The guide emphasizes that urban logistics traffic is extremely heterogeneous—ranging from courier, express, and parcel services to construction site supplies, commercial deliveries, and waste disposal logistics. It also points out that there is often a significant imbalance in the data available, particularly in cities: much of the traffic is not recorded transparently, and public authorities have only limited access to relevant information, as it is often held by private actors.

A key objective of the guide is to provide municipalities with practical guidance on how to systematically record and analyze their local logistics flows and incorporate them into their transport planning. Only with such a sound data basis can the desired mobility and climate transition be implemented in freight transport as well. Back in 2011, the European Union defined the goal of making urban logistics systems in larger centers largely CO₂-free by 2030 — a target that remains a binding political benchmark to this day.

The guide “Logistics in Figures” is aimed in particular at municipalities and municipal planning offices, thereby filling an important gap: it offers practical steps for data collection and use for the efficient, resource-saving, and public welfare-oriented design of inner-city logistics systems.

The guide was commissioned by the BMIMI, Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure, Section II – Mobility, Department II/7 – Logistics Coordination.