A Simulation-Based Evaluation of a Cargo-Hitching Service for E-Commerce Using Mobility-on-Demand Vehicles

Time-sensitive parcel deliveries, shipments requested for delivery in a day or less, are an increasingly important research subject. It is challenging to deal with these deliveries from carrier perspective since it entails additional planning constraints, preventing efficient consolidation of which possible when demand well known advance. Furthermore, such time-sensitive wider spatial scope than retail centers, including homes and offices. Therefore, increase considered exacerbate negative externalities as congestion emissions. One the solutions leverage spare capacity passenger transport modes. This concept often denominated cargo-hitching. While there various system designs, crucial that solution does not deteriorate quality service trips. aims evaluate use Mobility-On-Demand services perform same-day deliveries. For this purpose, we SimMobility, high-resolution agent-based simulation platform freight flows, applied Singapore. E-commerce data used characterize simulated demand. Operational scenarios aim minimize adverse effect fulfilling vehicles on flows (fulfillment, wait travel times) explored. Results indicate have potential fulfill considerable amount decrease vehicle traffic total vehicle-kilometers-travelled without compromising Mobility On-Demand travel.