Along with private traffic, freight transport and distribution is one of the main cause of energy consumption, harmful gas emissions and noise in urban areas, contributing to rise the negative impacts on the quality of life and the environment in the European cities.
Urban areas, and the inner areas of historic cities in particular, are increasingly under pressure not only from private traffic but also from major flows of goods traffic, frequently characterised by low load ratios and still use of non-zero emissions vehicles.
For these reasons, by now the adoption of infrastructures and systems tailored to a correct and efficient management of Urban Logistics is increasingly considered – in most countries and especially in Europe – as a key factor in the improvement of urban mobility.