What is it about & What GYDI did
1. City Zones and “Last Mile” Delivery
Many cities split their delivery system into zones to keep routes short and efficient. When a truck crosses from one zone to another, it often faces delays — more paperwork, longer driving times, or higher costs. This “last mile” (the final stretch from a warehouse to a shop) is where most of the real problems happen.
Why it matters: These delays don’t just affect companies — they decide which neighborhoods get stocked first and which have to wait. That matters for food security and local resilience.
2. Common Delivery Practices (Industry Norms)
From what I’ve learned through observing and talking to drivers and coordinators, many delivery companies:
- Assign zone leaders responsible for delivery schedules, routes, and client relationships.
- Use “booster teams” to support new or low-performing zones when demand spikes.
- Set clear rules on crossing zones, because cross-zone delivery increases cost and risk.
- Track delivery payment cycles and routes closely to avoid delays and losses.
In simple terms: these aren’t just business rules—they’re what keep food moving every day.
3. Turning This into Youth Research (GYDI’s Role)
At GYDI, I’m turning these everyday delivery patterns into evidence we can share publicly:
- Student-friendly tracking templates to log when and where food arrives.
- Maps showing delivery time windows and zone boundaries.
- Data on how zone rules affect which communities get food first.
This lets us connect local delivery networks to SDG goals — especially:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
4. Ethics & Transparency
- These observations are based on public and common industry practices, not private business information.
- My dad’s work inspired this research, but the data collection, analysis, and conclusions are my own.
- No company logos, clients, or sensitive details are shared.
IN short, I’m using what I observed growing up around food trucks—not to rely on my dad’s job, but to build a clearer picture of how cities can keep food moving fairly and efficiently.
Implementation
What you’re looking at
A map of our city (e.g., Bogotá / Philadelphia) showing how food gets moved during the final stages of delivery. On this map you’ll see:
- Zone boundaries — these are the lines that separate one delivery area from another (for example: Zone 1, Zone 2, cross-zone).
- Delivery time-windows — coloured or shaded times when deliveries must happen (for example: rush traffic hours, early morning, school drop-off window).
- Major chokepoints — places where delays are likely: rivers with few bridges, heavy traffic intersections, narrow roads, or zones where crossing triggers extra cost or paperwork.
Why this matters:
- When a delivery crosses a zone boundary, it usually takes longer. That means some neighbourhoods might get food late, or face smaller food supply.
- If the map shows a time window during which most deliveries happen, it helps you see when the system is most stressed — and which communities might be vulnerable.
- By identifying chokepoints, we can highlight locations where a “micro-hub” (nearby warehouse, school yard, street-market) could make a big difference.
How to use this map:
- When students or volunteers record deliveries (using the tracking log sheet), they can mark which zone the delivery originates from and ends in.
- Compare delivery times across zones: are deliveries in Zone 2 → Zone 3 slower than Zone 3 → Zone 3?
- Use the map to propose improvements: e.g., “What if we added a delivery hub just west of the river bridge to reduce crossing time?”
I used to only deliver orders. Now I plan routes, manage customers, and even help coordinate team schedules. Every extra order feels like a personal victory, because my earnings and my reputation grow together.
Pan Wentao, Wenbao regional worker
