Sustainable impact analysis of freight pooling strategies on city crowdsourcing logistics platform

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Abstract

This study investigates the effects of freight pooling strategies on urban crowdsourcing logistics, focusing on economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Utilising a mixed-integer linear programming model with an adaptive large neighbourhood search algorithm, our goal is to optimise the cost-efficiency of the freight pooling system. Real-world delivery and driver trajectory data from a major Chinese crowdsourcing logistics platform, along with high-resolution vehicle telematics data, validate our model in five scenarios, each defined by distinct cost coefficients reflecting diverse stakeholder priorities. Results show potential for up to a 21.3% reduction in carbon emissions, a 28.3% decrease in truck activity spatial coverage, and a 7.6% increase in available drivers. However, deadheading trips, due to order consolidation into fewer vehicles without an increase in overall demand, could offset maximum carbon reduction benefits by 16.4%. Other effects on customers’ and drivers’ welfare are explored for a comprehensive quantitative assessment of freight pooling strategies’ sustainability benefits.

Publication
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
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Simon Hu
Assistant Professor
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Siqi Shu
PhD Student