Estimating the benefits of dedicated unloading bays by field experimentation. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fransoo, Jan C.; Cedillo-Campos, M. Gastón; Gámez-Pérez, Karla M.
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 160(2022)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Urban logistics -- Nanostores -- Parking -- Unloading bays -- Field experiments -- Retail; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2022.03.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-8564

Abstract

Abstract: In most dense urban environments in emerging markets, retail deliveries are very fragmented to thousands of nanostores. It is not uncommon for a delivery route to include more than 60 stops. Unloading bays are often blocked by regular traffic. Due to the complex urban environment, it is difficult to estimate the benefits of making unloading bays available. In this study, we conduct a field experiment in an urban field lab of one square kilometer in the downtown of Querétaro, Mexico. During the treatment period of one week, we obtain help from the local traffic police to keep the unloading bays available for unloading only. Using advanced GPS devices and extensive manual field observations, we are able to capture the change in driver behavior and the direct efficiency increases. We find a high efficiency gain, not only in travel time (39%) but also – remarkably – in the total time parked (17%). Corrected for other effects, we estimate a gain of about 44% in total time per delivery. Apart from the insights on unloading benefits, we also provide insights into the method of field experimentation in such a complex environment.