Freight, Logistics, & Supply Chain

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More than a third of US container trade moves through the major seaports in California: the Ports of LA and Long Beach and the Port of Oakland. With bulk cargo included POLA/LB alone carry 40% of the nation’s imports and exports in 2024. This activity is a huge economic driver for California, but also a source of myriad problems arising from congestion, energy use, and their associated emissions. The explosive growth of e-commerce has only intensified the economic benefits and their costs, with warehousing and last-mile delivery driving near-immediate access to goods for millions while driving innovative business models that stretch regulatory boundaries to meet increasing demand.

ITS-Irvine is at the forefront of research addressing these issues. We analyze existing data to understand and model goods movement. We develop cutting-edge technologies to collect new data where it doesn’t exist. We explore the possibilities and benefits of shifting California’s trucks to zero-emissions drivetrains and automated control while also considering the challenges to such a shift and how the costs might impact California’s broader economy. Explore the projects, publications and experts below. Subtopics in this area include:

Urban freight distribution
Intermodal freight transport
Logistics management and optimization
Supply chain resilience and sustainability
Data collection and modeling of goods movement

Lead Experts

Stephen Ritchie

Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Linda Cohen

Professor, Department of Economics • Professor, School of Law

Robin Keller

Professor Emerita, Merage School of Business (formerly School of Management)

Jean-Daniel Saphores

Professor, Department of Economics • Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering • Professor, Urban Planning and Public Policy • Director, ITS-Irvine