Last Mile Delivery Explained: Trends, Challenges, Costs & More

The supply chain process involves three major milestones:

First mile is the distribution of an item from the manufacturer.

Middle mile involves long-distance transportation and includes going through customs, port or hub storage and loading, and inland transportation. (For domestic orders, not all of these steps are necessary.) It brings products to the final station before being loaded onto vehicles for delivery.

Last mile, sometimes called final mile, is where the item is sent out from a local warehouse or fulfillment center for its final delivery to the customer.

Every step of the supply chain process is crucial, but last mile is where the most impact can be made for the customer experience. If a product arrives late, damaged, or is never delivered, there is a good chance that the customer will shop with a competitor next time. Essentially, last mile is where the business brings their values, their brand, and their promise to the customer’s door.

The last mile problem refers to the common inefficiencies of last mile delivery. Factors of the last mile problem include short-delivery frame, same-day delivery, cost of fuel, last-minute route changes, failed deliveries, and customer expectations, just to name a few. Customers have extremely high expectations for timely delivery, and the pressure falls on the fleet managers to fulfill expectations. Last mile is often the most expensive and time-consuming part of the shipping process. In fact, last mile often accounts for 53% of the total costs of shipments.

The last mile delivery process may vary slightly from company to company, but these are the typical steps in the process.

1. A customer requests an order digitally. These requests are held in one centralized system, which makes tracking simple.
2. The items in the order are located in the warehouse or holding facility and are sent to a transportation holding facility. This is where the last mile delivery officially starts.
3. A fleet manager or software will assign delivery routes based on orders. Routes will be optimized based on customer location, delivery time constraints, fuel usage, and more.
4. Orders are scanned and tracking information is sent to the customer. Tracking items allows customers to have a better delivery window, which increases satisfaction.
5. The customer receives the order.
6. A proof of delivery is obtained, such as a signature or picture of the delivered order for order records.

In addition to costs, last mile deliveries pose other unique challenges.

Traveling in Urban Areas
If you have ever driven through a big city, you know that the roads are narrow, traffic is a nightmare, and parking is near impossible. This makes deliveries a bit more time-consuming than they would be in the suburbs, which can lead to significant delays.

Traveling in Rural Areas
On the other hand, rural locations have nothing but space which is also a problem. Drivers may need to travel miles in between stops, increasing travel times and wait times.

Delivering Large and Heavy Items
Anything can be ordered online, including bulky items like furniture. Ideally, there will be two delivery persons to carry the large item to the customer’s doorstep, but this is not always the case. Either way, the logistics of getting the item out of the truck can be time-consuming.

Lack of Drivers and Vehicles
Even before the coronavirus caused delivery personnel to become essential workers, the U.S. was facing a driver shortage. As we mentioned earlier, many businesses are also relying on costly ad hoc vehicle acquisitions. However, with the continual surge of eCommerce, these as-needed vehicles may soon need to turn into leases.

Without vehicles, customers cannot receive their orders, which is why a reliable fleet of transportation vehicles is a necessity for last mile delivery fulfillment. How companies acquire these vehicles is where many unnecessary operating expenses arise.

Companies like Postmates and Amazon Flex rely on crowdsourcing and gig economy workers, which involves recruiting independent drivers. Upfront, this seems like a cost-effective method. The drivers are not considered full-time employees and they use their own vehicles. However, this is an unreliable means to an end, as independent drivers are less efficient, hard to find, inconsistent, and may use older vehicles. These factors can end up tarnishing the brand image.

Many companies also rely on daily car rentals for busy days, which carry high costs and little to no stability. With rentals, there are also limitations to the types of vehicles available. If customers are expecting large packages, like furniture or electronics, you need to have a commercial pickup truck rental that can fit the items securely. If a rental company only has sedans in stock, this could delay delivery times.

• Temperature sensors to monitor warehouses and packages for heat and humidity (or cold temperatures)
• Smart route planning that takes weather patterns into account

Autonomous Cars, Drones, and Robots

In 2022, Nuro debuted its third-generation autonomous, zero-occupancy delivery vehicle. This vehicle can carry 500 pounds, with space for up to 24 grocery bags in its compartments. Nuro has partnered with Domino’s, FedEx, Kroger, 7-Eleven, and more to play their part in “improving road safety, sustainability and overall access to goods delivery.”

Amazon has recently announced its delivery drone service in College Station, Texas. The drones will be able to carry up to 5 pounds and can travel at a speed of up to 50 mph at 400 feet. This pilot program is being met with some concerns, such as frightening and compromising livestock safety, economic impact, crashes that can cause damage and wildfires, and more. With any new technology, there is criticism. Only time will tell if these new technologies can succeed.

Vehicles equipped with telematics and GPS tracking technology provide valuable insights into fleet operations. Most modern vehicles are connected capable, meaning the GPS and telematics hardware is built into the vehicle at the factory. With these connected vehicles, programs such as TotalConnect can help detect unsafe driving habits, offer route optimizations for quicker deliveries, and ensure that vehicles are kept up to date on maintenance to maximize uptime.

Companies like Amazon have created a culture of immediacy. In the U.S. alone, there are over 157.4 million Amazon Prime members, all of whom expect free two-day shipping on their orders (or in some areas, even one-day or same-day shipping).

It can be hard to deliver on quick turnaround times, but it’s worth it from a brand perspective, and Amazon Prime has shown that customers are willing to pay more for faster delivery. Businesses can compete by ensuring that their eCommerce operations and strategies are 100% customer-focused. Here are a few ways to keep the customer at the forefront of operations:

Omnichannel Supply Chains

Omnichannel operations give customers options for purchases and returns by integrating all sales outlets.

Customers can place an order from a computer, mobile web browser, mobile app, phone, or in-store. Then they can choose to receive their products through at-home delivery or by picking them up in the store. Returns can be made by visiting the store or by mailing the items back to the merchant.

Inventory Forecasting

Deliveries cannot be made quickly if the products are not in stock. Using inventory management and forecasting tools, retailers can spot trends in customers’ purchase habits and use that information to forecast demand. Based on this forecast, items can be moved to nearby fulfillment centers, so they are available and ready for fast delivery.

Amazon
One of the most popular online retailers, Amazon has been working to solve its last mile delivery problem. In addition to having multiple avenues of delivery — fleet (including electric vehicles), air, Amazon Scout, and drones — Amazon also has a Delivery Service Partner Program. With the program Amazon partners with entrepreneurs interested in starting a logistics business (delivery team).

Walmart
Big box store Walmart uses drones, food delivery robots, and fully autonomous box trucks to deliver to customers in certain locations. Walmart is now in the process of securing a patent to combine the technologies. They plan to decrease failed ground deliveries by incorporating autonomous vehicles and drones. If there is a roadblock or obstacle on the ground, then a drone can complete the delivery.

FedEx
In 2003, FedEx was the first company to use hybrid vehicles for pickup and delivery. Today, FedEx is dedicated to having carbon neural operations by 2040, which includes electric vehicles (EVs) being 50% of new vehicle purchases by 2025 and 100% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030.

EVs work well for last mile delivery services since they avoid vehicle idle laws in certain cities, and can make use of stop-and-go city driving to recharge through regenerative braking. In addition, EVs also emit no carbon emissions from the tailpipe and require less maintenance.

FedEx has a new plan to optimize resources by merging FedEx Express, Ground, and Freight, previously three separate operating entities. “Network 2.0” is set to reduce redundancies and is predicted to save FedEx $2 billion annually. “Rather than duplicate last mile routing footprints across these two parcel networks [FedEx Express and Ground], LMO [last mile optimization] created the insight and processes to effectively handoff packages between networks and remove redundant routes,” said Richard Smith, President, and CEO-elect of FedEx Express.

Unique challenges call for unique solutions. The industry is continually introducing new strategies to get products into the hands of customers more quickly and cost-effectively.

Pop Up Warehouses

By relocating products into pop-up warehouses that are closer to customers, retailers can significantly reduce transportation costs.

Advanced Order Tracking

Nearly every merchant provides updates to customers when orders are received and shipped. The more high-tech providers send step-by-step tracking updates. For example, Amazon Prime customers receive mobile alerts when packages are a few stops away, and even maps that show exactly where the driver is.

White Glove Delivery

Customers who order heavy items or pieces that require assembly may be inclined to purchase white glove services. This involves the delivery person(s) unpacking and assembling a product for an additional fee. If you outsource your last mile deliveries, there are third-party transportation companies that offer this service.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

As mentioned above, EVs are ideal for last mile delivery services since most batteries can provide enough charge for a daily route and the stop-and-go city driving can help extend drive time through regenerative braking. Each night, vehicles return to a depot where it is easy to plug them in so they are topped-off for the next day’s route.

Additionally, since EVs don’t emit tailpipe emissions, they aren’t held to vehicle idle laws. Many states have laws that limit the amount of idling a vehicle can do. If they break these laws, there can be a large fine.

Rapid Order Fulfillment

We live in a “want it now” society, and this is not going to change. With advanced ordering systems and competitive delivery times, customers tend to opt for quick delivery when they order something. Many companies have started to offer same-day delivery to stay relevant, but this can create difficulties with last-mile solutions.

Urban Warehouses

More businesses are beginning to build warehouses closer to cities. The closer the warehouse is to a customer, the faster the delivery. Urban warehouses help companies reduce route inefficiencies and cut down on carbon footprint. Urban warehouses are also more convenient for workers who may live in or near the city and can save money by not commuting to a remote location.

In-house Delivery Services

Even though outsourcing last-minute delivery is popular, for many companies it’s more beneficial to use their own fleet for delivery. Fleets may own or rent vehicles for a long or short period of time.

Hybrid Fleet Management Systems

Companies may utilize a combination of in-house and third-party freelance drivers for the delivery fleet.

Amazon is not the only company that can succeed with last mile delivery. Businesses can take advantage of the expanding market by establishing their own delivery network or partnering with a third-party transportation company.

Whatever the route, consider the following while strategizing a last mile delivery plan:

Reviews
Online reviews will tell you almost everything you need to know about a company. Check Google, social media accounts, and the company’s website to see what other people’s experience with the company has been like.

Technology
As we have covered in this article, technology is driving the future of last mile delivery. From advanced order tracking to driverless deliveries, technology is revolutionizing the way customers receive their orders while also making it easier and more cost-effective for retailers to deliver these orders. Last mile service providers should understand the importance of technology and offer relevant strategies to propel a retailer forward.

Fleet
What vehicles are available? A third-party provider will already have an existing fleet, but is it right for your operations? Class 5 trucks can transport a lot of items, but can they maneuver throughout downtown city streets where many of your customers live? If the plan is to establish a delivery network, working with a fleet management company is the most efficient way to get the right vehicles.

If you have questions about fleet management or how you can improve your last mile delivery services, contact us! We are always happy to help.