The changes introduced by Law No. 105 of 18 July 2025 in in terms of payment times in freight transport represent "a Reform that reforms nothing". Cinzia Franchini denounces it, president of the Ruote Libere association, commenting on the circulars released by the Central Committee of the Register of Road Hauliers relating to these measures. "The new law - explains Franchini - is presented as a step forward, but in real life Road haulage companies change absolutely nothing. The term maximum payment remains set at 60 days from the date of issue of the invoice, which in practice become 90 or even 120 days from the service. An unsustainable threshold for a sector that thrives on immediate liquidity and costs Growing. If this is the "protection", we are in front of to a bluff".

According to Ruote Libere, the mechanism introduced, which provides for the possibilities for the Italian Competition Authority and of the Market to intervene in the event of "widespread delays and reiterated", remains a purely theoretical device, far away from the reality in which thousands of micro-enterprises operate. "In order for the AGCM to intervene," Franchini points out It takes months of documented delays, a phenomenon that is widespread over several clients, tables, certified e-mails, substitute declarations and entire declarations half-yearly unpaid invoices. But who really knows the industry knows that almost no small carrier will have time, tools and courage to face this bureaucracy. And even in the exceptional case in which the report goes ahead, the sanction it would end up with the State, not with those who have to collect. The damage remains at the transporter'.

Ruote Libere also denounces the absence of any measure that faster or more automatic debt collection: no Shortening of payment terms, no immediate penalty for the single late invoice, no privileges in payments, No quick procedure, no protection against retaliation commercial towards those who report.

"The reality - continues Franchini - is that the transporter who is not paid continues to have at his disposal only injunction, lawyer and years of waiting. Meanwhile, the costs they run and there is a lack of liquidity. It was not wanted face - underlines the president of Ruote Libere - the heart of the problem: the disproportion of contractual strength between the client and the small vectors".

For the association, moreover, the circulars of the Central Committee confirm that the law is not yet fully operational: Interlocutions, procedures, guidelines will be needed. Meanwhile hauliers continue to be the ATM of the supply chain. "Politics, with the complicity of the associations of category that have drawn up this measure - says Franchini - has chosen not to disturb the structured and to unload everything on the shoulders of the most fragile. This reform, as it has been written, even risks worsening the situation: now delays in payments are added to a load of obligations, declarations and tables that few will be able to afford to manage".

According to Ruote Libere, the category needed something completely different: real 30-day payments, in line with European proposals, automatic penalties for each individual delay, as is the case in Spain, effective protections against retaliation for whistleblowers, a Rapid and industry-specific debt collection and a review of the power relationship between customers and carriers, today - highlights the association - totally unbalanced. "If no action is taken really - concludes Franchini - we will continue to see companies Virtuous to close due to lack of liquidity, while delays in payments will remain a tolerated practice. Freewheels will continue to denounce, with determination and without compromises, what this law does not have the courage to face".