Truck convoy plans slow march on Portuguese highways to protest soaring diesel costs

On Friday, September 25, a coalition of quarrying, excavation and aggregate-transport firms will launch a slow-moving truck convoy on Portugal’s motorways to protest steep diesel price increases. The first group of about 300 trucks is set to leave Lordelo near the A42 at 8 a.m., travel the A41 and then the A1, aiming to arrive in Coimbra Sul around 1 p.m. Miguel Machado Mendes, representing the organizers, expects the number of participating vehicles to reach or surpass 500, and says businesses from the south may add a second convoy from Carregado.

Participants claim diesel now accounts for roughly 70% of their costs, and recent forecasts suggest diesel could rise to €2.24 per litre, up 8.5 cents, while petrol may hit €2.13. The action follows earlier fuel-price protests, including a recent go-slow near Sines that caused traffic jams of over 10 kilometres.