Optimal Management of Heterogeneous Fleets of Empty Containers

DI FRANCESCO, MASSIMO;MANCA, ANTONIO;OLIVO, ALESSANDRO;ZUDDAS, PAOLA

2006-01-01

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Abstract

This paper focuses on a major logistic challenge for carriers in dealing with door-to-door freight transportation. In order to ensure continuity of activity, they must properly plan empty container reallocation. Several sources of randomness are involved in this problem, such as customer orders, returning containers, delays and equipment failures. Since empty flows will never be eliminated completely, transportation firms can improve their performance by developing information technologies and appropriate decision support systems. We propose a mathematical model for managing a heterogeneous fleet of empty containers over a given planning horizon. Some computational results are also presented.