Understanding delivery drivers’ parking preferences in urban freight operations

Parking space for loading and unloading operations is scarce in urban areas. The limited space that exists must be shared among all users. Although parking is a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed, the attitudes and preferences of delivery drivers in urban settings have not been studied. This paper analyzes drivers? perspectives from a survey conducted in the northeastern United States. Stated preferences data were collected and analyzed using a mixed logit and a hybrid discrete choice model. The results show that three variables impact the selection of parking spaces: searching time, walking (access) time to the delivery destination, and cost per hour of parking. The research shows that Safe Behavior, a moderating latent variable, influences parking choices and impacts drivers differently. We also observed that the first choice for drivers is to park in an available spot, followed by double parking. Even though drivers try to avoid parking in restricted areas, their priority is making their deliveries on time. Based on the modeling findings, the authors provide recommendations to policymakers and logistics service providers (carriers) to improve last-mile operations and reduce the cost of deliveries in urban areas.