TITLE:
Delivery of the Future: How the First-Mile, Last-Mile Problem Can Be Approached around the World
AUTHORS:
Natalie Jardine, Jared Brown, Joseph Perri, Lance Baronsky, Owen Honey, Ardeshir Faghri
KEYWORDS:
First-Mile/Last-Mile, Urban Freight, Multimodal Transportation, Last-Mile Delivery, Logistics Systems, Micro-Mobility
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.14 No.3,
August
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: The first-mile/last-mile (FMLM) problem has quickly emerged as one of the most significant transportation and logistics challenges facing modern urban environments. The final stage of passenger transportation and freight delivery is often the most inefficient, costly, and operationally complex portion of the transportation network. Growing e-commerce demand, increasing urban congestion, automobile dependency, and disconnected multimodal infrastructure have intensified the need for more effective FMLM solutions. This paper evaluates international approaches to addressing FMLM transportation challenges and examines how these strategies may be applied in the United States, specifically in Wilmington, Delaware. The research begins by analyzing global transportation and logistics systems that have successfully improved FMLM connectivity. China serves as a major case study due to its advanced last-mile logistics network, including decentralized parcel distribution centers, parcel locker systems, micro-delivery vehicles, autonomous delivery technologies, and third-party logistics integration. These systems have significantly reduced delivery inefficiencies while improving convenience for consumers. The paper also examines Amazon’s integrated logistics and fulfillment network within the United States, highlighting how data analytics, artificial intelligence, route optimization, and strategically located distribution centers improve delivery performance and operational efficiency. In addition to freight-focused case studies, the paper investigates international multimodal transportation systems in countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore. These countries emphasize context-sensitive roadway geometric design, protected bicycle infrastructure, transit-oriented development, curbside management, pedestrian accessibility, and integrated mobility systems. Unlike many automobile-oriented transportation systems within the United States, these international examples prioritize multimodal accessibility and coordinated transportation planning. The paper compares these international systems with current U.S. transportation practices, identifying key differences in roadway design philosophy, land-use integration, curbside allocation, and multimodal connectivity. A localized application of these concepts is then proposed for Wilmington, Delaware. The proposed recommendations include implementing micro-mobility hubs near the Wilmington Riverfront, smart parcel locker systems, protected bicycle lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, and expanded on-demand microtransit services based on the DART Connect model. These recommendations align with AASHTO geometric design principles and the Delaware State Freight Plan while addressing local congestion, accessibility, and multimodal transportation challenges. Finally, the paper explores future trends in FMLM transportation, including autonomous delivery systems, electric micro-mobility, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), smart logistics platforms, and integrated transportation technologies. The findings of this study indicate that successful FMLM systems require coordinated infrastructure planning, multimodal transportation integration, advanced logistics technology, and context-sensitive roadway design. While differences in geography, density, and transportation culture may limit direct replication of international systems within the United States, the research concludes that many international strategies can significantly improve transportation accessibility, operational efficiency, sustainability, and overall mobility when adapted appropriately to local conditions.