kassel_urb freight plat.pdf - Osmose

CASE STUDY
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City Logistik Kassel (Germany)
Topic
Freight and city logistics
Summary
This project started in 1994 and involves 7 forwarding companies in a co-operation
for delivering the inner city of Kassel. One neutral transport operator is employed to
carry out the operations.
This case study was collected in the framework of the Bestufs project.
Case Study
Introduction
Kassel has about 200,000 inhabitants. It is located in Northern Hessen on the
crossing of the A 7 (North-South Motorway) and A 44 (connection to the Ruhr area).
Main industrial activities are: automotive and transport industry, telematics and
software development, environmental and energy technology and culture and
tourism.
The implementation of an urban distribution centre was an integral part of the city
logistics approach in Kassel initiated by the forwarding association and the chamber
for industry and commerce Kassel. In the beginning of the project a series of studies
were carried out surveying the requirements, volumes and acceptance of a city
logistics approach.
Basic facts
A neutral city logistics operator delivers the inner city on behalf of the forwarding
companies involved. At 6.00 a.m. it starts the collection tour. About 5 vehicles are
used to collect the consignments delivered at the forwarders’ depots during the
night. At the urban distribution centre the consignments are bundled according to
the address of the consignees as well as to specific street corridors. At about 10.00
a.m. the urban delivery starts with two to three 7,5 tons vehicles. Usually two tours
are carried out per day (depending on the transport volumes). In average about 5 to
6 tons are to be transported via the urban distribution centre.
Users and stakeholders
The project was initiated by the forwarding association and the chamber for industry
and commerce Kassel. One neutral transport operator is employed to carry out the
operations, and 7 forwarding companies are involved in a co-operation for delivering
the inner city of Kassel.
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CASE STUDY
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Implementation set-up
The city logistics operator receives the transport volumes in the morning via e-mail.
The delivery takes place the same day. In case that a delivery cannot take place the
city logistics operator informs the respective forwarder (from whom he got the
transport order) via telephone. The processes of collection, commissioning, and
delivery are not technically supported and are taking place on the basis of receipts.
The services from the neutral operator (transport and transhipment) are being paid
on the basis of a specific city logistics tariff. The operator is invoicing his services
with each forwarder separately. According to statements and surveys carried out the
approach shows no significant change on the cost side for the forwarding companies
involved (neither benefit nor extra costs compared to the usual delivery services). No
specific institutional measures have been foreseen to support the approach.
Results
According to studies carried out the urban distribution centre is seen as unavoidable
if the goods bound for the city are to be bundled more efficiently, which is the main
aim of the Kassel city logistics scheme. The consignees in the inner city do not state
any differences in service quality compared to the former delivery scheme.
The main success of the scheme is that the transports can be bundled without any
extra costs or inconveniences for neither the involved companies nor the consignees.
On the other hand the general public benefits from fewer trips, thus fewer vehicles
and fewer emissions. The benefits of the involved transport operators and forwarders
are intangibles: the image of being an innovative and responsible company.
A success factor in the beginning of the scheme was the motivation of the partners
involved. Especially, the drivers of the neutral operator have to fulfil additional
service requirements of the consignees.
Web links
http://www.bestufs.net/
Author contact details
Author who did the material collection for BESTUFS:
Marcel Huschebeck, PTV
City or region
Kassel
Country
Germany
Submission date
2002
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