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

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...

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Main Authors: Evelyne Tina Kassai, Muhammad Azmat, Sebastian Kummer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:Logistics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/4/3/17
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author Evelyne Tina Kassai
Muhammad Azmat
Sebastian Kummer
author_facet Evelyne Tina Kassai
Muhammad Azmat
Sebastian Kummer
author_sort Evelyne Tina Kassai
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-8e26b236106948f4b89f3e0c737abceb2025-08-20T03:56:59ZengMDPI AGLogistics2305-62902020-08-01431710.3390/logistics4030017Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban SettingsEvelyne Tina Kassai0Muhammad Azmat1Sebastian Kummer2Welthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, AustriaWelthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, AustriaWelthandelsplatz 1, Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), 1020 Vienna, AustriaCourier, 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/4/3/17self-driving trucksautonomous vansCEP companiesCEP sectorautonomous deliveryurban logistics
spellingShingle Evelyne Tina Kassai
Muhammad Azmat
Sebastian Kummer
Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
Logistics
self-driving trucks
autonomous vans
CEP companies
CEP sector
autonomous delivery
urban logistics
title Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
title_full Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
title_fullStr Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
title_full_unstemmed Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
title_short Scope of Using Autonomous Trucks and Lorries for Parcel Deliveries in Urban Settings
title_sort scope of using autonomous trucks and lorries for parcel deliveries in urban settings
topic self-driving trucks
autonomous vans
CEP companies
CEP sector
autonomous delivery
urban logistics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/4/3/17
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AT sebastiankummer scopeofusingautonomoustrucksandlorriesforparceldeliveriesinurbansettings