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Urban freight policies and distribution channels: a discussion based on evidence from Italian cities

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  • Danielis, Romeo
  • Rotaris, Lucia
  • Marcucci, Edoardo

Abstract

Urban areas are vital centers of economic activity and innovation generating large economies of density and proximity. Yet, procuring and distributing goods in an urban context is fraught with difficulties because of infrastructure congestion, external costs, conflicting objectives among stakeholders, and asymmetric information. In order to improve the performance of the urban goods transport system many policies have been proposed, including goods vehicle time windows, vehicle-type restrictions, loading\unloading policies, fiscal policies, and the promotion urban transhipment and consolidation centres. Unfortunately, not much is known concerning how these policies affect the existing distribution practices. It is quite likely that the impact is differentiated by type of product and distribution channel. The aim of this paper is to explore this issue. Drawing on the existing literature and on the empirical evidence from some Italian cities, the paper identifies and discusses the relationship between each of the above-mentioned policies and the distribution channels of some goods (fresh food sold in retail stores, food distributed by Hotels, Restaurants and Catering (Ho.Re.Ca.), pharmaceutical products and clothing&footwear) which are commonly distributed in Italian urban centers. It is found that the distribution of pharmaceutical products is unaffected by these policies, whereas the distribution of fresh food is negatively affected especially by access time regulation and loading\unloading policies. The Ho.Re.Ca. and the clothing&footwear channels are likely to be impacted the most by fiscal policies and by the promotion of urban transhipment and consolidation centres.

Suggested Citation

  • Danielis, Romeo & Rotaris, Lucia & Marcucci, Edoardo, 2010. "Urban freight policies and distribution channels: a discussion based on evidence from Italian cities," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 46, pages 114-146.
    • Handle: RePEc:sot:journl:y:2010:i:46:p:114-146
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    3. Gonzalez Feliu, Jesus & Ambrosini, Christian & Routhier, Jean-Louis, 2012. "New trends on urban goods movement modelling: proximity delivery versus shopping trips," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 50, pages 1-2.
    4. Edoardo Marcucci, Amanda Stathopoulos, Romeo Danielis, 2012. "Urban freight policies and tourism. The case of own-account operators in Rome�s limited traffic zone," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 66(2), pages 121-139.
    5. Isa, Selma Setsumi & Lima, Orlando Fontes & Vidal Vieira, José Geraldo, 2021. "Urban consolidation centers: Impact analysis by stakeholder," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Arvidsson, Niklas, 2013. "The milk run revisited: A load factor paradox with economic and environmental implications for urban freight transport," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 56-62.
    7. Josep-Maria Salanova Grau & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2015. "Comparing fast VRP algorithms for collaborative urban freight transport systems: a solution probleming analysis," Post-Print halshs-01176134, HAL.
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    10. Scorrano, Mariangela & Danielis, Romeo & Giansoldati, Marco, 2021. "Electric light commercial vehicles for a cleaner urban goods distribution. Are they cost competitive?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    11. Siemieniako, Dariusz & Kubacki, Krzysztof & Mitręga, Maciej, 2021. "Inter-organisational relationships for social impact: A systematic literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 453-469.
    12. Janjevic, Milena & Ndiaye, Alassane, 2017. "Investigating the theoretical cost-relationships of urban consolidation centres for their users," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 98-118.
    13. Aljohani, Khalid & Thompson, Russell G., 2021. "Modelling individual preferences of goods receivers for a Receiver-led delivery consolidation service," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 74-94.
    14. de Carvalho, Nayara Louise Alves & Ribeiro, Priscilla Cristina Cabral & García-Martos, Carolina & Fernández, Camino González & Vieira, José Geraldo Vidal, 2019. "Urban distribution centres in historical cities from the perspective of residents, retailers and carriers," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Nuzzolo, Agostino & Crisalli, Umberto & Comi, Antonio, 2012. "A trip chain order model for simulating urban freight restocking," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 50, pages 1-7.
    16. Jesús Muñuzuri & Pablo Cortés & Luis Onieva & José Guadix, 2013. "Simulating the effects of pedestrianisation on urban freight deliveries," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-10.
    17. Simona Mancini, 2013. "Multi-echelon distribution systems in city logistics," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-2.
    18. Antonio COMI & Agostino NUZZOLO, 2015. "Modelling Challenges To Forecast Urban Goods Demand For Rail," Transport Problems, Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Transport, vol. 10(4), pages 75-91, December.
    19. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2011. "Costs and benefits of logistics pooling for urban freight distribution: scenario simulation and assessment for strategic decision support," Post-Print halshs-00688967, HAL.

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