Exploring the correlation between courier workload, service density and distance with the success of last-mile and first-mile reverse logistics

Antonio Lorenzo-Espejo (), Jesús Muñuzuri, Luis Onieva and María-Luisa Muñoz-Díaz
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Antonio Lorenzo-Espejo: Universidad de Sevilla
Jesús Muñuzuri: Universidad de Sevilla
Luis Onieva: Universidad de Sevilla
María-Luisa Muñoz-Díaz: Universidad de Sevilla

Central European Journal of Operations Research, 2025, vol. 33, issue 4, No 6, 1327-1341

Abstract: Abstract Given the recent surge in online sales, particularly accentuated by the health crisis in 2020 and 2021, companies operating in the retail sector have increasingly recognised the importance of business-to-consumer (B2C) distribution. Consequently, last-mile logistics optimization has garnered increased attention in both academic and industry contexts. In this study, we examine the relationship between the workloads of couriers and their proficiency in executing assigned services in a B2C last-mile and first-mile reverse logistics environment. Additionally, we evaluate the connection between service density in an area and the distance between warehouses and service points with completion rates among couriers. By analysing a dataset corresponding to the deliveries and collections made in Madrid in 2021, we identify significant and moderate correlations between the couriers’ workloads and service completion rate. It should be noted that the correlations of completion rate with distance and visit frequency to each area are weak, yet statistically significant.

Keywords: Last-mile logistics; First-mile reverse logistics; B2C; Distance; Workload; Service fulfillment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10100-024-00928-x

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