Environmental Impact of Bundling Transport Deliveries Using SUMO: Analysis of a cooperative approach in Austria

TL;DR

This study evaluates the environmental benefits of bundling delivery routes using cooperative logistics in Austria, demonstrating significant reductions in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption through simulation.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation-based analysis of cooperative delivery bundling, quantifying environmental benefits in an urban Austrian context.

Findings

28% reduction in fuel consumption

34% reduction in CO2 emissions

Improved efficiency with single-truck bundling

Abstract

Urban Traffic is recognized as one of the major CO2 contributors that puts a high burden on the environment. Different attempts have been made for reducing the impacts ranging from traffic management actions to shared-vehicle concepts to simply reducing the number of vehicles on the streets. By relying on cooperative approaches between different logistics companies, such as sharing and pooling resources for bundling deliveries in the same zone, an increased environmental benefit can be attained. To quantify this benefit we compare the CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and total delivery time resulting from deliveries performed by one cargo truck with two trailers versus by two single-trailer cargo trucks under real conditions in a simulation scenario in the city of Linz in Austria. Results showed a fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduction of 28% and 34% respectively in the scenario in which resources were bundled in one single truck.