Integrated multimodal freight service network design and pricing with a competing service integrator and heterogeneous shipper classes

In recent years, the highly fragmented multimodal transport offer in several countries has required the integration of these services by logistics service integrators (LSIs). The challenge for LSIs is to set up multimodal transport corridors that can respond efficiently to the heterogeneous demand of shippers and that are cost- and price...

Synchromodal transport planning considering heterogeneous and vague preferences of shippers

In synchromodal transport, a freight forwarder usually serves multiple shippers with heterogeneous and vague preferences, such as low-cost, fast, or reliable transport. Ignoring shippers’ preferences will negatively impact the satisfaction of shippers and lead to the loss of them in the longer run. In order to incorporate these preferences, a...

Multicriteria intermodal freight network optimal problem with heterogeneous preferences under belt and road initiative

In this study, we demonstrate the importance of incorporating shippers’ preference heterogeneity into the optimization of the China Railway express network. In particular, a bilevel programming model is established to minimize the total construction cost for the government in the upper level and maximize the shippers’ satisfaction in the...