Moving from zero-emission to zero-impact city logistics

Up to now, the impact of city logistics on enhancing air quality within urban areas has been restricted. While the emphasis on adopting clean vehicles is beneficial for air quality, it is essential to address the creation of economically viable, essential, and health-promoting city centers and neighborhoods in formulating urban freight policies. The central focus …

Are automated parcel lockers more sustainable and efficient? Maybe…

Home deliveries are the preferred method of delivery for consumers today. But, due to the specific, costly nature of home deliveries together with changes within society e.g. people working longer and more flexible hours and the competition between logistics providers, new more sustainable alternatives are being implemented. Automated parcel lockers being such an alternative. Check …

Research: crowdsourced delivery has the potential to make the last-mile more efficient

The trend towards shorter delivery lead-times reduces operational efficiency and increases transportation costs for internet retailers. Mobile technology, however, creates new opportunities to organize the last-mile. In a paper from 2016 researchers from Erasmus University (NL) study the concept of crowdsourced delivery that aims to use excess capacity on journeys that already take place to …

Urban freight options for deliveries to nanostores in megacities

City logistics will become more complex and costly. The demand for city logistics grows because of urbanization. Most urbanization takes place in emerging economies leading, amongst others, to the rapid emergence of highly dense megacities. Research by Vrije Universiteit Brussels (B) looks at alternative urban freight options for deliveries to megacities