Parcel logistics in urban areas are characterized by many carriers undertaking similar activity patterns at the same times of day. Using substantial carrier manifest datasets, this paper demonstrates advantages from rival carriers collaborating using a “carrier’s carrier” operating model for their last-mile parcel logistics operations. Under these circumstances, a single carrier undertakes all the deliveries within a defined area on behalf of the carriers instead of them working independently. Modelling the daily delivery activity of five parcel carriers working over a 3.7 km2 area of central London, comprising around 3000 items being delivered to around 900 delivery locations, and consolidating their activity through a single carrier suggested that time, distance and associated vehicle emissions savings of around 60% could be achieved over the current business-as-usual operation. This equated to a reduction in the number of delivery vans and drivers needed from 33 to 13, with annual savings of 39,425 h, 176,324 km driven, 52,721 kg CO2 and 56.4 kg NOx. Reliance on vans and associated vehicle emissions could be reduced further by using cargo cycles alongside vans for the last-mile delivery, with estimated annual emissions savings increasing to 72,572 kg CO2 and 77.7 kg NOx. The results indicated that consolidation of items for delivery in this way would be especially beneficial to business-to-consumer (B2C) carriers whose parcel profiles comprise relatively small and light items. One of the key barriers to the wider take up of such services by individual carriers is the loss of individual brand identity that can result from operating through a carrier’s carrier.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Collaborative Parcels Logistics via the Carrier’s Carrier Operating Model


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2020-06-06




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    A carrier's perspective

    Knowles, A. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993


    Intelligent stacking equipment for logistics parcels

    ZHANG XIAOHONG | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access

    Travel carrier's brake system

    LEE SI HYUN | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access

    Operational Management Model of Air Carrier’s Cargo Flows as a Smart Logistics Tool for Sustainable Development

    Lytvynenko, Sergiy / Voitsehovskiy, Viktor / Grygorak, Mariya et al. | Springer Verlag | 2022