Abstract
Prior to dealing with urban freight distribution, an overview is presented of the overall freight market and the existing trends in logistics from the point of view of environmental impacts. An illustration is given of the growing use of automobiles, to prove that this is the main problem to focus on. Subsequently the possibilities and limits of technological developments are given. The strategies for freight transport in urban areas are evaluated. The improvement of freight transport in urban areas will ask for a number of measures that are mentioned.