Truck Routing for Parcel Delivery

Solving a Multi-depot Pickup and Delivery Problem with Occasional Drivers using ALNS

Master Thesis (2024)
Authors

Shuai Wang (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)

Supervisors

S. Fazi (TU Delft - Transport and Logistics)

Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Graduation Date
19-08-2024
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics
Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

This research presents a mathematical model for routing that incorporates multiple depots, occasional drivers, and multiple depot visits, a problem faced by many companies in reality. An Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) algorithm was employed, using Random and Worst removal operators, Basic Greedy and Regret-2 insertion strategies, a roulette wheel for operator selection, and simulated annealing for acceptance criteria. Computational experiments validated the effectiveness of the ALNS algorithm and model.Sensitivity analysis revealed that adding depots (ODs) can reduce routing costs by up to 15.21%, with various OD capacities offering additional savings (7.86% for 60% capacity and 9.97% for 70% capacity). A case study with the Dutch e-commerce company Ochama, scaled to 150 requests, confirmed practical applicabil- ity, achieving cost reductions of 11.37% for small vehicles and 6.85% for medium-sized vehicles. The results highlight that integrating ODs into routing strategies can significantly lower costs, with optimal outcomes dependent on market research to balance savings, service quality, and OD capacity.

Files

License info not available