Hierarchical multimodal hub location problem with time-definite deliveries

Hierarchical multimodal hub location problem is a cost-minimizing hub covering problem where two types of hubs and hub links, accounting for ground and air transportation, are to be established, while ensuring time-definite deliveries. We propose a mixed-integer programming formulation and perform a comprehensive sensitivity analysis on the Turkish network. We show that the locations of airport hubs are less sensitive to the cost parameters compared to the locations of ground hubs and it is possible to improve the service quality at not much additional cost in the resulting multimodal networks. Our methodology provides the means for a detailed trade-off analysis. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Enriching the tactical network design of express service carriers with fleet scheduling characteristics

Express service carriers provide time-guaranteed deliveries of parcels via a network consisting of nodes and hubs. In this, nodes take care of the collection and delivery of parcels, and hubs have the function to consolidate parcels in between the nodes. The tactical network design problem assigns nodes to hubs, determines arcs between hubs, and routes parcels through the network. Afterwards, fleet scheduling creates a schedule for vehicles operated in the network. The strong relation between flow routing and fleet scheduling makes it difficult to optimise the network cost. Due to this complexity, fleet scheduling and network design are usually decoupled. We propose a new tactical network design model that is able to include fleet scheduling characteristics (like vehicle capacities, vehicle balancing, and drivers' legislations) in the network design. The model is tested on benchmark data based on instances from an express provider, resulting in significant cost reductions

The importance of the express delivery industry for the East Midlands economy

This report assesses the importance of the express delivery industry for the economy of the East Midlands. It complements a similar report looking at the economic importance of the express industry for the UK as a whole. As well as quantifying the direct economic contribution made by companies in the express industry to employment and Gross Value Added (GVA) in the East Midlands, it also considers the importance of express services to businesses in other sectors in the region based on a detailed survey of 75 companies (a sample that we consider is appropriate to a study of this type and robust enough to help highlight key trends). This survey illustrates the contribution that the express industry makes to the capabilities and competitiveness of other sectors of the East Midlands economy

Cargo Consolidation and Distribution Through a Terminals-Network: A Branch-And-Price Approach

Less-than-truckload is a transport modality that includes many practical variations to convey a number of transportation-requests from the origin locations to their destinations by using the possibility of goods-transshipments on the carrier?s terminals-network. In this way logistics companies are required to consolidate shipments from different suppliers in the outbound vehicles at a terminal of the network. We present a methodology for finding near-optimal solutions to a less-than-truckload shipping modality used for cargo consolidation and distribution through a terminals-network. The methodology uses column generation combined with an incomplete branch-and-price procedure.Fil: Dondo, Rodolfo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

Release Time Scheduling and Hub Location for Next-Day Delivery

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Inspired by a real-life problem faced by one of the largest ground-based cargo companies of Turkey, the current study introduces a new facet to the hub location literature. The release time scheduling and hub location problem aims to select a specified number of hubs from a fixed set of demand centers, to allocate each demand center to a hub, and to decide on the release times of trucks from each demand center in such a way that the total amount of cargo guaranteed to be delivered to every potential destination by the next day is not below a threshold and the total routing cost is minimized. The paper introduces integer programming models to solve this problem in the special cases when the cargo uniformly arrives to each demand center during the day and the more realistic pattern of when the cargo arrivals exhibit a piecewise linear form. Several classes of valid inequalities are proposed to strengthen the formulations. Extensions with multiple service levels and discrete sets for release times are also discussed. Computational results show the computational viability of the models under realistic scenarios as well as the validity of the proposed problems in answering several interesting questions from the cargo sector’s perspective

Air cargo planning for small/medium hub airports

This study reviews the domestic air cargo industry, how it has developed and how it is influenced by other modes of transportation, in particular the important relationship with the trucking industry. Individual airports were surveyed to develop an understanding how they planned and prepared for air cargo growth. Air cargo planning studies were obtained for several airports. In addition, a survey was mailed to eleven airports requesting information on their approach to forecasting, development on a speculative basis and marketing. Enplaned passenger, air cargo and mail data was obtained from the U. S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics for selected years from 1977 to 1998. This data was analyzed for growth trends. The findings of the study revealed the air cargo industry in the United States is still developing and growing at a rate faster than the gross domestic product. The small and medium hub airports are gaining market share from the large hub airports, unlike passenger service. Forecasting future air cargo demand for individual airports is difficult due to the lack of available detailed data on shipments. This is compounded by the close relationship between the trucking and air modes. With decreasing prices, the integrated express carriers are forced to rely on trucking to a greater degree. Air cargo has Influenced industry on their methods of operation and decisions on where to locate. Growth of air cargo is a complex phenomenon depending on the interaction of location of the airport, economic growth, competition from other modes, facility constraints, and many other factors. Airports need to be as proactive and flexible as possible within their environment to maximize their growth potential in the cargo market. It is important for local airport management to be aware of the needs of the cargo airlines and the needs of their community to be able to tailor their facilities to meet the needs of both parties

An Optimization Model for Cargo Container Loading Plan Problem for Seafood Products

— Recently Indonesian Government is focusing in marine fishery industry to be one of the key component for developing the economic of the country. Seafood products belong to this industry. In order to distribute rapidly the seafood products around Indonesia the fish industries need air express carrier service. These carrier flights are one-stop, from an origin, to the hub, then to destination. Airport operations include those at the origins, at the destinations and at the hub. In this paper we consider logistics supply chain decision problem which arises in marine fisheries industry in Indonesia. The loading planning problem is to deliver seafood products using air carriers. The objective of the model is to minimize the total container operation costs, subject to the related operating constraints. Due to the perishability of the products, if overflow occurred they should be transported by third party. The model is formulated as a mixed integer programs. We develop a neighborhood search approach for solving the model