Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to make clear of the structure of physical distribution industry in the European Union (EU) and to analyze the influence of policies for physical distribution of the EU and integration of the EU market. The physical distribution industry in the EU is characterized by the combination of a large number of small trucking companies and a small number of large freight forwarders and small package carriers that have European wide networks. The structure of the industry is greatly influenced by the common policy such as “liberalization and harmonization” and “sustainable mobility” and shippers needs for wider networks of distribution. The important trends of the structural changes are more efficient transport by deregulation and abolition of the border, progress of the bipolarization trough market competition and the possibility of rail transport by the promotion policies for rail freight and combined transport.
