Considering the relationship between freight transport and urban form

There has been much discussion since the mid-1980s about the relationship between transport and urban form. However, all of this body of research has concerned itself with passenger transport (i.e. the movement of people). This report is intended as an initial investigation into the relationship between road freight transport and urban form. Important trends in road freight transport and logistics and the land use associated with these activities are discussed. Data about road freight transport activity by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Britain that has been disaggregated from a UK government survey is analysed to investigate the nature of urban freight operations in sixteen selected urban areas. This includes analysis of the efficiency and transport intensity of these operations on journeys to, from and within each urban area. Scenarios concerning urban freight operations based on reductions in length of haul, and improvements in vehicle lading factors, vehicle carrying capacities and empty running are constructed in order to investigate the potential effect of such changes on the vehicle kilometres performed on journeys to, from and within the sixteen urban areas.

Investigating relationships between road freight transport, facility location, logistics management and urban form

This paper examines road freight transport activity and its relationship with facility location, logistics management and urban form through an analysis of 14 selected urban areas in the UK. Improved understanding of this relationship will assist planners when making transport and land use decisions. The findings suggest that several geographical, spatial and land use factors have important influences on freight activity in urban areas. Commercial and industrial land use patterns affect the types and quantities of goods produced, consumed, and hence the total quantity of freight transport handled. This also influences the distances over which goods are moved and by what specific mode. There has been relatively low growth in warehousing in many of the selected areas over the last decade compared to the national average as well suburbanisation of warehousing in some locations. This affects the origin and destination of journeys visiting these facilities and typically increases the distance of such journeys. A greater proportion of road freight has been shown to be lifted on internal journeys in large urban areas than in smaller ones. Journeys within urban areas have been shown to be less efficient than journeys to and from the urban area in the 14 locations studied due to the much smaller average vehicle carrying capacities and lower lading factors for journeys within urban areas. The length of haul on journeys to and from urban areas studied was found to be greatest for those areas with a major seaport and/or which were geographically remote. This affects the road freight transport intensity of goods transport journeys.