Urban logistics planning and preparing for autonomous freight transport systems: Experiences from small and medium-sized Hungarian cities

Abstract

The study examines the logistics planning characteristics of small and medium-sized Hungarian cities with populations ranging from 10,000 to 100,000, with a particular focus on their preparedness for autonomous freight transport technologies. The research is based on both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The secondary research involves a synthesizing analysis of the international and domestic literature on urban logistics, as well as on the adaptation and application of autonomous vehicles. Building on the above, the primary research involves an online questionnaire survey examining the current practices of Hungarian municipal governments and their attitudes toward innovative technologies. The results show that the logistics planning practices of the responding Hungarian local governments are currently less strategic, and their involvement is typically lower here compared to other areas of local government. The research findings support the work of domestic decision-makers in sustainable logistics planning and provide all stakeholders in the sector with an overview of the characteristics of logistics planning in Hungarian cities.