Monthly archives: May, 2024

Unraveling the last-mile conundrum: autonomous delivery robots, cargo bikes, versus light commercial vehicles

A recent study addressed the growing need for efficient delivery services in the expanding e-commerce sector, focusing on real-life consumption data. It proposed a comprehensive modeling framework to evaluate the efficiency of various transportation modes, including Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), cargo bikes, and Autonomous Delivery Robots (ADRs). Drones were not included in this study. Utilizing …

What’s left of Europe’s quick commerce sector?

Turkish quick commerce startup Getir is leaving Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. Getir will concentrate exclusively on its domestic market, signaling a significant turning point for the business that once dominated the European speedy grocery sector — an industry swiftly transitioning from VC fascination to ridicule within a few brief years. With only a …

NYC to provide new incentives to reduce truck deliveries during busiest hours

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced new incentives to help reduce truck deliveries during the busiest hours to improve traffic safety, protect the environment, and combat daytime congestion and double-parking. The agency will allocate $6 million to incentivize businesses receiving deliveries overnight. NYC DOT’s Off-Hour Delivery program (OHD) will provide financial …

The majority of Scotland’s food delivery couriers feel unsafe at work

A new study highlighting the risks encountered by food delivery couriers reveals a majority feel ‘unsafe’ when at work. Led by Dr Pedro Mendonca from the Centre for Employment, Work and the Professions (CREWs) at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School, the 2-year project gathered feedback from 207 workers, including 33 women, employed in the food delivery …

Research: travel behavior of e-commerce customers

E-commerce has become an integral part of daily life for many consumers, with both purchase frequency and expenditure witnessing remarkable increases in recent years. A recent Belgian study highlights a notable transition from less frequent purchases (every 3 to 6 months and every 6 to 12 months) to more frequent ones (monthly and weekly). This …

Using Amsterdam waterways for city logistics

A recent study by Dutch TNO explores the potential of shifting transportation modes from roads to waterways to mitigate adverse externalities like CO2 emissions, congestion, and air pollution associated with last-mile construction logistics in urban settings. The investigation was carried out within the framework of the Amsterdam Vaart! project, where the transportation activities of sixteen …

CIDAUT uses artificial intelligence to monitor use of parking spaces

CIDAUT, in collaboration with the Valladolid City Council, is implementing various initiatives to enhance urban transportation, making it smarter and more sustainable. Among these initiatives, which encompass connectivity solutions and the decarbonization of mobility, researchers would like to introduce one focused on monitoring vehicles utilizing designated charge and discharge parking slots, particularly intended for last-mile …

Waste Management boosts profit by rerouting and replacing trash trucks

Waste Management is reaping the benefits of an ongoing effort to replace some of its trucks and reroute others in a more efficient manner. Waste Management initiated the use of software to optimize the routes of its drivers in the industrial sector. This sector involves collecting trash from dumpsters at various construction sites, which are often …

Ride-sourcing platforms thrive on socio-economic inequality

Limited market share data suggests that ride-sourcing platforms may thrive in environments characterized by socio-economic inequality. This phenomenon is likely due to the availability of cheap labor and a higher proportion of travelers willing to pay above-average prices for time savings and comfort. To investigate this relationship, TU Delft researchers utilized an agent-based simulation model …