Improving mobility for commuting of warehouse workers

摘要

The purpose of this study is to investigate and design viable alternative warehouse worker commuter systems. The study considers a corporate carpool scheme in which the employer pairs employees to carpool to work on a daily basis. A key objective is to maximize the total number of driving miles saved, while ensuring that all employees have a way to get to work. A major novelty of this study is that it takes a worker-centered approach by considering the driver or rider roles employees would prefer to play in the scheme. It also ensures that the extra distances the drivers have to go in order to pick up and drop off their riders are shared as fairly as possible among all drivers. This study is expected to have positive impacts on the company, the workers and the environment. It lays the groundwork for a way for logistics companies to site their warehouses in the best available location with access to more workers. It creates more work opportunities for mobility-disadvantaged and low paid workers and provides them with a more enjoyable commute to and from work. Reduced mileage by single-occupant vehicles will lead to reduction in traffic levels and greenhouse gas emissions.