Urban Logistics Guidelines for the Efficiency of Goods Distribution in Brazilian Cities

Abstract

The freight logistics operations within cities must be considered a relevant issue in city planning. The impacts caused by cargo transport on the urban distribution of goods, on the road and transport system in urban areas, as well as on interference with the road system deserve an appropriate analysis. The concepts of city logistics have become an efficient instrument to be adopted in the master planning of cities in order to provide an adequate logistical operation for loading and unloading goods in urban areas. It is also worth mentioning that current public policies practiced in the context of urban planning increasingly require guidelines that enable effective distribution of goods in cities. So, the objective of all the chapters is to present urban logistics guidelines for the efficiency of goods distribution in urban centers of Brazilian cities, taking the urban logistics concept as a reference.

1. Introduction

The urban freight logistics operation must be considered a relevant issue in city planning. Therefore, the impacts caused by road transport on the distribution of goods on the road and transport system in urban areas deserves an appropriate analysis, as there is still the problem of efficient distribution of cargo in various urban centers, especially in Brazil.

This research was developed based on a questionnaire administered to several experts in the field of transport.

The Brazilian gross domestic product (GDP) was 2.18 x 10¹² U.S. dollars in 2023. GDP growth was 2.9% compared to 2022, when it was 1.98 x 10¹² U.S. dollars [1].

Cargo transportation in urban centers has been occurring for a long time, and it has been verified that it is part of the growth of cities where social and economic activities take place. Thus, there is a greater increase in traffic accidents; the distribution and delivery of goods taking longer due to vehicle traffic congestion; and as a consequence there is an increase in different forms of pollution in the environment, which can be identified with road freight transport in cities as sound, vibration, air and environmental [2].

Thus, the concept of urban logistics proposed by Taniguchi [3] is an efficient tool to be applied in the development of cargo logistics operation planning for the distribution of goods in the urban area of cities.

This chapter contains seven items. After item 1, the introduction, item 2 presents knowledge of the urban transport system, with emphasis on freight movement in urban zones. Item 3 shows the city logistics conception and its definitions. Item 4 is key agents and their actions for the urban distribution of goods. Item 5 presents urban logistics guidelines. Item 6 shows proposed urban logistics guidelines and their benefits for the efficiency of urban distribution of goods. And finally, item 7 summarizes with the conclusions of the chapter.

2. Kowledge of urban transport system

The problem of cargo movement in urban areas should be seen as a specific issue due to the difficulties that the cargo sector encounters in its movement.

Browne et al. [4] and Prata et al. [5] highlighted that urban cargo transport has a fundamental importance in sustaining the population’s lifestyle, as it plays an important role in the maintenance and conservation of industrial and commercial activities of cities.

According to CNT magazine [6], “a trade that does not receives its goods at the appropriate time for sale, when the customer wants to buy, brings direct reflections and consequences on your strategy service.”

Therefore, it is necessary to try to propose urban load guidelines to make the supply and distribution of goods efficient, aiming at adequate planning of product movement in the cities.

2.1 Freight movement in urban zones

Cargo transport in urban areas can be considered a preponderant factor related to growth and the development of cities, being responsible for supplying goods necessary for the survival of the local population. In this sense, therefore, it is fundamental to quality of life.

Thus, it can be said that the demand for cargo transportation has in addition to other objectives the supply of cities, in order to provide them with their basic needs to allow the development of their activities.

There is, however, a fundamental need to supply goods in the urban centers of cities in order to guarantee the survival of local society and the carrying out of economic activities and social aspects of the city. On the other hand, the population is constantly changing and expanding, which causes the need to increase of the flow of goods to be distributed in urban centers.

Czerniak et al. [7] highlighted that “efficient planning of a cargo handling system must take into account the indicators economics of urban load.” That is, good practices of key agents and participants in the process, such as shippers, transporters, and public power, involves understanding their perceptions and needs.

Road freight transport, therefore, has a especial importance when it is associated with regional development or growth of the economy of a medium or large city, as it is responsible for the supply and delivery of goods to cities that are part of the north–south and east–west connections of the country. With this type of transport, transporters must be concerned about the use of more appropriate fuels in their fleet for urban cargo operations, in order to have sustainable transport suited to the environmental conditions of cities and to promote quality of life.

Urban freight transport represents a sequence of activities within an economic process, be it local, regional, national, or global.

2.2 Main problems related to cargo movement in urban centres

According to data from the Ministry of Cities [8], the nine main metropolitan regions of the country concentrated 30% of the urban population urban at that time, and of this population, the majority is poor.

Later, with the IBGE census in 2010 [9], it was found that more than 80% of Brazilians lived in urban areas of the 5565 municipalities, with 29% of the total population being in 38 cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants, while 608 municipalities had population exceeding 50,000 inhabitants. The IBGE forecasts growth of the Brazilian population until 2042, when rates will become decreasing, with an increase in the urban population, especially in medium-sized cities [9].

Based on these data and knowing that the urban center of a city was defined by the Ministry of Cities as the place where economic activities take place— as it contains banks, shopping centers, supermarkets, and commerce in general, called the commercial region, where there are a range of jobs, types of business relationships (businesses), and also access to a wide range of goods and services —there is a significant increase in the circulation of cargo vehicles to adequately supply these centers. This circulation also increases travel times for road freight transport and, consequently, greater traffic congestion in cities.

Cargo movement in the main urban centers in cities of medium and large size (250,000 and 1 million inhabitants, respectively), especially in Brazil, which serve as a gateway to other locations, is carried out basically by road vehicles due to their ease of operation and existing infrastructure. This fact is confirmed by the impossibility of service by other modes of transport directly from producer to consumer, in addition to being the only mode considered door-to-door.

Figure 1 presents a view of the related problem traffic congestion in cities, in relation to the circulation of freight vehicles on the road system, in a recent visual presented in 2022 [10]. It is also observed, at this time, that the problems already seen remain with the circulation of cargo vehicles in the function of distribution of goods.

Figure 1.

Traffic congestion in the direction of cities due to urban distribution of goods. Source: Globo/G1 (2022) [10].

Thus, the problems encountered in the transport system of main urban centers in the country can be compared to those of emerging countries such as Russia, India, and China, as described in the literature.

These problems refer not only to the accelerated growth of the fleet of motor vehicles that circulate in cities but also to the fleet of cargo transport vehicles which, due to the lack of appropriate policies to the distribution of goods, has greatly influenced and impacted the urban transport system [2].

2.3 Road cargo transport and its influence on urban centers of cities

The plan for the transit of cargo vehicles in Brazilian cities basically consists of specific regions with areas and corridors, depending on the capacity of each region to accommodate circulation and parking of vehicles, according to their dimensions and specific needs of each area. The ability to accommodate truck traffic is determined by the levels of concentration of activities and jobs and the saturation of the road system during peak hours. In many locations there are no suitable places for loading and unloading operations, as emphasized by Gusmão et al [11].

According to Allen et al. [12], in general, trucks use available or unavailable physical space such as curbs, park in double rows; block roads in the road system; cause congestion in traffic, and consequently interfere with the infrastructure of city roads. It is also verified that the operation of urban logistics may suffer economically and socially in its activities, as is seen throughout the day in the movement of urban cargo vehicles (VUCs) waiting for parking spaces or even the release of vacancies. So, it is necessary to provide urban logistics for efficiency of urban distribution of goods, as emphasized by Gusmão and Ribeiro [13].

Regarding Costa [14], in terms of impacts caused by the cargo transport in urban centers, the local public governments should control and check the activity of cargo logistics; however, the majority do not know how to do it. Thus, it can be assumed that whatever regulation is imposed by this public authority with the aim of ordering and guiding urban cargo transport (TUC) traffic in cities, the cargo will reach its destination in the right place and time, as a result of the process of logistical decision-making by the agents involved in the operation. Otherwise, it would be necessary to implement extremely strict access restrictions for the agents involved in the logistics operation to restructure their supplies, which could compromise the principles of freedom of movement and commercial activities.

Browne et al. argued [15] that urban cargo transport has different characteristics that can be changed in the long term to reduce their impacts along with related influences that occur as a result of there impacts.

3. City logistics conception and definitions

Some authors emphasize the city logistics conception, and they give their definitions as follows.

Taniguchi [16] says, “Urban Logistics, therefore, in short, refers to techniques and projects that, through the involvement of public and private agents, aim to reduce the total number of trips/vehicles in urban areas and/or reduce their negative impacts.”

The concept of urban logistics, in the view of Dutra [17], arises as a response to the great need for organization of entities that work with the movement of goods within urban spaces because of the deterioration in the population’s quality of life. This new concept raises concerns regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of operations and movements involving cargo transport.

According to the Report World Cities 2022, published by UN Habitat [18], the world population will be 68% urban by 2050, rising from the global total of 56% in 2021. According to the same report, 59 countries have more than 80% urban population. Despite a slowdown in the pace of urbanization during the pandemic, the urban population is expected to increase by 2.2 billion people annually by 2050.

In the view of Muñuzuri et al. [19], urban logistics is the term used to denote specific logistical operations involved in goods distribution in urban areas with their specific problems related to urban road traffic and its influence on the transport system, such as delays caused by congestion.

According to Oliveira [20], urban logistics aims to reduce diseconomies to make the entire system more effective through innovative solutions that reduce logistical problems generated by distribution in urban areas and improve quality of life.

According to Benjellou et al. [21], urban logistics is a concept that surrounds the domain of ideas, studies, policies, models, and methods that allow achieving the objectives of reducing congestion and increasing mobility through the control of VUCs that operate in urban areas, aiming for greater efficiency in freight circulation in these centers and reducing levels of environmental and noise pollution, aiming to contribute to the objectives established by the Kyoto Protocol [22], with the consequent improvement in the quality of life of the city’s population.

Therefore, it is extremely important to propose urban logistics guidelines, based on the city logistics concept, to achieve efficient distribution and delivery of goods in the urban centers of large and medium-sized Brazilian cities, said Gusmão and Ribeiro [13].

4. Key agents and their actions for the urban distribution of goods

Taniguchi et al. [23] presented a framework for viewing the concept of urban logistics that was originally based on three fundamental pillars: sustainability, mobility, and quality of life.

Later, Teo et al. [24] brought a new vision with the pillars of mobility, sustainability, habitability, and resilience.

These pillars are related to values such as global competitiveness, efficiency, respect for the environment, reduction of congestion, trust, safety, energy conservation, and workforce strength.

Reducing congestion is one of the important values that relate to the four pillars of urban logistics. This indicates that it is a fundamental element that needs to be considered when thinking about reestablishing the balance of the road system and the use of the transport system in cities, taking as reference the adoption of specific guidelines based on the city logistics design. This should be a relevant issue to be observed by transport planners when designing urban transport systems.

Figure 2 presents an overview of the key agents involved in the urban distribution of goods (shippers, cargo transporters, consumers, and public authorities). This representation establishes a partnership relationship between key agents within the market structure in which economic activities are the elements responsible for its support.

Figure 2.

Key agents in city logistics: Source: Taniguchi et al. [25].

According to Figure 2, it is essential to have a partnership and full integration between the different key agents that participated in the vision of urban logistics in the distribution of goods. This allowed the desired efficiency to be achieved in logistical operations for loading and unloading goods in urban centers, aiming to carry out economic activities that supported the market, bringing direct benefits to society.

Therefore, it is essential to carry out research, so that important data can be obtained that, after due analysis, allows key agents to carry out specific actions using appopriate logistic operations that can lead to the desired efficiency of distribution and delivery of goods in the main Brazilian cities.

5. Urban logistics guidelines

This work sought to understand the problem of distributing goods in urban centers, which is normally carried out by road transport. With this knowledge, it was possible to identify the problems and impacts caused by road transport in the loading and unloading function of goods to supply cities. With this, it was possible to note that it is still necessary, in Brazil, to create a specific public policy that treats urban cargo logistics as a fundamental element of urban planning.

5.1 Development for proposing guidelines

The advancement of the study presents the city logistics/urban logistics concept as a new element of transport planning, capable of balancing the transport system of cities with the social costs involved, which has been used on a large scale in Europe since the end of the 1990s, with success in several cities aiming at the efficiency of urban distribution of goods.

The BESTUFS project was developed in Europe, initially between 2000 and 2003, with the aim of identifying and disseminating best practices in relation to urban freight transport. At the end of 2004, the first BESTUFS Project Report [26] was compiled, and the second BESTUFS Project at the end of 2007 [27], which served as a reference for new initiatives, adopting city logistics with the purpose of making the distribution of goods efficient in the main European urban centers, having been tested in some European cities such as Rome, Stuttgart, Paris, and others with positive and successful results regarding the efficiency of urban distribution of goods.

In Brazil, projects and experiences using the urban logistics concept were developed, after the analysis of Sanches Junior [28]. It is observed that it is necessary to propose urban logistics guidelines for planning cargo movement in cities, and that it constitutes a complement to the general guidelines established in PNMUS/2004 [29], and in Federal Law No. 12,587/2012 [30]. So, it is necessary to prepare and complete the urban mobility plan and master plan, in accordance with the reference notebook for preparing the urban mobility plan—PlanMob [31].

It is worth highlighting, therefore, that this work contributes to proposing guidelines for urban logistics at a time when Brazilian cities need to become efficient in the supply and distribution of urban cargo, through the adequate movement of goods in Brazilian urban centers, aiming to meet the purposes of urban mobility and sustainability of cities.

5.2 Understanding urban logistics guidelines

Urban logistics guidelines are understood as procedural standards that allow public managers to manage actions related to the supply and distribution of goods in urban centers, which include loading and unloading activities.

Urban cargo logistics, therefore, must contemplate the operability of the standards that are contained in the guidelines that must be part of the urban planning transport plan to promote the execution of the various economic activities that promote the development of cities.

Due to the gaps in the urban mobility plan (PlanMob) regarding specific guidelines related to urban load, in view of the nonspecification of such guidelines by the Ministry of Cities after the promulgation of Federal Law n° 12,587/2012 [30], which established the general guidelines of the National Urban Mobility Policy, it is necessary to establish guidelines within the master plans still under development in Brazilian municipalities. In this way, the proposed urban logistics guidelines are an opportunity to effectively establish conditions so that Brazilian urban centers can be efficient in the urban distribution of goods and thus contribute to an adequate and satisfactory quality of life for the population.

6. Proposed urban logistics guidelines

This study proposes urban logistics guidelines that allow the elaboration of urban planning within cities’ master plans, highlighting urban mobility and its sustainable development.

Figure 3 presents the process developed to propose urban logistics guidelines.

Figure 3.

Urban logistics guidelines for efficient distribution of goods in Brazilian cities.

6.1 Urban logistics guidelines

The urban logistics guidelines proposed here for the efficiency of goods distribution in Brazilian cities are based on the development of proposing guidelines shown in item 5.1 and the concept of city logistics emphasized by Taniguchi [32].

6.1.1 Guideline A: include the urban logistic operations in the cities’ urban planning

To meet the fundamental necessity of goods distribution in the cities, it is necessary and desirable that urban logistic is definitively inserted into the urban planning as a way of establishing the balance of the city transport system, aimed at improving the quality of life in society.

For the cities that already have developed their urban mobility Plan and do not have specific guidelines for urban logistics, this is an opportunity to review and adjust their master plan so that they can meet current and future sustainability needs toward promoting city development.

Benefits

This guidelines will effectively contribute to:

• Improved performance of the urban logistics activities

• The equilibrium of the urban transport system in cities

• Meeting the needs of cargo distribution through urban transport to satisfy the requirements of the PNMU provided for in law 12,587/2012

• The urgency of having appropriate solutions regarding the various impacts caused by road freight transport in order to meet the needs of consumers in cities due to the lack of public policies for this purpose

• New research and studies seeking to reduce the negative impacts caused by road freight transport on the city’s road system.

• Establishment of a modern urban transport system that provides an adequate quality of life for the population of cities as well as the implementation of various economic and social activities that allow the sustainability of cities

• Adoption of the city logistics concept with its appropriate concepts, in order to carry out urban logistics activities to promote urban mobility and the sustainable development of future cities

• Urban distribution of goods carried out efficiently, promoting the inclusion of logistical operations in the urban planning of cities, with emphasis on an efficient integrated transport system

6.1.2 Guideline B: promote relations between the private and government sectors to develop efficient urban logistics operations

The proposition of this guideline aims at the establishment of city logistics techniques that provide the integration between the private and government sectors with the involvement of key agents for an effective and successful implementation process.

Benefits

This guideline will effectively contribute to:

• The achievement of the urban logistics activities in cities

• The accurate and adequate planning of activities to be undertaken for the implementation of the city logistics technique in cities

• The adequacy and effective implementation of activities considered important for the management of urban logistics operations

• Elaboration of efficient urban planning, including transport systems that lead to effective application of PNMU guidelines

• The need to satisfy the wishes of society regarding solutions that seek the reduction of the impacts brought by road freight transport in cities, and that may lead to a condition of sustainability in the future cities

• The adequacy and improvement of the transport system in the establishment of conditions of use and benefit for population of the cities

• The possibility of applying the city logistics concepts, seeking to establish the condition of urban mobility and sustainable development for cities

• The implementation of the city logistics conception seeking as result the efficiency of goods distribution in the urban centers

6.1.3 Guideline C: promote the development of urban planning by those responsible for proposing the integration of cities’ transport systems

Given the importance of the freight in the cities as a key element for the development and growth of their economic activities, the supply and distribution of goods is of vital importance for the survival and maintenance of such cities.

So, we propose the guideline of “Promote the development of urban planning by those responsible for proposing the integration of cities’ transport systems.”

Benefits

This guideline will help to:

• Encourage an adequate road system to promote traffic fluidity and allow adequate urban mobility for pedestrians and road freight transport vehicles in cities

• Minimize negative impacts and their consequences in relation to the cities’ transport system that do not allow the population to have an adequate quality of life to achieve their objectives

• Encourage cities to have an integrated transport system, enabling lower costs for the population, allowing for appropriate urban mobility

• Allow the different types of cargo that are distributed and delivered in cities to have adequate treatment in accordance with the guidelines of the National Policy for Sustainable Urban Mobility

• Promote meeting the needs of the population of cities, seeking to obtain appropriate solutions that allow minimizing the different impacts caused by road freight transport in urban centers

• Encourage cities to have a more modern and updated urban transport system so that the needs of the population are met, contributing to the development of local activities and a better quality of life

• Encourage the adoption of the urban logistics concept as a way of promoting the efficiency of urban mobility in cities and their sustainable development

• Allow urban logistics actions to be adopted in the planning of the integrated urban transport system within the cities’ master plans to obtain the efficiency of the distribution of goods in urban centers

6.1.4 Guideline D: create specific measures and regulations to facilitate the operability of the road freight transport by means of urban freight vehicles

It has been observed that city authorities believe that urban freight vehicle regulations must require the creation of a new cargo vehicle that has the following mandatory items: a clean engine, noise reduction technologies to VUC standards, more vehicle handling and maneuvering, and easier loading and unloading of goods.

Benefits

The adoption of new rules for urban vehicle load will allow the following:

• Standardize the types of vehicles that will carry out loading and unloading activities within the city’s logistics operations, with emphasis on the movement of motorized cargo vehicles (trucks) with more than two axles, which lead to traffic congestion in cities, improving traffic flow on the road system

• Encourage the adoption of appropriate urban mobility in order to allow traffic fluidity, decongesting the city’s road system with the loading and unloading operations of heavy cargo vehicles (trucks) and seeking to minimize the impacts caused by their movement in urban centers

• Seek to develop more effective and efficient control of the impacts caused by VUCs that circulate in urban centers

• Monitor the routes followed by VUCs in the distribution and delivery of goods

• Verify the benefits obtained and the quality-of-life conditions that improve depending on the different activities carried out by cities for the development of their enterprises

• Improve the quality of life of the city’s population through an adequate urban transport system based on efficient regulation of the traffic system where VUCS circulate.

6.1.5 Guideline E: provide knowledge in urban logistics through the standardization of its concepts

The purpose of this guideline is to unify and standardize the knowledge of urban logistics and urban cargo, since there is an issue of lack of knowledge of such matters in various Brazilian geographic regions.

Benefits

This guideline will bring the following benefits:

• Standardization of knowledge of urban load for a greater understanding of the importance of the distribution of urban goods

• Increased efficiency of logistics operations in Brazilian cities with the aim of implementing urban logistics concepts effectively within the cities’ master plan

• Properly practice urban logistics operations in the road freight transport system

• Carry out the distribution and delivery of goods in cities, with the aim of encouraging the development of their economic and social activities

• Encourage adequate treatment of the loading and unloading of goods in urban city centers, in accordance with the guidelines of the National Urban Mobility Policy

• Practice urban logistics design appropriately, with the aim of allowing urban mobility to be sustainable for cities as well as the practice of their activities

6.1.6 Guideline F: encourage studies to learn and understand urban logistics design

This guideline aims to encourage studies to learn and understand urban logistics design of cities. Further studies and research need to be conducted about urban cargo and its relationship, importance, and benefits to the city activities.

Benefits

This guideline will bring the following benefits:

• Understanding of what urban logistics is by everyone who works with this activity, with the involvement of all key agents who intend to put their concepts into practice in logistics operations in cities

• Practice the urban distribution of goods through efficient use of urban logistics design in Brazilian cities

• Develop adequate planning for the urban transport system within the city’s master plan, based on the concepts of urban logistics, in order to allow efficient delivery of goods in urban centers

• Learn and understand more intensively what happens in the complexity of logistical operations used in loading and unloading goods within cities

• Know about urban freight transport as well as urban logistics and their effects on various activities in cities

7. Conclusions

This chapter showed urban logistics guidelines to improve the efficiency of goods distribution in the urban centers of Brazilian cities. The literature search on urban transport systems has identified the need to have the distribution of goods in urban centers carried out in a more appropriate and efficient way to provide greater benefits to the population of cities.

According to the literature consulted, it can be concluded that the practice of urban freight logistics in Brazil is being developed based on the negative externalities created in the urban transport system due to population growth, the demographic expansion of cities, and the demand for urban mobility and sustainable urban development.

The city logistics conception, which has been successfully used in several cities around the world, is a field of knowledge that aims to globally optimize logistics operations in urban areas and that can bring relevant benefits in its practice to Brazilian cities.

Current public policies adopted in urban planning within the cities’ master plans require specific guidelines for urban logistics so that the efficiency of distribution and delivery of goods desired by society can be achieved.

The gap of several years that distances Brazil from Europe and more developed countries on other continents, regarding urban cargo logistics, indicates that appropriate solutions can be obtained for this issue. Administrators (public authorities in their different instances) must recognize the importance of this activity for the development of Brazilian cities, together with other participants who must be part of the process of urban logistics initiatives (city logistics), so that there is effectively adequate planning for the urban distribution of goods in Brazilian cities.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.