Decentralized Inventory Control Strategies for Fleet and Crew Allocation in the Less-Than-Truckload Motor Carrier Industry

9500088大厅 本研究的目的是开发模型和算法，可用于个别货运码头的车队和船员分配的目的。 这些模型将规定控制水平，类似于库存理论中的“再订购水平”，其目的是：1）将设备和机组人员释放到其他终端，2）从其他终端请求设备和机组人员，以及3）将机组人员/设备分配到指定终端或从指定终端分配。 将以分散方式进行分配，目的是尽量减少全系统的费用。 研究的其他目标包括：1）开发仿真和分析模型，以优化控制规则; 2）比较船队和船员管理的替代策略，并通过在实际工业环境中进行试点测试来评估控制规则，以确定如何调整策略以在汽车运输企业的组织结构中工作。 本研究所解决的问题对卡车运输业非常重要。 这项研究有可能通过建立一个重要的应用来推进交通网络理论。 设备和船员管理问题对卡车运输业有着重大的经济影响。 如果开发出更好地管理这些资源的技术，就可以获得重大的经济利益。

9500088 Hall The objective of this research is to develop models and algorithms that can be used by individual trucking terminals for the purpose of fleet and crew assignment. The models will specify the control levels, analogous to 're-order levels' in inventory theory for the purpose of 1) releasing equipment and crews to other terminals, 2) requesting equipment and crews from other terminals, and 3) allocating crews/equipment to or from a specified terminal. The allocation would be performed in a decentralized manner with the objective of minimizing system-wide costs. Other objectives of the research include 1) the development of simulation and analytical models to optimize on control rules and, 2) compare alternative strategies for fleet and crew management, and evaluate the control rules through pilot testing in an actual industrial setting to determine how to adapt the strategies to work within the organizational structure of a motor carrier enterprise. The problem addressed in this research is very important to the trucking industry. This research has the potential to advance the theory of transportation networks by building from an important application. The problem of equipment and crew management has a significant economic impact on the trucking industry. Major economic benefits can be gained if techniques for better management of these resources are developed.