Operational Effects of Variations in Service Level Criteria for the Dial-a-Ride Problem

Abstract

This paper discusses an analysis of the effect on operational costs of a dial-a-ride service provider that is caused by a variation in two quality parameters, being the maximum deviation of the preference time expressed by the customer and the allowed exceedance of the direct travel time. Results show that loosening either parameter consistently leads to a lower operational cost, but the size of the effect differs according to the subset of data considered. That is, the characteristics of requests or users determine the potential for cost reductions through request combinations. Lastly, research proposals for the creation of solution techniques taking into account more diverse real-life characteristics are formulated.