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

9500088 Hall本研究的目的是开发可用于单个卡车运输终端的模型和算法，用于车队和船员分配。这些模型将指定控制水平，类似于库存理论中的“再订货水平”，目的是1)将设备和人员释放到其他码头，2)从其他码头请求设备和人员，以及3)将人员/设备分配到或从指定码头分配。这笔拨款将以分散的方式进行，目的是尽量减少全系统的费用。本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)比较机队和船员管理的备选策略，并通过在实际工业环境中的试点测试来评估控制规则，以确定如何使策略适应汽车运输企业的组织结构。本研究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。设备和人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.