Category «Research»

Green crowd-shipping: critical factors from a business perspective

Crowd-shipping implies involving nonprofessional operators in transporting goods. While its financial benefits are easy to grasp, its environmental implications depend on the transportation mode used and whether trips are dedicated or non-dedicated. One approach to making crowd-shipping services more environmentally friendly involves utilizing public transportation, which is less polluting, as the primary mode of transportation, …

New York City launches LockerNYC

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez launched LockerNYC. This free pilot program will utilize lockers installed on public sidewalks throughout multiple boroughs to allow New Yorkers to receive secure package deliveries. The pilot will be in place for a year, with the potential to be …

Research: SMEs preparing for zero-emission zones

A new paper by Breda University of Applied Sciences discusses shippers’ and carriers’ preparations for zero-emission zones and potential solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Netherlands. Zero emission zones (ZE) are drawing nearer, emphasizing the increasing importance of carriers and shippers navigating municipal regulations effectively. Consequently, there’s a rising trend of students collaborating with …

SENATOR platform reaches technological maturity

The SENATOR project has achieved the technological maturity that allows it to start the most operational phase of pilots in 2024 and test its advanced technology, based on artificial intelligence, to improve city logistics in two Urban Living Labs, in Zaragoza (ES) and Dublin (IE). SENATOR is led by Correos and aims to make last-mile delivery more …

Dutch plan to use railways for city logistics

There are opportunities for combining passenger and freight transport in passenger trains. The Dutch Ministry of IenW and ProRail have commissioned TU Delft, TNO, and Royal HaskoningDHV to investigate the feasibility. The study indicates that implementation could be possible from 2030 (until 2050). We need to approach mobility differently in terms of space and energy …

Effects of freight curbside management on sustainable cities

Managing freight activities at curbsides has become a contentious issue as various stakeholders compete to access public urban space. While previous research has proposed solutions to alleviate conflicts arising from freight-related space use, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of how these interventions contribute to cities’ sustainable development goals. A new study presents …

The retailer’s perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centers (UCCs)

A new paper examines the role of supportive policies and value-added services that may incentivize retailers to use an urban consolidation center (UCC). The methodology is a case study of Edinburgh, Scotland, based on semi-structured interviews with 30 retailers. Results show that retailers are generally not positive towards using UCCs, and the services that they …