Abstract
Night distribution and consolidation strategies have been proposed in many cities to increase the efficiency of the urban goods distribution system and to reduce the external effects that it causes in terms of emissions. However, the deployment of these initiatives presents a new reallocation of costs and incomes among collaborative stakeholders that take part in. In this paper, an analytical model to estimate the new economic effects caused by these strategies on the involved agents is presented, based on continuous approximations. This model allows decision makers to estimate the transportation cost and emissions savings that will be obtained by each strategy as well as the range of retailer demand in which these strategies are not economically feasible. The results show that night distribution generally outperforms the carrier cost reduction and emissions savings, especially when large vehicles are used in night periods.
Highlights
The distribution of products in metropolitan areas is expected to increase in the years in absolute values [tones], frequencies and quality requirements, according to the concentration of population in these areas (Barone, Roach 2016; Van Audenhove et al 2015)
We analysed the new effects produced by two well-known collaboration measures on the different stakeholders involved in urban distribution: Night distribution and carrier-led consolidation strategies
Comparing the results obtained with night distribution (Strategy B) and carrier-led consolidation measure (Strategy C), we may realize that Strategy B generally outperforms Strategy C in terms of transportation cost savings
Summary
The distribution of products in metropolitan areas is expected to increase in the years in absolute values [tones], frequencies and quality requirements, according to the concentration of population in these areas (Barone, Roach 2016; Van Audenhove et al 2015). Urban goods distribution generates multiple negative effects, worsening the environment and liveability of agglomerations in terms of congestion, air quality, noise nuisance and pavement deterioration (Schoemaker et al 2006; NCFRP 2012) In this context, transport policies should promote the maximization of the product economy profit as well as the minimization of negative externalities that would affect the social welfare (HolguínVeras, Sánchez-Díaz 2016). Off-Hours and night Distribution (OHD) of goods is a traditional vertical collaborative measure aimed at switching the deliveries from commercial hours to offpeak periods (Holguín-Veras et al 2015) This solution increases the efficiency of the urban goods distribution system and improves the livability of cities, as environmental benefits are achieved (Holguín-Veras et al 2017a; Yannis et al 2006). This measure is quite attractive since it alleviates congestion and emission episodes at the expenses of increasing the noise nuisance in the night period
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