Round-trip multimodal transportation routes planning for foldable vehicle racks

Over the past decade, the expansion of China’s auto exports and pulp imports has presented challenges to the international shipping sector. This study examines the features inherent in the novel paradigm employed by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers. Specifically, it involves the transportation of Foldable Vehicle Racks (FVRs) using multipurpose pulp carriers on the outbound trip, and the conveyance of pulp alongside empty FVRs on the return voyage. Building upon this foundation, we propose a dual-objective route planning model and construct a round-trip multimodal transportation network. Subsequently, we calculate the optimal scheme, encompassing shipping routes, changeover nodes, and transport modes, using a hybrid genetic and ant colony algorithm. The paper scrutinizes the computational results, validates the effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm, and analyzes the scheme variations across different parameter scenarios, along with conducting a sensitivity analysis. The optimal solution calculated in this paper is found to reduce transit time by 24.77% while improving logistics benefits by 4.11% compared to the firm’s existing shipping schedule. Furthermore, we explore alternative optimal logistics routes in various parameter variation scenarios and considering benefit-time preferences. Eventually, six managerial insights are proposed for the sustainable development of COSCO’s FVR and pulp business based on the experimental results.