Transpotec 2026: Welcome to Italy’s Trucking World

The same major manufacturers, the same equipment suppliers, the same concerns surrounding the energy transition. Yet, it only takes a few aisles of the Milan show to understand that Italian road transport has a personality all of its own. More heavily loaded trucks, unique bodywork, a clear taste for spectacular configurations and different regulations… TruckStop takes you across the Alps to discover a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar.

Changing countries… to change your perspective

That is TruckStop’s DNA: to show you new things and, above all, what is happening outside our borders. Every two years, Milan becomes the Italian capital of road transport for a few days. An unmissable event which obviously does not have the scale of IAA Hanover, but which possesses a quality that has become rare: it tells the reality of the Italian truck. And that is precisely what interests us at TruckStop.

After the British RTX and its garden-party atmosphere, this time we are heading to Italy. Another neighbouring country, an economy comparable to ours… but a vision of heavy goods vehicles that is sometimes very different. As soon as we pass through the doors of the show, the scene is set. Yes, all the major manufacturers are here, and another observation: electric is also beginning to make an appearance here. Yet, quite quickly, I notice differences in truck configurations.

Here, rigid trucks are king

First observation: in Italy, the rigid truck remains a true institution. Where France has largely turned towards tractor units and semi-trailers, the Italian market retains a strong tradition of truck-and-trailer combinations, and this particularity directly influences the vehicles on display.

At Scania, DAF, MAN, Renault Trucks and Mercedes-Benz, construction configurations, lifting arms, tippers and truck-and-trailer combinations occupy a much more important place than back home. And above all… the dimensions change, the trucks are built up!

The enormous four-axle tipper rigid trucks seen on the stands would turn many heads in France. The reason is simple: Italian regulations allow configurations that are impossible for us, with, for example, 40 tonnes on four axles whereas here we are limited to 32 tonnes in the same configuration.

There you have Europe, as someone would say, but that is another debate. As a result, manufacturers develop vehicles specifically adapted to this market and, in fact, the Italian truck has its own identity.

The kingdom of tailor-made solutions

Another surprise: the bodywork. It is impossible to walk around Transpotec without stopping in front of the creations of the many Italian bodybuilders.

Here, every vehicle seems to have been designed for a very specific mission. A Rolfo car transporter based on a specially lowered DAF XD, grain trailers capable of transporting both pallets and bulk goods in the Italian style, low-loaders with removable goosenecks, food tankers polished entirely like mirrors.

Italians have always excelled in specialised bodywork and this culture of the tailor-made vehicle can be found everywhere. And it is undoubtedly one of the show’s great strengths.

When style becomes a signature

If there is one country where the truck is also a style object, it is certainly Italy.

French visitors will immediately notice one detail: stainless steel is everywhere. Just like what we have already seen this year during the report on Misano (find the video on our app, which can be downloaded free of charge), polished bumpers, shiny fuel tanks, light bars — here everything has to shine, and chrome accessories are a religion.

Italians have long cultivated this very personal aesthetic.

If, at Misano, during the famous truck gathering, this culture reaches its peak, let’s say that here in Milan it is expressed more discreetly, but remains omnipresent. Sometimes, a simple glance is enough to recognise an Italian truck.

Diesel still reigns… but electric is slowly settling in

Unlike certain speeches heard elsewhere in Europe, Transpotec presents a much more nuanced picture of the energy transition.

Yes, all manufacturers are now presenting their electric range, led by DAF Italy, which is exhibiting its XF Electric, named Truck of the Year 2026. Renault Trucks is highlighting its future long-haul electric T, while Mercedes-Benz is presenting its eActros 600, which in Italy too is a leading truck in the electric sector.

For its part, German manufacturer MAN chose Milan to unveil its new small eTGM distribution truck in a world premiere. The last link that was missing from the Bavarian manufacturer’s electric range. But behind this technological showcase, the Italian reality remains different from that of France because public subsidies here are much more limited.

As a result, sales volumes remain low because the TCO is not yet there. Diesel therefore continues to occupy a central position and, above all, nobody here is really talking about replacing one energy source with another. The word that comes up everywhere is energy mix, and you know how much I agree with this approach. Gas, HVO, electricity and hydrogen tomorrow, each solution is gradually finding its place according to its uses. An ultimately rather pragmatic approach that we fully share at TruckStop.

Innovation no longer comes only from manufacturers

What also strikes you when walking through the halls… is the weight taken by equipment suppliers. ZF is exhibiting its new electric powertrains. Trailer manufacturers are working on aerodynamics. Trailer axles are becoming energy generators and on this subject, this is only the beginning.

Photovoltaic panels are appearing on the roofs of refrigerated semi-trailers. Solutions intended to reduce consumption are multiplying. They may not revolutionise road transport immediately, but they show that innovation no longer comes only from the truck itself. The entire ecosystem is evolving and that is really a good thing.

Turkey is quietly gaining ground

Another lesson from this visit is the gradual arrival of new industrial players. Many Italian bodybuilders now work with plants located in Turkey. The principle is simple: development remains Italian but manufacturing is Turkish.

A way of containing costs while retaining European know-how. Alongside the historic major names, new ambitious brands are appearing that are already looking for distributors in France. The phenomenon deserves to be closely monitored.

The Chinese are not far behind

The final point that I have not yet mentioned: China. In Milan, we are still far from the show of strength seen at certain exhibitions, but in any case, even though the Chinese remain discreet, they are nevertheless present. A few Dongfeng commercial vehicles are enough to remind us of a reality that is now worrying the entire European industry.

As in the automotive sector, Chinese manufacturers are moving forward step by step and the heavy truck market seems to be their next target today. As IAA Hanover approaches, many are expecting this presence to increase significantly. A subject that could quickly become one of the sector’s major challenges.

Europe… but each in its own way

As I leave Milan, one impression dominates. European trucks are becoming increasingly similar from a mechanical point of view. Engines, cabs, technologies, powertrains, environmental regulations, everything is gradually tending towards a certain harmonisation. And yet… Each country still retains its personality. Great Britain has its traditions, and Italy cultivates its bodywork, its rigid trucks and its taste for beautiful trucks.

Soon we will be heading to Germany for the IAA show to discover a great many new products, because, as you will see, things are far from finished moving. IAA will be an incredible industrial showcase this year, so hold on tight because you are going to be amazed. New cab profiles from several manufacturers (Scania, MAN…) but also the launch of completely new models, IAA 2026 will have a few surprises in store for us. Stay connected because at TruckStop, that is also why we like crossing borders: to bring you the latest new products as a preview.

See you on our TruckStop app. It is free and you can follow all the latest news day by day, so you can keep up with current events!

Text and photos: Fabien Calvet