[ { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2014007647", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.120", "title": "Impact of the recent environmental policies on the freight transportation in Mexico City", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Liliana Lyons", "AngŽlica Lozano", "Francisco Granados", "Alejandro Lozano Guzmán", "Juan Pablo Antœn" ], "first_author": "Liliana Lyons", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The paper analyzes the impact of policies oriented to improve passenger public transportation and reduce emissions, on the traffic and emissions of Mexico City. Median and heavy trucks (over 3.5 tons) prohibition on the new BRT and trolleybus corridors are been implemented in Mexico City. We analyze the impact of such projects on the traffic, emissions and urban freight transportation. A macroscopic flow analysis (multimodal traffic assignment) for the estimation of flow and local emissions (NOx and CO) is used. Three scenarios area analyzed: current scenario, scenario with official prohibitions and scenario with real prohibitions. In order to compare the current scenario versus the other scenarios, a congestion index was used. The results do not show major impact on congestion index and emissions, but do on travel time for trucks. Medium and heavy trucks prohibition on arcs, belonging to the main freight transportation corridors, produces travel time increase (7%-9%) for these vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Index (typography)", "Traffic congestion", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Public transport", "Order (exchange)", "Business", "Travel time", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812005873/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392236765", "doi": "10.1108/ir-01-2024-0022", "title": "The role of robots in logistics", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-02-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Robert W. Bogue" ], "first_author": "Robert W. Bogue", "venue": "Industrial Robot the international journal of robotics research and application", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the growing role of robots in the logistics industry. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, which identifies key challenges facing the industry, this paper discusses robotic applications in warehouses, followed by sections covering transportation and delivery and conclusions. Findings The logistics industry faces a number of challenges that drive technological and operational changes. Robots are already playing a role within the warehouse sector and more complex applications have recently arisen from developments in artificial intelligence-enabled vision technology. In the transportation sector, autonomous trucks are being developed and trialled by leading manufacturers. Many major logistics companies are involved and limited services are underway. Last-mile delivery applications are growing rapidly, and trials, pilot schemes and commercial services are underway in Europe, the USA and the Far East. The Chinese market is particularly buoyant, and in 2019, a delivery robot was launched that operates on public roads, based on Level-4 autonomous driving technology. The drone delivery sector has been slower to develop, in part due to regulatory constraints, but services are now being operated by drone manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers. Originality/value This paper provides details of existing and future applications of robots in the logistics industry.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Robot", "Truck", "Business", "Originality", "Humanitarian Logistics", "Delivery Performance", "Engineering management", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Process management", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/ir-01-2024-0022" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367838509", "doi": "10.1109/sm57895.2023.10112569", "title": "Optimal Placement of Drone Delivery Stations and Demand Allocation using Bio-inspired Algorithms", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-03-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Feras Elsaid", "Enrique Torres Sanchez", "Yilun Li", "Alaa M. Khamis" ], "first_author": "Feras Elsaid", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The last-mile delivery problem has recently received more attention due to dramatic increase in e-commerce and one-day delivery options. One delivery method has been in the forefront of last mile delivery research: drone delivery. Particularly, hybrid truck-drone delivery systems which attempt to overcome the limitations of only using drones. Researchers have attempted to improve drone routing and scheduling, but not many have studied the required infrastructure, including drone stations for recharging and pick-up of packages. This paper tackles the placement of drone delivery stations using bio-inspired optimization algorithms. The solution framework consists of two stages. The first stage tackles the location planning problem of stations, while the second stage deals with the allocation of delivery demand to located stations. The conventional k-means algorithm is used as a baseline for the location planning problem, while the greedy algorithm is used as a baseline for the demand allocation problem. The results shows that the simulated annealing algorithm achieves a 14% reduction in total cost and 6.2× run time improvement, whereas the genetic algorithm achieves a reduction of 10% in total cost and 1.8× run time improvement.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Simulated annealing", "Last mile (transportation)", "Baseline (sea)", "Delivery Performance", "Real-time computing", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Greedy algorithm", "Genetic algorithm", "Routing (electronic design automation)" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/sm57895.2023.10112569" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389662635", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.645", "title": "Modelling shared logistics resources in loosely coupled software architectures", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Florian Peters", "Sabine Limbourg" ], "first_author": "Florian Peters", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This research is part of the City Line project, a collaborative initiative within Belgium aiming to promote collaboration between various logistics operators, from cargo bikes to trucks, while ensuring low emissions for last-mile deliveries in cities. The objective is to integrate all relevant information regarding shared assets into a digital collaborative logistics platform managed by a third-party logistics provider acting as a central decision-maker coordinating transportation activities. First, we describe how the digital platform receives the services offered by the logistics operators and the delivery requests. Then, we propose an incremental method to assign the transport demand to the best route according to environmental and economic factors.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "City logistics", "Business", "Software", "Computer science", "Integrated logistics support", "Process management", "Mile", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.645" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3004562173", "doi": null, "title": "Using drones in the last-mile logistics processes of medical product delivery: A feasibility case study in Rotterdam", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-12", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Irene Zubin", "Bart van Arem", "Bart Wiegmans", "Ron van Duin" ], "first_author": "Irene Zubin", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "The term last-mile delivery refers to the final leg of a business-to-customer service, in which products are shipped from a depot to a destination point bymeans of land transportation, such as vans and small trucks. Although these vehicles provide a common and easy way to consign products, companies are striving for new transport technologies to reduce congestion, infrastructure limitations and air pollution. An alternative to road-bounded vehicles that has recently gained attention is the adoption of drones in parcel delivery. Drone applications range from military training, surveillance, path recognition and shipment of perishable products in emergency situations. Research on drones as delivery vehicles is still in its early stages, with some practical trials carried out by leader companies such as Google and Amazon. However, the application of drones in the pharmaceutical sector for home deliveries of medical products, has not been investigated yet. To gain new insights into the feasibility of introducing drones in the delivery fleet, drone applications were studied for the delivery operations of the pharmacy BENU ’t Slag, in Rotterdam. Two scenario alternatives were tested using the Vehicle Routing Problem formulation. A Large-scale Neighborhood Search algorithm was implemented to solve the problem and derive the performance indicators associated with each scenario. Performances were then analyzed through a comparative analysis. When drones were introduced in the delivery fleet, indicators showed improvements in environmental aspects, service time and delivery costs, with a reduction of 9% in CO2 emissions, 12% in service time and 5.6% in cost per item.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Service (business)", "Last mile (transportation)", "Truck", "Product (mathematics)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Marketing", "Mile", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9ccd09cd-608a-489e-b50d-5dbe3483a80e" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412901013", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5370435", "title": "Hybrid Truck-Drone Delivery with Droneport Coordination in Urban Logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shamik Pushkar", "Elkafi Hassini" ], "first_author": "Shamik Pushkar", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "City logistics", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Aeronautics", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5370435" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390788628", "doi": "10.31660/2782-232x-2023-4-80-89", "title": "DISTRIBUTION OF WEEKLY WORKING HOURS OF TRUCK DRIVERS IN URBAN LOGISTICS", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "\"", "Аsen Аsenov", "Angel Kanchev\"", "Velizara Pencheva", "Ivan Radoslavov Georgiev" ], "first_author": "\"", "venue": "Architecture Construction Transport", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The work deals with the transportation of cargo in small batches in an urban environment. It was found that the weekly workload of truck drivers is not always evenly distributed. This is a prerequisite for dissatisfaction among them, as well as a reason for making mistakes or the occurrence of health problems. A partial integer nonlinear mathematical model is proposed to solve the problem. The solution of the task allows the difference between the driver who has worked the longest and the one who has worked the least to be minimal and the workload of the drivers even.We offer two possible solutions of this task (the example is based on a real situation from practice). In the first case it is the rotation principle, when three interchangeable workers working three days on three different activities. In the second case, seven workers performing six activities in one week, it is precisely determined which worker must perform activities. As a result of the calculations, the option, where the difference between the minimum and maximum time is 1.7 hours for the five working days, because it varies from 33.7 hours to 35.4 hours. In this variant, the rotation principle can also be applied in order for workers to be loaded equally. These options do not exclude the search for other solutions satisfying the problem.", "keywords": [ "Workload", "Truck", "Task (project management)", "Working hours", "Order (exchange)", "Operations research", "Rotation (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Work (physics)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Operations management", "Working time" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.31660/2782-232x-2023-4-80-89" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3162550897", "doi": null, "title": "Modeling of Consignor’s Optimum Number/Size of Trucks in Urban Logistics.", "year": 1996, "publication_date": "1996-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Satoki NAITO", "Hitoshi Ieda" ], "first_author": "Satoki NAITO", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Mathematics", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=200902189355805090" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404751739", "doi": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136696", "title": "Hazardous gas emissions from drop-in biofuels: mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and unregulated pollutants", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-11-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Carolina Mendoza", "Silvana Arias", "María L. Botero", "John R. Agudelo" ], "first_author": "Carolina Mendoza", "venue": "Journal of Hazardous Materials", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study investigates cancer-related mutations (TA98 and YG5185 strains/Ames test), cell death (human A549 cell line/MTT assay) and unregulated pollutants (16 PAH, 13 carbonyls) from the gas exhaust emissions from a last-mile delivery vehicle following the WLTC driving cycle, operating with hydrotreated vegetable oil and biodiesel. Both biofuels were used pure and blended 20 % by volume with diesel fuel. Gas phase samples were collected using XAD-2 Amberlite® resin. Total carbonyl emission factors for the different fuels ranged from 9.4 ± 0.4 (HVO100) to 14.8 ± 1.6 mg/km (B20), while PAH emission factors ranged from 1.8 ± 0.5 (B100) to 4.3 ± 0.9 mg/km (HVO20). The ester group in biodiesel demonstrated a significant impact on increasing carbonyl emissions. All fuels were cytotoxic at the highest concentration of exhaust gases, causing more than 30 % cell death in human cell line A549 (HVO100 ≈ HVO20 > B100 ≈ B20 > ULSD). No significant correlation was found between cytotoxicity and most of PAH and carbonyls. A strong correlation between PAH and mutagenicity (Pearson correlation coefficient higher than 0.6 for PAH with 3 or more rings) was observed with strain YG5185, particularly when using the metabolic activator. These results indicate that the exhaust gases from the tested biofuels pose potential health risks, particularly in chronic exposure scenarios. • Unregulated gas emissions of last-mile delivery truck under WLTC driving cycle. • Tests conducted with drop-in near-zero carbon footprint biodiesel and HVO fuels. • No correlation between fuels aromatic content and carbonyl emissions. • No significant correlation between cytotoxicity and most of PAH and carbonyls. • PAH-sensitive strain YG5185 successful to correlate PAH, aldehydes and mutagenicity.", "keywords": [ "Pollutant", "Hazardous waste", "Waste management", "Hazardous air pollutants", "Environmental science", "Biofuel", "Air pollutants", "Environmental chemistry", "Environmental engineering", "Chemistry", "Air pollution", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136696" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389262543", "doi": "10.1016/j.retrec.2023.101382", "title": "Ecommerce and environmental justice in metro Seattle", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Travis Fried", "Rishi Verma", "Anne Goodchild" ], "first_author": "Travis Fried", "venue": "Research in Transportation Economics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban distribution centers (UDCs) are opening at unprecedented rates to meet rising home delivery demand. The trend has raised concerns over the equity and environmental justice implications of ecommerce's negative externalities. However, little research exists connecting UDC location to the concentration of urban freight-derived air pollution among marginalized populations. Using spatial data of Amazon UDCs in metropolitan Seattle, this study quantifies the socio-spatial distribution of home delivery-related commercial vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT), corresponding air pollution, and explanatory factors. Results reveal that racial and income factors are relevant to criteria air pollutant exposure caused by home deliveries, due to tracts with majority people of color being closer in proximity to UDCs and highways. Tracts with majority people of color face the highest median concentration of delivery vehicle activity and emissions despite ordering less packages than white populations. While both cargo van and heavy-duty truck emissions disproportionately affect people of color, the socio-spatial distribution of truck emissions shows higher sensitivity to fluctuations in utilization. Prioritizing environmental mitigation of freight activity further up the urban distribution chain in proximity to UDCs, therefore, would have an outsized impact in minimizing disparities in ecommerce's negative externalities.", "keywords": [ "Environmental justice", "Metropolitan area", "Externality", "San Joaquin", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Truck", "Equity (law)", "Air pollution", "Business", "Geography", "Agricultural economics" ], "cited_by_count": 20, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2023.101382" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2938352754", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2020.03.160", "title": "A vehicle routing problem with movement synchronization of drones, sidewalk robots, or foot-walkers", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Puyuan Deng", "Glareh Amirjamshidi", "Matthew J. Roorda" ], "first_author": "Puyuan Deng", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The vehicle routing problem (VRP) and its variants have many city logistics applications, such as goods delivery. The VRP extension with movement synchronization (VRPMS) has potential applications of drone and robot technologies to assist with the delivery of parcels. VRPMS seeks the optimal route for a set of composite resources, e.g. delivery van with drones, or delivery van with sidewalk robots. This paper proposes an exact formulation of the problem, and a metaheuristic approach to solve larger instances of the VRPMS in order to assess the economic benefits of the different technologies. It is shown that with the current physical constraints of drone technology, assisted delivery with drones has some challenges because of its capacity. Sidewalk robots and walkers, however, do contribute a cost savings compared to truck deliveries. As the technology matures, the presented metaheuristic approach can be used to evaluate improved economic benefits and cost benefit ratios.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Robot", "Vehicle routing problem", "Metaheuristic", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Synchronization (alternating current)", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Set (abstract data type)", "Operations research", "Simulation" ], "cited_by_count": 25, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146520303604/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2086340698", "doi": "10.1155/2014/340896", "title": "Measurement‐Based Vehicle Load Model for Urban Expressway Bridges", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bin Chen", "Zheng Zhong", "Xu Xie", "Pengzhen Lu" ], "first_author": "Bin Chen", "venue": "Mathematical Problems in Engineering", "publisher": "Hindawi Publishing Corporation", "abstract": "Significant changes in vehicle loads have occurred in China due to the development of the automobile industry and transportation within the past two decades, particularly the rapid increase in traffic flow and the large‐scale emergence of heavy trucks. However, research into vehicle loadings on urban bridges is not well developed. In this study, based on traffic flow data collected using a weigh‐in‐motion system installed on an expressway in an urban logistics zone, we analyzed the traffic flow, vehicle types, and gross vehicle weight (GVW) features and developed models for the vehicle load and fatigue load. According to the axle space, axle types, and axle number, the trucks in the traffic flow were classified into 10 representative vehicle types. The probability distribution of the GVW was fitted to a three‐class mixed log‐normal distribution. Using the improved Gumbel method, we determined the extreme value distribution of the vehicle loadings in the purpose reference period and assessed the vehicle loadings of urban bridges. In addition, using the equivalent damage theory, six equivalent vehicle models were established according to the measurements of the axle weight and axle space, thereby obtaining a simplified model of fatigue vehicle loadings on urban expressway bridges.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Axle", "Weigh in motion", "Gumbel distribution", "Engineering", "Vehicle type", "Axle load", "Automotive engineering", "Transport engineering", "Structural engineering", "Extreme value theory", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 20, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2014/340896.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3118635066", "doi": "10.1080/19427867.2020.1868178", "title": "Aggregate delivery tour modeling through AVM data: experimental evidence for light goods vehicles", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Antonio Comi", "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Antonio Polimeni" ], "first_author": "Antonio Comi", "venue": "Transportation Letters", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Freight vehicle origin-destination (O-D) matrices play a key role within the assessment procedures of city logistics scenarios, and simulation of delivery tours allows such O-D flows to be obtained. Therefore, the paper revisits a modeling framework for simulating delivery tours using an aggregate approach proposed by the authors and presents the preliminary results of its implementation to a real test case using global position system (GPS) traces for extracting vehicle tours/trip chains which are available on a large scale for such uses as fleet management or vehicle insurance. The modeling framework was calibrated using a dataset of light goods vehicles operating in the Veneto region (Italy) for which automated vehicle monitoring (AVM) data were available. The results show that such an approach enables satisfactory results to be obtained in terms of freight distribution O-D matrices.", "keywords": [ "Aggregate (composite)", "Computer science", "Global Positioning System", "Key (lock)", "Position (finance)", "Scale (ratio)", "Business", "Telecommunications", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 30, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/19427867.2020.1868178" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3150358513", "doi": "10.1177/03611981211003575", "title": "Understanding Urban Commercial Vehicle Driver Behaviors and Decision Making", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-03-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Giacomo Dalla Chiara", "Klaas Fiete Krutein", "Andisheh Ranjbari", "Anne Goodchild" ], "first_author": "Giacomo Dalla Chiara", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "As e-commerce and urban deliveries spike, cities grapple with managing urban freight more actively. To manage urban deliveries effectively, city planners and policy makers need to better understand driver behaviors and the challenges they experience in making deliveries. In this study, we collected data on commercial vehicle (CV) driver behaviors by performing ridealongs with various logistics carriers. Ridealongs were performed in Seattle, Washington, covering a range of vehicles (cars, vans, and trucks), goods (parcels, mail, beverages, and printed materials), and customer types (residential, office, large and small retail). Observers collected qualitative observations and quantitative data on trip and dwell times, while also tracking vehicles with global positioning system devices. The results showed that, on average, urban CVs spent 80% of their daily operating time parked. The study also found that, unlike the common belief, drivers (especially those operating heavier vehicles) parked in authorized parking locations, with only less than 5% of stops occurring in the travel lane. Dwell times associated with authorized parking locations were significantly longer than those of other parking locations, and mail and heavy goods deliveries generally had longer dwell times. We also identified three main criteria CV drivers used for choosing a parking location: avoiding unsafe maneuvers, minimizing conflicts with other users of the road, and competition with other commercial drivers. The results provide estimates for trip times, dwell times, and parking choice types, as well as insights into why those decisions are made and the factors affecting driver choices.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Dwell time", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 41, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211003575" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416447801", "doi": "10.1007/s11116-025-10707-5", "title": "Classification of urban freight activity patterns via heavy truck flow data", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zile Guo", "Xiao-Yong Yan", "Erjian Liu" ], "first_author": "Zile Guo", "venue": "Transportation", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Proxy (statistics)", "Flow network", "Land use", "Partition (number theory)", "Focus (optics)", "Construct (python library)", "Time series" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-025-10707-5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313384555", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-09753-9_23", "title": "Effects of Variable UAV Speed on Optimization of Travelling Salesman Problem with Drone (TSP-D)", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Enes Cengiz", "Cemal Yılmaz", "Hamdi Tolga Kahraman", "Çağri Suiçmez" ], "first_author": "Enes Cengiz", "venue": "Engineering cyber-physical systems and critical infrastructures", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Real-time computing", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Simulation", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09753-9_23" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2016685382", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1491", "title": "Simulation of an Urban Logistic Space for the Distribution of Goods in Belo Horizonte, Brazil", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-03-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Bárbara Regina Pinto e Oliveira", "Vagner de Assis Correia" ], "first_author": "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban goods distribution, which is responsible for the continuous supply of commercial activities, is strongly related to the development of local and national economies. However, the fast and uncontrolled growth of urban centres and the high competitiveness of the distribution services also generate many negative effects. Despite the great population increase and the high development expectations of Belo Horizonte, authorities have not invested enough in city planning, especially the urban mobility of 196,000 freight vehicles fleet that moves along the main streets. With the support of simulation and optimisation tools, the current research allowed us to analyse the impacts of an Urban Logistics Space (ULS) operation in the Central Area of Belo Horizonte. It was possible to verify the potential increase of efficiency in the logistics system and the reduction of adverse impacts generated by the goods distribution in this area.", "keywords": [ "Distribution (mathematics)", "Business", "City logistics", "Urban planning", "Space (punctuation)", "Goods and services", "Population", "Transport engineering", "Environmental planning", "Environmental economics", "Geography", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 26, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814015298/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2608383540", "doi": null, "title": "Modeling Urban Freight Vehicle Choice in Retail Supply Chains", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yinjin Lee", "Monique A. Stinson" ], "first_author": "Yinjin Lee", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 96th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Supply chain", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Commercial vehicle", "Marketing", "Advertising", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1438610" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411609723", "doi": "10.1007/s11116-025-10633-6", "title": "The role of walking in last-mile urban deliveries", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Giacomo Dalla Chiara", "Anne Goodchild" ], "first_author": "Giacomo Dalla Chiara", "venue": "Transportation", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Most of a delivery driver’s time is spent outside the vehicle, walking the last-50-feet to reach the delivery customers while the vehicle is stationary. However, little is known about the walking component of delivery routes, while most models and algorithms used for scheduling and planning urban freight vehicles focus solely on the driving component. This study fills this research gap by providing an empirical analysis of the role of walking in last-mile deliveries. The study aims to empirically quantify delivery drivers’ walking distances and shed light on the interrelation between walking and the overall efficiency and sustainability of delivery routes. Two data samples were obtained that recorded more than 1,800 real deliveries performed by a parcel carrier and a beverage carrier in Seattle, WA. Data on both vehicle routes and drivers’ walking sub-routes were obtained and analyzed. Dwell time regression analyses and simulations were performed to understand the impact of walking on last-mile routes. The results highlighted the importance of walking across different types of deliveries. Both carriers either walked longer distances to find better parking or to serve multiple delivery customers from a single stop. The parcel carrier also showed large economies of scale in performing multiple deliveries per stop. An increase in willingness to walk showed a general reduction in the number of stops per route and in total vehicle miles traveled. The paper concludes with a discussion on the importance of walking in scheduling and planning for delivery vehicles in urban areas.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Regional science", "Geography", "Engineering", "Geodesy" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11116-025-10633-6.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2074786796", "doi": "10.1016/0002-8703(50)90340-1", "title": "The digital blood pressure. I. Values in normal subjects", "year": 1950, "publication_date": "1950-03-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "John C. Weaver", "David F. Bohr" ], "first_author": "John C. Weaver", "venue": "American Heart Journal", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Last mile (transportation)", "Mile", "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "City logistics", "Incentive", "Medicine", "Marketing", "Finance", "Business", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 24, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-8703(50)90340-1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400654946", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.052", "title": "The evolution of urban freight generation: a study of intra- and inter-city truck trips", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yurika Takano", "Takanori Sakai", "Tetsuro Hyodo" ], "first_author": "Yurika Takano", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The operations and spatial structure of logistics-related facilities has evolved with the growth of the global production network and the advancement of information and communication technology over the past several decades. Such logistics evolutions are thought to have occurred in tandem with changes in urban freight transportation systems. We estimate models for freight trip generation using the data from 2003 and 2013 in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The results suggest that the relationship between employment size and freight trip generation weakened during the study period and that the scale of freight generation and the generation of intercity freight trips became less connected.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Trip generation", "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.052" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399094528", "doi": "10.1177/03611981241248439", "title": "Why and Why Not? Systematic Review of the Willingness to Accept Drone and Robot Deliveries", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-28", "type": "review", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Woojung Kim", "Sung Ho Hur" ], "first_author": "Woojung Kim", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Last-mile deliveries using drones and robots have recently emerged as alternatives to deliveries using conventional trucks. Because of the newness of the topic, there has been no synthesized summary of the acceptance of the emerging delivery modes, although the importance of the topic has increased with the growth of home deliveries. To fill the knowledge gap, this research systematically reviewed the literature on the willingness to accept drone and robot deliveries using the two largest publication databases: Web of Science and SCOPUS. A total of 46 academic studies were reviewed with respect to their trends, study scope (i.e., type of mode, type of products, modeling framework, and background theories), and factors that positively and negatively affect the willingness. Based on the review, knowledge gaps and the corresponding future research directions were derived: (a) robot-related investigations have been understudied compared to drones; (b) research from the shipper perspective is necessary; (c) transportation and logistics planning-related factors (e.g., socio-economic factors, trip and shipment characteristics) should be investigated; (d) an investigation of users’ behaviors based on actual usage (rather than relying solely on hypothetical scenarios) is necessary; (e) regulatory aspects should be taken into account; and (f) the heterogeneity of products needs to be taken into consideration.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Willingness to accept", "Willingness to pay", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Aeronautics", "Economics", "Microeconomics" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241248439" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2521945276", "doi": null, "title": "Sustainable Last-mile Solutions:Urban Freight Consolidation and Eco-routing Strategies", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-06-20", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qin Chen (44010)" ], "first_author": "Qin Chen (44010)", "venue": "Figshare", "publisher": "Figshare (United Kingdom)", "abstract": "“Last-mile” concerns the delivery process from the warehouse to the final consumers in metropolitan areas. Most urban areas have witnessed higher frequency of deliveries and larger quantities of freight shipments coming from, bound to or transiting through the regions. Increase in urban freight traffic significantly contributes to congestion and environmental problems (e.g., emissions and noise). There is a strong need for studying and implementing\\nviable urban freight strategies to minimize truck traffic in congested areas.\\n \\nThis research work examines the effectiveness of urban freight solutions jointly in terms of air \\npollutant emissions, energy use, and logistics costs at different decision levels. Specifically, \\ntwo types of urban freight strategies are considered in this research, i.e. urban freight consolidation and vehicle routing. The former represents a tactical level investigation and the latter an operational level one. An analytical framework is developed to quantifies the effects of conflicting factors and trade-offs among various objectives intended for in urban consolidation schemes, which is especially suited for analyses with limited data in freight and logistics studies.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Mile", "Transport engineering", "Consolidation (business)", "Last mile (transportation)", "Business", "Engineering", "Geography", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Sustainable_Last-mile_Solutions_Urban_Freight_Consolidation_and_Eco-routing_Strategies/10883471" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2946204911", "doi": "10.65109/pkar9907", "title": "Cooperative Routing with Heterogeneous Vehicles", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-05-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Keisuke Otaki", "Satoshi Koide", "Ayano Okoso", "Tomoki Nishi" ], "first_author": "Keisuke Otaki", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Cooperation among different vehicles is a promising application for Mobility as a Service (MaaS). A primary problem is optimizing the vehicle routes. In this paper, we propose a new concept, named delegation, where heterogeneous vehicles cooperate to reduce the total travel cost. Our study models a case in logistics, where a large truck for long-distance delivery carries small self-driving cargoes for the last mile delivery, and the travel cost of the small ones is discounted. We define an optimization problem enabling delegation, propose its integer programming~(IP) instance, and discuss our concept through numerical experiments using a modern IP solver.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Integer programming", "Truck", "Solver", "Delegation", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer network", "Last mile (transportation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Service (business)", "Distributed computing", "Mathematical optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.65109/pkar9907" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2326084437", "doi": "10.3923/jas.2013.3275.3279", "title": "Two-tiered Decentralized Simulation Model to Regulate Urban Freight Trucks Operation", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xiaoxia Wang", "Liu Zhong", "Yue Shang" ], "first_author": "Xiaoxia Wang", "venue": "Journal of Applied Sciences", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2013.3275.3279" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W651598208", "doi": null, "title": "PROBABILISTIC ROUTING AND SCHEDULING OF URBAN PICKUP/DELIVERY TRUCKS FOR CITY LOGISTICS", "year": 2001, "publication_date": "2001-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "E Taniguchi", "T Yamada", "Y Kakimotom" ], "first_author": "E Taniguchi", "venue": "Selected Proceedings of the 9th World Conference on Transport ResearchWorld Conference on Transport Research Society", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents a probabilistic vehicle routing and scheduling model that contains variable travel times. The model incorporates the uncertainty of travel times and soft time windows at customers. The probabilistic model showed the reduction of total costs compared with the forecast model when applying to a test network. The value of stochastic solution increased in more congested conditions. In addition the probabilistic model can contribute to decrease CO2 emissions by trucks as well as cost reduction.", "keywords": [ "Probabilistic logic", "Truck", "Vehicle routing problem", "City logistics", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Pickup", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Variable (mathematics)", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/698909" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4251420096", "doi": "10.1177/0361198106196400113", "title": "Modeling Impact of Technological Changes on Urban Commercial Trips by Commercial Activity Routing Type", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Miguel Figliozzi" ], "first_author": "Miguel Figliozzi", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Several noteworthy developments in logistics practice have taken place without an equivalent and comprehensive development in urban freight transportation modeling. Part of the problem is the lack of deep understanding of the workings of distribution processes in relation to the generation of truck traffic. This study emphasizes the role and importance that distribution network size and information and communications technology have on the truck traffic flows that materialize as the supply chain flows over the public infrastructure. A concept is developed of commercial activity routing types that characterize the interplay between transportation demand requests and routing characteristics. This research contributes to the field by proposing a novel and detailed characterization of truck flows in a supply chain context. With well-known, yet simple, models and formulas from vehicle routing, operations research, and management science literature, behavioral insights are derived about distributors’ and carriers’ routing and order-sizing decisions, since routing constraints and second-order effects are important drivers of truck flows. The main contribution is to bring a new commercial activity-routing perspective and a deeper level of operational decision-making analysis to cope with the intricacies of freight transportation modeling.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Context (archaeology)", "Supply chain", "Computer science", "Traffic management", "Demand management", "Order (exchange)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198106196400113" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3183913371", "doi": "10.3390/en14133982", "title": "Energy Efficiency Assessment of Rail Freight Transport: Freight Tram in Berlin", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammad Vajihi", "Stefano Ricci" ], "first_author": "Mohammad Vajihi", "venue": "Energies", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Freight tram systems can potentially reduce commercial road vehicle use and, consequently, reduce congestion, accidents, air pollution, noise levels, and road maintenance costs. This paper explores the new application for the urban rail system as a sustainable solution for urban freight distribution. A significant problem in using rail for urban freight is determining the most efficient tram route, in terms of related costs and accessibility for the distribution centers and end-users. The study takes a systematic approach, based on identifying scenarios, existing tramlines, traveled distances, and time durations, and appraises the scheme through an energy consumption analysis to assess a hypothetical freight tram scheme. In a German case study in Berlin, a freight tram system delivered the goods of five delivery companies from their logistics hubs in the Pankow district to a micro depot instead of to the trucks. Three different path scenarios from logistics hubs to the micro depot were developed, to make comparisons based on energy consumption. Freight tram implementation in Berlin (compared to the current situation) resulted in a reduction of more than 7 tons of CO2 emissions per year, and 60 road-vehicle-kilometers per day, in exchange for 275 MJ of daily electric consumption.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Energy consumption", "Traffic management", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 18, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3982/pdf?version=1625538523" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403302138", "doi": "10.1177/03611981241278351", "title": "Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Traveling-Salesman Problem with Drone", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tengkuo Zhu", "Stephen D. Boyles", "Avinash Unnikrishnan" ], "first_author": "Tengkuo Zhu", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Drones and electric vehicles (EVs) represent promising technologies for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of last-mile delivery services. This paper focuses on the optimization of customer deliveries through the integration of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and a drone. Our model, named the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle traveling-salesman problem with drone (PHEVTSPD), assumes the PHEV can be recharged, either fully or partially, at charging stations, while the drone can be launched or retrieved from the EV. Both the EV and drone are capable of independently serving the customer. In comparison with traditional truck-only or drone-only delivery models, the hybrid EV–drone model overcomes the limitations of drone payload capacity and EV service area, thereby significantly improving delivery efficiency and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. This research presents a three-index mixed-integer linear program (MILP) formulation of PHEVTSPD. Additionally, a linear or piecewise linear approximation of the concave time–state-of-charge (SoC) function is adopted in the model. To solve the proposed problem, we introduce an adaptive large-neighborhood search (ALNS) metaheuristic. Numerical analysis results reveal that the proposed ALNS method outperforms variable neighborhood search (VNS) with an average optimality gap of approximately 3% when solving instances with 10 nodes. Furthermore, a piecewise linear function with a six-line-segment approximation demonstrates an average of 10.8% lower cost compared with a linear approximation.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Linear programming", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer science", "Payload (computing)", "Piecewise linear function", "Electric vehicle", "Piecewise", "Simulation", "Mathematics", "Network packet" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241278351" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2077515094", "doi": "10.1016/j.rtbm.2014.03.001", "title": "A system of models to forecast the effects of demographic changes on urban shop restocking", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-03-27", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Agostino Nuzzolo", "venue": "Research in Transportation Business & Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Distribution (mathematics)", "Business", "Mode (computer interface)", "Order (exchange)", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Finance", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 24, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2014.03.001" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3124382758", "doi": "10.1016/j.tra.2021.01.015", "title": "Freight trips generated at retail malls in dense urban areas", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lynette W. Cheah", "Rakhi Manohar Mepparambath", "Gabriella Marie Ricart Surribas" ], "first_author": "Lynette W. Cheah", "venue": "Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The number of studies examining Freight Trip Generation (FTG) has increased over the years. However, FTG modeling studies in different urban settings have presented wide-ranging results in terms of the relationship between establishment characteristics, freight deliveries, and resultant freight vehicle trips produced and attracted. This study aims to evaluate freight trips generated around retail developments or commercial districts in dense metropolitan areas, commonplace in both emerging and developed cities, which are known to attract high footfall and represent key freight attracting nodes. Establishment-level data was collected from six multi-storey retail malls in the city-state of Singapore and used to develop an aggregated model predicting FTG for retail malls or shopping centres. Using statistical regression, we model the relationship between establishment-specific attributes and deliveries per day, and then evaluate various models that can best predict freight vehicle trips per day to retail malls. This aggregated approach converts the establishment-level freight trip attraction to a building-level freight trip generation by considering trip chaining or the possibility of a carrier delivering to multiple establishments within the building during the same visit or trip. The selected model’s statistical performance is validated with observed freight vehicle arrivals at 16 retail malls. A comparison of the delivery frequency per commercial establishment across different cities is also offered. FTG for these developments is found to be sensitive to the establishment type, employment size, and whether or not the establishments present are branch outlets belonging to a larger retail chain. Contributions from this work can be applied in the evaluation of urban freight logistics initiatives targeted at these locations, and to assess the nontrivial impact that retail developments in cities have on local traffic conditions.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Metropolitan area", "Trip generation", "Business", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Geography", "Marketing", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 23, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096585642100015X/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2125598464", "doi": null, "title": "Considering the relationship between freight transport and urban form", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "John Allen", "Michael J. Browne" ], "first_author": "John Allen", "venue": "WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster)", "publisher": "University of Westminster", "abstract": "There has been much discussion since the mid-1980s about the relationship between transport and urban form. However, all of this body of research has concerned itself with passenger transport (i.e. the movement of people). This report is intended as an initial investigation into the relationship between road freight transport and urban form. Important trends in road freight transport and logistics and the land use associated with these activities are discussed. Data about road freight transport activity by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Britain that has been disaggregated from a UK government survey is analysed to investigate the nature of urban freight operations in sixteen selected urban areas. This includes analysis of the efficiency and transport intensity of these operations on journeys to, from and within each urban area. Scenarios concerning urban freight operations based on reductions in length of haul, and improvements in vehicle lading factors, vehicle carrying capacities and empty running are constructed in order to investigate the potential effect of such changes on the vehicle kilometres performed on journeys to, from and within the sixteen urban areas.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Road transport", "Business", "Order (exchange)", "City logistics", "Urban area", "Passenger transport", "Government (linguistics)", "Geography", "Economics", "Economy" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/90452/considering-the-relationship-between-freight-transport-and-urban-form" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413886340", "doi": "10.1109/sist61657.2025.11139192", "title": "Optimizing Truck Delivery Routes in Urban Logistics: An Improved Genetic Algorithm Approach", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-14", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dingkun Zheng", "Chenghan Yang", "Mingfei Li", "Baurzhan Belgibaev", "Qiyuan Liu", "Baidong Zhao" ], "first_author": "Dingkun Zheng", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Efficient truck route optimization is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs in urban logistics and freight distribution. This study addresses the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW), focusing on task allocation and path planning while considering key constraints such as delivery time windows and vehicle capacity. To tackle these challenges, we propose an innovative approach: the Improved Elite Retention Genetic Algorithm (IE-GA-VRPTW). By integrating dynamic crowding mechanisms and elite retention strategies, this method enhances solution quality and accelerates convergence speed, thereby minimizing total travel distance, fuel consumption, and time penalty costs. Comprehensive case studies demonstrate that IE-GA-VRPTW significantly outperforms traditional optimization techniques, achieving a substantial reduction in fuel consumption while ensuring compliance with delivery time windows. This approach provides valuable insights for optimizing freight distribution, contributing to the development of more sustainable and efficient urban logistics systems.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Genetic algorithm", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Machine learning" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/sist61657.2025.11139192" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3095890286", "doi": null, "title": "Quantifying the Impacts of Diesel Truck Regulations on Environmental Equity and Justice in an Urban Freight Corridor", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-12-01", "type": "conference-abstract", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Regan F. Patterson", "Robert A. Harley" ], "first_author": "Regan F. Patterson", "venue": "AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Equity (law)", "Environmental justice", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Environmental planning", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Political science", "Law", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AGUFMGH11D0931P/abstract" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412446950", "doi": "10.1016/j.trc.2025.105255", "title": "Benders decomposition for traveling salesman problem with drone: A space-time-state network perspective", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chenhao Zhang", "Yaoxin Wu", "Tao Feng", "Yibei Zhang", "Maocan Song", "Lin Cheng" ], "first_author": "Chenhao Zhang", "venue": "Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Drone", "Perspective (graphical)", "Decomposition", "2-opt", "Traveling purchaser problem", "State space", "State (computer science)", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Operations research", "Flow network" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/482fdb14-e5f6-4c0b-b288-72e388abcd0a" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2766183529", "doi": null, "title": "Truck-Free-Amsterdam: Remodelling a sustainable Urban Freight Transport System in the city of Amsterdam", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Johannes Langer" ], "first_author": "Johannes Langer", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "Cities are on a constant move. People hurry from home to work, from business meetings to sports clubs, or from shopping tours back home. Cars, trucks, bicycles and scooters are rolling along streets, bringing people and goods to their destinations. But sometimes this never-ending movement staggers, and with it the dynamism that is the trademark of cities. Streets are lined with parked cars and trucks, congestions are clocking streets, the noise of horns are sometimes deafening, and smog levels are on a dangerous level for citizens. Cities are facing major challenges when it comes to one of the fundamentals of sustainable, prospering and liveable cities: the transportation of people and goods. More and more people will live in cities and enter the middle class. By 2030, 60 percent of the global population will live in urban areas. With entering the middle-class people also want to buy cars. Automotive analysts forecast that the current worldwide car fleet of 1.2 billion cars could double by 2030 (Shannon Bouton, 2015). The existing urban infrastructure cannot cope with such an increase of road vehicles in the future. Traffic jams are already in many cities unbearable and jeopardies the economic prosperity of countries. Los of time, wasted fuel, and increased cost of doing business are lowering nations GDP by around 2-4 percent. The world health organization estimates seven million premature deaths due to air pollution, occurred by urban transportation (WHO, 2014). Therefore, the current urban transportation has to be rethought to contribute to the future of liveable and sustainable cities. But most of the research on urban transportation focuses on developing sustainable passenger transport solutions. The debate focuses on the effects of car traffic in urban regions and not on the problems generated by freight movements (Philippe Lebeau, 2014). Urban freight transportation is the transportation of consumer goods, waste, raw materials and related services. Looking at the impact of urban freight transportation on cities, it can be considered as a major challenge for sustainable urban development. A study illustrates that 17 percent of the total road movements is related to deliveries and collections in the city of London and will rise in the coming years up to 25 percent (Hendy, 2011). In Brussels 25 percent of the CO2 emissions, 33 percent of particular matter and 32 percent of PM10 are produced by heavy duty vehicles (Philippe Lebeau, 2014). The stated numbers are general numbers for all urban freight movements. There are no specific numbers available about the share of the different freight flows on the negative impact on the city environment. But it can be expected that each flow has a significant share on the negative impacts. Therefore, the development of sustainable urban freight transport solutions should be anticipated by different professions. For the following research consumer good transportation is taken, due to the complexity of each freight flow. Consumer good transportation is the transportation of perishable goods (food, beverages, etc.) and non-perishable goods (electronics, clothes, furniture, parcels). The following research tests an alternative consumer good transport system and its necessary spatial implications for the city of Amsterdam, by utilizing alternative transport vehicles. Alternative transport vehicles, like drones, autonomous vehicles, cargo bikes, cargo trams etc. are an alternative to transport goods without trucks or vans. It could lead towards a more sustainable urban freight transportation. But these vehicles have specific spatial and infrastructural requirements as well as specific transport capacities. But there is no research about, how to apply spatially a different transport system with alternative transport vehicles to a specific urban context. This would be an important step to illustrate municipalities, residents and companies the positive and negative impacts on a city of a different transport system. It could help to steer decision maker towards sustainable urban freight transport solutions. Therefore, it is very important as spatial designer to contribute to the discussion on sustainable urban freight transportation with spatial solutions for a different transport system. To do so the following steps were taken. First the urban freight transport system of Amsterdam is analysed and the occurred negative impacts, congestions, noise pollution and air pollution are mapped. These problems will increase in the coming years even more, because of the growing e-commerce sector and population. New transport technologies, like autonomous vehicles, drones, shared mobility, or drones are promising to cope with the growing demand on deliveries and reduce the negative impacts of urban freight transportation on cities. To test the sustainable potentials and spatial effects of alternative transport vehicles a vision, Truck-Free Amsterdam, is formulated. It suggests banning all delivery trucks and vans from the inner A10 ring by 2040. To transport the demanded goods to the city three alternative transport vehicles are chosen. The analysis of alternative transport vehicles concludes, that cargo trams, boats and bikes are the most promising to reduce the negative impacts of the current transport system in the context of Amsterdam. To test the potentials of cargo trams, boats and bikes four test sites are chosen with different land use and existing infrastructure. The design strategy follows the GeoDesign approach by Carl Steinitz. Afterwards a conceptual city strategy is developed with the findings of the test sites. In conclusion can be said that the suggested alternative transport system is capable of transporting the same volume as the current system, by reducing the negative impacts of congestions, noise pollution and air pollution. The spatial implications are minor changes in the urban fabric and could give opportunities to develop additional public space", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Rail freight transport", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a442cb55-e488-4755-86bd-4b19997718cc" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4414299607", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2025.111523", "title": "The flying sidekick traveling salesman problem with multiple drops: An effective heuristic approach", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sarah K. Schaumann", "Abhishake Kundu", "Juan C. Pina-Pardo", "Matthias Winkenbach", "Ricardo A. Gatica", "Stephan M. Wagner", "Timothy I. Matis" ], "first_author": "Sarah K. Schaumann", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Heuristic", "Truck", "Stylized fact", "Payload (computing)", "2-opt" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2025.111523" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2079086813", "doi": "10.5739/isfp.2002.425", "title": "DEVELOPMENT OF A HYDRAULIC DRIVE FOR A NOVEL HYBRID DIESEL-HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES", "year": 2002, "publication_date": "2002-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jacek Stecki", "Finn Conrad", "Paul Matheson", "Allan RUSH" ], "first_author": "Jacek Stecki", "venue": "Proceedings of the JFPS International Symposium on Fluid Power", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The objective of the research project, the subject of this paper, is to develop ahybrid diesel-hydraulic drive for large commercial vehicles e.g. urban freight delivery, buses or garbage trucks. The system incorporates a Regenerative Drive Shaft (RDS) which consists of a variable pump/motor coaxial with the drive shaft.Hydraulic energy is supplied to the wheels of the vehicle in parallel with energy supplied by the truck drive system.The objective is to store/supply energy to assist truck braking/acceleration.The unit works as a pump during braking of the truck and thus performs two functions- it stores energy in the accumulator and at the same time provides hydrostatic braking. When the truck accelerates the pump operates as a motor assisting the truck engine. The major advantages of the proposed RDS system over other systems is the application of microprocessor control to optimise power utilisation and elimination of losses during transfer of energy between the truck drive system and the hydraulic pump/motor. This technology offers additional advantages of lower noise, increased reliability, lower maintenance costs and a substantially reduced environment impact. The paper presents and discusses the development of the system, modelling approaches and the results of preliminary performance tests on 10 ton vehicle.", "keywords": [ "Hydraulic machinery", "Diesel fuel", "Automotive engineering", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Mechanical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/isfp1989/2002/5-2/2002_5-2_425/_pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4295959754", "doi": "10.1016/j.cja.2022.09.009", "title": "Aerial-ground collaborative routing with time constraints", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-09-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jiahao Xing", "Lichen Su", "Wenjing HONG", "Lu Carol Tong", "Renli LYU", "Wenbo Du" ], "first_author": "Jiahao Xing", "venue": "Chinese Journal of Aeronautics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The advancement of autonomous technology makes electric-powered drones an excellent choice for flexible logistics services at the last mile delivery stage. To reach a balance between green transportation and competitive edge, the collaborative routing of drones in the air and trucks on the ground is increasingly invested in the next generation of delivery, where it is particularly reasonable to consider customer time windows and time-dependent travel times as two typical time-related factors in daily services. In this paper, we propose the Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones under Time constraints (VRPD-T) and focus on the time constraints involved in realistic scenarios during the delivery. A mixed-integer linear programming model has been developed to minimize the total delivery completion time. Furthermore, to overcome the limitations of standard solvers in handling large-scale complex issues, a space-time hybrid heuristic-based algorithm has been developed to effectively identify a high-quality solution. The numerical results produced from randomly generated instances demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Integer programming", "Computer science", "Truck", "Heuristic", "Operations research", "Linear programming", "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Last mile (transportation)", "Mathematical optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1000936122002175/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3168581375", "doi": null, "title": "EVs in a city logistic concept - Integration of urban freight and city logistics in the e-mobility", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-11-01", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Özcan Deniz" ], "first_author": "Özcan Deniz", "venue": "elib (German Aerospace Center)", "publisher": "Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)", "abstract": "18. abstract \\nIncreasing urbanisation and e-commerce are two factors contributing to constantly growing numbers of shipments handled by courier, express, and parcel (CEP) services in urban areas in Germany. Freight vehicles account for an over-proportionate share of the emissions of CO2 and pollutants. To tackle climate change and worsening quality of living in urban areas, the EU and several local authorities in Germany aim to make the transport sector more sustainable and promoting electric vehicles for (city) logistics. In 2017, only 3% of CEP service vehicles were powered by battery electric. This is mainly because such vehicles are not competitive in terms of the total cost of ownership (TCO), which is the major purchase criterion, compared to diesel-powered freight vehicles. As urban consolidation centres (UCCs) have been identified as a measure to boost last mile logistics efficiency and environment-friendliness, this project aimed to investigate whether such logistic centres can help make the TCO of electric freight vehicles (EFV) competitive. \\nTo do this, a use case was created based on representative tour data of a CEP service operating in Berlin (Germany), which were collected through data logging. Currently available electric freight vehicles were assessed based on their last mile logistics operability. Furthermore, a meta-analysis was conducted to categorize UCCs and determine the impact they have on tour profiles. Five use cases with different fleet constellations of conventionally powered and battery-electric freight vehicles with and without an urban consolidation centre were simulated. For each use case different vehicles were selected based on their operability which was identified through market analysis and technical assessment conducted beforehand. \\nThe analyses show that costs and emissions in various use-cases can be reduced. From an economic and ecological perspective, the use-case of an electric urban fleet operated in a consolidation centre showed a suitable solution for sustainable urban logistics. Both, the electrification of the urban fleet and the operation of a UCC, have to be implemented as an overall concept. To support the market diffusion of electric freight vehicles, existing fiscal incentives should be prolonged and enhanced, and a CO2 Emission based tax should be introduced on the part of authorities and policy makers.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Business", "Sustainable transport", "Service (business)", "Sustainability", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://elib.dlr.de/139211/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7131844074", "doi": "10.13140/rg.2.2.29813.03046", "title": "Light electric freight vehicles: a true case for city logistics innovation?", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ruben Fransen", "W. Ploos van Amstel", "Bram Kin" ], "first_author": "Ruben Fransen", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Supply chain", "Traffic management", "Work (physics)", "Order (exchange)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.29813.03046" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2626845107", "doi": null, "title": "Electric freight vehicles in city logistics: challenges, barriers and success factors", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "T. van Rooijen", "Hans J. Quak", "Nina Nikolaevna Nesterova" ], "first_author": "T. van Rooijen", "venue": "Breda University of Applied Sciences Portal", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Business", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Marketing", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://pure.buas.nl/en/publications/07cfb545-6ac0-4c7e-a6e1-70860ccd0d3c" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403449968", "doi": "10.3390/su16208949", "title": "Spatial Analysis of Middle-Mile Transport for Advanced Air Mobility: A Case Study of Rural North Dakota", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Raj Bridgelall" ], "first_author": "Raj Bridgelall", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Integrating advanced air mobility (AAM) into the logistics of high-value electronic commodities can enhance efficiency and promote sustainability. The objective of this study is to optimize the logistics network for high-value electronics by integrating AAM solutions, specifically using heavy-lift cargo drones for middle-mile transport and using the mostly rural and small urban U.S. state of North Dakota as a case study. The analysis utilized geographic information system (GIS) and spatial optimization models to strategically assign underutilized airports as multimodal freight hubs to facilitate the shift from long-haul trucks to middle-mile air transport. Key findings demonstrate that electronics, because of their high value-to-weight ratio, are ideally suited for air transport. Comparative analysis shows that transport by drones can reduce the average cost per ton by up to 60% compared to traditional trucking. Optimization results indicate that a small number of strategically placed logistical hubs can reduce average travel distances by more than 13% for last-mile deliveries. Cost analyses demonstrate the viability of drones for middle-mile transport, especially on lower-volume rural routes, highlighting their efficiency and flexibility. The study emphasizes the importance of utilizing existing infrastructure to optimize the logistics network. By replacing truck traffic with drones, AAM can mitigate road congestion, reduce emissions, and extend infrastructure lifespan. These insights have critical implications for supply chain managers, shippers, urban planners, and policymakers, providing a decision support system and a roadmap for integrating AAM into logistics strategies.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Geography", "Environmental science", "Geodesy" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/20/8949/pdf?version=1729066657" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4385062483", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4516190", "title": "The Parallel Drone Scheduling Vehicle Routing Problem with Collective Drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberto Montemanni", "Mauro Dell'Amico", "Andrea Corsini" ], "first_author": "Roberto Montemanni", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Travelling salesman problem", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Integer programming", "Constraint programming", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4516190" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2046744595", "doi": "10.1007/s10732-013-9229-7", "title": "Less-Than-Truckload carrier collaboration problem: modeling framework and solution approach", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-07-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Selvaprabu Nadarajah", "James H. Bookbinder" ], "first_author": "Selvaprabu Nadarajah", "venue": "Journal of Heuristics", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Heuristics", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Local search (optimization)", "Transshipment (information security)", "Integer programming", "Heuristic", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematical optimization", "Truck", "Integer (computer science)", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 29, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10732-013-9229-7" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4206456858", "doi": "10.1016/j.trip.2022.100539", "title": "Introducing CRISTAL: A model of collaborative, informed, strategic trade agents with logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Monique A. Stinson", "Abolfazl Mohammadian" ], "first_author": "Monique A. Stinson", "venue": "Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Freight transportation has major economic, energy, and sustainability impacts. As a result, forecasting tools for analyzing policy scenarios are critical. However, existing freight transportation modeling tools have major gaps, especially in agent representation, prediction of fleet and distribution center control, and strategic alignment of agent decisions. We address these gaps by developing a new architecture for freight transportation modeling called CRISTAL: Collaborative, Informed, Strategic Trade Agents with Logistics. CRISTAL is an agent-based model that includes both firms and establishments (establishments are members of firms). Agents collaborate to form supply chain partnerships in trade and logistics. An Effect of Information captures information sharing in the supply chain, providing a mechanism to operationalize the push–pull boundary, which occurs at the customer-order decoupling point. Agents form strategies then align subsequent decisions with these strategies. Our CRISTAL implementation is multi-resolution, with urban freight linked to national and global supply chains. It is integrated with passenger activity, including household e-commerce use and passenger traffic. The framework has been applied to study e-commerce and truck traffic. This paper summarizes the conceptual model, its initial implementation, and applications to date.", "keywords": [ "Supply chain", "Operationalization", "Traffic management", "Business", "Truck", "Industrial organization", "Order (exchange)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 23, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198222000033/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3123821647", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.3549622", "title": "The Multiple Flying Sidekicks Traveling Salesman Problem with Variable Drone Speeds", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ritwik Raj", "Chase C. Murray" ], "first_author": "Ritwik Raj", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Variable (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Mathematics", "Algorithm", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3549622" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401568576", "doi": "10.1109/itc-egypt61547.2024.10620589", "title": "Towards Efficient Collaborative Delivery Solutions Using Drones and Ground Transportation: A Review", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-22", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jahanara Thasnim", "Eiman A. Elghanam", "Mohamed S. Hassan", "Ahmed Osman" ], "first_author": "Jahanara Thasnim", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The increasing popularity of unmanned aerial vehi-cles (UAVs), also known as drones, in the logistics industry is attributed to their advantages such as low cost, energy efficiency, and independence from road conditions. However, drones face limitations including short endurance, small payload capacity, and susceptibility to interference. Therefore, the cooperative delivery model integrating drones with existing transportation modes holds both theoretical research significance and practical application value. This literature review aims to bridge the gap between theoretical discussions on routing algorithms and practical implementation strategies for efficient delivery using drones in collaboration with trucks, public transportation, and electric vehicles (EVs), While existing literature predominantly focuses optimal UAV routing algorithms, little research addresses the potential challenges faced during the practical implementation of integrated drone-ground transportation systems. Addressing these gaps is crucial for maximizing the potential of delivery drones within a sustainable logistics ecosystem. This review explores key areas including current UAV battery charging techniques, types of delivery drones, and the integration between drones and trucks, public transportation systems, and EVs for last-mile delivery (LMD) tasks. By addressing these critical aspects, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating drones into the existing transportation infrastructure, ultimately enhancing delivery efficiency.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Ground transportation", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/itc-egypt61547.2024.10620589" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2250060370", "doi": null, "title": "Approaches to Managing Freight in Metropolitan Areas", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-05-30", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Geneviève Giuliano", "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Geneviève Giuliano", "venue": "HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)", "publisher": "Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique", "abstract": "The flow of freight in metropolitan areas has emerged as a major urban planning challenge. Most urban freight moves in trucks. Although trucks make up a relatively small share of all vehicle traffic, they generate a disproportionate share of many externalities, including congestion on local streets and highways, infrastructure damage, vehicle emissions, greenhouse gases, and noise. The purpose of this paper is to examine strategies, policies, and practices that have been implemented in different countries to manage freight impacts on metropolitan areas and assess their effectiveness and potential for transferability.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Externality", "Greenhouse gas", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Sustainability", "Environmental economics", "Environmental planning", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hal.science/hal-00863702" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2804091056", "doi": null, "title": "Logistics concepts : research on the use of light electric freight vehicles for city logistics", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-06-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nilesh Anand", "Susanne Balm", "Islam Morse", "Hari Nabi", "Nick Heijdeman", "Klaas J. Roozendaal", "Ajoy Sarnakar", "Piraveen Thangarajah", "Gabrielle Veldhuijzen", "Anjo Witte" ], "first_author": "Nilesh Anand", "venue": "Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)", "publisher": "Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://research.hva.nl/en/publications/451cc901-0654-4f63-9231-0683e320281e" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4221018474", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4065318", "title": "Pickup and Delivery with Lockers", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mauro Dell'Amico", "Roberto Montemanni", "Stefano Novellani" ], "first_author": "Mauro Dell'Amico", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Pickup", "Advertising", "Computer science", "Business", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4065318" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3013379067", "doi": "10.1504/writr.2020.10027964", "title": "Analysis of the attributes to decision-making process of the urban freight vehicle choice for Brazilian scenario", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Bruno Vieira Bertoncini", "Larissa Almeida Matias de Lima Batista", "Lara Braide Rocha" ], "first_author": "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "venue": "World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "The largest cities in Brazil are experiencing a crisis in their urban mobility model. It increases the complexity of the urban distribution process, which requires a considerable effort in decisions such as vehicular choice for urban freight transport. Some attributes might influence the commercial vehicle choice by the decision makers, and they may be related to aspects of the vehicle, the cargo, the delivery area, the freight vehicle restrictions and the requirements from the operation. Recognising this challenge, the key attributes that influence the urban freight vehicle choice were identified through a systematic literature review and their adherence to the Brazilian reality was evaluated through a survey. Also, a stated preference survey was carried out to measure the relationship between decisions on the choice of commercial vehicular mode and the main attributes in this process. The results could support urban transport planners in the development of effective public policies.", "keywords": [ "Preference", "Process (computing)", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Mode choice", "Business", "Traffic management", "Mode (computer interface)", "Public transport", "Revealed preference", "Commercial vehicle", "Distribution (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/writr.2020.10027964" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2152007183", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-319-21266-1_8", "title": "Potentials of e-Mobility for Companies in Urban Areas", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-07-15", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Wolfgang Trummer", "Norbert Hafner" ], "first_author": "Wolfgang Trummer", "venue": "Lecture notes in logistics", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Sustainable transport", "Business", "Engineering", "Sustainability", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21266-1_8" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404119301", "doi": "10.53555/kuey.v28i4.8258", "title": "Machine Learning Applications in Fleet Electrification: Optimizing Vehicle Maintenance and Energy Consumption", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rama Chandra Rao Nampalli" ], "first_author": "Rama Chandra Rao Nampalli", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The electric vehicle (EV) market has been growing not only for passenger vehicles, where we witness high adoption of these cleaner cars, divided into Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), but also in buses, trucks, and vans, with an increasing conversion pressure due to regulations. In last-mile delivery, powerful optimization tools combining machine learning with operations research have become the subject of several studies, aiming to achieve efficient energy consumption in EVs by predicting drivers’ behaviors or track charts. Moreover, new strategies have been developed for something known as fleet electrification, i.e., when a carrier company aiming mainly to decrease its environmental footprint combines the operation of conventional fuel-powered vehicles with electric ones; this is not a complete switchover, but an intermediate stage. Since computational methods converged, fleet electrification attracted researchers’ interest as a techno-economical optimization question related to three main research lines with a strong potential impact on environmental electricity: energy mix-related carbon emissions. The first category of services that impacted fleet electrification before the advent of machine learning was related to condition-based maintenance. As commercial gas, electricity, heating oil, and water consumption can be budgeted across a year’s worth of monthly payments, fixing a price through the year could help these fleets include commercial formulations that account for released corporate emissions through approved carbon offsetting. In concrete numbers, our technical paper has two key goals: firstly, we investigate whether and to what extent the Vehicle Misuse Factor, as defined, and the initial state of relevant vehicle parts (tires, gearbox, motor, etc.) affect the electric energy consumption of EVs; secondly, we propose and solve the cost minimization model arising from this energy consumption prediction.", "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Energy consumption", "Automotive engineering", "Consumption (sociology)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Aeronautics", "Electricity", "Electrical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v28i4.8258" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3083251340", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2020.106810", "title": "Container drayage modelling with graph theory-based road connectivity assessment for sustainable freight transportation in new development area", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-06", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eugene Y. C. Wong", "Allen H. Tai", "Stuart C.K. So" ], "first_author": "Eugene Y. C. Wong", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Container (type theory)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 25, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://ira.lib.polyu.edu.hk/bitstream/10397/98526/1/Tai_Container_Drayage_Modelling.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399365774", "doi": "10.3390/drones8060247", "title": "Drone-Based Instant Delivery Hub-and-Spoke Network Optimization", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhi‐Hua Hu", "Yanling Huang", "Yao-Na Li", "Xiao-Qiong Bao" ], "first_author": "Zhi‐Hua Hu", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Drone-based transportation is emerging as a novel mode in city logistics, featuring first-mile pickup and last-mile instant delivery using drones and truck transshipment. A fundamental challenge involves coordinating merchants, drones, transshipment hubs, trucks, and consumer communities through the hub-and-spoke network (HSN). This study formulated the optimization problem for HSN to minimize logistics costs and loss of orders constrained by service time limits. The ε-constraint model, two evolutionary algorithms based on Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) using permutation (EAp) and rand key-based (EAr) encoding/decoding schemes were devised to solve the bi-objective mathematical program. Three groups of twelve experiments were conducted using ideal datasets and datasets generated from Shenzhen city to validate the models and algorithms. Relaxing the logistics objective by 10% and subsequently minimizing the loss of orders can significantly reduce average unmet orders by 24.61%; when spokes were beyond 20, the ε-constraint model failed to achieve solutions within an acceptable time. While EAp and EAr demonstrated competence, EAr proved to be more competitive in computation time, hypervolume, spacing metric, and the number of non-dominated solutions on the Pareto fronts. Key parameters influencing the HSN solutions include drone and truck speeds, acceptable delivery times, and the processing and waiting time at hubs.", "keywords": [ "Instant", "Drone", "Computer science", "Spoke-hub distribution paradigm", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8060247" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7172292650", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.21774285", "title": "Hybrid Truck–Drone Transportation - Innovative Research on Transportation using Trucks and Drones", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-03", "type": "software", "language": null, "authors": [ "Academia EduSoft" ], "first_author": "Academia EduSoft", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "Interactive semantic map of truck-and-drone last-mile delivery, TSP/FSTSP optimisation, OR-Tools route planning, Haversine aerial distances, launch and recovery overheads, computational experiments in Bacău County, and future large-scale logistics extensions.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Key (lock)", "Global Positioning System" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21774285" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402531807", "doi": "10.20944/preprints202409.0962.v1", "title": "Spatial Analysis of Middle-Mile Transport for Advanced Air Mobility: A Case Study of Rural North Dakota", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-09-12", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Raj Bridgelall" ], "first_author": "Raj Bridgelall", "venue": "Preprints.org", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Integrating advanced air mobility (AAM) into the logistics of high-value electronic commodities can enhance efficiency and promote sustainability. The objective of this study is to optimize the logistics network for high-value electronics by integrating AAM solutions, specifically using heavy-lift cargo drones for middle-mile transport and using the mostly rural and small urban U.S. state of North Dakota as a case study. The analysis utilized geographic information system (GIS) and spatial optimization models to strategically assign underutilized airports as multimodal freight hubs to facilitate the shift from long-haul trucks to middle-mile air transport. Key findings demonstrate that electronics, because of their high value-to-weight ratio, are ideally suited for air transport. Comparative analysis shows that transport by drones can reduce the average cost per ton by up to 60% compared to traditional trucking. Optimization results indicate that a small number of strategically placed logistical hubs can reduce average travel distances by more than 13% for last-mile deliveries. Cost analyses demonstrate the viability of drones for middle-mile transport, especially on lower-volume rural routes, highlighting their efficiency and flexibility. The study emphasizes the importance of utilizing existing infrastructure to optimize the logistics network. By replacing truck traffic with drones, AAM can mitigate road congestion, reduce emissions, and extend infrastructure lifespan. These insights have critical implications for supply chain managers, shippers, urban planners, and policymakers, providing a decision support system and a roadmap for integrating AAM into logistics strategies.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Drone", "Mile", "Transport engineering", "Multimodal transport", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Geographic information system", "Business", "Computer science", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/0d60205f8c95c1c7731ca0b32a54ad60/download_pub" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7172275060", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.21774286", "title": "Hybrid Truck–Drone Transportation - Innovative Research on Transportation using Trucks and Drones", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-03", "type": "software", "language": null, "authors": [ "Academia EduSoft" ], "first_author": "Academia EduSoft", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "Interactive semantic map of truck-and-drone last-mile delivery, TSP/FSTSP optimisation, OR-Tools route planning, Haversine aerial distances, launch and recovery overheads, computational experiments in Bacău County, and future large-scale logistics extensions.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Key (lock)", "Global Positioning System" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21774286" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2806754574", "doi": "10.1177/0361198118776783", "title": "Testing the “Freight Landscape” Concept for Paris", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-06-08", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Takanori Sakai", "Adrien Béziat", "Adeline Heitz", "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Takanori Sakai", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "The concept of “freight landscape,” the basis for a modeling approach for urban freight traffic estimation using commonly available datasets, was proposed in 2017 with a case study applying it to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. To extend the scope of that research, we conduct another case study using data from the Paris region, France. We estimate spatial lag models using population, employment, or establishment transportation accessibilities as explanatory variables and network-based truck traffic as the dependent variable, modifying the approach used in the Los Angeles study. We identify differences in the characteristics of the variables and the models between the Los Angeles and Paris cases, each having a distinctively different urban structure. While the models estimated for the Paris region provide beneficial insights into the relationships between freight landscape indicators and urban freight traffic, the complex correlation structure among indicators, as well as the limitation of the models for specifying the areas of very high truck traffic, underlines the need for further research on the modeling framework and for more case studies.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Scope (computer science)", "Geography", "Regional science", "Variable (mathematics)", "Population", "Lag", "Estimation", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hal.science/hal-02081441" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313462136", "doi": "10.1145/3571306.3571411", "title": "Approximation Algorithms for Drone Delivery Packing Problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Saswata Jana", "Partha Sarathi Mandal" ], "first_author": "Saswata Jana", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, have motivated logistics to use drones for multiple operations. Collaboration between drones and trucks in a last-mile delivery system has numerous benefits and reduces a number of challenges. In this paper, we introduce drone-delivery packing problem (DDP), where we have a set of deliveries and respective customers with their prescribed locations, delivery time intervals, associated cost for deliveries, and a set of drones with identical battery budgets. The objective of the DDP is to find an assignment for all deliveries to the drones by using the minimum number of drones subject to the battery budget and compatibility of the assignment of each drone. We prove that DDP is NP-Hard and formulate the integer linear programming (ILP) formulation for it. We proposed two greedy approximation algorithms for DDP. The first algorithm uses at most 2OPT + (Δ + 1) drones. The second algorithm uses at most 2OPT + ω drones, where OPT is the optimum solution for DDP, ω is the maximum clique size, and Δ is the maximum degree of the interval graph G constructed from the delivery time intervals.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Approximation algorithm", "Integer programming", "Linear programming", "Mathematical optimization", "Set packing", "Set cover problem", "Set (abstract data type)", "Packing problems", "Algorithm", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3571306.3571411" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399704353", "doi": "10.1007/s40747-024-01472-6", "title": "An iterative two-phase optimization method for heterogeneous multi-drone routing problem considering differentiated demands", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Huan Liu", "Guohua Wu", "Yufei Yuan", "Dezhi Wang", "Long Gen Zheng", "Wei Zhou" ], "first_author": "Huan Liu", "venue": "Complex & Intelligent Systems", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Abstract Owing to low cost, high flexibility and delivery efficiency, effectively addressing the challenges of “last-mile” delivery. While collaborative truck-drone delivery systems have been proposed to overcome limitations such as limited battery life and payload capacity, they are not well-suited for large and heavy parcel delivery. To solve the issue, a pioneering heterogeneous multi-drone delivery system. In this system, the mother drone handles the delivery of large and heavy parcels, releasing small drones to manage the delivery of smaller and lighter parcels. To address the complexities of this multi-drone delivery system, we introduce a divide-and-conquer framework consisting of two integral phases. The first phase, the task allocation phase, generates multiple task allocation schemes, while the second phase, the single-drone route planning phase, produces high-quality routes for each individual drone. Two phases are performed in an iterative manner until the predefined stopping criteria are satisfied. In the task allocation phase, we propose a simulated annealing algorithm (SA) to facilitate task allocation among multiple drones, utilizing transfer and recombination operators to generate high-quality solutions. After obtaining the task allocation scheme, a satisfactory route of a mother drone is generated by a variable neighborhood descent algorithm (VND). A desirable route for each single small drone is produced by dynamic programming (DP).Extensive experiments are conducted, demonstrating the outstanding optimization and time efficiency of the proposed two-phase optimization method by the fact that it obtains within a 4.89% gap from the optimal solution generated by CPLEX in 15.48 s for instance up to 125 nodes.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Simulated annealing", "Task (project management)", "Mathematical optimization", "Payload (computing)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Optimization problem", "Distributed computing", "Network packet", "Computer network", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s40747-024-01472-6" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399909735", "doi": "10.1088/1755-1315/1347/1/012050", "title": "Carbon monoxide emission and eco-driving for freight sustainability", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "H Ruslan" ], "first_author": "H Ruslan", "venue": "IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science", "publisher": "IOP Publishing", "abstract": "Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) indirectly causes climate change because it affects the abundance of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Carbon monoxide is formed because of incomplete combustion in diesel engines. The fate of CO towards achieving freight transportation sustainability is presented. Firstly, the pollutant (CO) emitted by diesel engines from freight vehicles was determined from field studies using the tailpipe emission technique. The effect of the behavioural approach, eco-driving, was also observed for the 304 km trip demonstrated by the drivers of the 40-footer truck. Eco-driving has many advantages, including emitting less CO, saving in fuels, and reducing accidents and traffic summons. Secondly, for freight sustainability, CO should be further reduced by adhering to Euro standards of the European Union for heavy-duty vehicles, which states that the emission should be 1.5 g/kWh. Thirdly, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), which converts CO to CO2, is an option that can be used. Then fourthly, the decarbonisation of transport using heavy electric trucks also shows some promise, although they are best for moving goods for a short distance. Finally, an efficient logistics system with optimal solutions adopting several measures is suggested for sustainability. These include ‘Hub-Spokes’ distribution, a polarised fleet, expanded delivery windows and last-mile delivery. Thus, these five steps help decarbonise the transport sector and consequently accelerate the zero carbon emission transition.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Greenhouse gas", "Diesel fuel", "Sustainability", "Environmental science", "Zero emission", "European union", "Environmental economics", "Business", "Waste management", "Natural resource economics", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1347/1/012050" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W583586906", "doi": null, "title": "The Nordic Intelligent Truck Hub – “NiHub”", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lars Källström", "Thomas Sjöström", "Pia Nygård Larsson" ], "first_author": "Lars Källström", "venue": "19th ITS World CongressERTICO - ITS EuropeEuropean CommissionITS AmericaITS Asia-Pacific", "publisher": null, "abstract": "How can this project increase the attraction of energy efficient last-mile transport solutions in urban cities? What incentives can the Nordic cities provide to create the necessary concentration of goods, support energy efficiency and support an attractive business solution? City distribution today is often associated with problems such as heavy goods vehicles on already congested and polluted inner city streets, low load factor as well as illegal or unsafe parking and land in and around urban areas have a high market value and is expensive. To counter these problems this project proposes a solution integrating information for the Intelligent Truck Parking service (ITP as proposed by the European Commission) with the information for last mile delivery by merging the concepts urban consolidation centres and truck parking areas supporting the ITP service. This project develop a new concept for the interface between long haul and last mile delivery creating an energy efficient and economically viable concept for sustainable freight transports in our Nordic cities, called the NiHub. The project work is in progress, and additional information complementing this report may be presented at the time of presentation.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Incentive", "Last mile (transportation)", "Business", "Service (business)", "Efficient energy use", "City logistics", "Mile", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1262476" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7166527397", "doi": "10.1016/j.rtbm.2026.101787", "title": "Analysing truck type choice and shipment size allocation in urban freight using discrete-continuous choice modelling", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nirmalendu Bikash Mishra", "Varun Varghese", "Agnivesh Pani", "Smruti Sourava Mohapatra", "Prasanta K. Sahu" ], "first_author": "Nirmalendu Bikash Mishra", "venue": "Research in Transportation Business & Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Incentive", "Truck", "Commodity", "Time allocation", "Class (philosophy)", "Mode choice", "Traffic congestion", "Policy analysis" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2026.101787" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399435639", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-61475-0_20", "title": "Catalyzing Urban Logistics and Road Safety: Truck Recommendation System and Real-Time Accident Severity Prediction", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M. Shajan", "K. Suresh Kumar", "Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan" ], "first_author": "M. Shajan", "venue": "Information systems engineering and management", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Accident (philosophy)", "Business", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61475-0_20" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2569757740", "doi": null, "title": "TRUCK MARKET STRUCTURES - SIGNIFICANT URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT POTENTIALS - DEVELOPMENT OF THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT SECTOR THROUGH 2000", "year": 1989, "publication_date": "1989-06-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "D Langer" ], "first_author": "D Langer", "venue": "OpenGrey (Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique)", "publisher": "Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique", "abstract": "Available from TIB Hannover: FR 4894 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische Informationsbibliothek", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Rail freight transport", "Road transport", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/10068/187297" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2055898806", "doi": "10.1080/12265934.2014.929508", "title": "London 2012: changing delivery patterns in response to the impact of the Games on traffic flows", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-05-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael J. Browne", "Julian Allen", "I. Wainwright", "Andrew John Palmer", "Ian Williams" ], "first_author": "Michael J. Browne", "venue": "International Journal of Urban Sciences", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "The paper addresses road freight transport operations during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. It presents work carried out prior to the Games to understand pre-Games patterns of freight deliveries in London (for both light and heavy goods vehicles) and the results of modelling work carried out to assess the likely impacts of the Games road restrictions on freight operations. The modelling results indicated that increases in total hours travelled carrying out collection and delivery work would range from 1.4% to 11.4% in the six sectors considered. The results suggested increases in hours travelled in excess of 3.5% in four of the six sectors modelled. The possible actions that could be taken by organizations to reduce these negative impacts were also modelled and the results indicated that such actions would help to mitigate the impact of the road restrictions imposed on operators during the Games. The actual impacts of the 2012 Games on transport both in general terms and specifically in terms of freight transport are also discussed, together with the success of the actions taken by Transport for London (TfL) to help the road freight industry. The potential freight transport legacy of the London 2012 Games in terms of achieving more sustainable urban freight transport is considered and the steps being taken by TfL to help ensure that such a legacy can be realized are discussed. Such steps include policy-makers continuing to collaborate closely with the freight industry through the ‘London Freight Forum’, and TfL's efforts to encourage and support companies revising their delivery and collection times to the off-peak; improving freight planning in the design and management of TfL-funded road schemes; electronic provision of traffic information by TfL to the freight industry, and the further development of freight journey planning tools.", "keywords": [ "Work (physics)", "Transport engineering", "Sustainable transport", "Business", "Traffic management", "Road transport", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Sustainability", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 25, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2014.929508" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4245137757", "doi": "10.1002/9781119425519.ch4", "title": "Toward Sustainable Urban Distribution Using City Canals: The Case of Amsterdam", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-05-30", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin", "Rens Kortmann", "Maarten van de Kamp" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This chapter investigates whether a system of hub locations distributing goods across the water to the city of Amsterdam can be a potential future solution to guarantee same-day delivery to shopkeepers. It explores the literature on (the simulation of) city logistics (waterborne transport). The chapter addresses the demarcation and definition of the conceptual model. It presents the second step of the paradigm, the specification of a simulation model. The chapter describes the verification and validation of the models. It also describes the last step of the paradigm showing the results of the experiments with different fleet sizes and locations of the transshipment hubs. The chapter concludes that a waterborne city logistics concept with a small number of hub locations can compete with truck deliverance and seems to be a sustainable solution for other cities with large canals as well.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Truck", "Transshipment (information security)", "Sustainable city", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Conceptual model", "Operations research", "Business", "Civil engineering", "Environmental planning" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119425519.ch4" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2338172434", "doi": "10.1080/09537287.2016.1147093", "title": "Urban vans, e-commerce and road freight transport", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-04-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David Bonilla" ], "first_author": "David Bonilla", "venue": "Production Planning & Control", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "A city will typically depend on at least 150 supply chains and freight is a key part of them. This article aims to explore at the qualitative and qualitative level (1) how e-commerce drives both travel and urban freight transport and (2) to estimate how various manufacturing activities determine the stability of demand for freight transport. The article provides elasticity estimates on (1) the demand for road freight transport for five industry sectors using a time series framework; data on GDP (gross value added) and on fuel costs per t-km (tonne-km). A key finding is that e-commerce induces freight traffic, by vans, but the decline in freight intensity of the economy is only temporary since urban economic activity contributes to growth of freight. Our analysis of five manufacturing sectors confirms that cyclical sectors are more sensitive to energy price gyrations over time than non-cyclical sectors. Price elasticities are high but comparable to other studies. The income elasticity of freight transport is large for the five sectors, but the high heterogeneity of freight sectors means that predicting this activity is challenging. It is observed that truck freight intensity (km of trucks per GVA) declines but not enough to offset the rise in energy needed to fuel the entire freight transport sector; it is likely that the rise in van freight increases the demand for freight energy in urban regions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Traffic management", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Supply chain", "City logistics", "Rail freight transport", "Industrial organization", "Economics", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1147093" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1792595852", "doi": "10.4337/9781848441453.00020", "title": "Inter-Urban Road Goods Vehicle Pricing in Europe", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-05-30", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chris A. Nash", "Batool Menaz", "Bryan Matthews" ], "first_author": "Chris A. Nash", "venue": "Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks", "publisher": "Edward Elgar Publishing", "abstract": "This chapter critically examined the proposed revisions to the Eurovignette Directive and the systems of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) charging in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The chapter examines the European Commission’s policy on pricing for inter-urban freight traffic. The analysis focuses on competition with the rail and on how to avoid discriminatory pricing policies between one country and another. The principle marginal social cost pricing is supported, although its application to both road and rail is subject to political constraints. The directive on inter-urban road goods vehicle charging links tolls to equating average revenue and average infrastructure costs, but with variations in differentials in environmental, accident and congestion costs.", "keywords": [ "Road pricing", "Revenue", "Directive", "European commission", "Marginal cost", "Competition (biology)", "Business", "Transport economics", "Congestion pricing", "Commission", "Transport engineering", "Singapore Area Licensing Scheme" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4337/9781848441453.00020" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3211067735", "doi": null, "title": "A Simulation-Based Evaluation of a Cargo-Hitching Service for E-Commerce Using Mobility-on-Demand Vehicles", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "André Romano Alho", "Takanori Sakai", "Simon Oh", "Cheng Cheng", "Ravi Seshadri", "Wen Han Chong", "Yusuke Hara", "Julia Caravias", "Lynette W. Cheah", "Moshe E Ben-Akiva" ], "first_author": "André Romano Alho", "venue": "DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "abstract": "Time-sensitive parcel deliveries—shipments requested for delivery in a day or less—are an increasingly important aspect of urban logistics. It is challenging to deal with these deliveries from a carrier perspective. These require additional planning constraints, preventing the efficient consolidation of deliveries that is possible when demand is well known in advance. Furthermore, such time-sensitive deliveries are requested to a wider spatial scope than retail centers, including homes and offices. Therefore, an increase in such deliveries is considered to exacerbate negative externalities, such as congestion and emissions. One of the solutions is to leverage spare capacity in passenger transport modes. This concept is often denominated as cargo hitching. While there are various system designs, it is crucial that such a solution does not deteriorate the quality of service of passenger trips. This research aims to evaluate the use of mobility-on-demand (MOD) services that perform same-day parcel deliveries. To test the MOD-based solutions, we utilize a high-resolution agent- and activity-based simulation platform of passenger and freight flows. E-commerce demand carrier data collected in Singapore are used to characterize simulated parcel delivery demand. We explore operational scenarios that aim to minimize the adverse effects of fulfilling deliveries with MOD service vehicles on passenger flows. Adverse effects are measured in fulfillment, wait, and travel times. A case study on Singapore indicates that the MOD services have potential to fulfill a considerable amount of parcel deliveries and decrease freight vehicle traffic and total vehicle kilometers travelled without compromising the quality of MOD for passenger travel. Insights into the operational performance of the cargo-hitching service are also provided.", "keywords": [ "Spare part", "Transport engineering", "TRIPS architecture", "Leverage (statistics)", "Service (business)", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Service quality", "Computer science", "Environmental economics", "Marketing", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 31, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/138114" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2940707508", "doi": "10.3390/su11082442", "title": "An Effects Analysis of Logistics Collaboration: The Case of Pharmaceutical Supplies in Seoul", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-04-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Wooseok Do", "Hyeongjun Park", "Koohong Chung", "Dongjoo Park" ], "first_author": "Wooseok Do", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "This paper estimates the environmental, social and financial effects of logistics collaboration of the existing logistics companies in Seoul, Korea. The truck routing models for collaborative and non-collaborative deliveries are proposed to estimate the collaboration effects. Findings show that both major and minor companies can benefit from logistics collaboration by saving delivery costs and time through economies of scale. The results from the study further indicate that logistics collaboration can mitigate negative environmental impacts resulting from urban logistics by reducing the number of delivery trucks, and shortening delivery times and travel distances. Discussion of related challenges that must be addressed during the implementation of logistic collaboration is included as well.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Business", "City logistics", "Scale (ratio)", "Humanitarian Logistics", "Vehicle routing problem", "Environmental economics", "Transport engineering", "Operations management", "Industrial organization", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/8/2442/pdf?version=1556418200" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2949350743", "doi": null, "title": "Learning factors from experiments in Sustainable Urban Freight Transport: A Strategic Niche Management Analysis of Electric Truck experiments", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kevin Koedood" ], "first_author": "Kevin Koedood", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "In the Netherlands the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam are coping with problems of air quality and congestion caused by inner-city transport. The continued demand for cleaner air, especially in the inner-city, has produced multiple experiments in sustainable transport.Some of these solutions can be seen as radical innovations; however a guideline on implementing radical innovations does not exist. Innovation in the transport sector has predominantly been incremental. Radical steps in the transport regime have also been met with resistance of incumbent stakeholders. As such, the current regime needs a radical change if future goals of improving air quality should be achieved within the desired timeframe. A method to introduce radical innovation in a regime is to set-up a strategic niche, a niche that has the ultimate goal of changing the current regime. This thesis has reviewed experiments done with large electric trucks in the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. These experiments both originate from the FREVUE project that strives to introduce electric freight transport in urban Europe. The main approach of this thesis has been conducting desk research on grey literature, open data from the FREVUE project, and by conducting interviews among prime stakeholders of the projects. This study finds that stakeholders possess little knowledge on Strategic Niche Management, however the three main elements in setting-up a strategic niche occur in more than one occasion in the experiments that were predominantly of a technical nature. All elements are endorsed by actions, or experiences of the stakeholders in the experiments. In addition several stakeholders stated that the enrolment of OEMs and Banks could have been helpful in building a business case and propose the use of a champion or agent of change to aid the stakeholders in their efforts.Learning can be subdivided in first order and second order learning. First order learning comprised of pure technical learning elements, such as reliability and operating range, was the main goal of the FREVUE project. Second order learning, interaction and policies, also occurred for both experiments.Even though second order learning was not the main purpose of the experiments, stakeholders verified that second order learning occurred. The contributions this study makes are practical, scientific and managerial.The building of social networks and the enrolment of more actors, led to the addition of champion theory as a method to gain access to the necessary network and to convince stakeholders to participate in the project. It also became clear that the stakeholders that were currently participating did not do so out of purely monetary reasons.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Niche", "Business", "Strategic planning", "Quality (philosophy)", "Air quality index", "Sustainable transport", "Transport engineering", "Sustainability", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Ecology" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://repository.tudelft.nl/file/File_7632e7c6-ab16-46b6-9990-c52a13145dd7" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3214792047", "doi": "10.3390/su132313103", "title": "Sustainable Urban Delivery: The Learning Process of Path Costs Enhanced by Information and Communication Technologies", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-11-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Russo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Francesco Russo", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Today, local administrations are faced with the presence of greater constraints in terms of the use of space and time. At the same time, large amount of data is available to fleet managers that can be used for controlling their fleets. This work is set in the context defined by sustainable city logistics, and information and communication technologies (ICTs), to formalize the three themes of the smart city (transport, ICTs and energy savings) in a single problem. Following this, the main purpose of the study is to propose a unified formulation of the basic problem of fleets, i.e., the traveling salesman problem (TSP), which explicitly includes the use of emerging information and communication technologies (e-ICTs) pointing out the learning process of path costs in urban delivery. This research explores the opportunity to extend the path cost formation with a within-day and day-to-day learning process, including the specification of the attributes provided by e-ICTs. As shown through a real test case, the research answers to queries coming from operators and collectivities to improve city liveability and sustainability. It includes both economic sustainability for companies/enterprises and environmental sustainability for local administrations (and collectivities). Besides contributing to reduce the times and kms travelled by commercial vehicles, as well as the interference of freight vehicles with other traffic components, it also contributes to road accident reduction (social sustainability). Therefore, after the re-exanimation of TSP, this paper presents the proposed unitary formulation and its benefits through the discussion of results obtained in a real case study. Finally, the possible innovation guided by e-ICT is pointed out.", "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Information and Communications Technology", "Context (archaeology)", "Process (computing)", "Computer science", "Business", "Urban sustainability", "ICTS", "Work (physics)", "Environmental economics", "Transport engineering", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 30, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/23/13103/pdf?version=1638164781" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387618961", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2023.109684", "title": "A mathematical model and metaheuristic approach to solve the real-time feeder vehicle routing problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "Javad Behnamian" ], "first_author": "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Particle swarm optimization", "Mathematical optimization", "Metaheuristic", "Time horizon", "Integer programming", "Process (computing)", "Real-time computing", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2023.109684" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1972667971", "doi": "10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.1994", "title": "A Statistical Analysis for Micro-Simulation of Udc Operativity", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Domenico Gattuso", "Gian Carla Cassone" ], "first_author": "Domenico Gattuso", "venue": "Procedia Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "An Urban Distribution Center (UDC) is a useful City Logistics policy instrument. A UDC is a logistic site dedicated to decompose and consolidate freight directed to the city, by planning the routes and service time, restricting the traffic of trucks and increasing the load factor of feeder vehicles. A UDC can produce interesting impacts on the dynamics of urban freight distribution, but its success depends on many factors: an appropriate location; a wellbalanced presence of spaces and equipment; an efficient and effective organization of internal services; a connection with the surrounding area and with the related transport services; a management structure that meets different and complementary requirements; a capacity to support itself. The paper proposes an analysis of the functional organization of a UDC through a \"what if\" micro-simulation approach aimed at the UDC efficiency control. After a review of the state of the art, a procedure to implement a discrete-event micro-simulation model is described. Probability functions concerning the times of UDC activities are proposed.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "Control (management)", "Event (particle physics)", "Operations research", "Computer science", "State (computer science)", "Engineering", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.1994" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410299660", "doi": "10.1016/j.simpat.2025.103140", "title": "MASS-GT: An empirical model for the simulation of freight policies", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michiel de Bok", "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy", "Sebastiaan Thoen", "Larissa Eggers", "Ioanna Kourounioti" ], "first_author": "Michiel de Bok", "venue": "Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Despite the importance of urban freight transportation for the accessibility and livability of cities, few systematic, quantitative and empirical methods exist which allow an impact assessment of urban freight transportation solutions or policies. There is a lack of transparent literature on the full specification and estimation of these models, which not only hampers continued research, but also the development of evidence-based urban freight transport policies. We present the urban freight simulator Multi-Agent Simulation System for Goods Transport (MASS-GT) with its full specification and empirical implementation for a study area in the Netherlands. It concerns an agent-based model based on a framework of discrete choice and optimization models, which describes logistic choices of shippers, carriers, producers and consumers. The disaggregate level of detail allows the analysis of a wide variety of logistic developments and policies across all or specific logistic segments. The model is estimated and validated using a variety of data sources: truck trip diaries, supply/use statistics, an e-commerce demand survey, traffic counts and other relevant statistics. The article presents the full specifications of the model and their empirical estimation, including the data sources used. Also, the validity of the model is evaluated using road freight traffic counts. Finally, examples of applications of the model to case studies are provided.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpat.2025.103140" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1573098940", "doi": null, "title": "PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR TRUCKS", "year": 1989, "publication_date": "1989-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kenneth W. Ogden" ], "first_author": "Kenneth W. Ogden", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Trucks have always been recognised as part of the traffic stream, and thus to an extent their needs have been included in aspects of traffic engineering practice. However, this recognition has been limited, and has only recently extended beyond such basic parameters as vehicle size and the use of passenger car equivalents (eg, 1 truck equals 2 cars) in capacity calculations. It is now increasingly recognised that, on the one hand, trucks have special needs and problems that can and should be recognised by the traffic engineer, while on the other hand, there are real and unique benefits which can accrue from truck oriented traffic management. These benefits may be in such disparate areas as regional economic development, land use, road safety, environmental protection, and traffic flow. This section discusses ways in which trucks may be specifically incorporated in traffic planning and design. It includes: objectives of truck oriented traffic management; dimensions of the urban trucking task; problems in urban trucking; traffic management solution strategies; and truck trip generation. It is important to note that trucking, and urban freight generally, impinges on a very wide range of economic and social activities, including such things as economic policy, industry development, industrial relations, transport regulations, road safety, transport planning and policy, environmental protection, etc. Discussion in this section is limited to some of the ways in which traffic engineering can contribute to a better urban freight system (including ways in which some of its adverse effects can be reduced). The discussion does not attempt to address many of the wider concerns, except to the extent necessary to provide a context. However, this is not to diminish the significance of traffic engineering, as management of truck traffic is one of the most powerful and most direct ways in which the public sector can influence (A).", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Transportation planning", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1198165" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411200445", "doi": "10.1016/j.trc.2025.105206", "title": "Parametric design of time-sensitive routing with recipient-dependent contributions", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bahar D. Viniche", "Opher Baron", "Oded Berman", "Mehdi Nourinejad" ], "first_author": "Bahar D. Viniche", "venue": "Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Last-mile delivery complexities intensify for perishable goods, which must maintain quality, mainly when transported on non-refrigerated vehicles. If recipients are unavailable, delivery failure may prolong the delivery of perishable goods, thus jeopardizing their integrity. This study proposes recipient-dependent last-mile delivery solutions for perishable goods with time-sensitive delivery routes where the recipients contribute to the process. We explore applications of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in recipient-dependent deliveries of perishable goods and compare traditional truck delivery with a proposed AV pickup policy and other multi-echelon routing policies. We propose a parametric design of the policies, characterizing each policy by a set of variables inspired by the network design literature. In this study, routes are regarded as length-constrained, which is essential for the time-sensitive delivery of perishable goods. We compare the optimal cost of policies in length-bounding (time-sensitive) with capacity-bounding routes. A detailed dominance space analysis highlights the optimal policy under various cost structures and shows that the status quo for truck delivery is dominated as the number of deliveries increases. Increasing hand-off costs also lead to the dominance of AV and hybrid policies over traditional truck delivery. We validate the proposed managerial insights through a case study of a Walmart location delivery service in Toronto, proving the applicability of the models. This research contributes to the strategic integration of AVs in last-mile delivery of perishable goods.", "keywords": [ "Parametric statistics", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Computer network", "Mathematics", "Statistics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2025.105206" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2885355751", "doi": "10.5198/jtlu.2018.1363", "title": "The relationship between commodity types, spatial characteristics, and distance optimality of logistics facilities", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-08-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Takanori Sakai", "Kazuya Kawamura", "Tetsuro Hyodo" ], "first_author": "Takanori Sakai", "venue": "Journal of Transport and Land Use", "publisher": "University of Minnesota", "abstract": "We analyze the relationship between the location of logistics facilities and the goods vehicle travel distances for the shipments associated with the facilities, using data from a large urban freight survey conducted in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in 2013. Our analysis categorizes the logistics facilities into groups based on the type of commodity they handle. The analysis sheds light on the complex relationship between the location and “distance optimality gap,” defined as the gap between the minimum travel distance possible and the actual distance traveled by goods vehicles. The results indicate that, while the lack of available space for logistics land use near the urban center leads to significant distance optimality gaps for some logistics facility groups, such as those handling daily goods, these same locations may not be advantageous for others. Also, the logistics facilities in the exurbs are likely to have large distance optimality gaps because these locations are often far away from the origins and destinations of their shipments. In terms of land-use policy, the study reveals that simply concentrating logistics facilities near the urban core or suburbs may not reduce truck traffic. Detailed data on logistics facilities and shipments are crucial for formulating effective approaches to improve the distance optimality of logistics land use.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Commodity", "Business", "Destinations", "Facility location problem", "City logistics", "Land use", "Traffic management", "Operations research", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 16, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/download/1363/1074" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7145056555", "doi": null, "title": "Preliminary study of the freight vehicle probe data from the urban freight survey in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area 2014", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "壇辻貴生", "Takao Dantsuji", "大輔 福田", "Hideki Oka", "保克 萩野", "Yasukatsu Hagino", "Daisuke Fukuda", "Daisuke Fukuda" ], "first_author": "壇辻貴生", "venue": "Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)", "publisher": "National Institute of Informatics", "abstract": "This paper analyses the detailed movement behaviour of freight vehicles using GPS-based probe data obtained from the Fifth Urban Freight Survey in Tokyo Metropolitan Area in 2014. In particular we focus on their frequent use of the roads along with residential areas, which is regarded as one of the serious freight traffic problem in Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Firstly, we analyse the characteristics of the freight vehicles such the road usage, the distance travelled and time-of-day pattern of use of the residential roads. It is found that there might be two possible reasons that freight vehicles, particularly large-sized ones, tend to use the residential roads: mixed land use and congestion of other competitive arterial roads. Afterwards, we take two areas as the case study of these two reasons with more detailed microscopic investigations. We confirm that the freight vehicles would take the residential roads mainly because of mixed land use and congestion in these case studies.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Traffic congestion", "Traffic management", "Urban area", "City logistics", "Residential area", "Land use" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://t2r2.star.titech.ac.jp/cgi-bin/publicationinfo.cgi?q_publication_content_number=CTT100716482" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2105194980", "doi": null, "title": "Commercial vehicle tour data collection using passive GPS technology: issues and potential applications", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-07-01", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Stephen P. Greaves", "Miguel Figliozzi" ], "first_author": "Stephen P. Greaves", "venue": "The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney)", "publisher": "The University of Sydney", "abstract": "In mid-2006 a GPS survey of commercial vehicles was piloted in Melbourne, Australia to support a major update of freight data and modelling capabilities in the metropolitan region. This survey marked the first of its kind in Australia, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, one of the first world-wide. This paper presents the issues surrounding the collection and use of GPS data as a method to provide information on commercial vehicle tours within an urban setting. The paper focuses on passive GPS methods where the truck driver’s involvement in the data collection effort is minimal. We address (a) implementation issues with the data collection, (b) the algorithms used to process the raw GPS data into meaningful trip tour information, (c) pilot survey data tour results, and (d) potential uses and limitations of passive GPS technology in urban freight modelling and planning. Despite processing challenges, GPS provides an appealing method to enrich commercial vehicle data collection and enhance our understanding of on-road behaviour. As increasing numbers of commercial vehicles become equipped with GPS receivers, we argue only privacy concerns remain as a major barrier to gathering and using such data on a wide-spread basis in the future.", "keywords": [ "Global Positioning System", "Data collection", "Metropolitan area", "Raw data", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Assisted GPS", "Process (computing)", "Geography", "Telecommunications", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2123/19575" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4307029539", "doi": "10.1016/j.swevo.2022.101201", "title": "Real-time collaborative feeder vehicle routing problem with flexible time windows", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-10-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "Javad Behnamian" ], "first_author": "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "venue": "Swarm and Evolutionary Computation", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Real-time computing", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Embedded system" ], "cited_by_count": 28, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.swevo.2022.101201" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401307531", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2408.00663", "title": "Fleet-mix Electric Vehicle Routing Problem for the E-commerce Delivery with Limited Off-Hour Delivery Implementation", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-08-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hyun-Seop Uhm", "Abdelrahman Ismael", "Natalia Zuniga-Garcia", "Olcay Sahin", "James Cook", "Joshua Auld", "Monique A. Stinson" ], "first_author": "Hyun-Seop Uhm", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Freight truck electrification for last-mile delivery is one of the most important research topics to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel operations. Although a battery electric truck still has limitations on daily operations with lower driving ranges and higher purchasing cost than a conventional truck, operations with electrified trucks reduce total energy usage and driving noise on routes. In this paper, we propose a fleet-mix and multi-shift electric vehicle routing problem for joint implementation of fleet electrification and off-hour delivery in urban e-commerce delivery systems. Every electrified truck is assumed to have two shifts for both daytime and nighttime delivery operations while conventional trucks can operate during daytime only because of municipal restrictions on nighttime deliveries, which are related to engine noise. Also, every electrified truck must recharge between shifts at its depot. A fleet owner decides the best electrification ratio of the fleet and the proper number of chargers which gives the minimum total cost. The optimization problem is described as a mixed-integer linear programming model including common constraints for vehicle routing problem, recharging constraints, and two-shift operation of electrified trucks. A bi-level VNS-TS heuristic is also suggested for efficient solution search. The upper-level problem assigns trucks with engine type and brief route information using variable neighborhood search heuristic, and the lower-level problem finds the best route of each assigned truck using a tabu search heuristic. Scenarios with different EV driving ranges and nighttime operation availabilities are developed and evaluated with the POLARIS transportation simulation framework, and results are reported.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Electric vehicle", "Computer science", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2408.00663" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7138919291", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.6348258", "title": "The Single Truck and Drone Trailer Routing Problem", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Alexander Rave" ], "first_author": "Alexander Rave", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Trailer", "Drone", "Truck", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6348258" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2788385173", "doi": "10.1155/2018/4621694", "title": "Mathematical Formulation and Comparison of Solution Approaches for the Vehicle Routing Problem with Access Time Windows", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rafael Grosso", "Jesús Muñuzuri", "Alejandro Escudero-Santana", "Elena Barbadilla-Martín" ], "first_author": "Rafael Grosso", "venue": "Complexity", "publisher": "Hindawi Publishing Corporation", "abstract": "The application of the principles of sustainability to the implementation of urban freight policies requires the estimation of all the costs and externalities involved. We focus here on the case of access time windows, which ban the access of freight vehicles to central urban areas in many European cities. Even though this measure seeks to reduce congestion and emissions in the most crowded periods of the day, it also imposes additional costs for carriers and results in higher emissions and energy consumption. We present here a mathematical model for the Vehicle Routing Problem with Access Time Windows, a variant of the VRP suitable for planning delivery routes in a city subject to this type of accessibility restriction. We use the model to find exact solutions to small problem instances based on a case study and then compare the performance over larger instances of a modified savings algorithm, a genetic algorithm, and a tabu search procedure, with the results showing no clear prevalence of any of them, but confirming the significance of those additional costs and externalities.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Tabu search", "Externality", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Sustainability", "Mathematical optimization", "Traffic congestion", "Focus (optics)", "Transport engineering", "Genetic algorithm", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 14, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/complexity/2018/4621694.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7213603231", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.22833476", "title": "Truck-and-Robot Instance Dataset", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-09-18", "type": "dataset", "language": null, "authors": [ "Tobias Huf", "Manuel Ostermeier" ], "first_author": "Tobias Huf", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "Benchmark instances for truck-and-robot last-mile delivery problems, distributed as asingle PostgreSQL database. In truck-and-robot delivery, a truck carries a number of autonomous delivery robots intoa service area, releases them to serve customers on foot networks, and collects themagain — or lets them return to a robot hub on their own. Instances for these problemstherefore need more than customers and a distance matrix: they need two separate travelnetworks, robot supply and capacity per hub, release and collection points, and timewindows that couple truck and robot movements. This record provides all of that in asingle, queryable structure, so that instances used across several publications can becompared without reconciling file formats. Contents of release v1.0.0 Instance input data for publication P5: 63 instance batches, 1,575 instances, organizedinto the \"metadata\" and \"raw_data\" schemas. Computational results are not part of thisrelease; they are withheld until the publications that report them are out. Files in this record truck_robot_full_v1.0.0.sql.gz — the complete database, including the 40,343,775precomputed travel matrix rows. Required to solve instances. truck_robot_core_v1.0.0.sql.gz — the same database without the travel matrix rows.Sufficient to browse the schema, read the instance definitions and select instances. dataset-truck-robot-1.0.0.zip — the source tree of the corresponding GitHub release:column-level documentation for every table, annotated DDL, restore instructions andrunnable example queries. Travel times and distances are precomputed per ordered location pair and are notreconstructible from the coordinates: robot paths follow a sidewalk network and arepotentially systematically longer than the straight-line distance, with no constantfactor relating the two, as most instances rely on real geographical infrastructures.Without the travel matrices the instances are not solvable. Restoring requires PostgreSQL 13 or newer. The dumps were produced with PostgreSQL 18.3. Citation This record is a distribution of instance data. It is not an independent scientificcontribution and must not be cited as a standalone dataset. If you use instances fromit, cite the publication the instances belong to: Huf, T., & Ostermeier, M. (in press). Return of the robots: The truck-and-robotrouting problem with robot reuse and reallocation. Transportation Science.https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2025.0523 Cite only the publications corresponding to the instances you actually used. If yourstudy needs a persistent identifier for the data artifact — for example for a journal'sdata-availability statement — use the DOI of this record. That is a reference to adistribution, not a scientific citation, and it does not replace citing the publicationabove. License The material licensable by the dataset authors is released under CC BY-ND 4.0. You mayuse the dataset for any purpose, including commercially, run experiments on it, publishresults obtained from it, and redistribute it verbatim and unmodified. Using the data tocompute and publish results is not an adaptation and is explicitly permitted.Republishing the instances in another format or as part of another instance library is,and requires separate permission. Repository and full documentation: https://github.com/tobiashuf/dataset-truck-robot", "keywords": [ "Robot", "Documentation", "Truck", "Service (business)", "Tree (set theory)", "Benchmark (surveying)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22833476" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7213577747", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.22833475", "title": "Truck-and-Robot Instance Dataset", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-09-18", "type": "dataset", "language": null, "authors": [ "Tobias Huf", "Manuel Ostermeier" ], "first_author": "Tobias Huf", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "Benchmark instances for truck-and-robot last-mile delivery problems, distributed as asingle PostgreSQL database. In truck-and-robot delivery, a truck carries a number of autonomous delivery robots intoa service area, releases them to serve customers on foot networks, and collects themagain — or lets them return to a robot hub on their own. Instances for these problemstherefore need more than customers and a distance matrix: they need two separate travelnetworks, robot supply and capacity per hub, release and collection points, and timewindows that couple truck and robot movements. This record provides all of that in asingle, queryable structure, so that instances used across several publications can becompared without reconciling file formats. Contents of release v1.0.0 Instance input data for publication P5: 63 instance batches, 1,575 instances, organizedinto the \"metadata\" and \"raw_data\" schemas. Computational results are not part of thisrelease; they are withheld until the publications that report them are out. Files in this record truck_robot_full_v1.0.0.sql.gz — the complete database, including the 40,343,775precomputed travel matrix rows. Required to solve instances. truck_robot_core_v1.0.0.sql.gz — the same database without the travel matrix rows.Sufficient to browse the schema, read the instance definitions and select instances. dataset-truck-robot-1.0.0.zip — the source tree of the corresponding GitHub release:column-level documentation for every table, annotated DDL, restore instructions andrunnable example queries. Travel times and distances are precomputed per ordered location pair and are notreconstructible from the coordinates: robot paths follow a sidewalk network and arepotentially systematically longer than the straight-line distance, with no constantfactor relating the two, as most instances rely on real geographical infrastructures.Without the travel matrices the instances are not solvable. Restoring requires PostgreSQL 13 or newer. The dumps were produced with PostgreSQL 18.3. Citation This record is a distribution of instance data. It is not an independent scientificcontribution and must not be cited as a standalone dataset. If you use instances fromit, cite the publication the instances belong to: Huf, T., & Ostermeier, M. (in press). Return of the robots: The truck-and-robotrouting problem with robot reuse and reallocation. Transportation Science.https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2025.0523 Cite only the publications corresponding to the instances you actually used. If yourstudy needs a persistent identifier for the data artifact — for example for a journal'sdata-availability statement — use the DOI of this record. That is a reference to adistribution, not a scientific citation, and it does not replace citing the publicationabove. License The material licensable by the dataset authors is released under CC BY-ND 4.0. You mayuse the dataset for any purpose, including commercially, run experiments on it, publishresults obtained from it, and redistribute it verbatim and unmodified. Using the data tocompute and publish results is not an adaptation and is explicitly permitted.Republishing the instances in another format or as part of another instance library is,and requires separate permission. Repository and full documentation: https://github.com/tobiashuf/dataset-truck-robot", "keywords": [ "Robot", "Documentation", "Truck", "Service (business)", "Tree (set theory)", "Benchmark (surveying)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22833475" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399714938", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-62912-9_13", "title": "Combining Heuristics and Constraint Programming for the Parallel Drone Scheduling Vehicle Routing Problem with Collective Drones", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberto Montemanni", "Mauro Dell’Amico", "Andrea Corsini" ], "first_author": "Roberto Montemanni", "venue": "Lecture notes in computer science", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Heuristics", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Constraint programming", "Job shop scheduling", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer network", "Mathematics", "Operating system" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://iris.unimore.it/bitstream/11380/1342368/2/chapter.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2582700488", "doi": "10.18335/region.v4i1.102", "title": "Analysis of Freight Trip Generation Model for Food and Beverage in Belo Horizonte (Brazil)", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Rodrigo Affonso de Albuquerque Nóbrega", "Daniel Gonçalves Ebias", "Bruno Gomes e Souza Corrêa" ], "first_author": "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "venue": "REGION", "publisher": "ERSA", "abstract": "Today, one of the main challenges faced in urban logistics is the distribution of goods. In Brazil, mid to large cities have experienced consequences of unplanned urban sprawl and lack of adequate transportation infrastructure. The relationship between urban planning and transport stands out the attractiveness of some urban activities with direct impacts on the movement of people and goods and other component elements of urban space. The segment of bars and restaurants falls within this context, therefore is a vital activity responsible for significant percentage of jobs and revenue in a city. Altogether, foods & beverages commercial activities move daily large volumes of goods to meet the need of customers. This paper presents the results of a freight trip generation model developed for pubs and restaurants in Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Once performed the model determined the number of trips generated per day per establishment. In order to expand the discrete result to a continuous one, the results were geographically interpolated to a continuous surface and extrapolated within the city limits. The data for the freight trip generation model were obtained by survey. For this, we designed a structured questionnaire to obtain information about goods, frequency, operational time, place of performance of the loading/unloading of goods, establishment size and the number of employees. Besides these information, we investigated the acceptance of alternative practices in the delivery of goods, such as off-peak delivery. To accomplish the proposed models, we applied a simple linear regression, correlating the following variables: (i) Number of trips versus area of the establishment; (ii) Number of trips versus number of employees; (iii) Number of trips versus operation day of the establishment. With the results of the linear regression for travel generations, conducted the data interpolation based on the standard deviation of the results to define the sample classification bands. This interpolation method was chosen because it is one of the most suitable for analysis of spatially scattered points due to the straightforwardness of the model and because it does not consider extra noise such as slope and spatial constraints as barriers. In this method, interpolation is determined by the value assigned to each point (in this case the number of trips), wherein the closer the points the higher the correlation trend. Finally, the resulting trip generation surface was analysed together with other geographic data such as demographic data, road network density and socioeconomic data. Findings indicate the importance of a mathematic-geographic model for trip generation as a feasible approach for support transportation planning & operation for urban goods distribution. Critical information such as the high concentration of pubs and restaurants in the same region can reinforce the vocation of the city for trading. However, an elevated number of freight vehicles to meet a high and growing demand becomes a problem specially in areas where urban road network is not efficient (not properly designed and parking spaces not properly used). This study also highlights the need for an urban freight mobility plan and public policies, by offering sustainable alternatives for urban goods distribution, which improve the urban environment. By using geospatial analysis, the study delivered statistics data and maps to catch the attention of decision makers and transportation managers, therefore facilitate the discussion on transportation policies in the city of Belo Horizonte.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Trip generation", "Urban sprawl", "Context (archaeology)", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Revenue", "Attractiveness", "Order (exchange)", "Goods and services", "Urban planning", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 26, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://openjournals.wu.ac.at/ojs/index.php/region/article/download/102/144" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7154731056", "doi": "10.1287/trsc.2021.0485", "title": "Coordinated Logistics with a Truck and Multiple Sidekicks", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "BO Jones", "Ke Xu", "John Gunnar Carlsson" ], "first_author": "BO Jones", "venue": "Transportation Science", "publisher": "Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences", "abstract": "One of the more novel recent innovations in the logistics world, both in theory and in practice, is the use of small autonomous vehicles to facilitate last-mile delivery. One particular scheme that has received considerable recent attention is the “sidekick” scheme, in which a large cargo truck acts as a mobile “host” that deploys smaller vehicles such as aerial drones or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). In this paper, we develop a continuous approximation model that estimates the improvements to total completion time that such a system provides in the asymptotic limit as many demand points are drawn from a continuous probability distribution in the plane. Our key finding is that sidekick systems can be beneficial even when the sidekicks are slower than the host, provided there are sufficiently many of them. Funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Toyota University Research Program [ONR Grant N000142412277, DARPA Grant HR00112530234, and USC DOT Grant USC-DOT-913]. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Naval Academy, Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Position (finance)", "Key (lock)", "Limit (mathematics)", "Scheme (mathematics)", "Distribution (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2021.0485" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3021884781", "doi": "10.5937/fme2002411r", "title": "Sustainable performance of cargo bikes to improve the delivery time using traffic simulation model", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "P. Benrajesh", "A. John Rajan" ], "first_author": "P. Benrajesh", "venue": "FME Transaction", "publisher": "Faculty of Agronomy in Čačak", "abstract": "Urban freight sector in India witnesses the exponential usage of cargo bikes since 2011, for reaching its customers. Cargo bikes are used by e-retail firms for mobility in traffic dense roads. This research contributes to the sustainable development of e-commerce and it measures the economic, environmental and social efficiency of cargo bikes in e-retail firms using survey method. It also estimates the optimum volume of cargo bikes on city roads for effective and timely delivery. Data collected by video graphic study is analysed by a traffic simulation tool 'PTV Vissim'. Simulation results are validated with the real data. The findings of this research help to replace mini trucks with cargo bikes, which in turn minimizes the delivery time, carbon emission, and driver discomfort. The major implications of this research are: e-retail firms have to motivate its customers to prefer prepaid orders and delivering the goods at non-peak time to achieve sustainability.", "keywords": [ "VisSim", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Sustainability", "Business", "Environmental economics", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Economics", "Microsimulation" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1451-2092/2020/1451-20922002411R.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7208764853", "doi": "10.1109/ojits.2026.3730800", "title": "Drive-by Urban Freight Sensing: Large-Scale Fine-Grained Truck Classification Using Google Street View Imagery and Deep Learning", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bo Shang", "Yiqiao Li" ], "first_author": "Bo Shang", "venue": "IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Trucks are essential to urban economies through facilitating the movement of goods and services, but their presence significantly impacts urban infrastructure, traffic congestion, air quality, and noise pollution. Effective urban freight monitoring and emission estimation require a detailed understanding of urban truck distribution by their classes at scale. However, obtaining such data remains a significant challenge, especially in complex urban settings. This study presents a novel drive-by sensing framework using Google Street View imagery (GSV) combined with advanced computer vision and deep learning methods to generate fine-grained truck classification data at scale in urban areas. The framework consists of four main components: first, a customized YOLO-based detector for truck detection and classification from GSV imagery; second, Depth Anything V2 integration for RGB-based depth estimation to filter out distant and less visible objects; third, EfficientNet for fine-grained truck classification; and fourth, a case study on census tract-level correlation analysis between detected truck distribution and environmental data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the drive-by sensing approach. On held-out, panorama-disjoint, geographically blocked test sets, the detector achieves 65.2% precision and 56.9% recall, and fine-grained classification reaches 80.0% overall accuracy (macro-F1 = 0.59, averaged over ten training seeds) across seven commodity-informed truck categories. The GSV-based approach provides extensive spatial coverage for large-scale urban freight monitoring. A case study in Manhattan demonstrates the framework’s capability to identify spatial patterns in truck distribution, with an exploratory census tract-level analysis ( $N$ = 90 tracts) revealing a positive association between near-field truck prevalence and PM2.5 concentrations that persists under spatial regression models accounting for spatial autocorrelation. This research demonstrates the potential of computer vision and drive-by sensing technologies for scalable urban freight monitoring and environmental impact assessment.", "keywords": [ "Deep learning", "Truck", "Training (meteorology)", "Feature (linguistics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/ojits.2026.3730800" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204930704", "doi": "10.1016/j.rtbm.2026.101867", "title": "Equity-weighted hub location for socially responsible urban freight: reaching vulnerable residents with truck-and-drone delivery in four Polish cities", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammed Mustafa Yaseen Al-Asbahi" ], "first_author": "Mohammed Mustafa Yaseen Al-Asbahi", "venue": "Research in Transportation Business & Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Social responsibility", "Work (physics)", "Vulnerability (computing)", "Urban planning", "Sustainability" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2026.101867" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406436359", "doi": "10.30574/ijsra.2025.14.1.0117", "title": "The future of autonomous vehicles and drones in supply chain delivery", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Oluwole Raphael Odumbo", "Enyinnaya Prince Onuma" ], "first_author": "Oluwole Raphael Odumbo", "venue": "International Journal of Science and Research Archive", "publisher": "GSC Online Press", "abstract": "The integration of autonomous vehicles and drones into supply chain delivery systems is transforming logistics and redefining last-mile delivery. With advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, these innovations promise significant cost savings, enhanced efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. Autonomous vehicles, including self-driving trucks, are reshaping long-haul transportation by optimizing routes, minimizing fuel consumption, and mitigating driver shortages. Simultaneously, drones are revolutionizing urban and rural delivery by enabling rapid, contactless transportation of goods in challenging terrains and congested areas. Together, these technologies represent a paradigm shift toward a more efficient and sustainable supply chain ecosystem. However, the adoption of autonomous vehicles and drones raises significant challenges. Regulatory hurdles, infrastructure limitations, and safety concerns remain key barriers to widespread implementation. Additionally, issues of cybersecurity, privacy, and public acceptance must be addressed to ensure successful deployment. From an operational perspective, integrating autonomous technologies with existing supply chain systems requires careful coordination and investment in infrastructure and workforce reskilling. This study examines the future trajectory of autonomous vehicles and drones in supply chain delivery, focusing on their transformative potential and the obstacles they face. By analysing case studies and industry trends, the research identifies best practices and strategic frameworks for leveraging these technologies. The findings highlight the importance of collaborative efforts between policymakers, technology developers, and industry stakeholders in creating a regulatory and operational environment conducive to innovation. Ultimately, this research underscores the need for a balanced approach to harness the benefits of autonomy while addressing its associated challenges.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Supply chain", "Business", "Chain (unit)", "Computer science", "Marketing", "Biology", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://journalijsra.com/sites/default/files/fulltext_pdf/IJSRA-2025-0117.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389662294", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.668", "title": "Perspectives of using Electric- and Alternatively Fuelled Freight Transport Vehicles among Road Haulage Companies in Finland", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Erika Kallionpää", "Sheba Nair", "Heikki Liimatainen" ], "first_author": "Erika Kallionpää", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "A rising interest in electric and other alternatively fuelled vehicles of the freight transport industry is due to the emission targets and technological advancements. The purpose of this study is to measure the perceptions and opinions of road haulage companies on the use of electric and alternatively fuelled vans and trucks, as a part of urban logistics operations and long-haul transport in Finland. The paper is based on a case study in the form of expert interviews and a survey among road haulage companies. The paper provides valuable, new information to the companies about investing in electric and alternatively fuelled freight vehicles, and to the local authorities in cities about developing urban environment and infrastructure. As a result, this paper introduces benefits, barriers, policy recommendations and factors affecting the competitiveness of these vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Haulage", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Business", "Road transport", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.668" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2828236392", "doi": "10.1109/scsp.2018.8402680", "title": "Macroscopic simulation model of a multi-stage, dynamic cargo bike-based logistics system in the supply of shopping malls in Budapest", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-05-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dávid Lajos Sárdi", "Krisztián Bóna" ], "first_author": "Dávid Lajos Sárdi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Nowadays, it is a big challenge to handle urban freight problems. To handle these problems is a significant task worldwide, because it is important to reduce environmental pollution and the overload of the city roads to make to cities more liveable. Within the urban freight transport problems, the so-called concentrated delivery points (shopping malls, shopping areas or markets) must be highlighted, because in these places there are several shops in a relatively small area. Deliveries of this kind of points mean a heavy load for the urban roads. In 2015 we started to examine the logistics system of the shopping malls in Budapest. In our research, we developed a mesoscopic simulation model, which was presented at the Smart Cities Symposium in 2017. In our paper, we would like to present a macroscopic simulation model, which was developed from our other, mesoscopic model. This new model makes it possible to examine a special logistics system, which can provide services for nearly 2000 shops of 18 shopping mall by use of cargo bikes and electric trucks in two-stage and three-stage systems. The model generates the required number of vehicles for the multi-stage logistics systems and shows us also the performances. Based on the results, we can say that such a system can reduce environmental pollution and the load of the roads on the one hand, but on the other hand naturally they have a significant investment demand too.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Investment (military)", "Shopping mall", "Task (project management)", "Transport engineering", "Control (management)", "City logistics", "Operations research", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/scsp.2018.8402680" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3132325410", "doi": null, "title": "Facility and Routing Decisions in Truck-Drone Distribution", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-08-06", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Vu Bich Na Doan", "Amr Mohammad Taiyeb" ], "first_author": "Vu Bich Na Doan", "venue": "DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "abstract": "Drones have the potential to be major players in the field of last-mile delivery, especially with the rise of e-commerce. However, they face several technological and regulatory restrictions for large-scale implementation. Combining drones with traditional ground delivery vehicles can bridge this gap while achieving significant improvements in distribution cost and speed over vehicle delivery alone. This research project focuses on modeling and solving the Location-Routing Problem with drones as an ancillary mode of delivery. The goal is to develop a model that identifies the optimal locations for the distribution facilities, as well as the set of combined routes that the trucks and drones will follow to deliver parcels to customers. To solve this problem, a two-steps metaheuristic approach is developed and implemented. The customer locations are first grouped into clusters with centroid positions where trucks would park, dispatch, and retrieve the onboard drones that perform the last step of the delivery. Once the optimal truck parking locations are identified, the selection of the optimal distribution facilities and the truck routes are determined simultaneously, by implementing the Multiple Ant Colony Optimization algorithm. The validation of the model revealed high reliability with a 1% average optimality gap from the exact solution. When applying the model to a real road network, with 200 customers and 5 candidate depot locations, the model confirmed a 24% saving in daily distribution costs from adding 3 drones to every delivery truck. The savings opportunity is less sensitive to the number of drones per truck and the drones’ speed, and more sensitive to the trucks’ speed and the drones’ traveling cost per mile. The analysis reveals that adding drones will generate savings as long as the traveling cost of drones is lower than that of trucks at around $4.00 on average for last-mile delivery.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Aeronautics", "Operations research", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126493" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4393146015", "doi": "10.1109/itec-india59098.2023.10471444", "title": "Optimal Transition of Fleets to Electric Vehicle using Mathematical Optimization", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-12", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Abhay Kumar", "Deepak Nagar", "Vinay Ramanath", "Smaran B.G Subbaiah" ], "first_author": "Abhay Kumar", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Due to sustainability push around the world, lot of depot operators are transitioning their vehicle fleet to electric vehicles. A depot often comprises of hundreds of diesel-powered vehicles, such as buses, trucks, last-mile delivery vans, etc. Before depot owners begin the move to sustainable transportation, there are many questions that need to be addressed. What kind of vehicle and charging infrastructure are needed. How to reduce the capital investment and daily operational cost. This paper proposes a methodology for optimal transition of fleet to electric vehicles. Dispatching and charging are the two sub-problems that make up the main issue. The method of mixed integer linear programming has been used to create two distinct algorithms. In order to maximize the use of electric vehicles, dispatch optimizes the vehicle to route mapping, which also optimizes the vehicle infrastructure. Its charge schedules are developed based on the vehicle route mapping and provided as input to the charging algorithm. Where power requirement is optimized for minimum depot peak power and charging cost, thus minimizing the charging infrastructure and daily operational cost.", "keywords": [ "Transition (genetics)", "Computer science", "Electric vehicle", "Physics", "Chemistry", "Thermodynamics" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/itec-india59098.2023.10471444" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1995342186", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.05.038", "title": "A Model For Simulating Urban Goods Transport and Logistics: The integrated Choice of ho.re.ca. Activity Decision-Making and Final Business Consumers", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Russo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Francesco Russo", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This paper proposes the advancements of a general model developed by the authors in multi-year research in order to simulate the urban freight transport and logistics. The advancements mainly concern: the modeling framework and calibration. In fact, the previous studies mainly investigated the pull movements of retailers and end consumers, while now both push and pull movements of goods are analyzed and modeled. The proposed analysis refers to choices made by ho.re.ca. (hotel, restaurant, catering) activity decision-making (manager, chief) and final business consumers. Although they are end consumers due to final freight destination or their freight consumption, they have a decisional choice process that can be assumed similar to retailer's one. The new calibration advancements were made on the basis of surveys carried out in the inner zone of Rome where more than 500 truck-drivers were interviewed. Models were specified in order to test new model forms (e.g. nested logit) respect the currently consolidated and commonly used.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Order (exchange)", "Fast-moving consumer goods", "Business", "Consumption (sociology)", "Process (computing)", "Operations research", "Nested logit", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Calibration", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813010070/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7141358517", "doi": "10.52170/1815-9265_2022_60_68", "title": "Justification of urban consolidation centre expediency with interaction transport modes", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-03-30", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "A.P. Grefenshteyn" ], "first_author": "A.P. Grefenshteyn", "venue": "Вестник Сибирского государственного университета путей сообщения", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The article is devoted to the influence of the creation of an urban consolidation centre on the accumulation of trucks in different scenarios of organizing the input and output of external freight traffic. The article is based on the fact that each customer (recipient and sender) acts as a generator, which makes a certain contribution to the total amount of freight traffic. The work evaluates the change in the specific contribution of each customer and the total number of deliveries when the centre is located in the area under consideration, when the external freight traffic is served by road or rail. Calculations showed that in the first case, the technology will not cause improvements in the area due to the concentration of logistics activities, and in the second case, the consolidation centre can be efficient. The article formulates the key principle: if the effect of consolidation of goods during the last-mile delivery of the exceeds the effect of freight vehicles concentration near the city consolidation centre, then the project is effective in an area where customers do not coordinate deliveries in any other way.", "keywords": [ "Consolidation (business)", "Truck", "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.52170/1815-9265_2022_60_68" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3127062587", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.3775721", "title": "Recipient-Dependent Deliveries in Last-Mile Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mehdi Nourinejad", "Opher Baron", "Oded Berman" ], "first_author": "Mehdi Nourinejad", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Stylized fact", "Status quo", "Dominance (genetics)", "Truck", "Business", "Parking space", "Operations management", "Industrial organization", "Economics", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3775721" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410623858", "doi": "10.1007/s00291-025-00818-x", "title": "Collision-free trajectory planning for drones with velocity dependent energy consumption and moving piggyback vehicles", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alf Kimms", "Christin Münch" ], "first_author": "Alf Kimms", "venue": "OR Spectrum", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Abstract In this work, we challenge the common assumption in truck-drone last-mile delivery that trucks and drones operate on a graph. Instead, we adopt a geometric approach, allowing the vehicles to operate in Euclidean space. Our proposed mixed-integer linear program determines a collision-free trajectory for a drone in the Euclidean space with obstacles, where the drone is launched and recovered by moving vehicles. Compared to graph-based approaches, the advantages are: (a) Flexible launching and recovery: The drone can be launched and recovered from any position along the streets, rather than being limited to discrete points (i.e., nodes of a graph). (b) Continuous drone velocity: The drone velocity is a continuous variable, and the drone energy consumption depends directly on its velocity. (c) No-fly zones and obstacles: Trajectory planning is incorporated to ensure a collision-free flight (rather than considering detours as a predefined parameter). To the best of our knowledge, such a geometric approach is new in truck-drone last-mile delivery. In our computational study we prove the usefulness of our geometric approach, as even large instances with up to 300 obstacles can be solved within reasonable computation time. In comparison to graph-based approaches, our geometric approach yields faster delivery times and enables the drone to reach customers that are out of its reach in graph-based approaches.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Trajectory", "Computer science", "Collision", "Energy consumption", "Aeronautics", "Simulation", "Computer security", "Physics", "Electrical engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00291-025-00818-x.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7171237498", "doi": "10.3397/nc_2026_0161", "title": "Estimating the Noise Footprint of Delivery Trucks: A Methodological Approach", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Timoteo Frelau", "Mohammad Hesam Rashidi", "Meredith Franklin", "Matthew Roorda" ], "first_author": "Timoteo Frelau", "venue": "NOISE-CON proceedings", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight activities are a significant source of noise pollution, yet existing research often focuses on localized impacts. This study evaluates the cumulative noise generated by last-mile deliveries at the parcel level and proposes a simple, consumer-friendly metric. Using more than 6,000 real delivery tours, we estimate parcel noise footprints as cumulative acoustic energy and translate them into an A-E labeling system, similar to carbon footprint scales. A nighttime penalty of 10 dBA is applied to account for increased sensitivity to noise during nighttime hours. Results show that vehicle electrification significantly lowers noise levels and improves parcel ratings, while speed reductions provide relatively modest benefits. Deliveries involving nighttime operations generate higher noise impacts than daytime-only tours, suggesting potential trade-offs in off-peak logistics. A strong correlation between noise and NOx emissions further indicates that strategies targeting air pollution may also reduce noise.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Footprint", "Noise pollution", "Carbon footprint", "Electrification", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "Noise level", "Noise measurement" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3397/nc_2026_0161" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2608506759", "doi": "10.3141/2610-10", "title": "Copula-Based Joint Discrete–Continuous Model of Road Vehicle Type and Shipment Size", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Elnaz Irannezhad", "Carlo Giacomo Prato", "Mark D. Hickman", "Afshin Shariat Mohaymany" ], "first_author": "Elnaz Irannezhad", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "A major issue in freight modeling is the interrelationship between logistics choices that can be seen as a learning process that shippers or carriers undertake to optimize their logistics process, with the aim of minimizing their cost, maximizing their level of service, or both. This study looked at the interrelated decisions of vehicle type choice and shipment size in urban freight transportation by formulating a model that considered ( a) the nature of these two dependent variables via a joint discrete–continuous model, ( b) the correlation between the two decisions via a copula-based approach, ( c) the differences in decision making between carriers and shippers via the estimation of two models, and ( d) the relaxation of the assumption of pure utility maximization via a hybrid utility–regret specification. Results show differences between shippers’ and carriers’ preferences. These differences were logical because many urban shippers owned an efficient fleet of commercial vehicles, whereas carriers evaluated alternatives to maximize their aggregated utility and minimize their direct costs. Results also show the importance of considering jointly the two decisions as well as the relevance of using a hybrid utility–regret formulation for the cost. Practical findings emerge from the model: ( a) when faced with night delivery and intercity trips, carriers were more likely to use heavier vehicles and more voluminous shipments, whereas smaller shipments were preferred during the afternoon peak hour; ( b) urban shippers tended to deliver larger shipments during night by light trucks but preferred trailers for longer distances; and ( c) commodity types played a role in these joint decisions because some commodities were more likely to be transported by for-hire carriers and others were more likely to be transported by shippers.", "keywords": [ "Copula (linguistics)", "Computer science", "Mathematics", "Econometrics" ], "cited_by_count": 20, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3141/2610-10" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2140031476", "doi": null, "title": "Transportation and its Infrastructure", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-12-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Suzana Kahn Ribeiro", "Shigeki Kobayashi", "Michel Beuthe", "Jorge Gasca", "David L. Greene", "David Stephen Lee", "Yasunori Muromachi", "John N Newton", "Steven E. Plotkin", "Daniel Sperling", "Ron Wit", "Peter J Zhou" ], "first_author": "Suzana Kahn Ribeiro", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "Transport activity, a key component of economic development and human welfare, is increasing around the world as economies grow. For most policymakers, the most pressing problems associated with this increasing transport activity are traffic fatalities and injuries, congestion, air pollution and petroleum dependence. These problems are especially acute in the most rapidly growing economies of the developing world. Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can take its place among these other transport priorities by emphasizing synergies and co-benefits (high agreement, much evidence). Transport predominantly relies on a single fossil resource, petroleum that supplies 95% of the total energy used by world transport. In 2004, transport was responsible for 23% of world energy-related GHG emissions with about three quarters coming from road vehicles. Over the past decade, transport’s GHG emissions have increased at a faster rate than any other energy using sector (high agreement, much evidence). Transport activity will continue to increase in the future as economic growth fuels transport demand and the availability of transport drives development, by facilitating specialization and trade. The majority of the world’s population still does not have access to personal vehicles and many do not have access to any form of motorized transport. However, this situation is rapidly changing. Freight transport has been growing even more rapidly than passenger transport and is expected to continue to do so in the future. Urban freight movements are predominantly by truck, while international freight is dominated by ocean shipping. The modal distribution of intercity freight varies greatly across regions. For example, in the United States, all modes participate substantially, while in Europe, trucking has a higher market share (in tkm1), compared to rail (high agreement, much evidence). Transport activity is expected to grow robustly over the next several decades. Unless there is a major shift away from current patterns of energy use, world transport energy use is projected to increase at the rate of about 2% per year, with the highest rates of growth in the emerging economies, and total transport energy use and carbon emissions is projected to be about 80% higher than current levels by 2030 (medium agreement, medium evidence). There is an ongoing debate about whether the world is nearing a peak in conventional oil production that will require a significant and rapid transition to alternative energy resources. There is no shortage of alternative energy sources, including oil sands, shale oil, coal-to-liquids, biofuels, electricity and hydrogen. Among these alternatives, unconventional fossil carbon resources would produce less expensive fuels mostcompatible with the existing transport infrastructure, but lead to increased carbon emissions (medium agreement, medium evidence). In 2004, the transport sector produced 6.3 GtCO2 emissions (23% of world energy-related CO2 emissions) and its growth rate is highest among the end-user sectors. Road transport currently accounts for 74% of total transport CO2 emissions. The share of non-OECD countries is 36% now and will increase rapidly to 46% by 2030 if current trends continue (high agreement, much evidence). The transport sector also contributes small amounts of CH4 and N2O emissions from fuel combustion and F-gases (fluorinated gases) from vehicle air conditioning. CH4 emissions are between 0.1–0.3% of total transport GHG emissions, N2O between 2.0 and 2.8% (based on US, Japan and EU data only). Worldwide emissions of F-gases (CFC-12+HFC- 134a+HCFC-22) in 2003 were 0.3–0.6 GtCO2-eq, about 5–10% of total transport CO2 emissions (medium agreement, limited evidence). When assessing mitigation options it is important to consider their lifecycle GHG impacts. This is especially true for choices among alternative fuels but also applies to a lesser degree to the manufacturing processes and materials composition of advanced technologies. Electricity and hydrogen can offer the opportunity to ‘de-carbonise’ the transport energy system although the actual full cycle carbon reduction depends upon the way electricity and hydrogen are produced. Assessment of mitigation potential in the transport sector through the year 2030 is uncertain because the potential depends on: • World oil supply and its impact on fuel prices and the economic viability of alternative transport fuels; • R&D outcomes in several areas, especially biomass fuel production technology and its sustainability in massive scale, as well as battery longevity, cost and specific energy. Another problem for a credible assessment is the limited number and scope of available studies of mitigation potential and cost. Improving energy efficiency offers an excellent opportunity for transport GHG mitigation through 2030. Carbon emissions from ‘new’ light-duty road vehicles could be reduced by up to 50% by 2030 compared to currently produced models, assuming continued technological advances and strong policies to ensure that technologies are applied to increasing fuel economy rather than spent on increased horsepower and vehicle mass. Material substitution and advanced design could reduce the weight of light-duty vehicles by 20–30%. Since the TAR (Third Assessment Report), energy efficiency of road vehicles has improved by the market success of cleaner directinjection turbocharged (TDI) diesels and the continued market penetration of numerous incremental efficiency technologies. Hybrid vehicles have also played a role, though their market penetration is currently small. Reductions in drag coefficients of 20–50% seem achievable for heavy intercity trucks, with consequent reductions in fuel use of 10–20%. Hybrid technology is applicable to trucks and buses that operate in urban environments, and the diesel engine’s efficiency may be improved by 10% or more. Prospects for mitigation are strongly dependent on the advancement of", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Greenhouse gas", "Natural resource economics", "Business", "Population", "Fossil fuel", "Mode of transport", "Transport engineering", "Economics", "Engineering", "Public transport" ], "cited_by_count": 43, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/98m5t1rv.pdf;origin=repeccitec" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1263051404", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-319-21266-1_4", "title": "System Dynamics Based, Microscopic Freight Transport Simulation for Urban Areas", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-07-15", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Carina Thaller", "Uwe Clausen", "Raymond Kampmann" ], "first_author": "Carina Thaller", "venue": "Lecture notes in logistics", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "System dynamics", "Transport engineering", "Transport system", "Population", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21266-1_4" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7130643550", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2026.104759", "title": "Economic and environmental impacts of integrated drone delivery systems", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Juan Zhang", "Liu Yang", "James F. Campbell" ], "first_author": "Juan Zhang", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Payload (computing)", "Integer programming", "Key (lock)", "Work (physics)", "Linear programming", "Economic impact analysis", "Pareto principle", "Total cost", "Multi-objective optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2026.104759" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4311617376", "doi": "10.1049/pbtr034e_ch6", "title": "City Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-12-15", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Russell George Thompson", "Majid Sarvi" ], "first_author": "Russell George Thompson", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Growing levels of urbanisation and associated congestion as well as increasing demand from eCommerce present major challenges for carriers in many cities. Disruption due to incidents, extreme weather and construction projects is creating more unreliable urban freight systems. City Logistics aims to minimise the social, environmental as well as maximise the economic benefits of urban freight transport. Hyperconnected City Logistics (HCL) involves more open, integrated and shared systems that rely on a range of connected and automated technologies.International standards provide a framework for developing and implementing City Logistics solutions based on quality management systems. Facility management standards also contain important principles for improving deliveries at major activity hubs. Information and communication technologies such as RFID, dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) and GPS offer a standardised means of charging freight vehicles for using road infrastructure as well as cost effectively monitoring the performance of road networks and managing access for heavy vehicles. International standards are also vital for identifying and tracking loads, consignments and containers for HCL. The Australian Integrated Multimodal EcoSystem (AIMES) provides a unique testbed for examining emerging technologies based on International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards for improving the safety, efficiency and sustainability of urban freight systems.", "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Business", "Testbed", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Urbanization", "Global Positioning System", "Multimodal transport", "Computer science", "Telecommunications", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1049/pbtr034e_ch6" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2174200994", "doi": null, "title": "Comparison of regenerative braking technologies for heavy vehicles", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-09-16", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Will Midgley", "David Cebon" ], "first_author": "Will Midgley", "venue": "Cambridge University Engineering Department Publications Database", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Project Overview Problem: • Urban freight delivery by truck is growing • Current methods are inefficient with regards to the energy expended per tonne of material moved • Using longer vehicles with steerable trailer axles can reduce energy consumption by up to 25% • Using regenerative braking can reduce energy consumption by a further 30% Goals: • Develop an ultra low-energy urban freight delivery vehicle • Prove the viability of constructing a trailer with steered axles and regenerative braking", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Trailer", "Axle", "Automotive engineering", "Energy consumption", "Regenerative brake", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Mechanical engineering", "Brake" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://publications.eng.cam.ac.uk/323784/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4395470451", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-57996-7_7", "title": "Evaluation of Genetic Algorithm on the Multidrop Truck-Drone Logistic Problem", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David Sánchez-Wells", "Pedro Luis González Rodríguez", "José Luis Andrade-Pineda" ], "first_author": "David Sánchez-Wells", "venue": "Lecture notes on data engineering and communications technologies", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Computer science", "Genetic algorithm", "Schedule", "Coding (social sciences)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Route planning", "Operations research", "Work schedule" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57996-7_7" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3081900244", "doi": null, "title": "Germany / Norway: DB Schenker achieves 100% electric city logistics in Oslo with new Volvo FL Electric truck – UIC Communications", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Florence Albert" ], "first_author": "Florence Albert", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Series production of eco-powered 16-ton trucks • First truck for DB Schenker personally welcomed by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and CEO Jochen Thewes • Milestone in sustainable urban…", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Telecommunications", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://uic.org/com/enews/article/germany-db-schenker-achieves-100-electric-city-logistics-in-oslo-with-new-volvo?page=news" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2897743198", "doi": "10.1177/0361198118798730", "title": "Delivery Process for an Office Building in the Seattle Central Business District", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Haena Kim", "Linda Ng Boyle", "Anne Goodchild" ], "first_author": "Haena Kim", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Movement of goods within a central business district can be very constraining with high levels of congestion and insufficient curb spaces. Pick-up and delivery activities encompass a significant portion of urban goods movement, and inefficient operations can negatively impact the already highly congested areas and truck dwell times. Identifying and quantifying the delivery processes within the building is often difficult. This paper introduces a systematic approach to examine freight movement, using a process flow map with quantitative delivery times measured during the final segment of the delivery process. This paper focuses on vertical movements such as unloading/loading activities, taking freight elevators, and performing pick-up/delivery operations. This approach allows visualization of the components of the delivery process and identification of the processes that consume the most time and have greatest variability. Using this method, the delivery process for an office building in downtown Seattle was observed, grouped into three major activities (or steps): 1. Entering, 2. Delivering, 3. Exiting. This visualization tool provides researchers and planners with a better understanding of the current practices in the urban freight system, and helps identify the non-value-added activities and time that can unnecessarily increase the overall delivery time.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Process (computing)", "Transport engineering", "Central business district", "Identification (biology)", "Downtown", "Delivery Performance", "Visualization", "Integrated project delivery", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118798730" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388776369", "doi": "10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101119", "title": "Seattle microhub delivery pilot: Evaluating emission impacts and stakeholder engagement", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Şeyma Güneş", "Travis Fried", "Anne Goodchild" ], "first_author": "Şeyma Güneş", "venue": "Case Studies on Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban freight deliveries using microhubs and e-cargo cycles have been gaining attention in cities suffering from congestion and emissions. E-cargo cycle deliveries and microhubs used as transshipment points in urban cores can replace trucks to make cities more livable. This study describes and empirically evaluates an e-cargo tricycle pilot conducted with multi-sector stakeholders in Seattle to report the potential benefits and pitfalls of such practices. The pilot held stakeholder workshop sessions to collect inputs of interest and expectations from the project. Mobile devices used by drivers on e-cargo tricycle and cargo van routes collected delivery data to use for empirical assessment. Total vehicle miles traveled and tailpipe carbon emissions served as performance metrics when comparing e-cargo tricycle and cargo van deliveries. The results showed the net-benefit of the microhub and e-cargo tricycle routes depend on the upstream operations when replenishing packages. The participatory approach to pilot design also provided insights into the factors of a successful pilot, with implications for scaling future e-cargo cycle delivery systems in North American cities. Namely, microhubs’ ability to host alternative revenue sources and value-added services is a boon for long-term financial competitiveness. However, lack of digital/physical infrastructure and work training/regulations specific to e-cargo cycle delivery operations present a barrier.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transshipment (information security)", "Transport engineering", "Revenue", "Work (physics)", "Upstream (networking)", "Stakeholder engagement", "Stakeholder", "Business", "Air cargo", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101119" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4327614118", "doi": "10.14416/j.asep.2023.03.002", "title": "Integration of Three Vehicle Fleet Types for Delivering Relief Supplies During a Natural Disaster", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-03-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Patchara Kitjacharoenchai", "Peerapol Sittivijan" ], "first_author": "Patchara Kitjacharoenchai", "venue": "Applied Science and Engineering Progress", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The combined use of trucks and drones in last-mile delivery offers a more efficient and faster way to make deliveries from an operational standpoint. In this paper, we propose a new routing model that combines different vehicle fleets, including hybrid trucks, traditional trucks, and large drones, to deliver packages from a depot to different destinations cooperatively. This research will give us a better understanding of this drone logistics application, particularly in routing optimization. It can be further implemented to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, mainly earthquakes, flooding, and landslides. This research aims to study the possibility of using drones to deliver relief supplies such as food, water, and medicine for humanitarian purposes during natural disaster periods to find the best possible route to directly reach the destination and minimize the flying time in the air. We develop a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) formulation to solve the I-VRPD optimally on a simulated small-scale problem and conduct a case study in one of the most affected regions by natural disasters. The numerical analysis demonstrates an improvement in the delivery time using three experiments that include testing the model on a set of benchmark problems and a case study based on the real scenario. The results show that the delivery time of the proposed model with the integration of three types of vehicle fleets can outperform the operation performed by a single-vehicle fleet by a significant percentage.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Drone", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Natural disaster", "Operations research", "Integer programming", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Transport engineering", "Flooding (psychology)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Humanitarian Logistics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.14416/j.asep.2023.03.002" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4285821908", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4165926", "title": "Time-Dependent Two-Echelon Truck and Drone Routing Problem", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ebrahim Teimoury", "Reza Rashid" ], "first_author": "Ebrahim Teimoury", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Aeronautics", "Business", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Automotive engineering", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4165926" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3183372547", "doi": "10.1061/(asce)up.1943-5444.0000745", "title": "Examining the Impacts of Logistics Sprawl on Freight Transportation in Indian Cities: Implications for Planning and Sustainable Development", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Smruti Sourava Mohapatra", "Agnivesh Pani", "Prasanta K. Sahu" ], "first_author": "Smruti Sourava Mohapatra", "venue": "Journal of Urban Planning and Development", "publisher": "American Society of Civil Engineers", "abstract": "The relocation of logistics facilities toward the periphery of urban areas—that is, logistics sprawl—is a major challenge for policymakers due to the impacts on the economic geography of suburban areas and associated changes in truck traffic pattern. The logistics sprawl considerably affects the vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT) since logistics facilities are the origin or destination nodes for urban freight transport. The effect of logistics sprawl, coupled with industry category, employment size, fleet ownership, and cohort on the VKT, is an unaddressed research area that requires significant research attention. To quantify the effects of logistics sprawl on the VKT, this paper utilizes establishment-based freight survey (EBFS) data to perform a cross-sectional analysis of urban and suburban logistics facilities. The distinct variations in the effects of logistics sprawl across multiple industry types are investigated using the EBFS data. The combined model indicated that the VKT generally increases as an establishment is located away from a city center. Compared with the establishments’ VKT in Sprawl 1, the VKT for establishments in Sprawl 2, 3, and 4 increases by 6.39, 4.12, and 6.06 km, respectively. Classified industry model results demonstrated that the sprawl effect on the VKT is industry specific. Establishments dealing with food products demonstrated a positive relation between the average VKT and the distance of an establishment from a city center. However, the sprawl effect was not consistent for establishments dealing with wood products, plastic and rubber products, mineral products, and metal and metal-related products. Moreover, the developed cohort model indicated an average VKT increase by 29.42 and 46.43 km for establishments that started operations in the postindustrialization and postliberalization periods, respectively, compared with the establishments being operational from the postindependence period. This investigation’s tangible outcome is to present the influencing factors of the VKT, which will be beneficial for policymakers to develop industry-specific guidelines on land use, employment restructuring, and subsidies on owning different types of commercial vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Urban sprawl", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Business", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Relocation", "Transportation planning", "Geography", "Agricultural economics", "Environmental planning", "Urban planning", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 20, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)up.1943-5444.0000745" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2045260486", "doi": "10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.734-737.1604", "title": "A Portable Subway Logistics System for the Transportation of Small and Medium-Size Cargo", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-08-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lian Sheng Wang", "Qing Ming Deng" ], "first_author": "Lian Sheng Wang", "venue": "Advanced materials research", "publisher": "Trans Tech Publications", "abstract": "To satisfy the requirement of short delivery time, this paper proposes subway (light rail transport) as vehicle for city delivery and express. With the convenient service, it will improve the efficiency of city logistics and promote the development of e-commerce. The system can effectively avoid the congestion of trucks on road, reduce fuel consumption and reduce the damage to the environment for the subway is driven by electricity. The automated warehouse management system is proposed in this paper, which is built on Siemenss SIMATIC S7 PLC control system and SQL database, and is designed for small and medium-size cargo to make transportation efficient and timely.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "Fuel efficiency", "Electricity", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.734-737.1604" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416904850", "doi": "10.3390/futuretransp5040181", "title": "A Heuristic Approach for Truck and Drone Delivery System", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sorin Ionut Conea", "Gloria Cerasela Crişan" ], "first_author": "Sorin Ionut Conea", "venue": "Future Transportation", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "In the rapidly evolving landscape of logistics and last-mile delivery, optimizing efficiency and minimizing costs are paramount. This paper introduces a novel heuristic approach designed to enhance the efficiency of a truck-and-drone delivery system. Our method addresses the complex challenge of coordinating the movements of a truck, which serves as a mobile depot, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone), which performs rapid, short-distance deliveries. Our system proposes a two-step heuristic. For truck routes, we utilized the Concorde Solver to determine the optimal path, based on real-world road distances between locations in Bacău County, Romania. This data was meticulously collected and processed as a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) instance with precise geographical information. Concurrently, a drone is deployed for specific deliveries, with routes calculated using the Haversine formula to determine accurate distances based on geographical coordinates. A crucial aspect of our model is the integration of the drone’s limited autonomy, ensuring that each mission adheres to its operational capacity. Computational experiments conducted on a real-world dataset including 93 localities from Bacău County, Romania, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed two-stage heuristic. Compared to the optimal truck-only route, the hybrid truck-and-drone system achieved up to 15.59% cost reduction and 38.69% delivery time savings, depending on the drone’s speed and autonomy parameters. These results confirm that the proposed approach can substantially enhance delivery efficiency in realistic distribution scenarios.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Heuristic", "Solver", "Truck", "Travelling salesman problem", "Controller (irrigation)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/5/4/181/pdf?version=1764555856" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392452383", "doi": "10.1063/5.0194810", "title": "Traveling salesman problem with a moving depot: A mathematical formulation and a saving-based algorithm", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Batool Madani", "Malick Ndiaye" ], "first_author": "Batool Madani", "venue": "AIP conference proceedings", "publisher": "American Institute of Physics", "abstract": "The increase in the use of e-commerce has raised the pressure on logistics providers to resolve the problem of Last Mile Delivery, that is complex and generates high operational costs.The introduction of autonomous vehicles in designing novel distribution systems brings new opportunities for enhancing the existing delivery systems.Logistics providers suggest the inclusion of drones in delivery processes such as truck-drone systems.Therefore, we introduce a single truck and single drone delivery system and solve its related routing problem.In specific, the objective is to minimize the traveling cost of the combined delivery system while determining the optimal sequence of deliveries and optimizing -based heuristics are then provided to solve instances of practical sizes for the problem under consideration.", "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Depot", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Algorithm", "Traveling purchaser problem", "Bottleneck traveling salesman problem", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0194810" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W5045811", "doi": null, "title": "Freight Transport, a Key Element of the Urban Economy Guidelines for Practitioners", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 89th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This article aims to provide guidelines to urban freight transport practitioners in cities around the world, including those in developing countries. This paper will present data on freight transport and its impact on local communities, based on which the author will make recommendations for cities seeking a more efficient and environmentally friendly freight system. The principle underlying all these recommendations is that freight transport must serve the local economy. (1) Assessing the needs of the economy. Cities have to assess the needs and challenges of their economy by conducting surveys and setting up a Freight Forum to negotiate with private stakeholders. These can be low cost actions with great benefits to businesses. (2) Serving urban growth and providing value added logistics services. Serving urban growth by enhancing the quality and added value of goods distribution is an important objective for policy-makers. Key priorities include the promotion of local initiatives and the provision of modern logistics facilities and training programs. (3) Making cities safer and more liveable. Land use and planning policies have to integrate logistics activities. Cleaner and quieter modes of transport must be (re) introduced on city streets. Environmental standards for truck access contribute to reducing pollutant emissions. (4) Facilitating deliveries and providing better labor conditions for delivery personnel. Governments can take decisive action to improve working conditions and skills in the urban freight sector, which is often the least considered in the trucking industry. Fair competition must be guaranteed through increased enforcement of transport regulations. Well-designed on-street and off-street delivery areas must be provided to make urban deliveries easier and faster. This article is based on work done for the World Bank as part of the “Freight transport for development initiative, which examines how freight transport operations contribute to development. This paper's analyses are based on a rather comprehensive review of the current literature on urban freight along with some surveys and reports provided by local governments.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Enforcement", "Negotiation", "Truck", "Competition (biology)", "Traffic management", "Promotion (chess)", "Goods and services", "Environmental planning", "Transport engineering", "Economics", "Economy" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=909727" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400033060", "doi": "10.31274/cc-20240624-44", "title": "A Hybrid Delivery Planning Platform Considering Truck, Robot, and Crowdsourced Delivery", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-01", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sina Aghakhani" ], "first_author": "Sina Aghakhani", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The growing demand for advanced solutions in last-mile logistics is critical to reduce delivery expenses, ease traffic in urban areas, and minimize environmental pollution. In response, this paper explores a promising concept: a two-echelon truck-based robot-crowdsourced delivery system featuring en-route and parking charging for last-mile delivery in logistics operations. The focus is on addressing operational challenges faced by logistics service providers, specifically optimizing routes for vehicles transporting customer parcels from depots to selected optimal parking locations. From these locations, an optimal number of autonomous devices, such as robots, are dispatched from vehicles to perform last-mile deliveries. Additionally, the system embraces the efficiency of crowdsourced delivery, where regular people drivers contribute to the timely and efficient delivery of orders, further enhancing the adaptability and resilience of the logistics network. Utilizing the period when trucks transport robots offers the opportunity to recharge the robots, contributing to the improved efficiency of the distribution system. This paper introduces a comprehensive multi-objective optimization model designed for the cost-efficient routing of a truck-and-robot system specifically tailored for last-mile deliveries with time windows. The model aims not only to minimize overall delivery costs but also considers penalty costs for late deliveries, and optimizing the total system delivery efficiency. This innovative solution demonstrates its potential in significantly reducing costs and traffic, making it a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on sustainable urban logistics. To make sure our proposed model is effective and valid, we perform a sensitivity analysis using the LP-metric method. Additionally, we speed up the process of finding the model's pareto front for smaller instances by applying an augmented epsilon constraint method.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Food delivery", "Robot", "Computer science", "Delivery system", "Human–computer interaction", "Simulation", "Engineering", "Business", "Artificial intelligence", "Aerospace engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/105742" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7208416041", "doi": null, "title": "Predicting travel pattern changes of freight trucks in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area based on the latest large-scale urban freight survey and route choice modeling.", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "秀紀 岡", "Yasukatsu Kenmochi", "Ryota Tani", "Ryuta Nishi", "Kotaro Endo", "DAISUKE FUKUDA", "DAISUKE FUKUDA" ], "first_author": "秀紀 岡", "venue": "Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)", "publisher": "National Institute of Informatics", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Travel time", "Survey data collection", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://t2r2.star.titech.ac.jp/cgi-bin/publicationinfo.cgi?q_publication_content_number=CTT100798183" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4383556246", "doi": "10.1007/s11590-023-02037-1", "title": "The rendezvous vehicle routing problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-07-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bruce Golden", "Eric Oden", "Siranjeevi Srinivasa Raghavan" ], "first_author": "Bruce Golden", "venue": "Optimization Letters", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Rendezvous", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Column generation", "Leverage (statistics)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Heuristic", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11590-023-02037-1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7126129851", "doi": null, "title": "Development of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) accident severity prediction models", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nor Izzah Zainuddin" ], "first_author": "Nor Izzah Zainuddin", "venue": "UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)", "publisher": "Universiti Teknologi MARA", "abstract": "Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) play a crucial role in regional freight movement and economic development but pose significant risks in traffic collisions, often leading to more severe injuries compared to other vehicle types. This research aims to explore the influence of road and environmental characteristics on the severity of HGV-related crashes within the Malaysian road network. By analyzing crash data collected from the Royal Malaysia Police and MIROS Road Accidents Database System (MROADS) for the period 2015-2017, the study examines 3,663 HGV crash records using binomial logistic regression to predict crash severity, categorized as either fatal or non-fatal. The analysis identifies eleven significant factors among the fifteen variables examined, including road surface quality, road geometry, lane marking, shoulder type, control type, road type, traffic system, weather conditions, time of day, day of the week, and various states in Malaysia. In contrast, factors such as area type, location type, speed limit, and light conditions were found to be statistically insignificant in predicting fatal outcomes. Three empirical models were developed in this research, each demonstrating high accuracy in predicting the severity of HGV crashes. The significant factors identified can be leveraged to mitigate the risk of severe injuries and fatalities. These findings are crucial for assisting relevant authorities in the strategic planning and design of road elements, with a particular focus on enhancing HGV safety by addressing key variables. In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of targeted interventions and informed policymaking in reducing the severity of HGV-related crashes. Continued and advanced research in this area is imperative to ensure secure and sustainable urban freight operations while fostering a safer driving environment. These insights can contribute to the development of more effective safety measures, ultimately reducing the societal and economic impacts of HGV-related traffic collisions.", "keywords": [ "Crash", "Negative binomial distribution", "Logistic regression", "Psychological intervention", "Road accident", "Predictive modelling", "Poison control", "Empirical research", "Human factors and ergonomics", "Injury prevention" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/122896/1/122896.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W573233739", "doi": null, "title": "REFORM - RESEARCH ON FREIGHT PLATFORMS AND FREIGHT ORGANIZATION", "year": 1999, "publication_date": "1999-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Herbert Sonntag", "Knut Tullius" ], "first_author": "Herbert Sonntag", "venue": "World Transport Research: Selected Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Transport ResearchWorld Conference on Transport Research Society", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The main objective of REFORM is to improve the knowledge of the impact of city oriented freight platforms on urban traffic. In the framework of the project an evaluation model was developed to examine the efficiency of freight platforms and their impacts on city traffic and on the environment. Existing and planned freight platforms in Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Rome were investigated under specific local foci. Furthermore the impact of each of the investigated freight platforms on urban traffic was calculated, applying the traffic calculation models WIVER (to calculate freight traffic both in the city and surrounding regions, it mileage per vehicle type and per branch as well as its local distribution) and CATO (to calculate the output of a freight platform in terms of truck flows). The findings of the project were generalized and a guideline for evaluating freight centers and for optimizing existing and planned platforms, regarding platform efficiency and their impact on urban freight traffic was created.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "City logistics", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/639553" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W567626024", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Truck Facilities as a Means to Relieve Congestion", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bernhard O Herzog" ], "first_author": "Bernhard O Herzog", "venue": "European Transport Conference 2014Association for European Transport (AET)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The installation of urban freight consolidation terminals alone does not assure an efficient logistical distribution setup. This article investigates the quantitative aspects of consolidation centre operation and city distribution. It shows how the logistical efficiency, and indirectly the road network burden are influenced by different logistical setups.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Consolidation (business)", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1341383" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7131387031", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2602.20310", "title": "A unified solution framework for truck-and-drone routing problems", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-23", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Ke Xu", "John Gunnar Carlsson" ], "first_author": "Ke Xu", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Coordinated truck-and-drone routing integrates the high capacity and range of ground vehicles with the flexible routing and speed of drones, enabling simultaneous service. Increasingly applied in last-mile delivery, this synchronization helps reduce completion time and operational costs. To improve its efficiency, various coordination modes between trucks and drones have been proposed. Each mode accommodates diverse operational constraints tailored to particular delivery requirements. In existing work, a slight change in the structural framework or operational characteristics could generate a totally different problem variant, which often requires the design of specialized algorithms. Consequently, under the requirement of maintaining structural validation and adapting to multiple operational features, this paper presents a unified three-phase solution framework based on the Lin-Kernighan-Helsgaun algorithm to solve a wide family of truck-and-drone routing problems. To validate its flexibility and effectiveness, we carry out numerical experiments on three problem variants: the Flying Sidekick Traveling Salesman Problem (FSTSP), the Traveling Salesman Problem with Multiple Drones (TSP-mD), and the Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones (VRP-D), benchmarking each against an effective algorithm. Computational results show that the framework can closely match optimal solutions on small-size instances and even improve the best-known solutions for several medium-size instances. Moreover, additional extensions are discussed to further highlight its versatility.", "keywords": [ "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Drone", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Travelling salesman problem", "Range (aeronautics)", "Synchronization (alternating current)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2602.20310" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406238559", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5022211", "title": "Integrating ESG Principles into Smart Logistics: Toward Sustainable Supply Chains", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leogrande Angelo" ], "first_author": "Leogrande Angelo", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Download", "Supply chain", "Computer science", "World Wide Web", "Business", "Computer security", "Internet privacy", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5022211" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2906020694", "doi": "10.1201/9780203753149-21", "title": "Logistics in City Centres: A Planning and Policy Dilemma", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-05-02", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anthony E. Whiteing" ], "first_author": "Anthony E. Whiteing", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Numerous research projects in Europe and elsewhere have attempted to pinpoint the key urban logistics problems and identify potential solutions. Despite such efforts we are little closer to resolving the basic urban logistics dilemma, which namely is that the future success of city centres depends on their effectiveness in different, often conflicting dimensions. Trans-shipment centres are frequently suggested as a solution to the environmental problems caused by lorry traffic in urban areas. Freight destined for urban areas would be unloaded at a depot on the periphery and trans-shipped into small vans for final consolidated delivery. If significant numbers of commercial vehicles in urban areas are less than fully laden, then there are obvious environmental advantages in promoting greater load consolidation. Little progress has been made in establishing the optimum vehicle size for urban logistics operations, and this remains a research priority. There has been very little research into the advantages and disadvantages of night-time operation, especially in urban environments.", "keywords": [ "Dilemma", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Philosophy" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203753149-21" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367178269", "doi": "10.4324/9781003241478-5", "title": "Road Transport and Urban Logistics", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-27", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maja Izabela Piecyk", "Julian Allen" ], "first_author": "Maja Izabela Piecyk", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This chapter provides an overview of road freight activities in urban areas. Urban road freight transport is essential to the economic prosperity and liveability of towns and cities. The most common forms of urban road freight transport in terms of the quantity of goods and services provided are conducted by motorised commercial goods vehicles (i.e. rigid and articulated heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles). For urban freight operations in which providing a servicing activity is the main purpose, the time spent by the person providing the service at the location at which it is provided is often substantially greater than for delivery/collection work, varying according to the type of service. Forecasts foresee the demand for urban freight transport services growing over the coming years as a result of increasing urbanisation and population growth unless freight initiatives are implemented to counteract this. Data and information have a key role to play in improving the efficiency of urban freight transport operations.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Road transport", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003241478-5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4362583657", "doi": "10.58837/chula.the.2020.112", "title": "Lagrangian relaxation method for integrated vehicles and drones routing model", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Perawit Charoenwut", "Manoj Lohatepanont", "Shin-ei Takano" ], "first_author": "Perawit Charoenwut", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Nowadays, e-commerce increases parcel transportation demand year by year. Many companies are seeking the way to improve performance of delivery service and cost-efficiency. One among many solutions is using a drone attached with a truck for the last mile delivery. A drone can be launched from either depot or truck and returned to the depot or wait for the truck to take them back from the docking station around the delivery area. The vehicle routing problem with drones considers truck- and drone-route simultaneously. It is an enormous problem that cannot be solved by a normal linear programming method. This research proposes the Lagrangian relaxation technique, in conjunction with the Branch-and-Price technique, to estimate the lower bound of the solution in each iteration of the Branch-and-Price. The lower bound from the Lagrangian relaxation is tighter than the solution from the Column generation which can improve the total solution time. The bound use in Branch-and-Price as a fathom condition, these help the search tree not to explore unnecessary nodes. The computational experiment includes randomly generated instances and real-world instances. Moreover, the operation cost of truck-based and truck-drone-based are compared to point out the benefit of using drones.", "keywords": [ "Lagrangian relaxation", "Drone", "Truck", "Column generation", "Vehicle routing problem", "Branch and price", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Branch and bound", "Lagrangian", "Upper and lower bounds", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/bitstream/123456789/77162/1/6170231921.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401071423", "doi": "10.1109/iccea62105.2024.10603892", "title": "A Variable Neighborhood Search Algorithm for Drone-Truck Joint Distribution Problem", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-04-12", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hexin Li" ], "first_author": "Hexin Li", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Delivery with drones combines the advantages of short delivery time, low cost and reduced road congestion. The joint delivery of trucks and drones to serve the customers in a community is the breakthrough to solve the problem of the last-mile delivery. We propose an arc-based mixed integer programming model with the aim of the lowest total distribution cost. We verify the effectiveness of Variable Neighborhood Search(VNS) algorithm in solving the model.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Variable (mathematics)", "Truck", "Joint (building)", "Variable neighborhood search", "Algorithm", "Mathematical optimization", "Mathematics", "Engineering", "Metaheuristic", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/iccea62105.2024.10603892" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W638911942", "doi": null, "title": "GOODS DELIVERIES IN CITY CENTRES: HAVE WE GOT THE POLICY BALANCE RIGHT?", "year": 1997, "publication_date": "1997-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anthony E. Whiteing", "Stephen Edwards" ], "first_author": "Anthony E. Whiteing", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents findings from two projects on urban freight undertaken at the University of Huddersfield over the last three years, in order to evaluate urban freight policies currently used in UK city centres. In the first project, UK urban freight policies were compared and contrasted with those used in Holland, France and Germany, in order to identify innovative solutions and best practice and to identify policies from mainland Europe that may have some UK application. The second project constructed spreadsheet models of deliveries in three categories of representative UK city centres, in order to estimate the number of vehicle rounds and the number of separate drops in central areas. Following on from this, the implications of various changes in logistics strategies (such as increased consolidation, changes in vehicle size, etc.) and the implications of changes in city centre retail strategy (such as encouraging speciality retailing or moving grocery retailing to edge-of-town sites) could be assessed. Findings from these studies suggest that strategies to encourage delivery consolidation and/or less frequent retail deliveries offer considerable scope for reduction in the number of commercial vehicle rounds. To achieve such levels of consolidation, it may be necessary to allow the use of relatively large rigid lorries in town centre streets, and to avoid the use of very restrictive time bans on delivery operations. This research also suggests that such policy changes would reduce the total number of commercial vehicle rounds with relatively few countervailing adverse effects. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 898133.", "keywords": [ "Consolidation (business)", "Truck", "Business", "Mainland China", "City logistics", "Mainland", "Order (exchange)", "City centre", "Transport engineering", "Operations management", "Economics", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/486533" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4383860621", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2307.03523", "title": "Parallel drone scheduling vehicle routing problems with collective drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-07-07", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberto Montemanni", "Mauro Dell’Amico", "Corsini, Andrea" ], "first_author": "Roberto Montemanni", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "We study last-mile delivery problems where trucks and drones collaborate to deliver goods to final customers. In particular, we focus on problem settings where either a single truck or a fleet with several homogeneous trucks work in parallel to drones, and drones have the capability of collaborating for delivering missions. This cooperative behaviour of the drones, which are able to connect to each other and work together for some delivery tasks, enhance their potential, since connected drone has increased lifting capabilities and can fly at higher speed, overcoming the main limitations of the setting where the drones can only work independently. In this work, we contribute a Constraint Programming model and a valid inequality for the version of the problem with one truck, namely the \\emph{Parallel Drone Scheduling Traveling Salesman Problem with Collective Drones} and we introduce for the first time the variant with multiple trucks, called the \\emph{Parallel Drone Scheduling Vehicle Routing Problem with Collective Drones}. For the latter variant, we propose two Constraint Programming models and a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model. An extensive experimental campaign leads to state-of-the-art results for the problem with one truck and some understanding of the presented models' behaviour on the version with multiple trucks. Some insights about future research are finally discussed.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Travelling salesman problem", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Integer programming", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Job shop scheduling", "Constraint programming", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2307.03523" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4384788235", "doi": "10.1016/b978-0-443-15274-0.50451-0", "title": "Modeling Commercial Fleet Charging and Regulation Strategies via Data-driven Optimization", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "James Owens", "Emre Gençer" ], "first_author": "James Owens", "venue": "Computer-aided chemical engineering/Computer aided chemical engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Truck", "Schedule", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Fleet management", "Revenue", "Operations research", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-15274-0.50451-0" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390445476", "doi": "10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103777", "title": "Assessment of freight accessibility in New York City: A spatial-temporal approach", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Carlos Rivera-González", "Julia Coutinho Amaral" ], "first_author": "Carlos Rivera-González", "venue": "Journal of Transport Geography", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Traffic management", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Externality", "Business", "Land use", "City logistics", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Greenhouse gas", "Truck", "Traffic congestion" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103777" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7214336728", "doi": "10.1287/trsc.2025.0523", "title": "Return of the Robots: The Truck-and-Robot Routing Problem with Robot Reuse and Reallocation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-09-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tobias Huf", "Manuel Ostermeier" ], "first_author": "Tobias Huf", "venue": "Transportation Science", "publisher": "Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences", "abstract": "Retailers and logistics providers must adapt and extend their delivery systems to address the constantly increasing challenges in last-mile delivery. Reverse logistics tasks add to these challenges as about 45% of orders involve product returns. Consequently, efficient integration of delivery solutions with innovative return strategies is becoming a basic requirement for ensuring sustainable and resilient operations. Such delivery systems must enhance customer experience while mitigating delivery costs, congestion, and emissions in urban areas. This study proposes a concept that addresses key challenges in last-mile delivery using the innovative setting of collaborative truck and robot operations. The proposed concept fully leverages the collaborative system’s advantages and enables efficient handling of deliveries and return shipments. It extends existing frameworks by incorporating new features, such as robot reallocations and reuse, while also addressing practical limitations, such as limited robot depot capacities and robot return routing strategies. We formalize the arising routing problem that integrates truck and robot routing, requiring synchronization between both vehicle types while determining stop locations, visit frequencies, and robot movements. We develop a recombination-based matheuristic based on a genetic algorithm and a compact integer program for robot routing referred to as the robot routing problem with autonomous reallocation, reuse, and returns. Numerical experiments demonstrate the algorithm’s efficiency, reducing runtime by up to 93% compared with a benchmark while also improving solution quality. Furthermore, the advanced robot movements ensure feasible operations where previous concepts made simplifying assumptions. Operational costs can be reduced by up to 27% by reallocating and reusing more than half of the robots deployed. The extended and independent robot movements within the collaborative system substantially increase flexibility, constituting a promising alternative for sustainable and efficient last-mile delivery in the future. History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on Climate-Resilient, Smart Transportation of People and Goods. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2025.0523 .", "keywords": [ "Robot", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Reuse", "Truck", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Synchronization (alternating current)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2025.0523" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416874775", "doi": "10.1109/qce65121.2025.10478", "title": "Quantum Optimization for Solving Coordinated Truck–Drone Routing Problem", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-30", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ahmad Bassaleh", "Syed Farhan Ahmad", "Ramkumar Harikrishnakumar", "Gregory T. Byrd", "Bayram Yildirim" ], "first_author": "Ahmad Bassaleh", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The integration of drones into last-mile delivery operations has the potential to significantly enhance responsiveness and reduce delivery costs. In this paper, we study the Coordinated Truck-Drone Routing Problem (CTDRP), where a truck serves as mobile base station that launches and retrieves a drone to deliver to geographically dispersed customers. Some customers are served by the truck, while others are served by the drone. The objective is to optimize the truck route and drone assignments in order to minimize the total delivery distance, including both ground and aerial travel. We model the CTDRP as a combinatorial optimization problem and solve it using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), a variational hybrid quantum-classical algorithm that offers promising capabilities for discrete optimization. The proposed method is benchmarked against classical solutions obtained using the Gurobi optimizer, and the results show that QAOA delivers competitive performance. These findings demonstrate the applicability of QAOA in solving integrated aerial-ground logistics problems and support its potential for advancing quantum-enhanced transportation systems.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Truck", "Optimization problem", "Order (exchange)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Quantum" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/qce65121.2025.10478" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4386487775", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-43612-3_20", "title": "A Variable Neighborhood Search Algorithm for the Truck-Drone Routing Problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Batool Madani", "Malick Ndiaye" ], "first_author": "Batool Madani", "venue": "Lecture notes in computer science", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Variable (mathematics)", "Last mile (transportation)", "Operations research", "Computer network", "Mile", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43612-3_20" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4385267485", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-36121-0_28", "title": "Metaheuristic Approach for the Location and Routing Problem with Truck and Drones: A Sustainable Perspective", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Carlos S. Rodríguez-Salcedo", "María F. Giraldo-Quintero", "Laura S. Ortega-García", "María Alejandra Albarracin-Vanegas", "Carlos Alberto Vega-Mejía", "Elyn Lizeth Solano Charris", "Carlos L. Quintero-Araújo" ], "first_author": "Carlos S. Rodríguez-Salcedo", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Metaheuristic", "Drone", "Vehicle routing problem", "Cluster analysis", "Truck", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Heuristic", "Mathematical optimization", "Last mile (transportation)", "Facility location problem", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36121-0_28" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410975944", "doi": "10.1093/imaman/dpaf022", "title": "New saving-based formulae for the truck–drone routing problem", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Batool Madani", "Malick Ndiaye", "Saı̈d Salhi" ], "first_author": "Batool Madani", "venue": "IMA Journal of Management Mathematics", "publisher": "Oxford University Press", "abstract": "Abstract Accepted by: M. Zied Babai This study investigates the hybrid truck–drone routing problem with an emphasis on last-mile delivery. To address this challenge, novel savings rules are developed by extending the classical Clarke and Wright savings formula, and these are incorporated into an adapted savings-based heuristic. In contrast to the traditional Clarke and Wright algorithm, the drone launch and retrieval points are not predetermined but instead depend on the truck’s route, resulting in greater complexity and flexibility. Consequently, nine distinct configurations are identified, each associated with a specific savings formulation. These contribute to the development of an enhanced Clarke and Wright-based heuristic, further augmented with a computational acceleration mechanism. For comparative evaluation, a sweep-based algorithm is also implemented to handle larger problem instances. The proposed savings-based heuristic (MSH) demonstrates superior performance over the sweep-based method, effectively capturing the operational structure of a moving depot. While the new savings equations remain relatively simple, they offer analytically rigorous and computationally efficient solutions that can serve as a strong foundation for future hybrid or metaheuristic approaches.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Operations research", "Aeronautics", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/imaman/dpaf022" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2388017081", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Truck Modeling in the U.S. Logistics Transportation", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chen Xue-ming" ], "first_author": "Chen Xue-ming", "venue": "Urban Transport of China", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Truck is the major urban logistics transportation mode. Truck modeling distinguishes itself from conventional four-step travel demand modeling in many aspects, such as trip purposes, truck gross vehicle weight classifications, commodity types, land use patterns, modeling process, and preprocessing. Generally speaking, a truck model includes three submodels of trip generation, trip distribution, and trip assignment. Trip generation first determines truck internal trip rates associated with land use and socioeconomic variables, then uses cross-classification methodology to estimate various types of truck internal trips. External trips with one trip end outside of the modeling area are estimated from the commodity flow data. Trip distribution is primarily undertaken by running a gravity model, the results from which are adjusted through different factoring procedures. Trip assignment assigns preprocessed trips to highway networks. At present, the Los Angeles truck model is among the leading truck models in the U.S. CUBE-CARGO is becoming an increasingly important logistics transportation forecasting software, meeting its early success in the Los Angeles area.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Trip generation", "Transport engineering", "TRIPS architecture", "Trip distribution", "Transportation planning", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-CSJT200501016.htm" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392977180", "doi": "10.1016/j.retrec.2024.101425", "title": "Key factors for developing freight and passenger integrated transportation systems in Brazil", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-03-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Isabela Kopperschmidt de Oliveira", "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Leonardo Herszon Meira" ], "first_author": "Isabela Kopperschmidt de Oliveira", "venue": "Research in Transportation Economics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Business", "Externality", "Sustainable transport", "Spare part", "Transport engineering", "Key (lock)", "Public transport", "Traffic management", "Sustainable development", "Environmental economics", "Environmental planning", "Sustainability" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2024.101425" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7165647828", "doi": "10.3390/drones10070477", "title": "Reinforcement-Learning-Based Hybrid Truck–Drone Delivery Optimization", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Youyao Gao", "Tongchang Liu", "Huan Jin" ], "first_author": "Youyao Gao", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "This paper studies large-scale last-mile delivery using a heterogeneous fleet of trucks, onboard drones in a hybrid truck–drone mode, and independent drones. Orders are first screened by a feasibility check; feasible orders are then assigned to one of the three modes by a delivery mode selection policy and routed using mode-specific planning algorithms. The delivery mode selection policy is trained with Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), warm-started by behaviour cloning from heuristic decisions. For route planning, we use a five-step procedure for the hybrid mode and simple depot round trips for independent drones. Experiments on Solomon VRPTW benchmarks and extended instances (100/200/400 customers; R/C/RC distributions) show lower total cost than representative heuristic baselines and metaheuristics, with practical runtime. Sensitivity analysis over fleet sizes further indicates competitive performance across a range of truck and drone configurations, especially for medium and large fleets.", "keywords": [ "Heuristic", "Truck", "Selection (genetic algorithm)", "Mode (computer interface)", "Range (aeronautics)", "Drone", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "TRIPS architecture" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10070477" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4309689802", "doi": "10.3390/su142315505", "title": "Conceptual Framework for Evaluating E-Commerce Deliveries Using Agent-Based Modelling and Sensitivity Analysis", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-11-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberta Alves", "Renato da Silva Lima", "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Alexandre Ferreira de Pinho" ], "first_author": "Roberta Alves", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "To model the urban logistic environment, many variables need to be taken into account as this system is composed of different stakeholders with conflicting objectives and actions that influence the actions of others. Agent-based modeling (ABM) and simulations are useful tools for studying this environment with so many variables and uncertainties. Typically, urban logistic stakeholders are represented by agents who interact with each other and obey different rules. This study presents a conceptual framework for evaluating e-commerce urban freight using ABM and Design of Experiments (DoE). The simulations performed were designed to highlight the most important parameters that affect the response variable and should be taken into account in the experimentation process. The scenarios were studied to evaluate the use of Delivery Lockers (DLs) and failures in delivery attempts. The results of the DoE analysis allowed us to verify that the DL utilization rate, first attempt delivery failure rate, and truck stoppage time most impact costs and profits in the modeled system. The framework presented showed that the use of DoE in the simulation study reduced the number of simulated scenarios, which is a significant gain given the complexity of the model and the relatively large computational time required to execute a new scenario. Consequently, different studies may use the findings presented here to plan scenarios in their simulation projects.", "keywords": [ "Process (computing)", "Computer science", "Variable (mathematics)", "Truck", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Operations research", "Duration (music)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "System dynamics", "Conceptual framework", "Industrial engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15505/pdf?version=1669114804" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3122656792", "doi": null, "title": "Simulating the impact of new Australian \"Bi-Modal\" urban freight terminals, utilizing performance based standard freight vehicles for height growth container ports", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kim Peter Hassall" ], "first_author": "Kim Peter Hassall", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Container (type theory)", "Modal", "Rail freight transport", "Transport engineering", "Freight trains", "Automotive engineering", "Truck", "Environmental science", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography", "Mechanical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/scholarlywork/303832-simulating-the-impact-of-new-australian-%22bi-modal%22-urban-freight-terminals--utilizing-performance-based-standard-freight-vehicles-for-height-growth-container-ports" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391096859", "doi": "10.1145/3631461.3631479", "title": "Re-Max: A Reward Maximization Approach for Heterogeneous Drone Scheduling Problem", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Satyajit Mohapatra", "Sanjeet Kumar Nayak" ], "first_author": "Satyajit Mohapatra", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Over the decade, drones have paved the way into a variety fields including research and commercial applications. A captivating scenario of application is found in the logistics industry, where the collaboration of trucks and drones is seen for boosting last-mile deliveries. In this work, we devise a heterogeneous drone scheduling problem (HDSP), for maximization of rewards or profit. A truck starts from a warehouse with a fleet of heterogeneous drones (varying battery and weight lifting capacity) and packages for delivering to customers. The objective of HDSP is to maximize the reward while also taking into account multiple deliveries can be accomplished using the same drone. We then establish that HDSP is NP-hard problem and formulate an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) for finding the optimal solution. Initial results obtained demonstrate the increase in execution time for higher problem size, for which we further plan to provide heuristic solutions.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Maximization", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Integer programming", "Profit maximization", "Truck", "Mathematical optimization", "Operations research", "Job shop scheduling", "Profit (economics)", "Schedule" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3631461.3631479" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2968343056", "doi": null, "title": "Introduction of drones in the last-mile logistic process of medical product delivery: A feasibility assessment applied to the case study of Benu 't Slag", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Irene Zubin" ], "first_author": "Irene Zubin", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "The term last-mile delivery refers to the final leg of a business-to-customer service, in which a product is shipped from a depot to a final destination point by means of land transportation, such as vans and small trucks. Although they provide a common and easy way to consign products, companies are striving for new transport technologies to reduce congestion problems, infrastructure limitations and air pollution. Recently, a valid alternative to road-bounded vehicles that is has gained attention is the adoption of drones in the delivery fleet. Drone applications range from military training, surveillance, path recognition and shipment of perishable products in emergency situations. Research on drones as delivery vehicles is still on its early stages, with some practical trials carried out by leader companies such as Google and Amazon. However, the application of drones in the pharmaceutical sector, and specifically for home deliveries of medical products, has not been investigated yet. To gain new insights into the feasibility of introducing drones in the delivery fleet composition, drone applications were studied for the delivery operations of the pharmacy BENU t Slag, in Rotterdam. Two scenario alternatives were tested using the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) formulation and a Large- scale Neighbourhood Search (LNS) algorithm was implemented to estimate the performance indicators associated with each scenario. Performances were then analysed through a comparative analysis. Conclusively, indicators were found to improve the delivery performance when drones are included in the fleet composition, with gains in environmental aspects, service time and delivery costs. Results provide important information for further research on the implications of using drones in the pharmaceutical sector. Moreover, results are also useful for BENU t Slag, providing a valid feasibility assessment of using drones for their home delivery operations.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "Last mile (transportation)", "Product (mathematics)", "Operations research", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0db692ce-5685-4499-bf84-d570544de795" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406214901", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-04196-9_36-1", "title": "The Role of Freight Transportation in Smart Cities for Advancing the Clean Energy Transition", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": "Palgrave Studies in Energy Transitions", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Transition (genetics)", "Clean energy", "Energy (signal processing)", "Business", "Engineering", "Environmental engineering", "Chemistry", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04196-9_36-1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W577250684", "doi": null, "title": "Determining Productivity Gains from Performance-Based Standards Vehicles in Urban Areas", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Russell George Thompson", "Kim Peter Hassall" ], "first_author": "Russell George Thompson", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 91st Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Many urban areas are experiencing growing levels of traffic congestion and increased freight demand due to population growth, globalization and contemporary logistics systems. Performance Based Standards (PBS) is a flexible non-prescription framework for regulating the weight and dimensions as well as network access of road freight vehicles. This paper presents details of case studies used to estimate the productivity gains from operating PBS vehicles in urban areas. A range of PBS vehicles have been identified as being suitable for urban freight operations including Super B-doubles and rigid trucks. This paper demonstrates how the productivity gains from PBS vehicles operating in urban areas can be estimated. The results of simulations of a number of freight networks for specific commodities are presented. The analysis presented shows that substantial benefits can be achieved by the take-up of PBS vehicles in urban freight networks. Case studies show a lowering of several key freight exposure metrics, which involve kilometers, trips, task travel times and vehicle numbers.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Productivity", "TRIPS architecture", "Traffic congestion", "Population", "Business", "Engineering", "Economics", "Automotive engineering", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1129515" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3100467610", "doi": "10.46783/smart-scm/2020-3-6", "title": "Models of zoning of urban territory for rational delivery in the microconsolidation system", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-10-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lidiia Savchenko", "Volodimir Davydenko" ], "first_author": "Lidiia Savchenko", "venue": "Electronic Scientific Journal Intellectualization of Logistics and Supply Chain Management #1 2020", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban logistics (or city logistics) is developing rapidly due to the strong growth of e-commerce. Accordingly, the last-mile urban logistics faces a significant number of orders that need to be fulfilled in a dense urban development, environmental constraints and permanent congestion. One of the possible systems of rational city delivery is the use of a network of consolidation centers at the micro level. Such a network provides for a two-tier system of urban delivery - 1) from the central warehouse or warehouses to the network of microconsolidation centers; 2) from microconsolidation centers to end consumers. This scheme is especially relevant in the presence of restrictions on the movement of trucks or heavy vehicles in certain areas of the city, as well as in significant congestion and the problem of parking trucks when unloading at the location of the client. Methods (research methodology). To create a rational delivery network through a microconsolidation system, the primary task is to determine the delivery zones (or geographical clusters) - their number, size, location. To solve this problem, optimization models are proposed based on several minimization criteria - delivery distance, time, cost and integrated distance-time criterion. Results. The result is the optimization models creation, based on those it is possible to divide urban consumers into several delivery zones. Delivery routes are planned within each zone of the respective centroid and minimize the cost of last-mile logistics. Delivery of goods to the centroids can be carried out by light or medium trucks, and within the zones should be dominated by delivery of environmentally friendly modes of transport (motorcycle or moped, bicycle, car, on foot delivery with the possibility of public transport usage). Conclusion. Thus, the article provides a mathematical apparatus for obtaining territorial zoning of existing customers of the city in order to minimize the cost (distance, time or their combination) for delivery within each zone. Perspectives. A perspective study may be an analysis of the costs of operating a network of urban consolidation centers and the delivery of goods from the central warehouse or warehouses to this network. Accordingly, the task of minimizing the total costs of the city freight delivery system should be solved, taking into account economic, environmental and social aspects.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Zoning", "City logistics", "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Facility location problem", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Operations research", "Geography", "Mile" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://smart-scm.org/wp-content/uploads/3_20_titul_j_savchenko.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4384342869", "doi": "10.1111/deci.12607", "title": "Network design with consideration of hours‐of‐service regulation and drop‐and‐swap trailer operations", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-07-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "E. Powell Robinson", "Funda Sahin", "Li‐Lian Gao" ], "first_author": "E. Powell Robinson", "venue": "Decision Sciences", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "Abstract This research, motivated by collaboration with a leading manufacturer and distributor of building products, introduces two distribution network design models considering federally mandated hours of service restrictions on truck drivers and drop‐and‐swap trailer operations. A key feature of the drop‐and‐swap transport mode is the decoupling of linehaul and last‐mile delivery operations, which enables geographic extension of last‐mile delivery routes while complying with hours of service driver regulations and providing next‐day delivery service. The models simultaneously determine the profit‐maximizing size, number, and location of order fulfillment facilities and satellite drop‐and‐swap terminals, and systemwide transportation flows. A case study of the firm's distribution network reveals that the new location models improve profitability by approximately 5% when compared with traditional network design approaches. An experimental study of five marketing and operational characteristics shows when the models are most advantageously applied. Overall, profit improvements range from 2.32% to 10.97% on a set of 288 test problems. The research provides new insights for integrated facility location and transportation strategic design. The potential application of the models in a variety of e‐commerce scenarios is promising.", "keywords": [ "Profitability index", "Computer science", "Trailer", "Transport engineering", "Swap (finance)", "Network planning and design", "Last mile (transportation)", "Operations research", "Profit (economics)", "Business", "Mile", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1111/deci.12607" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415999491", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2509.18162", "title": "A Simple and Reproducible Hybrid Solver for a Truck-Drone VRP with Recharge", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-17", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Meraryslan Meraliyev", "Cemil Turan", "Shirali Kadyrov" ], "first_author": "Meraryslan Meraliyev", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "We study last-mile delivery with one truck and one drone under explicit battery management: the drone flies at twice the truck speed; each sortie must satisfy an endurance budget; after every delivery the drone recharges on the truck before the next launch. We introduce a hybrid reinforcement learning (RL) solver that couples an ALNS-based truck tour (with 2/3-opt and Or-opt) with a small pointer/attention policy that schedules drone sorties. The policy decodes launch-serve-rendezvous triplets with hard feasibility masks for endurance and post-delivery recharge; a fast, exact timeline simulator enforces launch/recovery handling and computes the true makespan used by masked greedy/beam decoding. On Euclidean instances with $N{=}50$, $E{=}0.7$, and $R{=}0.1$, the method achieves an average makespan of \\textbf{5.203}$\\pm$0.093, versus \\textbf{5.349}$\\pm$0.038 for ALNS and \\textbf{5.208}$\\pm$0.124 for NN -- i.e., \\textbf{2.73\\%} better than ALNS on average and within \\textbf{0.10\\%} of NN. Per-seed, the RL scheduler never underperforms ALNS on the same instance and ties or beats NN on two of three seeds. A decomposition of the makespan shows the expected truck-wait trade-off across heuristics; the learned scheduler balances both to minimize the total completion time. We provide a config-first implementation with plotting and significance-test utilities to support replication.", "keywords": [ "Job shop scheduling", "Solver", "Truck", "Drone", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Simple (philosophy)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Decomposition" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.18162" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2993701329", "doi": null, "title": "Economics of electric vehicles for city logistics", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "T. van Rooijen", "Hans J. Quak" ], "first_author": "T. van Rooijen", "venue": "Breda University of Applied Sciences Portal", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Within the FREVUE project 80 fully electric freight vehicles have been deployed. It showed that city logistics operations can be performed by electric freight vehicles, but that at the moment the high vehicle purchasing costs are still a barrier for large scale utilisation of electric freight vehicles for logistics operations. Only for small EFVs (lighter than 3.5 tons) a short term feasible business case is possible. For the larger vans and rigid trucks, a feasible business case is not yet possible from an operator’s perspective, often not even with subsidies. Copyright © 2018 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. All rights reserved", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Purchasing", "Transport engineering", "Subsidy", "Business", "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Electric vehicle", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Marketing", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://pure.buas.nl/en/publications/e4593400-c1cb-4e44-80b2-7bd9690e0f32" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4405294891", "doi": "10.1061/9780784485484.133", "title": "Comparative Analysis of Truck-UAV Collaborative Strategies in Varied Demand Scenarios", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-12-11", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xiaotong Zhang", "Jinqiu Zhao", "Le Yu", "Binglei Xie" ], "first_author": "Xiaotong Zhang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "To address last-mile delivery problems, integrating trucks and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has emerged as a promising solution, offering reductions in delivery time and distance. While various Truck-UAV collaboration strategies have been proposed, there is a shortage of research examining these strategies’ merits and limitations in different demand scenarios. This study evaluates three prevalent Truck-UAV strategies: Truck-UAV Flying Sidekick (TUFS), Truck-Supported UAV (TSU), and Parallel Truck UAV (PTU). We formulate models, conduct experiments, and assess performance based on the number and spatial distribution of demand points. Findings reveal TSU excels in minimizing distribution distance, whereas PTU balances the workload between trucks and UAVs. This aids in strategically selecting Truck-UAV collaboration patterns, enhancing the efficiency of delivery schedules.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485484.133" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2180426744", "doi": "10.4236/sgre.2015.610024", "title": "Integrating Roundabouts with Freight Roadway Networks", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ranjit Godavarthy", "E R Russell" ], "first_author": "Ranjit Godavarthy", "venue": "Smart Grid and Renewable Energy", "publisher": "Scientific Research Publishing", "abstract": "The demand for freight transportation in the United States has grown rapidly in the past couple of decades; the rate at which the highway capacity is growing is not able to meet the freight-trans- portation needs, resulting in congestion and delay, ultimately affecting the users and the public with increased prices for the goods delivered, unreliable delivery times, and air-pollution concerns. Freight bottlenecks are a major cause of recurring congestion which accounts for about 40% of total vehicle hours of delay in the United States. Intersections for urban freight-roadway networks are one of the major freight bottlenecks and are considered to be a significant contributor for congestion and delay. Improving the efficiency at urban intersections with high truck traffic can address the freight-traffic congestion, leading to optimized goods movement as well as decreased delays, congestion, and emissions, thus enhancing the air quality in and around the communities. With the roundabout intersection control being proven as a safe, operationally efficient, and environment-friendly control treatment, a greater use of roundabouts with urban freight- roadway networks and their feasibility is analyzed in this study. The control for most urban intersections is a signalized treatment; a performance analysis is conducted for selected signalized intersections in urban freight-roadway networks, comparing the intersections by adapting a roundabout control theoretically using SIDRA (signalized and un-signalized intersection design and research aid) Intersection software. Various parameters, such as the intersection’s level of service, the effective intersection capacity, the average control delay, vehicular emissions [carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx)], the intersection’s annual delay, and the intersection’s annual cost, are selected for comparison.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Roundabout", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://content.scirp.org/pdf/sgre_2015112415253479.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410496926", "doi": "10.1117/12.3068487", "title": "UAV assisted truck delivery route optimization via reinforcement learning", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yawen Xu", "Hongwei Ma", "Dequn Zhao", "Qianhua Deng", "Zikai Liu" ], "first_author": "Yawen Xu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the rapid growth of e-commerce, traditional logistics faces the \"last mile\" delivery problem, characterized by low efficiency and high costs. This paper models the truck-drone cooperative delivery problem as the TSPD problem, using a Markov decision process, and proposes a deep reinforcement learning-based encoder-decoder framework to solve it. The improved DFPG algorithm, based on A2C, is employed for training. During training, a multi-attention encoder is used to embed node information, and the xLSTM fusion attention mechanism decoder is employed for path optimization. The attention mechanism is redefined to embed unselected truck and drone nodes as context, reducing invalid path selections. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs well on TSPD and TSPDCSR datasets of varying customer sizes, particularly on large-scale datasets, where it outperforms two other models, confirming its effectiveness and superiority", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Reinforcement learning", "Computer science", "Simulation", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3068487" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4380874048", "doi": "10.1201/9781003415466-12", "title": "Novel scheduling heuristics for a truck-and-drone parcel delivery problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-16", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Amrata Gill", "Prem Prakash Vuppuluri" ], "first_author": "Amrata Gill", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The combined use of trucks and drones for efficient package delivery has grown rapidly in recent years and finds applications in domains as varied as electronic commerce, providing timely humanitarian aid in calamity-impacted zones, and remote drug delivery. In such scenarios, a drone is frequently mounted on a delivery truck and used for delivering packages to a subset of the service points, typically those that are difficult to access by road but relatively close enough for the drone to quickly deliver and return to the truck. The drone plays a vital role in reducing delivery time along congested routes, ensuring timely supply of medication in hilly and rural areas and last-mile deliveries of critical resources in remote, poorly connected regions. A planning problem that arises in this context is that of finding a delivery route that minimizes some parameter, such as the total distance traveled by the truck and drone, while ensuring that all the packages are delivered, some by the drone and the others by truck. Several versions of this problem have been modeled as graph problems and extensively studied. This chapter presents a variant of the problem that considers delivery points that tend to form small, geographically close clusters. While a small number of delivery points in each cluster could be served by the truck, the remainder are better served by the drone. Formally, given a source warehouse and a set of destination sites, the objective is to construct a tour that enables the delivery truck to start from and return to the source warehouse, while traversing a subset of the delivery points earmarked for delivery by truck. Delivery points covered by the drone would be covered as and when the truck stops to make a delivery at a destination on its tour. The goal is to minimize the total distance required for the tour. Three constructive TSP heuristics are adapted for the truck-and-drone parcel delivery problem and their performance is studied on several test instances developed specifically for the problem.", "keywords": [ "Heuristics", "Truck", "Drone", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Operating system", "Aerospace engineering", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003415466-12" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411225498", "doi": "10.1016/j.eswa.2025.128503", "title": "Multi-objective optimization for time-dependent vehicle routing problem with drones", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yong Peng", "Chengxi Zhang", "Ajinkya N. Tanksale", "Dennis Z. Yu" ], "first_author": "Yong Peng", "venue": "Expert Systems with Applications", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematics", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 16, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2025.128503" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163700132", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.022", "title": "Reliability Based-model for Optimizing Routing of Truck-drone Delivery System", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ahmed Ghaithan", "Awsan Moahmmed", "Ahmed M. Attia", "Mohamed Noomane Darghouth" ], "first_author": "Ahmed Ghaithan", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study develops a reliability-based optimization model for routing of truck-drone delivery systems, where trucks transport goods from a central warehouse to depots and drones perform last-mile deliveries. Drone failures are modeled as exponentially distributed events that may result in partial or complete loss of customer demand. An optimization model is formulated to identify feasible routes that minimize expected demand loss and optimizes truck depot assignments to ensure overall system reliability. A demonstrated example with two depots, three drones, two trucks, and six customers was conducted. Initially, 41 feasible paths were evaluated. Then, three paths were determined with a minimum expected loss of 0.1999, with a total travel time of 50.207 minutes. When optimizing for travel time, only one depot was selected to serve all the six customers using two drones, yielding a total travel time of 46.55 minutes and an expected loss of 0.2179. The results demonstrate that considering reliability of the delivery system significantly influence the routing decisions.", "keywords": [ "Reliability (semiconductor)", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Travel time", "Depot" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.022" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4245269733", "doi": "10.1017/cbo9780511546013.009", "title": "Transport and its infrastructure", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-12-12", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change" ], "first_author": "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change", "venue": "Cambridge University Press eBooks", "publisher": "Cambridge University Press", "abstract": "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Transport activity, a key component of economic development and human welfare, is increasing around the world as economies grow. For most policymakers, the most pressing problems associated with this increasing transport activity are traffic fatalities and injuries, congestion, air pollution and petroleum dependence. These problems are especially acute in the most rapidly growing economies of the developing world. Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can take its place among these other transport priorities by emphasizing synergies and co-benefits ( high agreement, much evidence ). Transport predominantly relies on a single fossil resource, petroleum that supplies 95% of the total energy used by world transport. In 2004, transport was responsible for 23% of world energy-related GHG emissions with about three quarters coming from road vehicles. Over the past decade, transport's GHG emissions have increased at a faster rate than any other energy using sector ( high agreement, much evidence ). Transport activity will continue to increase in the future as economic growth fuels transport demand and the availability of transport drives development, by facilitating specialization and trade. The majority of the world's population still does not have access to personal vehicles and many do not have access to any form of motorized transport. However, this situation is rapidly changing. Freight transport has been growing even more rapidly than passenger transport and is expected to continue to do so in the future. Urban freight movements are predominantly by truck, while international freight is dominated by ocean shipping. The modal distribution of intercity freight varies greatly across regions.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Business", "Natural resource economics", "Road transport", "Welfare", "Air transport", "Developing country", "Environmental planning", "Environmental science", "Economics", "Transport engineering", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 14, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511546013.009" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409295248", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5210949", "title": "Optimization and Eco-Routing Evaluation of Truck Routes with Time-Dependent Traffic", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yunfei Ma", "Elkafi Hassini", "Saiedeh Razavi" ], "first_author": "Yunfei Ma", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Transport engineering", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Business", "Operations research", "Computer network", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5210949" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4310925371", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2212.03672", "title": "Structure and evolution of urban heavy truck mobility networks", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-12-07", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yitao Yang", "Jia, Bin", "Erjian Liu", "Xiao-Yong Yan", "Michiel de Bok", "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy", "Ziyou Gao" ], "first_author": "Yitao Yang", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Revealing the structural properties and understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of the urban heavy truck mobility network (UHTMN) provide insights in assessment of freight policies to manage and regulate the urban freight system, and are of vital importance for improving the livability and sustainability of cities. Although massive urban heavy truck mobility data become available in recent years, in-depth studies on the structure and evolution of UHTMN are still lacking. Here we use massive urban heavy truck GPS data in China to construct the UHTMN and reveal its a wide range of structure properties. We further develop an evolving network model that simultaneously considers weight, space and system element duplication. Our model reproduces the observed structure properties of UHTMN and helps us understand its underlying evolutionary mechanisms. Our model also provides new perspectives for modeling the evolution of many other real-world networks, such as protein interaction networks, citation networks and air transportation networks.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Construct (python library)", "Sustainability", "Global Positioning System", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Economic geography", "Geography", "Ecology", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2212.03672" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409295534", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5210950", "title": "Optimization and Eco-Routing Evaluation of Truck Routes with Time-Dependent Traffic", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yunfei Ma", "Elkafi Hassini", "Saiedeh Razavi" ], "first_author": "Yunfei Ma", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Transport engineering", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Travel time", "Operations research", "Computer network", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5210950" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389817110", "doi": "10.1007/s10668-023-04123-x", "title": "Feeder vehicle routing problem in a collaborative environment using hybrid particle swarm optimization and adaptive learning strategy", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "Javad Behnamian" ], "first_author": "M. Salehi Sarbijan", "venue": "Environment Development and Sustainability", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Particle swarm optimization", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Swarm behaviour", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Multi-swarm optimization", "Mathematical optimization", "Artificial intelligence", "Computer network", "Machine learning", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04123-x" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7106013218", "doi": "10.25365/thesis.79578", "title": "A solution technique for the truck and drone parcel delivery problem", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lidi, Márk" ], "first_author": "Lidi, Márk", "venue": "University of Vienna", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit den drängenden Herausforderungen des städtischen Güterverkehrs und der letzten Meile in der Europäischen Union. Insbesondere das starke Wachstum des Onlinehandels sowie die fortschreitende Urbanisierung erhöhen den Druck auf bestehende Transportinfrastrukturen. Der Straßengüterverkehr dominiert zwar weiterhin die Logistik, verursacht jedoch einen beträchtlichen Anteil an Treibhausgasemissionen, Luftschadstoffen und Verkehrsstaus (WEF, 2024; Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans, EU, 2023). Vor dem Hintergrund der europäischen Klimapolitik und ambitionierter Nachhaltigkeitsziele gewinnt daher die Entwicklung innovativer Konzepte an Bedeutung, um Transportprozesse mit den Emissionsreduktionsvorgaben in Einklang zu bringen (Levrey, 2024; Mahmoodi et al., 2025). In diesem Kontext wird ein heuristik-basierter Planungsansatz vorgestellt, der klassische Methoden der Routenoptimierung mit neuen Lieferkonzepten – darunter unbemannte Luftfahrzeuge (UAVs) und autonome Systeme – verbindet. Ziel ist es, Lieferketten so zu gestalten, dass technische Rahmenbedingungen wie begrenzte Drohnenreichweiten, Nutzlastgrenzen, Ladeinfrastruktur oder gesetzliche Flugverbotszonen berücksichtigt werden, ohne die praktische Anwendbarkeit durch übermäßige Rechenlast zu gefährden (Mahmoodi et al., 2025; Cicek et al., 2025). Die empirischen Ergebnisse verdeutlichen die Zielkonflikte zwischen Kosten, Zeitaufwand und ökologischen Effekten. Besonders in dicht besiedelten urbanen Räumen lassen sich mit kombinierten Drohnen-Lkw-Modellen die CO₂-Emissionen um bis zu 20 % im Vergleich zu rein dieselbetriebenen Lkw-Systemen senken (Bao et al., 2025). Damit liefert die Arbeit einen Beitrag zur wissenschaftlichen Debatte über nachhaltige urbane Logistik, indem sie sowohl theoretische Grundlagen als auch praxisnahe Ansätze zusammenführt. Der entwickelte Algorithmus unterstreicht das Potenzial hybrider Zustelllösungen, die den Einsatz von Drohnen mit Lkw und die Integration von E-Cargobikes kombinieren. Solche Konzepte eröffnen neue Möglichkeiten, Emissionen zu verringern und die Effizienz in der letzten Meile zu erhöhen. Über die wissenschaftliche Relevanz hinaus bieten die Erkenntnisse wertvolle Anhaltspunkte für politische Entscheidungsträger, Logistikunternehmen und Stadtverwaltungen, die auf dem Weg zu sauberen, resilienten und intelligenten städtischen Transportsystemen sind – im Einklang mit dem European Green Deal sowie den Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien der Europäischen Kommission (Levrey, 2024; Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans, EU, 2023).", "keywords": [ "Context (archaeology)", "European union", "Truck" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.25365/thesis.79578" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2247403654", "doi": null, "title": "CAN REGIONAL PLANNING IMPROVE TRUCK TRANSPORTATION? (ABRIDGMENT)", "year": 1974, "publication_date": "1974-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Edward C. Sullivan" ], "first_author": "Edward C. Sullivan", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "This paper reviews certain common assumptions that have had widespread acceptance in the study of freight transportation. These are summarized in the following three principles: (1) the main role of regional transportation planning agencies is to develop and evaluate large-scale alternatives for expediting freight movements and to eliminate conflicts in the joint transport of people and goods; (2) great emphasis is properly placed on the development of an adequate truck travel model that will permit forecasting future truck strips associated with various planning alternatives; and (3) the workhours of data base development is the truck survey, in which the information collected describes daily itineraries of a representative sample of trucks. An objective review of these assumptions leads to the conclusion that the resources of regional transportation planning agencies are not being employed most effectively to help solve urban freight problems because there is too much mimicking of people movement studies and too little emphasis on the actual nature of freight transportation problems. Other issues discussed in this paper include cost allocation, analysis of external costs, and innovations in freight handling.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Expediting", "Transport engineering", "Transportation planning", "Traffic management", "Scale (ratio)", "Strategic planning", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/139562" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4312915297", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4240825", "title": "Sustainable Two-Echelon Truck and Drone Routing Problem", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ebrahim Teimoury", "Reza Rashid" ], "first_author": "Ebrahim Teimoury", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Aeronautics", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Aerospace engineering", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4240825" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2056518716", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.10.012", "title": "Better Use of Delivery Spaces in Oslo", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bjørn Gjerde Johansen", "Jardar Andersen", "Tomas Levin" ], "first_author": "Bjørn Gjerde Johansen", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The lack of space in urban areas is an important barrier to efficient freight deliveries. Available space in urban city centres has to be shared between different activities and actors, including public transport operators, private car users, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians in addition to freight operators. The lack of access to appropriate freight delivery spaces increases the time needed for deliveries and the distances truck drivers have to walk between their vehicles and the receivers of goods. This lack of space is one of the issues that the ongoing project Green Urban Distribution (GUD) deals with. The project is set to develop environmental friendly and efficient solutions for urban freight distribution in Oslo, the capital of Norway, by (1) better use of road spaces, (2) better use of day and week time and (3) to demonstrate usage of environmentally friendly and energy efficient vehicles for unmanned deliveries. One of the tasks in the GUD project has been to study delivery spaces on a street in the centre of Oslo and to analyse whether the delivery spaces could be better utilised. This work included 6 days of observations of vehicles using delivery spaces in two separate locations, as well as interviews with stakeholders, including drivers, shop workers and shop owners. The collected data have been used to analyse potential effects from giving designated vehicles exclusive right to use the delivery spaces at certain times. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it gives an understanding on how delivery spaces intended for freight loading and unloading are used by different actors with different tasks and functions. Secondly, the paper presents alternative prioritization schemes for freight vehicles for these delivery spaces and outlines some of the costs and benefits. The analyses will give decision makers an increased understanding of the potential effects of such access restrictions.", "keywords": [ "Taxis", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Space (punctuation)", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814054548/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2072352215", "doi": "10.3406/flux.1998.1236", "title": "Le transport des marchandises en ville : entre police et service", "year": 1998, "publication_date": "1998-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": "Flux", "publisher": "Metropolis", "abstract": "Transporting merchandise within cities is an increasing cause of disturbances and urban pollution. In order to deal with the problem, municipalities have employed a variety of measures over the past few years which range from the traditional (police orders forbidding heavy truck traffic) to the innovative (creation of municipal logistic platforms). In a rapidly evolving local context, this study presents the main elements concerning transportation of freight merchandise in cities. We have carried out a synthesis of the most recent works published on flow and the characteristics of urban freight transport. An analysis of urban public policy concerning freight is presented, which insists on the one hand on the spatial fragmentation resulting from the current organization of traffic regulation authority, and on the other on the development of service-provider policies which will directly offer public services linked to the transportation of freight within cities. A brief development then presents the reform of the \"plans de déplacements urbains\" (PDU = urban transport planning) which resulted from the French clean air act of December 1 996 and which is beginning to modify local policies concerning merchandise.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Context (archaeology)", "Public transport", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Environmental planning", "Service (business)", "Order (exchange)", "Geography", "Finance", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3406/flux.1998.1236" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3082444008", "doi": "10.1057/s41278-020-00164-5", "title": "An innovative intermodal solution to urban residential waste disposal in large cities: a marine highway solution to a growing environmental problem", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shmuel Z. Yahalom", "Changqian Guan", "Eric Johansson" ], "first_author": "Shmuel Z. Yahalom", "venue": "Maritime Economics & Logistics", "publisher": "Palgrave Macmillan", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Environmental planning", "Waste recycling", "Waste management", "Environmental science", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Civil engineering", "Environmental engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-020-00164-5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409475660", "doi": "10.1109/soli63266.2024.10955985", "title": "Modeling and Evaluation of Coordinated Delivery of Truck and Drones in Depopulated Areas of Japan", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-22", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anxiang Chen", "Yoshiyasu Takahashi", "Youichi Nonaka" ], "first_author": "Anxiang Chen", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The logistics industry in Japan faces significant challenges due to its complex geographical landscape, characterized by deep mountains and isolated islands, making last-mile delivery particularly difficult. Japanese government reports highlight stark differences in delivery between urban and depopulated areas, with higher unit delivery costs in depopulated areas. To address these issues, this study proposes coordinated delivery using truck and multiple drones. By integrating truck and drones, this approach seeks to overcome geographical barriers and enhance delivery efficiency, thus tackling the unique logistical challenges of Japan's depopulated areas. Despite numerous studies on the coordinated delivery problem of trucks and drones, research on terrain constraints and drone no-fly zones remains sparse. This study aims to fill this gap by establishing complex scenarios based on specific conditions in Japan. Compared to similar studies, our research is novel in its focus on complex delivery scenarios, validation of the performance and advantages of coordinated delivery, and the establishment of energy consumption models for traditional and electric trucks to compare their respective energy cost performances.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/soli63266.2024.10955985" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415700579", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2025.104510", "title": "Mitigate the range anxiety: two-stage optimization for the electric vehicle routing problem with time windows and battery status uncertainty", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zijian Yuan", "Tao Wang", "Junfang Tian", "Jing Zhang", "Jianfeng Zheng", "Jianjun Wu", "Ziyou Gao" ], "first_author": "Zijian Yuan", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Electric vehicle", "Range (aeronautics)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Battery (electricity)", "Battery electric vehicle", "Battery capacity" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2025.104510" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7161992597", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20133730", "title": "A Modern and Sustainable Rail-Enabled Urban Logistics System and its Economic Evaluation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "Libor Švadlenka", "Tatiana Molková", "Libor Bauer" ], "first_author": "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The European Union has set ambitious climate goals as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. Urban freight transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion, which is a major hurdle for sustainable urban development. Despite significant policy and research interest, there are currently limited published studies that fully combine rail freight transport with low/zero-emission last-mile delivery and its comprehensive economic evaluation. This study presents and evaluates a comprehensive solution combining rail transport of inter-regional shipments with logistics micro-hubs located near the railway station and transshipping shipments through environmentally friendly last-mile delivery modes such as electric vehicles, cargo bikes, or crowdshipping. The methodology consists of applying several methods, such as operational simulation and break-even analysis, to assess the economic viability of the proposed solution, through different scenarios for the evolution of the regulatory framework (in particular, transport emission allowances). The findings indicate that carbon pricing significantly increases the cost of road regional deliveries by Heavy Goods Vehicle, while rail-integrated models demonstrate relative stability. A modal shift of 40% from road to rail reduced monthly freight emissions by approximately 25%, primarily by eliminating long-distance Heavy Goods Vehicle trips with a low-carbon rail section. Moreover, the combined rail–bike system offered the most cost-efficient and environmentally robust configuration under emission trading system conditions, reinforcing the strategic value of multimodal urban freight systems. The research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, logistics operators, and urban planners, highlighting the role of rail-integrated, multimodal systems in shaping sustainable and resilient urban freight networks.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Sustainable transport", "Traffic management", "European union", "City logistics", "Sustainable development", "TRIPS architecture", "Economic evaluation", "Multimodal transport" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20133730" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W632694855", "doi": null, "title": "Utilisation of urban road freight vehicles", "year": 1981, "publication_date": "1981-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alastair Currie" ], "first_author": "Alastair Currie", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper is the result of a limited review of the utilisation of freight vehicles in urban areas undertaken at the request of the Transport Industry Advisory Council. It is based on discussions with vehicle operators and other participants in the urban freight transport process. Average annual vehicle kilometres was selected to measure vehicle utilisation. Interviews were undertaken to identify the major constraints on high utilisation as perceived by the various participants in the transport field. Problems were found to arise in four main areas: 1) access to load/ unload points via public streets; 2) inefficient loading/ unloading arrangements lending to queues; 3) mismatch of hours; and 4) delays on the road. There are also a multitude of regulatory and institutional constraints which affect the operator, covering working conditions, customs requirements, vehicle limits; and usage of the city infrastructure. It is clear that while significant advances have been made over the last ten years, by the industry itself and by governments, the basic underlying problems remain unchanged. Many of these problems arise from market failures and are not within the powers of government to correct without a very high degree of interference with the market. Such problems are most effectively dealt with by the participants themselves - with the government role being to improve the data base and information flows as well as ensuring that regulation does not hamper the process of adjustment.", "keywords": [ "Government (linguistics)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Process (computing)", "Multitude", "Public transport", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1206400" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2791829559", "doi": "10.15224/978-1-63248-108-5-01", "title": "A new approach to urban transshipment problem using electrical trucks", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-11-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Burak Küçük", "Levent Aksoy", "Yavuz Günalay" ], "first_author": "Burak Küçük", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "As the urbanization rate increases every day, city logistics become more and more important. Electric vehicles are both environmentally friendly and also less costly alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, decision methods employed by businesses are not useful to evaluate these systems.We propose a new model that helps businesses to evaluate the contribution of electric vehicles in city logistics.", "keywords": [ "Transshipment (information security)", "Truck", "Urbanization", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Environmentally friendly", "Business", "Environmental economics", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.seekdl.org/assets/pdf/20161212_112659.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4293998542", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2208.14304", "title": "Approximation Algorithms for Drone Delivery Packing Problem", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-08-30", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Saswata Jana", "Partha Sarathi Mandal" ], "first_author": "Saswata Jana", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, have motivated logistics to use drones for multiple operations. Collaboration between drones and trucks in a last-mile delivery system has numerous benefits and reduces a number of challenges. In this paper, we introduce \\textit{drone-delivery packing problem} (DDP), where we have a set of deliveries and respective customers with their prescribed locations, delivery time intervals, associated cost for deliveries, and a set of drones with identical battery budgets. The objective of the DDP is to find an assignment for all deliveries to the drones by using the minimum number of drones subject to the battery budget and compatibility of the assignment of each drone. We prove that DDP is NP-Hard and formulate the integer linear programming (ILP) formulation for it. We proposed two greedy approximation algorithms for DDP. The first algorithm uses at most $2OPT + (Δ+ 1)$ drones. The second algorithm uses at most $2OPT + ω$ drones, where OPT is the optimum solution for DDP, $ω$ is the maximum clique size, and $Δ$ is the maximum degree of the interval graph $G$ constructed from the delivery time intervals.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Integer programming", "Linear programming", "Mathematical optimization", "Approximation algorithm", "Set (abstract data type)", "Set packing", "Algorithm", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.14304" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7162035375", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20133670", "title": "A Modern and Sustainable Rail-Enabled Urban Logistics System and its Economic Evaluation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-21", "type": "dataset", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "Libor Švadlenka", "Tatiana Molková", "Libor Bauer" ], "first_author": "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The European Union has set ambitious climate goals as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. Urban freight transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion, which is a major hurdle for sustainable urban development. Despite significant policy and research interest, there are currently limited published studies that fully combine rail freight transport with low/zero-emission last-mile delivery and its comprehensive economic evaluation. This study presents and evaluates a comprehensive solution combining rail transport of inter-regional shipments with logistics micro-hubs located near the railway station and transshipping shipments through environmentally friendly last-mile delivery modes such as electric vehicles, cargo bikes, or crowdshipping. The methodology consists of applying several methods, such as operational simulation and break-even analysis, to assess the economic viability of the proposed solution, through different scenarios for the evolution of the regulatory framework (in particular, transport emission allowances). The findings indicate that carbon pricing significantly increases the cost of road regional deliveries by Heavy Goods Vehicle, while rail-integrated models demonstrate relative stability. A modal shift of 40% from road to rail reduced monthly freight emissions by approximately 25%, primarily by eliminating long-distance Heavy Goods Vehicle trips with a low-carbon rail section. Moreover, the combined rail–bike system offered the most cost-efficient and environmentally robust configuration under emission trading system conditions, reinforcing the strategic value of multimodal urban freight systems. The research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, logistics operators, and urban planners, highlighting the role of rail-integrated, multimodal systems in shaping sustainable and resilient urban freight networks.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Sustainable transport", "Traffic management", "European union", "City logistics", "Sustainable development", "TRIPS architecture", "Economic evaluation", "Multimodal transport" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20133670" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164042238", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2606.08738", "title": "Systems-Level Planning and Coordination of Truck-Drone Collaborative Delivery Networks", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-07", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Didem Cicek", "Burak Kantarcı" ], "first_author": "Didem Cicek", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Urban last-mile parcel delivery increasingly relies on heterogeneous fleets whose performance depends on timely coordination, reliable communication, and scalable control. Truck-drone collaboration has emerged as a networked cyber-physical delivery paradigm that combines the payload capacity and range efficiency of trucks with the agility of drones in congested or access-limited urban environments. This paper proposes a layered planning and coordination framework that structures truck-drone collaborative delivery (TDCD) from a systems and control perspective. The framework consists of five interrelated layers: spatial-demand alignment, collaborative delivery configuration, resource and workflow orchestration, performance evaluation, and scalability analysis, providing a unified view of coordination, control, and system-level performance in networked delivery operations. The proposed framework is evaluated using a realistic urban last-mile delivery scenario derived from the 2021 Amazon Last Mile Routing Research Challenge dataset. The case study demonstrates how coordinated truck-drone operation, enabled by structured task orchestration and inter-agent synchronization, improves end-to-end system efficiency under operational constraints. Results show a 42.4% reduction in total delivery time and a 44.2% reduction in energy consumption compared to a conventional truck-only delivery model. The scalability analysis further highlights how coordination gains persist as system size increases, and shows the importance of efficient control and communication in heterogeneous delivery networks.", "keywords": [ "Scalability", "Workflow", "Payload (computing)", "Task (project management)", "Resource allocation", "Heterogeneous network", "Resource efficiency", "Orchestration", "Resource (disambiguation)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2606.08738" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7161950525", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20133671", "title": "A Modern and Sustainable Rail-Enabled Urban Logistics System and its Economic Evaluation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-21", "type": "dataset", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "Libor Švadlenka", "Tatiana Molková", "Libor Bauer" ], "first_author": "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The European Union has set ambitious climate goals as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. Urban freight transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion, which is a major hurdle for sustainable urban development. Despite significant policy and research interest, there are currently limited published studies that fully combine rail freight transport with low/zero-emission last-mile delivery and its comprehensive economic evaluation. This study presents and evaluates a comprehensive solution combining rail transport of inter-regional shipments with logistics micro-hubs located near the railway station and transshipping shipments through environmentally friendly last-mile delivery modes such as electric vehicles, cargo bikes, or crowdshipping. The methodology consists of applying several methods, such as operational simulation and break-even analysis, to assess the economic viability of the proposed solution, through different scenarios for the evolution of the regulatory framework (in particular, transport emission allowances). The findings indicate that carbon pricing significantly increases the cost of road regional deliveries by Heavy Goods Vehicle, while rail-integrated models demonstrate relative stability. A modal shift of 40% from road to rail reduced monthly freight emissions by approximately 25%, primarily by eliminating long-distance Heavy Goods Vehicle trips with a low-carbon rail section. Moreover, the combined rail–bike system offered the most cost-efficient and environmentally robust configuration under emission trading system conditions, reinforcing the strategic value of multimodal urban freight systems. The research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, logistics operators, and urban planners, highlighting the role of rail-integrated, multimodal systems in shaping sustainable and resilient urban freight networks.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Sustainable transport", "Traffic management", "European union", "City logistics", "Sustainable development", "TRIPS architecture", "Economic evaluation", "Multimodal transport" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20133671" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7161993279", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20133731", "title": "A Modern and Sustainable Rail-Enabled Urban Logistics System and its Economic Evaluation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "Libor Švadlenka", "Tatiana Molková", "Libor Bauer" ], "first_author": "Ampong Dominic Kwakye", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The European Union has set ambitious climate goals as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. Urban freight transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and traffic congestion, which is a major hurdle for sustainable urban development. Despite significant policy and research interest, there are currently limited published studies that fully combine rail freight transport with low/zero-emission last-mile delivery and its comprehensive economic evaluation. This study presents and evaluates a comprehensive solution combining rail transport of inter-regional shipments with logistics micro-hubs located near the railway station and transshipping shipments through environmentally friendly last-mile delivery modes such as electric vehicles, cargo bikes, or crowdshipping. The methodology consists of applying several methods, such as operational simulation and break-even analysis, to assess the economic viability of the proposed solution, through different scenarios for the evolution of the regulatory framework (in particular, transport emission allowances). The findings indicate that carbon pricing significantly increases the cost of road regional deliveries by Heavy Goods Vehicle, while rail-integrated models demonstrate relative stability. A modal shift of 40% from road to rail reduced monthly freight emissions by approximately 25%, primarily by eliminating long-distance Heavy Goods Vehicle trips with a low-carbon rail section. Moreover, the combined rail–bike system offered the most cost-efficient and environmentally robust configuration under emission trading system conditions, reinforcing the strategic value of multimodal urban freight systems. The research provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, logistics operators, and urban planners, highlighting the role of rail-integrated, multimodal systems in shaping sustainable and resilient urban freight networks.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Sustainable transport", "Traffic management", "European union", "City logistics", "Sustainable development", "TRIPS architecture", "Economic evaluation", "Multimodal transport" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20133731" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7154355533", "doi": "10.1108/ir-03-2026-0119", "title": "Autonomous transportation and delivery in logistics", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rob Bogue" ], "first_author": "Rob Bogue", "venue": "Industrial Robot the international journal of robotics research and application", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide details of the role of autonomous robots in the transportation and delivery sector of the logistics industry. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, this first discusses autonomous cargo shipping. It then considers autonomous road transport which is followed by details of short-distance and last-mile delivery robots. Finally, conclusions are drawn. Findings Transportation and delivery is a central element of the logistics industry but the sector faces operational, environmental and economic challenges. The industry is increasingly adopting automation and robotics, and this is now being extended to the transportation and delivery sector. Autonomous cargo ships have been demonstrated and have the potential to reduce costs and improve safety. The main barriers to widespread adoption are regulations and legislation. Autonomous road transport is gaining momentum and autonomous trucks are increasingly being deployed, particularly in the USA, where they operate on hub-to-hub routes. Short-distance and last-mile delivery is a rapidly growing sector and drones, autonomous vehicles and sidewalk robots are used widely to deliver foods, groceries and mail. Autonomous vehicles confer benefits which include improved safety, reduced environmental impact, lower fuel and labour costs and more rapid delivery and represent the most significant development in the drive to achieve full automation of the logistics industry. Originality/value This provides details of the rapidly growing role of robotics in the transportation and delivery sector of the logistics industry.", "keywords": [ "Automation", "Truck", "Robot", "Robotics", "Delivery Performance", "Traffic management" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/ir-03-2026-0119" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4396563929", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4813769", "title": "The Location Routing Problem with Time Windows and Load-Dependent Travel Times for Cargo Bikes", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alexander Rave", "Pirmin Fontaine" ], "first_author": "Alexander Rave", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Travel time", "Time travel", "Transport engineering", "Computer network", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4813769" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7135330827", "doi": "10.82366/16", "title": "Routing of Hybrid Truck-Drone Delivery Systems: Mathematical Models and Solution Approaches", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-03-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Batool Madani" ], "first_author": "Batool Madani", "venue": "DSpace at AUS (American University of Sharjah)", "publisher": "American University of Sharjah", "abstract": "With the continuous growth of e-commerce, the responsibility of logistics providers for solving last mile delivery challenges is surging. The last mile delivery is the most polluting, most expensive, and least efficient part of the e-commerce supply chain. Therefore, logistics providers seek new solutions to improve delivery operations continuously. Drone advancements have paved the way for several applications in the field of logistics. However, restrictions such as battery and payload capacity have restricted the effective operational use of drones in many practical applications. To assist toward alleviating these operational limitations, several hybrid delivery models incorporating one or more drones launched from a larger vehicle have emerged. A recent research avenue is to integrate drones with traditional delivery methods such as trucks to form a hybrid truck-drone delivery system. The hybrid truck-drone delivery system (HTDDS) has received significant attention in the literature, due to its new operational challenges and the interdependency between the vehicles and their roles. Most of the literature considers a single customer visit per drone dispatch while launching and collecting the drone from customer nodes visited by the truck. In this research, three HTDDS models with drone multi-visits are introduced where the first model investigates the routing considerations of a truck acting as a moving depot for launching and collecting a drone at non-customer nodes. The second model permits flexibility in the drone’s launching and collecting operations by utilizing customer and non-customer nodes. The final model studies the extended version of the second model by employing several trucks in the delivery system as well as considering time-related constraints. For handling large instances of the proposed models, efficient solution approaches with novel strategies are introduced. In specific, a modified saving algorithm with neighborhood reduction schemes and variable neighborhood search frameworks with different neighborhood selection strategies are developed. In addition, a generalized nomenclature for defining the neighborhood structures is established, which can be applied to a variety of routing problems. Extensive computational analysis is performed to validate and test the performance of the proposed solution methods. Numerical findings indicate that the proposed solution methods outperform the basic approaches.", "keywords": [ "Mathematical model", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Work (physics)", "Automation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.82366/16" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164235278", "doi": "10.1109/hpsr68369.2026.11615187", "title": "Systems-Level Planning and Coordination of Truck-Drone Collaborative Delivery Networks", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-07", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Didem Cicek", "Burak Kantarcı" ], "first_author": "Didem Cicek", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Urban last-mile parcel delivery increasingly relies on heterogeneous fleets whose performance depends on timely coordination, reliable communication, and scalable control. Truck-drone collaboration has emerged as a networked cyber-physical delivery paradigm that combines the payload capacity and range efficiency of trucks with the agility of drones in congested or access-limited urban environments. This paper proposes a layered planning and coordination framework that structures truck-drone collaborative delivery (TDCD) from a systems and control perspective. The framework consists of five interrelated layers: spatial-demand alignment, collaborative delivery configuration, resource and workflow orchestration, performance evaluation, and scalability analysis, providing a unified view of coordination, control, and system-level performance in networked delivery operations. The proposed framework is evaluated using a realistic urban last-mile delivery scenario derived from the 2021 Amazon Last Mile Routing Research Challenge dataset. The case study demonstrates how coordinated truck-drone operation, enabled by structured task orchestration and inter-agent synchronization, improves end-to-end system efficiency under operational constraints. Results show a 42.4% reduction in total delivery time and a 44.2% reduction in energy consumption compared to a conventional truck-only delivery model. The scalability analysis further highlights how coordination gains persist as system size increases, and shows the importance of efficient control and communication in heterogeneous delivery networks.", "keywords": [ "Scalability", "Workflow", "Payload (computing)", "Task (project management)", "Resource allocation", "Heterogeneous network", "Resource efficiency", "Orchestration", "Resource (disambiguation)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.08738" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4283027254", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2022.102782", "title": "Urban consolidation centers and city toll schemes–Investigating the impact of city tolls on transshipment decisions", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-06-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Christian Friedrich", "Ralf M. Elbert" ], "first_author": "Christian Friedrich", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Toll", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Transshipment (information security)", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Consolidation (business)", "Context (archaeology)", "Integer programming", "Vehicle routing problem", "Service provider" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2022.102782" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3138907901", "doi": null, "title": "City logistics and smart delivery", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-03-17", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sabine Limbourg" ], "first_author": "Sabine Limbourg", "venue": "Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Liège)", "publisher": "University of Liège", "abstract": "The current and expected growing number of people living and working in cities and the limited space available inside city centres implies a greater exchange of inbound and outbound freight flows between city centres and their surrounding regions. Urban freight transports provide economic benefits to society but are also responsible for negative externalities such as congestion, air and water pollution, climate change, accidents and noise. Access restrictions are one of the most applied measures to control urban traffics in the city's specific areas. A growing use of urban trucks based on electric, hydrogen and hybrid technologies or non-motorized transport such as bikes reduces pollutant emissions, noise and road congestion by making night deliveries and avoiding morning and afternoon peak periods. This seminar's objective is to discuss how to efficiently distribute shipments to customers from several cities by a freight transport operator. This delivery company has several vehicles to carry products to customers or small depots located at different cities' points. We consider the whole distribution network, allowing us to make decisions at firm, delivering companies and small depots level (Aguayo et al., 2020). Then we consider a platform bringing together several freight transport operators. Freight bundling is a central characteristic of the systems in focus. Besides, pricing decisions can be simultaneously integrated by extending a bilevel programming formulation (Tawfik and Limbourg, 2019). Finally, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which is also known as a drone, is examined as a possible way to facilitate biomedical transportation. We deal with the drone network design problem for biomedical material transportation. Four location models are developed and applied to Brussels and its periphery with respect to the associated market in terms of biomedical product flows. In the context of separate case studies of scenario-based analysis, the experiments show that charging stations is useful for extending the mission ranges and gaining market share. The results also show the possibility of gradually implementing the bases without requiring any significant changes, such as closing a base (Dhote and Limbourg, 2020).", "keywords": [ "Business", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/258133" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W638163914", "doi": null, "title": "Urban freight management in large European cities", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "A series of slides is presented illustrating the growth of urban freight management in European cities. These address shared issues and perceptions; European data on urban goods movement; the relationship between urban freight and the type of activities located in a city; freight data for cities in France, London (UK) and Milan (Spain). Five policies for urban freight management in European cities are presented: unsuccessful attempts to develop urban distribution centres (the Munich City Logistik Zentrum in Germany), the use of intelligent technologies and access control systems, (trucks and vans in the London Congestion Charging Scheme, Barcelona's multi use streets), preventing old trucks from entering the city (the Green Certificate on Danish trucks), the need for new logistic services and logistic spaces in cities, and urban freight partnerships and urban freight transport plans. For the covering entry of this conference please see ITRD E132365", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Certificate", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Geography", "Regional science", "Urban area", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Economy", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/841238" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7066155218", "doi": null, "title": "A GPS analysis for urban freight distribution", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Julio Comendador Arquero", "María Eugenia López Lambas", "Andrés Monzón de Cáceres" ], "first_author": "Julio Comendador Arquero", "venue": "Hispana", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Daily life in urban centers has led to increasing and more demanding freight requirements. Manufacturers, retailers and other urban agents have thus tended towards more frequent and smaller deliveries, resulting in a growing use of light freight vehicles (<3.5 ton). This paper characterizes and analyzes urban freight distribution in order to generate new ways of understanding the phenomenon. Based on a case study of two different-sized Spanish cities using data from GPS, a vehicle observation survey and complementary driver's interviews, the authors propose a categorization of urban freight distribution. The results confirm GPS as a useful tool that allows the integration of dynamic traffic assignment data and diverse traffic operation patterns during different day periods, thereby improving delivery performance.", "keywords": [ "Global Positioning System", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Order (exchange)", "Categorization", "Traffic management", "City logistics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://oa.upm.es/15478/1/INVE_MEM_2012_128116.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367178550", "doi": "10.4324/9781003241478-8", "title": "Drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-27", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Matt Grote", "Andy Oakey", "Aliaksei Pilko", "Angela Smith", "Tom Cherrett" ], "first_author": "Matt Grote", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This chapter discusses the practical realities of integrating drones into existing urban logistics supply chain infrastructures, and focuses on medical use cases and using first-hand experience of operating Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight flights. The majority of logistics studies have reflected on drones being used for the carriage of consumer goods parcels, replacing or supporting traditional delivery vehicles (e.g., vans/trucks/cargo bikes) that will have payload capacities far in excess of those typical for drones. In developed nations, the reliability of traditional logistics services using vans/trucks is one of their key strengths. Cost estimates were based on a future scenario where drone operations are routinely automated, removing the need for safety pilots for take-off/landing and enabling mission commanders to manage multiple drones simultaneously. Ultimately, drones must be able to deliver an urban logistics service that is reliable and, maybe most importantly for commercial drone operators, cost-effective.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Biology", "Botany" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241478-8" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2810191589", "doi": "10.1002/9781119425519.ch5", "title": "Effects of Land Use Policies on Local Conditions for Truck Deliveries", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-05-30", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kazuya Kawamura", "Martin Menninger" ], "first_author": "Kazuya Kawamura", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This chapter discusses the tools that a municipality can use to achieve the desired land use and built environment. The discussion narrowly focuses on the tools and their effects that are relevant to urban freight since some of those tools, such as nontraditional zoning and tax-increment finance (TIF) districts, have been studied extensively by planning scholars for their broad and complex effects and implications. It is followed by a section on the research framework that elucidates the research hypothesis, and the data and analysis methods employed for this study. The chapter presents the interpretations and discussions of the results of the analysis. While zoning serves multiple purposes such as separating incompatible land uses, preserving consistent aesthetics and promoting public safety, it affects freight transportation mainly in two ways: regulating the use and intensity of land and defining the standards for built environment including parking and loading area requirements, and the provision of curb-side loading zones.", "keywords": [ "Zoning", "Land use", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Environmental planning", "Section (typography)", "Built environment", "Business", "Computer science", "Civil engineering", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119425519.ch5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3106398495", "doi": "10.26153/tsw/10055", "title": "Urban freight distribution and innovative last-mile solutions from a traffic perspective", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-05-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michele D. Simoni", "0000-0002-5613-1769" ], "first_author": "Michele D. Simoni", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban population growth, the rise of e-commerce, and the increased need for economically and environmentally sustainable solutions represent urban freight distribution’s biggest challenges. Traffic and city logistics are often two sides of the same coin, as congestion affects city freight movements and vice versa. For this reason, it is important to develop comprehensive mobility and traffic management solutions that consider both systems. During the last decade, technology improvements in wireless communication, computational and sensing technologies, have paved the way to a series of mobility and transportation options (e.g., crowdshipping and driverless vehicles) that could transform the landscape of last-mile delivery. The main contribution of this dissertation consists of modeling urban freight impacts on traffic and investigating the potential implications of innovative last-mile solutions. The first part of this dissertation focuses on the feedback between freight movements and traffic, taking into consideration the impact of passenger vehicles on commercial vehicles, and vice versa. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to model trucks’ movements and loading/unloading operations with ad-hoc traffic simulations. Most of existing research has focused on analytical, static, or microscopic models, that either lack accuracy or scalability. Hence, this dissertation creates algorithms that couple existing macroscopic traffic flow models with the microscopic behavior of delivery vehicles. This issue is investigated both at single-link and network levels, by means of a suitable simulation framework. In both cases, applications of the modeling approach for freight traffic and freight demand management are shown. In the second part of this dissertation the potential impacts of last-mile delivery solutions are evaluated using the developed simulation framework. First, the impacts of alternative City Logistics solutions, such as off-peak deliveries and access restrictions are investigated. Then, the developed modeling framework is extended to investigate a crowdsourced service for parcel deliveries. The effects on traffic and emissions are investigated for the adoption of crowdshipping by carriers delivering parcels in the city center of Rome, Italy. The externalities associated with several strategic (chosen mode) and operational (detour length, parking behavior, and traffic conditions) aspects of this service are analyzed by means of simulation in realistic settings. Some results allow preliminary considerations about the effects of last-mile delivery solution that can been confirmed in other studies. Other findings, instead, are in line with studies from previous literature that adopted different approaches. The practice of off-peak deliveries, consisting in shifting part of the trips and operations to less congested hours of the day (typically evening and night) has proved to be an effective solution to freight-related congestion in urban settings. Restricting from deliveries specific links or sets of links, instead, could be beneficial only in some situations. Alternative crowdshipping implementation features, such as the transportation mode choice, but also operational aspects (such as availability of parking, optimization of existing trips, and implementation during off-peak hours) can also considerably influence the final traffic and emissions impacts of this service.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Perspective (graphical)", "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "City logistics", "Engineering", "Geography", "Computer science", "Mathematics", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/10055" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403224626", "doi": "10.46914/1562-2959-2024-1-3-35-53-67", "title": "Forecasting the volume of urban freight traffic", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "R. T. Ismailova", "Yekaterina R. Kim", "Saule Belginova", "Zhanar Bimurat" ], "first_author": "R. T. Ismailova", "venue": "Bulletin of Turan University", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The efficient development of transportation vehicles in conditions of stiff competition and global digitalization depends on the correct methodology and forecasting of freight transportation. A review of scientific literature showed that all studies are directed towards the railway mode of transportation. The research conducted in this work focuses on freight transportation by road transport in the city of Almaty, where trucks remain the sole means of delivering goods from one point to another at the local transportation level. The main goal of the research presented in this article is to analyze statistical indicators of transportation volumes and freight turnover by road transport and develop software aimed at forecasting the expected volume of freight transportation. In logistics planning and management, the moving average method is employed to predict truckload volumes and freight turnover for the next year. This method works by averaging data points to smooth out random fluctuations, thereby providing a more stable forecast. This phenomenon arises from replacing the original levels of the time series with arithmetic means calculated for certain time intervals. To facilitate transportation volume planning and substantiate the optimality of freight transportation, it is necessary to have up-to-date statistical data. These statistic data serve as the basis for constructing a dynamic representation of automobile traffic volumes and freight turnover in the city of Almaty. The growth rates of indicators are calculated to assess dynamics. The forecasting aspect of freight transportation volume is addressed by developing an algorithm based on the moving average method.", "keywords": [ "Traffic volume", "Volume (thermodynamics)", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.46914/1562-2959-2024-1-3-35-53-67" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2322125426", "doi": "10.2991/ifmeita-16.2016.13", "title": "Assessment method for the impact of truck parking policy in urban areas", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lin Li", "Shanshan Chen", "Zhuang Hu" ], "first_author": "Lin Li", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In recent years, with the rapid development of urban industry and commerce, the number of freight cars is increasing, urban freight transportation has become an important part of urban transportation system.Urban truck parking policy includes time limit, pricing policy, management and enforcement of parking spaces.In this paper, a new method is developed to evaluate the impact of freight car parking policy.A parking choice simulation model is developed, and the feasibility of the model is verified by the example of Xinjiekou area in Nanjing city.It is concluded that the freight parking spaces on the road are advantageous to reduce the time of freight car parking to find a parking place, but it is not conducive to the parking of passenger cars.After all, the roadside parking space is limited in short supply.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://download.atlantis-press.com/article/25850319.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7171326958", "doi": "10.3724/sp.j.1249.2026.04377", "title": "Research progress in truck-drone collaborative route planning: a systematic review", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Cui Haipeng", "Li Huan", "Zhang Xuxin", "Chen Xiangsheng", "Hu Mingwei" ], "first_author": "Cui Haipeng", "venue": "JOURNAL OF SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING", "publisher": "Science Press", "abstract": "To systematically review the research progress in truck-drone collaborative routing, 386 relevant publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection were analyzed using VOSviewer for bibliometric and scientific knowledge mapping, complemented by a qualitative review of representative studies. The development trajectory and knowledge base of this research field were examined from five perspectives: annual publication trends, country and regional distributions, source journals, document co-citation networks, and keyword co-occurrence. Based on the keyword co-occurrence analysis, a research framework encompassing problem types, model development, solution algorithms, and application scenarios was established. The results show that truck-drone collaborative route planning has evolved from the traveling salesman problem (TSP) and the vehicle routing problem (VRP), with research settings gradually expanding from early single-truck-single-drone collaborative delivery to more complex scenarios involving multiple trucks and drones, flexible launch and recovery, multiple customer visits, integrated pickup and delivery, and dynamic operations. Model development have formed a comprehensive constraint framework centered on objective functions, network constraints, resource constraints, service constraints, truck-drone coordination and synchronization constraints, and uncertainty constraints. Solution approaches have evolved through the parallel development of exact algorithms, heuristic and metaheuristic methods, and learning-based methods. In terms of applications, relevant studies have extended from urban last-mile delivery to remote-area logistics, medical logistics, humanitarian logistics, agricultural and forestry operations, and infrastructure inspection. With the rapid advancement of air-ground collaborative transportation technologies, this systematic review not only clarifies the technical evolution of truck-drone collaborative route planning but also provides references for future model development and algorithm design in real-world applications, thereby facilitating the translation of theoretical research into engineering practice.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Field (mathematics)", "Heuristic", "Resource (disambiguation)", "Memetics", "Knowledge base", "Service (business)", "Constraint (computer-aided design)", "Synchronization (alternating current)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1249.2026.04377" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4393299865", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2403.18091", "title": "The flying sidekick traveling salesman problem with multiple drops: A simple and effective heuristic approach", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-03-26", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sarah K. Schaumann", "Abhishake Kundu", "Juan C. Pina-Pardo", "Matthias Winkenbach", "Ricardo A. Gatica", "Stephan M. Wagner", "Timothy I. Matis" ], "first_author": "Sarah K. Schaumann", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "We study the Flying Sidekick Traveling Salesman Problem with Multiple Drops (FSTSP-MD), a multi-modal last-mile delivery model where a single truck and a single drone cooperatively deliver customer packages. In the FSTSP-MD, the drone can be launched from the truck to deliver multiple packages before it returns to the truck for a new delivery operation. The objective is to find the synchronized truck and drone delivery routes that minimize the completion time of the delivery process. We develop a simple and effective heuristic to solve the FSTSP-MD based on an order-first, split-second scheme. The core component of our heuristic is a novel split algorithm that finds FSTSP-MD solutions in polynomial time for a given sequence of customers. We embed this split algorithm into a simple heuristic approach that combines standard local search and diversification techniques. The simplicity of our heuristic does not sacrifice performance: we show that it consistently outperforms state-of-the-art solution approaches developed for both the FSTSP-MD and the FSTSP (i.e., the single-drop case) through extensive numerical experiments. Based on both stylized and real-world instances, we also show that the FSTSP-MD substantially reduces completion times compared to traditional truck-only delivery systems. We provide extensive managerial insights into the impacts of drone capabilities and customer distribution on delivery efficiency. Our discussion compares the benefits of drones with greater payload capacity and those with greater speed. We highlight which service area characteristics increase savings but also require enhanced drone capabilities.", "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Heuristic", "Simple (philosophy)", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer science", "Traveling purchaser problem", "2-opt", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.18091" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2470467888", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.118", "title": "Hands-on Testing of Last Mile Concepts", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "es", "authors": [ "Uwe Clausen", "Christiane Geiger", "Moritz Pöting" ], "first_author": "Uwe Clausen", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Since 1995 the freight transport performance within Europe has increased annually by 1.2% and is expected to grow further over the coming decades. Being the sources and sinks of transport activities, Europe's cities are strongly affected by the resulting undesirable effects of transportation. This applies in particular to North West Europe (NWE), one of the most urban regions in Europe. NWE therefore stands in urgent need of solutions for efficient urban freight logistics. Focusing on the last mile of freight deliveries the INTERREG IVB NWE project LaMiLo (Last Mile Logistics) addressed this issue. The project promoted Urban Consolidation Centres (UCCs) as they allow and encourage transport consolidation as well as modal shift. Decoupling the last mile at the city borders, large vehicles are used for bundled, long haul transports outside the city whilst sustainable transport means are used inside. In the knowledge that UCC attempts with huge government subsidies have been made several times before but rarely succeeded, the core of the LaMiLo project was to enable environment for UCC operations that accomplish a sustainable last mile and can as well be transformed in successful business models. Thereto, UCC concepts were operationalised and implemented in a number of pilots in metropolitan areas and cities all around NWE: Paris: A UCC was field-tested to which freight was brought by truck and afterwards delivered by cargo bikes. Netherlands: Central hubs were put into operation to streamline the home delivery of parcels. Thereto, a Freight Circle service was launched in the cities of Nijmegen and Maastricht which used e-bikes and enabled customer-specific delivery times. London: A UCC was set up to bundle goods for the public sector which were destined for the boroughs of Camden and its partners Enfield and Waltham. Brussels: A UCC was launched at the Port of Brussels offering warehouse services and deliveries to retailers in the city. The key results gained from the studies primarily include the demonstration of UCCs as possible last mile solutions. Beyond their economic performance, their environmental effects as well as their social impacts were evaluated. Exemplary results include that all the pilots contributed towards emission reduction and total distance travelled through city centres and residential areas. Gained best practice and lessons learnt about the examined UCC concepts were discussed and shared at transnational level to encourage relating solutions for further cities.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "Truck", "Metropolitan area", "Mile", "Modal shift", "Engineering", "Subsidy", "Business", "Geography", "Public transport", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 21, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146516301193/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415207924", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-032-07989-3_36", "title": "Viability of Electric Vehicle Adoption in Outbound Logistics: A Blockchain-Based Lifecycle Sustainability Assessment Approach", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-15", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammad Yaser Mofatteh", "Christopher Fabian Mattaba", "Ma. Keni Lucero Villaruz", "Pandurang Kishanrao Kawale", "Omid Fatahi Valilai" ], "first_author": "Mohammad Yaser Mofatteh", "venue": "Lecture notes in networks and systems", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Electric vehicle", "Green vehicle", "Carbon footprint", "Sustainability", "Total cost of ownership", "Investment (military)", "Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent", "Sustainable transport" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-07989-3_36" } ]