Britain's roads could be be brought to a standstill as early as Wednesday by crippling fuel protests, similar to those that caused mass disruption in 2000.
The demonstration against soaring fuel prices could come just weeks of secret talks between angry hauliers, farmers and disgruntled motorists.
One farmer is reported to have addressed Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a recent CBI meeting and directly warned the Government to expect widespread protests.
A group of rebel lorry drivers is believed to be fronting a massive campaign in protest at rising prices that have seen petrol soar through the one pound a litre barrier.
The authorities are now said to be preparing contingency plans if drivers try to blockade fuel depots as they did successfully in 2000 when the country was almost brought to standstill as the pumps ran dry.
In recent weeks a group calling itself Transaction 2007 has been holding discreet meetings across the country with interested groups with a view to taking a mass day of action this week.
Spokesman Chris Hunter said: "This will be a numbers game levied against legislation - but we are not willing to disclose any more details at this stage."
The group insists its actions will be legal but has not ruled out organising strategic blockades to disrupt the nation's road transport system.
Motorists' anger at the continuing rise in fuel prices - diesel is now as much as 1 20p a litre - has seen almost 100,000 vote against a further due rise in petrol tax in an on-line petition.
Last month Prime Minister Gordon Brown was given a stark warning that the Government should brace itself for another wave of protests.
Farmer Bernard Howard told the Prime Minister face-to-face at the CBI conference in London: "There is a new wave of militancy - the high fuel prices are a disaster for the country."
But one hauliers group was quick to distance itself from the threat of any direct action or staged go-slow on major roads by truckers.
The Road Haulage Association said: "We have been linked with Transaction 2007 implying there a relationship between us - but that is not the case."
"We have never been in discussions with them but we have talked to our members who are also part of the pressure group. And we will always support members who wish to protest legally but we do not agree with Transaction 2007 that legal and peaceful protests would produce no results."
In 2000 the Government was forced to bring in the Army to get fuel out of refineries and depots after tanker drivers joined a nationwide protest.
Many garages were forced to ration supplies to customers or ran out altogether and the country came within days of grinding to halt.
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