17: Modelling Dynamic Vehicle Routing and Scheduling with Real Time Information on Travel Times

This paper presents a dynamic vehicle routing and scheduling model that incorporates real time information on variable travel times. Dynamic traffic simulation was used to update travel times. The model was applied to a test road network. Results indicated that the total cost decreased by implementing the dynamic vehicle routing and scheduling model with the real time information on variable travel times compared with that of the forecast model.

There are many challenging problems concerning urban freight transport. Shippers and freight carriers are required to provide higher levels of service with lower costs to meet the various needs of customers. They have made efforts to rationalise their freight transport systems, but this has often led to an increase in pickup/delivery truck traffic in urban areas. This increase in the number of freight vehicles using urban roads has become a major source of traffic congestion, with many associated negative environmental impacts such as air pollution and noise. In addition, current global environmental agreements urge freight carriers to reduce CO₂ emissions produced from their vehicles as well as passenger cars.