Taking Logistics Service Providers into Account in Industrial Classifications

Abstract

This expansion of logistics beyond the boundaries of the firm is illustrated by innovative new practices between firms, suppliers, retailers, and service providers. In this respect, many articles tend to present logistics service providers (LSP) in the form of taxonomies, and to highlight their evolution with the help of representative figures. However, there are doubts about the origin and credibility of these figures, because LSP are not clearly identified in the international industry classifications on which they are based. The author’s aim is to identify the community of LSP, and 4PL in particular, as it is most immaterial. At first, the chapter briefly reviews the literature on LSP classifications and their limitations when it comes to taking 4PL into account. It then proposes a methodology to address this problem, which is tested through an empirical study, leading to formulate a new definition of 4PL based on the taxonomy, which is discussed at last.