[ { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2601314315", "doi": null, "title": "A multivariate regression model for road sector greenhouse gas emission", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-11-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Reham Alhindawi", "Yousef Abu Nahleh", "Archit Kumar", "Nirajan Shiwakoti" ], "first_author": "Reham Alhindawi", "venue": "RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library)", "publisher": "RMIT University", "abstract": "The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in urban logistics is an important driver for determining future energy needs. This paper illustrates a new approach to model, forecast and identify the main drivers of greenhouse gas emission for road sector based on multivariate regression model. The model has been developed using ratio between Vehicle-kilometres and Number of Transportation Vehicles for six transportation modes in US such as Light trucks, single-unit trucks, tractor and bus. It has been found that the entire ratio between Vehicle-kilometres and Number of Transportation Vehicle for the different transportation mode has significant effect on the greenhouse gas emission. The results show that the multivariate linear regression model can be used to adequately model GHG emission with coefficient of determination (R²) and adjusted R² values of 96.16% and 94.06%, respectively. It is expected that the results of this study will be helpful in developing appropriate planning for the greenhouse gas emissions policies.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Multivariate statistics", "Truck", "Environmental science", "Linear regression", "Regression analysis", "Bayesian multivariate linear regression", "Environmental engineering", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Statistics", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1446676" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2548889593", "doi": "10.1109/mec.2013.6885389", "title": "Urban Freight Service Capacity Integrated Display System", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-12-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xiaoxia Wang", "Fan Zhang", "Yue Shang" ], "first_author": "Xiaoxia Wang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban Logistics Information Platform (LIP) provides all kinds of logistics information. However, LIP hardly integrates any form of historical or real-time urban traffic information. Hence the regulatory authority could not carry out the agile regulation on urban freight transport. This paper designed a general Urban Freight Service Capacity Integrated Display System (UFSC-IDS) by UML and JFreeChart and illustrated with Beijing, and accordingly proposed the Urban Freight Service Capacity Dynamic Coordination System (UFSC-DCS) based on Matlab Java Builder. The UFSC-DCS effectively supported the transportation agencies dynamically regulate permits of freight trucks access municipal areas to make full use of the road network capacity as well as meet the urban freight demand.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Beijing", "Service (business)", "Traffic management", "Truck", "Java", "Information system", "Unified Modeling Language", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Software" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mec.2013.6885389" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412397951", "doi": "10.7307/ptt.v37i4.944", "title": "Methodology of Choosing the Most Eco-Friendly Waste Collection Truck", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ondřej Stopka", "Vladimír Ľupták", "Mária Stopková", "Branislav Šarkan", "J Masek" ], "first_author": "Ondřej Stopka", "venue": "PROMET - Traffic&Transportation", "publisher": "University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences", "abstract": "The waste collection in the territory of urban agglomerations, as a part of city logistics approaches, has become one of the key topics due to growing demands for logistic operations in cities burdened by high traffic volumes, worsening the quality of life and the environment in cities. Congested traffic ails České Budějovice, especially during peak hours. Congestions should partially be avoided by the planned construction of new roads to divert transit traffic from the city centre. Despite these remedial measures, the current transport and logistic situation requires further improvement. The paper focuses on waste collection, which significantly affects the traffic flow in České Budějovice. Currently, the city uses costly CNG-propelled trucks, which release a lot of harmful emissions. The paper aims to consider and evaluate new approaches to waste collection that could work in compliance with ecological principles and sustainable urban development of cities. This matter embraces waste collection trucks propelled by hydrogen, electricity, biogas and CNG. In other words, the decision needs to be made on whether it makes sense to invest in up-to-date and sustainable technologies to fuel waste collection trucks in a territory under investigation. To this end, multicriteria decision-making methods are applied, namely, Saaty and Fuller methods – to quantify the criteria weights, and the PROMETHEE and the ORESTE methods – to identify a compromise (ideal) variant. The findings encompass the decision-making process and a draft methodology concerning the determination of rank of the considered waste collection trucks based on relevant criteria set identified by the expert evaluation.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Environmentally friendly", "Waste collection", "Waste management", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Municipal solid waste", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://traffic2.fpz.hr/index.php/PROMTT/article/download/944/246" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4293201686", "doi": "10.1007/978-981-16-9636-7_15", "title": "Sustainable Freight Transportation Planning and Policies for a Logistics-Driven India: Current State and Future Ahead", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Agnivesh Pani", "Prasanta K. Sahu", "Bandhan Bandhu Majumdar" ], "first_author": "Agnivesh Pani", "venue": "Springer transactions in civil and environmental engineering", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Business", "Externality", "Supply chain", "Context (archaeology)", "Sustainability", "Transaction cost", "Sustainable transport", "Greenhouse gas", "Metropolitan area", "Industrial organization", "Transport engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9636-7_15" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3171547400", "doi": "10.1061/9780784483534.040", "title": "Travel Time Performance Measures for Passenger Cars and Trucks by Road Facility Type", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sarvani V. Duvvuri", "Raghuveer Gouribhatla", "Raunak Mishra", "Srinivas S. Pulugurtha" ], "first_author": "Sarvani V. Duvvuri", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Freight transportation is a growing industry in both developed and developing countries. Products ranging from groceries to medical supplies require quick and reliable shipping. In this era of e-commerce, consumers expect reliable shipping service standards. Further, quicker shipping options are considered a requirement rather than an option for the freight companies responsible for first- and last-mile deliveries. The increasing demand for freight transportation and better shipping standards is leading to high truck traffic on roads. Transportation planners, engineers, designers, and freight operators have been making significant efforts to improve the reliability of truck transportation services. Travel time reliability measures are an effective way for planners to gain an understanding of traffic stream performance that will help them make informed decisions. These measures are developed using passenger car or mixed traffic stream data, making their applicability to trucks (exclusively) questionable. This research focuses on gaining an understanding of whether travel time reliability measures of trucks and passenger cars significantly differ from each other. Travel time data for roads in Mecklenburg County, Wake County, and Buncombe County in North Carolina were considered for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed, and statistical analysis was conducted to examine the distinctive nature of their behavior. Differences in values and significance of performance measures were observed by facility type, time-of-the-day, and day-of-the-week.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Reliability (semiconductor)", "Service (business)", "Descriptive statistics", "Business", "Commercial vehicle", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483534.040" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3007874496", "doi": null, "title": "City logistics στο Θριάσιο πεδίο", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-10-01", "type": "article", "language": "el", "authors": [ "Σωτηρία Μιχαήλ" ], "first_author": "Σωτηρία Μιχαήλ", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight transport is a very important part of the logistics chain. Creating the right conditions for the economic and commercial development of urban transport is extremely important. However, the problems that carriers face in large cities are many, such as increased traffic, lack of loading and unloading space, etc., and cities also face many problems with the constant transit of trucks in urban areas. To solve these problems, therefore, the solutions are: (a) to formulate effective strategies to reduce the cost of transport and the problems mentioned above and / or (b) to develop urban freight centers. With this in mind, the aim of this paper is to explore the concept of city logistics and how it is applied in European countries. Also presented is the situation in Greece, a country lagging behind in the implementation of good practices, and some suggestions are made to improve the existing reality of urban transport, as well as in urban freight centers, with the Thriasian field being studied extensively.\r\nIn order to achieve the objectives of this paper, a review of the relevant literature, and primary research, was conducted through personal interviews for the implementation of urban freight transport. In particular, data from the primary survey were collected through eight interviews conducted with employees of companies operating in the Thriassian field, who have several years of service in the field of Logistics. The interviews included questions about the contribution of businesses to the local community, the changes that companies have undergone since their activation in the Thriassian area, and the enhancement of entrepreneurship following the establishment and activation of the companies in the Thriassian. The survey lasted approximately four months, starting with the collection of the questions and the creation of the questionnaire and then with the interviews taking place between 1 August and 30 September 2019. The interviews lasted on average 15 minutes. The questionnaire developed was based on the findings of the previous literature review and the study of similar studies. Interviews were analyzed using thematic axes, which were determined based on the research questions of the present work and the relevant literature. Thus, the results, according to the literature, have shown that designing the right way and organizing an appropriate route for the product increases the quantities produced that are shipped for sale, either directly from producers or through supplier-suppliers, or through logistics companies that simply ship products. Wrong design, on the other hand, leads to a complex system with significant losses, both in cost and quality. Urban freight centers can bring the whole supply chain services together in one place. This creates the right conditions for cooperation between the companies involved in the logistics industry. One such center is the Triassic Field, whose main purpose is to gather all the scattered activities that exist today in the area of the capital (sorting station, container station, customs, commercial station, warehouses, etc.). In addition, according to primary research, businesses now active in the Thriassian area report the importance and positive impact they have had on the wider local community, as well as that urban shopping centers play a very important role, organizing and coordinating freight transport in the city centers. Moreover, the establishment of businesses in the center of Thriassios gives a positive impact to their establishment, as their business activity has evolved and increased.", "keywords": [ "Lagging", "Business", "Truck", "Order (exchange)", "Service (business)", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://okeanis.lib2.uniwa.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/5101" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W565848107", "doi": null, "title": "URBAN FREIGHT AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION: DISCUSSION OF CONTROL STRATEGIES", "year": 1996, "publication_date": "1996-10-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "C D Martland" ], "first_author": "C D Martland", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The research presented in this paper was motivated by a study of traffic congestion in Bangkok, which is one of the most congested cities in the world. At the start of the study, some people felt that some of the truck traffic could be diverted to rail, with resulting benefits in congestion reduction, environmental impact and energy efficiency. Similar sentiments have been expressed by officials in other cities. However, rail or intermodal transportation will remain secondary to that of trucks. Hence, it will not be too productive to try to divert traffic to modes other than trucks in order to deal with urban congestion. It will be much better to deal directly with the nature of the truck movements.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Order (exchange)", "Control (management)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/504910" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204784743", "doi": "10.3390/drones10090658", "title": "Joint Fleet Sizing and Routing for Multi-Truck–Multi-Drone Collaborative Delivery", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fengjie Xie", "Guojin Zhang", "Yuhua Jia" ], "first_author": "Fengjie Xie", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Truck–multi-drone collaborative delivery can reduce last-mile costs, but fleet sizing and routing are often optimized separately, making it difficult to match resources with demand under a delivery-period constraint. This study addresses the scenario of collaborative delivery involving multiple trucks and multiple drones by constructing a two-stage optimization framework that integrates fleet sizing and route planning. In the first stage, queueing models and continuous approximation are employed to determine the initial configuration of trucks and drones based on demand intensity and delivery cycle constraints. The second stage introduces continuous drone delivery and cross-vehicle retrieval to enhance the flexibility of truck–drone collaboration; while optimizing collaborative routes, the framework adjusts the allocation of trucks and drones—adding or reducing resources based on route feasibility and equipment utilization—thereby achieving the joint optimization of transport capacity and collaborative routes with the objective of minimizing total system costs. A node–resource–flow-separated three-chain encoding and an adaptive large neighborhood search–simulated annealing algorithm are designed to solve the model. Multi-scale numerical experiments show that, compared with four simplified fleet-sizing strategies, the proposed framework achieves average cost savings of 15.4–15.5% for medium- and large-scale instances. The results reveal an economic saturation point of the delivery period that shifts with node scale and a non-monotonic relationship between fleet size and coordination efficiency. The framework supports demand-driven fleet configuration and provides operational guidance for cost-effective truck–drone last-mile delivery.", "keywords": [ "Sizing", "Truck", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Simulated annealing", "Queueing theory", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Drone", "Vehicle routing problem" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10090658" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413754840", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-032-03538-7_27", "title": "Optimization of Truck Loading and Delivery Routes Using an Environment-Adaptive Genetic Algorithm", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tatsuhiko SAKAGUCHI", "Yuki Nakadan" ], "first_author": "Tatsuhiko SAKAGUCHI", "venue": "IFIP advances in information and communication technology", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Genetic algorithm", "Computer science", "Algorithm", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Automotive engineering", "Machine learning" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-03538-7_27" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2020967522", "doi": null, "title": "Modelli di previsione della domanda merci in area urbana", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-06-01", "type": "article", "language": "it", "authors": [ "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Umberto Crisalli", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Agostino Nuzzolo", "venue": "TEMA", "publisher": null, "abstract": "In order to reduce the impacts of freight transport, Public\r\nAdministration usually implements city logistics scenarios, whose\r\neffects have to be evaluated by using ex-ante assessment\r\nprocedures.\r\nThis paper proposes the state-of-the-art of models for the\r\nprediction of urban goods movements, which have been\r\ndeveloped to support the above ex-ante assessment.\r\nAiming at preserving the economic sustainability of the businesses\r\nlocated in the city and, at the same time, the environmental quality,\r\nthe new challenge of urban traffic management is the optimization\r\nof the access of a large number of trucks and vans delivering\r\ngoods in the urban area.\r\nThus, the availability of a reliable tool for ex-ante assessment\r\nplays a key role in the decision making processes.\r\nStarting from the structure of urban goods distribution and its\r\ncritical states, this paper identifies the decision-makers, whose\r\nchoices could be influenced by city logistics measures.\r\nFurthermore, considering the outcomes and goals to be reached\r\nby Public Administration, the city logistics measures are also\r\nclassified. In such way, it is possible to define the decisional\r\nprocesses influenced by city logistics measures, that models have\r\nto simulate.\r\nThe presented modelling system allows us to forecast the OD\r\ntruck flows within the study area and it consists of two subsystems:\r\nthe first related to the demand and the second related to\r\nthe logistics. The former gives the OD matrices in terms of deliveries;\r\nthe latter allows to convert the delivery OD flows into truck OD\r\nflows.\r\nThe demand sub-system has been specified as a partial share\r\nmodel. From socio-economic data of the study area, it allows us\r\nto estimate the OD matrices in quantity characterized by service\r\ntype, as well as the OD matrices in deliveries characterized by time\r\nslice and vehicle type.\r\nThe logistic sub-system allows to estimate the OD matrices in\r\nvehicles. The modelling framework consists of two models that\r\nallow us to reproduce the commercial vehicle tours within the\r\nurban area. The former model gives the distribution of tours per\r\nnumber of deliveries; the latter gives the probability to choose\r\nthe following destination for the next delivery.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Order (exchange)", "Ex-ante", "Sustainability", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Externality", "Environmental economics", "Multimodal transport", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Quality (philosophy)" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/2956/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7214031425", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7507562", "title": "Hybrid Truck–Drone Delivery Systems: Optimization, Economic Viability, and Sustainability Challenges", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Farhood Farshadkhah", "Priyadarshi Nepal", "Abdur Rahman", "Mohammad Marufuzzaman", "Golam Kabir" ], "first_author": "Farhood Farshadkhah", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Drone", "Scalability", "Framing (construction)", "Cost–benefit analysis", "Synchronization (alternating current)", "Energy system" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7507562" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4250866549", "doi": "10.1201/b16379-38", "title": "7 Third Focus: Urban freight transport", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-12-11", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [], "first_author": null, "venue": "EPFL Press eBooks", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight presents a remarkable diversity. In a single city, vehicles, delivery times, and the size of shipments differ for each business or customer. When comparing cities worldwide, the diversity of urban freight is even more evident. How can one compare a Yamato employee in a small hybrid multi-temperature truck delivering to homes in Tokyo residential districts, to a farmer transporting homegrown vegetables in a little pushcart to be sold on a street market in La Paz? Nevertheless, both of them have many issues in common since they contribute to the urban economy and the well-being of residents and businesses, but also to its problems (congestion, pollution) (Dablanc, 2009).", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Focus (optics)", "Business", "Engineering", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/b16379-38" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7165631533", "doi": "10.3390/drones10070476", "title": "Data-Driven Optimization of Truck–Drone Collaborative Delivery with Shared Fleet Allocation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Didem Cicek", "Murat Şimşek", "Burak Kantarcı" ], "first_author": "Didem Cicek", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Truck–drone collaborative delivery (TDCD) refers to a coordinated logistics paradigm in which drones are deployed from delivery trucks to serve nearby customers, enabling parallelized last-mile operations. Much of the existing TDCD literature relies on synthetic datasets and manufacturer-declared drone specifications, which may overestimate performance in real-world operations. This study develops an empirically informed, route-based Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) framework that integrates empirically derived drone performance models with constrained fleet allocation decisions. Using delivery routes from the Amazon Last Mile Routing Dataset (2021), we consider three electric trucks departing from a common depot, each equipped with drones drawn from a shared fleet of 10 units. Drone flight time and energy consumption are modeled using regression functions calibrated with real flight test data from a DJI Matrice 100 platform, capturing observed variations due to payload and operational conditions. The optimization jointly determines truck stop selection, customer assignments, and drone allocation while minimizing a weighted combination of route makespan, total energy consumption, and fleet size under operational and energy constraints. The results indicate that coordinated truck–drone delivery can achieve substantial reductions in both delivery completion time and energy consumption relative to conventional truck-only delivery. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated truck–drone operations under realistic constraints and highlight the importance of data-driven modeling and fleet-level resource allocation in improving last-mile delivery performance.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Payload (computing)", "Resource allocation", "Energy consumption", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Linear programming", "Last mile (transportation)", "Fuel efficiency" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10070476" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7134815526", "doi": "10.3390/su18062679", "title": "Optimization of Last-Mile Logistics Delivery Routes for Ground-Vehicle and Drone Parallel Distribution from Pre-Warehouses Considering Customer Priorities", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hui Wang", "Zuning Zhang", "Manzhi Liu", "Lingxuan Liu", "Zhongjin Wang", "Shuyu Long", "Li Huang", "Xiaohan Liu", "Jie Tian", "Sen Yan" ], "first_author": "Hui Wang", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Pre-warehouse last-mile delivery is currently constrained by service radiuses and intense delivery pressures. Meanwhile, national policies are increasingly promoting a transition toward green logistics. By undertaking deliveries to remote or dispersed locations, UAVs can streamline truck routes and minimize the fuel consumption and emissions typically exacerbated by urban traffic congestion. Accordingly, this paper establishes a Ground-Vehicle and Drone Parallel Distribution Model with Priorities (PW-PDSVRP-P), quantifying customer priorities via delivery delay functions to align efficiency with social service requirements. A master–slave hybrid Large Neighborhood Search algorithm is developed and validated through a Hema Fresh case study in Xuzhou. Results define a clear “economic advantage zone” for drone adoption and reveal an adaptive assignment strategy: drones serve as mass-delivery tools in low-cost scenarios but act as “surgical tools” to prune inefficient truck segments in high-cost environments. These findings confirm that air–ground collaboration fosters a more resilient urban distribution system by balancing operational costs with environmental and social sustainability goals.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Sustainability", "Service (business)", "Fuel efficiency", "Operational efficiency", "Distribution (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/6/2679/pdf?version=1773130843" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117111602", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.18032536", "title": "Electric Trucks Market: Driving the Transition Toward Sustainable Commercial Transportation", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-23", "type": "report", "language": null, "authors": [ "Next Move Strategy Consulting" ], "first_author": "Next Move Strategy Consulting", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The Electric Truck Market is experiencing rapid expansion as governments, fleet operators, and manufacturers increasingly prioritize sustainable mobility solutions. The shift toward electrification in commercial transportation is supported by growing awareness of climate change, stricter emission regulations, and advancements in electric drivetrain technologies. Electric trucks are being adopted for both short-haul and long-haul applications, particularly in urban logistics and regional freight operations. Access Full Report- https://www.nextmsc.com/report/electric-truck-market", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Electrification", "Drivetrain", "Sustainable transport", "Battery electric vehicle", "Electric vehicle", "Sustainable development" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18032536" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7138838614", "doi": "10.1109/jiot.2026.3675581", "title": "Multitruck Multidrone Collaborative Delivery via EG-GAT Embedding Multiagent DRL in Rural Areas", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-19", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "Huamei Qi", "Jiaxing Liu", "Xiaoheng Deng", "Hairong Lin", "Jinsong Gui", "Jingjing Zhang", "Shaohua Wan" ], "first_author": "Huamei Qi", "venue": "IEEE Internet of Things Journal", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "The vast geographic coverage and sparse customer distribution in rural areas lead to inefficiency in traditional last-mile delivery. Truck-drone collaborative delivery systems have emerged as a promising solution to these rural logistics challenges. Accordingly, we introduce a multi-truck multi-drone collaborative delivery framework. Within this framework, we propose a novel graph embedding module—the edge-gated graph attention network (EG-GAT)—which incorporates multi-dimensional edge features into the attention mechanism and introduces a learnable gating module for adaptive multi-head fusion. We further propose a graded flexible time window mechanism, which permits limited service advancement or deferral while applying graded incentive-penalty structures. This approach better captures the temporal flexibility inherent in rural customer service requirements. The resulting multi-objective truck-drone routing problem is modeled as a rewardmaximization task and solved using multi-agent proximal policy optimization (MAPPO) under a centralized-training with decentralized-execution framework. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other approaches. Furthermore, studies assess the individual effects of graded flexible time window settings and objective function weight coefficients on the optimization performance of collaborative delivery. Finally, we evaluate the practical advantages of our proposed model using real-world rural road cases.", "keywords": [ "Embedding", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Probabilistic logic", "Adaptability", "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Graph", "Mobile telephony", "Service (business)", "Minification" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2026.3675581" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387236266", "doi": "10.33042/2522-1809-2023-4-178-299-303", "title": "THE ADVANCED METHOD OF SYSTEMATIC BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW OF THE DIGITALIZATION OF URBAN TRUCK TRANSPORTATION FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-09-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Andrii Galkin" ], "first_author": "Andrii Galkin", "venue": "Municipal economy of cities", "publisher": "O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv", "abstract": "Digitization of urban freight transport is becoming increasingly important with the development of information technology and the gig economy. This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis to explore research hotspots and future trends in the digital transformation of urban freight transportation. Using Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection as data sources, the analysis highlights the countries with the most published articles and identifies important knowledge bases for digital transformation, such as «digital twin», «physical Internet», «hyperconnected», «logistics», «ALICE» and «Zero Emissions Initiatives». The analysis included examining the number of published articles by year and the distribution of these articles by country. A comparative analysis of keywords used in different studies was also conducted. As a result of the keyword analysis, the main areas of research in the field of digital transformation of urban freight transportation were identified, such as digital double freight transportation, physical Internet, ALICE, Zero-emission and research on the goals of urban logistics. A comparative analysis of the links between the literature showed an increase in the ranking of studies on the impact of digital transformation on freight transport in an urban environment using a connected approach. This approach is relevant in the context of digitalization of urban freight transportation and deserves further scientific attention. In addition, they will provide directions for further research and development of digital solutions in urban logistics systems, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency and sustainability of freight transportation in urban areas. The obtained results of the study can be useful for scientists, industrial partners and government bodies, as they will contribute to the understanding of the current state of digital transformation in urban freight transport. In addition, they will provide directions for further research and development of digital solutions in urban logistics systems, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency and sustainability of freight transportation in urban areas. Keywords: digital twin, hyperconnected logistics, physical internet, ALICE, Zero Emission initiatives.", "keywords": [ "Digitization", "Transport engineering", "Context (archaeology)", "Sustainability", "The Internet", "Truck", "Traffic management", "Digital transformation", "Ranking (information retrieval)", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://khg.kname.edu.ua/index.php/khg/article/download/6146/6105" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7168427646", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.117", "title": "Assessing heavy truck movements around retail establishments in urban areas", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yubing Lei", "Julia Coutinho Amaral", "Emma Ceulemans", "Joris Beckers" ], "first_author": "Yubing Lei", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban freight movements are increasingly complex, creating challenges for understanding their dynamics. With detailed GPS data, this study assesses the movements of heavy trucks in the city of Antwerp, with particular attention to commercial zones. The results reveal that most heavy truck activities occurred in port and central urban regions. In the city center, retail establishment characteristics, such as density, size, and type, influence the frequency of truck stops. The findings provide critical insights for planning urban transport and logistics operations.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Data collection", "Poison control", "Occupational safety and health" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146526003789/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411711940", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2025.06.033", "title": "Impact of Truck Access Restrictions on Freight Operations and Driver Quality of Life in Urban India", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ish Kumar", "R Lakshman", "Bhaskar Gowd Sudagani" ], "first_author": "Ish Kumar", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Truck access restrictions are a common strategy to manage freight traffic in cities and reduce congestion and pollution. However, these restrictions can also lead to significant operational, increase in costs and negatively impact truck drivers and their quality of life. The research identifies unproductive time caused by truck access restrictions and analyzes its effects on drivers in Delhi, India. Findings reveal significant delays and inefficiencies, particularly due to receiver unavailability and operational constraints. Regulatory factors exacerbate delays, impacting freight vehicles involved in regional deliveries. The study calculates the economic burden of these delays, emphasizing the importance of optimizing delivery schedules, reducing unproductive times, and improving policy coordination. Based on the findings, recommendations are provided for a multi-pronged approach to improve urban freight management. These include promoting collaborative practices, evaluating the impact of regulations, investing in designated loading/unloading hubs, and encouraging the use of technology solutions. By implementing these recommendations, policymakers and industry stakeholders can create a more efficient and cost-effective urban freight system in Delhi and similar urban environments.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Quality (philosophy)", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2025.06.033" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2621751798", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2017.05.475", "title": "Mapping out goods flow to Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia, and it impact on environment", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Abel Kebede Reda", "Girma Gebresenbet" ], "first_author": "Abel Kebede Reda", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The rapid growth of socioeconomic activity The rapid growth of socioeconomic activity in Addis Ababa city creates huge demand for delivery of goods involving urban freight transport. The rise in demand combined to the limited space of the city increases the manoeuvring difficulty of freight vehicles. These factors highly contribute to traffic congestion, traffic accident and environmental degradation. The road transport is serving as the major transport means of the country and Addis Ababa city has the largest share of vehicular fleet. The objective of the study was to identify the existing constraints of traffic congestion and exhaust emission from freight vehicles inside the city and map out the benefits of night delivery system. The study used classified vehicle count based in their loading capacity, travel time and travel length between the origin (freight gates) and the destination points in the city center, and direct tail pipe emission measurement of CO and CO2 gases from freight vehicles based on their age group as main input. The collected data's are analyzed by taking two different scenarios of the current condition and the other by shifting the freight vehicles movement to the night time. The result showed total estimated vehicle-kilometer of 183,873.11 and vehicle-hour of 6,784.96 releasing 36.84 tons of CO2 and 100 kilogram of CO pollutant gases at each day. Whereas the night delivery reduces the travel time by 30 – 40%, vehicle - kilometer by 6% and vehicle-hour by 33.49% for every delivery operation saving the total emission of CO2 by 10.46% and CO by 10.80% every single day. It can be deducted that night delivery could be one of the solution to the current freight transport problem of Addis Ababa city.", "keywords": [ "Kilometer", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Travel time", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2017.05.475" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W629731692", "doi": "10.1108/9780080473222-012", "title": "Towards a matching system for the auction of transport orders", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-07-22", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin", "J KNEYBER" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This research will focus on the use of new information technology to improve urban freight transportation. Using IT in urban freight transport inter-organizationally, which can be done by facilitating the trade and negotiation between shippers and carriers, will be the focus on this research. The main goal of this research is to establish in what way matching systems contribute to the realization of the goals of the involved actors involved. A matching system is system that tries to combine the demand and supply of freight transport services. These ‘matching systems’ offer shippers and carriers the ability to communicate with each other via Internet and to trade in an innovative way. These systems are set up for various reasons, such as a better use of the available resources and a decrease of the transport costs. This research analyses the effects of these matching systems on carriers, the companies that execute the physical transportation of the freight, and shippers which are the companies that offer loads to be transported. To be able to analyze an ‘artificial’ auction of transport orders is modeled in Delphi. The main objects in the model are shippers, carriers, and trucks. In the model a shipper offers loads. Different carriers can bid on these loads. Each carrier has a number of trucks which can transport the freight. The model is discrete dynamic. Simulation experiments have been carried out in five scenarios: the results of the simulation experiments have given us a rich dataset for analyzing the auction behavioral aspects of the carriers.", "keywords": [ "Matching (statistics)", "Computer science", "Business", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/9780080473222-012" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7213314020", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7471017", "title": "Routing Optimization for Heterogeneous Drone-truck toward Sustainable Delivery: Considering Rendezvous Waiting Time", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Ke Chen", "Fei Ma", "Ningning Yuan", "Zhijie Yang", "Qipeng Sun", "Kum Fai Yuen" ], "first_author": "Ke Chen", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Payload (computing)", "Carbon footprint", "Rendezvous", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Linear programming", "Carbon tax" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7471017" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W836802067", "doi": null, "title": "A study of urban freight generation characteristics in Australia", "year": 1982, "publication_date": "1982-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Stephen G. Ritchie", "Kenneth W. Ogden" ], "first_author": "Stephen G. Ritchie", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents some results of an exploratory study of freight generation, operating and location characteristics of firms engaged in transportation and distribution of goods in Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected by interviewing senior management of a sample of 73 freight sector firms. A functional classification of firms is proposed and the characteristics of typical firms within various categories are described. Average daily trip generation rates and distances travelled are reviewed, methods and patterns of operation are described, the effects of congestion and other delays on costs and operations are noted, and variations in market specialization, vehicle ownership and usage, facility location and function, and union membership are summarized. It is concluded that urban goods movement should be incorporated within the urban land use transportation planning process, and some policy implications for local transportation and planning agencies are discussed. In particular, it is suggested that the freight system be interfaced in terms of transportation systems management improvements (especially to reduce traffic congestion and delay to trucks), increasing productivity of vehicles and drivers, optimizing the location and operation of freight generating activities, as well as in terms of freight generation analysis (a).", "keywords": [ "Interview", "Trip generation", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Productivity", "Traffic congestion", "Sample (material)", "Economics", "Engineering", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1188483" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401948510", "doi": "10.1117/12.3039546", "title": "Research on joint delivery path planning and task allocation of drones and trucks", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-08-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Сhen Liu", "Yong Zeng" ], "first_author": "Сhen Liu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In order to solve the problem of urban freight transportation, unmanned aerial vehicle truck joint distribution of goods is applied. A vehicle machine joint path planning and task allocation model is established with the objective function of minimizing the total delivery time. A combination of genetic algorithm and ant colony algorithm is used to fully utilize the global optimization ability of genetic algorithm and the positive feedback mechanism of ant colony algorithm. The optimal solution of genetic algorithm is used as the initial solution of ant colony algorithm to optimize and solve the model. According to standard calculation examples, the results show that the joint delivery of vehicles and machines can reflect time advantages and meet the related needs of fast and accurate delivery in urban areas.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Drone", "Task (project management)", "Computer science", "Joint (building)", "Path (computing)", "Motion planning", "Aeronautics", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Simulation", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3039546" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3000672425", "doi": "10.1061/9780784480915.155", "title": "Urban Freight Routing Based on Static User Equilibrium", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Liang Ma" ], "first_author": "Liang Ma", "venue": "CICTP 2017", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper proposes a bi-level decision making process for an urban freight routing problem considering the interaction between background traffic and freight trucks. The urban freight routing problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game, where the followers’ game is a static traffic equilibrium among private vehicles and the leader’s game is a minimum-cost freight routing problem subject to the lower-level equilibrium and additional constraints. The interactions are captured through the link cost function employed in the user equilibrium accommodating the truck use. User equilibrium is solved by the fixed-point algorithm, where candidate routes are generated by the sweep method and the k-shortest paths method. Compared with two traditional methods, this methodology shows a reduced cost of freight trucks in test networks. The reduction depend on factors including the demand pattern of private vehicles and the network. However, this methodology can be computationally more expensive, which can be improved by parallel computing techniques as demonstrated in this paper.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Transport engineering", "Computer network", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784480915.155" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W561229427", "doi": "10.1002/9781119307785.ch5", "title": "Information Sharing in Last Mile Distribution: Lessons Learned from a Pilot in Oslo", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-05-27", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Olav Eidhammer", "Jardar Andersen" ], "first_author": "Olav Eidhammer", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents experiences from a demonstration of improved last mile deliveries to a shopping centre in Oslo, Norway. The demonstration showed how automatic data capturing enabled by proven and new technology solutions in the value chain may contribute to more efficient and predictable deliveries for consignee as well as shorter waiting-, delivery- and loading times. Data was collected by use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and global positioning system (GPS) (geofencing), and information was shared based on the GS1 open information standards. The solution was combined with a buffer storage solution at the shopping centre, so that the truck driver did not have to bring the pallets to the individual stores. There are obvious economies of scale, and benefits seem to compensate for the costs of the solution. However, further implementation requires mechanisms for transfer of benefits between stakeholders and is challenging from an organisational point of view.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Geography", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119307785.ch5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117164617", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.18032535", "title": "Electric Trucks Market: Driving the Transition Toward Sustainable Commercial Transportation", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-23", "type": "report", "language": null, "authors": [ "Next Move Strategy Consulting" ], "first_author": "Next Move Strategy Consulting", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The Electric Truck Market is experiencing rapid expansion as governments, fleet operators, and manufacturers increasingly prioritize sustainable mobility solutions. The shift toward electrification in commercial transportation is supported by growing awareness of climate change, stricter emission regulations, and advancements in electric drivetrain technologies. Electric trucks are being adopted for both short-haul and long-haul applications, particularly in urban logistics and regional freight operations. Access Full Report- https://www.nextmsc.com/report/electric-truck-market", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Electrification", "Drivetrain", "Sustainable transport", "Battery electric vehicle", "Electric vehicle", "Sustainable development" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18032535" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4291564881", "doi": "10.11606/d.3.2021.tde-12082022-101111", "title": "Urban freight transport measures in São Paulo metropolitan area.", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-10-25", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maristela Alves Ferreira Destro" ], "first_author": "Maristela Alves Ferreira Destro", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "There is a general perception that urban freight vehicles are relevant contributors to worsened livability in urban areas.To address citizens' complaints, local authorities interfere usually by regulating truck traffic within their jurisdiction boundaries.The objective of this study is to provide insight in the emergence of UFT management measures in large cities and adjacent areas.It is an exploratory research and, as such, it aims to produce generalizations derived from inductive reasoning.To achieve this objective, we conducted a detailed account of UFT measures in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area from 1960 to 2019.We searched cities document databases and employed Python routines to recognize and filter text information, then compared the emergence of measures with changes in population, GDP, fleet and accidents data.We found that public policies have not been coordinated among cities and that most initiatives are not assessed before implementation.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Jurisdiction", "Regional science", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Geography", "Exploratory analysis", "Exploratory research", "Population", "Public transport", "Perception", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/3/3148/tde-12082022-101111/publico/MaristelaAlvesFerreiraDestroOrig21.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2116101227", "doi": null, "title": "Interstate freight on state roads", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "D Gargett", "Rafi Hossain", "David C. Cosgrove" ], "first_author": "D Gargett", "venue": "Transport Research Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Road transport represents a vital link in various logistics chains, providing access for freight to ports and terminals and urban freight distribution between warehouses and retail outlets. It is also the dominant mode for moving freight over relatively short distances and where alternatives are not readily available. Most non-bulk goods carried by other modes also use road transport for part of their journey. Approximately 80 per cent of road freight is transported over distances of less than 100 kilometers. However, road transport (together with air) has captured from rail and coastal shipping a major part of the market for priority delivery of non-bulk freight over longer distances, especially in the interstate (IS) freight sector. The Survey of Motor Vehicle Use (SMVU) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is the primary data source for road freight task estimates. But its definition of interstate road freight is limited to ‘freight carried by trucks registered in other states on a state’s roads’. Included in this definition is intrastate freight carried mostly within, say NSW, by trucks registered in Victoria. Excluded from this definition is that portion of interstate tonne-kilometres performed by NSW trucks within NSW as they head to, say Victoria. On both counts, the SMVU task estimates of interstate freight for NSW do not measure what road authorities wish measured – which is interstate freight carried by all trucks on a state’s roads. This paper derives estimates of this concept of interstate freight and presents a methodology for continually updating the estimates from future SMVUs. The estimation of interstate road freight tasks within States in this paper is based on origin–destination (O–D) matrices. The study also presents a time-series analysis of interstate road freight task on States’ roads between 1971 and 2004.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Kilometer", "Traffic management", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Rail freight transport", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://bitre.gov.au/publications/2006/files/sp_001_Interstate_Freight.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401280202", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4913582", "title": "Reliable Design of Hub-Based Truck-Drone Cooperative Delivery System Under Uncertainty", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bo Zhang", "Meng Zhao", "Jiateng Yin", "Lixing Yang", "Xiangpei Hu" ], "first_author": "Bo Zhang", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Systems engineering", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4913582" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W32337788", "doi": null, "title": "URBAN FREIGHT MOVEMENT MODELING. IN: HANDBOOK OF TRANSPORT MODELLING", "year": 2000, "publication_date": "2000-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Glen M. D'Este" ], "first_author": "Glen M. D'Este", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The pattern of urban transport activity has two major components: the movement of people and the movement of freight (or goods). Roads in urban areas carry large numbers of trucks laden with food, consumer goods, building materials, industrial inputs, and all the other goods that support the urban economy and lifestyle. Therefore urban freight transport plays a vital role, but at the same time, urban freight movement are an important source of congestion, and a major contributor to the adverse environmental and social impacts of urban transport. In addition, the demand for freight transport is growing at a faster rate than personal travel in many cities, due to changes in industry logistics and consumer purchasing patterns. As a result, the significance of urban freight activity is increasing in terms of both its role in urban economy and its adverse impacts on urban amenity. Modeling of urban freight movement can make an important contribution to understanding the pattern of urban freight activity and to the evaluation of policy, planning and operational initiatives aimed at increasing its efficiency and reducing its negative impacts. In particular, urban freight modeling can shed light on issues such as: (1) the contribution of urban freight vehicles to traffic and congestion; (2) environmental and social impacts of urban freight transport activity, such as noise and air pollution; (3) optimal vehicle routing, freight-distribution patterns, and optimal location of facilities, such as freight distribution centers; (4) the role of urban freight operations in the overall supply chain; (5) urban freight markets and the efficient operation of the urban freight-distribution system; (6) the role of urban freight in the vitality of the urban economy and functioning of the urban system; and (7) the impacts of pricing, and of regulatory and other administrative policies affecting the urban freight system. These issues cover a broad scope from the macroscopic working of the spatial freight market through to tactical aspects of optimizing freight operations at the level of the individual firm or individual consignment.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Business", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Amenity", "Urban planning", "Supply chain", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/677919" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204450903", "doi": "10.1299/jamdsm.2026jamdsm0044", "title": "Mixed integer programs of routing and scheduling of minimizing a generalized makespan for a truck-drone parcel delivery system", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kim Cuc Vo Thi", "Yoshiyuki Karuno" ], "first_author": "Kim Cuc Vo Thi", "venue": "Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design Systems and Manufacturing", "publisher": "Japan Society Mechanical Engineers", "abstract": "We treat an issue of routing and scheduling for a parcel delivery system, which is composed of a single carrier truck and multiple identical drones. The carrier truck basically plays the role of a mobile depot of drones, and the drones perform the last-mile delivery of a parcel from the carrier truck at a stop to each of all the drone-served customers and of some flexible customers. The carrier truck also brings a parcel directly to such a customer that either can be or must be served by the carrier truck, i.e., it is either a flexible customer or a truck-served customer. The carrier truck delivers a parcel to a flexible customer if the direct delivery is more advantageous than the last-mile delivery by a drone. We propose a mixed integer program of this issue, which is an extended version of an existing formulation for a fixed truck route model of such a truck-drone system. The objective is to minimize the sum of the total duration over available truck stops and a weighted travel time of the carrier truck, i.e., it is to minimize a generalized makespan. We also demonstrate the solution quality of the proposed mixed integer program empirically by utilizing a mixed integer programming solver, and we observe an effect of the weight in the objective function and an effect of the existence of flexible customers in the numerical results.", "keywords": [ "Job shop scheduling", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Integer programming", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Integer (computer science)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/20/5/20_2026jamdsm0044/_pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410987684", "doi": "10.1109/iscait64916.2025.11010664", "title": "Blockchain and Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms-Based Sustainable Intelligent Transportation System Design", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-03-21", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Juan Guo", "Jiong Li", "Mario Di Nardo", "Zhonghuan Huang" ], "first_author": "Juan Guo", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Blockchain technology is being widely applied in fields such as smart cities, smart transportation, and smart grids. Therefore, this study mainly designs an intelligent transportation system based on blockchain, aiming to reduce the carbon emissions of urban transportation systems and improve the freight efficiency of transportation systems. Specifically, this study designs the urban logistics network based on decentralized architecture and metaheuristic algorithms, aiming to generate a distribution path with the least carbon emissions and shortest time for freight vehicles. Among them, the blockchain layer adopts a consortium chain design, with multi module smart contracts and privacy protection mechanisms to ensure data credibility and network security of intelligent transportation systems. Meta heuristic algorithms are used to dynamically solve multi-objective path planning problems. In addition, we validated the designed system based on several delivery examples and solved the problem using an improved Moss Growth Optimization (MGO) algorithm. The results indicate that blockchain-based intelligent transportation systems can effectively reduce the delivery costs and carbon emissions of transportation networks.", "keywords": [ "Metaheuristic", "Computer science", "Blockchain", "Parallel metaheuristic", "Optimization algorithm", "Mathematical optimization", "Algorithm", "Meta-optimization", "Mathematics", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/iscait64916.2025.11010664" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W598201660", "doi": null, "title": "Development of an Areawide Estimate of Truck Freight Value in the Urban Mobility Report", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "William L. Eisele", "David L. Schrank", "Jason J. Bittner", "Travis Schwartz" ], "first_author": "William L. Eisele", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Significant efforts have resulted in improved knowledge about the effects of congestion on the motoring public. The Urban Mobility Report (UMR) has been produced for over 20 years detailing the effects of congestion in the United States. Despite these efforts, and others, less is known about the effect of congestion on urban freight movement. This research set out to produce truck freight values for inclusion in the UMR to inform policy discussion and decisions. Researchers developed a three-part methodology to estimate truck freight value using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) and FHWA Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) datasets. Researchers found that there was a correlation between commodity value and truck delay, higher commodity values are associated with more people; more people are associated with more traffic congestion. Researchers also developed and tested (in Milwaukee) a transferable method to investigate freight value along specific corridors in an urban area. Policy implications of the freight information are presented. Researchers first implemented the methodology into the 2010 UMR, released in January 2011. The 2011 UMR, released in September 2011, used a similar methodology to present the truck freight values.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Commodity", "Traffic congestion", "Value (mathematics)", "Business", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25355" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4221031533", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4062871", "title": "Modeling Optimal Drone Fleet Size and Analyzing Drone-Truck Fleet Allocation Sustainability Tradeoffs", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yuval Hadas", "Miguel Figliozzi" ], "first_author": "Yuval Hadas", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Aeronautics", "Fleet management", "Sustainability", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Environmental science" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4062871" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411768065", "doi": "10.59160/ijscm.v14i3.6308", "title": "Strategic VMI Adoption in LSP Operations: Minimizing Truck TAT in JIT Supply Chains", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Adithya Narayanan Rajesh" ], "first_author": "Adithya Narayanan Rajesh", "venue": "International Journal of Supply Chain Management", "publisher": "ExcelingTech Publishers", "abstract": "This study explores the evolution of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) within the supply chain of a large-scale motorcycle manufacturer, tracking its progression from a traditional non-VMI model to a centralized VMI system, and eventually to a decentralized, logistics service provider (LSP)- integrated framework. It examines the challenges associated with each VMI model, key structural changes, and the innovative solutions that enabled the company to overcome operational challenges. The shift to a centralized VMI model led to increased transportation costs and supplier resistance, limiting its overall effectiveness and prompting the company to adopt an LSP-integrated VMI framework. This decentralized approach balances cost efficiency with improved supplier collaboration, making it well- suited for manufacturers with geographically dispersed supplier networks. The study also analyzes issues related to last-mile delivery—particularly high truck turnaround time (TAT) in a Just-In-Time (JIT) environment—and how the implementation of a Logistics Control Tower (LCT), along with other strategic initiatives, helped reduce TAT from eight hours to four. The findings offer actionable insights for manufacturers aiming to enhance inbound logistics through effective VMI models, while addressing common implementation challenges with practical, real-world solutions. The study also contributes to the existing body of knowledge on VMI by introducing a decentralized framework integrated within LSP operations.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Business", "Supply chain", "Operations management", "Computer science", "Industrial organization", "Marketing", "Economics", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.59160/ijscm.v14i3.6308" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4301400667", "doi": "10.1108/s2044-994120220000016006", "title": "MotherTruckers? The Gendered Work of Freight and Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-10-04", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Debbie Hopkins", "Nihan Akyelken" ], "first_author": "Debbie Hopkins", "venue": "Transport and sustainability", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Freight and logistics are central to everyday life. These sectors depend on a variety of workers, and the types of work have changed rapidly with shifts towards e-commerce and changes to urban logistics. Yet a particular form of masculinity dominates imaginaries of the sector, especially freight transport. Such imaginaries rest on ideas of freight drivers requiring (physical) strength, toughness, flexibility, mobility and driving competencies, as well as being unencumbered by caring responsibilities. In the UK, and elsewhere, the freight sector, and particularly driving-related freight jobs, are heavily reliant on male workers. The freight driver shortage crisis in the UK has been referred to as a ‘ticking timebomb’, emerging from a reliance on white male workers, the majority of whom are over the age of 50. A ‘diversifying’ agenda has been the primary response to this crisis, which has largely focussed on increasing the number of female drivers. At the same time, however, little has been done to address issues associated with pay and conditions for freight workers. In this chapter, the authors examine gendered freight work across three themes: changing mobilities of work, ‘flexibilisation’ of freight working practice and automation of freight vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Flexibility (engineering)", "Economic shortage", "Work (physics)", "Traffic management", "Business", "Outsourcing", "Masculinity", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Labour economics", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/s2044-994120220000016006" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2972435473", "doi": "10.15446/dyna.v86n210.78931", "title": "Collaborative distribution: strategies to generate efficiencies in urban distribution - Results of two pilot tests in the city of Bogotá", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Diego Felipe Gutiérrez Rubiano", "Jose Alejandro Hincapié Montes", "Andrés Felipe León Villalba" ], "first_author": "Diego Felipe Gutiérrez Rubiano", "venue": "DYNA", "publisher": "National University of Colombia", "abstract": "The urban freight distribution (UFD) processes represent externalities and inefficiencies to the community and the private actors involved. The enterprise collaborative approach has been implemented during the last decades as a solution to the referred problems. The aim of this study is to present the results of two pilot tests for collaborative logistics strategies carried out in Bogotá, Colombia. The tests were conducted to assess the collaborative logistics strategies’ efficacy in the reduction of congestion and contamination as well as their impact on companies’ efficiency. The initiatives evaluated were: (a) freight consolidation and (b) unload scheduling at retailers. In both cases, benefits were evidenced for the companies (-26% on average freight and + 83% on vehicles occupancy) as well as the community (-23.5% parked trucks on roads and -7% emissions). Nonetheless, the results do not possess statistical sufficiency. Further research could complement the factors and methodologies that facilitate organizational collaboration.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Truck", "Externality", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Consolidation (business)", "Transport engineering", "Occupancy", "Engineering", "Economics", "Finance", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/dyna/article/download/78931/72156" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3138374979", "doi": "10.1088/1742-6596/1836/1/012007", "title": "City travelling salesman problem with minimizing truck weight in fragile road", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-03-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rio Aurachman" ], "first_author": "Rio Aurachman", "venue": "Journal of Physics Conference Series", "publisher": "IOP Publishing", "abstract": "Abstract The process of delivering goods can be modeled in the TSP model; Traveling Salesman Problem. Several existing TSP models try to minimize the mileage so as to minimize transportation costs from vehicles. In the context of city logistics, the quality of the roads used to deliver goods is also used by city residents’ vehicles. The route taken for the first time contains a heavy mass because the cargo being transported still contains all the goods that will be delivered later. Then the mass of the truck cargo will gradually decrease from the heavy mass to the very light mass at the final destination, because the entire load has been delivered. Through this paper, we propose a TSP model development that can choose the order of delivery by considering the road conditions taken, so that a route will be obtained that minimizes the risk of road damage due to the large mass of the load.", "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Truck", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Process (computing)", "Computer science", "Order (exchange)", "Quality (philosophy)", "Operations research", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1836/1/012007/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3172095547", "doi": "10.1109/iciea52957.2021.9436724", "title": "Sustainable Development Analysis of Urban Green Logistics Based on Subway Transportation", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-04-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qiuxing Zhang", "Mengke Yang", "Xiaoguang Zhou" ], "first_author": "Qiuxing Zhang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the continuous expansion of urban logistics scale, green and sustainable development has become the development trend of urban logistics. In order to cope with ground traffic congestion and difficulty in urban logistics distribution, this paper relies on the subway transportation to design a coordinated urban logistics distribution system on the ground and underground. Based on the effective analysis and prediction of urban logistics demand using the grey relation analysis (GRA) method, the sustainable research of subway distribution is carried out from two aspects: the reduction of ground trucks and the reduction of pollutant emissions. Finally, through case analysis, it is verified that urban logistics distribution based on subway is helpful to promote the sustainable development of urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Sustainable development", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Truck", "City logistics", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/iciea52957.2021.9436724" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3121138693", "doi": null, "title": "Are City Logistics Solutions Sustainable? The case of Cityporto", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jesús González-Feliu", "Joëlle Morana" ], "first_author": "Jesús González-Feliu", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "City logistics is a field that studies the best solutions for urban freight distribution with high environmental objectives. However, most actions are started by public authorities without taking into account the impacts of the new organizational schemas in the existing distribution enterprises' organization. This paper sets out to show how city logistics approaches can meet the goals of Sustainable Development nowadays. In order to define the notion of sustainable city logistics, we define the main aspects of each sphere of sustainable development, respectively economic, environmental and societal, i.e. both social and contextual. The main aspects of each sphere are described in order to unify the concept of sustainability related to city logistics. Then, we present the successful experience of Cityporto, the urban delivery service for the city of Padova (Italy), started in 2004 that uses low-pollution lorries. So, the service is considered as less polluting as a conventional approach, and is allowed to enter the city centre (including the Limited Traffic Zone) without hour limitations. This is based on the findings from an exploratory qualitative approach, based on first a documentary analysis then a case study research from several interviews that involved three internal stakeholders of Interporto di Padova (the company which manages the intermodal platform of Padova, in charge of Cityporto) and one member of Padova's Municipality (which promote the project). The results of this case study show that environmental aspect is one of the foundations of the project, but the economic continuity has to be first ensured. Indeed, the preservation of this service on the long term is subjected to its solvency. Moreover, its success is associated to the recognition by employees and customers. With regard to the collected information, it is possible to propose a balanced scorecard, where three axes emerged in connexion with economic, environmental and social dimensions. From this qualitative analysis, a discussion about the sustainability of city logistics solutions is made as conclusion The paper makes a contribution to the evaluation and measurement of city urban logistics using a success story that has been developed from the practitioner perspective. This experience could provide a basis for further practices in Italy and other European countries. Moreover, the relations between city logistics solutions and sustainability are conceptualised and illustrated by a case study, highlighting the main elements for sustainable performance identification and evaluation in this field. In conclusion, the proposed case study is presented for its academic, policy and managerial implications. This experience conceptualises city logistics in relation with the Sustainable Development, setting the main objectives and steps of urban planning for freight distribution and logistics issues. But above all, it provides an understanding of the key success factors in a sustainable urban distribution organisation that can become a pivotal position in the upstream supply chain. De facto, the study should facilitate the implementation of sustainable city logistics policies and practical issues taking into account the importance of the project's economic continuity.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Sustainability", "Business", "Order (exchange)", "Service (business)", "Sustainable city", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Sustainable development", "Environmental planning", "Process management", "Environmental economics", "Urban planning" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00941628" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7160151868", "doi": "10.3390/su18094519", "title": "Strategic Zone Design for a Bus-Based Passenger–Parcel Sharing Delivery System", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qinhe An", "Diana Saprunova", "Xuewu Chen", "Jingxu Chen" ], "first_author": "Qinhe An", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "This paper investigates the strategic zone design problem for a bus-based passenger–parcel sharing delivery system. In the envisioned system, parcels are first transported along an existing bus line and transshipped at bus stops, after which dedicated vehicles perform last-mile deliveries from bus stops to customers. By leveraging the underutilized capacity of existing bus services to support parcel distribution, the system contributes to a more resource-efficient and less truck-dependent urban logistics structure, thereby supporting sustainability in urban transportation. The problem is to partition the corridor-level service area into multiple contiguous service zones along the corridor under an m-nearest feasibility requirement. A nonlinear integer programming model is developed that jointly captures parcel and passenger perspectives. On the parcel side, the objective combines zone compactness, parcel-demand balance, and parcel-delivery-distance balance; on the passenger side, it minimizes passenger impact. In this way, the model balances logistics efficiency with social-equity and service-quality considerations and operationalizes sustainability through measurable planning indicators embedded in the objective function. A tailored adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm is proposed to exploit the specific problem structure and solve the model. Case studies based on a real-world bus line in Yancheng, China, illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and yield managerial insights into the choice of the number of zones, the influence of passenger-flow patterns, and the role of objective-function weights in shaping trade-offs between parcel delivery efficiency and equity, as well as passenger service quality.", "keywords": [ "Exploit", "Sustainability", "Service (business)", "Partition (number theory)", "Service level", "Integer programming", "Level of service", "City logistics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094519" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3048034553", "doi": "10.1504/ijscor.2020.10031127", "title": "Prioritisation of city logistics solutions based on stakeholders' point of view", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Carla de Oliveira Leite Nascimento", "Paulo Renato de Sousa", "Paulo Tarso Vilela de Resende", "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Selma Setsumi Isa" ], "first_author": "Carla de Oliveira Leite Nascimento", "venue": "International Journal of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "Using the methods of successive intervals, this paper assesses prioritisation of city logistics solutions by considering the viewpoints of carriers, retailers, and shippers. The group of solutions evaluated include truck lanes, urban distribution centres, parking areas, off-peak deliveries, and real-time information. Results suggest that truck lanes are the most important and off-peak delivery the least important solution according to stakeholders. Brazilian municipalities and urban planners can use these results to subsidise decisions regarding urban mobility master plans due to a lack of studies that support urban freight transport planning. Urban freight transport will thus become more efficient, reducing externalities associated with this field.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Truck", "Viewpoints", "Externality", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Point (geometry)", "Traffic management", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Environmental planning", "Environmental economics", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/ijscor.2020.10031127" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2898186366", "doi": "10.15781/t2qz2325j", "title": "Forecasting urban commercial freight Vehicle Movement : a commodity based tour model", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammad N. Murshed" ], "first_author": "Mohammad N. Murshed", "venue": "Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library)", "publisher": "Texas Digital Library", "abstract": "Urban freight transportation is exclusively road based since other modes like air, rail and water ways are considered inefficient due to smaller trip lengths of urban localities, with the majority share being carried by trucks. Recent trends of online shopping along with a faster growing population in urban areas is putting more and more commercial trucks on urban road networks which move in a uniquely different manner forming long trip chains i.e. tours. The two primary classes of freight models, vehicle-based or commodity-based, both have flaws. The vehicle-based models fail to include the underlying economic behavior such as commodity flows from which the demand is actually derived, and the commodity-based models fail to realistically account for vehicle activities, especially in urban settings, for which evaluation and impact assessment are most crucial. As a result, recent developments in this field (urban freight modeling) have been focused toward more disaggregate types of models that incorporate supply chain behavioral mechanics (logistics model) or truck touring aspects (vehicle touring model). \\nA disaggregate level tour-based truck model was developed to estimate origin-destination (O-D) matrix considering both the commodity and vehicular aspects of urban commercial freight movement. The criterion for choosing the next destination zone for tour formation is based on the principle of serving the nearest zone first. The model and its application in case studies related to two different commercial vehicle survey (2006 Austin and 2012 Dallas- Fort Worth) data sets in Texas region are presented. Two major inducers of commercial freight truck tours in urban areas (i.e. delivery of food and kindred products and manufactured goods) were considered in the case studies. Fairly good performance (25% to 30% accurate predictions and about 90% within 3 zones) was displayed by the proposed models (model 1 and model 2) in predicting O-D matrices corresponding to the two commodity classes. One of the significant contributions of this research in the paradigm of urban commercial freight truck tour modeling is the introduction of a novel parameter, i.e. store opening hours in destination choice of the tour building process pertaining to the delivery of food and kindred products.", "keywords": [ "Commodity", "Commercial vehicle", "Movement (music)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2152/68448" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411572777", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5317463", "title": "A Shared Framework of Unpairing Truck-Drone Coordination with Cross-Fleet Reallocation", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yuhang Han", "Yuxuan Sun", "Wang Li", "Dong Sasha" ], "first_author": "Yuhang Han", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5317463" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7133978656", "doi": "10.32469/10355/111051", "title": "Optimization frameworks for collaborative truck-drone logistics under environmental and operational considerations", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Arash Alizadeh" ], "first_author": "Arash Alizadeh", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The integration of unmanned vehicles (UVs) into last-mile logistics enables costefficient, rapid, and environmentally sustainable deliveries. Yet, most prior work treats operational and environmental factors separately and simplifies key dependencies such as speed regulation, roadway grade, and coordination among heterogeneous vehicles. This dissertation develops a unified suite of optimization frameworks that address these gaps through three progressively enriched variants, each supported by mixed-integer programming (MIP) and advanced metaheuristics. The first variant introduces the Truck Multi-Drone Pollution Routing Problem with Pickup and Delivery under Variable Truck Speeds (TMD-PRP-PDVS). The formulation integrates multi-drone coordination, segment-specific truck speed control, and weight-dependent fuel and energy models. A MIP minimizes truck fuel, drone energy, and labor costs, while an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) efficiently solves larger instances. Experiments show that collaboration with drones reduces total cost by about 40 percent relative to truck-only delivery, and speed optimization yields an additional 7–13 percent reduction across contrasting cost regimes. The second variant extends the framework to the Gradient-Aware Truck–Drone Pollution Routing Problem with Adaptive Drone Deployment Sites and Soft Time Windows (GA-TDPRP-AS-STW), explicitly modeling roadway slopes, variable truck speeds, and flexible drone deployment sites under penalty-based time windows. Both a MIP and an enhanced ALNS are developed. On small benchmarks, the MIP proves optimality and the ALNS attains near-optimal solutions; on larger sets (up to 100 customers), the ALNS scales effectively. Collaboration delivers 33–40 percent savings over truck-only, and speed optimization contributes a further 6–12 percent, reaching up to 62 percent total savings. Elevation data and adaptive sites expand synchronization options and lower fuel consumption even when route length increases modestly. Lastly, the third variant, A Synergistic Truck-Drone-Robot System for Last-Mile Delivery with Hand-Off Points and Microstations for Dynamic Repositioning, unifies tri-vehicle operations with a network of micro-/docking stations that enable parallel service, recovery without truck waiting, and dynamic drone and ADR repositioning. For this variant, an ALNS developed to coordinate facility usage, routing, and allocation decisions. Computational studies indicate 20–38 percent reductions in completion time versus truck-only baselines, with additional gains when hybrid trucks carry UVs between stations. Across variants, extensive experiments demonstrate that integrating environmental characteristics, speed selection, adaptive deployment sites, and facility-aided repositioning materially improves both cost and completion time performance. The resulting models and algorithms provide actionable guidance for designing sustainable, multi-agent last-mile networks.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Software deployment", "Drone", "Variable (mathematics)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Key (lock)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Throughput", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/111051" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4285237706", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4113893", "title": "Can Truck Eco-Routing Bridge the Gap in the Transition to Zero-Emission?", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anmol Pahwa", "Miguel Jaller" ], "first_author": "Anmol Pahwa", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Zero emission", "Bridge (graph theory)", "Zero (linguistics)", "Transition (genetics)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Business", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Electrical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4113893" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7131808197", "doi": "10.3390/su18052306", "title": "Identification of Truck Travel Endpoints and Traffic Demand Prediction Based on Trajectory Data", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-27", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xiaoyun Cheng", "Yichen Yao", "Jian Zou", "Tingjia Zhang", "Jitong Shao" ], "first_author": "Xiaoyun Cheng", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The rapid expansion of the logistics industry has led to sustained growth in freight demand across regions. Analyzing the factors that influence truck travel demand and extracting loading/unloading locations from truck trajectory data can offer a theoretical foundation and policy support for freight logistics planning and management. Accordingly, this study is structured around two core tasks: identifying truck trip endpoints and forecasting truck travel demand, aiming to thoroughly examine urban freight travel patterns and their influencing factors. First, truck GPS data is integrated with a non-parametric Lorenz curve fitting method, road network data, and Areas of Interest (AOI) to precisely identify truck route endpoints. Subsequently, a Multi-Feature Dynamic GCN-LSTM model is constructed to predict truck travel demand by comprehensively considering multi-dimensional regional characteristics. Using Xi’an, China, as a case study, the results show that the proposed framework provides a more precise spatial distribution of truck trips and effectively forecasts truck travel demand in the city. This research has significant implications for enhancing urban freight efficiency, optimising the layout and facilities of urban transport networks, developing evidence-based transport policies, and promoting logistics development.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Identification (biology)", "TRIPS architecture", "Demand forecasting", "Trajectory", "Global Positioning System", "Commercial vehicle", "Trip generation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/5/2306/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2054435998", "doi": "10.4271/2013-36-0491", "title": "Natural Gas Refuse Collection Medium Truck, Driving Change in Brazil", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-10-07", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fabio Nicora", "Tiago Bahia Santos", "Henrique Rezende" ], "first_author": "Fabio Nicora", "venue": "SAE technical papers on CD-ROM/SAE technical paper series", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Natural gas is considered today a real alternative to diesel for the use in commercial vehicles in Europe, China, India and United States. While in Brazil natural gas is often the energy source for industrial processes and passenger's cars, opportunities to extend its utilization in light, medium commercial vehicles and buses could become realty in Brazil and Latin America. At the date, most of 12.000 IVECO CNG vehicles are running in different European countries and different customers' applications mainly refuse collection, urban logistics and urban people transport. Trucks running with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) represent today an opportunity to improve quality of life for communities, reducing the pollutant and noise emissions and allow, for the fleets operators, a cost saving directly related to fuel. In the 2011 IVECO Latin America started a CNG program to introduce CNG technology into Brazilian market. This program is involving light and medium trucks and one bus (12 meters length). This work relates the development of 16 tons CNG medium truck 4×2 prototype dedicated to garbage collection application. The vehicle, which uses a FPT 6 liter CNG Otto Cycle engine, has been tested for 6 months customer field test and demonstrates performances and productivity close to diesel vehicles allowing a cost saving and reduction in noise and gases emissions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Natural gas", "Waste management", "Natural (archaeology)", "Environmental science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Geography", "Archaeology" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-36-0491" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W576075287", "doi": null, "title": "Framework for managing environmental impacts due to urban freight movement", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-11-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "J Luk", "Mcrobert" ], "first_author": "J Luk", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The total freight task in Australia is expected to increase significantly over the next 15 years, in urban areas and inter-urban corroders. This substantial growth in truck traffic, together with increasing congestion in large urban centres, could necessitate more night time and week-end truck operations. Increased night time truck movements invariably increase adverse environmental and amenity impacts including, noise, vibration, dust, air quality as well as potential spillage from dangerous goods. This paper reviews measures that are suitable for managing the access of trucks and their environmental impacts. These measures include: appropriate land use regulation, access management through the implementation of different classes of road or routes for trucks, employment of signal coordination and other intelligent transport systems (ITS), parking and loading control, and truck bans. This paper also proposes an impact management framework to match traffic and access management measures to different road classes and vehicle types, and for different time periods of a day. The benefits of such a framework include the availability of a harmonised and consistent set of guidelines/rules across all roads in a State (national, state and local government roads). (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214938.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Amenity", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Air quality index", "Government (linguistics)", "Noise pollution", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Environmental resource management", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/810436" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2808571382", "doi": "10.1016/0191-2607(79)90019-0", "title": "The location and sizing of urban freight terminals with multiple planning periods", "year": 1979, "publication_date": "1979-04-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ashton, William Bradford" ], "first_author": "Ashton, William Bradford", "venue": "Transportation Research Part A General", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Sizing", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Chemistry" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=osu1487069564241822&disposition=inline" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7147719985", "doi": "10.1145/3795154.3795266", "title": "Research on Multi-objective Optimization of Truck-Drone Collaborative Delivery for the “Last Mile” in Rural Areas", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-26", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Qing Li", "Xu Xu", "Chan He" ], "first_author": "Qing Li", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This study addresses the “last-mile” delivery challenge in rural logistics by proposing a collaborative route optimization plan for a single truck carrying multiple drones. A mathematical model was established with the objective function of minimizing total delivery cost, which includes the fixed usage costs, delivery costs for both the truck and drones, and the waiting costs for the drones. To solve this model, the research employed the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) and compared its performance against the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). The experimental results show that the cost reduction is mainly attributed to the effective optimization of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery tasks and routes, thereby reducing the delivery and waiting expenses of UAVs. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis revealed that the relationship between drone speed and endurance and the total cost is not simply linear; an optimal economic range exists. This research not only validates the effectiveness of the truck-drone collaborative delivery model and the GWO algorithm but also offers valuable practical guidance for configuring the parameters of such systems in real-world applications.", "keywords": [ "Ant colony optimization algorithms", "Truck", "Genetic algorithm", "Total cost", "Plan (archaeology)", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "Rural area", "Multi-objective optimization", "Duration (music)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/3795154.3795266" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2766368102", "doi": null, "title": "Towards sustainable urban distribution using city canals: the case of Amsterdam", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-06-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin", "Rens Kortmann", "Maarten van de Kamp" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "This study 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. A simulation model was developed to analyse the logistics performances and to optimise the number of hub locations and required fleet size. The simulation tests have shown that two hub locations are sufficient when they are equipped with two vessels. Conclusion of this study is 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": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Sustainable city", "Environmental planning", "Civil engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Urban planning" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:143b0bab-5d79-4759-8fd5-bfc286980706" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4385622586", "doi": "10.1201/9781003261513-4", "title": "Geographic information systems and spatial analysis", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-08-07", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Russell George Thompson", "Ali Gul Qureshi" ], "first_author": "Eiichi Taniguchi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Chapter 3 describes how spatial analysis tools can be employed to create information that can be used by decision makers to enhance the performance of urban freight systems. An overview of Global Position Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are presented. GPS provides a cheap and automated means of logging the movement of freight vehicles allowing analysis of routes as well as their performance to be undertaken. GIS can be used to map a range of freight related data that can provide information that links various stakeholder interests. This chapter highlights how interactive spatial analysis can be undertaken for improving the range of information available for designing and managing urban freight systems.", "keywords": [ "Geography", "Geographic information system", "Cartography", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781003261513-4" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W608210538", "doi": null, "title": "City Logistics : Chapter 8. In : The Sage Handbook of Transport Studies", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": "HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)", "publisher": "Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique", "abstract": "This chapter sheds light on urban freight transportation and city logistics. It identifies the key issues and challenges in the supply and shipment of goods to and from large urban areas from Europe, Japan, North America, as well as emerging and developing countries. A comprehensive review of data is presented, showing that urban freight statistics do exist in many cities but data collections are made in a piecemeal approach and with very different methods, making comparisons difficult. Overall, urban freight has become crucial to modern urban economies, as customized and more frequent deliveries are required by stores, businesses and households. The chapter presents issues such as trucks’ environmental impacts, goods movement’s inefficiencies, and 'logistics sprawl', i.e. the location of warehouses in suburban areas. Strategies and policies are presented, showing the emerging field of 'city logistics', i.e. innovative projects for clean and energy efficient urban deliveries. Local policies from cities around the world are presented and compared, showing the difficulties for many local governments to manage and regulate urban goods movements, whose drivers are global supply chains and changing consumer demands. Some success stories are presented such as London’s Low Emission Zone, Motomachi Urban Consolidation Center, the Clean Truck Program in Los Angeles ports.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Urban sprawl", "City logistics", "Business", "Supply chain", "Consolidation (business)", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Regional science", "Environmental planning", "Urban planning", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hal.science/hal-00855006" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409295615", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5210954", "title": "Truck-Drone Tandem Delivery with Time Window: Its Efficiency, Cost Structure, and Carbon Emission", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "NA WU", "J. Z.", "Yuandong Liu" ], "first_author": "NA WU", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Window (computing)", "Tandem", "Drone", "Carbon fibers", "Environmental science", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Operating system" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5210954" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7118041148", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-032-08147-6_12", "title": "Digital Twins for Hyperconnected City Logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Russell George Thompson", "Masoud Kahalimoghadam", "Lele Zhang", "Sabri Soheil" ], "first_author": "Russell George Thompson", "venue": "International series in management science/operations research/International series in operations research & management science", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transshipment (information security)", "City logistics", "The Internet", "Consolidation (business)", "Supply chain", "Harmonization" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-08147-6_12" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7128750204", "doi": null, "title": "Rerouting the Last-Mile:Contested Spatialities and Mobilities of Urban Logistics Innovation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-10", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hanbit; id_orcid 0000-0001-7156-4346 Chang" ], "first_author": "Hanbit; id_orcid 0000-0001-7156-4346 Chang", "venue": "TU/e Research Portal", "publisher": null, "abstract": "As the logistics sector shifts toward sustainability, innovations in last-mile delivery are increasingly driven by vehicle electrification and the automation of routing, tracking, and management systems involving artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies are widely promoted for their potential to reduce CO₂ emissions, lower fuel consumption, shorten travel distances, and cut operational costs. Yet, they also intensify freight traffic in and around cities and increase workloads for logistics workers in response to growing consumer demand. Such adverse effects not only undermine the promised sustainability gains of these innovations, but also generate spatial conflicts in dense urban environments and exacerbate safety risks for logistics labor. Addressing these challenges requires an understanding of how workers navigate new vehicles and digital technologies in the last mile – not simply as the final step of a delivery process but as an active, constraining socio-material space shaped by multiple layers of regulation and policy. Drawing on critical geography and mobilities scholarship, this dissertation examines how workers interact with logistics innovations, and, in doing so, shape the spatialities and mobilities of last-mile delivery. Across case studies in South Korea and the Netherlands, the chapters illustrate how urban logistics innovations are selected, adapted and contested by workers, exposing tensions between machinic order and the physical realities of the last mile. While both countries have experienced sustained growth in last-mile delivery alongside the expansion of e-commerce, their trajectories differ; South Korea has prioritized automation for rapid delivery, whereas the Netherlands has invested heavily in electrification. Challenging dominant narratives that reduce logistics to speed, optimization, and algorithmic control, this dissertation demonstrates how workers develop embodied and tacit knowledge as they navigate complex and dynamic urban environments. Following the introductory chapter, the thesis comprises three empirical chapters that foreground the perspectives of diverse logistics workers, including delivery drivers as well as managers in warehouses and at headquarters. Using qualitative methods, the study examines their adaptive strategies in response to newly introduced technologies and their ongoing negotiations between efficiency and sustainability. Drawing on content analysis and 26 interviews with employees of PostNL – the largest logistics service provider in the Netherlands – the dissertation broadens socio-spatial understandings of sustainable logistics by centering workers’ labor and mobility practices, particularly within urban contexts. Chapter 2 examines how AI shapes the driving behavior of food delivery riders on motorcycles, based on a content analysis of 175 Korean newspaper articles. It reveals the contested spatialities of platform labor under algorithmic management, in which riders’ autonomy to choose tasks, routes and speeds is significantly constrained. An algorithmic feedback loop that rewards speed and efficiency over traffic safety intensifies time pressure, encouraging unsafe driving and traffic violations. By highlighting the mobile and embodied implications of profit-driven mobilities, this study extends debates on AI urbanism. Chapter 3 situates freight transport within the broader sustainable mobility transition by examining the electrification of freight fleets. Drawing on interviews around PostNL’s operational strategies in Dutch Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZs), it highlights the socio-spatial benefits of using light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs), including reduced traffic congestion and improved flows for cyclists and pedestrians, alongside its more widely recognized environmental and economic gains. It argues that logistics flows should be understood not merely as operational or technological matters, but as critical components in spatial planning and governance. Chapter 4 introduces the concept of logistical assemblage to capture how logistics innovations are enacted in practice – not as the execution of planned scenarios or simulation models, but through workers’ flexibility and creativity in responding to the unsettled and unpredictable realities of the last mile. Centering PostNL workers’ adaptive capacities and embodied knowledge, the chapter examines how they negotiate new technologies, tightening environmental regulations, fluctuating delivery demands, and the material constraints of dense urban environments. It emphasizes that these interactions between human and non-human elements around the sustainable last mile not only maintain daily operations but also underscore the importance of workers’ wellbeing and experience in shaping viable paths toward sustainable logistics. This dissertation concludes that emerging technologies such as AI and light electric freight vehicles fundamentally reshape the daily operations and mobility practices of logistics workers, with significant societal implications alongside environmental and economic effects. By centering workers as key actors who negotiate the spatial constraints of the last mile with digitally configured route-planning systems, the research reveals the contested spatialities and mobilities produced by urban logistics innovations. In doing so, it demonstrates how last-mile delivery is continuously shaped through embodied practices that unfold across diverse urban spaces and regulatory contexts. The dissertation makes three main contributions. First, by integrating insights from critical geography and mobilities scholarship, it foregrounds logistics workers’ experiences to trace how delivery routes, and other locations such as warehouses are relationally connected in the making of sustainable logistics. Challenging techno-optimistic approaches in operations management, it highlights the role of workers and situated expertise in advancing sustainable urban logistics", "keywords": [ "Mobilities", "Electrification", "Order (exchange)", "Sustainability", "Process (computing)", "Emerging technologies", "Automation", "City logistics", "Last mile (transportation)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/f785a496-9281-4418-868b-ff4754155ea4" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390945484", "doi": "10.1109/isas60782.2023.10391678", "title": "Improving the Route Planning of Battery Electric Freight Vehicles through Speed Optimization", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bülent Çatay", "Reza Eshtehadi" ], "first_author": "Bülent Çatay", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The electrification of logistics vehicles has been hindered by range anxiety, even though battery technology has advanced significantly in recent years. This is especially true for battery electric freight vehicles, which may need to recharge at stations en route due to their limited driving range. To address this issue, we revisit the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (EVRPTW), which aim to optimize route plans and charge schedules of electric vehicles used for last-mile deliveries. We extend this problem to the EVRPTW and Speed Optimization and present its 0-1 mixed-integer linear programming formulation. We then conduct computational tests using an off-the-shelf solver to investigate the impact of speed and cargo load on the route plans. Our findings show that optimizing the speed of the fleet can result in substantial savings.", "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Driving range", "Battery (electricity)", "Range (aeronautics)", "Battery electric vehicle", "Solver", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Integer programming", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Benchmark (surveying)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/isas60782.2023.10391678" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117583656", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5986860", "title": "Decoder-Free Graph Representation Learning for Spatio-Temporal Truck Dwelling Heterogeneity", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Ziyi Wang", "Yongxi Gong", "Christophe Claramunt", "Meihan Jin", "Wei Ting Tu" ], "first_author": "Ziyi Wang", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Representation (politics)", "Graph", "Flow network", "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Embedding", "Feature learning", "Key (lock)", "Construct (python library)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5986860" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7213878564", "doi": "10.1117/12.3125576", "title": "Truck-drone collaborative delivery method based on three-stage adaptive ant colony optimization", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-09-21", "type": "conference-abstract", "language": null, "authors": [ "Zhenghan Li" ], "first_author": "Zhenghan Li", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "To address the inefficiency of “last-mile” delivery in urban and rural logistics caused by road condition constraints, this paper proposes a collaborative truck-drone routing optimization scheme. First, a mixed-integer programming model is constructed with the objective of minimizing the total delivery time, comprehensively considering physical constraints such as drone endurance, payload capacity, and spatial-temporal synchronization of both vehicles at rendezvous points. Second, to overcome the defect of the traditional ant colony algorithm falling into local optima when solving complex routes, an improved ant colony algorithm based on a three-stage adaptive mechanism is designed. This algorithm divides the iteration process into exploration, balance, and convergence stages, and coordinates with dynamic parameter adjustment and a dedicated route decoder to achieve efficient task allocation between the truck and drone. Finally, simulation experiments based on the modified Solomon benchmark show that at a 50-node scale, the total delivery time of the proposed TS-ACO algorithm is reduced by 13.9% compared to the traditional ant colony algorithm. Compared with the truck-only delivery mode, the collaborative delivery mode can save 28.4% of the total time and reduce the truck driving distance by 38.1%. This study provides a practical theoretical model and solution tool for the optimization of terminal logistics networks in complex terrains.", "keywords": [ "Ant colony optimization algorithms", "Payload (computing)", "Convergence (economics)", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Truck", "Rendezvous", "Ant colony", "Process (computing)", "Reservation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3125576" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7162134205", "doi": "10.1109/cpeee69412.2026.11521330", "title": "Energy-Aware Truck-Drone Last-Mile Logistics Co-Optimized with Distribution Grid Constraints", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-06", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Heictor A. O. Costa", "Fernando José Von Zuben" ], "first_author": "Heictor A. O. Costa", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The rapid growth of e-commerce has intensified the challenges of last-mile delivery, demanding faster, more efficient, and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a novel cooptimization framework for energy-aware, truck-drone last-mile logistics that explicitly accounts for the constraints of electrical distribution grids. We propose a robust bi-level optimization methodology that prioritizes grid feasibility as the upper-level problem. At the upper level, the model determines the maximum feasible energy budget that the local power grid can support for drone charging by performing a bisection search against a MATPOWER-based Optimal Power Flow (OPF) oracle. At the lower level, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimizes the logistics operations-including vehicle assignment and routing for a mixed fleet of trucks and multi-sortie drones-subject to this physicallyderived energy constraint. The entire system is simulated in a realistic urban scenario inspired by Tokyo's ring road structure, with the logistics operations mapped onto a modified IEEE 33bus distribution test system. Results from a case study with 100 customers, 10 trucks, and 20 drones demonstrate that this gridfirst approach guarantees a physically feasible charging schedule, successfully co-optimizing delivery costs and energy management while respecting all operational and electrical limitations. This methodology provides a valuable planning tool for logistics operators and utility providers to manage the integration of large-scale drone delivery operations without compromising grid stability.", "keywords": [ "Distribution (mathematics)", "Grid", "Production (economics)", "Constraint (computer-aided design)", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/cpeee69412.2026.11521330" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2591106996", "doi": "10.24405/4291", "title": "Increasing the Mileage of Battery Electric Medium-Duty Vehicles: A Recipe for Competitiveness?", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tessa T. Taefi", "Fink, Andreas", "Sebastian Stütz" ], "first_author": "Tessa T. Taefi", "venue": "OpenHSU", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Battery electric freight vehicles have the potential to mitigate the local urban road freight transport emissions, but their numbers are still insignificant. Logistics companies often consider electric vehicles as too costly compared to vehicles powered by combustion engines. The current literature suggests that increasing the mileage can maximize the competitiveness of electric freight vehicles. In this manuscript we develop a generic model to determine the cost-optimal balance between a high utilization of electric freight vehicles – which often have low operational costs – and their required expensive battery replacements. Our work relies on empirical findings of the real-world energy consumption from a large German field test with vehicles of 7.5 and 12 tons, respectively. Our results suggest that increasing the range to the technical maximum by intermediate (quick) charging and multi-shift usage is not the most cost-efficient strategy in every case. A low daily mileage is more cost-efficient at high energy prices or consumptions, relative to the diesel prices or consumptions, or if the battery is not safeguarded by a long battery warranty. In practical applications our model may help companies to choose the most suitable electric vehicle for the application purpose, or the optimal trip length from a given set of options. For policymakers, our analysis provides insights on the relevant parameters that may either reduce the cost-gap at lower daily mileages, or increase the utilization of electric urban freight vehicles, in order to abate the negative impact of urban road freight transport on the environment.", "keywords": [ "Warranty", "Battery (electricity)", "Automotive engineering", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Battery electric vehicle", "Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent", "Driving range", "Electric vehicle", "Battery capacity", "Fuel efficiency", "Energy consumption" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.24405/4291" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412455077", "doi": "10.1016/j.future.2025.108004", "title": "Digital-twins and machine learning-assisted stable, energy-aware unmanned aerial and ground vehicles delivery in blockchain-enabled crowdsourcing framework", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Feruz K. Elmay", "Maha Kadadha", "Shakti Singh", "Rabeb Mizouni", "Hadi Otrok", "Azzam Mourad" ], "first_author": "Feruz K. Elmay", "venue": "Future Generation Computer Systems", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Crowdsourcing", "Computer science", "Blockchain", "Unmanned ground vehicle", "Artificial intelligence", "Drone", "Energy (signal processing)", "Human–computer interaction", "Computer security", "World Wide Web" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2025.108004" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415465894", "doi": "10.1061/9780784486269.336", "title": "Guangzhou’s Urban Freight Facilities: Mapping the Spatial Evolution and Traffic Impacts", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Simin Xiong", "Wen Zhang", "Jinyin Cui", "Jiajun Wang", "Quan Yuan", "Xiangshun Wang", "Haocheng Lin" ], "first_author": "Simin Xiong", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In the last decade, urban freight demand has grown substantially, driven by the expansion of urban population and industrial activities. This has facilitated the requirements for urban freight traffic planning, especially forecasting freight traffic demand at the metropolitan scale. Corporate freight facilities, as a major form of land use that generates truck demand, are key to estimating the overall flow of urban freight traffic. Understanding how the locations of urban freight facilities change as cities grow can help build a solid foundation for formulating sustainable policies to manage urban freight traffic. Though previous studies have examined the concept and location of corporate freight facilities, they failed to systematically identify such facilities due to the lack of high-quality data sets. Our study aims to fill this gap by utilizing advanced data mining methods such as remote sensing and computer vision to recognize the location of freight facilities within Guangzhou city from 2014 to 2023. We then explore the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of such facilities and analyze the potential generation of freight vehicle trips out of them. By discovering hot spot areas of freight vehicle generation, analyzing latent traffic bottlenecks, and integrating the evolution patterns of freight facilities, this study could help predict future changes and provide recommendations for local urban freight traffic management from a long-term perspective. This paper offers a creative research pipeline, broadens the research horizons of integrated urban freight traffic planning, and has a positive significance for the study of sustainable freight traffic planning.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "TRIPS architecture", "City logistics", "Population", "Trip generation", "Urban planning", "Megacity" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486269.336" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400745599", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-51904-8_205", "title": "City Logistics and Environmental Sustainability: Implemented Measures and Effects", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Russo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Francesco Russo", "venue": "Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation/Advances in science, technology & innovation", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Environmental economics", "Environmental resource management", "Environmental science", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51904-8_205" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416733165", "doi": "10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104504", "title": "A parcel locker sharing system to enhance accessibility and equity", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-27", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Si Liu", "Ahana Malhotra", "Elkafi Hassini" ], "first_author": "Si Liu", "venue": "Journal of Transport Geography", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Equity (law)", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Truck", "Service level", "Service (business)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104504" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2473374201", "doi": "10.1061/9780784479957.012", "title": "Logic over Paradigms: Introducing Large-Diameter Pipelines for Efficient Freight Movement in Southern California", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-07-11", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Richard I. Mueller" ], "first_author": "Richard I. Mueller", "venue": "Pipelines 2016", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Combined, the San Pedro Bay Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the tenth largest port in the world. The combined Ports account for about 40 percent of the imports into the United States from Asia, and are a huge economic driver for both California and the nation. Approximately 40% of the Ports’ imported goods flow by rail to the interior of the U.S., with the remainder generally moved by truck to and from California’s factories and warehouses. Anyone who has driven the highways of Southern California, especially commuting from the Inland Empire towards Los Angeles, will quickly note the two right-hand lanes lined with trucks as far as the eye can see. And in spite of the reductions of truck diesel emissions through the Ports’ “clean truck” programs, recent evaluations have shown high levels of respiratory impacts along the major freight corridors. Given these circumstances, and the densely built urban landscape that stretches for miles from the Ports, how can they and the nation grow import/export capabilities without compounding the negative impacts of freight movement on the surrounding communities? By automating freight movement underground, with minimal interference of existing transportation modes during construction, using linear electric motors to power the containers to nodes centralized to warehouse districts, and trucks only for last-mile delivery. By combining the freight pipeline with a patented efficient ship berthing system, the entire network can be built as a privately-financed public-private partnership using existing transportation expenditures and no taxes. Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order B-32-15 now makes this $18B proposal more “probable” than “possible”. This paper will present the foundational supporting megatrends forcing the project toward reality, the combination of technology that makes it economically possible, the strategy for crossing myriad jurisdictions through four counties, and the accelerating political and private developments toward supporting construction of the nation’s first large-scale freight pipeline.", "keywords": [ "Movement (music)", "Pipeline transport", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Mechanical engineering", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479957.012" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410421545", "doi": "10.1016/j.ijtst.2025.05.002", "title": "Erosion-enhanced rain optimization algorithm for efficient blood bag transport in multimodal healthcare logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tejinder Singh Lakhwani", "Yerasani Sinjana", "Anuj Pal Kapoor" ], "first_author": "Tejinder Singh Lakhwani", "venue": "International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The Erosion-Enhanced Rain Optimization Algorithm (ROA) is introduced as an advanced framework to address pressing challenges in multimodal healthcare logistics, focusing on the efficient and timely delivery of critical supplies such as blood bags. This study integrates dynamic erosion penalties and predictive machine learning models into the ROA, enabling real-time adaptation to route degradation, traffic congestion, and environmental variability. The algorithm balances operational efficiency, sustainability, and resilience by utilizing trucks for long-distance transport and drones for last-mile delivery. The predictive component, with metrics such as MSE (0.0301), RMSE (0.1736), and R2 (0.8393), forecasts route degradation trends, supporting preemptive maintenance and rerouting strategies to ensure consistent performance. Validated using real-world datasets from Delhi, India, under conditions like no-fly zones, adverse weather, and high traffic density, the ROA demonstrated remarkable performance. It reduced delivery times by 9%, improved drone energy efficiency by 15%, and achieved a 12%–18% reduction in carbon emissions compared to static models. Maintenance-based erosion recovery reduced overall route degradation by 8%, reinforcing the system’s adaptability and long-term sustainability. These results underscore the model’s capacity to handle complex and dynamic healthcare logistics networks effectively. This study highlights the ROA’s unique contributions, including its dynamic adaptation mechanisms and predictive insights, and it focuses on balancing efficiency with environmental sustainability. Its scalability and versatility extend its application potential beyond healthcare logistics to other industries facing real-time logistical challenges.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Computer science", "Health care", "Multimodal transport", "Erosion", "Algorithm", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Economics", "Geology" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtst.2025.05.002" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7133742907", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2026.111941", "title": "A traveling salesman problem with drone stations and speed-optimized drones", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ya Qiu", "Chun Hung Cheng", "Peisong Liu", "Lina Yu" ], "first_author": "Ya Qiu", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2026.111941" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7125898091", "doi": "10.3390/su18031303", "title": "Revealing Freight Vehicle Trip Chains and Travel Behavior: Insights from Heavy Duty Vehicle GPS Data", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bo Yu", "Gaofeng Gu", "Yuandong Liu", "Yi Li" ], "first_author": "Bo Yu", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "High-quality, well-structured trip chain data are essential for analyzing the daily activity patterns, travel behaviors, and logistical decisions of commercial vehicles, as well as for supporting sustainability-oriented freight management and low-carbon urban logistics. This study introduces a novel methodology for analyzing truck travel patterns using extensive GPS data, focusing on identifying freight trip chains and enhancing urban freight systems. A road-constrained clustering approach was developed to accurately identify vehicle stops and truck stop locations, addressing limitations in previous studies that struggled with misclassification. A trip chain reconstruction methodology was formulated, key characteristics were extracted and clustering techniques were applied to categorize trucks based on their travel behavior. A case study in Chongqing demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms traditional clustering algorithms, reducing misclassification rates in stop location identification. The findings reveal consistent trip chain patterns and distinct travel behaviors within truck groups. This research presents a data-driven framework that provides a foundation for optimizing logistics, fleet management, and low-carbon freight system planning. By enhancing the accuracy of trip chain analysis, this methodology contributes to the design of energy-efficient and sustainable urban freight systems, helping reduce emissions and foster eco-friendly logistics solutions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Cluster analysis", "Global Positioning System", "City logistics", "Identification (biology)", "Heavy duty", "Categorization", "Traffic management" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/3/1303/pdf?version=1769594686" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4382644466", "doi": "10.54941/ahfe1003607", "title": "Logistics future trends and their transformative impact", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Armindo Frias", "Mário J. Simões-Marques", "Pedro B. Água", "Anacleto C. Correia" ], "first_author": "Armindo Frias", "venue": "AHFE international", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Autonomous vehicles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, drones, 3D Printing, green fuels or sustainable practices are presented as the Holy Grail for the logistics of the future. But, what are the implications of their adoption in people’s lives and in the society?The dynamism of knowledge creation and the adoption of new methodologies and technologies are increasing. Contrary to what happened in the past, there are no longer periods of stability after the emergence of new technologies, preventing societies to smoothly adapt to the new reality. Periods of change and uncertainty usually end up affecting people’s living conditions - e.g. the early days of the industrial revolution. Thus, it will be relevant to identify the new trends in logistics and their impacts on people. Anticipating potential problems, allows for mitigating measures.More agile organizations represents a competitive advantage in responding to environments of uncertainty and greater customer customization requirement, but may imply less job stability, making people nomadic. The globalization of markets and the existence of even longer supply chains, dependent on effective and efficient transportation and communication technologies, increase the risk of supply disruption being exposed both to natural and anthropogenic causes (such as ideological, cultural or resource conflicts), with economic and social consequences. Recent examples are the COVID-19 Pandemics, the cyberattack to Maersk shipping company, the grounding of the Evergreen container, in the Suez Canal, in 2021, or the current war in Ukraine. On the other hand, technological evolution has increased the automation and autonomy of systems and boosted the reduction of human involvement. The development of AI and IoT allows, among other impacts, the use of drones to perform last mile deliveries or the existence of autonomous vehicles, being ships, planes or trucks, to carry out long-haul transport. Their adoption allows cost reduction, but also anticipates the reduction of jobs. It is recognized that new technologies themselves create new jobs; but the pertinent doubt is if they will compensate for the lost jobs? The existence of more sustainable activities (e.g., environmentally friendly), while respecting ethical and social principles, brings better living conditions for current and future generations. However, it can be conflicting with the existing long supply chains or imply lower process efficiency, leading to increased costs for customers.The aim of this work is to systematize the main future trends in logistics, assessing possible impacts that these trends can have on the daily life of individuals and society. To achieve this objective, a literature review will be carried out and the opinion of professionals will be surveyed. The expected contributions of this work are to systemize of the main logistics’ future trends and helping to anticipate the human factor consequences arising from its adoption. As a result of this work, subsequent mitigating measures to avoid negative impacts on people’s lives and society can be identify, leading to a smoother and more sustainable change process, in line with the principles of green and circular economy, and the targets of UN SDG.", "keywords": [ "Dynamism", "Business", "Agile software development", "Autonomy", "Emerging technologies", "Industrial organization", "Computer science", "Economics", "Political science", "Management" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1003607" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399340196", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4853521", "title": "Choosing My Own Path: Revealing Differences in Route Choice Preferences Across Long-Haul, Medium-Haul, and Short-Haul Trucking", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhengtao Qin", "Ruixu Pan", "Chengcheng Yu", "Tong Xiao", "Chao YANG", "Anne Goodchild", "Quan Yuan" ], "first_author": "Zhengtao Qin", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Path (computing)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4853521" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163576239", "doi": "10.2478/logi-2026-0006", "title": "An Analysis on Shared Charging Hubs for Eco-Friendly Vehicles in Urban Logistics", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "A. Comi", "I. Idone", "E. Marcucci", "V. Gatta", "R. Erriu", "B.S. Balla", "Giuseppe Napoli", "Salvatore Micari", "M. Di Gangi", "Alessia Donato", "Orlando Marco Belcore", "A. Polimeni" ], "first_author": "A. Comi", "venue": "Logi", "publisher": "De Gruyter Open", "abstract": "Abstract Using electric vehicles in urban freight distribution generates opportunities (e.g., zero emissions in urban areas) and challenges (e.g., range of electric vehicles). Their adoption implies that operators need to change the approach to freight distribution. As an example, the reduced range of an electric vehicle substantially reduces the kilometers traveled before a recharging stop. This implies a redefinition of routes, fleet size, personnel, and vehicle charging management. This research investigates the changes that operators must make when using shared charging hubs. Given the interest of logistic companies in reducing both their fixed and operating costs, the use of shared recharging hubs for electric vans and trucks constitutes a relevant applied research theme. This paper explores the pre-feasibility of some possible concrete scenarios. In more detail, the investigated scenarios involve charging hubs located in three different settings: at the depot, based on client distribution, and scattered across the area. The aim is to assess the performance of each scenario under the assumption that the position of the charging hub reflects the choices of operators on the usage of electric freight vehicles. The indicators considered for comparison are the delivery service time, the charging time and the number of routes.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Position (finance)", "Range (aeronautics)", "City logistics", "Service (business)", "Electric vehicle", "Distribution (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2478/logi-2026-0006" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7160011627", "doi": "10.2478/ttj-2026-0016", "title": "Enhancing Information Resources for Urban Freight Management through Image Processing and Analysis", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Artur Kujawski", "Tomasz Dudek", "Mariusz Nürnberg" ], "first_author": "Artur Kujawski", "venue": "Transport and Telecommunication Journal", "publisher": "De Gruyter Open", "abstract": "Abstract The issue of incomplete data on the volume and types of freight transport in urban areas is well known, leading to difficulties in managing transport processes and hindering the development of strategic approaches for modern cities. To improve the management of freight flows, it is essential to distinguish freight vehicles from private and public transport. This paper investigates and develops methods for vehicle detection and tracking using cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aiming to enhance urban logistics data through image processing and analysis algorithms. A multi-camera vehicle detection and tracking algorithm was developed to support the analysis and evaluation of traffic flow efficiency in urban logistics, ultimately contributing to improved transportation management aligned with emission reduction principles.", "keywords": [ "Image processing", "Traffic management", "Data processing", "Tracking (education)", "Public transport", "Information processing", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Reduction (mathematics)", "Volume (thermodynamics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2478/ttj-2026-0016" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1496000053", "doi": null, "title": "Metropolitan freight distribution by railways: a methodology to support the feasibility analysis", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Umberto Crisalli", "Antonio Comi", "Fiorella Sciangula" ], "first_author": "Agostino Nuzzolo", "venue": "Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University)", "publisher": "University of Rome Tor Vergata", "abstract": "This paper presents the obtained results of a methodology implemented for the feasibility analysis, both technical and economic, of freight distribution systems in urban and/or metropolitan areas using railways, which includes a system of urban freight demand models. The scope of this research is to assess a competitive rail transport option with respect road truck transport for some specific types of goods. \\nThe first part of the paper presents a state-of-the-art focusing on international and national experiences of the use of railways infrastructures for urban freight distribution, and describes the general framework of freight demand models for urban and metropolitan areas; the latter proposes a modelling system to estimate the freight demand to be used within the methodology for the technical and economic feasibility analysis of freight distribution systems using railways infrastructures. Finally, results of an application to a real test case are reported. They refer to the study case of the Sorrentina peninsula, which is one of the most famous tourist areas near Naples (centre-Italy), well-known for its low accessibility by roads.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Scope (computer science)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Traffic management", "Tourism", "Trip distribution", "Regional science", "Business", "Geography", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2108/100341" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3003035876", "doi": "10.1109/ictke47035.2019.8966825", "title": "Nighttime Vehicle Routing for Sustainable Urban Logistics", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-11-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alfan Kurnia Yudha", "Stefano Starita" ], "first_author": "Alfan Kurnia Yudha", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Vehicle routing problems play a critical role in logistics distribution, allowing companies to minimize operational parameters such as cost, fuel consumption, emissions etc. This paper studies a customized vehicle routing problem incorporating nighttime delivery options for a heavily congested urban area. The aim is to identify the optimal combination of day and night routes by trading off between fuel and staff costs. A Linear Programming (LP) formulation for the Night Time Vehicle Routing Problem (NTVRP) is introduced. The model is then applied to a case study using real data from a department store in Bangkok, Thailand. A fuel consumption model is used alongside an emission model to estimate the beneficial impact of NTVRP on both costs and emissions. Results show that when demand is high and 55 tonne heavy goods vehicles are used, the cost savings are about 16.7 percent. More significantly, CO2emissions are reduced by more than 30 percent. With low demand, cost savings are more than 30.8 percent, together with a 28.2 percent reduction in CO2emissions. Overall, the case study shows that nighttime delivery is a viable option to increase efficiency and sustainability of a logistics company.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Fuel efficiency", "Sustainability", "Environmental economics", "Computer science", "Consumption (sociology)", "City logistics", "Operations research", "Tonne", "Metric (unit)", "Transport engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/ictke47035.2019.8966825" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7135047858", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.6362569", "title": "Enhancing Healthcare Access in Rural Appalachia: A Drone-truck System Powered by Deep Reinforcement Learning", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Sabrullah Deniz", "Zhenbo Wang", "Courtney C. Cronley", "Jennifer Tourville", "Daniel Wang" ], "first_author": "Sabrullah Deniz", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Payload (computing)", "Process (computing)", "Reinforcement learning", "Markov decision process", "Resource (disambiguation)", "Resource allocation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6362569" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367553306", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2304.13987", "title": "Modeling the Complexity of City Logistics Systems for Sustainability", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-27", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Taiwo Olubunmi Adetiloye", "Anjali Awasthi" ], "first_author": "Taiwo Olubunmi Adetiloye", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "The logistics of urban areas are becoming more sophisticated due to the fast city population growth. The stakeholders are faced with the challenges of the dynamic complexity of city logistics(CL) systems characterized by the uncertainty effect together with the freight vehicle emissions causing pollution. In this conceptual paper, we present a research methodology for the environmental sustainability of CL systems that can be attained by effective stakeholders' collaboration under non-chaotic situations and the presumption of the human levity tendency. We propose the mathematical axioms of the uncertainty effect while putting forward the notion of condition effectors, and how to assign hypothetical values to them. Finally, we employ a spider network and causal loop diagram to investigate the system's elements and their behavior over time.", "keywords": [ "Presumption", "Sustainability", "Computer science", "Population", "Causal loop diagram", "Conceptual framework", "Business", "Environmental economics", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "System dynamics", "Economics", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.13987" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7138243756", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.02.036", "title": "Analyzing truck operations and patterns in different urban contexts in Italy using GPS data", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leonardo Sasso", "Sabrina Cestaro", "Mariarosaria Di Lauro", "Alireza Motalebi", "Fulvio Simonelli", "Vittorio Marzano" ], "first_author": "Leonardo Sasso", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The widespread availability of GPS (Global Positioning System) data has significantly enhanced the study of truck traffic by enabling detailed analyses of vehicle movement, routing behaviour, and freight patterns. This paper leverages a large dataset of GPS traces collected across Italy to analyse commercial and industrial vehicle operations within the country’s 14 metropolitan areas, by means of a methodology based on machine learning techniques that enables calculation of key behavioural and environmental indicators. Results reveal clear differences between industrial and commercial freight operations in terms of stop duration, route structure, and CO₂ emissions. A more detailed application to Naples highlights spatial and operational freight dynamics within a complex urban setting and showcases the capability of the proposed approach to provide valuable insights for urban freight planning and environmental policy, while demonstrating the utility of GPS big data in large-scale, comparative mobility research.", "keywords": [ "Global Positioning System", "Truck", "Data collection", "Assisted GPS" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2026.02.036" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2902291775", "doi": null, "title": "The actual environmental effects for city logistics: a scenario analysis", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Konstantina Katsela", "Henrik Pålsson", "Johan Ivernå" ], "first_author": "Konstantina Katsela", "venue": "Lund University Publications (Lund University)", "publisher": "Lund University", "abstract": "Purpose City logistics projects often include urban consolidation centres (UCCs) to reduce the environmental impact of transportation by consolidating the goods flow in cities. However, there is limited knowledge about the actual environmental effects of such consolidation, e.g. in terms of number of vehicles in a city and the congestion, nuisances and emissions. The purpose of the paper is to measure the number of the vehicles and to estimate how this affects the transport-related externalities. Design/methodology/approach Based on a modelling framework build on a six-month pilot implementation of a city logistics concept, four alternative scenarios were examined. Data regarding all goods delivered within the city centre of a large Nordic city were observed and captured for a duration of 24 hours (e.g. fill rate in trucks and number of packages delivered to different stores). Through analysis of the scenarios, the efficient terminal handling and the load factors of the vehicles are obtained. Findings The results highlight the positive changes in terms of fewer vehicle movements in the city centre, sharply reduced vehicle metrics for delivery traffic in city centre, as well as provide potential for reductions in both air and noise emissions. Research limitations/implications The specific insights from the scenarios provide a picture of a complex system of consolidating goods flows in the city centre. Practical implications Other city logistics initiatives get insights in developing environmental sustainable city logistics supply system. Another implication is a need to focus in the efforts of the policy makers to reduce the negative impacts of urban freight transport. Original/value This study is trying to shed light in areas somewhat uncharted such as consolidating the goods flow in cities in terms of number of vehicles and efficient terminal handling.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Truck", "Externality", "Transport engineering", "Consolidation (business)", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Sustainable transport", "Supply chain", "Sustainable city", "City centre", "Sustainability" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/fce65713-598c-47db-8715-9cf1b93ff103" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7172499688", "doi": "10.54254/2977-3903/2026.35969", "title": "Structural design and CAE simulation analysis of the strength performance of a light truck cargo box", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-05", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "Haijun Qiu", "Jia Qing" ], "first_author": "Haijun Qiu", "venue": "Advances in Engineering Innovation", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Light trucks are the primary vehicles used for urban logistics, with the cargo box accounting for approximately 15%–30% of the vehicle's curb weight. This study investigates the structural optimization and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation analysis of the cargo box for a light truck model. First, considering both the regulatory dimensional limits for blue-license light trucks and the operational requirements for logistics pallets, a cargo box with internal dimensions of 4200 mm × 2,100 mm × 2,100 mm was selected as the research object. High-strength steel was adopted to replace conventional steel as the primary structural material, and an ultra-thin 0.6 mm panel design was employed, achieving an approximately 40% reduction in panel weight. Subsequently, a finite element model was established to evaluate the load-bearing performance of the cargo box under eight representative operating conditions, including static full-load, braking, cornering, and torsion. The maximum stresses of all critical components under each loading condition were found to be lower than the yield strength of the material.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Finite element method", "Commercial vehicle", "Reduction (mathematics)", "Size effect on structural strength", "Structural integrity" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://aei.ewapub.com/article/view/35969.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2319328289", "doi": "10.1049/cp.2014.1361", "title": "Analyse the urban freight volume of Beijing based on consumption structure", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fan Zhang" ], "first_author": "Fan Zhang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The change of urban freight volume has a great effect on city road planning and design. Analyse the urban freight transport volume and the corresponding population of vehicle has great significance for urban planning and making policy. Urban freight volume is affected by many related factors like: population, traffic infrastructure, cultural level, etc. This paper from the view of consumption structure, analyse the changes of urban freight volume by regional consumption and industrial characteristics. Build two different mathematical models based on the history data of urban road freight volume and the consumption data in Beijing. Using statistical software SPSS environment, build polynomial regression model and multivariate linear regression models to analyse the urban road freight volume and the number of freight vehicles in Beijing.", "keywords": [ "Beijing", "Volume (thermodynamics)", "Consumption (sociology)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "China", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1049/cp.2014.1361" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7202071500", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7239198", "title": "Public Health Benefits of Cargo Cycles for Urban Freight: Evidence from West Oakland", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Jennifer C. Hartle", "O A Elrahman", "Cara Wang", "Daniel A. Rodrı́guez" ], "first_author": "Jennifer C. Hartle", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Public transport", "Stakeholder", "Intervention (counseling)", "Public policy", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Sustainable transport", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Traffic congestion" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7239198" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7161238863", "doi": "10.3390/su18104861", "title": "Joint Scheduling and Route Optimization for Bus–Heterogeneous Drone Collaborative Delivery Systems Under Spatiotemporal Synchronization Constraints", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chennan Gou", "Lei Wang", "Mayila Aizezi", "Zhenzhen Chen", "Xiyangzi Yang" ], "first_author": "Chennan Gou", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Rural logistics faces persistent challenges such as high distribution costs, dispersed demand, and limited transport infrastructure, which hinder efficient last-mile delivery. To address these issues, this study proposes a bus–heterogeneous drone collaborative delivery system that integrates the fixed-route coverage of rural buses with the flexibility of multiple types of drones. The proposed system enables synchronized operations between buses and drones, where buses serve as mobile depots for drone launching and recovery along predefined routes. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is developed to jointly optimize bus schedules and drone routing under spatiotemporal synchronization constraints, considering drone endurance, payload capacity, energy consumption, and bus departure times. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, an Improved Genetic Algorithm (IGA) is designed, incorporating a three-layer encoding scheme, adaptive crossover and mutation operators, and a local search repair mechanism to enhance convergence and solution feasibility. A real-world case study from Baihe County, Shaanxi Province, China, is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed model and algorithm. Comparative experiments under the reported case-study setting show that the proposed bus–heterogeneous drone system achieves notable cost reduction and improved overall delivery performance. Sensitivity analyses further confirm the robustness of the model with respect to drone endurance, drone payload capacity, and bus stop quantity. This research contributes to the literature by bridging the methodological gap between truck–drone coordination and bus-based collaborative delivery, offering an innovative framework for sustainable rural logistics and multi-modal last-mile optimization.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Payload (computing)", "Robustness (evolution)", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Bridging (networking)", "Synchronization (alternating current)", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Crossover" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104861" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W748906530", "doi": null, "title": "FREIGHT MODELING TECHNIQUES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED AREAS", "year": 1999, "publication_date": "1999-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jerry M Faris", "D Ismart" ], "first_author": "Jerry M Faris", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents a practical and low cost modeling technique to include freight demand and truck movements in the development of long range transportation plans. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the new Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21) requires that States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) consider urban freight in their long-range plans, transportation improvement programs, and annual work elements. However, in the last rounds of MPO long-range plan update certification reviews by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), one of the negative themes was the lack of freight and goods movement analysis within the current plans. This lack of analysis has occurred because most States and MPOs have little experience in freight planning, current and historical data on truck movements are limited, and most of the old freight models are extremely complicated. In September 1996 the U.S., Department of Transportation released the final report on the Quick Response Freight Manual through the Travel Mode Improvement Program. This manual provides the transportation modeler with simple techniques and transferable parameters which can be used to develop commercial truck movements within a conventional four-step planning model. This paper combines the techniques presented in the Quick Response Freight Manual and a simple four-step TranPlan travel demand model to develop, assign and analyze commercial truck trips in a small to medium urban area. Using the simple techniques and transferable parameters, the model could be developed with a limited amount of actual truck data. In this model, truck trips are broken into three types: four-tire; single unit; and, combination. By keeping the truck trips and auto driver trips in separate purposes, the modeler can preassign or assign the truck trips (all, four-tire, single unit, and combination) to a regular network or special truck network under a full equilibrium process.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Metropolitan area", "TRIPS architecture", "Transportation planning", "Certification", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering", "Geography", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/512922" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389474697", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-46874-2_30", "title": "Assessment of Conventional Distribution Scenario and Urban Freight Horizontal Collaboration", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Olesia Hriekova", "Andrii Galkin", "Yevhen Kush", "Teresa Gajewska", "Yevgeniy Vodovozov" ], "first_author": "Olesia Hriekova", "venue": "Lecture notes in networks and systems", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Supply chain", "Business", "Work (physics)", "Service (business)", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Redistribution (election)", "Cost reduction", "Horizontal and vertical", "Process (computing)", "Industrial organization", "Environmental economics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46874-2_30" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413468664", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5393526", "title": "Dynamic Order Fulfillment in Last-Mile Drone Delivery Under Demand Uncertainty", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Linxuan Shi", "Zhengtian Xu", "Miguel A. Lejeune", "Qi Luo" ], "first_author": "Linxuan Shi", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Order (exchange)", "Computer science", "Aeronautics", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering", "Geography", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5393526" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2922265176", "doi": null, "title": "\"Would You Be Willing to Wait?\": Consumer Preference for Green Last Mile Home Deliver", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Andrew Jessie Fu", "M. Saito" ], "first_author": "Andrew Jessie Fu", "venue": "DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "abstract": "The growing trend of e-commerce has led to new ways of selling and delivering products, resulting in increasing scale and complexity of last mile home delivery. The drive to provide convenience to consumers has led companies to offer faster delivery times. As a result, companies have focused on facility location, network design, and asset utilization (trucks, drivers), in order to improve service and speed. Few, however, have questioned whether consumers truly want convenient and fast delivery. Rather than focusing on a company’s operations, we approach the last mile home delivery from the perspective of the consumer. Our research considers whether consumer preferences for home delivery options can be influenced by environmental incentives, which include CO2 equivalent, electricity, trash, and trees. A case study with a corporate partner, Coppel S.A. de C.V. (“Company”), one of Mexico’s largest retail companies, reveals ways to incentivize consumers to wait longer. The case study involves a field study of approximately 1,000 home deliveries to predominantly low socioeconomic households across ten regions of Mexico. The results suggest that consumers are willing to wait longer for their home deliveries when given the environmental impact reduction. Moreover, information on trees saved is the most effective at incentivizing consumers to wait longer, regardless of education, occupation or socioeconomic status. Finally, using this extended delivery lead time, we provide an alternative methodology for improving vehicle utilization in last mile deliveries of a one-warehouse-N-customer system. The improved utilization results in lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Advertising", "Preference", "Business", "Geography", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstreams/b7123a55-40f2-49b3-ac0f-0f6f9f2fc198/download" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7112160357", "doi": null, "title": "Transitioning e-commerce: Perceived pathways for the Norwegian urban freight sector", "year": null, "publication_date": null, "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "Ystmark Bjerkan, Kristin", "Babri, Sahar" ], "first_author": "Ystmark Bjerkan, Kristin", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "E-commerce is becoming an increasingly visible feature of modern society that places increasing strain on transport systems. Research has hitherto paid substantial attention to ways in which e-commerce might modify personal travel behaviour but has been less attentive to the ramifications of e-commerce for urban freight. Although contemporary conditions of urban freight are increasingly scrutinised by scholars in several disciplines, this study peeks into the future of urban freight from the scholarly perspective of sustainability transitions. Specifically, we investigate what expectations Norwegian freight providers hold for the transition pathways of their own sector. We find that the Norwegian urban freight sector expects technological shifts to be most prominent, pointing to the replacement of vans and lorries with low-emission models. Conversely, although deemed important enough, the urban freight sector orients less towards behavioural shifts that enhance efficiencies within and across freight providers. To ensure more transformative effects in the transition pathways of urban freight, we thus advise decision-makers in urban planning to establish inclusive approaches to policy making that enhance the legitimacy of technological and behavioural shifts in urban freight alike.", "keywords": [ "Norwegian", "Sustainability", "Transformative learning", "Urban sustainability", "Urban planning", "Legitimacy", "Perspective (graphical)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0739885923001312" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7203687776", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7282658", "title": "Sustainable Port-City Connectivity Using Remote Gates and Battery-Electric Truck Operations", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Ali Mokhtari Moghadam", "Trung Thanh Nguyen", "Huanhuan Li", "Stephen Carr", "Delaram Yazdani", "Zaili Yang", "Jin Wang" ], "first_author": "Ali Mokhtari Moghadam", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Port (circuit theory)", "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Throughput", "Sustainable development", "Focus (optics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7282658" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2753158836", "doi": "10.3141/2605-05", "title": "Assessing Nighttime Deliveries in Stockholm, Sweden", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anastasios Koutoulas", "Joel P. Franklin", "Jonas Eliasson" ], "first_author": "Anastasios Koutoulas", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Off-peak-hour delivery programs are a promising but challenging concept for promoting sustainable urban logistics. Stockholm, Sweden, initialized a nighttime freight deliveries program in 2014, aimed at a more efficient and environmentally friendly delivery system within the central area of the city. The policy of shifting freight deliveries from daytime to off-peak hours generates a wide range of effects that can be analyzed from several angles. This paper identifies the social costs and benefits, how these are distributed between stakeholders, and their effects on the everyday life and operations of all interested parties. According to information and data collected through in-depth interviews with private and public stakeholders, the social benefits mainly consist of increased efficiency and productivity for carriers and receivers, reduced transport costs, fuel cost savings, and reduced congestion and accidents when trucks are moved from peak to off-peak hours. Social costs may include increased noise levels and noise disturbances; additional staff requirements, equipment, and wage costs; and higher risks in handling goods deliveries at nighttime, especially in the case of unassisted deliveries. This paper concludes by discussing the lessons learned from the trial, challenges and opportunities that arose during implementation, and the implications for enhancement of off-peak-hour delivery in Stockholm and other cities.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Productivity", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Transport engineering", "Public transport", "Cost–benefit analysis", "Wage", "Operations management", "Environmental economics", "Economics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-216429" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1635835132", "doi": null, "title": "Understanding retail supply chains to enable 'greener' logistics", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-09-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tom Cherrett", "Fraser N. McLeod", "Sarah Maynard", "Adrian J. Hickford", "Julian Allen", "Michael J. Browne" ], "first_author": "Tom Cherrett", "venue": "WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster)", "publisher": "University of Westminster", "abstract": "Introduction Over the past 30 years, there have been many urban freight surveys undertaken by local authorities across the UK, in an attempt to understand freight issues at the local level (Allen et al., 2008). Many of these focused on the supply chains delivering ‘core’ goods to retailers whilst some made an attempt to go further and quantify the impacts of service vehicle activity to gain a more complete picture of freight vehicle impacts serving our central business districts. This paper describes the findings from a business managers survey undertaken with retailers in Winchester High Street in 2008 (n=83, 69%), designed to quantify the logistics associated with the supply of core goods, material take-back (customer returns, stock transfers, WEEE, residual waste and recyclate) and other services. The findings are set in context with other surveys that have been undertaken to highlight the characteristics of Winchester and aid understanding in what new and novel systems might bring about a more sustainable approach to managing freight in an urban setting.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Supply chain", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Context (archaeology)", "Service (business)", "Stock (firearms)", "Customer service", "Goods and services", "Marketing", "Industrial organization", "Commerce" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/download/3a011a9c324d253e498ef6ea488c42c9e179f074d49e9881454ad764fe68f68a/71628/Cherrett_et_al_2009_Final_Published.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2892260757", "doi": null, "title": "A multi-scale agent-based modelling framework for urban freight distribution", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "André Romano Alho", "B. K. Bhavathrathan", "Monique A. Stinson", "Raja Gopalakrishnan", "Diem-Trinh Le", "Moshe E Ben-Akiva" ], "first_author": "André Romano Alho", "venue": "DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Supply chain", "Operations research", "Scale (ratio)", "Computer science", "Plan (archaeology)", "Commodity", "Set (abstract data type)", "Flow network", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1337-1903" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4414566974", "doi": "10.17615/0gdf-j137", "title": "Vulnerable road user safety and freight vehicles: A case study in North Carolina and Tennessee", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jueyu Wang", "Saurav Parajuli", "Christopher Cherry", "Noreen McDonald", "Torrey Lyons" ], "first_author": "Jueyu Wang", "venue": "Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)", "publisher": "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Crash", "Poison control", "Road traffic", "Occupational safety and health", "Human factors and ergonomics", "Injury prevention" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.17615/0gdf-j137" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3096100048", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-61075-3_77", "title": "Validating Urban Freight Deliveries Through Traffic Microsimulation: An Experimental Study", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-11-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ioannis D. Karakikes", "Eftihia Nathanail", "Maria Karatsoli" ], "first_author": "Ioannis D. Karakikes", "venue": "Advances in intelligent systems and computing", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Microsimulation", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61075-3_77" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7202279687", "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-66873-8", "title": "Truck-drone collaborative delivery route optimization with carbon cost under normal-emergency dual-use", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qinyi Liu", "Chenglin Ma" ], "first_author": "Qinyi Liu", "venue": "Scientific Reports", "publisher": "Nature Portfolio", "abstract": "Abstract Urban freight systems in megacities must simultaneously address carbon reduction targets and emergency preparedness requirements. This study develops a systems-oriented optimization framework for truck-drone collaborative delivery that integrates both objectives. Using Chengdu as a case study, we propose a dual-mode routing model that explicitly incorporates carbon costs as a carbon tax into the objective function. The model is solved using an Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search algorithm enhanced with Q-learning (ALNS-RL), featuring carbon-sensitive destruction and battery-constrained repair operators. We calibrate the model using Chengdu’s emission inventory across nine transport modes (2020–2025) and simulate it under carbon tax scenarios of 80, 150, and 300 CNY/ton. Results show that the drone usage ratio increases from 10.3% to 25.0% as the carbon tax rises, with a marginal incentive threshold near 150 CNY/ton. Under emergency mode, drone usage increases by 20%, while total cost and carbon emissions decrease by 4.3% and 4.2%, respectively. Overall, the proposed method reduces total cost by 31.0% and carbon emissions by 29.2% relative to a pure truck baseline. This study provides a practical decision-support framework for designing low-carbon and resilient urban logistics systems in megacities.", "keywords": [ "Carbon tax", "Truck", "Megacity", "Incentive", "Carbon fibers", "Total cost", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Greenhouse gas", "Reduction (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-66873-8_reference.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410454929", "doi": "10.1016/j.trip.2025.101442", "title": "Optimising mode choice in a bi-modal freight network considering sustainability and urban logistic stakeholder perspectives", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maurice Krauth", "Matthias Ribesmeier", "Nikola Bešinović" ], "first_author": "Maurice Krauth", "venue": "Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "In the last decade, Germany’s courier, express, and parcel industry has seen its consignment volume double to 4 billion annually, primarily moved by fossil-fuel-powered road vehicles. This growth increases urban congestion and emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives like rail transport to meet climate and emission goals. This study examines optimal, sustainable mode choice in bi-modal freight networks. Specifically, we introduce inner-city hubs that enable transshipment between road and rail modes to allow more freight shifting to rail. Using a network flow model, we minimise transport costs by assigning each consignment to either trains or lorries, while assessing the influence of transport policies like high-speed freight trains, road tolls, and subsidies on the modal split. Additionally, we incorporate the objectives of city logistics stakeholders. A sensitivity analysis examines the German parcel network’s response to variations in costs, demand, velocity, emissions, and rail capacity. Our results suggest that rail transport can be a viable alternative to road in numerous scenarios. For example, a slight increase in lorry operation costs initiates a shift to rail, while city taxes exceeding 200 cost units for lorries leads to a shift towards rail transport. Train network capacity is a critical factor in determining modal choice, with policy and stakeholder decisions also influencing mode shifts. The proposed network flow model provides a robust framework for evaluating the impact of predefined freight policies on mode choice in parcel delivery networks, showing conditions under which rail freight can be integrated into a sustainable inner-city logistics supply.", "keywords": [ "Modal", "Sustainability", "Mode (computer interface)", "Logistic regression", "Stakeholder", "Mode choice", "City logistics", "Business", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101442" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7168351830", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.118", "title": "How Australian High Productivity Vehicles are performing a significant urban freight task", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kim Peter Hassall", "Russell George Thompson", "Les Bruzsa" ], "first_author": "Kim Peter Hassall", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The development of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme in Australia, that proposed a framework to allow the use of a new generation of safer and more productive heavy vehicles commenced as a productivity initiative first proposed by the then National Road Transport Commission (NRTC), now the NTC (National Transport Commission). In 2006 the scheme was agreed by federal and State ministers although a significant number of High Productivity Vehicles (HPVs) had been trialed successfully under State permit schemes prior 2006. With one exception, all the HPVs were heavy rigid trucks with trailers or longer articulated combinations such as Super B-Double, B-triples, newer A-Doubles and even better performing road train combinations with three or four trailers. The rollout and oversight of the PBS scheme was handed to the new National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in 2013. Over the last decade several reports have examined the comparative safety and productivity benefits of the HPV fleet. As at the end of 2023 some 52.6% of the HPV truck population was performing urban freight tasks with 42.4% of the national HPV kilometres being undertaken. This paper attempts to dispel the perception that Australian HPV trucks are long vehicles with multiple trailers, when the over 40% of HPVs are the smaller rigid trucks with one four axled trailer.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Productivity", "SAFER", "Task (project management)", "Commission", "Scheme (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146526003790/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7203722447", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2026.105167", "title": "Truck-drone routing problem under time-dependent traffic congestion: A novel variable neighborhood search metaheuristic", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shaorui Zhou", "Xiaorui Liu", "Jihong Chen", "Lingxiao Wu", "Zhou Xu", "Min Zhao" ], "first_author": "Shaorui Zhou", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Metaheuristic", "Heuristics", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Truck", "Variable neighborhood search", "Variable (mathematics)", "Traffic congestion" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2026.105167" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412884876", "doi": "10.30977/bul.2219-5548.2025.109.0.169", "title": "Application of a transport macro model for assessing the assignment of urban freight traffic", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Volodymyr O. Sistuk" ], "first_author": "Volodymyr O. Sistuk", "venue": "Bulletin of Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University", "publisher": "Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University", "abstract": "Abstract. Problem. The volume of contemporary scientific research dedicated to modeling urban freight transport flows remains insufficient. There are no scientific publications addressing such studies for the city of Kryvyi Rih. This highlights the relevance of developing a macroscopic freight transport model for Kryvyi Rih, which would enable the assessment of freight traffic assignment across the city’s road network. Goal. Determination of functional relationships for freight traffic flow modeling in Kryvyi Rih using a macroscopic transport model. Methodology. The research methodology is based on the classical four-step travel demand model, which involves determining the appropriate parameters for functional relationships used at various modeling stages, namely: trip generation, travel cost calculation, trip distribution, and assignment. The changes in demand were assessed by measuring freight traffic intensity at seven locations in the city of Kryvyi Rih, while changes in supply were evaluated by identifying segments of the street network with restrictions on the movement of heavy freight vehicles. To validate the traffic assignment procedure within the model, the convergence criterion known as the «GAP» (hypothetic vehicle impedance) was applied. Results. As a result of the modeling, freight traffic flow intensities were determined for all segments of the street and road network in the city of Kryvyi Rih. Originality. The functional relationships identified for modeling the distribution of freight vehicles across the network contribute to the advancement of existing freight demand research methods using specialized software tools. Practical value. The model enables the analysis of an unlimited number of scenarios related to changes in urban freight transport in the city of Kryvyi Rih.", "keywords": [ "Macro", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://bulletin.khadi.kharkov.ua/article/download/336107/324871" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1639893584", "doi": "10.1109/coase.2015.7294041", "title": "Decomposition techniques for urban consolidation problems", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-08-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Duc Thien Nguyen", "Hoong Chuin Lau", "Akshat Kumar" ], "first_author": "Duc Thien Nguyen", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Less-than-truckload deliveries is known to be a source of inefficiency in last-mile logistics leading to high transport costs, environmental pollution, traffic jam, particularly in urban settings. An Urban Consolidation Center (UCC) provides a platform to consolidate freights from various sources before delivering into the city. The operations of UCCs consist of 2 interrelated phases, consolidating freights and scheduling trucks into the city center. This problem is computationally challenging because of large urban freight volumes, which prohibits optimal solutions of conventional integer programming models to be found efficiently. In this paper, we propose two novel decomposition schemes: a vertical decomposition based on dynamic programming can achieve optimal consolidation for the single-period problem, and the horizontal decomposition based on a Lagrangian Relaxation can achieve good approximate solution for the multi-period problem. The combination of these two decompositions yield an efficient approach for dealing with large-scale problems.", "keywords": [ "Inefficiency", "Truck", "Consolidation (business)", "Computer science", "Lagrangian relaxation", "Mathematical optimization", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Decomposition", "Integer programming", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/2817" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3197398929", "doi": "10.1109/mt-its49943.2021.9529313", "title": "An innovative approach to connect parcel delivery operations with urban congestion", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Allister Loder", "Thomas G. Otte" ], "first_author": "Allister Loder", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Journey speeds, which include driving and stopping, are important parameters for the vehicle routing calculations of any pick-up and delivery service. So far, journey speeds have predominantly been considered as exogenous and invariant to the interaction effects with multi-modal traffic. With growing fleet sizes, the resulting journey speeds can become endogenous in the vehicle routing as they result from the decisions of various multi-modal actors. Thus, proper speed predictions are essential for the delivery service quality and related business decisions. This paper proposes an innovative approach based on the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) to describe multi-modal interactions in the endogenous and dynamic evolution of congestion for bi-modal traffic of cars and urban freight vehicles (UFV) for parcel delivery. The approach is abstract and can be applied to any pick-up and delivery service. It helps cities to derive urban freight transport strategies and businesses to make better decisions. March 15, 2021", "keywords": [ "Modal", "Traffic congestion", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Service (business)", "City logistics", "Modal shift", "Quality of service", "Operations research", "Service quality" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mt-its49943.2021.9529313" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7203735986", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7312524", "title": "Charging Timing Matters: Green Electric-Truck–Drone Collaborative Delivery under Time-Varying Grid Carbon Intensity", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "chao li", "Yanchun Chen" ], "first_author": "chao li", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Grid", "Greenhouse gas", "Carbon fibers", "Intensity (physics)", "Certification", "Electricity generation", "Linear programming" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7312524" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4310622140", "doi": "10.4337/9781800373372", "title": "Innovations in Transport", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-11-15", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "van Duin, Ron", "W. Ploos van Amstel", "Quak, Hans", "van Wee, Bert", "Annema, Jan", "Köhler, Jonathan" ], "first_author": "van Duin, Ron", "venue": "Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks", "publisher": "Edward Elgar Publishing", "abstract": "Research finds that the global market value of cargo bikes will hit 2.4 billion euros by 2031. Analysts with Future Market Insights assessing the growth of cargo bikes have placed the parcel courier industry as a key buyer of electric cargo bikes, forecasting that 43 per cent of sales could go to this industry. This growth is driven by city logistics trends, particularly as studies emerge showing the high efficiency and cost saving of the cargo bike versus the delivery van. It will not solely be direct incentives that drive uptake, however. The policy that restricts motoring and emissions is expected to be a key driver for businesses that seek profitability, with three-wheeled electric cargo bikes making up nearly half the market. The advance of e-bike technology has seen a strong rise in market share for assisted cargo bikes, now accounting for a 73 per cent market share. Potentially limiting the growth is the legislation governing the output and range of electric cargo bikes (FMI, 2021). To deal with the issues of faster delivery, clean delivery (low/zero emission) and less space in dense cities, the light electric freight vehicle (LEFV) can be–and is used more and more as–an innovative solution. The way logistics in urban areas is organized is being challenged, as the global growth of cities leads to more jobs, more businesses and more residents. As a result, companies, workers, residents and visitors demand more goods and produce more waste. More space for logistics activities in and around cities is at odds with the growing need for accommodation for people living and working in cities. Book: Innovations in Transport: Success, Failure and Societal Impacts", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.elgaronline.com/downloadpdf/book/9781800373372/9781800373372.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163016876", "doi": "10.1111/tgis.70292", "title": "Learning Spatio‐Temporal Heterogeneity of Urban Truck Dwelling Behavior With a Contrastive Graph Representation Framework", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ziyi Wang", "Yongxi Gong", "Christophe Claramunt", "Meihan Jin", "Wei Tu" ], "first_author": "Ziyi Wang", "venue": "Transactions in GIS", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "ABSTRACT Urban freight transport is becoming increasingly complex under rapid urbanization. Understanding spatio‐temporal distribution of truck dwelling behavior is essential to improve logistics efficiency and urban sustainability. Yet, the freight activity patterns are not well captured by static representation methods. This study introduces a contrastive graph representation learning framework to characterize the spatio‐temporal and behavioral features of truck dwelling locations using large‐scale GPS trajectory data. We construct a time‐varying directed truck flow network. Building on edge convolution, we develop a modified Edge Convolution Network (ECN) with attention‐based aggregation to learn spatial dependencies and temporal dynamics. These embeddings are used to delineate logistics activity zones through unsupervised clustering. The framework is tested and evaluated with a massive truck trajectory dataset and compared with other baseline methods. The results prove that the modified ECN model achieves better performance than baselines and reveals interpretable spatio‐temporal activity patterns providing valuable insights in logistics amelioration.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Representation (politics)", "Graph", "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Baseline (sea)", "Trajectory", "Feature learning", "Construct (python library)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1111/tgis.70292" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2460926325", "doi": "10.2495/ut160101", "title": "Prevention of occupational accidents and diseases in the logistics of goods distribution in city centres: the case of electric trucks", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-06-21", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Liên Wioland", "Virginie Govaere" ], "first_author": "Liên Wioland", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "Urban freight distribution\" or \"urban distribution\" can be defined as the art of enabling a city's incoming, outgoing, and internal flows of goods to be organized as well as possible.Currently, one of the biggest constraints is environmental pressure.One of the strategies for satisfying that constraint is \"clean delivery\", using electric vehicles.This strategy requires logistics to be organised by locating specific logistics facilities (platforms) close to the cities, in particular to cope with the limited ranges of such vehicles.With the aim of preventing occupational accidents and diseases, this manner of organising logistics was analysed.The method used was based on an ergonomics approach to analysing the activities of the platform employees and of the drivers.The results highlight a certain number of difficulties and risks related to those activities and have made it possible to define avenues to be explored for improving working conditions and prevention.The method incorporates the systemic view that urban distribution constitutes the final link in the supply chain.Its activity is therefore seen as being potentially dependent to an extent on the activities of the other links in the supply chain.Thus, in terms of occupational accident and disease prevention, an \"act elsewhere\" approach has been imagined.This approach is designed to be deployed in a given work situation in order to improve not only that situation but also the work situation that is connected to it.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Work (physics)", "Constraint (computer-aided design)", "Supply chain", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Order (exchange)", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Computer science", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT16/UT16010FU1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W83560577", "doi": null, "title": "Shopping attitudes and urban freight distribution: the effects of demographic changes", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Agostino Nuzzolo", "venue": "Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University)", "publisher": "University of Rome Tor Vergata", "abstract": "Studies of urban freight mobility traditionally focused only on restocking flows, i.e. vehicle flows from warehouse/distribution centers to trade or service locations (e.g. shops, food-and-drink outlets, service activities). They usually neglected the linkage with shopping activities even if end-consumers’ characteristics and choices in relation to type of retail (e.g. small, medium or large) undoubtedly impact on freight distribution flows. In fact, the characteristics of restocking process are strictly related to the type of commercial activities to be restocked in terms of delivery size, delivery frequency, freight vehicle type and so on. Further, the shopping segment of passenger mobility received few attention respect to systematic components (e.g. home to work trips) and respect to the weight that it has in urban areas. For example, in some French cities, it was estimated that the shopping mobility represents about 69% of urban distances (veh-km) covered each day by motorized vehicles. Besides, shopping mobility has been studied as a component of passenger demand mainly investigating the relationships between travel behavior, the built environment (e.g. land-use profile, commercial activity density) and socio-economic characteristics. Few studies have analyzed it in the perspective of freight distribution. Moreover, although the store shopping remains the predominant way to buy, internet is modifying the end consumer’s behavior. In this case, the commodity can be transported to place of consumption by actors other than the user. For example, in the USA the e-commerce sales represent the 5.5% of Retail Sales, and according to some surveys carried out in Rome, 13 % of interviewees stated they did e-shopping during the survey week. This confirms that the e-shopping is becoming diffuse among youngers and in the future could modify in-depth the purchasers’ behaviors. Therefore, the paper discusses a number of issues related to the transportation impacts of shopping attitudes on urban freight distribution. In particular, the paper focuses on the factors that mainly influence the freight distribution: quantity and choices of type of retail (including e-shop). After an analysis of the state-of-the-art of shopping mobility demand modeling, some models for simulating the choice of retail outlet are presented. The models were obtained using some surveys carried out in Rome, where more than 500 families were interviewed. The models, jointly with urban freight distribution demand models, were used in order to assess the effects of some land-use scenarios relative to the characteristics of inhabitants and the location of commercial activities on the freight restocking. Then, the obtained results are reported and discussed in the full paper.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Business", "Service (business)", "Commodity", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Consumption (sociology)", "Work (physics)", "The Internet", "E-commerce", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Advertising" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2108/86387" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7124831954", "doi": "10.3390/urbansci10010058", "title": "Simulation-Based Evaluation of AI-Orchestrated Port–City Logistics", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nistor Andrei" ], "first_author": "Nistor Andrei", "venue": "Urban Science", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "AI technologies are increasingly applied to optimize operations in both port and urban logistics systems, yet integration across the full maritime city chain remains limited. The objective of this study is to assess, using a simulation-based experiment, the impact of an AI-orchestrated control policy on the performance of port–city logistics relative to a baseline scheduler. The study proposes an AI-orchestrated approach that connects autonomous ships, smart ports, central warehouses, and multimodal urban networks via a shared cloud control layer. This approach is designed to enable real-time, cross-domain coordination using federated sensing and adaptive control policies. To evaluate its impact, a simulation-based experiment was conducted comparing a traditional scheduler with an AI-orchestrated policy across 20 paired runs under identical conditions. The orchestrator dynamically coordinated container dispatching, vehicle assignment, and gate operations based on capacity-aware logic. Results show that the AI policy substantially reduced the total completion time, lowered truck idle time and estimated emissions, and improved system throughput and predictability without modifying physical resources. These findings support the expectation that integrated, data-driven decision-making can significantly enhance logistics performance and sustainability in port–city contexts. The study provides a replicable pathway from conceptual architecture to quantifiable evidence and lays the groundwork for future extensions involving learning controllers, richer environmental modeling, and real-world deployment in digitally connected logistics corridors.", "keywords": [ "Software deployment", "Container (type theory)", "Baseline (sea)", "Cloud computing", "Control (management)", "Truck", "Supply chain", "Throughput", "Predictability", "Port (circuit theory)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/10/1/58/pdf?version=1768638869" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4312408206", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4254668", "title": "Opportunities and Challenges in Freight Eco-Routing for Stakeholders Involved in Urban Freight", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anmol Pahwa", "Miguel Jaller" ], "first_author": "Anmol Pahwa", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Business", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Environmental planning", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4254668" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W5118887", "doi": null, "title": "Freight Data Needs at the Metropolitan Level and the Suitability of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Supplying MPOs with the Needed Freight Data", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Isabel C Victoria", "C. Michael Walton" ], "first_author": "Isabel C Victoria", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Many Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOS) have identified the lack of robust and accurate freight data as a major constraint in conducting meaningful freight planning. An in-depth literature review was conducted that covered (1) the most relevant freight issues faced by MPOs, (2) the state-of-the-art methodologies used in urban travel demand forecasting to integrate the passenger and freight components, (3) primary and secondary freight data sources and their strengths and limitations for supporting urban planning activities, and (4) the full spectrum of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies that are considered rich sources of freight data. A Freight Data Needs Survey was administered to U.S. MPOs to assess urban freight data needs given the demographic characteristics of the region, the freight issues MPOs have to deal with, the state-of-the-practice in integrating the freight component into the urban travel demand models (TDMs), freight collection activities at the metropolitan region, the level of deployment of ITS technologies, and the use of archived ITS data to support urban planning activities. Special emphasis was given to cargo data, freight transportation modes data, and terminal/intermodal transfer facilities data because they provide valuable insight into urban freight movements. The result of the survey revealed that, although two-thirds of the responding MPOs are conducting freight planning, only 26% of them have integrated both the passenger and freight components into their TDMs. Among the responding MPOs,49% to 94% indicated a need for origin-destination patterns, routing details, shipment details, and commodity type information, while cargo data availability varied from 6% to 46%. The percentage of respondents who indicated a need for highway/truck data, rail data, air data, and water data varied between 51% and 100%, while transportation mode data availability ranged between 0% and 40%. Finally, the percentage of respondents who indicated a need for terminal/intermodal transfer facilities data varied between 82% and 97%, while the availability of this data varied from 3% to 18%. These figures point to the substantial need for freight data, especially among the small, mid-size, and mid-large MPOs. It is thus obvious that effective freight planning and wholly informed decisions are still largely limited by a lack of reliable data. Given a lack of funding sources, primary data collection is also not an option for many small to mid-large MPOs. For the future, these MPOs will have to explore innovative and cost effective means to gather an understanding of freight movements. This study showed that data collected by electronic means such as those provided by ITS can be invaluable to urban freight planning.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Commodity", "Data collection", "Geography", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://d2dtl5nnlpfr0r.cloudfront.net/swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/167247-1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400420739", "doi": "10.1016/j.procs.2024.06.096", "title": "Analysis of Urban Freight Flows and Retail Goods Movement Using GPS Trajectory and Land Use Data", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Olcay Sahin", "Monique A. Stinson", "Abdelrahman Ismael", "Hui Shen" ], "first_author": "Olcay Sahin", "venue": "Procedia Computer Science", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "In recent years, GPS data on truck movements have become much more available, leading researchers and practitioners to leverage these sources to generate a wealth of data and information related to truck OD flows. In this study large amount of truck GPS data used to investigate characteristics of freight transportation in particularly OD land uses and freight vehicle classes. Aiming to realize the freight flows characteristics of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency Planning (CMAP) region. The data are used primarily to gain insight into the nature of urban goods movement and the distribution of retail goods. The main objective in this respect is analyzing urban freight flows and retail goods movement. The data-driven analysis generates a number of interesting findings regarding the nature and volume of trips by light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty truck that serve various types of retail and industrial functions are generated. The design of this study especially its land use data fusion aspect is expected to benefit both practitioners and researchers as they plan future data collection, model calibration and urban freight studies.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Global Positioning System", "Transport engineering", "TRIPS architecture", "Computer science", "Leverage (statistics)", "Data collection", "Metropolitan area", "Land use", "Business", "Operations research", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.06.096" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2913883799", "doi": "10.1016/j.cstp.2019.01.009", "title": "Functional and environmental impact analysis of urban deliveries in a Brazilian historical city", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-27", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberta Alves", "Renato da Silva Lima", "Kaique Silva", "William Araújo Gomes", "Carlos A. González‐Calderón" ], "first_author": "Roberta Alves", "venue": "Case Studies on Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Downtown", "TRIPS architecture", "Business", "Urban planning", "Population", "Sustainable city", "Environmental planning", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Compact city", "City centre", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2019.01.009" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7119273645", "doi": null, "title": "Traffic reduction potential of autonomous driving freight vehicles in urban settings", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maike Scherrer", "Joel Weingart" ], "first_author": "Maike Scherrer", "venue": "Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften digital collection (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)", "publisher": "ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences", "abstract": "The densification of urban settings will further increase in the near future. The already overcrowded roads will no longer be able to absorb the resulting increase in passenger and freight traffic, which will lead to additional congestion. The study at hand analysis if autonomous driving freight vehicles have the potential to defuse the situation. We analyse the effect of autonomous driving freight vehicles, which commute between a central warehouse and different city districts, where the freight is handed over to cargobikes for the very last mile. We compare this to traditional direct deliveries using vans and cargobikes. The analysis bases on a route planning and optimisation model, which is specifically adapted for the different vehicle categories and is tested with real data from Switzerland in two settings: First, in a small and a big city, and second, in the case where a central warehouse is close to the city centre compared to a central warehouse in the outskirt of a city. The results show that higher traffic reduction potential is given in bigger than in smaller cities and in cases where the central warehouse is in the outskirt of the city. The results can be used in several ways: First, the model can be used to conduct similar analyses in different urban settings. Second, the results can be used to decide about the modal mix for urban logistics and in which situations a change from traditional deliveries to deliveries with autonomous driving freight vehicles in combination with cargobikes is beneficial.", "keywords": [ "Modal", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Warehouse", "Reduction (mathematics)", "Traffic planning" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/34870" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413352955", "doi": "10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126616", "title": "Route-based time-dependent life cycle greenhouse gas and NOₓ emissions analysis of heavy-duty trucks", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Arnav Sinha", "Yen Cheng Wang", "Harsh Sapra", "Saurabh K. Gupta", "Sage L Kokjohn", "Constandinos M. Mitsingas", "Chol-Bum Kweon" ], "first_author": "Arnav Sinha", "venue": "Applied Energy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Heavy duty", "Greenhouse gas", "Environmental science", "Waste management", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126616" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3124911893", "doi": "10.1093/es/khn105", "title": "Delivery to the Customer's Door: Efficiency, Regulatory Policy, and Integrated Rail-Truck Operations, 1900–1938", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-11-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Albert J. Churella" ], "first_author": "Albert J. Churella", "venue": "Enterprise & Society", "publisher": "Cambridge University Press", "abstract": "During the first third of the twentieth century, U. S. railroad executives offered local collection and delivery trucking operations. Railroad managers claimed, with justification, that these services were necessary to reduce congestion at urban freight terminals, and to increase the operating efficiency. Yet, executives also employed collection and delivery practices to discriminate against shippers and communities, and to draw business away from rival carriers, in violation of the 1887 Interstate Commerce Act, the 1903 Elkins Act, and the Transportation Act of 1920. During the 1920s, as competition from independent truckers became more intense, railroad managers used their inherent advantage in line-haul service to cross-subsidize local delivery services, to the detriment of independent motor carriers—an issue of considerable concern to Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) commissioners, following the passage of the 1935 Motor Carrier Act. The railroads' emphasis on the productive efficiency associated with local trucking operations conflicted with the allocative efficiency advocated by federal courts and by the ICC. Commissioner Joseph B. Eastman, in particular, emphasized both the potential benefits and the potential dangers associated with coordinated rail-truck service. More broadly, the status of that service, as one of the few forms of transportation that lay beyond the ICC's authority, stemmed from a complex interaction, over several decades, between all three branches of the federal government. By 1938, the ICC commissioners had concluded that the railroads' local delivery operations occupied a nebulous region between rail and truck regulation. While lawful, they did not serve as a model for post-1945 efforts to achieve integrated, multi-modal transportation services.", "keywords": [ "Commission", "Subsidy", "Truck", "Business", "Service (business)", "Competition (biology)", "Allocative efficiency", "Government (linguistics)", "Public administration", "Transport engineering", "Finance", "Law" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/es/khn105" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400365462", "doi": "10.1007/978-981-99-8003-1_4", "title": "Investigating Opportunities of Adopting Sharing Economy in City Logistics in Hanoi, Vietnam", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Thi My Thanh Truong" ], "first_author": "Thi My Thanh Truong", "venue": "Advances in 21st century human settlements", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Business", "Sharing economy", "Economy", "Economic geography", "Regional science", "Geography", "Economics", "Computer science", "World Wide Web" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8003-1_4" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7135087749", "doi": "10.1177/29776481261427592", "title": "Sustainable Design of Smart Multimodal Urban Logistics in the Era of AI and Low-Altitude Economy", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hui Fu", "Hongpeng Li", "Youbin Chen", "Jiahong Zhao", "Zhixuan Wu", "Zhenqi Liang", "Nan Zheng" ], "first_author": "Hui Fu", "venue": "Design for Augmented Humanity", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Conventionally, urban logistics operate in various independent transport modes, for example, trucks, vans, and motorcycles. Such operation will not be optimal when facing large-scale demand because isolated operation can be inefficient and environmental-unfriendly. To enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the next-generation urban logistics system, a comprehensive framework is proposed to identify the critical operation scenarios, its main system components, and the key technologies for applications of smart multimodal urban logistics (SMUL). There are four innovative characteristics in the proposed SMUL system: (1) co-modality for passenger and freight transportation through public transit; (2) integration of drone or unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous delivery robots, automated delivery vehicles, and multimodal parcel lockers for last-mile delivery; (3) deployment and operation of robotic smart warehouses for storage; and (4) joint scheduling of various vehicles using large language model (LLM)-based agents. This paper focuses on two application cases, a last-mile home delivery service and a freight-integrated public transit service. A cyber-physical SMUL system is designed as the digital twin for monitoring the operations. A novel simulation platform is designed, using LLM-agents, for predicting system dynamics and thus supporting the economic evaluation of an SMUL system. Moreover, stakeholder benefit allocation and operation resilience are discussed for designing a sustainable SMUL system. Finally, insights are provided for policy and practice, for example, the logistics service providers are recommended to integrate aerial, road, and underground transport modes in consideration of local regulation, land use, and public trust in technology to achieve synergistic economic, social, and ecological efficiency.", "keywords": [ "Multimodal transport", "Drone", "Software deployment", "Sustainability", "Smart city", "Public transport", "City logistics", "Key (lock)", "Supply chain" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/29776481261427592" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2598090097", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-319-51427-7_5", "title": "A Concept of Freight Traffic Flow Regulations in the City of Gdansk", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Daniel Kaszubowski", "Filip Heleniak" ], "first_author": "Daniel Kaszubowski", "venue": "Springer proceedings in business and economics", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Context (archaeology)", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "City logistics", "Service (business)", "Business", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Geography", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51427-7_5" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7167493872", "doi": "10.1186/s12544-026-00809-1", "title": "Urban freight micro-regulation: accounting for the heterogeneity of logistics practices in the city", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-06", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jesús Muñuzuri", "Antonio Lorenzo-Espejo", "Ana Pegado-Bardayo", "María-Luisa Muñoz-Díaz" ], "first_author": "Jesús Muñuzuri", "venue": "European Transport Research Review", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Urban population growth and rising demand for goods—especially from e-commerce—have intensified pressure on city transport systems. Freight vehicles, which make frequent stops and require curbside access, add delays to already congested streets, making their presence highly controversial even though they are essential to urban economies. Local authorities must manage competing uses of limited street space, yet their decisions often rely on incomplete data: standard traffic counts rarely capture the specific behavior of freight transport. As a result, freight policies are often generic, slow to adapt, and constrained by resource limits and misaligned stakeholder interests. The main question we address here is whether policies and regulations should adapt to the specific type of street and delivery practice. Because urban freight includes diverse supply chains, vehicle types, and delivery conditions, city-wide rules may overlook important differences, especially for parking and unloading. Using detailed survey data from Seville, this study finds that the same regulations do not necessarily work equally in all types of situations and identifies distinct freight operation patterns offering guidance for designing parking regulations that account for this variability, with insights applicable to similar cities.", "keywords": [ "Work (physics)", "City logistics", "Stakeholder", "Traffic management", "Population", "Resource (disambiguation)", "Survey data collection" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12544-026-00809-1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3130088803", "doi": "10.1109/logistiqua49782.2020.9353885", "title": "Analysis of pickup-delivery vehicles movements: A vehicle observation-based freight survey", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-12-02", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Imane Moufad", "Fouad Jawab" ], "first_author": "Imane Moufad", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Illegal parking is one of the main causes of congestion on urban streets. With the lack of urban delivery schemes, commercial vehicles when loading and unloading have a significant negative impact on circulation causes traffic delay, congestion and safety risks. Motivated by the need to study the road occupancy of pickup-delivery vehicles, we addressed in this paper a data collection framework for planning, designing and conducting a vehicle observation-based freight survey. This study can provide a potential approach to conduct a diagnosis on urban freight vehicle movements, to study their impacts on urban traffic and to highlight extrapolation and adjustment relationships that allow for the transfer of its results to other cases without redoing these more resource-intensive investigations. Therefore, the document is organized as follows. In the first part, we proposed an overview of the type of urban freight transport survey. In the second part, we address the data collection framework for conducting vehicle observation-based freight survey in order to analyze the pickup-delivery vehicles movements.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Data collection", "Traffic congestion", "Pickup", "Computer science", "Resource (disambiguation)", "Survey data collection", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/logistiqua49782.2020.9353885" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1607771063", "doi": null, "title": "Management of traffic-related effects of heavy vehicles on urban freight corridors", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Euan Ramsay", "Jonathan M. Bunker", "Les Bruzsa" ], "first_author": "Euan Ramsay", "venue": "QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology)", "publisher": "Queensland University of Technology", "abstract": "Increasing demand for road freight has lead to a greater adoption of more-productive multi-combination vehicles on roads that are generally also used as major arterial corridors for non-freight traffic. This paper reports on a study into the effects that these vehicles, such as B-doubles, have on the traffic performance of urban traffic corridors and offers a number of strategies having the potential to minimize their impacts. A computer-based microsimulation traffic model was created of a multi-lane arterial corridor, including coordinated traffic signals. Individual vehicles progressed along the corridor, with each vehicle following its leader and changing lanes when advantageous and safe to do so. The longitudinal vehicle dynamic behavior of each vehicle was modeled in detail, with heavy vehicles accelerating at a lower rate that light vehicles. The model was calibrated with data collected from GPS-equipped chase car surveys conducted on an urban corridor in Brisbane, Australia. Corridor performance was reported in terms of intersection capacity and delays as well as travel speeds and stop rates for each vehicle type. The performance of the corridor was found to be sensitive to traffic control measures including the speed limit and traffic signal controller settings such as cycle time and progression design speed. A range of freight policy scenarios were examined, including the effects of increasing freight volumes, freight vehicle mode choice, and vehicle type-specific lane restrictions. Some policies having the potential to improve corridor traffic performance and freight efficiency were able to be identified. Advance detection of heavy vehicles approaching a traffic signal and extension of the green signal until their passage was found to offer benefits to all vehicles on the corridor.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Microsimulation", "Intersection (aeronautics)", "Traffic management", "Speed limit", "Traffic simulation", "Range (aeronautics)", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://eprints.qut.edu.au/4630/1/4630.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3164942359", "doi": null, "title": "Sustainability of Urban Freight and Decreasing of Air Pollution: Environmental Ideal of Large Cities", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-09-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hoorieh Hosseini Akbarnezhad" ], "first_author": "Hoorieh Hosseini Akbarnezhad", "venue": "JOURNAL OF LEGAL RESEARCH", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This Article looks at the way urban goods movements are included in transport policies aimed at improving air quality in large cities. The movement of goods in cities is a major contributor to local emissions caused by mobile sources. It seems that there are few policy innovations in freight issues in cities. Nonetheless, responding to public opinion’ increasing concern over health issues and to European standards for urban air quality, some European cities have started to serve access to city centers to new, ‘clean’ or ‘fully loaded ‘ trucks. By doing so, they have engaged in a more environmentally oriented urban freight strategy.", "keywords": [ "Air quality index", "Sustainability", "Business", "Truck", "Environmental planning", "Public transport", "Environmental quality", "Urban sustainability", "Air pollution", "Urban planning", "Transport engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://jlr.sdil.ac.ir/article_39369_a6d8eca3920117c4656db130be1b7068.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2465070054", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.193", "title": "Comparing Deliveries to On-street Consignees and Consignees Located at Shopping Centers", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Olav Eidhammer", "Bjørn Gjerde Johansen", "Jardar Andersen" ], "first_author": "Olav Eidhammer", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The main contribution of this paper is three-fold. First, it maps the delivery structure for on-street consignees and consignees located at shopping centers. In general, micro-data regarding urban freight is sparse, thus this survey greatly contributes to the general knowledge about number of deliveries and number of freight vehicles in Oslo. This information is important to take into account for bottom-up calculations of traffic impacts. This includes private costs of freight, but also socio-economic external costs related to local and global emissions, noise, increased congestion and increased chances of traffic accidents. Second, through surveys amongst employees and drivers, car counts and GPS data, we have identified and quantified an important cost difference between on-street consignees and consignees at shopping centers, namely the increased cost due to lower capacity for on-street consignees. The expected additional cost per vehicle related to low capacity is estimated to be NOK 49 (the additional cost per delivery will obviously depend on number of deliveries per vehicle). This is important information from a policy perspective, and suggests that both (1) increasing capacity for on-street deliveries in the city center and (2) facilitating for shopping centers with dedicated unloading spaces will reduce both private costs for transport operators and consignees, and external costs related to emissions and congestion. Third, we give recommendations for mitigating the problem of space restrictions for on-street deliveries in the city center. This approach consist of two elements: (1) deliveries before or after stores’ opening hours and (2) deliveries to a buffer storage location with a dedicated unloading space.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Kilometer", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146516301958/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117465321", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2025.12.108", "title": "Strategies for Sustainable Urban Freight Transportation A Demand-Based Study of Noida, India", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shashank Soni", "Debapratim Pandit" ], "first_author": "Shashank Soni", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban freight transportation directs towards economic resilience amid India’s rapid urban growth, yet it poses significant sustainability challenges, with freight accounting for 15-20% of the nation’s GDP with 63% of the movement occurring by road. To address these issues, the study investigates freight system of Noida, using a demand-based approach that enhances vehicle-usage efficiency across economic, environmental and social dimensions. The research assesses eight key operational efficiency parameters: trip frequency, fuel consumption, emissions, empty vehicle returns, ton–kilometres travelled, congestion delays, dwell times, and goods distribution across Traffic analysis zones defined by sector divisions and land use patterns. Moreover, to capture the diverse freight services ranging from low- value bulk to business–to-consumer deliveries, the research categorises vehicles into Goods Autos, Goods Vans, Light commercial trucks, and Multi–axle commercial trucks. The research methodology integrates secondary data: land use, road networks, vehicle registrations, demographics, with primary data collected from five survey instruments targeting key stakeholders, with GIS tools establishing spatial frameworks linking routing emissions to land-use relationships. The findings demonstrate spatial-temporal inefficiencies in freight movements and reveals key operator challenges. The study recommends a spatial temporal efficiency framework and sustainable policy strategies as time route restrictions, night time freight sharing, shared logistics platforms and green logistics practices, tailored for medium sized Indian cities. These findings offer practical, robust and evidence–based guidance aiming to improve urban freight efficiency and sustainability across similar urban contexts.", "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Traffic management", "Key (lock)", "Sustainable transport", "Traffic congestion", "City logistics", "Land use", "Distribution (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2025.12.108" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2898590705", "doi": "10.1002/net.21863", "title": "Preface: Special issue on Drone Delivery Systems", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-24", "type": "editorial", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Niels A.H. Agatz", "James F. Campbell" ], "first_author": "Niels A.H. Agatz", "venue": "Networks", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "Recent advances in autonomous vehicle technology create new opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation systems.The use of drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) to support last-mile delivery operations is a topic receiving considerable attention.While there has been much research on the technical aspects of using autonomous drones, as well as significant financial investments in drone logistics systems, the operations research community has only recently started to focus on delivery drones.This special issue brings together state-of-the-art research related to the design and operations of drone delivery systems.It specifically focusses on optimization approaches (exact and heuristic) to support decision-making in these settings.We received 13 manuscripts, which were carefully reviewed through a rigorous refereeing process.Of the manuscripts submitted, six were accepted for publication in this special issue.In \"Optimization approaches for civil applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or aerial drones: A survey,\" Otto et al. [5] provide an extensive literature survey on optimization approaches to civil applications of UAVs.The paper describes the most promising aerial drone applications and outlines characteristics of aerial drones relevant to operations planning.It reviews and classifies relevant literature across the key areas of drone operations and highlights novel modeling aspects related to drone use.Two papers consider a setting in which deliveries are performed by either a delivery vehicle or a drone, both departing from a common depot.The vehicles can serve multiple customers on a delivery tour, while the drones are constrained to perform back and forth trips.In \"An iterative two-step heuristic for the Parallel Drone Scheduling Traveling Salesman Problem,\" Saleu et al. [4] present a heuristic solution for the static version of this problem, where the objective is to minimize the completion time.Experiments conducted on benchmark instances show the efficiency of the approach.The paper \"Same-day delivery with a heterogeneous fleet of drones and vehicles\" by Ulmer and Thomas [6] focuses on the dynamic (same-day) version of the problem in which the objective is to maximize the expected number of served customers.To determine whether an order is delivered by a drone or by a vehicle, they present a policy function approximation based on geographical districting, which they show is highly effective.Two papers focus on a setting in which delivery drones are deployed from a regular delivery truck.The drone has to pick up a new parcel from the truck before each new delivery.The paper \"Drone delivery from trucks: Drone scheduling for given truck routes\" by Boysen et al. [2] considers various planning problems that arise in this setting with one or multiple drones.The authors provide an analysis of computational complexity and compare the potential benefits of different operational settings.In \"Dynamic programming approaches for the traveling salesman problem with drone,\" Bouman et al. [1] present exact solution approaches for the setting with one truck and one drone based on dynamic programming and provide an experimental comparison of these approaches.Their numerical experiments show that their solution approaches perform well and that restrictions on the number of locations the truck can visit while the drone is away can significantly reduce the solution times while having little impact on the overall solution quality.The paper \"Drone arc routing problems\" by Campbell et al.[3] presents several drone arc routing problems (Drone ARPs) and studies their relation with well-known postman arc routing problems.The ability of drones to travel directly between any two points in the plane without following the edges of the network leads to new problems and opportunities to reduce costs to serve a set of required edges.Novel problems are presented and solved using an algorithm for the rural postman problem.", "keywords": [ "Erasmus+", "Library science", "SAINT", "Operations research", "Computer science", "Art history", "Art", "Engineering", "The Renaissance" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/net.21863" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2990915638", "doi": "10.1109/logistiqua.2019.8907304", "title": "A simulation framework to study the impacts of loading/unloading areas on the urban traffic", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Imane Moufad", "Fouad Jawab", "Ahmed Bouklata" ], "first_author": "Imane Moufad", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The planning of the urban traffic that meets all the requirements of mobility, constitute the basis of the realization of the economic and social activities effective within an agglomeration. Among the operational measures to improve the circulation of the urban freight vehicles, the loading/unloading areas represent an opportunity for the organization of deliveries and the improvement of the fluidity of road traffic. In this context, the objective of this article is to use the dynamic simulation to study the impact of the implementation of loading/unloading areas on the road traffic in the case of a commercial street. From then on, this paper is split into two parts. In the first part, we presented the main usual notions in the field of road traffic. In order to initiate the choice of the simulation tool, we proposed an overview of models and tools for dynamic simulation of road traffic. In the second part of this work, we proposed a methodology for dynamic simulation of the impacts of the implementation of loading/unloading areas on the traffic flow at the level of a commercial zone.", "keywords": [ "Context (archaeology)", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Realization (probability)", "Field (mathematics)", "Work (physics)", "Traffic simulation", "Engineering", "Microsimulation", "Geography", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/logistiqua.2019.8907304" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413070605", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-95284-5_36", "title": "Development of an Intelligent System for Urban Logistics to Facilitate Sustainable Optimization", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Paul-Eric Dossou", "Jow Irudayaraj" ], "first_author": "Paul-Eric Dossou", "venue": "Lecture notes in mobility", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": "Abstract One of the major rising factors nowadays is, the use of automobiles for daily commute and usage of big trucks for shipping goods are rapidly and incredibly increasing in all major and important cities all around the world, which indeed leads to a problem of traffic jam. Indeed, for road users, whether they are residents or professionals, there is an unbalance in the circulation, increased congestion and road traffic affects all types of users from industry to office people on their day-to-day run. This congestion leads to many problems like air and noise pollution, parking problems, affecting quality of life for habitants, traffic problems on the road. This paper aims to develop an intelligent tool exploiting the concepts industry 4.0 as a support for the definition of alternative solutions to road transportation to increase companies’ sustainable performance. The article is organized as follow. After a literature review on artificial intelligence and urban logistics, the intelligent tool being developed for the sustainable optimization will be presented. An illustration case will be exposed.", "keywords": [ "Traffic congestion", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Sustainable development", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-95284-5_36.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163340935", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20512452", "title": "Dataset for Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Freight Transport Based on Macroscopic Traffic Modelling", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-02", "type": "dataset", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jan Paszkowski", "Emilian Szczepański", "Jakub Murawski" ], "first_author": "Jan Paszkowski", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The purpose of this dataset is to enable the replication of the research results presented in the article: Paszkowski, J. S., Szczepański, E., & Murawski, J. (2025). Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Freight Transport Based on Macroscopic Traffic Modelling. Annual Set the Environment Protection, 27, 746–766. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2025.060 The dataset was created as part of the E-Laas project (Energy optimal urban logistics As A Service).Project implemented as part of the call ERA-NET Cofund Urban Accessibility and Connectivity (ENUAC China Call) organized by JPI Urban Europe and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875022. E-Laas project is carried out in an international consortium. Project coordinator in Europe: Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), project coordinator in China: Shanghai University (China), consortium members: Tsinghua University (China), Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), cooperation partners: Stockholms stad, Trafikkontoret (Sweden), ParkUnload (Spain), Metropolis GZM (Poland), Shanghai Urban-Rural Construction and Transportation Department (China), Volvo Group Trucks Technology and Operations (Sweden).- The Chinese part of the project is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China.- The Swedish part of the project is funded by Swedish Energy Agency.- The Polish part of the project is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (project no. 2022/04/Y/ST8/00134). The value of the co-financing is PLN 878,107.00. Project duration 27/04/2023 - 26/04/2026 (36 months).", "keywords": [ "Truck", "China", "Duration (music)", "Environmental impact assessment", "Research program", "Foundation (evidence)", "Technical university" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20512452" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204584177", "doi": "10.1111/anti.70196", "title": "The Value of Assetised Highways in City Logistics: Class, Commodities, Contradictions", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Susanne Soederberg" ], "first_author": "Susanne Soederberg", "venue": "Antipode", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "ABSTRACT Urban highways are built to accelerate the circulation of commodities—including labour power—across space, and they play a central role in global supply chains within urban landscapes. What happens when highways themselves are transformed into commodities, or asset classes? How can we understand the role of the state in these dynamics and its social reproduction? Drawing on a historical‐geographical materialist approach, I examine the relationship between Highway 407—one of the world's highest‐toll roads—and Canada's largest logistics hub in the Toronto region, where truck freight predominates. I argue that Highway 407 emerged from, and remains deeply entangled with, the class and spatio‐temporal dynamics of capital accumulation shaped by city logistics. I further contend that the capitalist state has facilitated this process—albeit in incomplete and contradictory ways—through highway expansion and labour restructuring aimed at accelerating commodity circulation across space.", "keywords": [ "Restructuring", "Circulation (fluid dynamics)", "Commodity", "Materialism", "Capital (architecture)", "Value (mathematics)", "Asset (computer security)", "State (computer science)", "Truck" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/anti.70196" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2197561375", "doi": null, "title": "Integration of a Freight Module in a Transport Modelling Approach for the Evaluation of Global Planning Scenario", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Laura Clergue", "Valérie Buttignol" ], "first_author": "Laura Clergue", "venue": "European Transport Conference 2015Association for European Transport (AET)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight transport represents one of the major issues of mobility policies for the coming years. It represents a performance indicator for major European cities and a criterion of competitiveness for local companies. As of now, local institutional stakeholders would like to extend the ex-ante evaluation to transport projects and policies related to the transport of goods. This preoccupation is even bigger in the Marseille stakeholders’ minds who are concerned by both urban and seaport issues in relation with goods transport. The current model developed in the Marseille area only simulates light vehicles movements. So, to deal with this problem, the first piece of work consists in integrating a freight module in this transport model in order to simulate flows of vehicles transporting goods. The city of Marseille and its seaport provide a relevant case of application for this exercise. The objective of this work is to improve the consideration of goods transport issues: its knowledge, its integration in modelling and the ex-ante evaluation of global transport projects and policies (inc. cars and trucks). Three main steps have structured the authors work. The first one involves becoming familiar with the movement (pickups and deliveries) of heavy goods vehicles. This step allows estimating travel demand related to goods transport using an urban freight transport model. Secondly, the freight transport demand matrix is integrated as input data for the model. The last step consists in evaluating planning scenarios through the “complete model” by analysing the impacts of each one of them (in terms of traffic, emissions, noise, etc.) and choosing the most suitable scenario. At this stage, and in regards to the results of the application case, the aim is to highlight the limits and possibilities of such a model for a potential use by various transport stakeholders. This paper describes the first coupling test between urban freight transport model and a passenger model. Adding a component “freight transport” to the model allows the testing of supply scenarios from both passengers and freight points of view, and leads consequently to a more integrated approach to urban freight.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Work (physics)", "Transport engineering", "Order (exchange)", "Transportation planning", "Relation (database)", "Multimodal transport", "Traffic management", "Transport policy", "Operations research", "Business", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1372465" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3010943329", "doi": "10.18297/etd/3324", "title": "Simulation and optimization of a multi-agent system on physical internet enabled interconnected urban logistics.", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Long Zheng" ], "first_author": "Long Zheng", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "An urban logistics system is composed of multiple agents, e.g., shippers, carriers, and distribution centers, etc., and multi-modal networks. The structure of Physical Internet (PI) transportation network is different from current logistics practices, and simulation can effectively model a series of PI-approach scenarios. In addition to the baseline model, three more scenarios are enacted based on different characteristics: shared trucks, shared hubs, and shared flows with other less-than-truckload shipments passing through the urban area. Five performance measures, i.e., truck distance per container, mean truck time per container, lead time, CO2 emissions, and transport mean fill rate, are included in the proposed procedures using real data in an urban logistics case. The results show that PI enables a significant improvement of urban transportation efficiency and sustainability. Specifically, truck time per container reduces 26 percent from that of the Private Direct scenario. A 42 percent reduction of CO2 emissions is made from the current logistics practice. The fill rate of truckload is increased by almost 33 percent, whereas the relevant longer distance per container and the lead time has been increased by an acceptable range. Next, the dissertation applies an auction mechanism in the PI network. Within the auction-based transportation planning approach, a model is developed to match the requests and the transport services in transport marketplaces and maximize the carriers’ revenue. In such transportation planning under the protocol of PI, it is a critical system design problem for decision makers to understand how various parameters through interactions affect this multi-agent system. This study provides a comprehensive three-layer structure model, i.e. agent-based simulation, auction mechanism, and optimization via simulation. In term of simulation, a multi-agent model simulates a complex PI transportation network in the context of sharing economy. Then, an auction mechanism structure is developed to demonstrate a transport selection scheme. With regard of an optimization via simulation approach and sensitivity analysis, it has been provided with insights on effects of combination of decision variables (i.e. truck number and truck capacity) and parameters settings, where results can be drawn by using a case study in an urban freight transportation network. In the end, conclusions and discussions of the studies have been summarized. Additionally, some relevant areas are required for further elaborate research, e.g., operational research on airport gate assignment problems and the simulation modelling of air cargo transportation networks. Due to the complexity of integration with models, I relegate those for future", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Container (type theory)", "Transport engineering", "Baseline (sea)", "Computer science", "Revenue", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4531&context=etd" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2909732966", "doi": "10.1145/3288155.3288157", "title": "The Influence of Traffic Control Policy on Urban Logistics Efficiency in Beijing", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-24", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yueyan Song", "Hongjie Lan", "Pu Li" ], "first_author": "Yueyan Song", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "City managers usually implement traffic control policies for the distribution of freight vehicles into urban areas, especially in urban centers, to ease the negative impact of urban logistics activities. To analyze the impact of traffic control policies on Beijing's urban logistics efficiency, the paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to construct a urban logistics efficiency measurement model to measure the efficiency of Beijing's urban logistics. Tobit regression method is used to analyze the impact of traffic control policies on the efficiency of Beijing urban logistics. As a result, it was found that the regional and time-limited policies have a certain negative impact on the efficiency of Beijing's urban logistics, and according to the analysis results, corresponding suggestions for improving the efficiency of Beijing's urban logistics are put forward.", "keywords": [ "Beijing", "Tobit model", "Data envelopment analysis", "Transport engineering", "Control (management)", "Business", "City logistics", "Environmental economics", "Computer science", "China", "Economics", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/3288155.3288157" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204130065", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7346702", "title": "Energy, Environmental, and Economic Assessment of Electric Refrigerated Trucks with Alternative Refrigerants and Integrated Solar-Battery Systems", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Sang Hoon Lee", "Ki Dae Na", "Chao Ding", "Won Young Park" ], "first_author": "Sang Hoon Lee", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Refrigeration", "Powertrain", "Refrigerant", "Diesel fuel", "Electricity", "Schedule", "Energy consumption" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7346702" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163410900", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20512453", "title": "Dataset for Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Freight Transport Based on Macroscopic Traffic Modelling", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-02", "type": "dataset", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jan Paszkowski", "Emilian Szczepański", "Jakub Murawski" ], "first_author": "Jan Paszkowski", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The purpose of this dataset is to enable the replication of the research results presented in the article: Paszkowski, J. S., Szczepański, E., & Murawski, J. (2025). Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Freight Transport Based on Macroscopic Traffic Modelling. Annual Set the Environment Protection, 27, 746–766. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2025.060 The dataset was created as part of the E-Laas project (Energy optimal urban logistics As A Service).Project implemented as part of the call ERA-NET Cofund Urban Accessibility and Connectivity (ENUAC China Call) organized by JPI Urban Europe and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875022. E-Laas project is carried out in an international consortium. Project coordinator in Europe: Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), project coordinator in China: Shanghai University (China), consortium members: Tsinghua University (China), Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), cooperation partners: Stockholms stad, Trafikkontoret (Sweden), ParkUnload (Spain), Metropolis GZM (Poland), Shanghai Urban-Rural Construction and Transportation Department (China), Volvo Group Trucks Technology and Operations (Sweden).- The Chinese part of the project is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China.- The Swedish part of the project is funded by Swedish Energy Agency.- The Polish part of the project is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (project no. 2022/04/Y/ST8/00134). The value of the co-financing is PLN 878,107.00. Project duration 27/04/2023 - 26/04/2026 (36 months).", "keywords": [ "Truck", "China", "Duration (music)", "Environmental impact assessment", "Research program", "Foundation (evidence)", "Technical university" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20512453" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7171556372", "doi": "10.20944/preprints202607.2081.v1", "title": "Innovation and Sustainability in City Logistics with Autonomous Electric Wagons (AEW): A Case Study in Rome", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-29", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "F. Filippi" ], "first_author": "F. Filippi", "venue": "Preprints.org", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The traditional truck-based urban logistics drives the highest unit costs and externalities in urban logistics, including elevated CO₂ emissions, air pollution, road accidents, traffic congestion, road damage, and adverse social effects on delivery workers and communities. In Italy, the unique urban morphology of historic city centers, coupled with stringent Limited Traffic Zones (ZTL), make the impacts particularly severe. This paper proposes a hybrid system that exploits the existing electric regional rail network to transport freight to urban areas with fewer externalities. The system utilizes autonomous, electric wagons, such as the type built by Parallel Systems, a start-up in Los Angeles, that couple with passenger trains for suburban-to-urban transit and decouple to travel independently over dedicated short-distance connectors to urban cross-docking terminals. The study aims to improve delivery efficiency while reducing the environmental impact. A preliminary analysis for the city of Rome shows the possibility of implementing the system, and the findings indicate that Autonomous Electric Wagons (AEW) have the potential to provide a scalable and environmentally sustainable alternative for urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Train", "Sustainability", "Externality", "City logistics", "Unit (ring theory)", "Urban sustainability", "Exploit", "Ecological footprint", "Urban transit" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202607.2081.v1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2981014744", "doi": null, "title": "Final 50 Feet of the Urban Goods Delivery System: Pilot Test of an Innovative Improvement Strategy", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-07-23", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anne Goodchild", "Barbara Ivanov", "Haena Kim" ], "first_author": "Anne Goodchild", "venue": "ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington)", "publisher": "University of Washington", "abstract": "The \"Final 50 Feet of the Urban Goods Delivery System: Pilot Testing Innovative Improvement Strategies\" project will provide new data-based knowledge and insights about the effects of truck parking strategies proposed in the City of Seattle, before they are broadly implemented.Goals of the project are reduction in dwell time, the time a truck is parked in a load/unload space.There are both public and private benefits to reaching this goal.As well as a reduction in failed first deliveries.Several Urban Freight Lab members told the research team that 8-10% of first delivery attempts in urban areas across the country fail.A study conducted in the UK reported that the cost of failed first deliveries was 771 billion euros in 2014. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Urban Freight DeliveryNo restrictions. Security Classification (of this report)20.", "keywords": [ "Test (biology)", "Delivery system", "Business", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Biomedical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/1773/44473" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7133168231", "doi": null, "title": "Best Practices and Means to Develop Zero Emission City Logistics", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dilnaz Zhumabayeva" ], "first_author": "Dilnaz Zhumabayeva", "venue": "Tampere University Institutional Repository (Tampere University)", "publisher": "Tampere University of Applied Sciences", "abstract": "City logistics significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and congestion, accounting for nearly one third of total transportation CO2 emissions. Hence, the field requires transformation to achieve emission-free urban logistics, as outlined by numerous European cities’ climate plans and strategies. This thesis investigates best practices and means to develop zero-emission city logistics and their outcomes, focusing also on drivers of the transition, challenges in the process, stakeholders involved and their roles. Through systematic literature review, practices for emission-free freight transportation were divided into technological, infrastructural, and regulatory categories. Afterwords, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with specialists in the field of city logistics of 10 various European cities with proactive approach towards reducing emissions. Empirical data on 10 cities was additionally collected from secondary sources to develop background knowledge for further analysis. In combination with the interviews, literature review reveals efficiency of electrification of freight vehicles through incentives, subsidies, and development of sufficient charging infrastructure as essential practice to encourage transition. Besides that, enforcement of zero-emission zones in high-density areas was advocated to be effective, yielding in emission cuts by up to 90%, for instance, in Rotterdam, with a disadvantage of high instalment costs. Other practices, such as road tolls, cargo bikes, and green procurement strategies were also mentioned as effective in reducing emissions. On the other hand, Urban Consolidation Centers and micro-hubs have been discussed as not effective in reducing emissions if used as warehouses without collaboration and consolidation of goods between logistics operators. Drivers of change included harmonization of regulations and political involvement into emissions reductions. However, the challenges, such as high initial costs, lack of collaboration, and infrastructure gaps persist. Collaboration is a pivotal aspect of transformation, which is often facilitated by cities or municipalities. They invite logistics operators, their clients, national government, small and medium enterprises, as well as citizens to discuss and develop vision for the future together. Collaborative events revealed high need of industry in predictability of changes, such as future regulations or environmental zones’ introduction for the span of next 3-5 years. Overall, this study contributes to better understanding of the decision-making process behind the introduction of emission-reduction practices, recommending strategies that would be applicable to various cities, such as identifying current logistical challenges faced by operators and their clients, raising awareness among stakeholders on the need to reduce emissions, and developing digital solutions to share up-to-date regulations and collect feedback from stakeholders. The limitations of this study include mostly focusing on European cities and lack of publicly available data on the outcomes of the practices, as most of them were implemented recently. Hence, further research should focus on the longitudinal research of the results of implemented practices in various cities around the globe to ensure transferability of the outcomes to other cities.", "keywords": [ "Best practice", "Consolidation (business)", "Enforcement", "Procurement", "City logistics", "Greenhouse gas", "Electrification", "Harmonization" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/10024/234010/2/ZhumabayevaDilnaz.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W590082623", "doi": null, "title": "Urban freight management schemes and evaluation of safety management practice in the trucking of petroleum products in Nigeria", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Abimbola Odumosu", "Abdulganiyu Olukayode Tijjani" ], "first_author": "Abimbola Odumosu", "venue": "24th World Road CongressWorld Road Association (PIARC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Refined petroleum products (Petrol, Kerosene, Diesel, Liquefied Natural Gas, Ethanol, Thinner and other spirits) are majorly transported from Refineries, Deports and Jetties in Nigeria to petrol stations and industries through the use of petrol trucks. In recent times, the explosion and involvement of these trucks in accidents has been at alarming rate and these have led to massive loss of lives, properties and damage to the environment. Kaduna town in Northern Nigeria host one of the four refineries in the country and the town also serve as link road to other parts of Northern states for trucks that bridge petroleum products from southern parts of the country, the town attracts high volume of petrol trucks traffic. This paper examined the urban freight management schemes available during the loading of products from Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company and safety management measures taken by petrol stations owners at the points of products discharge in the town. It also assesses the role of Petrol Trucks Operators and Traffic Law Enforcement Agencies in the effective management of safety measures and safety policy implementation in the trucking of the products within the country. Deductions from empirical figures showed that at the loading point in the Refinery and discharging point at petrol stations safety standard measures are being enforced, however little is done by petrol trucks operators and law enforcement agencies in ensuring safe transportation of petroleum products on Nigerian roads and cities. Consequently it is recommended that the operators needs to safeguards their huge investments.Also law enforcement agencies like Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) needs to ensure the safety of other road users, from the menace of accidents from petrol trucks which are majorly resulted to non adherence to road safety rules and regulations. Finally, results elicited from the traffic corridor used as case study and solution proffered will be quantified, aggregated and use as inputs for modelling of urban freight managements schemes for Nigerian roads.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Enforcement", "Oil refinery", "Gasoline", "Law enforcement", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Petroleum", "Diesel fuel", "Kerosene", "Refinery", "Petroleum product" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1280345" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7111546088", "doi": null, "title": "Success factors for sustainable urban logistics hubs : insights from best-practice cases", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Von Wieding, Sönke", "Doege, Patrick", "Thon, Fabio" ], "first_author": "Von Wieding, Sönke", "venue": "Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften digital collection (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)", "publisher": "ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences", "abstract": "Introduction: White-label urban logistics hubs—such as consolidation centers, transshipment hubs, and parcel lockers—shared by competing transport companies, are promoted as sustainable urban logistics solutions. However, many fail to remain viable without subsidies, with few sustaining operations in competitive markets. Despite being cited as best practices, evaluations of their success factors, such as operational scale, business models, and organization, are scarce. This paper addresses this gap by identifying key factors behind successful, market-sustained hubs. Method: We reviewed the literature to develop a typology categorizing urban logistics hubs by logistics activities, spatial footprint, catchment area, organizational form, and business model. Using a multiple case study approach, we selected best-practice hubs in each category and conducted expert interviews with operators, researchers, and public authorities involved in their implementation or evaluation. Results: Our analysis found no evidence of successful horizontal collaborations where transport companies share a hub for white-label deliveries, despite their frequent promotion as best practices. White-label operations were identified only in real estate- or receiver-led initiatives, where the hub functions as a designated delivery address. These setups often impose additional costs on real estate firms or receivers, which are sometimes offset by integrating recycling flows into the model. By contrast, we found several cases of individual transport companies using transshipment hubs (shared or private) for their own intermodal operations, employing light (electric) freight vehicles for last-mile delivery. While some hubs are provided free or subsidized, funded either by real estate companies benefiting from added tenant amenities or by public authorities aiming to reduce traffic and improve accessibility, financial support is not universally required for competitiveness. Successful hubs enhance their economic sustainability by generating additional revenue through services beyond core transshipment and consolidation, such as localized storage and consolidated deliveries for receivers, parking and small storage for carriers, and recycling collection.", "keywords": [ "Real estate", "Transshipment (information security)", "Consolidation (business)", "Success factors", "Competitive advantage", "Typology", "Promotion (chess)", "Operational efficiency", "Critical success factor" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hdl.handle.net/11475/34587" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4205539702", "doi": "10.1016/j.rtbm.2021.100775", "title": "Freight rates up and down the urban hierarchy", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-12-31", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David Guerrero", "Hidekazu Itoh", "Kenmei Tsubota" ], "first_author": "David Guerrero", "venue": "Research in Transportation Business & Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This paper investigates how freight rates paid by shippers are affected by the characteristics of urban areas of origin and destination. It is based on a commodity flow survey between 45 Japanese prefectures from 2000 to 2010. Through an analysis of freight rates, authors seek to identify the advantages and disadvantages faced by shippers firms depending on the spatial arrangement of their freight flows. The results show that shipping cargo from small to large urban areas is less costly than in the reverse direction, other things being equal. This difference may be due to the higher probability for truck companies to find back-haul cargo when the destination is a large urban area, usually involving a larger truck transport market. Another important finding of this study is that intra-urban freight rates are positively correlated with population size . The latter may result from higher levels of congestion, labour costs , weight and size restrictions on vehicles, as well as higher proportions of light goods such parcels and courier flows.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Commodity", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Population", "Urban hierarchy", "Economic geography", "Geography", "Finance", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2021.100775" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7202252708", "doi": "10.26153/tsw/64420", "title": "Autonomous delivery robots for off-peak-hour urban freight: integration strategies for complex urban environments", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": null, "authors": [ "Huihai Wang" ], "first_author": "Huihai Wang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Last-mile delivery challenges impose substantial burdens on urban transportation systems, including increased traffic congestion, higher emissions, and heightened safety risks. Various mitigation strategies have been proposed and examined, such as micromobility-based delivery, urban microhubs, and off-peak-hour delivery operations. Although these approaches offer potential benefits, significant barriers continue to limit their widespread implementation. For example, microhub deployment in densely populated urban areas raises safety and space-allocation concerns, while off-peak-hour delivery strategies may introduce noise disturbances and increase labor costs. The emergence of Autonomous Delivery Robots (ADRs) presents new opportunities for transforming urban freight systems. Integrating ADRs into off-peak-hour delivery operations has the potential to alleviate daytime transportation pressures by reducing competition for roadway resources and better utilizing underused nighttime infrastructure. However, due to the early stage of ADR deployment and limited empirical studies, research in this area remains insufficient. This dissertation investigates how off-peak-hour ADR delivery can be effectively integrated into complex urban transportation systems. First, it evaluates the operational benefits and system-level performance of ADR-assisted delivery under varying urban conditions. Second, it develops an urban readiness evaluation framework and a corresponding indicator by leveraging urban big data and artificial intelligence techniques. Third, it constructs an Autonomous Delivery Robot Knowledge Graph (ADRKG) to integrate heterogeneous urban information, providing planners and delivery companies with a standardized framework for information management and retrieval. The results indicate that ADR-assisted delivery can reduce average daily operational costs by up to 47% compared with conventional truck-based delivery systems. In addition, the proposed readiness evaluation framework offers actionable insights for government agencies, delivery operators, and robot engineers regarding infrastructure planning, robot system design, and deployment feasibility. The ADRKG further establishes a structured foundation for system integration, future expansion, and continued research on intelligent urban delivery operations.", "keywords": [ "Software deployment", "Government (linguistics)", "Delivery Performance", "Urban planning", "Delivery system", "Smart city" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/64420" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416681536", "doi": "10.1016/j.trip.2025.101750", "title": "Assessing the impact of urban freight traffic restrictions on mobility and emissions: Evidence from Bogotá, Colombia", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Cristiam Gil", "Gordon Wilmsmeier" ], "first_author": "Cristiam Gil", "venue": "Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "• Bogotá implemented Decree 840 of 2019 (modified by Decree 077 of 2020) to limit cargo vehicle circulation during peak hours to reduce congestion and emissions. The traffic restrictions were introduced as part of Bogotá’s broader efforts to improve urban mobility and environmental quality, aligning with global trends in freight transport regulation. • Post-policy implementation, motorcycle traffic surged by 41 %, while urban bus traffic declined by 35 %. While smaller (C2) cargo vehicles saw a 4 % decrease in traffic, larger trucks (C3 and ≥ C4) experienced increases of 1 % and 8 %, respectively. • The study found only a 3% reduction in emissions attributed to the decree, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing pollution. Not all pollutants decreased equally—while some emissions improved due to better traffic flow, others increased due to shifts in vehicle usage patterns. • The COVID-19 pandemic influenced mobility patterns, making it difficult to isolate the direct effects of the decree. The decrease in buses and increase in motorcycles suggest a shift in urban mobility, possibly influenced by economic and social changes post-pandemic. • The study suggests that replacing outdated, high-emission vehicles with modern, cleaner alternatives is more effective than temporary traffic restrictions. The research suggests that static regulations may not be enough; dynamic and data-driven policies could yield better results. Fast-growing cities face rising congestion and air pollution, with freight transport essential for urban logistics but also a major contributor to these problems. Using primary data from multiple locations and time periods, this study evaluates the effects of freight-traffic restrictions by comparing conditions before and after implementation. The analysis focuses on Bogotá, Colombia, assessing the impacts of Decree 840 of 2019 and its amendment under Decree 077 of 2020, which restrict heavy vehicles during peak hours and add limits by vehicle age and geographic zone. A log–log linear regression model is used to analyse freight vehicle flow, paired with an emissions model based on vehicle type, fuel use, and emissions standards; this approach is adopted due to data limitations that preclude a difference-in-differences design. Results show measurable changes in freight traffic and emissions, highlighting both the effectiveness and the limitations of these measures. The findings contribute to urban freight management research and provide evidence to support policies aimed at improving air quality and mobility.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Modal shift", "Fuel efficiency", "Public transport", "Pedestrian", "Decree", "Yield (engineering)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101750" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7212205865", "doi": null, "title": "Scenario-based Assessment of Truck Electrification: Estimating Emissions and Impact on Charging Infrastructure in Helsinki Metropolitan Area A Simulation Based Evaluation", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Muhammad Shuaib Khalid" ], "first_author": "Muhammad Shuaib Khalid", "venue": "Tampere University Institutional Repository (Tampere University)", "publisher": "Tampere University of Applied Sciences", "abstract": "Climate change is real and so its repercussions – as visible as the broad day light. Carbon emissions are considered as a major contributor in greenhouse gases, and urban logistics are significantly contributing to these emissions especially in compact and densely populated urban cities where freight vehicles operate intensively. Although these vehicles take a small proportion of the road transport fleet, but they account for a large share of carbon emissions which makes them an important target for decarbonizing and for achieving carbon neutrality. Consequently, the electrification of urban logistics has been widely recognized in the literature as one of the most promising approaches for reducing emissions from freight transport. This thesis explores the pathway towards Zero Emission Urban Logistics (ZEUL) by investigating four electrification scenarios for Helsinki Metropolitan Area in the year 2040 using the SUMO. These scenarios are simulated to evaluate the potential reduction in carbon emissions under different levels of fleet electrification and to examine the resulting impacts on charging infrastructure. In addition, two urban logistics measure i.e., Zero Emission Zones (ZEZs) and Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) were incorporated into the model to assess their contribution to emission reduction and charging performance. The simulation results showed a clear relationship between the level of fleet electrification and carbon emissions. As it increased, carbon emissions decreased compared with the Base Scenario. At the same time, higher levels of electrification led to an increase in the number of vehicles using charging stations, greater electricity demand, and longer average vehicle charging duration. The analysis also identified locations where additional charging infrastructure would be required to support future electrification. When ZEZs were introduced alongside fleet electrification, the reduction in daily carbon emissions was substantially greater than with electrification alone. It was recorded that, with accelerated electrification alongside with city-wide ZEZ a reduction of 44% of CO2 emissions per day from ICE truck and 55% of CO2 emissions reduction per day from ICE trailer can be achieved. Similarly, upgrading charging stations to Megawatt Charging Systems significantly reduced the average charging time up to 20 mins for heavy-duty electric vehicles. These findings provide practical insights for policymakers and urban planners in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, supporting evidence-based decisions on charging infrastructure planning, zoning policies, and the transition towards zero emission urban logistics (ZEUL). The study’s limitations are mainly related to the assumptions made regarding vehicle characteristics and their standardization, including vehicle size, vehicle type, emission classification, and battery state of charge. Despite these limitations, the study contributes to the existing scientific knowledge by providing a methodological framework for evaluating metropolitan-scale urban logistics electrification scenarios and assessing their potential in achieving ZEUL.", "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Greenhouse gas", "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Electricity", "Baseline (sea)", "Carbon footprint", "Urban area", "Climate change" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trepo.tuni.fi/handle/10024/240024" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W23938415", "doi": null, "title": "A silk purse from a sow's ear? predicting current urban freight movements.", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Adam Pekol", "M R Wigan", "John M. Hulbert" ], "first_author": "Adam Pekol", "venue": "Edinburgh Napier Research Repository (Edinburgh Napier University)", "publisher": "Edinburgh Napier University", "abstract": "The importance of freight activity in urban areas has increased substantially and is predicted tocontinue to rise. However, freight data is difficult to secure, and even more difficult to use inpolicy, forecasting and analysis. This is a direct consequence of the focus of traditional transportmodelling - and thus data collection - on private travel. Significantly less research and modellingeffort has been directed towards urban freight transport, which is in many ways more complex.Modelling of urban freight movement improves our understanding of its key drivers, leading to thedevelopment of more responsive infrastructure, policy and pricing solutions. Even gaining a goodpicture of what is going on right now is not straightforward to achieve, and this task of ‘predictingthe present’ meets a number of the more urgent needs for fright movement assessment.This paper outlines work undertaken on behalf of Queensland Transport to address this need. Itsaim was to combine existing traffic counts, roadside interview data and truck trip tables forMetropolitan Brisbane, to provide Queensland Transport with a current freight matrix and somemeasure of the confidence that may be placed in the results. The process itself prioritised andweighted the various input data in terms of its currency, quality and level of detail, so that theresulting matrices reflected a balanced combination of new and old, and high and low qualityinputs. This approach ensured that the greatest possible use was made of a limited amount offreight data, and proved capable of estimating more than a single matrix by handling freightvehicles of different types.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Process (computing)", "Currency", "Work (physics)", "Quality (philosophy)", "Data collection", "Task (project management)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6129" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164527762", "doi": "10.3390/su18126019", "title": "Low-Emission Logistics: A Model for Optimizing Electric Truck Routes and Charging Stations, Integrating Solar Energy", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nijolė Batarlienė", "Inesa Pevcevic" ], "first_author": "Nijolė Batarlienė", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The rapid electrification of urban freight transport requires new optimization approaches that jointly consider logistics operations and energy system constraints. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that captures the interdependencies between vehicle operations, battery constraints, charging infrastructure availability and the temporal variability of photovoltaic energy. A multi-objective structure is adopted to minimize total energy costs and CO2 emissions while maximizing the utilization of locally generated renewable energy. The model is evaluated using scenario-based simulations under three solar integration levels (0%, 30% and 60%). The results demonstrate that integrating solar energy into routing and charging decisions significantly reduces grid dependency, lowers emissions and improves overall system efficiency. Three types of charging stations are considered in the study (S1, S2, and S3), differing in photovoltaic (PV) energy penetration levels, ranging from conventional grid-based charging (S1) to high renewable integration stations (S3). The quantitative analysis reveals a clear resource and emission structure across the simulated scenarios. Incorporating charging stops grid-wide increases the total distance from theoretical routes to real tracks with stops to overcome the 120 kW battery limit. However, the integration of solar energy significantly alters the system’s environmental costs: total CO2 emissions drop non-linearly by 33.4%, decreasing from 364.64 kg in the ‘Low Sun’ scenario to 243 kg in the ‘High Sun’ scenario. Furthermore, the localized impact shows that utilizing pure grid energy (S1) results in 405 kg of CO2, while maximizing solar integration up to 60% (S3) reduces emissions to 162 kg. The sensitivity analysis showed how varying the share of solar energy at the two main stations (S2 and S3) affects the total CO2 emissions, while maintaining the same routes. Three scenarios were examined: low (10% and 30%), base (30% and 60%) and high (50% and 90%) solar energy shares. As the share of solar energy in the system increases, a clear effect of emission reduction and energy cost optimization is observed.", "keywords": [ "Photovoltaic system", "Renewable energy", "Greenhouse gas", "Grid", "Truck", "Solar energy", "Electrification", "Battery (electricity)", "Electric vehicle" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/12/6019/pdf?version=1781683621" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1893138966", "doi": null, "title": "Integrated approach to urban/non-urban freight and land-side port demand", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Peter J. Davidson", "Anabelle Spinoulas" ], "first_author": "Peter J. Davidson", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents work done on a new combined road freight/personal travel model of southern Queensland, including South-East Queensland and the Surat Basin. The model includes two major ports - Brisbane and Gladstone, and includes a detailed operational model of road freight vehicles with multiple classes and complex operating cost components. Alternative approaches to freight modelling are considered, along with the special difficulties associated with freight demand. The underlying theory behind our approach is TransPosition's 4S model, which allows these complex, high level issues to be combined with a detailed, local transport model; in this case it includes all roads and full public transport/active transport. This approach offers many benefits, and allows urban and non-urban freight interactions to be considered in a consistent manner; this is important for land-side demand at ports, which are usually in urban areas and influenced by significant non-freight traffic. It also allows the consideration of tolling impacts on regional freight demand, critical for the consideration of projects such as the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Port (circuit theory)", "Work (physics)", "Traffic management", "Land use", "Demand management", "Business", "Civil engineering", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1371419" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7212059230", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7439590", "title": "E-Commerce Logistics and Urban Freight Transportation: Spatial Organization, Network Infrastructure, and Policy Implications of Amazon’s Distribution Network", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Chan Rui" ], "first_author": "Chan Rui", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Adaptability", "Truck", "Traffic management", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Consolidation (business)", "Supply chain" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7439590" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3165292588", "doi": null, "title": "Delivering the future of urban freight: Towards a strategic framework for multimodal consolidation in the MRDH", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Marcel de Groot" ], "first_author": "Marcel de Groot", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "Urban planners and decision-makers face several challenges in keeping cities liveable. Getting a well-working urban freight system is one of these underexposed challenges, where there is still a lack of knowledge and awareness among them. Current freight policies are insufficient to tackle the increasing negative externalities due to lack of knowledge and awareness on urban freight and measures. The problem of increasing urban freight activities in cities can be considered as a generic problem, however, it will need different solutions, dependent on the characteristics of each urban area. With the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Area (MRDH) as a case study, the project aims to develop a strategic framework for local authorities to accommodate the increasing logistic demand of retailers while reducing negative transport externalities. The research has proposed a two folded solution for the spatial organisation of urban freight: urban consolidation (bundling flows of freight) and urban multimodality (using multiple modes). Based on the strategic framework and design proposals, it can be concluded that changing the spatial organisation of urban freight could potentially reduce the number of freight kilometres in the MRDH and thus negative externalities. There is a huge potential for urban multimodality (especially on the water) when integrated into urban freight strategies. A well-considered allocation of urban consolidation centres and other proposed nodes can create several synergies and strengthen this potential. Proposed interventions contribute to the liveability of the city by reducing the number of trucks in ‘vulnerable’ urban areas. Ultimately, the strategic framework gives new perspectives of urban freight to local authorities and can be environmental, social en economical beneficial and improve liveability.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Externality", "Business", "Consolidation (business)", "City logistics", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Economics", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:aed7bb4f-f3af-4d0a-882f-eb7200b0988e" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W81048810", "doi": null, "title": "A Comparative Analysis of European examples of Schemes for Freight Electric Vehicles. A systematic case study approach with examples from Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-02-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tessa T. Taefi", "Jochen Kreutzfeldt", "Tobias Held", "Rob Konings", "Richard Kötter", "Sara Lilley", "Hanna Baster", "Nadia Green", "Michael Stie Laugesen", "Stefan Jacobsson", "Martin Borgqvist", "Camilla Nyquist" ], "first_author": "Tessa T. Taefi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "eMobility is a hot topic, in the public policy area as well as in business and scientific communities. Literature on electric freight transport is still relatively scarce. Urban freight transport is considered as one of the most promising fields of application of vehicle electrification, and there are on-going demonstration projects. This paper will discuss case study ex-amples of electric freight vehicle initiatives in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK and identify enablers and barriers for common trends.", "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Public transport", "Transport engineering", "Regional science", "Business", "Engineering", "Economy", "Electricity", "Geography", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/15185/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367018342", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4429473", "title": "Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones: Mathematical Formulation, Solution Algorithm and Experiments", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Petr Stodola", "Libor Kutěj" ], "first_author": "Petr Stodola", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Drone", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Depot", "Algorithm", "Mathematics", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4429473" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2113647544", "doi": "10.2382/31040", "title": "Considerations on City Logistics Projects in Some Italian Middle-Sized Cities", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Marco Spinedi" ], "first_author": "Marco Spinedi", "venue": "Economia dei Servizi", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Freight transport in urban areas has become an important social issue due to the increasing level of traffic congestion, negative environmental impact, road traffic safety, fuel consumption. In the decade, local administrators, as well as national governments, tried to implement a number of projects to modify the current organization of urban distribution (the so called last mile), in order to reduce negative externalities. Less pollution, less traffic congestion and a more efficient load factor for vans and trucks can be an effective strategy not only for the environment and quality of life, but also for the urban economy and the attractiveness of city centres. The two most common City Logistics strategies promoted by local authorities are city access restrictions for freight movements and for high pollutant vehicles (special tariffs, time restrictions, etc.), and the creation of public logistics terminals - the so called Urban Distribution Centres, UDC - where it is forbidden for big trucks to enter the city centres. Thus, they must stop into logistics platforms, strategically located outside the city core, where goods are loaded on low or zero-polluting vans running the last mile until the final destination. UDC can follow different organization schemes, as the analysis of the cases reported in this article proves. It is not easy to modify a distribution chain resulted from open market forces and consolidated private operators' behaviours. Opposition movements and conflicting interests are very common. Policy makers should then better study the behaviour of stakeholders in order to evaluate the real effects of the policy measure implemented.", "keywords": [ "Externality", "Truck", "Business", "Order (exchange)", "City logistics", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Attractiveness", "Traffic congestion", "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Public transport", "Environmental economics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mul:j1t56u:doi:10.2382/31040:y:2009:i:3:p:399-412" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W217003604", "doi": "10.1108/9780080473222-030", "title": "Web-based transport exchange systems in Japan and its implication to traffic volume", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-07-22", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ryuichi Yoshimoto" ], "first_author": "Ryuichi Yoshimoto", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The logistics cost is about 8% of GDPin Japan and the transport cost is 60% of logistics cost. And also, the road freight traffic volume is 40% of total vehicle kilometres including passenger car. Therefore, it is very important for our society to increase the efficiency of road freight transport.Carriers generally have two ways to decrease road freight traffic volume. First, is to increase loading rates of LTL vehicles by joint delivery and the second is to decrease trucks running empty through the use of a information sharing system for TL vehicles. Recently, many Websites for information sharing are established in order to decrease the empty vehicles.However, most of TL truck carriers are small companies and lack of financial and human resource for information sharing. In 1998, only 25% of these carriers used Personal Computer for their business. In 2002, this figure increased to 80% based mainly on the diffusion of Internet-accessible mobile phone. As the results, the possibility of information sharing between carriers is increasing.The traditional information sharing systems have been used the specific communication line and closed system during carriers. Recent systems use the Web site and quasi-open type between carriers and shippers. There are some barriers for the application of the information sharing system to city logistics. It is necessary to have lead-time of 2 or 3 days before dispatching of TL. This lead-time includes order processing and freight and fleet management for each truck carrier. And also the institutional elements such as the arrangement on the level of freight charge and the insurance on cargo and transport is very important pre-requites for information sharing.In near future, the possibility of application of information sharing system for city logistics will be increase when mobile Internet systems shorten the necessary lead -time and the institutional environment are improved.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Order (exchange)", "The Internet", "Transport engineering", "Volume (thermodynamics)", "Information sharing", "Web traffic", "Traffic volume", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/9780080473222-030" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4232429686", "doi": "10.1201/b17715-15", "title": "Cooperative Freight Transport Systems", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-10-29", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Russell G. Thompson" ], "first_author": "Eiichi Taniguchi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Cooperative freight transport systems (CFTS) are signicant measures for solving urban freight issues. CFTS can be dened as “systems in which multiple entities cooperatively use and operate the whole or a part of the transport elements of their logistics activities.” Cooperative use of information and communication technologies, as well as transport systems, is often incorporated. As the denition implies, CFTS could lead to a reduced number of freight vehicles used, an increase in their utilization, and a decrease in their total travel time. Therefore, these systems have 11.1 Introduction 167 11.2 Modeling the Effects of CFTS 168 11.3 Examples of CFTS 170 11.3.1 Japan 170 11.3.2 The Netherlands 171 11.3.3 United Kingdom 172 11.3.4 Others 173 11.4 Summary 173 References 174 a high potential for achieving many of the aims of city logistics, such as alleviating trafc congestion and improving the environment.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/b17715-15" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W322712745", "doi": null, "title": "Cost Structure of Highway Construction and Maintenance: How Should We Levy Taxes on Freight Vehicles?", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yuki Misui", "Toshinori Nemoto" ], "first_author": "Yuki Misui", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Recently, government and logistics service providers have established advanced logistics systems that meet sophisticated and diversified demands of city logistics. It is necessary to introduce a principle of cost sharing among the infrastructure users in order to accomplish efficiency in logistics activities and to improve the environment. In this paper, the authors aim to estimate the cost structure and cost responsibility for each automobile type on highway investment. Based on the estimation results, the authors attempt to determine appropriate tax levels to be paid by highway users including freight vehicles from the perspective of social welfare. As a policy implication in city logistics, the authors describe the required adjustments that have to be undertaken to change the current automobile-related tax and charging policies.", "keywords": [ "Investment (military)", "Order (exchange)", "Business", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Government (linguistics)", "Service (business)", "Industrial organization", "Finance", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/786638" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2895863954", "doi": "10.1108/978-1-78756-803-720181009", "title": "The São Paulo Off-Hour Delivery Pilot: Impacts for City Logistics", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-22", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yoshida Yoshizaki Hugo Tsugunobu", "da Cunha Cláudio Barbieri", "Ribeiro Giacon Joice", "Almeida Flavio Vaz", "Kako Iara Sakitani", "Laranjeiro de Andrade Patrícia Faias", "Hino Celso Mitsuo" ], "first_author": "Yoshida Yoshizaki Hugo Tsugunobu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Abstract This chapter describes and discusses the main results of the successful off-hour delivery (OHD) pilot test in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, which took place between October 2014 and March 2015. The pilot engaged major stakeholders in urban distribution, including local authorities, shippers, carriers, and receivers, with the aim to determine what are the main requirements, constraints, opportunities, and threats for establishing a public policy related to shifting deliveries to late night in order to mitigate traffic congestion. Differently from the former City of New York OHD pilot, here all participant companies were volunteers, with no need for cash incentives. The primary focus in São Paulo was on the issues of safety and noise, besides productivity aspects of travel time, truck speed, and delivery time. The pilot was very successful, with no registered complaints of noise or security incidents. Travel speeds were obtained from global positioning system (GPS) tracking data and internal delivery systems. The chapter compares daytime and night operations and shows that productivity in some chains would improve significantly, but noise and safety must be carefully controlled to guarantee the expansion of the concept.", "keywords": [ "Incentive", "Productivity", "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Public transport", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Global Positioning System", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Telecommunications", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78756-803-720181009" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W649942531", "doi": null, "title": "Smart Freight Transport in Urban Areas: The “SMARTFREIGHT” Project", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hans Westerheim", "Marit Kjøsnes Natvig" ], "first_author": "Hans Westerheim", "venue": "15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and ITS America's 2008 Annual MeetingITS AmericaERTICOITS JapanTransCore", "publisher": null, "abstract": "In cities and urban areas the road is the only real alternative for freight transport, and the freight distribution vehicles have negative effects on the traffic situation, the environmental and the safety. It is also clear that the efficiency of the urban freight transport has to be improved. Smarter freight distribution in urban areas will need intervention from both the commercial fleet operators themselves, as well as from the city authorities. SMARTFREIGHT is a project founded by EU’s FP7. The project aims to improve the freight distribution in cities by means of the new CALM infrastructure using wireless communication and open services towards on-board and on-cargo equipment. Key issues are traffic management of individual freight vehicles based on the vehicle and cargo profile; and better coordination between the traffic management of the city and the freight distribution operators.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Distribution (mathematics)", "City logistics", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=904985" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4301600181", "doi": "10.7307/ptt.v34i5.4143", "title": "How the Volume of Traffic Affected Air Quality During the Extreme Event of COVID-19 Lockdown in a Small City", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-09-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Branka Trček", "Rok Kamnik" ], "first_author": "Branka Trček", "venue": "PROMET - Traffic&Transportation", "publisher": "University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences", "abstract": "The extreme traffic measures during the COVID-19 lockdown provided a unique opportunity to gain better insight into the relationship between traffic characteristics and NO2 concentrations in Maribor, a small Slovenian city. NO2, traffic and meteorological data were statistically processed in detail for March and April 2018, 2019 and 2020 to get a historical insight and to exclude the specifics of the lockdown period. The extreme event resulted in an average reduction of road traffic of 42%. The decrease in the number of passenger cars ranged from 33.9 to 60.3% per day with the largest decrease on the motorway. Daily averages of heavy goods traffic declined on the motorway and the expressway by 24.6% and 7%, respectively. Traffic characteristics were reflected in a 24–27% decrease in NO2 concentrations at the urban station. The change is smaller than the change in traffic volume, which could be explained by the change in the composition of the vehicle fleet due to the increase in NO2-dominant traffic sources, e.g. diesel heavy goods vehicles. The presented results are relevant for improving air quality and sustainable mobility management in small cities. They highlight the important role of reorganisation of heavy goods traffic in urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Traffic volume", "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)", "Transport engineering", "Heavy traffic", "Volume (thermodynamics)", "Air quality index", "Environmental science", "Quality (philosophy)", "Business", "Geography", "Meteorology", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://traffic2.fpz.hr/index.php/PROMTT/article/download/93/24" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400235868", "doi": "10.1016/j.tra.2024.104149", "title": "Characterizing last-mile freight transportation using mobile phone data: The case of Santiago, Chile", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Franco Basso", "Tomás Cox", "Raúl Pezoa", "Tomás Maldonado", "Mauricio Varas" ], "first_author": "Franco Basso", "venue": "Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Mile", "Mobile phone", "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Phone", "Telecommunications", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2024.104149" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7168368689", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.099", "title": "Should the City Logistics community focus on e-commerce freight traffic?", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "José Holguín‐Veras", "Elias S. Goodrich", "Andres Regal" ], "first_author": "José Holguín‐Veras", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This paper analyzes the spatial distribution of Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) freight vehicle-trips in the urban core of the City of Boston, Massachusetts. Amazon last-mile e-commerce (B2C) deliveries-per-stop data are combined with a new generation of econometric demand models that estimate B2B and B2C fulfillments (shipments and deliveries) using readily available zonal census variables (employment, median household income, and population) to obtain estimates of fulfillments and resulting B2C traffic. Sensitivity analysis is then performed for various B2B consolidation scenarios to determine the location(s) within the area where B2B traffic outpaces B2C traffic. The results of this show that B2B traffic dominates in the urban core, which is consistent with the concentration of commercial establishments and activities there – while secondary urban areas and suburbs tend to receive larger shares of B2C traffic. These results are crucial for the development of geographically targeted policies by planners and decision-makers who have recently placed an outsized emphasis on e-commerce in the densest parts of cities. Traffic generation differences, consolidation, and urban form are directly highlighted in this work.", "keywords": [ "Focus (optics)", "City logistics", "Key (lock)", "Traffic management" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146526003601/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400776155", "doi": "10.1287/trsc.2023.0261", "title": "The Vehicle Routing Problem with Access Restrictions", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Munise Kübra Şahin", "Hande Yaman" ], "first_author": "Munise Kübra Şahin", "venue": "Transportation Science", "publisher": "Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences", "abstract": "To mitigate the negative effects of freight vehicles on urban areas, many cities have implemented road accessibility restrictions, including limited traffic zones, which restrict access to specific areas during certain times of the day. Implementing these zones creates a tradeoff between the delivery cost and time, even under the assumption of equal traversal time and travel cost. Consequently, the planners in charge of vehicle routing need to work with graphs containing information on all Pareto-optimal paths. Inspired by these changes in city logistics and the resulting computational challenges, we study the vehicle routing problem with access restrictions, where some streets are closed to traffic within a given time period. We formulate this problem using workday variables and propose two branch and price algorithms based on the underlying road network and multigraph. The results of our computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, solving instances with up to 100 nodes and 33 customers, and underline the importance of considering alternative paths in reducing costs. Funding: This work was supported by KU Leuven [C14/22/026].", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Computer network", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0261" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2062999450", "doi": "10.1109/icmss.2010.5577377", "title": "A Web-Based Joint-Distribution Platform to Reduce LTL Shipping of Urban Logistics", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-08-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhigang Chen", "Tao Yang", "Hehua Li" ], "first_author": "Zhigang Chen", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Joint-distribution can reduce the less-than-truck-load (LTL) shipping, so that it is important to metropolis, where individual logistic firms are usually small and can not obtain economies of scale. Unfortunately, most of existing web-platforms of common logistics can not play its pre-determined role of join-distribution because of lacking of the incentive mechanism and cost allocation mechanism among all players, including the all kinds of logistics firms and distributors. To address the problems, a new type of a web-based join-distribution platform is proposed in this paper. First, the framework of such a system is illustrated by multi-agent model. Second, two strategies based on game theory is devised to accomplish cost allocating scheme for all distributors. Furthermore, the system platform's procedure is discussed to improve its feasibility.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Incentive", "Computer science", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Join (topology)", "Game theory", "Operations research", "Joint (building)", "Scheme (mathematics)", "Track (disk drive)", "Mechanism (biology)", "Web application" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icmss.2010.5577377" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7126411937", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.6161433", "title": "A Cooperative UAV-Truck Cyber-Physical System for Risk-Aware ContainerLogistics: A V2X-Enabled Bi-Level Optimization Framework", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Yves Ndikuriyo", "Yinggui Zhang", "Dung Davou Fom" ], "first_author": "Yves Ndikuriyo", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Resilience (materials science)", "Component (thermodynamics)", "Truck", "Latency (audio)", "Service (business)", "Systems architecture", "Cellular network", "Routing (electronic design automation)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6161433" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3135025327", "doi": "10.5937/jaes0-27922", "title": "Green last mile distribution system: Heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with time window and external cost", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nahry Nahry", "Talitha Ayu" ], "first_author": "Nahry Nahry", "venue": "Istrazivanja i projektovanja za privredu", "publisher": "Faculty of Agronomy in Čačak", "abstract": "The development of e-commerce business in Jakarta, Indonesia, in recent years has made the Last Mile Delivery (LMD) business sector develop rapidly. Increased demand for LMD makes the resulting kilometer trips even greater, resulting in negative externalities. On the other hand, logistics costs in Indonesia are only affected by vehicle operating costs and no external cost component. Optimization of LMD services that take into account internal and external costs is needed to minimize the total cost of LMD and in reducing the impact of negative externalities. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the LMD distribution system on the Heterogeneous Fleet Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window and External Costs (HFVRPTW-EC) models. The optimization is done by applying the HFVRPTW-EC model using data from one of the parcel deliveries companies in Jakarta and then doing a simulation by forming several operational scenarios. The results show that the optimization of LMD has reduced internal and external costs by more than 50% compared to existing conditions. The detailed results show that, for the short-term program, a scenario with a one-tier distribution system and type of motorcycle vehicle can reduce total costs compared to existing conditions by 66.22% on a peak day and 59.41% on off-peak day. Whereas for long-term program optimization, scenarios with multiple tier distribution systems and types of motorized vehicles for drop mileage and pick up truck for stem mileage can reduce total costs by 69.23% on a peak day and 60.24% on off-peak day.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Vehicle routing problem", "Externality", "Total cost", "Transport engineering", "Kilometer", "Last mile (transportation)", "TRIPS architecture", "Mile", "Computer science", "Operations management", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1451-4117/2021/1451-41172101154N.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7154383691", "doi": "10.48321/d1ca963687", "title": "An Efficient Algorithm for Solving Collaborative Truck-Drone Parcel Delivery System Considering En-Route Launching and Recovery Points.", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maged M. Dessouky" ], "first_author": "Maged M. Dessouky", "venue": "California Digital Library", "publisher": "California Digital Library", "abstract": "The logistics industry faces significant challenges in keeping up with evolving demand and supply conditions, especially in urban areas. Traffic congestion during peak hours makes on-time delivery hard. Moreover, time-sensitive products, such as emergency blood and medicine, must be delivered to the customer at the desired time. Drones are a viable solution to urban logistics problems, as they offer several benefits for package delivery. Drones are resilient to traffic delays since they function independently of road infrastructure, unlike conventional vehicles. However, drones have capacity and other constraints; therefore, collaborating with a drone and a truck can make the delivery system more efficient. Although there has been significant research interest in developing truck-drone routing algorithms, a gap remains in developing models that allow for en-route drone launching points and recovery points. The prior research on truck-drone routing assumes that the truck can only reconnect with a drone at a customer location. In this proposed research, we will expand on the prior work to develop optimization models and algorithms to allow with enroute meet points. This added dimension has the potential to reduce truck vehicle miles and subsequently congestion. Our solution framework will employ a dynamic programming-based algorithm for the initial solution and a synchronized drone dispatch algorithm to determine the launching and recovery points along the truck route. The proposed algorithm will be able to provide solutions for real-world large instances.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Traffic congestion", "Vehicle routing problem", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.48321/d1ca963687" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7154964166", "doi": "10.9734/jerr/2026/v28i41874", "title": "Optimizing Urban Electric Concrete Mixer Truck Routing with an Improved Ant Colony Algorithm: Balancing Costs and Discharge Profits", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Weijie Peng" ], "first_author": "Weijie Peng", "venue": "Journal of Engineering Research and Reports", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban traffic restrictions and the growing demand for low-carbon logistics have created new challenges for the routing of electric concrete mixer trucks in urban distribution. To address this issue, this study investigates the route planning problem of electric concrete mixer trucks under constraints related to customer demand, battery capacity, and vehicle load. A mixed-integer programming model is developed for a one-to-many urban distribution scenario with the objective of minimizing total distribution cost, including fixed vehicle cost, driver time cost, and charging cost. On the basis of the model structure, an improved ant colony algorithm incorporating enhanced search and pheromone-update strategies is designed to solve the problem efficiently. To examine the effectiveness of the proposed approach, numerical experiments are conducted on randomly generated test instances representing radial and circular customer distribution patterns. The computational results show that fixed vehicle usage cost and time-based usage cost are the dominant components of total distribution cost, accounting on average for 56.03% and 42.47%, respectively, whereas charging cost contributes only 1.50%. In addition, the results suggest that discharge behavior during the distribution process may provide supplementary economic benefits under time-dependent electricity pricing conditions, with average discharge profit reaching 57.22 yuan. The improved ant colony algorithm is able to generate feasible route plans for different spatial distribution scenarios within acceptable computation time, with an average runtime of 252.10 s. Overall, this study provides a useful modeling and solution framework for the cost-oriented planning of electric concrete mixer truck routing in urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Ant colony optimization algorithms", "Profit (economics)", "Electricity", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Battery (electricity)", "Ant colony", "Electric vehicle" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.9734/jerr/2026/v28i41874" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403984833", "doi": "10.14569/ijacsa.2024.0151081", "title": "Optimising Delivery Routes Under Real-World Constraints: A Comparative Study of Ant Colony, Particle Swarm and Genetic Algorithms", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rneem I. Aldoraibi", "Fatimah Alanazi", "Haya Alaskar", "Abed Alanazi" ], "first_author": "Rneem I. Aldoraibi", "venue": "International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications", "publisher": "Science and Information Organization", "abstract": "Effective logistics systems are essential for fast and economical package delivery, especially in urban areas. The intricate and ever-changing nature of urban logistics makes traditional methods insufficient. Hence, requirements for the application of sophisticated optimisation techniques have increased. To optimise package delivery routes, this study compares the performance of three popular evolutionary algorithms: ant colony optimisation (ACO), particle swarm Optimisation (PSO), and genetic algorithms (GA). Finding the best algorithm to minimise delivery time and cost while taking into account real-world limitations, such as delivery priority. This guarantees that deliveries with a higher priority are prioritised over others, which may substantially impact route optimisation. We examine each algorithm to create the best possible route plans for delivery trucks using actual data. Several factors are employed to assess each algorithm’s performance, including robustness to changes in environmental variables and computational efficiency—the simulation models delivery demands using actual data. Results indicate that ACO performed better in Los Angeles and Chicago, completing the shortest routes with respective distances of 126,254.18 and 59,214.68, indicating a high degree of flexibility in intricate urban layouts. With the best distance of 48,403.1 in New York, on the other hand, GA achieve good results, demonstrating its usefulness in crowded urban settings. These results highlight how incorporating evolutionary algorithms into urban logistics can improve sustainability and efficiency.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Ant colony optimization algorithms", "Particle swarm optimization", "Parallel metaheuristic", "Ant colony", "Genetic algorithm", "Metaheuristic", "Mathematical optimization", "Swarm intelligence", "Algorithm", "Swarm behaviour", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://thesai.org/Downloads/Volume15No10/Paper_81-Optimising_Delivery_Routes_Under_Real_World_Constraints.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7168429460", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.103", "title": "The introduction of a zero emission zone for city logistics – a case study from Rotterdam", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hans Quak", "Bram Kin", "Ron van Duin", "Jos Streng", "Tim Sjouke" ], "first_author": "Hans Quak", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This paper examines how the transition management approach for sustainability transitions can be applied to the case of how Rotterdam established a zero-emission zone (ZEZ) for city logistics, aiming to stimulate the adoption of electric freight vehicles, enhance logistics efficiency and improve liveability. The study highlights the challenges and strategies involved in transitioning to a sustainable city logistics system. Through a case study methodology, this paper explores the development and implementation of Rotterdam’s ZEZ, emphasising the importance of stakeholder collaboration, strategic planning, and continuous monitoring. The findings provide valuable insights into the practical application of transition management theory in city logistics, offering best practice for other cities aiming to achieve similar sustainability goals.", "keywords": [ "Zero emission", "Zero (linguistics)", "City logistics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146526003649/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4312249075", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-06862-1_38", "title": "Machine Learning Applied to Last Mile Operations: Applying Machine Learning Models for Stops Classification in Urban Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bernardo Puente-Mejia", "Carlos Suárez-Núñez", "David Calahorrano", "Martin Gavilanes", "Daniel Masaquiza" ], "first_author": "Bernardo Puente-Mejia", "venue": "Springer proceedings in mathematics & statistics", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Mile", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Global Positioning System", "Transport engineering", "Machine learning", "Last mile (transportation)", "Artificial intelligence", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06862-1_38" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407570431", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2502.08403", "title": "Solving Large-Scale Two-Echelon Location Routing Problems in City Logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-02-12", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Banu Ulusoy Dereli", "Gerhard Hiermann", "Maximilian Schiffer" ], "first_author": "Banu Ulusoy Dereli", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Logistic service providers increasingly focus on two-echelon distribution systems to efficiently manage thousands of deliveries in urban environments. Effectively operating such systems requires designing cost-efficient delivery networks while addressing the challenges of increasing e-commerce demands. In this context, we focus on a two-echelon location routing problem with mobile depots and direct shipment, where decisions involve locating micro-depots, and designing first and second-level routes. Our model also incorporates the flexibility of direct shipments from the main depot to customers. To solve such large-scale problems efficiently, we propose a metaheuristic approach that integrates a set cover problem with an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS). Our ALNS approach generates a set of promising routes and micro-depot locations using destroy and repair operators while using a local search for intensification. We then utilize the set cover problem to find better network configurations. Additionally, we present a decomposition-based cluster-first, route-second approach to solve large-scale instances efficiently. We show the efficacy of our algorithm on well-known benchmark datasets and provide managerial insights based on a case study for the city of Munich. Our decomposition approach provides comparable results while reducing computational times by a factor of 15. Our case study results show that allowing direct shipment can reduce total costs by 4.7% and emissions by 11%, while increasing truck utilizations by 42%. We find that integrating both stationary and mobile micro-depots, along with allowing direct shipments, can reduce total costs by 5.9% compared to traditional two-echelon delivery structures.", "keywords": [ "Scale (ratio)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Facility location problem", "Business", "Operations research", "Operations management", "Transport engineering", "Computer network", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.08403" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4315701429", "doi": "10.1111/jbl.12330", "title": "A case and framework for expanding the use of model‐free evidence", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Beth Davis‐Sramek", "Alex Scott", "Robert Glenn Richey Jr" ], "first_author": "Beth Davis‐Sramek", "venue": "Journal of Business Logistics", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "The business logistics and supply chain management (L&SCM) discipline has a history of doctoral education that emphasizes the use of empirical research to make contributions to theory and practice. This training is evident in manuscript submissions and published research. As such, the structure of a manuscript has \"generally expected\" components. Authors are expected to: (1) introduce a relevant research question that addresses a specific logistics or supply chain phenomenon; (2) theorize about relationships between constructs that are presented within a nomological network; (3) offer extensive information about how the constructs are operationalized at the empirical level (i.e. variables); and (4) detail the statistical model used to test the hypothesized relationships and evaluate whether these relationships are meaningful or not.1 The application of statistical modeling is a fundamental and necessary component of empirically focused manuscripts in demonstrating the rigor and credibility of the findings. However, we suggest that \"model-free evidence\"2 is underutilized in the discipline. We write this first editorial of 2023 to support, when appropriate, model-free evidence as an additional \"generally expected\" manuscript component. We have asked our colleague Alex Scott to join us as a coauthor because his publications serve as an exemplar in providing context and explanation for our call to incorporate this analysis into manuscripts. An overreliance on complex statistical models and output (i.e. model-based analysis) has potential pitfalls. For example, statistical models require assumptions to be valid, and these assumptions can range from the relatively simple (e.g. the constant variance assumption) to the very complicated (e.g. overidentification in the Arellano–Bond estimator) to the untestable (e.g. parallel trends in difference-in-differences after treatment3). When single-point estimates or regression coefficients from model output are reported in a manuscript, it can be difficult for editors, reviewers, and fellow colleagues to understand the nature of the relationship between variables beyond those estimates, which are conditional on the modeling assumptions. Furthermore, the inclusion of different control variables can flip the signs and change the interpretation of statistical results. While critical for addressing many research questions, output from a statistical model can (and should) always be questioned by the reader, and it often does not fully illustrate the relationship between variables. In the following pages, we offer our rationale for increasing the use of model-free evidence in conjunction with model-based analysis. We believe that adopting its use more fully can improve the credibility of our research with respect to our academic peers and external stakeholders, which is an important goal of the Journal of Business Logistics (JBL) (Richey & Davis-Sramek, 2022a). Although we do not intend for this to be a \"how-to\" guide, we define model-free evidence and explain our rationale for incorporating it into manuscripts. We give additional context by describing the process that we used in a recent manuscript that incorporated model-free evidence (Scott & Davis-Sramek, 2022). Furthermore, we provide a simple framework with an accompanying example to advance the basic principles for producing and communicating model-free evidence in a manuscript. We conclude by emphasizing how it can benefit researchers and more importantly, the consumers of our research. In the final section of the paper, we introduce the articles that make up the first issue of 2023. We define model-free evidence as an empirical analysis used to identify correlations between variables or patterns in the dataset, which allows for a descriptive representation of the data. This evidence is typically presented as either a visualization or a tabulation to illustrate relationships between variables across multiple dimensions. Unlike point estimates from a statistical model that often do not demonstrate the variation in a dataset very well, summary tables and visualizations can clearly and succinctly show the underlying variation, identify potential outliers, and differentiate observed or latent categories in the data. This empirical analysis has also been described as descriptive data, summary data, and data visualizations, although we would like to see the field adopt the term model-free evidence to avoid confusion. Regardless of the label, the use of model-free evidence has long been considered valuable for research (Chatfield, 1985; Tukey, 1977) and continues to be emphasized and utilized today (e.g. Acimovic et al., 2022; Alhauli et al., 2022; Mahoney, 2022; Scott & Nyaga, 2019). A classic example of the power of model-free evidence comes from the work of Florence Nightingale. During her work as a nurse during the Crimean War in the 1850s, Nightingale observed that the \"disgraceful state\" of the sanitary conditions in military hospitals caused thousands of unnecessary deaths of both soldiers and staff (Kopf, 1916). She advocated for the systematic collection of better data (admissions, deaths, and causes of death) and presented it in innovative and influential ways (Magnello, 2012). Her relatively simple representations saved countless lives because the disturbing patterns that emerged from the data were both clear and credible for those who had the authority to address the problems. Of course, L&SCM academic research calls for the combination of model-free evidence and rigorous statistical analysis. Once the former illustrates that interesting and potentially meaningful correlations between variables exist, the latter is needed to assess the significance and magnitude of the relationships. Statistical models are also necessary to rule out alternative explanations, control for potential confounding factors, and test for significance under certain conditions. The combination can be particularly persuasiv", "keywords": [ "Operationalization", "Credibility", "Context (archaeology)", "Computer science", "Supply chain", "Variance (accounting)", "Empirical research", "Supply chain management", "Empirical evidence", "Statistical hypothesis testing", "Data science", "Management science" ], "cited_by_count": 20, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/jbl.12330" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164864838", "doi": "10.3390/su18126055", "title": "Spatial-Operational Prioritization of Loading and Unloading Bays for Sustainable Urban Freight Distribution in a Medium-Sized Latin American City", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fabián Díaz", "Xavier Merino-Vivanco", "Yasmany García-Ramírez" ], "first_author": "Fabián Díaz", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Urban freight distribution is essential for supplying commercial activities, but it also increases pressure on curb space, vehicular circulation, pedestrian movement, and public space management, especially in medium-sized cities where dedicated loading and unloading infrastructure is often limited. Although recent literature emphasizes the need for data-driven urban logistics planning, empirical evidence from intermediate Latin American cities remains scarce. This study develops and applies a spatial-operational framework to characterize urban freight distribution, identify patterns of conflict and informality, estimate loading and unloading bay requirements, and prioritize intervention areas in a medium-sized city. A quantitative, observational, exploratory–descriptive, and correlational design was applied, based on 642 georeferenced loading and unloading operations recorded through a digital field survey. The analysis integrated data cleaning, descriptive and inferential statistics, logistic models, an operational sustainability risk/pressure index, DBSCAN spatial clustering, logistics pressure and sustainable transport priority indices, and a capacity model based on average daily operations. The results revealed spatial concentration of logistics activity, a predominance of light trucks, frequent use of paid parking areas and roadways, and a high presence of operational conflicts. The study provides a replicable and planning-oriented framework for prioritizing curbside management interventions for sustainable urban freight distribution in medium-sized Latin American cities.", "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Latin Americans", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Prioritization", "Urban planning", "Metropolitan area", "City logistics", "Sustainable transport" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/12/6055/pdf?version=1781265328" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2643475243", "doi": null, "title": "Participation for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport Systems : A Case Study of Freight Receivers in the City of Gothenburg", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hannes Lindkvist" ], "first_author": "Hannes Lindkvist", "venue": "Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University)", "publisher": "Uppsala University", "abstract": "This thesis is a case study research that look into the difficulty in engaging freight receivers in initiatives related to urban freight transport. The aim of the paper is to investigate how participatory processes could be formed for more successful outcomes and how the freight receivers could become more engaged in the processes. By conducting a qualitative research where primarily interviews with freight receivers and other concerned stakeholder were made, it was possible to distinguish differences and similarities in views and attitudes toward participation in freight related initiatives. The interviewed freight receivers were located in two different areas in the central business district in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. In one area, the freight receivers have been included in discussions with the traffic and public transport authority regarding a newly implemented restriction for heavy freight vehicles, and thus have experience with participatory processes. These results show that the freight receivers appreciate the possibility to be a part of the discussion even though they are sceptic towards their possibility to influence on decisions. In the other area, the authority is planning on potentially implement the same restrictions, but as they have not started this process, no stakeholders have yet been included in discussions. Thus, the expectations and attitude towards participation in such a process could be studied among freight receivers in this area. Results in this area show that medium sized business, based on turnover, are more enthusiastic in participating meanwhile smaller business and businesses that are part of a chain store or a franchise are less interested in participating. By comparing the views and opinions between these groups with the interview with the authorities, results show that freight receivers and the traffic and public transport authority in Gothenburg have similar views on the importance of participatory processes, but they differ in their views on what influence the freight receivers have in these processes. By analysing the results with the theoretic concepts of participation, engagement and communication it was possible to identify issues in the case that must be considered in order to establish more rewarding participatory processes. It is concluded that freight receivers must be involved already in the process of defining the problem with urban freight transport to close the gap between how the freight receivers and the authorities experience the participatory process. This would enable finding solutions that considerall interests and thus have higher chance of long-lasting implementation rather that creating conflicts on power relations. Further it is stated that with the help of a combination of a scalon plan, quality circle and representative participation is possible to create an altruistic value in participating which could increase the will to engage in participatory processes and creating more sustainable urban freight transport systems.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Sustainable transport", "Business", "Rail freight transport", "Environmental planning", "Sustainability", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-324573" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415269331", "doi": "10.1016/j.orp.2025.100360", "title": "Recursive delivery multiple flying sidekicks traveling salesman problem: An enlightenment of the Covid-19 pandemic", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fatemeh Jamshidian", "Saeed Yaghoubi", "Mohammad Amin Sadeghi" ], "first_author": "Fatemeh Jamshidian", "venue": "Operations Research Perspectives", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "• Constructing a mathematical model for the novel Recursive Delivery Traveling Salesman Problem. • Utilizing a truck and several drones to distribute a variety of services over multiple periods. • An MILP model that explicitly considers revisit constraints dependent on both the timing and type of prior service. • Developing a metaheuristic approach to solve the problem on a large scale. The last-mile delivery of COVID-19 vaccines required a structured timeframe, particularly for double-dose vaccines, where follow-up deliveries had to occur after vaccine type-specific intervals. This recurring service pattern inspired the development of a novel recursive delivery concept—where services must be repeated based on prior deliveries and elapsed time. We define recursive delivery as a multi-period mechanism that dynamically establishes whether, when, and how each customer should be revisited, built upon both service history and time-based constraints. To capture such recursive service patterns, this paper introduces a coordinated truck-drone delivery system, where either vehicle may recursively revisit previously serviced locations depending on the type of service—single or recursive— provided in earlier periods. To formalize this concept, we present a new variant of the Traveling Salesman Problem, termed the Recursive delivery multiple Flying Sidekicks Traveling Salesman Problem ( R − m F S T S P ) . This model extends traditional T S P by incorporating dynamic, service-type-dependent revisit scheduling. The R − m F S T S P has wide applicability in various domains requiring structured, time-sensitive service repetition, such as maintenance, health services, and supply replenishment. We formulate the R − m F S T S P as a mixed-integer linear programming model aimed at minimizing total transportation costs. Given the computational limitations of exact solvers for large-scale instances, a tailored metaheuristic algorithm has been developed to address the structural characteristics of the proposed R − m F S T S P . Its performance has been benchmarked against results from a relevant study, demonstrating competitive outcomes. Furthermore, a lower bound is provided to evaluate the quality of the obtained solutions.", "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Traveling purchaser problem", "Service (business)", "Drone", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Truck", "2-opt" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orp.2025.100360" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409914321", "doi": "10.1139/cjce-2024-0369", "title": "Estimation of logit models for different types of freight in urban freight transport: a new discrete choice model group for Istanbul", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Berna Aksoy", "Mustafa Gürsoy" ], "first_author": "Berna Aksoy", "venue": "Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering", "publisher": "NRC Research Press", "abstract": "Freight transportation plays a significant role in urban transport and contributes substantially to environmental issues due to the use of heavy vehicles. However, compared to passenger transport, decision-makers often overlook the impact of freight transport despite its contribution to congestion. The leading factors influencing the selection of freight vehicles include cost, freight size, and packaging characteristics. However, existing transportation studies mainly examine freight vehicle preferences at a general level, needing a comprehensive understanding of freight transportation. To address this gap, through the framework we propose in this study, we present a discrete modeling-based methodology to identify the factors that determine freight vehicle preferences for shipping and sender firms with the ultimate motivation of exploring the significant factors to ensure more efficient freight transportation. The presented framework is tested through a real-world case study conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, utilizing field surveys conducted by the Municipality within the context of a newly developed Logistics Master Plan for the city. Two of the four freight model structures created gave outputs highly accepted in the literature. Interestingly, the findings deviated from the existing literature, revealing that the choice of freight vehicles is influenced by different packaging variables depending on the freight type being transported.", "keywords": [ "Discrete choice", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Logistic regression", "Logit", "Mixed logit", "Estimation", "Group (periodic table)", "Econometrics", "Nested logit", "Engineering", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2024-0369" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W118590436", "doi": null, "title": "Supporting electric vehicles in freight transport in Amsterdam", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-08-15", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jan Jacob Trip", "J.W. Konings" ], "first_author": "Jan Jacob Trip", "venue": "Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)", "publisher": "Delft University of Technology", "abstract": "Report written within the framework of Activity 7.4 of the Interreg IVB project E-Mobility NSR, file nr. 35-2-6-11. During the last decade the Municipality of Amsterdam has initiated quite elaborate policies to improve the air quality within the city, both for reasons of public health and spatial development. These policies were redefined in 2011 and subsequently evaluated and updated in 2013 (Gemeente Amsterdam, 2011a/b; 2013a). The main focus of these policies is on the reduction of NO2 and small particulate matter emissions. Supporting electric mobility - for freight as well as passengers - is an explicit part of these policies, rather than a goal in itself. With regard to the current ‘action plan’ this implies that two different approaches could be imagined. First, to take current air quality policies as a starting point and zoom in on the role of electric freight vehicles. Or, secondly, to focus explicitly on the latter, thus largely ignoring the prevailing focus applied by the Municipality of Amsterdam for several years now. We decided to choose the first approach, because it appears more realistic to connect to prevailing insights and policies than to ‘reinvent the wheel’. Moreover, we also took into consideration that transnational learning is one of the objectives of Activity 7.4 of the E-Mobility NSR project, and indeed of Interreg as such. This means that whereas the already relatively elaborate - and evaluated - policies in Amsterdam may leave limited opportunities for additional recommendations, they may have a distinct added value for other cities. Local policy in Amsterdam to support clean freight transport - and clean transport in general - applies a twofold approach: - an explicit focus on air quality norms, specifically those for NO2 and PM10 emissions, rather than on electric mobility as a aim in itself. EVs are supported, though, as a means to meet the air quality norms; - a strong focus on the cost efficiency of policy measures, in order to achieve a maximum improvement in air quality for the given budget. Amsterdam has been the first city to calculate the cost efficiency of measures in detail. This means in practice that measures focus on a limited number of locations where NO2 norms are exceeded. Also, measures focus on this categories of vehicles that generate the largest share in emissions, partly because they are large and heavy (trucks), partly because they make the most vehicle kilometres (vans, taxis). Results so far have been good, but less than expected and hoped for. Several reasons may be indicated for this: - the reductions in emissions from Euro 4 and 5 vehicles were much less than expected; - initial expectations concerning the number of EVs and Euro 6 vehicles that could be introduced have been too high; - the availability of Euro 6 vehicles and electric trucks was less than expected; - the willingness of private parties to invest was less than expected due to the economic crisis. In terms of recommendations, some issues can be identified that may strengthen the position of electric freight transport within the prevailing policies: - it should be considered how to use subsidies in such a way that new initiatives are triggered to improve and demonstrate the reliability and usefulness of electric vehicles, since this remains a main worry for companies that consider electric mobility; - the municipality should use their influence, not as a policy-maker but as a large customer, to stimulate clean mobility, more so than it does at the moment; - urban distribution deserves more emphasis, also taking into account the role of electric boats; - municipal bureaucracy, and divergence of rules between cities and countries remains a problem for firms considering electric mobility; - the results of policy and of pilot studies so far indicate that at the current stage of development, electric freight transport requires a tailor-made concept and approach such as city logistics. From the quite elaborated policy in Amsterdam some lessons can be drawn that may also be of use for other cities: - Amsterdam’s policy is characterized to a considerable degree by pragmatic, small, local and efficient interventions, strongly focused in terms of vehicle categories and locations; - it focuses on measures that generate the most effect per euro invested. This approach is based on elaborate calculations that resulted in the Cost Abatement Curve that guides the selection of policy measures.", "keywords": [ "Quality (philosophy)", "Air quality index", "Electric cars", "Transport engineering", "Action plan", "Focus (optics)", "Business", "Plan (archaeology)", "Action (physics)", "Point (geometry)", "Regional science", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:68a28241-25a2-4103-b26f-6bceaa8cc121" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7127310207", "doi": "10.15575/ks.v7i4.44374", "title": "Designing Future Policy Scenarios for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport: Lessons from the Jakarta Greater Area", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-26", "type": "article", "language": "id", "authors": [ "Reza Fathurrahman", "Syifa Amania Afra" ], "first_author": "Reza Fathurrahman", "venue": "Khazanah Sosial", "publisher": "Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung", "abstract": "As the center of economic growth and the hub of industries and trade in Indonesia, the issue of goods transportation development in the Jakarta Greater Area deserves higher priority, amongst academics, private sector leaders, and policymakers. Currently, freight trucking is the most widely used mode of goods transportation within the Jakarta greater area (91.3 percent), exceeding the other two alternative modes: sea (7.6 percent) and railway (1.1 percent) transportation. However, the movement of goods transported along the corridor is very congested, not environmentally friendly, and has a relatively small efficiency value and economies of scale. On the other hand, the train mode offers several advantages over the truck mode, including a large transport capacity, relatively fast travel times, freedom from illegal levies, and more guaranteed goods safety. This article employs a mixed-methods approach that combines documentary and SWOT Analysis to explore the current and prospective status of freight railways in the Jakarta region as perceived by key multiple stakeholders, including national and provincial governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations. The results reveal vertical and horizontal disharmony among the responsible government units at both the national and provincial levels regarding the future direction of Jakarta's freight transport. Interestingly, during the FGD, the rational trucking business owners did not show any reluctance toward railway development, as it turned out that a more integrated, intermodal transportation is a better option for all. Finally, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government needs to prioritize its resources to address the existing weaknesses and challenges before expanding further with a broader and more ambitious strategy.", "keywords": [ "SWOT analysis", "Government (linguistics)", "Truck", "Private sector", "Mode of transport", "Sustainable development", "Goods and services", "Value (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://khazanah.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/ks/article/download/44374/15550" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413882306", "doi": "10.3390/math13172798", "title": "Neural Network-Based Air–Ground Collaborative Logistics Delivery Path Planning with Dynamic Weather Adaptation", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-31", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Linglin Feng", "Hongmei Cao" ], "first_author": "Linglin Feng", "venue": "Mathematics", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The strategic development of the low-altitude economy requires efficient urban logistics solutions. The existing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) truck delivery system faces severe challenges in dealing with dynamic weather constraints and multi-agent coordination. This article proposes a neural network-based optimisation framework that integrates constrained K-means clustering and a three-stage neural architecture. In this work, a mathematical model for heterogeneous vehicle constraints considering time windows and UAV energy consumption is developed, and it is validated through reference to the Solomon benchmark’s arithmetic examples. Experimental results show that the Truck–Drone Cooperative Traveling Salesman Problem (TDCTSP) model reduces the cost by 21.3% and the delivery time variance by 18.7% compared to the truck-only solution (Truck Traveling Salesman Problem (TTSP)). Improved neural network (INN) algorithms are also superior to the traditional genetic algorithm (GA) and Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) methods in terms of the quality of computed solutions. This research provides an adaptive solution for intelligent low-altitude logistics, which provides a theoretical basis and practical tools for the development of urban air traffic under environmental uncertainty.", "keywords": [ "Adaptation (eye)", "Artificial neural network", "Motion planning", "Computer science", "Path (computing)", "Environmental science", "Meteorology", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Artificial intelligence", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/17/2798/pdf?version=1756624249" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7118022281", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-032-10126-6_17", "title": "B2C and C2B Urban Freight Demand Modelling from Company Data: Methodology and Application to the City of Seville", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ana Pegado-Bardayo", "Jesús González-Feliu", "Jesús Muñuzuri", "Antonio Lorenzo-Espejo" ], "first_author": "Ana Pegado-Bardayo", "venue": "Lecture notes on data engineering and communications technologies", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Demand forecasting", "Commodity", "Demand management", "Key (lock)", "Regression analysis", "Estimation", "Trip generation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-10126-6_17" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1530786146", "doi": "10.2495/ut050861", "title": "Cost Benefit Analysis for Urban Policy Measures Related to Economic Transport", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-03-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gernot Thorsten Liedtke", "David W. Schmedding", "T Marouda" ], "first_author": "Gernot Thorsten Liedtke", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "This paper discusses the application of urban freight transport decision-support tools in cost benefit analyses (CBA). The principles of the CBA are based on the Microeconomic Theory. It is supposed that individuals optimise their benefits and, therefore, a single policy measure can have a certain influence on the whole consumption pattern. When the effects of a policy measure on the situation of companies are assessed in the framework of a CBA, a cost minimising can be supposed, and adaptations of the individual companies could be modelled by the application of optimisation tools. The difference between the cost situation before and after the realisation of a policy measure could thereby be determined. As an example, the adaptation changes in routing behaviour in the urban goods distribution will be discussed. It is shown that adaptations in the routing can absorb parts of the costs resulting from a lorry ban on certain urban streets. Guidelines for the use of optimisation tools for company modelling are deduced. Behaviour reactions of economic transport actors and methods for their assessment are analysed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E129315.", "keywords": [ "Measure (data warehouse)", "Realisation", "Transport engineering", "Adaptation (eye)", "Cost–benefit analysis", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Environmental economics", "Consumption (sociology)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Truck", "Operations research", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT05/UT05086FU.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402601692", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-62478-0_16", "title": "The Process of City Logistics Supported by Regional Program: General Model and Applicative Case Study", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Russo", "Domenica Savia Pellicanò", "Maria Rosaria Trecozzi" ], "first_author": "Francesco Russo", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Process (computing)", "Process management", "Business", "Computer science", "City logistics", "Engineering management", "Manufacturing engineering", "Operations research", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Programming language" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62478-0_16" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7168216575", "doi": "10.3390/math14142500", "title": "Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization of a Multi-Echelon Humanitarian VRP for Smart City Logistics Under Uncertainty", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Esra Çakır" ], "first_author": "Esra Çakır", "venue": "Mathematics", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Efficient and resilient humanitarian logistics is critical for smart cities facing large-scale disasters, where infrastructure disruptions, uncertain demand, and time-critical deliveries complicate operational planning. This study proposes a multi-echelon vehicle-routing framework that integrates trucks, electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and micromobility systems under uncertainty. Demand and travel-time variability are modeled through scenario-based representations, while delivery flexibility is captured through triangular fuzzy time windows defined by earliest-acceptable, preferred, and latest-tolerable delivery times. The problem is formulated as a four-objective optimization model that minimizes total cost, response time, CO2 emissions, and fuzzy lateness. To solve the resulting highly constrained multi-objective problem, NSGA-II and NSGA-III are adapted with problem-specific repair operators, including capacity-splitting, range-feasibility correction, and fuzzy time-shift adjustment mechanisms, and embedded in a simulation-based evaluation framework. The proposed approach is validated using a geo-referenced earthquake scenario in Istanbul, constructed from open-source GIS, traffic, and demographic data. The computational results show that evolutionary methods generate feasible solutions within minutes, whereas exact optimization approaches fail to converge for realistic instances. Compared with NSGA-II, NSGA-III achieves superior performance, including a 9% higher hypervolume and improved robustness under stress-test scenarios. Furthermore, the hybrid truck–UAV–micromobility strategy reduces average cost by up to 30%, delivery time by 43%, and CO2 emissions by 65% relative to a truck-only baseline, while eliminating fuzzy lateness. These findings demonstrate that evolutionary multi-objective optimization provides an effective and scalable decision-support framework for uncertainty-aware and sustainable humanitarian logistics in smart cities.", "keywords": [ "Flexibility (engineering)", "Smart city", "Robustness (evolution)", "Fuzzy logic", "Evolutionary algorithm", "Scalability", "Robust optimization", "Optimization problem", "Evolutionary computation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/math14142500" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4382197669", "doi": "10.1596/1813-9450-10485", "title": "A Net Cure or Curse?: Tracking the Impact of E-Commerce on Urban Freight Transport Intensity in Bogotá and Buenos Aires", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-26", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ellin Ivarsson", "Aiga Stokenberga", "Juan Ignacio Fulponi" ], "first_author": "Ellin Ivarsson", "venue": "World Bank, Washington, DC eBooks", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The growth of e-commerce has the potential to reduce shopping-related travel but brings with it additional freight vehicle trips for the delivery of online orders to consumers. Understanding the overall net effect of e-commerce on urban trip intensity is essential for planning transport infrastructure and services. The paper analyzes how the growth of e-commerce is impacting mobility in Bogotá and Buenos Aires. The demand for e-commerce grew in both cities during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–21), mostly among higher income groups. Despite the significant potential for replacing private vehicle trips, the analysis finds little evidence that the growth of e-commerce is having a significant substitution effect on shopping trips. Overall, e-commerce currently generates more traffic than it avoids in both Bogotá and Buenos Aires, and, thus, is very likely to continue to add to the road traffic in the two metropolitan areas in the near future.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Metropolitan area", "Business", "E-commerce", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Geography", "Engineering", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-10485" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7135278271", "doi": null, "title": "A Net Cure or Curse ? Tracking the Impact of E-Commerce on Urban Freight Transport Intensity in Bogotá and Buenos Aires", "year": null, "publication_date": null, "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Aiga Stokenberga", "Linda Ellin Maria Ivarsson Molina", "Juan Ignacio Fulponi" ], "first_author": "Aiga Stokenberga", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "The growth of e-commerce has the potential to reduce shopping-related travel but brings with it additional freight vehicle trips for the delivery of online orders to consumers. Understanding the overall net effect of e-commerce on urban trip intensity is essential for planning transport infrastructure and services. The paper analyzes how the growth of e-commerce is impacting mobility in Bogotá and Buenos Aires. The demand for e-commerce grew in both cities during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–21), mostly among higher income groups. Despite the significant potential for replacing private vehicle trips, the analysis finds little evidence that the growth of e-commerce is having a significant substitution effect on shopping trips. Overall, e-commerce currently generates more traffic than it avoids in both Bogotá and Buenos Aires, and, thus, is very likely to continue to add to the road traffic in the two metropolitan areas in the near future.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "TRIPS architecture", "Tracking (education)", "Traffic congestion", "Traffic intensity", "Curse" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099400106152369383/pdf/IDU0d1d1f2b40f85f0471e0a083099523269e702.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7127088806", "doi": "10.3846/transport.2025.22872", "title": "Location of urban logistics distribution centers considering cargo transportation services of a public transportation system", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-31", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qian Wang", "Jianfeng Zheng", "Huibin Liu", "Yao Wang", "Xia Li" ], "first_author": "Qian Wang", "venue": "Transport", "publisher": "Vilnius Gediminas Technical University", "abstract": "Urban logistics distribution accounts for a large proportion of CO2 emissions generated by urban transportation. Reducing CO2 emissions in the process of logistics distribution is one of the urgent urban problems to be solved. This article investigates the location of urban logistics distribution centers considering cargo transportation services of a public transportation system. Considering one or several bus lines for representing a public transportation system, several collaborative distribution scenarios are studied, and 2 mixed integer linear programming models are established to explore the impact of the public transportation system on the location of distribution centers in urban logistics. Numerical experiments show the influence of different bus lines on the location of distribution centers, collaborative distribution and truck carbon emissions in Dalian (China). In any case, the possibility of establishing distribution centers in blocks 5 and 42 of Dalian is very high. When bus lines are used, the highest bus line utilization can reach 47.83%, and the CO2 emission can be reduced by up to 36.3%. In terms of different bus lines, line 2002 is more suitable to participate in the collaborative distribution in Dalian compared with other bus lines. First published online 2 February 2026", "keywords": [ "Public transport", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Truck", "City logistics", "Line (geometry)", "Process (computing)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/Transport/article/download/22872/13282" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W648720764", "doi": null, "title": "EVALUATING STRATEGIC TRANSSHIPMENT SITES AND URBAN DISTRIBUTION CENTRES", "year": 1997, "publication_date": "1997-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "John Whitelegg" ], "first_author": "John Whitelegg", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The author suggests 5 approaches to the problems of freight transport in cities that will benefit both the environment and the business community. He then examines one, City Logistics, in more detail. Aspects of this approach include reducing the total vehicle kilometers travelled in the city, reducing the number of vehicles entering the city, the use of smaller and zero-emission vehicles and experimentation with new partnerships. Examples of good practice are described from Frieburg in Germany where drastic reductions have been made in freight movements in the city and from Sweden where a total approach including the use of information technology and ethanol-powered lorries hs been adopted. The use of the 'Brox', a human-powered delivery vehicle, is noted. It is suggested that the use of urban distribution centres will only be successful if integrated with a number of other policies. For the covering abstract see IRRD 894325.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transshipment (information security)", "Transport engineering", "Distribution (mathematics)", "City logistics", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Operations research", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/476253" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W618731538", "doi": null, "title": "Traffic management and noise", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "L Ellebjerg", "H Bendtsen" ], "first_author": "L Ellebjerg", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "As part of the European Union research project SILENCE an extensive literature study of the noise and annoyance effects of various road traffic flow measures has been carried out. The effect on noise as well as on annoyance is highly dependent on traffic composition and speed, road layout and the use of individual measures such as road humps, chicanes, gateways, and mini-roundabouts. Other measures included in the study are rumble devices, junction layout, speed reductions using static and variable speed signs, automatic traffic control, congestion charging, parking information systems, city logistics and nighttime ban on trucks. Most of the measures need further studies if firm conclusions are to be drawn regarding the noise and annoyance effects; only humps and speed cushions have been studied extensively regarding noise and annoyance.", "keywords": [ "Annoyance", "Rumble", "Transport engineering", "Noise (video)", "Noise control", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Traffic noise", "Truck", "Noise pollution", "Road traffic", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1152816" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2085364078", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Transport VIII : Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century", "year": 2002, "publication_date": "2002-02-25", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "L. J. Sucharov", "C. A. Brebbia", "Francisco G. Benítez" ], "first_author": "L. J. Sucharov", "venue": "Medical Entomology and Zoology", "publisher": "Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology", "abstract": "Section 1- Urban accessibility and mobility Future aspects of sustainable urban mobility Inter-organisational co-operation in improving access to activity centres by public transport The structural dependency on car use for the Swedish urban population Accessibility indices and planning theory Analysis of non-home-based trips in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area Contrasting structures of metropolitan mobility in Spain Distinct measures of accessibility in traffic systems Innovative technologies for the public transportation in the Urban Mobility Plan of Padova Business structure and localization affects transport generation and traffic flow Mobility management in Lecco. Section 2 - Urban transport systems City distribution by railways? A feasibility study of the city Graz A city and a transport system for a mutual enrichment Some approaches on checkpoint dial-a-ride problems Selecting an optimal traffic system for cities The bus rapid transit system in Taipei city - ridership forecast for the New Light Industrial area in Neihu Evaluation of a transportation project with the analytic hierarchy process: best parking angle selection Simplified land use assessment on car commuting energy S.A.T. project: tetra-re-dimensioning of urban space Investigating the possibility of a coordinated goods delivery service to shopping centres in Uppsala city to reduce transport intensity The tram-train: Spanish application On board system model for road intelligent transport system To construct urban light rail with the idle assets of railway hub Light rail transit is on the right way. Section 3 - Traffic control Adaptive traffic signal control for the fluctuations of the flow using a genetic algorithm Guided corridor development for sustainable urban transport Design and evaluation of traffic calming schemes in urban areas - the case of the city of Larissa Evaluating access road network structures for built-up areas from a sustainable transport perspective Impact of telework and flexitime on reducing future urban travel demand: the case of Montreal and Quebec (Canada), 1996-2016 The schedule-based dynamic modelling for public transport networks: a new approach in path choice and assignment The pricing measures to manage urban traffic: a preliminary survey in a medium-sized town Section 4 - Simulation The experiences in evaluating the multicriteria traffic environmental impacts in urban road networks using SIMESEPT, On a simulation model for merging traffic management evaluation Parking search modelling in freight transport and private traffic simulation The effect of multi-combination freight vehicles in urban traffic A simulation procedure for the assessment of traffic management impacts on urban road safety Traffic flow in dense urban areas by continuum modeling A qualitative decision-making tool for transport planners, assessing urban pollution due to traffic Travel time predictions in urban networks Empirical modelling of automobile dependence in the Boston area Section 5- Information systems Modelling effects of logistical matching systems on transport User-based definition of higher-order decision constructs to model preferences for P&R transfer points. Section 6 - Finance and planning The use of mechanism design in the regulation of congestion Application of the European standards to the Local Public Transport (LPT) The perception of network congestion by using parking fees Induced development in the transportation investments corridors - the probability appearance appraisal method based on the land use profiles. Section7 - Emissions Comparison of diesel and hybrid vehicle emissions by computer modeling The impact of road pricing and other strategic road transport initiatives on urban air quality Emissions of mopeds and motorcycles in Belgium Fuel cell bus Berlin, Copenhagen and Lisbon: A sustainable and environmental technology for the urban passenger transportation sector Policy options for transport to reduce CO2 and tropospheric ozone EcoGest - Numerical modelling of the dynamic, fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions of vehicles equipped with spark ignition engines Air quality alteration in a Greek town Towards a post-Kyoto sustainable transport strategy The influence of automobiles motion unevenness on harmful substances emission Analysis of the environmental impact of urban buses: application to a case study in Lisbon Emissions at different conditions of traffic flow A new simulation model of fuel consumption and pollutant emissions in urban traffic Particulate matter composition in four major Italian towns Measurements of roadside air pollution and traffic simulations Source apportionment model for PAHs in a complex urban area The external costs of air pollution by motorcycles Influencing factors on air pollution in Ahwaz. Section 8 - Environmental noise The air and noise pollution in several Andalusian metropolitan areas A study of highway noise pollution in Tehran A microlevel method for road traffic noise prediction Noise pollution due to air and road traffic at Corfu's international airport (Greece). Section 9 - Economic and social impact An index for impact assessment of a motorway - Case study of Egnatia motorway Container railcar versus container lorry transport - a comparative study Analysis and forecast of air transport demand in Sardinia's airports as a function of tourism variables GIS in road environmental planning and management Effectiveness and macroeconomic impact analysis of policy instruments for sustainable transport in Korea: A CGE modelling approach Locating P&R facilities based on travel behaviour: a Dutch case study. Section 10- Safety Modelling fatal pedestrian accidents in Montreal's metropolitan area 1995-1997 The practice of road safety audits Comparative analysis of pedestrian-vehicle crashes Cluster analysis for road accidents investigation An experiment of fire risks in tunnels: an application of the numerical analysis. Section 11- Vehicle technology Stu", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Public transport", "Metropolitan area", "Bus rapid transit", "Urban rail transit", "Population", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA58780667" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117467535", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2025.12.118", "title": "A simulation-based optimization of layby spot allocation for freight vehicles using spatial, temporal, and durational deferment strategies in a multi-objective framework", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Swaraj Bose", "Debapratim Pandit" ], "first_author": "Swaraj Bose", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Loading-unloading of goods by freight vehicles in designated layby spots along commercial stretches are vital to urban logistics. Limited availability of these spots leads to various urban externalities and escalates logistics costs, necessitating the efficient management for optimized usage of layby spots. This paper addresses the challenge of optimizing layby spot allocation for freight vehicles, incorporating spatial, temporal, and durational deferment strategies to manage high demand and limited resources. The model is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem. The optimization function seeks to balance three objectives: (1) maximizing layby spot utilization, (2) minimizing the loss function associated with deferment, comprising opportunity costs due to loading-unloading time deferment, spatial deferment, and loading-unloading activity duration reduction, and (3) minimizing the percentage of unallocated requests. The constraints ensure feasible allocations within acceptable limits for time, spatial distance, and activity duration. Using a microsimulation model to generate layby spot booking requests, this study considers a setting with 30 commercial establishments and 10 layby spots. Data gathered from establishment-based freight surveys and interviews with transport operators from Bara bazar area in Kolkata inform the loss function across deferment types. NSGA-II is used to determine pareto-optimal allocations under various deferment scenarios. Results indicate that deferment strategies significantly reduce total fiscal losses, optimize layby spot utilization, and lower the rate of unallocated requests. These findings highlight the efficacy of deferment-based optimization for improving urban freight logistics by maximizing the efficiency of layby spot usage in constrained urban environments.", "keywords": [ "Function (biology)", "Travel time", "Externality", "Duration (music)", "Total cost", "Optimal allocation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2025.12.118" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3119599342", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-55385-2_2", "title": "The Influence of Logistics Decisions on Transport Decarbonization: Lessons from Local to Global Scale", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy" ], "first_author": "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy", "venue": "Greening of industry networks studies", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Business", "Supply chain", "Industrial organization", "Multimodal transport", "Mode of transport", "Container (type theory)", "Environmental economics", "Transport engineering", "Economics", "Marketing", "Public transport" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:764fbf30-caf0-4a36-a6ae-b150716ed2a2" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403571434", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4993631", "title": "Mass-Gt: An Empirical Model for the Simulation of Freight Policies", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michiel de Bok", "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy", "Sebastiaan Thoen", "Larissa Eggers", "Ioanna Kourouniotti" ], "first_author": "Michiel de Bok", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Economics", "Business", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4993631" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388903970", "doi": "10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.1209", "title": "The Impact of Last-Mile Logistics: a Case Study on the Optimisation of Commercial Fleets through the European Union", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alessandro Nava", "Luciano G. Greco" ], "first_author": "Alessandro Nava", "venue": "IFAC-PapersOnLine", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Over the last decade, many cities in the world have been facing the impact of urban population growth and rapid e-commerce spread on freight volumes and consequently on the number of road freight vehicles. These dynamics have fostered the central role of last-mile logistics. The transport sector is responsible for around 25% of total GHG global emissions, 30% of which are related to freight road transport. Urban freight transportation has remarkable implications in terms of air pollution, noise, and road security. In this context, the electrification of urban fleets could represent a viable and efficient solution to mitigate the environmental footprint of last-mile logistics. Furthermore, last-mile logistics also involves high organization costs and time inefficiencies for transportation firms and customers. The technological development of routing processes through a new optimized IT system (e.g., by means of digital twins) may play a key role in “greening” the last-mile logistic sector. In this research, we consider a case study of investments in Electric Vehicles, aiming at assessing their environmental and monetary costs and benefits, and the scalability of such a policy.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Last mile (transportation)", "Context (archaeology)", "Electrification", "Mile", "Transport engineering", "Electricity", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.1209" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W582025534", "doi": null, "title": "Dangerous, dirty and difficult - the real-world necessity of urban freight transport by heavy vehicle, and the measures that must be taken to improve it", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "A Ritzinger" ], "first_author": "A Ritzinger", "venue": "24th World Road CongressWorld Road Association (PIARC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The transport of freight is integral to the successful operation of society, and various forces continually increase the size of the freight transport task. Transport regulators must maximise the efficiency of current freight transport modes in order to deliver effective short and medium term benefits, while simultaneously planning to address the future needs of the freight transport task. Under several key criteria, road freight transport by heavy vehicle is a clear candidate for short-term improvements. Despite contributing to a large portion of the freight transport task in many countries, heavy vehicles are relatively much more dangerous, have a far greater impact on the environment and are problematic in other areas such as infrastructure wear and congestion. This paper presents the case for the introduction of longer and heavier freight vehicles to address these concerns. Opponents of this approach cite negative characteristics of such vehicles as reasons against their introduction. These arguments are discussed in the context of recent research, new technologies, field trials, and innovative policy measures, demonstrating that longer and heavier vehicles are not only a necessary requirement, but can also be the catalyst for much-needed improvements in the areas of safety and environmental performance.", "keywords": [ "Context (archaeology)", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Task (project management)", "Order (exchange)", "Key (lock)", "Business", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Computer security", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1280351" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400655266", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.037", "title": "The Relationship between the Spatial Distribution of Mega-scale Logistics Facilities and Associated Freight Traffic", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Takanori Sakai", "Virgilio Ma. Ramos", "Tetsuro Hyodo" ], "first_author": "Takanori Sakai", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Contemporary supply chains require logistics facilities that have a much larger footprint than traditional warehouses. Due to the shortage of available land in cities, many of those logistics facilities have been developed in the suburbs. Practitioners and researchers alike are concerned about the inefficiency of the spatial distribution of logistics facilities and the associated traffic impacts. This study focuses on multi-story, multi-tenant facilities (MMF) that are for-lease facilities which are usually extremely large with multiple-story structures. We use the framework of the agent-based urban freight simulator to evaluate the impact of truck traffic associated with the MMFs.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Economic shortage", "Inefficiency", "City logistics", "Lease", "Business", "Supply chain", "Scale (ratio)", "Footprint", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.037" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3038984059", "doi": null, "title": "Factors Explaining the Use of Cargo Bikes and Cars in Urban Logistics: Results from a Stated Preference Experiment in Germany", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Johannes Gruber", "Lars Thoma", "Felix Steck" ], "first_author": "Johannes Gruber", "venue": "elib (German Aerospace Center)", "publisher": "Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)", "abstract": "Factors Explaining the Use of Cargo Bikes and Cars in Urban Logistics: Results from a Stated Preference Experiment in Germany Just a \"boring\" German street scene…?> Factors Explaining the Use of Cargo Bikes and Cars in Urban Logistics: Results from a Stated Preference Experiment in Germany > Johannes Gruber, Lars Thoma, Felix Steck > October 2019 DLR.de • Slide 3 Parcel delivery van Café / bar (possibly destination of service trip) Vehicle passing How can we shift more trips to cargo bikes?Double-parked car used for a service trip Vehicle type choice for freight and service trips Double-parked heavy truck Parked cars", "keywords": [ "Preference", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Economics", "Marketing", "Econometrics", "Advertising", "Engineering", "Microeconomics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://elib.dlr.de/134363/1/I-NUF%20Gruber%20-%20Factors%20explaining%20the%20use%20of%20cargo%20bikes.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2999614519", "doi": "10.1061/9780784481523.040", "title": "Research on Route Optimization of Pure Electric Vehicle under Joint Distribution Mode in City", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-07-02", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bingshan Ma", "Dawei Hu", "Qian Sun" ], "first_author": "Bingshan Ma", "venue": "CICTP 2018", "publisher": null, "abstract": "In the upsurge of sharing economy, sharing logistics has become a hot spot. As one of the innovative modes of the shared logistics resources, joint distribution can not only improve the loading rate of freight vehicles and reduce logistics costs, but also relieve the traffic pressure and reduce environmental pollution in the city. This reflects the development concept of green logistics. In this paper, based on the mode of joint distribution, the electric vehicle routing problem with shared vehicles and shared distribution centers is modeled, assigning charging stations for the route which needs recharging, optimizing the delivery route and minimizing delivery cost, simultaneously. Compared with the traditional electric vehicle routing problem, the vehicle does not need to return to the initial distribution center after completing the delivery task, which greatly reduces the total travel distance. Through the numerical example analysis, the model is solved by LINGO, and the accuracy of the model is verified. Research shows that “joint distribution with electric vehicle routing optimization” provides a new way for developing urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Mode (computer interface)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Joint (building)", "Computer science", "Electric vehicle", "City logistics", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Task (project management)", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784481523.040" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3201433183", "doi": null, "title": "Cargo Routing and Disadvantaged Communities", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-09-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Miguel Jaller", "Anmol Pahwa", "Michael Yu Zhang" ], "first_author": "Miguel Jaller", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "Freight is fundamental to economic growth, however, the trucks that haul this freight are pollution intensive, emitting criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases at high rates. The increasing volume and time-sensitivity of freight demand over the past decade has encouraged carriers to take the fastest route, which is often not an eco-friendly route. The increase in urban freight movement has thus brought along negative externalities such as congestion, emissions, and noise into cities. Alternative fuel technologies, such as electric trucks and hydrogen-fuel trucks can significantly reduce freight-related emissions. However, despite their lower operational costs, the high purchase cost and consequent longer payback periods compared to traditional vehicles, have resulted in slow adoption rates. Since the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and local criteria pollutants is immediate, accounting for externalities in carriers’ tactical and operational decision-making in the form of eco-routing can bring about desired reductions in emissions. The objectives of this work are to explore the possibilities and potential of eco-routing from the perspective of the carrier, in terms of cost-benefits and trade-offs, and from the perspective of the regulator, in terms of network-wide effects and policy initiatives that could encourage carriers to eco-route. This study evaluates reduction in global greenhouse emissions and local criteria pollutants, with a particular focus on direct impacts on disadvantaged communities in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region.", "keywords": [ "Disadvantaged", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Business", "Environmental science", "Computer science", "Economics", "Computer network", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9qg2318x.pdf;origin=repeccitec" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163420986", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20490066", "title": "Dataset for Scaling Urban Logistics Microsimulation: Traffic Analysis Zone Similarity Assessment to Estimate Simulation Results", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-01", "type": "dataset", "language": null, "authors": [ "Emilian Szczepański", "Jan Paszkowski", "Marianna Jacyna", "Kai Wang", "Jiajing Gao" ], "first_author": "Emilian Szczepański", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The purpose of this dataset is to enable the replication of the research results presented in the article: Szczepański, E., Paszkowski, J. S., Jacyna, M., Wang, L. K., & Gao, J. (2025). Scaling Urban Logistics Microsimulation: Traffic Analysis Zone Similarity Assessment to Estimate Simulation Results. W Q. Xiaobo, W. Zhang, Y. Liu, & Y. Yiping (Editors), Proceedings of the 14th Asia-Pacific Conference on Transportation and the Environment (APTE 2025) (s. 24–34). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-972-8_4 - published online: 29 December 2025, which discusses method of assessing a similarity of the traffic analysis zones to the given base zone. The aim of this article is to verify the possibility of identifying zones with similar characteristics within a given city and approximating the micro-simulation results from a base zone to these similar zones. Dataset contains: Readme.txt: description of the dataset Inputdata_Similarity.xlsx: contains the similarity of TAZs calculation InputData_Network V0.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 0 InputData_Network V1.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 1 InputData_Network V2.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 2 InputData_Network V3.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 3 Results.xlsx: contains the results of calculations Model_drone.fsx: contains the Flexsim model code in XML format. The dataset was created as part of the E-Laas project (Energy optimal urban logistics As A Service).Project implemented as part of the call ERA-NET Cofund Urban Accessibility and Connectivity (ENUAC China Call) organized by JPI Urban Europe and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875022. E-Laas project is carried out in an international consortium. Project coordinator in Europe: Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), project coordinator in China: Shanghai University (China), consortium members: Tsinghua University (China), Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), cooperation partners: Stockholms stad, Trafikkontoret (Sweden), ParkUnload (Spain), Metropolis GZM (Poland), Shanghai Urban-Rural Construction and Transportation Department (China), Volvo Group Trucks Technology and Operations (Sweden).- The Chinese part of the project is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China.- The Swedish part of the project is funded by Swedish Energy Agency.- The Polish part of the project is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (project no. 2022/04/Y/ST8/00134). The value of the co-financing is PLN 878,107.00. Project duration 27/04/2023 - 26/04/2026 (36 months).", "keywords": [ "Similarity (geometry)", "XML", "Base (topology)", "Scaling", "China", "Traffic analysis", "Replication (statistics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20490066" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163391588", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20490067", "title": "Dataset for Scaling Urban Logistics Microsimulation: Traffic Analysis Zone Similarity Assessment to Estimate Simulation Results", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-01", "type": "dataset", "language": null, "authors": [ "Emilian Szczepański", "Jan Paszkowski", "Marianna Jacyna", "Kai Wang", "Jiajing Gao" ], "first_author": "Emilian Szczepański", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The purpose of this dataset is to enable the replication of the research results presented in the article: Szczepański, E., Paszkowski, J. S., Jacyna, M., Wang, L. K., & Gao, J. (2025). Scaling Urban Logistics Microsimulation: Traffic Analysis Zone Similarity Assessment to Estimate Simulation Results. W Q. Xiaobo, W. Zhang, Y. Liu, & Y. Yiping (Editors), Proceedings of the 14th Asia-Pacific Conference on Transportation and the Environment (APTE 2025) (s. 24–34). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-972-8_4 - published online: 29 December 2025, which discusses method of assessing a similarity of the traffic analysis zones to the given base zone. The aim of this article is to verify the possibility of identifying zones with similar characteristics within a given city and approximating the micro-simulation results from a base zone to these similar zones. Dataset contains: Readme.txt: description of the dataset Inputdata_Similarity.xlsx: contains the similarity of TAZs calculation InputData_Network V0.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 0 InputData_Network V1.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 1 InputData_Network V2.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 2 InputData_Network V3.xlsx: contains the input data for variant 3 Results.xlsx: contains the results of calculations Model_drone.fsx: contains the Flexsim model code in XML format. The dataset was created as part of the E-Laas project (Energy optimal urban logistics As A Service).Project implemented as part of the call ERA-NET Cofund Urban Accessibility and Connectivity (ENUAC China Call) organized by JPI Urban Europe and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875022. E-Laas project is carried out in an international consortium. Project coordinator in Europe: Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), project coordinator in China: Shanghai University (China), consortium members: Tsinghua University (China), Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), cooperation partners: Stockholms stad, Trafikkontoret (Sweden), ParkUnload (Spain), Metropolis GZM (Poland), Shanghai Urban-Rural Construction and Transportation Department (China), Volvo Group Trucks Technology and Operations (Sweden).- The Chinese part of the project is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China.- The Swedish part of the project is funded by Swedish Energy Agency.- The Polish part of the project is funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (project no. 2022/04/Y/ST8/00134). The value of the co-financing is PLN 878,107.00. Project duration 27/04/2023 - 26/04/2026 (36 months).", "keywords": [ "Similarity (geometry)", "XML", "Base (topology)", "Scaling", "China", "Traffic analysis", "Replication (statistics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20490067" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163883957", "doi": "10.1016/j.cstp.2026.101875", "title": "Wholesale and retail food hubs as nodes of formal and informal urban logistics: evidence from Medellín, Colombia", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-08", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mario A. Peñaranda-Márquez", "Diana Alarcon-Bohada", "Susana Londoño-Moreno", "Claudia Munoz-Hoyos", "Carlos A. González‐Calderón" ], "first_author": "Mario A. Peñaranda-Márquez", "venue": "Case Studies on Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban food hubs are critical nodes for food access, freight distribution, employment, and public-space activity. Yet in many cities in the Global South, their operation depends on the coexistence and interaction between formal marketplace logistics and informal vending practices. This study examines how two major food-market districts in Medellín, Colombia—Plaza Mayorista, the main wholesale hub, and Plaza Minorista, the main retail hub—function as nodes where formal and informal urban logistics overlap. A mixed-methods approach was used. For the formal sector, structured surveys were conducted with establishments operating in both hubs to characterize freight flows, supply origins, delivery schedules, vehicle types, unloading practices, and logistics organization. For the informal sector, 330 surveys were collected from street vendors located inside, around, and beyond marketplace areas to examine sociodemographic conditions, sales dynamics, sourcing, transport modes, storage practices, and relocation preferences. Both surveys were conducted in January–February 2019 . The study defines formal–informal logistics interaction through four dimensions: spatial co-location, supply dependence, temporal overlap, and shared or competing use of infrastructure and public space. Results show that both food hubs are major freight trip generators, with strong regional supply linkages, concentrated early-morning delivery activity, and intensive unloading operations. Informal vendors also follow early-morning sourcing patterns and rely heavily on walking, handcarts, shared storage, and strategic proximity to formal marketplaces, especially Plaza Minorista. However, marketplace dependence is not universal, as many vendors also source from other locations. Informal vendors play an essential role in the urban food system by improving food access and supporting livelihoods, but they operate under precarious working and mobility conditions. Only a minority expressed willingness to relocate, with location and security identified as the most important conditions. The findings suggest that food-market districts should be treated as mixed-logistics environments in which freight vehicles, informal vendors, pedestrians, handcarts, and public-space uses interact. The Medellín case provides case-based evidence to inform integrated marketplace and transport policies that address freight management, unloading operations, cart storage, curb and sidewalk use, vendor relocation, and food access as interconnected issues rather than separate enforcement problems.", "keywords": [ "Retail trade", "Data collection", "Supply chain" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2026.101875" } ]