A continuous approximation model for the fleet composition problem

摘要: Abstract This paper presents a continuous approximation model to determine the long-term vehicle fleet composition needed perform distribution activities. The problem is realistic variant of routing problem, in which size and mix are also decision variables. types vehicles differ terms their capacities, fixed costs variable costs. objective minimize total cost, subject capacity route duration constraints. We assume customers distributed over circular service region partitioned into zones, each serviced by single vehicle. assessed through model. present mixed integer non-linear formulation for followed computationally efficient upper lower bounding procedures. performance its bounds on several test instances.