1. Transport and logistics

1.1 Definitions. Logistics approach

Academic and professional definitions of logistics are numerous and disparate. Most are relevant, but refer to a particular aspect of the question, unless we define logistics, not by its substantive content, but by its very general aims ("making the right product available, in the right place and at the right time, at the lowest cost").

Other key words in the transport vocabulary are also polysemous: as we have seen with "freight", we can easily see with "network". The multiple meanings of the word logistics have emerged over time, and a chronological taxonomy can be drawn up....