The French government is attempting to resolve a wage dispute between truckers and their employers in a bid to avert a strike that could paralyse deliveries to retailers in the Christmas shopping period.
Labour unions claim that wages in the sector have been frozen for two years - while costs have risen.
Transport firms say the economic downturn has hit their businesses and they cannot afford to hike salaries.
Five main unions have threatened to launch an indefinite strike starting 13 December.
They have said they would block access routes to certain companies and industrial zones that produce goods connected to Christmas.
Gerard Martinez of the union Force Ouvriere says that they want 'an agreement on wages and expense allowances to be signed by unions and bosses by Friday morning. If that happens, we'll call off the strike.'
The French government has suggested raising the lowest salaries in the sector by 4% and medium salaries by 3%.
This falls short of union demands for a 4% increase for all of the sector's 610,000 employees.
The truckers are also seeking a 3% hike in allowances to cover costs of meals and they want a collective agreement on health insurance.
French truckers have in the past conducted winter strikes that have hurt the economy.
They have blocked roads and railways, causing traffic jams, delaying deliveries of goods and disrupting holiday travel.
