Last mile (transportation)

Similarly, in supply chain management, the last mile describes the logistical challenges at the last phase of transportation getting people and packages from hubs to their final destinations.

In freight networks, parcels can be delivered to a central hub efficiently via ship, train or other means, but they must then be loaded into smaller vehicles for delivery to individual customers.

Aid supplies are sometimes able to reach a central transportation hub in an affected area but cannot be distributed due to damage caused by a natural disaster or a lack of infrastructure.

"Last mile" also describes the difficulty in getting people from a transportation hub, especially railway stations, bus depots, and ferry berths, to their final destination.

[10] In the United States, land-use patterns have moved jobs and people to lower-density suburbs that are often not within walking distance of existing public transportation options.

[11] Solutions to the last mile problem in public transit have included the use of feeder buses, bicycling infrastructure, and urban planning reform.

Late in 2015, the Ford Motor Company received a patent for a "self-propelled unicycle engageable with vehicle", which is intended as a last mile commuter solution.

[17][18][19] Starting in late 2017, micro-mobility services that provide shared vehicles such as dockless electric kick scooters[20] or electric-assist bikes[21] entered the marketplace.

[24] The last mile problem is usually addressed by route optimization methods that lead to reduced mileage, fuel consumption and working hours.

[23][better source needed] Due in part to demand on retailers and product manufacturers to provide expedited (same and next day) deliveries, tech-enabled last mile technology platforms have emerged.