Understanding the impact of e-commerce on last-mile light goods vehicle activity in urban areas : the case of London

Allen, J. and Piecyk, M. and Piotrowska, M. and McLeod, F. and Cherrett, T. and Ghali, K. and Nguyen, T. and Bektas, T. and Bates, O. and Friday, A. and Wise, Sarah and Austwick, M. (2018) Understanding the impact of e-commerce on last-mile light goods vehicle activity in urban areas : the case of London. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 61 (Part B). pp. 325-338. ISSN 1361-9209

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Abstract

Abstract Growth in e-commerce has led to increasing use of light goods vehicles for parcel deliveries in urban areas. This paper provides an insight into the reasons behind this growth and the resulting effort required to meet the exacting delivery services offered by e-retailers which often lead to poor vehicle utilisation in the last-mile operation, as well as the duplication of delivery services in urban centres as competitors vie for business. A case study investigating current parcel delivery operations in central London identified the scale of the challenge facing the last-mile parcel delivery driver, highlighting the importance of walking which can account for 62% of the total vehicle round time and 40% of the total round distance in the operations studied. The characteristics of these operations are in direct conflict with the urban infrastructure which is being increasingly redesigned in favour of walking, cycling and public transport, reducing the kerbside accessibility for last-mile operations. The paper highlights other pressures on last-mile operators associated with managing seasonal peaks in demand; reduced lead times between customers placing orders and deliveries being made; meeting delivery time windows; first-time delivery failure rates and the need to manage high levels of product returns. It concludes by describing a range of initiatives that retailers and parcel carriers, sometimes in conjunction with city authorities, can implement to reduce the costs associated with last-mile delivery, without negatively impacting on customer service levels.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 61, Part B, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2017.07.020
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300
Subjects:
?? light goods vehiclesurban freightlast-mile deliverye-commerceparcelsenvironmental science(all)transportation ??
ID Code:
87226
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
29 Nov 2017 16:46
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Dec 2023 01:47