Optimization of container transportation between multi terminals based on carrier cooperation

Abstract

To optimize the inter-terminal transportation (ITT) problem, trucks transporting containers from one terminal to another are likely to have the situation of "Full load to empty vehicle return" or "empty vehicle to full load return", a container transportation method proposed in which container carriers. Taking the maximization of the carrier's profit as the goal, considering the terminal operation’s busy degree, the task volume between terminals, and the carrier’s number, a container transportation task allocation model based on carrier cooperation is established. The analysis and comparison between the carrier's "cooperation" strategy and the "non-cooperation" strategy show that if multiple container truck carriers cooperate by sharing trucks and orders, The total profit will increase by 32.3% and the number of trucks will decrease by 25.7%.