Functions and Benefits of Truck Terminals

Functions and Benefits of Truck Terminals Functions and Benefits of Truck Terminals

Japan Motor Terminal Co., Ltd. manages four Public truck Terminals in the outer circumference areas of Tokyo. Public Truck Terminal has many functions; base of transportation between cities, base of freight collection and delivery inside Tokyo, transit base for the entire nation, and easing of traffic congestion and redevelopment of cities.

In recent years, physical distribution in Japan has been significantly changing, such as just-in-time and more-frequent, smaller-amount delivery, and the growth of consumer distribution represented by door-to-door courier delivery service. We will respond to the expectations by tackling new projects that meet such changes in physical distribution, while remaining centered on truck terminal operations, which are of a highly public nature, and through enrichment of high-standard service.

Base of Transportation between Cities

Truck terminals play an active role day and night, as a base for large-volume truck transportation between cities. The amount of freight flowing in and out is the largest between Tokyo and the Hanshin district, and freight from the entire nation ― from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south ― is gathered at terminals, and freight collected inside Tokyo is organized as units and transported on a mass scale to various places throughout Japan.

Base of Freight Collection and Delivery inside Tokyo

Freight transported in large amounts by large-size trucks and trailers from various places in Japan is assorted at truck terminals and promptly delivered to various places in Tokyo. The majority of this freight is living consumption goods that are directly connected to people’s everyday living such as clothes, books, household electric appliances, pharmaceuticals, and food products.

Transit Base for the Entire Nation

A truck terminal is a meeting place of a network of routes from various places in Japan; as such, freight that moves through Tokyo from one local area to another is transited inside the terminal premises. Thus, truck terminals contribute to rationalization of truck transportation and easing of traffic congestion in cities.

Easing of Traffic Congestion and Redevelopment of Cities

Truck terminals ease traffic congestion by reducing overlapping, mixed, and multi-transfer transportation in cities, through integration and relocation of small-scale terminals that are established haphazardly in city center areas. They also greatly contribute to redevelopment of city center areas, such as converting the usage of and abolition of existing small-scale logistics facilities, and more effective usage of vacated land.

Functions and Benefits of Truck Terminals Functions and Benefits of Truck Terminals

Logistics Center

The Logistics Center is a facility developed in accordance with the Law Concerning the Development of Built-up Areas for Logistics Business. With the purpose of facilitating more efficient road traffic and the enhancement of the logistics function, the purpose of this project is to move the logistics facilities such as wholesale stores, warehouses, truck terminals, etc., located in the center of the city to new locations on the boundary edges of the ward area, where access can be obtained readily to the node of the Metropolitan Expressways and major loop roads. All the related facilities are to be integrally located in the specified district to form an efficient logistics center.

The Metropolitan Government was, according to the “Basic Policy on the Improvement of Logistics Facilities in Tokyo Metropolis”, as devised in December 1966, to consolidate logistics centers in 5 districts of the south, northwest, north, east and southwest.

The four centers of the south, northwest, north and east are already completed and have begun functioning. The Southwest Center is under study.