In spite of strong converging forces, logistical and freight distribution practices of
containerized cargo flows are far from being uniform. When they take place over an
extended area, they result in regional logistical strategies that have to take account of
a large array of specific attributes linked with locations such as modal preferences,
infrastructure ownership, policy and regulation. Historical path dependency in
policy-making and firms’ operational strategies heavily influence regional differences;
regional distribution practices tend to endure in spite of technological and
regulatory changes (Rodrigue and Notteboom 2010). The ‘‘regional effect’’ is thus
significant, underlining the continuing relevance of the comparative analysis of
freight transport systems, so that global logistics goes on par with regional
distribution.