Consumer involvement in last-mile e-commerce transport and impact on travel Patterns: A case study in Sweden

Lena Winslott Hiselius, Emeli Adell, Ulrik Berggren and Lena Smidfelt Rosqvist

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2026, vol. 211, issue C

Abstract: The growth of e-commerce has transformed consumer shopping patterns and reshaped travel behaviour, yet knowledge is limited regarding how different delivery options interact with individual mobility in everyday life. This study analysedhow delivery options, trip characteristics, and socio-demographic and spatial factors relate to e-commerce activity travel and the degree of consumer involvement inlast-miletransport. Using a longitudinal, smartphone-based travel survey combined with daily reporting of e-commerce activities, data were collected. The dataset prepared for analysis included 238 respondents, validating 11,221 days and 48,145 trips. Of these, 197 respondents engaged in an e-commerce activity at least once in a 28-day period. The results showed that nearly 60% of e-commerce activities required out-of-home travel, indicating substantial consumer involvement in last-mile logistics. Many of these trips were conducted as standalone errands, particularly for deliveries collected from agents and delivery boxes. Delivery boxes and in-store pickups were associated with car usage for e-commerce travel, while trip chaining facilitated integration of the pickup into broader activity patterns and mode use. Socio-demographic characteristics (including age and car access) and frequency of e-commerce use significantly shaped travel mode and delivery choices, with frequent users of e-commerce showing lower car dependence. Spatial context further moderated behaviour: urban residents displayed greater use of in-store pickups and other modes than cars, whereas rural residents depended more on cars. Overall, the findings demonstrate that e-commerce does not replace physical mobility, but reshapes it in ways dependent on delivery design, trip context, and local setting.

Keywords: Longitudinal travel survey; Travel behaviour; E-commerce; Last-mile transport; Delivery options (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2026.105087

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