Last week, I attended a global conference on urban freight organized by Metrans in Los Angeles – a megacity full of asphalt and endless traffic jams.
The conference offered inspiring insights into zero-emission vehicles, charging for loading and unloading in the city, digital twins, cargo bikes, urban space for logistics, smart route planning, and a systemic approach based on the Physical Internet. There was an outstanding balance between theory and practice, with many lessons from real-life living labs. It was fantastic to meet so many engaged young professionals from all continents.
But the elephant in the room remains the behavior of shippers, logistics service providers, receivers, and governments. How will we manage the growing volume of city logistics and turn its negative impacts into positive outcomes for all stakeholders? What fundamentally different choices are we willing to make? Without those choices, we’re just tinkering at the edges.
Many more conferences are coming up. What if each one started with a shared vision for the future? With the question: What impact do we want to achieve—and by when?
A suggestion… Every presentation should begin with: What problem are you solving (and why)? Why does your solution work in the tough, real-world context of city logistics? And what do you need – from shippers, logistics service providers, receivers, and governments – to make it happen? Together, we should create relevant solutions and service offerings towards a positive impact from city logistics.
Walther Ploos van Amstel