Backhaul matching

Backhaul Matching is a specialized case of Interleaved Optimization. It is designed for problems with multiple full-truckload (FTL) shipments, whereby the goal is to optimally match the outbound/linehaul FTL shipments with the inbound/backhaul ones. As a result, the routes in backhaul matching can have at most 2 shipments. More specifically, backhaul matching only considers the following routes in its optimization:

:

1. One-way/Single-shipment routes

   

2. Two-way/Double-shipment routes

   

Backhaul matching algorithm

At a high level, the backhaul matching algorithm has these major steps:

1. The solver enumerates all feasible single- and double-shipment routes.

2. The solver runs a set-partitioning MIP that ensures each shipment is covered by exactly one route and the number of assets available is not exceeded.

Running backhaul matching

1. From the Launch Pad, select “Transportation Optimization” as the Technology and “Transportation Optimization” as the Problem Type.

2. Click Options and on the Advanced tab, select “Backhaul Matching” as the Problem Type, then click Save.

3. Click Run.

For additional control over the backhaul matching problem type, see Configuration parameters for backhaul matching.

Configuration parameters for backhaul matching

You can further control the backhaul matching algorithm using parameters in the Config_TO user defined table. See Using the Transportation Optimization configuration file for additional information.

1. ApplyDistanceSavingConstraint (True/False, Default: True)
   Construct route for a shipment pair if the total distance of the resulting route is less than or equal to total distance of the 2 routes created for each individual shipment.

2. BackhaulMatchingMaxRepositionDistance (double >= 0, Default: double.MaxValue)
   Upper limit to the total distance of empty legs on a route (in miles). Constraint is only applied to double-shipment routes.

3. BackhaulMatchingMaxRepositionDistancePercentage (0 <= double <= 1, Default: 1)
   Upper limit to the total distance of empty legs on a route as a fraction of the route's total distance. Constraint is only applied to double-shipment routes.

When both parameters 'BackhaulMatchingMaxRepositionDistance' and 'BackhaulMatchingMaxRepositionDistancePercentage' are specified, the solver will enforce the more restrictive of the two.