基于车队调度的特点分析快递服务的网络设计外文翻译.doc

Enriching the tactical network design of express service carriers with fleet scheduling characteristics W. J. M. Meuffels ? H. A. Fleuren ?F. C. A. M. Cruijssen ? E. R. van Dam 1 Introduction Express service carriers provide time-guaranteed deliveries of parcels. Direct transport from sender to receiver is the fastest way of transport but this is in general not cost efficient. Therefore, express carriers operate a network in which parcels of many customers are consolidated. Parcels of several senders are consolidated at nodes (in practice called depots, terminals, etc.), transported to other nodes via the line-haul network and finally delivered to the consignees. We will now briefly describe how the express supply chain is organised. Then a description of network design is given followed by a discussion on fleet scheduling. At the end of this introduction, our research goals are stated. The first node at which a parcel arrives after pickup is called the origin node (or origin) of the parcel; the node from where the parcel is delivered to the consignee is called the destination node (or destination) of the parcel. The transport of parcels between origin node and destination node is called line-haul. Origin and destination node form an od-pair. Cut off times form the connection between the pickup and delivery process and the line-haul process and guarantee the on-time delivery of parcels. That is, all parcels of one service collected in the pickup process have to be processed and loaded into line-haul vehicles before the collection cut off time of the corresponding service; the line-haul transport starts afterwards. The line-haul vehicles have to arrive at the destination nodes before the delivery cut off time of the corresponding service. Carriers can use ground or air modes in their line-haul transport. Generally, road transport is preferred because of the lower cost involved. Air transport is used to establish services that cannot be offered by ground transport. C