by Walther Ploos van Amstel
In mid-2026, the Netherlands will implement a truck toll system for all motorways, several national roads (N-roads), and certain local roads near major cities. The toll will affect all trucks over 3.5 tons, regardless of whether they have a Dutch or foreign license plate. A key part of this policy is the revenue recycling scheme, …
Transport is becoming more complex daily, from electrification and an aging workforce to stricter regulations and rising customer expectations. Companies that want to stay ahead must gain better control over their people and fleet. Most of the Time is Spent In the City Even though drivers might cover 80% of their distance on highways, they …
Last-mile delivery is under increasing pressure. With booming e-commerce, growing urban congestion, and mounting sustainability targets, cities struggle to keep deliveries efficient, affordable, and clean. This thesis investigates how optimization models can help last-mile logistics adapt, balancing operational efficiency with environmental and regulatory demands. A recent Ph.D. Thesis by Pinar Ozyavas addresses the issues around optimizing …
Land scarcity near major Dutch cities is becoming a serious challenge for governments, developers, and occupiers—especially for businesses involved in last-mile logistics and local services. These “caring businesses” are essential for maintaining urban life, yet they’re increasingly pushed out by housing development and the repurposing of commercial areas. As urban populations grow and land becomes …
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 …