Beneficial effects outside urban areas for transport operators who outsource deliveries to an urban consolidation centre?

Urban consolidation centres are a widely trialled measure to make city logistics more sustainable. Although predominantly successful regarding environmental and social effects, the problem remains financial viability because stakeholders are often not willing to pay for the additional cross-dock. A viable business model is therefore lacking in most cases. Depending on the city a UCC can, however, yield considerable benefits for transport operators. In most literature only the effects of outsourcing deliveries to a UCC within the area are considered. This paper also considers the possible beneficial effects outside the urban area for transport operators.

Publication year:2015

Keywords:Urban Consolidation Centre, City logistics, Sustainability, Transport operators