U rban logistics lies at the intersection of private industry and public life. That intersection is heavily traf cked, unpredictable, and richly complex. For those companies managing supply chains in dense cities, a sense of control may be elusive. In a warehouse, a logistics company or shipper can dictate how to use a space with precision and ef ciency. On a city block, however, one must contend with competing and pressing interests in every direction. “Urban areas are challenging for logistics because companies are trying to operate in an ef cient, cost-effective, competitive business manner in an area that’s lled with other people with other demands,” says Anne Goodchild, founding director of the Urban Freight Lab at the University of Washington. “In urban areas, you don’t build or manage the infrastructure, but you exist in it. You don’t control it, but you’re measured on how well you perform in it.”
January 2025 • Inbound Logistics 127
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