SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 — The Urban Freight Lab (UFL) announces new members Michelin North America and curbFlow, bringing our industry membership to 14 institutions who represent some of the largest companies in the world. With the addition of Michelin and curbFlow, the UFL is now nearly at capacity, as its upper limit is 15 private- and public-sector members.
“We are thrilled to add Michelin North America and curbFlow as partners,” said Barb Ivanov, UFL director. “With the support of our members and partners like Michelin North America and curbFlow, the Urban Freight Lab will continue to make great strides in the study of urban delivery.”
The UFL — which brings together transportation engineers, urban planners, retailers, freight carriers, transportation and logistics professionals, manufacturers and developers — studies potential solutions to delivery issues with the rise of e-commerce, ride-hailing services, connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, and increasing global urbanization.
“Both Michelin North America and curbFlow a perfect fit for the Urban Freight Lab, which brings top executives and researchers together with city officials to pilot test practical on-demand delivery solutions in Seattle and Bellevue,” said Ivanov.
Michelin will contribute its expertise with connected tires, digital solutions and other customer innovations to address critical urban development challenges, such as “delivery dwell time,” reducing congestion through telematics and connected services, among others.
“Michelin is focused on improving mobility globally, especially in urban areas,” said Adam Murphy, vice president of B2B marketing for Michelin. “UFL shares our fervent belief in the benefits of addressing urban mobility and the last leg of the delivery process ─ often described as the final 50 feet from the delivery vehicle to the customer.”
Tech start-up curbFlow, “air traffic control for the curbside,” operates a digital queuing system for delivery and service parking in city spaces and is now piloting its curbside management system for all commercial operators (including those in personal vehicles) at nine locations throughout Washington, D.C. for 12 weeks this summer and fall.
READ MORE:
- About Michelin
- About curbFlow
- View photos from the Urban Freight Lab kickoff event
- View photos from the Grand Opening event
- Michelin North America Joins Urban Freight Lab as Only Tire Manufacturer
About the Urban Freight Lab (UFL): An innovative public-private partnership housed at the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center at the University of Washington, the Urban Freight Lab is a structured workgroup that brings together private industry with City transportation officials to design and test solutions around urban freight management.
About the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center: The Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center at the University of Washington is the go-to place to analyze and solve urban goods delivery, sustainability, logistic hubs and ports, and freight system performance management problems that overlay private and public spaces and control.