Hopes of a quick settlement to a highly disruptive strike by Italian truckers died on Tuesday as representatives of the protesters walked out of talks with the government.
Premier Romano Prodi, meanwhile, lambasted truckers for blocking motorways and jeopardising essential services such as supplies of fuel to petrol stations.
''I totally disapprove of the methods used in this strike action. That isn't how you resolve certain questions,'' he said.
By evening on Tuesday, the Confesercenti association of small businesses estimated that 80% of the nation's petrol pumps had run dry and there were long queues of cars at the few still open.
There were even fears that ambulances and other emergency services could find themselves without fuel.
The national strike watchdog, citing the disruption caused to crucial services, asked the transport ministry to formally order the striking truckers to return to work.
Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi avoided issuing the order immediately but said the government would not be ''pushed around'' by the protestors.
Sources close to the government said a return-to-work order was likely.
Truck drivers from small and medium-sized haulage firms began a five-day strike on Monday, causing havoc on many key traffic arteries as they staged roadblocks. Larger firms did not take part in the strike.
Unions representing the striking workers met government representatives on Tuesday to begin discussing demands including lower taxation and discounts on diesel fuel, the price of which has recently soared.
But the talks broke down almost immediately, with truckers saying the government had ignored their proposals and talked only about an accord signed in February and not yet implemented.
''Prodi should have paid attention to the reasons for the protest, instead of which the government has shown no desire to deal with the questions on the table,'' said Maurizio Longo of the Fita CNA union.
Truckers representatives said the strike would continue as planned until the end of the week.
The first day of strike action caused chaos on roads, leaving petrol stations low on fuel and supermarkets facing the prospect of having no fresh fruit and vegetables to sell.
Farmers warned that if the stoppage continued, Italians would find none of the traditional Christmas fare in shops when they went to prepare for festivities.
Around 85% of the goods transported daily in Italy travel by road, carried by an army of haulage companies which own almost four million trucks and heavy goods vehicles.
There was firm condemnation of the action from the employers' federation Confindustria, whose president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, said it was ''inconceivable'' for small haulage firms to block the national economy.
He called on the government to act firmly with strikers: ''People have to remember their duties as well as their rights''.
As well as compensation for high fuel costs, unions representing the haulage sector also want the government to bring in new rules on contracts and payment for transport services.
