prefect Marc Guillaume.
Although no official outcome from the meeting has been announced, logistics sector leaders in attendance were reportedly satisfied with the talks. There is however no indication that a favourable conclusion has been reached or protests will stop.
Action will spread on Tuesday to the Pays-de-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions - including Dordogne - as well as Lot-et-Garonne and Aveyron departments.
Wednesday will see the Fédération nationale des transports routiers (FNTR) join operations, with protests centred around Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Brittany regions, with Rennes set to be the main focal point for action in the latter.
A future coordinated drive to Paris from branches across the country - similar to farmers during recent protests - has not been ruled out.
While exact operations in these areas are unknown, blockades of major roads are the most likely form of protest for truckers, often descending on a major public building (prefecture, ministerial office, mairie, etc) as well as go-slow operations.
Lorry drivers, similar to farmers, do not always need to file strike motions in advance for such protest action, with the surprise of sudden disruption a key element of the tactic.
It means that blockades may spring up without warning.
Drivers can use the tips given in our article here for how to check on the state of roads near them.
There is currently no indication that drivers plan to refuse to transport goods, however if they are engaging in protest action and not working it may lead to some delays nationally.
How long will the disruption last?
The OTRE is demanding “simple, clear, and genuinely accessible eligibility criteria for all road freight transport, removals, cash and valuables transport, passenger transport, and medical transport companies.”
It argues that restricting aid based on company size and losses already incurred since the start of the crisis following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East “offers no guarantee for the future should the consequences of the conflict be prolonged, unlike a genuine fuel purchase subsidy.”
Similar to agricultural worker protests in December 2025 and January 2026, protests may last for several weeks, with varying levels of disruption and co-ordination between local and national federation branches.
However, a drop in fuel prices and an end to the current conflict could see the situation rapidly improve.
