Advancing regional freight planning: A strategic policy perspective

This chapter reviews the field of regional freight planning, by examining the dynamics of economic regions and their innate relationship with policy. Economic regions may encompass a city and its surrounding hinterland, or multiple cities interconnected by related industries and production networks. Drawing from existing literature we adopt the term “region” to describe these distinct economic areas. Here, freight flows mainly reflect local production (such as resource extraction and manufacturing) and consumption (including consumer goods), while goods may also transit through highly-connected regions. These interactions occur within broader trade networks and supply chains. Our goal is to synthesise key findings from existing research related to regional freight planning. We explore how planning and freight policies at the regional level are interconnected.
While a wide variety of freight plans exist for review, the specific processes of coordinating regional freight planning has received less attention compared to equivalent issues in urban freight planning. Regional freight planning bridges the gap between globalised long-distance freight movements and the final “last mile” delivery within cities. By addressing activities at this level, we uncover opportunities for more sustainable freight practices. For instance, consider the proliferation of warehouses on the outskirts of cities—a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “logistics sprawl.” These warehouses reflect shifting patterns in freight movements around, into, and out of urban areas. Given their dual role in serving both regional cities and the broader hinterland, planning challenges must be tackled at the regional level. In summary, the exploration of regional freight planning sheds light on strategic approaches that address issues such as economic growth, environmental considerations, and efficient logistics systems.