The Freight Rag: Ideas

Ideas for improving goods movements from an urban planning point of view are presented. Many of these are derived from planning for urban freight, but concepts are presented here and are free to use with acknowledgement.

Truck Body Deconsolidation Concept

There is a new technology that is becoming utilized in North America that may provide the benefits of city logistics without requiring the use of a public consolidation centre. Demountable Concepts, of Glassboro, New Jersey has developed a truck body system that could be utilized to reduce the number of truck trips into the Central Business District (CBD), and encourage the use of smaller vehicles in the CBD. In the following example, Toronto could promote the use of these body swapping techniques by providing space for short-term storage (overnight) in a secure facility. Currently, distribution to the CBD commonly consists of many small vehicles driving from suburban locations to the downtown area, and then leaving again in the evening.

Existing Distribution System	Proposed Truck Swap System
Small trucks loaded in morning in suburban distribution centres	Large truck loaded overnight
Small trucks drive into CBD during peak traffic	Drives into Portlands facility in early morning hours, unloads truck bodies
Perform deliveries in CBD	Large truck loads empty trailer bodies and leaves Portlands facility in early morning hours
Leave CBD during peak traffic	Small trucks pick bodies and perform deliveries in CBD

With the use of the truck body deconsolidation concept, the city of Toronto could provide a secure facility where firms can deconsolidate their truck bodies from large articulated trucks to smaller, more maneuverable trucks. Because the facility would be a secure parking lot for truck body exchanges to occur, the city could utilize lands in the Port of Toronto for this purpose. The system is explained schematically below.

Within Toronto, using the TTC Subway as an Intermodal Resource

A common objective of many goods movement plans is to promote a modal shift, especially from road to rail. It has been noted that:

“A healthy goods movement system requires mode choice for shippers and receivers, system reliability, continuity of infrastructure and services focused on the needs of shippers and receivers.”[1]

Toronto has an underutilized resource that could be utilized to greatly reduce the number of trips into the CBD. The PATH system in Toronto is an extensive system of underground tunnels that connect 4 million square feet of retail space, 1,200 shops and services and more than 50 buildings/office towers. Also, the underground network has 5 downtown subway stops integrated into the system. The amount of freight generated that could be delivered through the PATH system is substantial.

Here, construction of an intermodal facility is proposed at the TTC Downsview yard, to facilitate deliveries to PATH accessed businesses via specially constructed subway cars. The Downsview yard is suggested because of easy highway access from the 401 via Dufferin street, and the availability of land at this location, being adjacent to Downsview park. Deliveries could take place during hours the subway is not being utilized for passenger service.

[1] Kriger, D., 2004. “Planning Process for Urban Goods Movements.” iTrans Consulting.