Analyzing the results of UK urban freight studies

The paper is based on work carried out as part of the Green Logistics project. The paper provides a review of urban freight studies that have taken place in the UK over approximately a thirty year period from the early 1970s to the present (this is the first attempt at such a review in the UK as far as the authors are aware). Coverage of both goods collection and delivery vehicle activity and service vehicle activity is included. This review covers the survey techniques used, as well as the survey results obtained. Comparisons are made between the results of studies from the 1970s and those carried out in the last decade in order to gain insight to changes in urban freight transport operations.

The data provided in the studies reviewed is extremely important as it provides insight into urban freight operations that is unavailable from any other data source, including national freight surveys conducted by government. However, until now, the results of these studies have not been widely disseminated or compared.