Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach

This article explores a vehicle routing problem originating from the delivery operations of an e-commerce retailer in Thailand. The problem requires consideration of load-dependent distance objective and route time restriction. A mathematical model is formulated for the problem to minimize the total...

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Main Authors: Nguyen Thuy Trang, Parthana Parthanadee, Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri, Pham Duc Tai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Engineering
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2025.2533415
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author Nguyen Thuy Trang
Parthana Parthanadee
Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri
Pham Duc Tai
author_facet Nguyen Thuy Trang
Parthana Parthanadee
Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri
Pham Duc Tai
author_sort Nguyen Thuy Trang
collection DOAJ
description This article explores a vehicle routing problem originating from the delivery operations of an e-commerce retailer in Thailand. The problem requires consideration of load-dependent distance objective and route time restriction. A mathematical model is formulated for the problem to minimize the total load-dependent distance subject to the time limit of a route. To take the last leg of a delivery route, where a vehicle returns empty, into consideration, a base load is placed on the vehicle. In addition, a heuristic algorithm is developed to solve large problem instances, with which the mathematical cannot be solved. The heuristic features a customized saving algorithm for route construction in combination with a series of route improvement mechanisms. The performance of the proposed mathematical model and the heuristic algorithm is evaluated by using adapted problem instances, where different combinations of capacity, route time limitations, and base loads are included. The results show that for instances with known optimal solutions, the heuristic algorithm can reach solutions with small gaps to the optimal. For those with only lower bounds, the heuristic algorithm can produce solutions close to these bounds. Moreover, the results reveal that choosing an appropriate base load improves the performance of the heuristic.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2331-1916
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Engineering
spelling doaj-art-e69885edeb3b4e3e95d21be966da59f72025-08-20T03:56:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Engineering2331-19162025-12-0112110.1080/23311916.2025.2533415Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approachNguyen Thuy Trang0Parthana Parthanadee1Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri2Pham Duc Tai3School of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, ThailandDepartment of Agro-Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, ThailandSchool of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, ThailandSchool of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, ThailandThis article explores a vehicle routing problem originating from the delivery operations of an e-commerce retailer in Thailand. The problem requires consideration of load-dependent distance objective and route time restriction. A mathematical model is formulated for the problem to minimize the total load-dependent distance subject to the time limit of a route. To take the last leg of a delivery route, where a vehicle returns empty, into consideration, a base load is placed on the vehicle. In addition, a heuristic algorithm is developed to solve large problem instances, with which the mathematical cannot be solved. The heuristic features a customized saving algorithm for route construction in combination with a series of route improvement mechanisms. The performance of the proposed mathematical model and the heuristic algorithm is evaluated by using adapted problem instances, where different combinations of capacity, route time limitations, and base loads are included. The results show that for instances with known optimal solutions, the heuristic algorithm can reach solutions with small gaps to the optimal. For those with only lower bounds, the heuristic algorithm can produce solutions close to these bounds. Moreover, the results reveal that choosing an appropriate base load improves the performance of the heuristic.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2025.2533415Vehicle routing problemload-dependent distanceroute time limitmixed-integer linear programingheuristic approachTransport & Vehicle Engineering
spellingShingle Nguyen Thuy Trang
Parthana Parthanadee
Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri
Pham Duc Tai
Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
Cogent Engineering
Vehicle routing problem
load-dependent distance
route time limit
mixed-integer linear programing
heuristic approach
Transport & Vehicle Engineering
title Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
title_full Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
title_fullStr Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
title_full_unstemmed Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
title_short Load-dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint: a heuristic approach
title_sort load dependent vehicle routing problem with route time constraint a heuristic approach
topic Vehicle routing problem
load-dependent distance
route time limit
mixed-integer linear programing
heuristic approach
Transport & Vehicle Engineering
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2025.2533415
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AT jirachaibuddhakulsomsiri loaddependentvehicleroutingproblemwithroutetimeconstraintaheuristicapproach
AT phamductai loaddependentvehicleroutingproblemwithroutetimeconstraintaheuristicapproach