To local and regional Dutch authorities, the localization of city distribution centers near the center of cities seems a rather good instrument both to counter the social costs of urban goods transportation and to enlarge the efficiency of urban goods distribution. In this paper, the phenomenon of city distribution centers is discussed at a theoretical and planning level. The concept is positioned within recent changes in logistics towards product channel logistics. Against this background, the intentions and outlines of a Dutch experiment of creating city distribution chantries are presented. Japanese Ministry of Construction and OECD/Road Transport Research Programme held the seminar on "future road transport systems and infrastructures in urban areas" in Chiba, Japan on 4th - 6th June 1991 sponsored by the Japanese organizing committee.
Abstract