The pandemic has launched e-commerce and consumers’ digital buying behaviors into overdrive. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that e-commerce sales have been growing steadily for over a decade, with the most significant growth in the last two years.
In 2021, total U.S. e-commerce sales reached $960.1 billion, an 18.3% year-over-year increase from $811.6 billion in 2020. E-commerce sales in 2021 marked the highest on record and are up from a decade ago, when online sales in 2011 totaled $199.3 billion.
As of late, for the first quarter of 2022, the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce estimated that U.S. retail e-commerce sales were $250 billion, an increase of 2.4% from the fourth quarter of 2021. E-commerce sales in the first quarter of 2022 accounted for 14.3% of total sales, according to federal data.
These shifts to e-commerce from traditional brick-and-mortar buying behaviors are prompting a booming evolution in fleets’ last-mile delivery (LMD) and regional-haul operations. With that growth comes high commercial equipment utilization rates and demands for new equipment, which have been juxtaposed by lingering OEM backlogs.
It makes sense that commercial fleets in the LMD segment today are looking to get the most from their current assets. Part of that means adequate spec’ing up front and procuring equipment that can keep fleets’ unique, high-demand LMD operations rolling. Tires are a key piece of this efficient-operations equation.
“Last-mile delivery and regionalized business has seen continual rise throughout the last decade, with no signs of slowing down, especially as companies meet the demand of their customers for free, fast delivery,” said Tom Fanning, Continental Tire’s VP of sales and marketing for truck tires in North America.
Because of this explosive growth in the segment, LMD equipment and light commercial vehicles are evolving hand in hand, added Helmut Lang, head of product management, Truck Tires the Americas, Continental Tire.
For the most part, last-mile pickup-and-delivery fleets are spec’ing their tires for cost per mile, overall mileage, durability, and low-rolling resistance, with many fleets moving toward more sustainable tire solutions and practices in today’s world of growing environmental, social, and governance standards.
Durable treads
Tire fitments for LMD fleets typically range from 16” to 19.5”, depending on application. Durability and tread design are among the most important features for tires to withstand LMD, regional, and urban delivery challenges on the road.
“Especially when reaching the last mile, tires need durability and management to handle changing environments and varying levels of stress,” explained Dustin Lancy, commercial product manager for Goodyear North America. “LMD vehicles are typically driven by inexperienced drivers who abuse the tires, especially from curbing, which causes sidewall damage.”
Today’s tires have become a mix of complex materials and evolving technology, with tread design playing a major role in functionality. According to Jason Miller, national fleet channel sales manager for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., last-mile fleets have a blend of consumer and commercial challenges that could be troublesome for tire engineers.
Cooper Tire, which is relatively new to the commercial tire space, was recently acquired by Goodyear. Together, the companies are providing various tire options to the LMD market.
“The tires for final-mile need to have the handling, low road noise, and mileage of consumer tires and the toughness, load flexibility, and casing durability of a commercial truck tire,” Miller said. “All of that comes into play where the rubber literally hits the road—in your tread. Picking the right tire and right tread design will help deliver on the unique needs of final-mile fleets.”
Continental’s LAR3 16” tire featuring an all-steel casing has been built for commercial van applications. The all-steel radial was designed for durability and retreadability. According to the company, the tire’s specialized compounding delivers enhanced mileage while providing fuel efficiency. In addition, the 10-ply light truck all-steel casing provides increased load-carrying capacity, durability, and puncture resistance.
In essence, fleets need tread designs with adequate traction to handle all delivery situations—city streets, gravel roads, even steep muddy driveways in some areas—explained Jon Wilkins, Michelin’s senior operational marketing manager.
LMD operations introduce additional stress with the frequency of stops, causing brakes to heat; curbing, or bumping/grinding into curbs, at the delivery point; and the constant twisting and turning to navigate side streets and neighborhood delivery routes.
Spec’ing the right tire and tread design from the start can help fleets get the most from their tires. According to a blog post from tire industry veteran Tim Phillips, VP of marketing and operations for CMA/Double Coin, tire companies and testing agencies are placing considerable resources into testing tires for endurance, curb impact resistance, heat aging, and other factors to determine which tire products can deliver in LMD applications.
Within fleets’ operating areas, tread selection should be based on surface and weather conditions along the routes their equipment and drivers frequent, Tom Clauer, Yokohama Tire’s senior manager of commercial product planning, pointed out.
Fuel economy
Similar to more conventional long-haul operations, last-mile tire tread designs need to address specific operating conditions, Yokohama’s Clauer advised. Typically, shallow rib-type tread designs are the most fuel efficient, he explained.
“Interestingly, many last-mile deliveries include on-highway and high speeds,” Clauer added. “That alone makes added fuel efficiencies an important factor. Many fleets recognize this and are adding fuel economy components to their equipment as well.”
When possible, operating efficiently also means saving time and money at the pump. That’s where low-rolling-resistance (LRR) features come into play. Overcoming rolling resistance can end up saving up to 33% of a truck’s overall fuel consumption. So, it makes sense that some 80% of new trucks and trailers are spec’ing LRR tires, according to data from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE).
Tire makers like Goodyear, for example, are developing new tires to help fleets meet evolving last-mile expectations. Earlier this year at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council meeting, Goodyear launched its Fuel Max RSA ULT for regional-haul applications.
Goodyear developed its Fuel Max Technology to deliver longer wear, lower cost per mile, and lower rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency. The tire technologies embedded in the Endurance RSA ULT also include IntelliMax Rib Technology to stiffen tire tread; better rolling resistance; new tread geometry applied to the bottom of the grooves to reduce stress and casing damage; a deep, open zig-zag tread pattern with stone-penetration protectors to help enhance traction and resist stone retention on urban streets; and durable casings for retreadability.
“By the time a package reaches your door, the tires have been through a lot,” Goodyear’s Lancy emphasized. “We’ve seen that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Different tread designs will perform differently in different environments, so it’s important to work closely with a trusted partner to plan and execute the life cycle of your tires.”
When considering the way geography and climate can impact fleet assets, like tires, Keith Iwinski, director of fleet marketing for commercial, Bandag, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, explained that fleets running routes in the south would typically seek a straight tread, or ribbed design, for better rolling resistance, longer wear, lateral traction in the rain, and optimal startup traction.
Furthermore, LMD fleets in the northern states may prefer drive tire designs for enhanced traction in the rear axle where LMD fleets in the southern states may only need all-position designs around the whole vehicle, Goodyear’s Lancy added.
Ultimately, LMD fleets should evaluate tires based on treadwear longevity, operational durability, and what fits best for their specific operations. Establishing a robust tire program that emphasizes tread depth monitoring can ensure that tires achieve the longest life possible and are ready for retread as well as being ready for the frenetic environment of urban delivery.
