Collaborative distribution: strategies to generate efficiencies in urban distribution - Results of two pilot tests in the city of Bogotá

Abstract

The urban freight distribution (UFD) processes represent externalities and inefficiencies to the community and the private actors involved. The enterprise collaborative approach has been implemented during the last decades as a solution to the referred problems. The aim of this study is to present the results of two pilot tests for collaborative logistics strategies carried out in Bogotá, Colombia. The tests were conducted to assess the collaborative logistics strategies’ efficacy in the reduction of congestion and contamination as well as their impact on companies’ efficiency. The initiatives evaluated were: (a) freight consolidation and (b) unload scheduling at retailers. In both cases, benefits were evidenced for the companies (-26% on average freight and + 83% on vehicles occupancy) as well as the community (-23.5% parked trucks on roads and -7% emissions). Nonetheless, the results do not possess statistical sufficiency. Further research could complement the factors and methodologies that facilitate organizational collaboration.

Keywords

• urban freight distribution
• logistics pooling
• collaborative distribution
• horizontal collaboration
• vertical collaboration
• pilot test