The purpose of this paper is to analyse the concept of outsourcing in as far as it is an excellent incentive to the development of transportation and the logistics operators sector. The article first identifies the reasons for the birth and growth of the phenomenon and the advantages and disadvantages which result from the outsourcing of some business activities. It then looks at the operations that are more frequently outsourced, the method of selection of the service provider and the concept of provider-client partnership - which constitutes the evolution of the outsourcing process. Finally, the Italian case is described.
