Consolidation in Urban Logistics: What Could We Learn from Past Experiences and Economy Theory?

Issues related to sustainable urban or city logistics, i.e., the movement of goods within cities, are not new. However, attention on last mile delivery inside cities is growing and all different types of stakeholders are seeking solutions to optimize it. Promoting co-opetition between last-mile service providers and the use of mutualized infrastructures (buildings, vehicles, and so on) could be an efficient solution. To be successful such cooperative schemes must result from voluntary agreements between stakeholders resulting from a “meeting of minds”. Nevertheless, public authorities have an active role to play in order to put in place a favorable playing field by for instance, granting stakeholders antitrust immunity or giving specific rights to operators who collectively manage an UCC or by providing them well-placed premises where flows could be consolidated.