United States-European Commission Urban Freight Twinning Initiative: Compendium of Project Summaries
Overview of Second Annual Urban Freight Roundtable at 2017 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

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Pilot

Policy

Europe

Off-peak City Logistics - A Case Study in Stockholm

Stockholm's need for better organization of urban freight transport and reduction of traffic congestion was what prompted the city to initiate an off-peak delivery pilot project in 2014. The goal was to make deliveries more flexible; to urge transport companies to invest in new, silent, environmentally friendly trucks; and to use the infrastructure in a more efficient way for all modes of transport. The objective is to improve the safety and livability of the city for its inhabitants.

From 2015 to 2016, the project tested nighttime distribution in the city center of Stockholm using one hybrid and one biogas vehicle for delivering goods to three retail establishments, and to a variety of hotels and restaurants. The outcomes were analyzed for four different aspects: transport efficiency, environmental impacts of noise, policy measures, and stakeholders' perceptions.

Off-peak deliveries project summary.
Source: Anastasios Koutoulas.

Project Type

Pilot Project/Research/Policy

Period of Performance

January 2015 - December 2016

Project Site(s)

Stockholm, Sweden

Website

https://www.itrl.kth.se/research/projects/off-peak/off-peak-citydistribution-1.632601

Contact

Anastasios Koutoulas
Ph.D. Candidate
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), Department of Transport Science
+46 8 790 6833
Anastasios.Koutoulas@abe.kth.se

Challenges Addressed

• Mobility/transport efficiency
• Noise

Key Findings

Transport Efficiency:

• Off-peak deliveries in general have better performance regarding driving efficiency, delivery reliability, and energy efficiency.
• 31 percent higher driving speed on the delivery route (dedicated deliveries) and 59 percent higher driving speed in the entire urban network in off-peak than in the afternoon peak (consolidated deliveries).
• Off-peak deliveries have better energy and efficiency compared to regular-hour deliveries.
• The average fuel consumption is higher during all daytime intervals compared to the off-peak hours because of the congestion.

Environmental impacts of noise:

• Important background noise levels. In areas with busy streets, the added effects of deliveries is negligible, whereas the impact is more significant in quiet, residential areas.
• Nighttime deliveries are unproblematic in noisy areas, while more efforts are needed in quiet areas.

Stakeholder Involvement

The municipality of Stockholm found companies, organizations, and entities interested in off-peak deliveries, and organized their actions in a way that it would not generate new problems or inefficiencies for citizens. Major producers of heavy trucks provided two state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly distribution trucks. A company expert in silent systems for distribution (e.g., rolling cages) provided the necessary equipment. From the carriers' side, two of the biggest logistics companies in Sweden participated by delivering goods during nighttime hours to their customers.