Integrating empty container allocation with vehicle routing decisions

Abstract

The problem of managing empty containers at a regional level involves efficiently repositioning empty containers between importers, exporters, intermodal terminals, inland container depots and ports. In the past the problem has been divided into two subproblems: an empty container allocation problem and a vehicle routing problem. This paper shows the advantage of integrating allocation and routing decisions into a single model. Model formulations and numerical experiments are discussed.