The paper analyses the process that should guide the definition of a city logistics plan moving from the indications provided by the large literature on this topic. Moving from several literature findings that pushed to defined city logistics theories, the process to follow for designing city logistics plans is investigated focusing on a real test case. In particular, the paper thinks back over the implementation of the city logistics plan in the Calabria region (Italy), a region with few experience in city logistics. According to literature overview and the sustainability goals pursued by Regional Government, a set of city logistics measures were selected to address such goals. Therefore, first paper summarizes the methods, models, and indications coming from the application field, subsequently focus is on the interconnected process to study and to implement city logistics. Finally, the implementation process of city logistics plan is specified and the real case of Calabria Region is discussed.