Fuel protest has begun: Hundreds of trucks protested against slow driving on the A42, A41 and A1

The truck protest against high fuel prices in Portugal, which was announced days ago, started on the morning of Friday, September 25.

While heavy vehicles moving from the Paredes region set out on the A42, the protest was planned to continue towards Coimbra on the A41 and A1.

It was reported that there were approximately 100 trucks at the first assembly point. Organizers expect attendance to reach several hundred vehicles along the route.

The protest started early in the morning

Slow driving action started in the Lordelo area around Paredes.

From here, heavy vehicles planned to enter the A42 and move southwards via the A41 and then the A1.

The aim is not to completely close the highways, but to draw attention to high fuel costs by moving at low speed in convoys.

For this reason, traffic congestion may occur even if the route is not directly closed.

What does the 400–500 truck figure mean?

Before the protest, it was announced that more than 400, and according to some sources, approximately 500 heavy vehicles could participate.

However, these are the attendance figures expected by the organizers.

It was reported that there were approximately 100 heavy vehicles at the first assembly point in the morning.

Therefore, it is too early to say "500 trucks participated in the protest".

Real participation can be determined more accurately after the action is completed.

Why are they protesting?

The main problem behind the action is the rapidly rising diesel prices recently.

Especially For businesses that use excavation, freight transportation and heavy vehicles, fuel constitutes a significant part of the total operating cost.

Organizers argue that price increases make their activities economically unsustainable.

The government will meet with industry representatives on Monday

After the protest, there is a new development.

Organizers announced that they were contacted by the office of Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz and that sector representatives will be received by the government on Monday, September 28.

Therefore, after the protest, the discussion will move to the stage of direct negotiations between the government and the industry.

Resources

RTP — “Camiões em protest na estrada contra o aumento dos combustíveis”, 25 September 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/noticiario-antena1/11h-camioes-em-protesto-na-estrada-contra-o-aumento-dos-combustiveis_a1_1767670

RTP — “Empresários do setor das terraplanagens recebidos pelo Governo na segunda-feira”, 25 September 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/empresarios-do-setor-das-terraplanagens-recebidos-pelo-governo-na-segunda-feira_n1767625