This paper discusses a shared mobility service that combines passenger
and freight transport. Crowdshipping, in fact, implies delivering goods
(freight) via the crowd (passengers). Any trip people perform to fulfil
individual objectives can, in principle, be transformed shipping freight
service too by using the free load capacity passengers have when moving
from A to B. If widely developed this could provide a substantial
contribution to reduce transport externalities by avoiding dedicated
freight trips. This paper discusses both feasibility and behavioural
issues with the intent of diffusing its deployment in urban areas. It
does so by presenting some recent research advances related to the study
of both demand (i.e. buyers) and supply (providers, i.e. crowdshippers)
and discussing the main impacts this solution might have from an
environmental and an economic point of view. In particular, it focuses
on a particularly environmental-friendly crowdshipping service. The
service considered assumes using a city mass transit network where
customers/crowdshippers pick-up/drop-off goods via automated parcel
lockers located either inside the transit stations or in their
surroundings. Crowdshipping can play a crucial role in relieving cities
from transport-related negative externalities by promoting the sharing
economy and Physical Internet paradigm aiming for a shared, hyper
connected, sustainable and efficient last-mile logistics.