Convoys

In the theaters of operation, ground assets rarely travel individually. Instead, between 10 and 20 vehicles will travel together so they can share security and reduce the chance of being ambushed. Each lane can potentially have a different minimum number of assets required to make a convoy and the convoys can be made up of several asset types.

There are two primary purposes for modeling convoys.

• To enforce requirements on when a shipment can leave for the destination. A shipment will be loaded on a vehicle, and the vehicle will not be able to leave until the entire convoy is ready.
• To observe effects of Ambush logic. 

Convoys are very similar to containers. They have a fill level and capacity that are quantity based. This means that you specify the minimum and maximum number of vehicles that make up the convoy. Convoys contain vehicles (instead of products and containers).

You use a combination of columns and values in Transportation Assets, Modes and Transportation Policies to construct a convoy.

Once the convoy arrives at the destination, there is no longer a convoy object.

Transportation assets in convoys

You create a transportation asset that is a convoy, then create one or more vehicle assets that will be combined to create the convoy.

Transportation policies and modes in convoys

Transportation assets defined as vehicles are available as selections in the Product column of Transportation Policies. When you create the convoy, it will have "products" that are vehicles. Convoys are available as selections in the Asset column on the Modes table.

Create a Mode record with the asset you created as a “Convoy”. Then define two Transportation Policies that let vehicles join the convoy, and depart the convoy in order to disassemble the convoy.

Since the convoy is specified as an asset, you can filter the Shipment Mileage Log output table for convoys to review the convoy schedule (Departure Time and Arrival Time).

Example convoy output includes the following:

• Cycle times for convoys – How long it takes for a convoy to reach its destination by lane.
• Average convoy size – Just like an asset, there is a fill level and capacity for a convoy. Output includes the vehicles in the convoy, so the number of vehicles in each convoy can be determined and from there, the average size.
• Cargo mix – What products were typically shipped on what convoys.

Convoy Example

In this example, the customer demands Ammo from the depot. The Depot makes Ammo and must send it to the Checkpoint then to the Customer.  The customer demands 1 unit of Ammo per day and 1 Truck can carry 1 unit of Ammo from Depot to Checkpoint. However, in order for the Truck to move from Depot to Checkpoint, 5 trucks must travel together as a Convoy.  

Example Transportation Assets

Two assets – a vehicle and a convoy – are required. An ammo weight of 1 is required to ship on Truck1. The convoy requires at least 5 and no more than 6 vehicles.

Example Modes and Transportation Policies

• Mode 01 is used for the policy to ship from the depot to the customer by way of the checkpoint. This Mode does not require an Asset.
• Mode 02 is assigned to the lane that requires the convoy. The Truck1 Asset is assigned to the Mode - this is the vehicle that makes up the convoy. In the Transportation Policy records, the product is Ammo and the Mode Function "Join Convoy" is used indicating the convoy will be used.
• Mode 03 describes how the convoy moves from the depot to the checkpoint. The Convoy Asset is assigned to the Mode. The product on the Transportation Policy is now the vehicle that makes up the convoy, Truck1. A policy of "Full TL" means that the Fill Level (Quantity) required to create the convoy must be reached before the convoy leaves. You can include time and cost factors for the movement of the convoy.
• Mode 04 is used to disassemble the convoy using the "Depart Convoy" policy. The Mode itself is the same as Mode 02 in terms of the Asset. The Mode Function is now “Depart Convoy”.
• Mode 05 is the lane from the checkpoint to the customer.