Challenges in general cargo distribution strategy in urban logistics - comparative analysis of the biggest logistics operators in EU

For the most of the logistics companies in the European Union, the basic problem is guaranteeing the smooth flow of goods to the customers at the right time. Production and commerce are becoming more individualized, along with increasing volume of goods delivered on smaller consignments and customer requirements which are nowadays progressively more demanding. Additionally, many municipalities introduced new regulations towards green and smart logistics which, individual for a city, have become a factor influencing the transport in general. Therefore, the logistics companies test different solutions and innovative ideas towards the improvement of transport, supply chain, and distribution effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to analyze new solutions for the city distribution tested or implemented by the main EU logistics operators based on the smart freight concept concerning the problem of urban traffic and zero-emission zones. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.