Revealing intercity connectivity of less-than-truckload logistics and associated determinants in Pearl River Delta

Understanding logistics networks is essential for revealing how production and trade are organized across urban and regional systems. However, limited research has explored less-than-truckload (LTL) logistics, which sustain frequent inter-city movements among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To address this gap, this study examines the spatial structure and determinants of the LTL logistics network in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. Using a reversed gravity model based on inter-city LTL route data from a digital freight platform affiliated with Alibaba Group, we analyzed how economic and infrastructural factors shape inter-city logistics connectivity. The results show that manufacturing value added exerts the strongest influence on inter-city linkages, particularly at destination cities, underscoring the dependence of LTL logistics on regional production systems. Cities with international trade and logistics gateway ports such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou can enhance connectivity by channeling flows toward inland manufacturing hubs. These findings demonstrate that port-to-industry LTL network in the PRD is co-shaped by industrial clustering, international port accessibility, and spatial distance, forming a hierarchical yet integrated regional logistics system. The findings highlight the critical role of LTL logistics and platforms and point to the need to address issues such as data sharing and the mitigation of inbound empty trips in regional supply chain planning.