Christmas marks the end of the year, a time for reflection and taking stock. We take this opportunity to share a thought from Leonardo Lanzi, CEO of Lanzi Trasporti, on the deeper meaning of Christmas — or rather, on what Christmas could help bring back into our society: a greater sense of humanity.
“In recent years, we have been going through major changes,” says Leonardo Lanzi, “and I have the feeling that relationships between people have been affected. I see more anger, more hostility, and a growing focus on rights, often forgetting about duties. I believe that a healthy society is based on a balance between these two dimensions, because this balance allows people to live together in a civil and respectful way. Of course, my wish is not limited to the Christmas season: I would like this spirit of mutual care and kindness to be present all year round. Still, who knows — perhaps Christmas can reignite that spark that today seems to be fading, and help us keep it alive and make it stronger over time.”
A look at my sector: road haulage drivers
Leonardo Lanzi’s reflection also extends to his own sector:
“I think especially about the world I live in every day: the road haulage sector. Too often our drivers are criticized and attacked by other road users because trucks pollute, take up space, create traffic, or congest cities. Unfortunately, this also happens with some customers where we load or unload goods: at times we are treated with little respect, forced to wait for hours without even being allowed to use a restroom or access a refreshment area at their facilities.
All of this affects a sector that, paradoxically, performs an essential mission for everyone. Heavy vehicle drivers work with enormous sacrifice, passion, and a strong sense of duty. This is not just a job: it is often a life entirely dedicated to ensuring deliveries and collections under any conditions, responding not only to the needs of companies but also to those of citizens, who depend on our work more than they sometimes realize.”
Rules are necessary, but infrastructure is needed to comply with them
“Denying the importance of rules — especially those related to safety,” continues Leonardo Lanzi, “is not my intention. It is right for the sector to comply with traffic regulations and driving and rest time limits. When a restriction has a real and sincere purpose of protecting road safety, it must be respected. However, alongside restrictions, there must also be the infrastructure that allows drivers to comply with them.
We need more properly equipped rest areas, not only along the road network, but also in industrial districts, where there is often not even dedicated parking space for trucks, let alone restrooms or refreshment facilities. Ensuring more dignified working conditions is not a privilege, but an act of civility toward those who keep the entire economic system moving.”
Too much severity in penalties, too little respect for those who keep the economy moving
“Another issue that weighs on me,” admits the CEO of Lanzi Trasporti, “is the way our sector is sometimes hit by penalties: often extremely strict rules, fines for minor mistakes, which nevertheless help fill the coffers of the state and local administrations.
I am not talking only about drivers. I am talking about everyone who works with us every day: warehouse staff, administrative employees, and the entire operational structure that allows our service to function. Road freight transport is a pillar of the economy: if road haulage stops, everything stops. Companies stop, supplies stop, consumption stops, and the social impact is enormous. That is why I believe we deserve different recognition, greater consideration, and more concrete respect.”
A wish that goes beyond the holidays
“I therefore hope,” concludes Leonardo Lanzi, “that this Christmas can bring greater attention to our sector from citizens, companies, and institutions such as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and local authorities. I am not asking for temporary understanding linked to a holiday. I am asking for a lasting cultural change.
Our work should be seen for what it truly is: a service for everyone. A mission that requires sacrifice, but does not always receive the appreciation it deserves. Every day we work to ensure a continuous flow of goods and services. We do so with great commitment and responsibility. If today we can find products in shops and raw materials in factories, it is also thanks to those who live and work on the road to make this possible.”
With this spirit, Leonardo Lanzi and the entire Lanzi Trasporti team wish everyone a more human, more aware, and above all more respectful Christmas.
