The operation of a city’s logistics system is associated with many problematic issues, for example, intense pollution and negative impacts on the environment, uneven intensity of traffic flows, and other problems. This article focuses on heavy transport because it causes disruptions in the supply system and affects timely customer service. Optimization processes are associated with route selection, deployment of logistics centers, and the need for cargo consolidation–de-consolidation, which leads to the possibility of using the PPP (public–private partnership) method in practice. A unique aspect of this research is related to the problems of the first and last mile and the use of elements of the “sharing economy”. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the problematic challenges of the first and last mile and the role and significance of heavy transport in urban logistics. For that purpose, in addition to an analysis of scientific sources, an expert survey was conducted and responses related to the questions on optimizing heavy traffic flows in city logistics were analyzed. The study data were processed using Kendall’s correlation coefficient, the concordance method, and the consistency coefficient. During analysis, using the average rank transformation to weights (ARTIW) method, the subjective normalized weights of the main factors that have the greatest influence on a city’s logistics system were determined. Groups of interested parties are also named separately, for whom the results of the study and the formulated decision may be relevant. Based on the results of the research, a recommendation was formulated for the development of small cargo collection and distribution services through self-service terminals located on the outskirts of cities. Proposals are presented to reorganize the system, provide details of new infrastructure elements and suburban terminals, and encourage for the use of environmentally friendly vehicles with a lower carrying capacity.

The article presents an analysis of academic literature in an attempt to identify the importance of the implementation of green logistics in road transportation. Areas of concern as well as solution and implementation opportunities are presented. A research of transportation companies was conducted in an attempt to understand the real situation regarding the implementation of green logistics measures. The research results are presented in the article. Solutions are provided in the form of a conceptual model for the implementation of green logistics measures in transportation organisations. Nowadays the interest in ecology, minimization of fossil fuel usage, and mitigation of harmful road transportation consequences is rapidly increasing. Eco-friendly vehicles, effective transportation system, application of advanced technologies and innovations should become the main factors in promoting the implementation of green logistics in the transportation sector to mitigate negative effects on the environment. In order to maintain their competitive advantage and customer satisfaction, transportation organisations should begin implementing the concept of green logistics in their businesses. The significance of the concept of green logistics can be observed on global, regional, and national levels. Business is still seen as the leader, responsible for initiation and implementation of ecological logistics principles. The implementation of green logistics is critically important; however, lack of funding and collaboration between the public and the private sectors prevent companies from adopting green logistics measures. Economic driving classes, employee education, electric and hybrid cargo-handling vehicles are some of the possible green logistics measures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in global supply chains with unforeseen and unpredictable consequences. However, the pandemic was not the only reason why supply chain risk management has become more crucial than ever before. In the last decade, the occurrence of previously merely theoretical risks has emphasised the importance of risk management in supply chains. This has increased interest in risk assessment and management, COVID-19 and other disaster impact studies and proposals for more stable and resilient supply chains. This article addresses the problem of transport risk in supply chains in the context of COVID-19. Particular attention is paid to quantitative approaches. Identifying and quantifying risks and modelling their interdependencies contribute to the stability of the supply chains. The analysis presents the current state of knowledge and can serve as a guide for further research. It highlights transport risk management in supply chain management as an important area of investigation. In light of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the article proposes an approach to transportation risk assessment based on quantitative assessment and interconnection of risk factors.

The continuously changing market of companies offering logistics services has challenged logistics organizations to adapt to the needs of service users and providers. Faster information processing offers new ways of communication with suppliers and optimization of distribution systems. Increasing information flows have an increasing potential to affect the management, structure, functioning and development of enterprises. The development of technological infrastructure and information technology systems by organizations allows service participants to exchange information, adjust information flows and restore relevant information through the use of technology, which poses new challenges for resource management. The level of innovation of production processes, productivity and the quality of products directly depends on the transmission of information and technology. To successfully work in the existing market, organizations must not only purchase IT systems or technologies but also constantly upgrade system applications, improve technologies or acquire brand-new IT systems. The article analyses the peculiarities of the impact of the development of technological infrastructure and its use as an instrument for the development of logistics organizations and quality assurance of logistics services. The quality research carried out allowed identifying the problems relating to technological infrastructure in logistics organizations.

Proper supply chain management helps to ensure business continuity considering the increased importance of globalization. Logistics processes play an important role in keeping the supply chain running smoothly, and warehouse management is one of the most important logistics activities. The movement of freight flows in the supply chain poses many challenges to the arrangement of sustainable processes at the international level. The stopping of these flows at warehouses and/or terminals temporarily and/or for longer periods of time is yet another challenge. In this respect, a number of analyses and studies have been conducted in the scientific literature to identify the most serious and frequent problems: lack of planning of work activities, partial accounting of the work performed, lack of timely accounting of the internal movement of goods within the warehouse, absence of a spare-parts management system, etc. On the other hand, warehousing processes have been analysed to identify certain efficiency gaps in freight flows within warehouses; thus, this article addresses this problem by applying guanxi principles. Using guanxi theory and practice to test various assumptions for efficient freight flow movement in warehouses, a study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods and expert judgment. Based on the results of the conducted empirical studies, guanxi philosophy can be concluded to have an impact on the efficient management of warehouse processes when goods are removed from a warehouse over 365 days with an annual daily loading flow rate of 103,490 t/m and a loading density of 280 kg/m³. This indicates that the application of guanxi principles is important, which reflects the intensity of the logistics processes of cargo flows and transport dynamics between guanxi and warehouse optimization.

The article examines road transport technological development processes through the prism of marketing. Technological development alternatives of road transport companies were analysed and evaluated according to the influence of marketing on the development and competitiveness of the company’s services. During the structural and technological development analysis, the marketing factors determining the components of the technological development process were determined. The analysis of scientific literature sources revealed the level of scientific problem research, which is associated with the notion that technology development is influenced by consumer demand, digital transformation, data availability, and complex processes in the logistics supply chain. When compiling the expert evaluation questionnaire, the criteria of the influence of marketing factors on the development of road transport technologies and the quality of the transport company’s vehicles were singled out. The research reveals that elements of the marketing strategy of transportation companies are elastically related to personalised customer expectations and automated customer choice tracking capabilities. The results can also include quick response to troubleshooting, CO₂ reduction measures, ensuring process continuity, improved safety, and demand planning. The article’s scientific novelty has been achieved by determining new elements of interaction between marketing and technology development in the transport company.