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There is a considerable degree of inefficiency relating to the transport of general freight within large metropolitan areas. Freight is either transported by hire and reward carriers or the business producing the product, known as ancillary or own account transport. As ancillary transport is not a core function of the business it is common that this task consists of small and moderate loads transported across urban areas mostly in small to medium sized trucks, that are often empty on the return trip.

This paper describes how analysis and modelling was used to design and conduct an evaluation of a shared network. In the model, high capacity freight vehicles operate frequently between Key Freight Areas (KFAs). Hubs are created at KFAs to transfer and tranship loads between vehicles to transport goods from shippers to receivers. The model investigates the potential for shared networks of general freight in urban areas to …