TY - JOUR
T1 - Two-echelon vehicle routing problems
T2 - A literature review
AU - Sluijk, Natasja
AU - Florio, Alexandre M.
AU - Kinable, Joris
AU - Dellaert, Nico P.
AU - van Woensel, Tom
PY - 2023/2/1
Y1 - 2023/2/1
N2 - In the two-echelon vehicle routing problem (2E-VRP), the distribution network is split into two echelons. Different vehicles are operated on the first and second echelon to maintain economies of scale and adhere to any vehicle restrictions that may be present in either echelon. Intermediate facilities are located at the borders of the echelons to facilitate the consolidation and transshipment of goods between echelons. Examples of two-echelon distribution systems include express delivery, grocery and hypermarket products distribution, multi-modal freight transportation, city logistics, and e-commerce and home delivery services. In recent years, the body of literature on the 2E-VRP has expanded significantly. Over 60 research papers have appeared in the scientific literature so far, which underlines both the academic and practical relevance of 2E-VRPs. In this review, we structure and revise all literature on the 2E-VRP. Mathematical formulations, exact and heuristic solution methods, and benchmark datasets used to test and evaluate new algorithms are reviewed and discussed. This survey concludes with a selected list of open research areas on 2E-VRPs.
AB - In the two-echelon vehicle routing problem (2E-VRP), the distribution network is split into two echelons. Different vehicles are operated on the first and second echelon to maintain economies of scale and adhere to any vehicle restrictions that may be present in either echelon. Intermediate facilities are located at the borders of the echelons to facilitate the consolidation and transshipment of goods between echelons. Examples of two-echelon distribution systems include express delivery, grocery and hypermarket products distribution, multi-modal freight transportation, city logistics, and e-commerce and home delivery services. In recent years, the body of literature on the 2E-VRP has expanded significantly. Over 60 research papers have appeared in the scientific literature so far, which underlines both the academic and practical relevance of 2E-VRPs. In this review, we structure and revise all literature on the 2E-VRP. Mathematical formulations, exact and heuristic solution methods, and benchmark datasets used to test and evaluate new algorithms are reviewed and discussed. This survey concludes with a selected list of open research areas on 2E-VRPs.
KW - Literature review
KW - Routing
KW - Two-echelon vehicle routing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126375111&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejor.2022.02.022
DO - 10.1016/j.ejor.2022.02.022
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85126375111
SN - 0377-2217
VL - 304
SP - 865
EP - 886
JO - European Journal of Operational Research
JF - European Journal of Operational Research
IS - 3
M1 - 3
ER -