Smarter system for freight transport in cities

This is the motivation behind the Straightsol research project (Strategies and measures for smarter urban freight solutions). They have been studying a number of concepts that aim to improve the efficiency of freight transport in cities, and reduce its environmental impact.

The Institute of Transport Economics is supporting the project and has summarised several of the results:

Consolidation centres:

In Barcelona, DHL tested shared loading facilities outside the city centre, to see if this would make last-mile deliveries more efficient. The results were fewer vehicles in the city centre and a reduced environmental impact. The demonstration achieved a reduction in transport costs, but meant an increase in handling costs at the terminal.

Mobile depots:

A fully loaded semi-trailer containing freight was driven into the city centre, and the goods then distributed onward using electric tricycles. This resulted in a 24 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, a 24 per cent reduction in SO2 emissions, a 59 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and 22 per cent reduction in PM10. Another positive effect was that freight collection and delivery became more punctual. However, NOx emissions increased by 48 per cent.

Buffer storage:

Instead of using an individual vehicle to deliver goods directly to a shop in the city centre, goods are delivered to a shared warehouse, which is then responsible for their onward distribution. This saved an average of 15 minutes per pallet, thereby making delivery more efficient and cost-effective. The participants in the project were extremely satisfied. The idea of buffer storage is now being implemented in a new shopping centre being built in Oslo.

Night-time deliveries:

Tests of night-time deliveries showed that unloading took on average 16 per cent longer than during the day because no-one was available in the shops to help the drivers with unloading. Capital costs increased by 24 per cent because of investments in silent handling equipment, while operational costs were reduced by 8 per cent.

Further testing is now being performed on other systems in the EU project CIVITAS 2020 CITYLAB (City Logistics in Living Laboratories) which is being headed by the Institute of Transport Economics. Its aim is for researchers, companies and municipalities in seven countries to develop know-how and systems designed to reduce environmental emissions from urban transport and achieve emissions-free freight transport systems.

You can read more about the results of the various projects in this PDF brochure.

Norwegian version, click here