Empirical study on efficiency of regional freight logistics in China

Evaluating indicators about efficiency of regional freight logistics are set up through a careful review and summary of the relevant literature on regional freight logistics. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology is applied in the paper to evaluate the relative efficiency of 31 regions in China. By comparing the efficiency of the East Zone, the West Zone and the Middle Zone of China, it was ascertained that there is a great gap in the efficiency between the East Zone and the West Zone, and the efficiency decreases distinctly from the East Zone to the West Zone. It also shows that most inefficient regions are in the phase of increase in scale benefit, so the efficiency of many inefficient regions can be improved by adjusting the structure of input, especially by improving competition of the third partial logistics, service capability of logistics centre and the information system.