Delivery Deserts: Mapping, Understanding, and Overcoming Service Challenges

Delivery services play an integral part in our economy and daily lives. They are the backbone of e-commerce, connecting businesses with consumers across large distances. Moreover, they facilitate access to essential goods such as groceries and medicines, especially for vulnerable populations who may have difficulty traveling long distances or leaving their homes. This research aims to address inequities in delivery services that create “delivery deserts”—regions where accessibility and efficiency of delivery services are severely limited or non-existent. These inequities impact national economic growth by limiting business opportunities for rural entrepreneurs and increasing costs for rural consumers. They also underscore broader societal disparities between urban and rural communities. This project employs a detailed, two-phase approach to tackle delivery deserts in America: 1) identifying and understanding the problem by quantifying and mapping these deserts and 2) identifying the specific barriers to equitable delivery access. By identifying these poorly serviced areas, the study team not only sheds light on existing disparities but also pave the way for a more inclusive future. This information can guide delivery service providers and policy makers about strategic planning opportunities, thereby fostering economic growth and improving quality of life for individuals residing in these delivery desert zones.

• Record URL:
  https://fersc.utk.edu/research-focus/fersc-projects-year-2/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150505
• Contract Numbers:

  69-A3552348338

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain

  University of Tennessee Knoxville
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996
• Project Managers:

  Bruner, Britain

  Kaplan, Marcella

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research
  Conference Center Building
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996-4133
• Principal Investigators:

  Heaslip, Kevin

  Kaplan, Marcella

• Start Date: 20240701
• Expected Completion Date: 20250630
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Delivery service; Digital mapping; First mile and last mile; Transportation equity; Underserved communities
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01929238
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain
• Contract Numbers: 69-A3552348338
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 29 2024 4:37PM