LTL trailer pool modeling

As globalization of world economies continues, logistics systems play an increasing role in successful enterprises. These systems must be based on sound operational paradigms. Unfortunately, the development of these operational paradigms is a daunting task. Nowhere is this more true than in the trucking industry, where competitive forces ensure that only the most fit enterprises survive. In the less than truckload (LTL) trucking industry, load consolidation requirements generally require enterprises to have a strong regional or national customer base. Therefore, operational paradigms are further complicated by the fact that very large scale operations are involved in the support of many customers. One of the more difficult operational issues in LTL trucking is that of fleet management. In this paper, the authors address one component of the fleet management problem, the determination of near optimal trailer pool sizes in support of breakbulk or end of line (EOL) terminal operations.