Abstract
Physical distribution in Japan is characterized by smaller scale, high frequency, and its complexity caused by demand of consumers and competition in business fields. There are business practices that contribute to inefficient distribution. As a result, excessive distribution services that ignore efficiency and environment are provided, causing inefficient freight traffic, particularly an increased load on road traffic, traffic congestion, and environmental problems. For these reasons, this study was undertaken to clarify existing conditions in order to identify business practices that reduce the efficiency of freight transport which they cause in these fields by surveying existing research and interviewing members of some companies, and based on these findings, clarifying improvement measures that will contribute to greater efficiency. In addition, existing statistics were studied, clarifying how effectively the improvement of business practies would reduce load on freight traffic.
