With the holiday season approaching, the anticipation for peak fulfillment and deliveries is top of every shipper, broker, and 3PL’s mind, but that doesn’t mean sustainability should take the back seat. With retail and e-commerce sales expected to inflate to their pre-pandemic levels by 9.3%, along with growth comes demand for last mile delivery excellence is also growing. In this continuously evolving landscape, a trusted gig economy-powered last mile delivery partner will provide a cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable solution. All while matching shipments with a local, professional driver, ready to meet your holiday delivery needs while keeping the environment in the driver's seat.
Last mile delivery drives sustainability in today’s supply chains
The urgency for sustainability in logistics becomes more apparent with every delivery. Often characterized by fuel emissions and congestion, the last mile is a vital measurement of environmental impact. This is where gig last mile delivery providers come into the picture.
Standard delivery trucks and fleets are no longer a shipper’s only resort. Gig economy delivery providers, like FRAYT, match shippers with drivers of vehicles from sedans to box trucks, providing them with eco-friendly options. For lighter parcel deliveries, optimize the space of a sedan or SUV as a green alternative to larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles. Additionally, shippers no longer have to pay for empty space, as they would for a standard delivery truck.
Cargo vans and box trucks expand your fleet options without adding headcount or vehicle assets. And, with batched routing, logistic service providers can consolidate multiple deliveries into one vehicle at its full capacity. By selecting the right vehicle for each delivery, shippers will significantly reduce their carbon emissions, making a notable impact during the busiest time of the year.
Collaborations that make a difference
The holiday season provides a unique opportunity for shippers to collaborate, creating more sustainable last mile delivery solutions. By leveraging partners with on-demand, versatile vehicle options you can make deliveries that are both timely and environmentally responsible. For example, the route optimization technology FRAYT employs reduces fuel consumption and emissions, ensuring deliveries reach customers, job sites, or stores in an eco-friendly manner. With multiple stops on a single route, shippers use the full capacity of a single vehicle, eliminating the need and cost of multiple vehicles with unused cargo space.
Partnering with gig, last mile delivery partners often comes with visibility advantages as well. Live tracking from pick up to drop off, direct driver communication, and POD signatures and images, provide shippers with end-to-end visibility and eliminate the risk of additional trips, along with the emissions those would produce.
Some partners will even go the extra mile in providing you a seamless delivery experience and ridding the risk of another trip. For example, FRAYT’s Preferred Driver Program allows shippers to match with drivers they know — and love, establishing trust between shippers, customers and professional, gig-economy drivers, to ensure they’re deliveries are in familiar, experienced hands.
Not only does a partnership like this contribute to a healthier planet, but it also boosts your brand's reputation by showcasing your dedication to sustainability. The cost-efficiency of this fleet-free partnership is evident as well, with reduced fuel expenses and maintenance costs
Enjoy the holiday season with FRAYT
As you gear up for the holiday rush, consider how your last mile deliveries can be both reliable and sustainable. FRAYT, with its commitment to utilized capacity AND eco-friendly practices, offers the perfect solution. Our range of vehicles, advanced technology, and vetted drivers ensure that your packages reach their destinations on time while minimizing the impact on the environment.
