U.S. city logistics teams don’t need to wait for a perfect “European-style” Zero- or Low-Emission Zone authority to start decarbonizing urban freight. The key lesson from the Urban Freight Lab’s 2025 framework is that many Z/LEZ outcomes can be achieved with tools cities already control, if those tools are combined into a deliberate package and implemented with strong governance.
Start by being precise about your intent: are you trying to reduce tailpipe emissions, cut curbside conflicts, improve safety, or all of the above? Define what success means in measurable terms (e.g., fewer high-emitting trips into a district, less double-parking, reduced dwell time, improved PM2.5 near sensitive receptors), and communicate those outcomes clearly to the public and industry.
Next, build a balanced program using both “push” and “pull” levers rather than betting on a single policy. On the push side, access restrictions are often the most immediately available. Time-of-day delivery windows, vehicle size/weight rules, and district-specific curb regulations can meaningfully reduce the presence of the most disruptive freight movements in the most constrained places; the French Quarter approach in New Orleans is a valuable reference for protecting sensitive areas while preserving deliveries.
Fees are the second push lever and work best when they manage demand rather than raise revenue. Congestion-based charging, illustrated by New York’s model, can shift trip timing, consolidate loads, and discourage the least efficient vehicle movements, especially when paired with transparent, limited exemptions.
Pull measures make the transition feasible and politically durable. Incentive programs should target operational barriers, not just vehicle purchase price: support for depot charging upgrades, structured pilots for zero-emission delivery equipment, and credits for off-peak or consolidated deliveries can accelerate adoption, as Portland’s zero-emission delivery zone pilot suggests. Shared-space strategies are the other pull lever and are frequently underestimated in freight planning.
Designing streets and curb space to reduce conflicts (clear loading geometry, predictable freight windows, and realistic enforcement) can make low-emission delivery modes (including smaller vehicles and cargo bikes) work in practice; Washington, DC’s Wharf district shows how public-realm design and freight access can coexist when planned together.
Finally, treat implementation as a multi-year change program, not a one-off project. Collaborate early and often with carriers, receivers, and property managers to align rules with real operating constraints and electrification timelines, and avoid designing policies around only the largest fleets. Set a roadmap with milestones, run pilots long enough to capture seasonal variability, and plan from the start for scaling (data standards, enforcement processes, and customer support for exemptions and corrections). Most importantly, mobilize a whole-of-government delivery team (transportation, sustainability, public health, enforcement, procurement) so the policy, curb design, and operations reinforce each other rather than compete.
Also read: Zero-Emission Zones: No Regret or False Promise?
Source: Urban Freight Lab