Author archives

Delivery poverty: should we be worried?

New delivery services are popping up like mushrooms. Dutch Jumbo is going to deliver with Gorillas. Bol delivers with its own delivery bikes, and HelloFresh is stronger than ever. However, critics argue that all this will not work out. Home delivery will never be profitable. The costs are too high, and competition is cut-throat. However, …

Research: ‘sorry we do not deliver to your area’

The British grocery retail sector is experiencing rapid growth in online ordering for home delivery, resulting in considerable supply-side investment in delivery and fulfilment infrastructure. For retailers with a physical store network, assets typically utilise larger format stores as delivery and fulfilment hubs. Proximity to the store network and delivery infrastructure capacity thus drives the …

EcoLogistics: focusing on city logistics challenges in India

As Indian cities compete on various parameters such as Swacch Survekshan, Ease of Living, Municipal Performance Index, etc., they do not always consider the impact of growth on their ability to move goods effectively. More people and commercial activity increase the demand for goods and services while at the same time increasing competition for scarce …

Research: Citywide parcel deliveries via crowd shipping minimizing efforts for crowdsourcers

Most current crowdsourced logistics aim to minimize systems cost and maximize delivery capacity, but the efforts of crowdsourcers such as drivers are almost ignored. In the delivery process, drivers usually need to take long-distance detours in hitchhiking rides based package deliveries. In a new paper by Cheng et al. (2022), researchers propose an approach that …

Study Delivery Platforms Europe: our workers want flexibility

Some policymakers and unions have challenged the “gig economy” model of engaging independent workers and call for a reclassification of independent platform workers as employees. This policy shift would imply a move from a flexible work model, where couriers decide when and where to work, towards an inflexible work model, where the platforms or other …

EU: cities along TEN-T network must support zero-emission city logistics

To support the transition to cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission adopted four proposals that will modernize the EU’s transport system. By increasing connectivity and shifting more passengers and freight to rail and inland waterways, by supporting the roll-out of charging points, alternative refueling …

Can local stores beat quick commerce? Yes!

Supermarkets are essential for our local shopping streets. They provide traffic. The supermarket customer also buys from the specialty stores in the street. With the loss of local ‘brick-and-mortar’ sales, first online food and non-food sales, but now also by quick commerce companies like Gorillas and Getir, supermarkets and later the other stores will not …

The Road Freight Zero initiative

Road freight currently generates 15% of European CO2 emissions. About 70% of those emissions come from medium- and heavy-duty trucking (MDT/HDT). These are the hardest-to-abate segments. Nevertheless, there is a growing consensus that the zero-emission (ZE) truck industry is on course to deliver competitive business cases for the decarbonization of these fleets – through battery …

NYC Council passes bills to curb online-delivery truck chaos

NYC Council members approved measures designed to reduce traffic chaos caused by trucks delivering goods purchased online. One of the moves aims to siphon off dedicated curb space for the likes of Amazon and UPS. The legislation requires the city Department of Transportation to institute loading-only parking spots in each neighborhood and develop “micro-distribution centers.” …