Out of route calculation

Out of route distance calculation provides additional control over route construction. It enables you to minimize the distance that can be traveled beyond the direct distance from the route origin to the furthest stop on the route. You can define the maximum out of route distance as an actual distance or as a percentage of the total route distance.

The out of route distance is calculated as follows:

• Direct Distance - from route origin to furthest location on the route = DC -> B
• Total Route Distance = DC -> A -> B -> C -> D
• Out of Route Distance = Total Route Distance - Direct Distance = (DC -> A -> B -> C -> D) - (DC -> B)
• Out of Route Percentage = (Total Route Distance - Direct Distance) / Total Route Distance = ((DC -> A -> B -> C -> D) - (DC -> B)) / (DC -> A -> B -> C -> D)

For example, assume the direct distance from the route origin to the furthest location is 200 miles. On the Transportation Assets table, you define an Out Of Route Distance of 25. This means the total route distance cannot exceed 225 miles.

For the same 200 mile direct distance, if you define an Out Of Route Distance Percentage (0-1) of 15, the maximum out of route distance is 30 miles.

You can apply the out of route calculation as either a hard or soft constraint.

To create a hard constraint, use these columns on the Transportation Assets table. The values act as hard constraints, meaning the out of route distance on the route cannot exceed the values you define:

• Out Of Route Distance - Populate the out of route distance allowed per route. If you do not select a unit of measure, the distance unit of measure in Model Settings is used.
• Out Of Route Distance Percentage (0-1) - Enter the percentage (between 0 and 1) for the out of route distance allowed per route.

If you populate both Out Of Route Distance and Out Of Route Distance Percentage (0-1), Transportation Optimization uses the most constraining value. The Out Of Route Distance column in the Route Summary output table displays the out of route distance incurred per route.

To create a soft constraint, assign a cost in the Rate table that is incurred for the out of route distance on a route. This cost acts as a soft constraint, since the solver works to minimize the solution cost:

• Per Distance Out Of Route Cost - Enter the cost per distance unit incurred for out of route distance. You can enter a single value or a step cost.

If you are using Per Distance Out Of Route Cost, the cost incurred is reflected in the Total Transportation Cost in the Transportation Summary and in the Out Of Route Cost in the Route Summary table. .

Out of route distance calculation applies to all problem types.