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.