2. Concepts of city logistics
What is city logistics? Taniguchi et al. (2001) defined city logistics as “the process for totally optimising the
logistics and transport activities by private companies with support of advanced information systems in urban areas
considering the traffic environment, the traffic congestion, the traffic safety and the energy savings within the
framework of a market economy.” This definition highlights the total optimisation of logistics activities of private
companies rather than local optimisation. It also incorporates the social issues of the environment, congestion and
energy savings as well as economic issues relating to urban freight transport within the framework of a market
economy