BRAMPTON, Ont. – Peel Region, on the western edge of Toronto, will run a pilot project to test off-peak deliveries between July and December – and it has recruited some major operations to participate.

Participants include the LCBO, Loblaw Companies, PepsiCo, Walmart Canada, and Weston Foods. The region’s Smart Freight Centre will support the project with expertise from the University of Toronto, McMaster University and York University. Deloitte Canada will be advisors on the project.

The goal is to help optimize highways and other major arteries in the area, focusing on where freight is moving, maximizing existing infrastructure, and seeing what infrastructure could benefit from new investment.

Other Canadian jurisdictions have tried similar projects. When introduced in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games, off-peak deliveries saw total truck volumes drop 37% during congested periods. During the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, about 100 businesses and more than 500 receiving locations participated in similar work.

A 2009 pilot study of off-peak deliveries in New York City saw participants realize a 30% drop in costs, shorter delivery times, and lower parking fines.

“The region is looking forward to working with these business champions to implement the OPD pilot,” said Gary Kocialek, director of transportation. “Peel Region’s goods movement industry contributes $48.8 billion worth of GDP to the regional, provincial and national economy and recognizes the importance of helping to alleviate congestion within the broader regional transportation system. The off-peak delivery pilot will help understand how using our existing infrastructure more efficiently can reduce congestion, improve business operations, while supporting the quality of life within our communities.”

Financial support is being provided by Metrolinx and The Atmospheric Fund (TAF).

“Transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and unfortunately they keep rising” says TAF CEO Julia Langer. “By shifting deliveries to off-peak hours, the Peel pilot will pave the way to reduce truck-related emissions as well as congestion and travel times for commuters.”