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A hybrid algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with backhauls, time windows and three-dimensional loading constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Henriette Koch

    (Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg)

  • Andreas Bortfeldt

    (Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg)

  • Gerhard Wäscher

    (Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
    Beijing Jiaotong University)

Abstract

This paper deals with a special vehicle routing problem with backhauls where customers may want to receive items from a depot and, at the same time, return items back to the depot. Moreover, time windows are assumed and three-dimensional loading constraints are to be observed, i.e. the items are three-dimensional boxes and packing constraints, e.g. regarding load stability, are to be met. The resulting problem is the vehicle routing problem with simultaneous delivery and pickup (VRPSDP), time windows and three-dimensional loading constraints (3L-VRPSDPTW). This problem occurs, for example, if retail stores are supplied by a central warehouse and wish to return packaging material. A particular challenge of the problem consists of transporting delivery and pickup items simultaneously on the same vehicle. In order to avoid any reloading effort during a tour, we consider two different approaches for loading the vehicles: (i) loading from the back with separation of the loading space into a delivery section and a pickup section and (ii) loading from the (long) side. A hybrid algorithm is proposed for the 3L-VRPSDPTW consisting of an adaptive large neighbourhood search for the routing and different packing heuristics for the loading part of the problem. Extensive numerical experiments are conducted with VRPSDP instances from the literature and newly generated instances for the 3L-VRPSDPTW.

Suggested Citation

  • Henriette Koch & Andreas Bortfeldt & Gerhard Wäscher, 2018. "A hybrid algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with backhauls, time windows and three-dimensional loading constraints," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 40(4), pages 1029-1075, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:orspec:v:40:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s00291-018-0506-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00291-018-0506-6
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiang Song & Dylan Jones & Nasrin Asgari & Tim Pigden, 2020. "Multi-objective vehicle routing and loading with time window constraints: a real-life application," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 291(1), pages 799-825, August.
    3. Corinna Krebs & Jan Fabian Ehmke, 2023. "Solution validator and visualizer for (combined) vehicle routing and container loading problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 326(1), pages 561-579, July.
    4. Rajaei, Maryam & Moslehi, Ghasem & Reisi-Nafchi, Mohammad, 2022. "The split heterogeneous vehicle routing problem with three-dimensional loading constraints on a large scale," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(2), pages 706-721.
    5. Corinna Krebs & Jan Fabian Ehmke & Henriette Koch, 2021. "Advanced loading constraints for 3D vehicle routing problems," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 43(4), pages 835-875, December.
    6. Maria João Santos & Pedro Amorim & Alexandra Marques & Ana Carvalho & Ana Póvoa, 2020. "The vehicle routing problem with backhauls towards a sustainability perspective: a review," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 28(2), pages 358-401, July.
    7. Ostermeier, Manuel & Henke, Tino & Hübner, Alexander & Wäscher, Gerhard, 2021. "Multi-compartment vehicle routing problems: State-of-the-art, modeling framework and future directions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 292(3), pages 799-817.
    8. Kuhn, Heinrich & Schubert, Daniel & Holzapfel, Andreas, 2021. "Integrated order batching and vehicle routing operations in grocery retail – A General Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search algorithm," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 1003-1021.
    9. Julio C. Londoño & Rafael D. Tordecilla & Leandro do C. Martins & Angel A. Juan, 2021. "A biased-randomized iterated local search for the vehicle routing problem with optional backhauls," TOP: An Official Journal of the Spanish Society of Statistics and Operations Research, Springer;Sociedad de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, vol. 29(2), pages 387-416, July.
    10. Yong Liu & Zhicheng Yue & Yong Wang & Haizhong Wang, 2023. "Logistics Distribution Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window under Pallet 3D Loading Constraint," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    11. Alexander Hübner & Pedro Amorim & Heinrich Kuhn & Stefan Minner & Tom Woensel, 2018. "Retail operations," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 40(4), pages 831-835, October.

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