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Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings

Author

Listed:
  • Evelyne Tina Kassai

    (Welthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, Austria)

  • Muhammad Azmat

    (Welthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, Austria)

  • Sebastian Kummer

    (Welthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Courier, express, and parcel (CEP) services represent one of the most challenging and dynamic sectors of the logistics industry. Companies of this sector must solve several challenges to keep up with the rapid changes in the market. In this context, the introduction of autonomous delivery using self-driving trucks might be an appropriate solution to overcome the problems that the industry is facing today. This paper investigates if the introduction of autonomous trucks would be feasible for deliveries in urban areas from the experts’ point of view. Furthermore, the potential advantages of such autonomous vehicles were highlighted and compared to traditional delivery methods. At the same time, barriers that could slow down or hinder such an implementation were also discovered by conducting semi-structured interviews with experts from the field. The results show that CEP companies are interested in innovative logistics solutions such as autonomous vans, especially when it comes to business-to-consumer (B2C) activities. Most of the experts acknowledge the benefits that self-driving vans could bring once on the market. Despite that, there are still some difficulties that need to be solved before actual implementation. If this type of vehicle will become the sector’s disruptor is yet to be seen.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelyne Tina Kassai & Muhammad Azmat & Sebastian Kummer, 2020. "Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:4:y:2020:i:3:p:17-:d:395768
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muhammad Azmat & Sebastian Kummer & Lara Trigueiro Moura & Federico Di Gennaro & Rene Moser, 2019. "Future Outlook of Highway Operations with Implementation of Innovative Technologies Like AV, CV, IoT and Big Data," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Muhammad Azmat & Sebastian Kummer, 2020. "Potential applications of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles to mitigate challenges of transport and logistics-related critical success factors in the humanitarian supply chain," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Schulke, Arne & Mai Vi Nguyen, 2023. "The introduction of self-driving / full-automation trucks: Will we live among these modern dinosaurs?," IU Discussion Papers - Transport & Logistics 1 (Januar 2023), IU International University of Applied Sciences.
    2. Benjamin Nitsche, 2021. "Exploring the Potentials of Automation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Paving the Way for Autonomous Supply Chains," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-9, August.

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