ABSTRACT
There is much discussion in the literature about urban freight 'problems'. This chapter discusses six objectives, describing what is meant be each of them, and discussing the ways in which they are experienced by the various participants in the urban freight process. These include: economic objectives, efficiency objectives, road safety objectives, environmental objectives, infrastructure objectives, and urban structure objectives. An important objective of freight policy is to develop and improve the freight system towards an improvement in the regional, state or national economy. The critical importance of examining trade-exposed industries in any consideration of economic objectives in urban freight was also highlighted in a study undertaken in London, England. Urban freight involves a great variety of activities and vehicle operations, ranging from full truckload to individual parcels and letters and from large combination vehicles to small passenger type vehicles. Many urban freight shipments pass through a terminal at some point in their delivery.
