This paper delves into the zero-emission city logistics readiness of businesses located in the earmarked Dutch inner cities, which are gearing up towards decreasing the emissions attributable to urban logistics activities. Emission reduction is to be achieved by rolling out mandated zero-emission zones which are to be implemented in 30-40 Dutch cities from the 1st January 2025, with the dates set and municipalities planning towards the banning of diesel-fuelled commercial vehicles. This research seeks to determine the extent of zero-emission operational maturity by use of the zero-emission maturity model by examining the four biggest cities in the southern Dutch Province of Noord Brabant. The research shows a low level of awareness among companies in the cities of Eindhoven, Breda, ’s-Hertogenbosch, and Tilburg and calls for better methods of information dissemination, especially among the small to medium businesses who don't consider city logistics as their core business.@en

This chapter introduces the main innovations in computing technology that affect logistics systems. It provides an exploration of how these technologies individually or collectively seep into system innovations, creating increased logistics value. The chapter presents an identification of the three concurrent development pathways for future urban freight systems, that build on these innovations. To understand the future functioning of applications of computing technologies, in relation to each other and within the entire system, they are positioned in light of the vision of the Physical Internet. Digital twins are expected to have a profound impact on decision-making about urban freight systems, both from the public and the private side. Currently, conventional decision-making processes on both sides rely on rather slow cycles of information gathering, generation of alternative solutions, evaluation of solutions, decision taking, implementation and learning. The number of cycles per unit of time, or frequency of decision-making, is determined by the duration of each stage and the quality of connections.@en

Research finds that the global market value of cargo bikes will hit 2.4 billion euros by 2031. Analysts with Future Market Insights assessing the growth of cargo bikes have placed the parcel courier industry as a key buyer of electric cargo bikes, forecasting that 43 per cent of sales could go to this industry. This growth is driven by city logistics trends, particularly as studies emerge showing the high efficiency and cost saving of the cargo bike versus the delivery van. It will not solely be direct incentives that drive uptake, however. The policy that restricts motoring and emissions is expected to be a key driver for businesses that seek profitability, with three-wheeled electric cargo bikes making up nearly half the market. The advance of e-bike technology has seen a strong rise in market share for assisted cargo bikes, now accounting for a 73 per cent market share. Potentially limiting the growth is the legislation governing the output and range of electric cargo bikes (FMI, 2021).@en

With the approach of the zero-emission zone implementation in 30-40 cities mandated by the Dutch climate agreement in 2025, comes the need to determine whether the SMEs located within these zones are aware of the coming changes. The zero emission zones are set to change how city logistics is currently being executed with the aim of decreasing emissions in the city centre by transitioning to zero emission vehicles and optimizing deliveries to create less flows. However, it is currently unclear whether small to medium businesses located within these zones know about the new regulations within their local municipalities. This article delves into the initial results of The Zero-Emission City Logistics Maturity QuickScans which are used to facilitate the determination of the maturity of small to medium enterprises in light of zero-emission city logistics operations.@en

Municipalities play an important role in tackling city logistics related matters, having many instruments at hand. However, it is not self-evident that all municipalities use these instruments to their full potential. A method to measure city logistics performance of municipalities can help in creating awareness and guidance, to ultimately lead to a more sustainable environment for inhabitants and businesses. Subsequently, this research is focused on a maturity model as a tool to assess the maturity level of a municipality for its performance-related city logistics process management. Various criteria for measuring city logistics performance are studied and based on that the model is populated through three focus fields (Technical, Social and Corporate, and Policy), branching out into six areas of development: Information and communication technology, urban logistics planning, Stakeholder communication, Public Private Partnerships, Subsidisation and incentivisation, and Regulations. The CL3M model was tested for three municipalities, namely, municipality of Utrecht, Den Bosch and Groningen. Through these maturity assessments it became evident the model required specificity complementary to the existing assessment interview, and thus a SWOT analysis should be added as a conclusion during the maturity assessment.@en

Several studies show that logistics facilities have spread spatially from relatively concentrated clusters in the 1970s to geographically more decentralized patterns away from urban areas. The literature indicates that logistics costs are one of the major influences on changes in distribution structures, or locations and usage of logistics facilities. Quantitative modelling studies that aim to describe or predict these phenomena in relation to logistics costs are lacking, however. This is relevant to design more effective policies concerning spatial development, transport and infrastructure investments as well as for understanding environmental consequences of freight transport. The objective of this paper is to gain an understanding of the responsiveness of spatial logistics patterns to changes in these costs, using a quantitative model that links production and consumption points via distribution centers. The model is estimated to reproduce observed use of logistics facilities as well as related transport flows, for the case of the Netherlands. We apply the model to estimate the impacts of a number of scenarios on the spatial spreading of regional distribution activity, interregional vehicle movements and commodity flows. We estimate new cost elasticities, of the demand for trade and transport together, as well as specifically for the demand for the distribution facility services. The relatively low cost elasticity of transport services and high cost elasticity for the distribution services provide new insights for policy makers, relevant to understand the possible impacts of their policies on land use and freight flows.

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Urban consolidation centres (UCCs) have been discussed over many years in the city logistics literature. The amount of successful UCCs in the long run were, and are, very scarce, though. Little is published on the practical issues and experiences of running a UCC and offering UCC-services. In the Netherlands, Binnenstadservice (BSS) has run UCCs and UCC services for over a decade now. This contribution discusses development and the experiences of running a UCC in practice in the form of seven lessons, including the evolvement of the business model and organisation model, as well as the development from offering ‘only’ the cross-dock of physical flows, to that of the full triple cross-dock, including financial and information flows. Next, UCCs can be the answer to future challenges, such as zero emission city logistics and fit perfectly into the Physical Internet vision.@en

Stadsdistributiecentra (SDC) worden al vele jaren in de literatuur van stadslogistiek besproken. Het aantal succesvolle SDC's is in de praktijk nog steeds zeer schaars. Er is weinig gepubliceerd over de praktische zaken en ervaringen van het daadwerkelijk runnen van een SDC en het aanbieden van SDC-diensten. In Nederland heeft Binnenstadservice (BSS) al meer dan tien jaar ervaring met SDC's en SDC-services. In deze bijdrage bespreken we de ontwikkeling van een SDC en de praktische ervaringen in de vorm van zeven lessen, waaronder de ontwikkeling van het bedrijfsmodel, het organisatiemodel, en de ontwikkeling van het aanbieden van ‘alleen’ de cross-dock van fysieke stromen naar een volledige geïntegreerd cross-dock systeem voor de handeling van de fysieke, financiële en informatiestromen. In de toekomst kunnen SDC's ‘het antwoord’ zijn op stadslogistiek zonder uitstoot. @en

1. Een Urban Consolidation Centre (UCC) maakt het mogelijk om de stad zero-emissie te beleveren en zorgt ervoor dat goederen gebundeld de stad in gaan. Met als doel het minder belasten van klimaat, gezondheid van mensen en leefbaarheid van de stad. 2. Het UCC is een multimodaal overslagpunt, geschikt voor een variëteit aan voertuigen. Consolidatie van stromen is belangrijk 3. Duidelijkheid over toekomstige zero-emissie-zones in steden is belangrijk om stappen te kunnen nemen. Een UCC bevindt zich niet ver buiten de rand van de zero-emissiezone, bij voorkeur op een bedrijventerrein. @en

Urban consolidation centres (UCCs) have been discussed over many years in city logistics literature. The amount of successful UCCs in the long-run were, and are, very scarce, though. Little is published on the practical issues and experiences of actually running a UCC and offering UCC-services. In the Netherlands, Binnenstadservice (BSS) runs UCCs and UCC services for over a decade now. This contribution discusses development and the experiences of running a UCC in practice in the form of seven lessons, including the evolvement of the business model and organisation model, as well as the development from offering ‘only’ the cross-dock of physical flows, to that of the full triple cross-dock, including financial and information flows. Next, UCCs can be the answer to future challenges, such as zero emission city logistics and fit perfectly in the Physical Internet vision.@en