At a Glance
- Share of costs
- 28–53 % of total freight costs
- Cost per stop
- 5–20 euros (urban)
- B2C failed delivery rate
- 5–20 % (varies by country)
Why is the last mile so expensive?
Every inefficiency concentrates into the final kilometre: many small stops, unpredictable places to pull over, failed deliveries when nobody is in, inner-city traffic and narrow time windows. Each stop costs between 5 and 20 euros while the driver spends only a few minutes unloading. The more dispersed the recipients, the higher the cost.
Last mile in B2B vs B2C
In B2B the last mile is often simpler: recipients are companies with a fixed address, a loading dock and a predictable time window. B2C is more complex: private addresses without a dock, recipients often not at home, parcels having to go to lockers or neighbours. For B2B shippers, NexCargo offers direct delivery with loading-dock handling.
Solutions for the last mile
Micro-depots in city centres shorten the last-mile distance. Parcel lockers reduce failed deliveries. Timed delivery windows and advance notification raise the first-time delivery rate. Cargo bikes and electric vehicles are used in urban zones. For B2B the rule is simple: advance notification plus fixed time windows means almost no failed deliveries.
