Primer for Improved Urban Freight Mobility and Delivery
Operations, Logistics, and Technology Strategies

Printable Version [PDF, 2.0 MB]
You may need the Adobe® Reader® to view the PDF on this page.
Contact Information: Operations Feedback at OperationsFeedback@dot.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

FHWA-HOP-18-020

May 2018

---

New York City streetscape. Source: Alison Conway, City University of New York.

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names may appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. The FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No. FHWA-HOP-18-020		2. Government Accession No.	3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle Primer for Improved Urban Freight Mobility and Delivery: Operations, Logistics, and Technology Strategies			5. Report Date May 2018
			6. Performing Organization Code OST-R V-322
7. Author(s) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center			8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center 55 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02142-1093			10. Work No. (TRAIS)
			11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH6114V00029
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590			13. Type of Report and Period Covered Research Project Compendium
			14. Sponsoring Agency Code DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-17-12
15. Supplementary Notes Mrs. Tamiko Burnell, Federal Highway Administration, Technical Representative
16. Abstract This primer is designed to serve as a resource for stakeholders seeking to improve urban freight management in their regions. Urban freight management refers to planning, programming, and other efforts to improve freight mobility in urban areas or to minimize its impact on others. Operations, logistics, and technology strategies represent a set of practices that urban freight managers can apply to the movement of goods and the quality of life of urban residents. This primer documents 17 noteworthy practices to improve urban freight management that have been implemented successfully in both the United States and abroad. The primer also identifies opportunities for freight practitioners to plan for and fund the implementation of freight mobility strategies.
17. Key Words Urban Freight, last-mile/first-mile goods distribution, freight logistics, freight operations, intelligent transportation systems, freight research and development, freight project delivery		18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161
19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified	20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified	21. No. of Pages 59	22. Price N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• 1. Introduction
  • Purpose
  • Structure
  • Background
  • Benefits of Urban Freight Management
  • Noteworthy Practice Success Factors
• 2. Operations Strategies and Noteworthy Practices
  • Loading Zone Designation
  • Loading Zone Permitting
  • Loading Zone Enforcement
  • Traffic Control
  • Infrastructure Improvement
• 3. Logistics Strategies and Noteworthy Practices
  • Off-Hour Delivery
  • Reservation Systems for Pick-up and Delivery Locations
  • Modal Shifts
  • Freight Consolidation
• 4. Technology Strategies and Noteworthy Practices
  • Real-Time Truck Parking Availability
  • Overheight Detection and Alerts
  • Weigh-in-Motion Sites for Enforcement and Data Collection
  • Emissions Reduction Strategies
  • Clean Truck Programs - Ports
  • Vehicle Environmental Performance
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Truck Design
• 5. Planning and Funding Operations, Logistics, and Technology Strategies
  • Planning for Freight Projects
  • Federal Funding Opportunities for Freight
• Acronyms
• List of Figures
  • Figure 1. OLT Strategy Roadmap
  • Figure 2. Integrating Freight into the Transportation Planning Process
• List of Tables
  • Table 1. Target Primer Audience
  • Table 2. Urban Freight Success Factors and Primary Benefits
  • Table 3. Freight Opportunities in the Transportation Planning Processes
  • Table 4. Federal Funding Sources for Freight Projects