Urban Freight Lab Research Assistant and Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering doctoral student Arsalan Esmaili has received the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Best Academic Paper Award 2025 for his research on public acceptance of autonomous delivery vehicles (ADVs).
Esmaili’s paper, titled “Autonomous Delivery Vehicles Acceptance: The Moderating Role of Perceived Risk of Theft,” examines factors that shape people’s willingness to use ADVs, including social influence, environmental concern, enjoyment, and perceived security risks. Based on survey responses from more than 1,500 participants, the study combines quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify both the drivers and barriers to adoption. Results highlight the importance of social norms, perceived usefulness, and environmental concern in driving acceptance, while concern about theft can act as a barrier to adopting ADVs.
The paper was co-authored with Kayvan Aghabayk (University of Tehran), Sina Rejali, (Queensland University of Technology), Amin Mohammadi (University of Tabriz), and Amelia Regan (University of Washington).
The award was presented at the 104th TRB Annual Meeting by Sushant Sharma, Chair of TRB’s Freight Planning and Logistics Committee (AT015), and Scott Babcock, TRB Senior Program Officer, in recognition of the paper’s exceptional contribution to freight transportation planning and logistics.
TRB, a program division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides independent, objective advice and research to the nation on complex transportation-related challenges and fosters innovation through a global community of transportation experts.