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An Examination of Last Mile Delivery Practices of Freight Carriers Servicing Business Receivers in Inner-City Areas

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  • Khalid Aljohani

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia)

  • Russell G. Thompson

    (Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia)

Abstract

Freight carriers experience major challenges while operating in highly dense inner-city areas. Timely deliveries are crucial for the success of businesses and for the long-term economic growth of metropolitan areas. Previous freight studies have paid little attention to the characteristics of freight movements in a highly dense urban context. Accordingly, this study sought to quantify the operational practices for freight carriers that deliver light parcels to inner-city business receivers. Direct insights were collected using semistructured interviews and an online survey with freight carriers in Melbourne, Australia. The intent was to describe the delivery trips and vehicle types involved in this unique segment. An assessment of operational challenges to the efficiency of freight carriers is presented in the study. In general, freight deliveries to inner-city receivers are characterised by underutilised transport capacity along with a large number of delivery stops. The findings shed light on the challenges that couriers encounter in congested inner-city areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Khalid Aljohani & Russell G. Thompson, 2020. "An Examination of Last Mile Delivery Practices of Freight Carriers Servicing Business Receivers in Inner-City Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2837-:d:340671
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aljohani, Khalid & Thompson, Russell G., 2016. "Impacts of logistics sprawl on the urban environment and logistics: Taxonomy and review of literature," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 255-263.
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    3. Khalid Aljohani & Russell G. Thompson, 2018. "A Stakeholder-Based Evaluation of the Most Suitable and Sustainable Delivery Fleet for Freight Consolidation Policies in the Inner-City Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-27, December.
    4. John Olsson & Daniel Hellström & Henrik Pålsson, 2019. "Framework of Last Mile Logistics Research: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Scherr, Yannick Oskar & Neumann Saavedra, Bruno Albert & Hewitt, Mike & Mattfeld, Dirk Christian, 2019. "Service network design with mixed autonomous fleets," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 40-55.
    6. Julian Allen & Michael Browne & Tom Cherrett, 2012. "Survey Techniques in Urban Freight Transport Studies," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(3), pages 287-311, February.
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    8. Jan Chocholac & Roman Hruska & Stanislav Machalik & Dana Sommerauerova & Petr Sohajek, 2021. "Framework for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculations in the Context of Road Freight Transport for the Automotive Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-28, April.
    9. Aljohani, Khalid & Thompson, Russell G., 2021. "Modelling individual preferences of goods receivers for a Receiver-led delivery consolidation service," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 74-94.
    10. Fried, Travis & Verma, Rishi & Goodchild, Anne, 2024. "Ecommerce and environmental justice in metro Seattle," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
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    12. Marzena Kramarz & Edyta Przybylska, 2021. "Multimodal Transport in the Context of Sustainable Development of a City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-29, February.

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