Monthly archives: November, 2024

System-level impacts of electrification of road freight transport system: a dynamic approach

Electrification offers a promising pathway for decarbonizing the road freight transport system. Assessing the impact of electrification on the road freight transport system requires understanding the dynamics from a system-level perspective. Isolated technical or financial analyses, such as comparing the total cost of ownership between electric and diesel trucks, are helpful but only reflect limited …

Amsterdam starts ‘klushub’ for engineers

Approximately 12,000 vans enter the city daily via the Amsterdam A10 Ring Road, around 15% of which are from service logistics companies. The pilot project with service hubs aims to explore how these hubs can help reduce traffic congestion, parking issues, and air pollution in the city. A pilot project will begin with a ‘klushub‘ …

Understanding delivery drivers’ parking preferences in city logistics

Parking for loading and unloading in urban areas is minimal, requiring shared use among various users. Despite its importance, delivery drivers’ attitudes and preferences regarding parking in city environments have not been extensively studied. A recent paper addresses this gap by analyzing survey data from delivery drivers in the northeastern United States. Using stated preference …

New ways of collecting urban freight traffic data and applications for urban freight policies and research

The current state of data on urban logistics traffic patterns is inadequate. The available data are often limited, inconsistent, outdated, and costly. Recent research explored innovative methods for collecting urban freight data and making it accessible to policymakers and researchers. It focuses on three case studies: Rotterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), and Barcelona (Spain). These case …

Dutch National government wants to ‘pause’ zero emission zones

Dutch Secretary of State for the Environment, Jansen, has not ruled out the possibility of reversing the zero-emission zones. The government will soon decide whether to delay certain municipalities’ zero-emission zones for delivery vans and trucks. “Municipalities have the right to implement these zones on January 1st, but we have the authority to steer them …

Spatial participatory planning for urban logistics: a GIS-enhanced real-time spatial Delphi approach

Effective urban logistics planning is essential for managing infrastructure and transportation networks, helping to reduce the negative impacts of last-mile deliveries and promoting city sustainability. Among various supply chain management tasks, choosing strategic locations for logistics facilities—such as automated parcel lockers and smart loading bays—in urban areas is particularly significant. However, decision-making in this area …

Last but not least: a paradoxical sustainability exploration in last-mile delivery and city logistics

As societal challenges intensify and business practices shift, Helleke Heikkinen’s thesis encourages a fresh perspective on sustainability in last-mile delivery (LMD) and urban logistics. It calls upon managers, policymakers, and researchers to engage in collaborative discussions and adopt a paradoxical approach to sustainability. In an age of rapid urbanization and the rise of e-commerce, the …

Managing circular flows requires more than just a digital materials passport

During a consortium meeting of the Circular Foam research project, there was a vigorous debate about digitalization in the circular supply chain. Participants view digitalization as a critical factor for success (alongside other crucial aspects such as regulation and technology). But what exactly does digitalization mean for circularity? There are barriers to digitalization for large-scale, …

Wheel of change: a systematic literature review on innovation in micro-mobility

Urban transportation is evolving rapidly with advancements in micro-mobility, driven by sustainable infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and compact electric vehicles. Entrepreneurs leverage these innovations to create new transportation solutions while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. A recent study conducts a comprehensive literature review to identify opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship within micro-mobility. It examines …