Engineering and Planning a Less Than Truck Loadsharing platform by combining information technology (IT) with urban data and operational research (OR) theory

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The aim of this research program is to contribute to engineering and planning the LTL truck-sharing platform by combining information technology (IT) with urban data and operational research (OR) theory. Many schemes for reducing the impact of empty trucks have in common horizontal collaboration or multi-agent decision models in supply chain networks. The inconvenient of these solutions, among others, are the pressure for frequent, small and with little lead-time queries for shipments. Usually efficiency can be increased when deadlines are long and a centralized set-up is used. We note that sharing vehicle capacity can allow shippers to make fast deliveries when others regular shippers are present in the delivery zones. However, cooperation requires companies that normally compete against each other to associate, even for end-clients that see fast procurement as a differentiation tool from their competitors. The literature remarks that even in favorable environments and under very good business opportunities, collaboration requires to avoid the opportunistic behaviors and to keep high trust. This need is manifested as a company culture with long-term visions. It is also needed compatible hardware, compatible load characteristics and good zonal covering. The proposal overcomes the information share difficulties and avoids opportunist behavior. The project in question will help to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing the number of empty or half-empty trucks that transit in urban areas. This will improve the quality life in several cities. Consolidation of goods/pooling is considered among the best practices to reduce cost and increase the synergy among truck fleets.