Infrastructure Decree: what’s new for road transport in Italy

The goal is to improve working conditions for drivers, encourage the renewal of heavy goods vehicles, and enforce timely payments. Let’s take a closer look at the key measures outlined in the decree.

Compensation for truck drivers delayed beyond 90 minutes

One of the most significant measures in the draft of Italy’s Infrastructure Decree is the introduction of compensation for truck drivers — set at €100 for each hour (or part thereof) of delay during loading and unloading operations.

The proposal shortens the grace period for each loading or unloading operation to 90 minutes. Beyond that limit, the contracting companies will be required to pay the compensation, which will be subject to annual adjustment based on Italy’s ISTAT FOI index (Consumer Price Index for blue- and white-collar households).

Additionally, truck drivers will be entitled to compensation even if contractually agreed loading or unloading times are exceeded, based on transport documentation.

In case of disputes, smart tachographs or geolocation systems may be used to verify the truck’s actual arrival time.

Another notable provision in the Infrastructure Decree concerning loading and unloading operations involves the presence of the truck driver: the driver from the transport company must be present and allowed to verify the proper execution of the operations, in accordance with the Highway Code, as well as the correct placement of the cargo on the vehicle.

Incentives for renewing heavy-duty vehicles

The decree also introduces incentives for purchasing low-emission heavy-duty vehicles, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector. Companies that invest in low-emission trucks will be eligible for tax breaks and financial contributions. This represents a key opportunity for transport firms seeking to modernize their fleets and contribute to industry sustainability. However, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the total amount of funding available for these incentives, which currently appears to be limited to just €12 million.

Antitrust oversight on late payments

Late payments remain one of the most critical issues in the transport industry. The draft of Italy’s Infrastructure Decree addresses this by empowering the national Competition and Market Authority (Antitrust) to penalize clients who fail to meet contractual payment deadlines.

In practice, if an invoice remains unpaid for more than 60 days, late payment interest will apply. If the delay exceeds 90 days, a fine equal to 10% of the invoice amount — and no less than €1,000 — may also be imposed.

Toward a smarter, fairer logistics system

Similar rules regarding waiting times during loading and unloading are already in place in other European countries, such as Spain, where authorities have implemented measures to enforce time limits and reduce the impact on drivers’ working conditions.

These types of regulations are essential to protect transport workers and improve labor standards in a profession that has long suffered from neglect and shortages.

Italy’s Infrastructure Decree represents a significant step forward for the country’s road transport sector. It introduces new protections and incentives, but also brings operational challenges in terms of logistics management and optimization. The introduction of penalties for delays beyond 90 minutes places a spotlight on operational efficiency for shippers and consignees.

Adopting digital solutions like a dock scheduling system is essential to streamline freight flow and minimize wait times — not only to avoid penalties, but also to reduce downtime, which can negatively impact productivity and drive up operational costs.

Tools like Dock Scheduler make it possible to plan loading and unloading slots with precision and structure, offering key advantages such as:

• reducing truck waiting times,

• improving resource planning,

• increasing warehouse handling capacity,

• optimizing the management of inbound and outbound freight flows.