Using simheuristics to promote horizontal collaboration in stochastic city logistics

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of horizontal collaboration (HC) concepts in urban freight transportation under uncertainty scenarios. The paper employs different stochastic variants of the well-known vehicle routing problem (VRP) in order to contrast a non-collaborative scenario with a collaborative one. This comparison allows us to illustrate the benefits of using HC strategies in realistic urban environments characterized by uncertainty in factors such as customers’ demands or traveling times. In order to deal with these stochastic variants of the VRP, a simheuristic algorithm is proposed. Our approach integrates Monte Carlo simulation inside a metaheuristic framework. Some computational experiments contribute to quantify the potential gains that can be obtained by the use of HC practices in modern city logistics.