THIS PAPER DISCUSSES CHANGES IN PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMER GOODS TO RETAIL OUTLETS IN THE UK DURING THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND EXAMINES THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE BRITISH ROAD NETWORK. THE NATURE AND REASONS FOR THE CHANGES IN PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION ARE ANALYSED, AND LIKELY FUTURE TRENDS ARE CONSIDERED. THE PRINCIPAL TRENDS IN ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION TO RETAIL OUTLETS HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE: (1) AWAY FROM SUPPLIER-CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS TOWARDS RETAILER-CONTROLLED NETWORKS: (2) AWAY FROM DISTRIBUTION BY SUPPLIERS THEMSELVES TOWARDS DISTRIBUTION BY EXTERNAL CONTRACTORS. CHANGES IN PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION IN RETAILING ARE BRINGING MAJOR CHANGES IN THE USE OF FREIGHT TRANSPORT, ESPECIALLY BY INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLES USED. AS A RESULT, THE WHOLE DISTRIBUTION OPERATION IS BECOMING MORE DEPENDENT ON, AND MORE ABLE TO USE ADVANTAGEOUSLY, THE MOTORWAY AND PRIMARY ROUTE NETWORK: FOR EXAMPLE, JOURNEY TIMES OF DISTRIBUTION VEHICLES ARE BECOMING MORE PREDICTABLE. THE MOVE TO CONTRACT DISTRIBUTION CREATES A BETTER MARKET FOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, THUS ENABLING DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS TO REACT AND ADJUST MORE EASILY TO CHANGES IN THE ROAD NETWORK. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF APPRAISING THE VALUE OF THE BENEFITS TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES OF MAJOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS UNDERESTIMATE THE 'BUSINESS POTENTIAL' THAT THEY RELEASE. THIS PAPER IS A SUBSTANTIALLY REVISED EDITION OF A PAPER PUBLISHED IN SEMINAR G OF THE PTRC TRANSPORT AND PLANNING SUMMER ANNUAL MEETING, UNIVERSITY OF BATH, FROM 7-11 SEPTEMBER 1987. VOLUME P294 1987, P19-29 (SEE IRRD 816304).
Abstract