The national “Marchandises en ville” programme launched in 1993 has generated debate on the subject of goods transportation: urban logistics, regulations, urban logistics platforms, and delivery vehicles. New organisations are being set up to deal with economic, operational, urban planning, social and environmental issues. The approach has therefore become system-based and involves multiple partners. The initiative revolves around three guiding ideas: a knowledge base, sharing knowledge through consultation, experimenting within the framework of public/private sector partnerships.