Identifying Solutions for Car Vehicle Deliveries in Urban Areas: A Case Study in Belo Horizonte (Brazil)

This study presents the results of an exploratory study to identify solutions for unloading car vehicles in retail stores in urban areas. The focus group technique was used to identify the goals and solutions by the government and logistics operators. The revealed preference research was applied to the retailers, presenting hypothetical scenarios based on the solutions indicated by the first group. The off-peak delivery, the internalization of the unloading operation and the implementation of a freight distribution center were evaluated. From the results analysis, off-peak delivery and the use of a distribution center were the most pointed options by retailers. The results indicate that it is possible to identify sustainable solutions, from the city point of view, to urban freight distribution, when all stakeholders are included in the discussion. Furthermore, the off-peak operation is an important alternative for delivery vehicles to retailers, associated with the use of a distribution center for stock maintenance.