This chapter examines the spatial patterns of freight and logistics activities and the planning and policy issues associated with them, using Los Angeles as a case study. The rapid increase in the number of freight facilities in Los Angeles in recent decades is discussed. An important aspect of the geography of the logistics industry in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is identified: “logistics sprawl”, which is the spatial deconcentration of logistics facilities and distribution centers. Local governments give explicit consideration to logistics activities, especially for the jobs and tax revenues they can generate in a time of economic difficulties. Two cities are examined in detail: one is a traditionally industrial city close to the downtown area, the other is a sprawling community of the “Inland Empire,” east of the L.A. metro area. Both cities tell the story of the seemingly inescapable rise in the importance of the warehousing/logistics industry in the economic life of working class areas, raising questions about the pros and cons of logistics activities for local communities.
