US–Sweden Knowledge Exchange for Connected Urban Freight Solutions

The US–Sweden Knowledge Exchange for Connected Urban Freight Solutions brought together the cities of Portland, Seattle, Gothenburg, and Helsingborg to address shared challenges in urban freight and last-mile logistics. The bilateral established a structured transatlantic exchange around how cities can make urban deliveries cleaner, smarter, and more efficient through data-driven and connected solutions. The project successfully demonstrated how targeted digital infrastructure—such as Zero Emission Delivery Zones and smart curbs—can catalyze industry adaptation, while highlighting the foundational role of open data standards like the Mobility Data Specification (MDS) and Curb Data Specification (CDS) in creating interoperable urban logistics networks.

Both countries faced similar challenges: the rapid growth of e-commerce deliveries increased congestion, emissions, and inefficiency in city centers. In response, cities in both Sweden and the United States developed and tested innovative approaches to curb management, zero-emission delivery, and automation, utilizing standardized data formats to better coordinate deliveries and collect evidence for sustainable urban logistics.

Results and Insights

The collaboration yielded clear, data-driven insights into the mechanisms of urban freight governance, enforcement, and standardization across three primary thematic focus areas.

Zero Emission Delivery Zones (Portland)

• Portland implemented Zero Emission Delivery Zones (ZEDZ) by leveraging municipal authority over parking and loading zone designations.
• Clear policy signals catalyzed a strong commercial response, with major operators including DHL, Amazon, and FedEx deploying electric vehicles specifically for Portland operations.
• Alternative delivery modes expanded significantly, with one cycle logistics provider completing 45,000 e-cargo bike deliveries.
• This modal shift generated an estimated 2,000 metric tons of CO2 savings compared to conventional delivery methods.
• Enforcement presented a fundamental capacity challenge; while manual enforcement issued 96 citations, sensor data revealed a 73% violation rate.
• Federal funding restrictions and regulatory barriers prevented the integration of automated license plate readers with sensor systems for automated citation issuance.

Smart Digital Curbs (Seattle)

• Seattle identified approximately 80% unauthorized usage of commercial loading zones during baseline measurements.
• The city prioritized comprehensive data collection over immediate regulation by installing 25 smart parking meters in the Belltown district.
• These installations utilized a dual-sensor approach with both occupancy detection and camera systems to improve reliability.
• Seattle provided comprehensive data accessibility through open APIs, delivering real-time occupancy status, regulatory parameters, and historical utilization patterns to the public.
• The successful deployment enabled evidence-based policy development and secured funding to expand the smart curb system citywide.

Delivery Robot Governance (Los Angeles)

• Los Angeles established a digital governance framework for emerging mobility technology by utilizing local jurisdiction over sidewalk usage.
• The city authorized 200 active delivery robots that completed 800,000 commercial trips over a total distance of 364,000 kilometers.
• The city required real-time data sharing from all robot operators through mandatory MDS integration, providing complete operational visibility.
• The initiative achieved notable public acceptance, registering fewer than 50 total citizen complaints regarding delivery robots compared to over 17,000 complaints concerning e-scooters during a comparable period.

The Value of Open Data Standards

• The MDS and CDS standards managed by the Open Mobility Foundation formed the common denominator across all selected study sites.
• These standards were essential for developing an innovation ecosystem, facilitating internal city analysis, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
• American participants gained valuable perspectives from Swedish counterparts on systematic data management, municipal technology procurement strategies, and integrated governance approaches.
   

Project activities

Originally centered around Portland and Helsingborg, the project expanded its scope to include Gothenburg and Seattle, broadening the range of perspectives and experiences in sustainable freight innovation.

The project executed the following key knowledge-sharing activities:

• A week-long joint study visit to Portland and Seattle in October 2025, offering Swedish participants firsthand insights into American initiatives in curbside management and data-driven logistics.
• A collaborative webinar with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation focusing on autonomous delivery robots.
• Continuous and active participation in the Open Mobility Foundation’s working groups for MDS and CDS standards development, enabling direct Swedish input into international standards.
• A "Lunch & Learn" session hosted by Future Mobility and Drive Sweden to disseminate the project's findings to a broader audience.

Take part of the lessons learned in a webinar co-hosted by Drive Sweden and Future Mobility

The webinar is in Swedish. Participating speakers include:

Daniel Rudmark, VTI 
Magnus Ihrefors, Helsingborg Stad
Alexandra Bakosch & Mikael Ivari, Göteborgs Stad
Hans Pohl, Future Mobility
Moderated by Malin Andresson, Drive Sweden 

Further Reading

To fully explore the methodologies, enforcement frameworks, and strategic scaling challenges identified throughout this transatlantic exchange, we encourage you to read the complete findings.

Partners

Sweden

• VTI (Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) – Research expertise in data standards and autonomous delivery systems.
• City of Helsingborg – Testing innovative last-mile delivery solutions using autonomous robots.
• City of Gothenburg – Developing real-time loading zone management systems for more efficient curb use.
• Nivel – Providing technical expertise in digital mobility platforms and data standard implementation.

United States

• Open Mobility Foundation – Steward of MDS and CDS standards, connecting international stakeholders and supporting their implementation.
• City of Portland – Running a Zero-Emission Delivery Zone pilot with micro-hubs and e-cargo bikes.
• City of Seattle – Exploring advanced curbside management and freight optimization strategies.

Through this collaboration, the project strengthens international ties and creates a foundation for continued innovation in shared, electric, and connected urban freight solutions — supporting more sustainable cities on both sides of the Atlantic.