Italy’s road agency Anas forecasts 31.4 million vehicle movements over the Immaculate Conception long weekend (5–8 December), prompting the Ministry of Transport to re-impose heavy-goods vehicle bans on Sunday 7 December and Monday 8 December between 09:00 and 12:00. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are barred from the entire motorway and state-road network during those windows, with standard exemptions for perishable and emergency cargo.
Traffic is expected to peak on south-bound corridors out of Rome and Milan toward mountain resorts and Christmas markets. Anas highlights likely congestion on the A2 Autostrada del Mediterraneo, SS106 Jonica, A19 Palermo–Catania and Sardinia’s SS131 Carlo Felice, as well as Alpine feeder routes RA13/RA14 toward Slovenia and the SS36 Lake Como highway. In Lazio, the busy Pontina-Appia axis will see heavier-than-usual flows.
![Holiday Weekend Truck Bans and 31 Million Vehicle Movements Forecast Across Italy]()
For logistics planners the bans coincide with the French rail strike, raising concerns that additional freight will shift onto Italian roads only to run into daytime curfews. Multinational retailers rushing holiday inventory to southern distribution centres are scheduling night-time truck runs and using ports at Gioia Tauro and Taranto to bypass land bottlenecks.
Corporate mobility managers should advise assignees with company cars to avoid peak departure slots on 6 December afternoon and to budget extra time for airport transfers. Car-rental firms at Malpensa and Fiumicino have added one-day surcharge waivers for delayed returns caused by the bans.
Enforcement will be handled by the Polizia Stradale with mobile patrols and fixed cameras. Repeat violators face fines up to €1,732 and licence-point deductions. Additional truck bans are scheduled for Christmas Day and Boxing Day under the same 09:00-12:00 timetable.
Traffic is expected to peak on south-bound corridors out of Rome and Milan toward mountain resorts and Christmas markets. Anas highlights likely congestion on the A2 Autostrada del Mediterraneo, SS106 Jonica, A19 Palermo–Catania and Sardinia’s SS131 Carlo Felice, as well as Alpine feeder routes RA13/RA14 toward Slovenia and the SS36 Lake Como highway. In Lazio, the busy Pontina-Appia axis will see heavier-than-usual flows.
For logistics planners the bans coincide with the French rail strike, raising concerns that additional freight will shift onto Italian roads only to run into daytime curfews. Multinational retailers rushing holiday inventory to southern distribution centres are scheduling night-time truck runs and using ports at Gioia Tauro and Taranto to bypass land bottlenecks.
Corporate mobility managers should advise assignees with company cars to avoid peak departure slots on 6 December afternoon and to budget extra time for airport transfers. Car-rental firms at Malpensa and Fiumicino have added one-day surcharge waivers for delayed returns caused by the bans.
Enforcement will be handled by the Polizia Stradale with mobile patrols and fixed cameras. Repeat violators face fines up to €1,732 and licence-point deductions. Additional truck bans are scheduled for Christmas Day and Boxing Day under the same 09:00-12:00 timetable.
