A study conducted in Stockholm over a period of 2 years, has found that its more economical, environmentally and socially friendly to make truck deliveries at night.

Due to the concerns of noise disturbance, night time deliveries have been frowned upon and even banned in some places but according to the study which was conducted on 2 trucks equipped with microphones monitoring their noise level, the advantages outweigh the noise disturbance issues.

In fact the noise came more from the deliveries than the vehicles themselves.

The study, which was conducted by the Integrated Transport Research Lab at Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), involved 2 trucks making sanctioned deliveries in the previously prohibited period between 10pm and 6am.

Trucks no longer had the problem of busy streets and efficiencies of vehicle movement was approximately 20 per cent.

During the entire 2 year period, only one noise complaint was issued.

Researcher Romain Rumpler explained,

“When assessing the noise effects of nighttime deliveries it is important to take background noise into account,” he says.

“Therefore, the conclusion was that nighttime deliveries are unproblematic in noisy areas while more efforts are needed in quiet areas.”

Source: https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1612/study-finds-nighttime-delivery-benefit

Researchers said the average speed of the trucks in the trial were 30 to 60 per cent higher at night than they were during the day, which means vehicles can make more deliveries in a single trip or complete the trip in a shorter period.

Another KTH researcher Anastasios Koutoulos said,

“Since we have fuel cost savings, there is no need for public subsidies,” Koutoulos says.

“With these increases in efficiency, transport companies could save one truck in five.”

Source: https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1612/study-finds-nighttime-delivery-benefit

The City of Stockholm has not made a decision on the results of the study, it plans to investigate the findings further especially given the opportunity to enhance mobility, reduce air pollution and positively impact the climate. A third truck has since been added to the study.

“We now have an incredibly valuable experience to build upon,” says Elin Skogens at the City’s Traffic Administration Office.

“But the noise aspects need to be studied further.”

Read more https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1612/study-finds-nighttime-delivery-benefit.

Perhaps the next area of the study will involve examining fatigue issues relating to night time delivery driving.