The quality of transport logistics is now recognized as being vital to the success of many organizations. The ability to transport goods quickly, safely, economically and reliably is seen as vital to a nation's prosperity and capacity to compete in a rapidly globalising economy. Logistics has advanced significantly during since the 1980s as companies have appreciated the gains from such initiatives as limiting inventories, making use of "seamless" distribution services and taking advantage of advances in telecommunication and information technologies. Institutional changes, such as deregulation and privatization, have in many countries led to contexts in which these changes could take place. The integration of transportation into the production process through advanced information systems and the application of modern management techniques is now at the centre of logistics. This volume contains commissioned refereed papers that cover the main elements of transport logistics. The authors were selected from around the world and asked to provide critiques of their subject areas as well as a review of the state of the art and case study examples. These up-to-date contributions cover all the main areas of transport logistics, providing those in the field with current information whilst at the same time offering easy access for those who are new to the field and are seeking review material.
