Autonomous Vehicles

This briefing paper looks at the changing nature of distribution networks with the rise of e-commerce and the effects this will have on the size, number and distribution of warehouses in cities. It finds that autonomous trucks, capable of traveling quickly at all hours of the day, will continue the trend towards mega-distribution centers in suburban and rural areas. However, until autonomous trucks are capable of navigating the complexities of city streets, local drivers will need to handle "last mile" transportation.