Comparative North American and European Gateway Logistics: The Regionalism of Freight Distribution

The global freight distribution system has been impacted by convergence in terms of
technology, infrastructure, modes and terminals. Still, in spite of strong converging forces, it
can be argued that logistical practices are far from being uniform. This paper analyses the
regionalism in freight transport systems by providing a comparative analysis of gateway
logistics practices in North America and Europe. It is demonstrated that Europe and North
America are not walking the same paths when it comes to the configuration of transport and
logistics networks, via operational decisions and the setting of a regulatory framework. The
attributes of gateways, corridors, hinterlands, regulation, governance, value chains and labor
provide an analytical framework to understand the regionalism of freight distribution in the
North American and European contexts, as well as anywhere else.