Environmental Effects of Eco-Driving on Courier Delivery

Abstract

In recent years, eco-driving has proven to be an effective tool for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Until now, most research carried out has focused on ordinary drivers applying eco-driving techniques on their usual routes. However, there is little research on professional driver couriers. This research is aimed at analyzing the effects that eco-driving has on fuel consumption and GHG emissions on courier deliveries in small cities such as Caceres (Spain). For this purpose, a real-life experiment was performed with professional drivers with Spanish post vans from the public sector company Correos. In the first period, driving was under normal conditions (non-eco), and after a theoretical training eco-driving course, there was a second driving period (eco). Driving parameters (speeds, accelerations, rpm, and consumptions) were recorded on all trips to analyze how effective the eco-driving was. The research concluded that eco-driving training does not correlate with more sustainable driving for professional drivers under pressure with the need to deliver packages on time. However, there is a trend in fuel savings when using higher capacity routes.

Effective and Acceptable Eco-Driving Guidance for Human-Driving Vehicles: A Review

“…For example, Díaz-Ramirez et al [ 27 ] found that more experienced drivers are not likely to change their behaviour after receiving eco-driving guidance, while other socio-demographic characteristics (such as age and education levels) are not significant. Similar results can also be found in [ 26 , 33 , 80 ].…”

An Overview of Eco-Driving Theory, Capability Evaluation, and Training Applications

“…Wu et al [ 101 ] measured the effectiveness of eco-driving training for both professional and non-professional drivers and they found that non-professional drivers showed a greater willingness to improve their behavior than professional drivers and the former had a more obvious improvement in fuel saving. Coloma et al [ 102 ] studied the impact of eco-driving training on postal-truck drivers and got a similar conclusion. In fact, the essential difference between professional and non-professional drivers is the number of driving years and driving experience; thus, the reason for this difference may be related to the rich driving experience and long-term habits of professional drivers.…”

“…However, in terms of the impact of road traffic environment on the effect of eco-driving training, different scholars have reached different conclusions. Some scholars believe that driving on unobstructed roads is more conducive to the implementation of eco-driving strategies, so the fuel-saving effect is more obvious [ 102 , 109 ]. Coloma et al [ 102 ] pointed out that eco-driving training seems to be more effective in small but not crowded cities.…”

“…Some scholars believe that driving on unobstructed roads is more conducive to the implementation of eco-driving strategies, so the fuel-saving effect is more obvious [ 102 , 109 ]. Coloma et al [ 102 ] pointed out that eco-driving training seems to be more effective in small but not crowded cities. However, other scholars hold the opposite view [ 96 , 109 ].…”

Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance of Delivery Routes in the City Center and Peri-Urban Area of Madrid

“…Thus, short-term research and efforts must focus on leveraging and finding new opportunities for improving efficiency in urban freight transport, in terms of both optimization and innovation. Among these, one of the main options to optimize traditional strategies (i.e., LMD carried out by Light Duty Vehicles-LDVs) is to improve route planning skills since it has been demonstrated that proper route planning can save up to 20% of fuel consumption and reduce the corresponding emissions [10][11][12].…”