by Walther Ploos van Amstel
How do local governments in England view the future of low-carbon last-mile logistics? A recent study sheds light on the views of 35 local authorities and offers a deeper understanding of what’s needed to make sustainable urban freight a reality. The key takeaway? Behavior change and collaboration may be more powerful than technology alone—though far …
Urban freight models are crucial in managing city logistics, yet they often fall short in construction transport. Unlike regular freight flows driven by economic activity and consumer demand, construction logistics are shaped by a unique mix of project-specific and local contextual factors. Traditional freight models, which rely on high-level economic indicators, struggle to deal with …
In a McKinsey Talks Operations podcast episode, Sanjit Biswas, CEO and co-founder of Samsara, joins McKinsey’s Renee Jackson to explore how AI and digital solutions revolutionize logistics and supply chains. Samsara, a provider of AI-driven tools for physical operations, helps companies in logistics, construction, utilities, and government sectors to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Biswas …
Most research on shared mobility—bike sharing, car sharing, and e-scooter services—has focused on users: what makes people try these services and what drives adoption. But what about the providers? Why do they choose to launch in one city over another? This study by the University of Antwerp flips the script by exploring shared mobility companies’ …
The strategic design of city logistics networks is fundamental to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. Key dimensions of this strategic design include network structure, mode selection, fleet composition, governance, service design, regulatory adaptation, and digital infrastructure. The network is determined by balancing high service standards, economic efficiency, optimized network configuration, and market responsiveness. Network Structure …
As part of the EU-funded URBANE project, a demonstration was done on March 6, 2025, at the Phillipp-Reis-Straße tram stop in Karlsruhe. The research initiative explored innovative approaches for sustainable and efficient parcel delivery, specifically by integrating tram services with an autonomous delivery robot. URBANE stands for Upscaling Innovative Green Urban Logistics Solutions Through Multi-Actor …
The DELPHI project aims to tackle key challenges in last-mile delivery and urban logistics—such as high costs, environmental impacts, data fragmentation, and stakeholder misalignment—by integrating passenger and freight transport through a cross-modal, multilevel governance model. Central to the project is the development of a Federated Network of Freight and Passenger Platforms designed to improve data …
The first quarter of 2025 proved challenging for the EU’s commercial vehicle market, marked by significant declines in key markets. Sluggish economic growth, lower prior order intake, and the complex regulatory landscape contributed to the business uncertainty. Vans Diesel was the preferred choice for new van buyers in the European Union (EU) in Q1 2025. …
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly central focus in urban mobility and transport planning. In addition to responding to the impacts of climate change, European cities and regions are now also required to align with evolving policy frameworks, such as the revised TEN-T regulation and the broader goals of the European Green Deal. These developments were …
When it comes to shopping, you might think that living close to stores would make people less likely to shop online. However, recent research surprisingly suggests otherwise. Based on data from a recent study, we found that proximity to a single store doesn’t significantly affect whether someone chooses to shop online. However, being near a …