A VRP Model to Support Last Mile Maritime Containers

Abstract

Due to the constant and hasty development of the process of economic globalization, the transport network has become increasingly complex. This causes significative changes in the manner of cargo transport, which leads to satisfy the costumer’s needs first and only then try to achieve an effective and efficient low-cost distribution. The decision support system developed allows to allocate the closest truck, with capacity, and give the respective quotes automatically, based on predefined criteria and optimization. The result will have a high impact on the parties’ performance: better management of infrastructures used, on the footprint, time of service, customer’ level service, reduction of empty kilometres, less cost and reduction of the receipt period.