Urban logistics
Urban freight
Transport urbain de marchandises
Urban freight is the movement of goods and associated logistics activities within an urban area. It includes deliveries, collections, servicing flows, and transfers between facilities, with curb needs shaped by business types, shipment characteristics, operating schedules, vehicle capabilities, and the receiving arrangements at each destination.
Understanding the term
Freight planning should include small businesses and service trips, not only large distribution fleets. Different shipment sizes can require different loading layouts and access times.
Assess the complete goods movement, including replenishment, stopping, handling, receiving, and any additional collection or return trip. Engage operators and recipients with different shipment patterns rather than relying on one fleet’s experience. Record the street-space, building, workforce, and timing constraints that shape feasibility. Compare a proposed arrangement with an explicit baseline and examine neighboring streets, since a local improvement can shift loading pressure or handling effort elsewhere in the delivery chain.