Measurement and Analysis of Vibration in the Metropolitan Distribution Environment

ABSTRACT This study investigates vibration hazards in business-to-business goods distribution within metropolitan areas, focusing on the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Existing global vibration research reflects different vehicle types, infrastructure, and travel conditions, potentially misaligning with the Canadian metropolitan shipping environment. This discrepancy can lead to improper packaging, increasing environmental and economic costs. Using a triaxial data recorder mounted on a medium-duty truck, this study captures vibrational data across various road classifications. Results indicate that overall vibration energy levels are generally lower than those reported in other regions, attributed to road infrastructure, vehicle suspension, and truck size. Vertical vibrations dominate, with the exceedance of standards occurring within the 10–12-Hz range. The findings highlight discrepancies between current vibration test spectra and real-world metropolitan distribution conditions. This study provides foundational data to support the development of a new test spectrum tailored to metropolitan goods distribution, optimizing packaging design for both sustainability and product protection.