Optimization of Delivery Vehicle Capacity Utilization Rates and Transportation Costs Using Linear Programming

Abstract

This study develops a linear programming-based optimization model to enhance delivery vehicle capacity utilization rates and reduce transportation costs. Three objective functions are considered in the study: maximizing capacity utilization, minimizing total transportation costs, and a hybrid multi-objective optimization approach that integrates both objectives. Three scenarios with varying vehicle capacities, demand distributions, and transportation cost structures are designed, and each scenario is solved using the Simplex LP algorithm in Microsoft Excel Solver. The findings indicate that, under balanced demand-capacity conditions, cost-oriented planning can achieve significant cost savings without compromising capacity utilization, whereas in unbalanced scenarios, cost minimization may lead to a partial decrease in utilization rates. In addition, the hybrid multi-objective optimization approach demonstrates that transportation costs can be substantially reduced without sacrificing capacity utilization. This study contributes to the literature by comparatively analyzing capacity utilization and cost optimization on the same dataset. Furthermore, the proposed model’s ease of implementation enables small and medium-sized logistics enterprises to perform effective load allocation planning in line with their operational priorities.

Keywords

• Linear Programming
• Capacity Utilization
• Logistics Planning
• Transportation Cost Optimization
• Delivery Vehicles.

TESLİMAT ARAÇLARININ KAPASİTE KULLANIM ORANLARININ VE TAŞIMA MALİYETLERİNİN DOĞRUSAL PROGRAMLAMA İLE OPTİMİZASYONU

Abstract

Bu çalışma, teslimat araçlarının kapasite kullanım oranlarını artırmak ve taşıma maliyetlerini azaltmak amacıyla doğrusal programlama temelli bir optimizasyon modeli geliştirmektedir. Çalışmada üç farklı amaç fonksiyonu ele alınmıştır: kapasite kullanım oranının maksimize edilmesi, toplam taşıma maliyetinin minimize edilmesi ve bu iki hedefin birlikte ele alındığı çok amaçlı hibrit optimizasyon yaklaşımı. Araç kapasiteleri, talep dağılımları ve taşıma maliyet yapılarının farklılık gösterdiği üç senaryo tasarlanmış; her bir senaryo Microsoft Excel Solver kullanılarak Simplex LP algoritması ile çözülmüştür. Elde edilen bulgular, talep-kapasite dengesinin sağlandığı durumlarda maliyet odaklı planlamanın kapasite kullanımından ödün vermeden anlamlı maliyet tasarrufu sağladığını; dengesiz senaryolarda ise maliyet minimizasyonunun kapasite kullanım oranında kısmi düşüşe yol açabileceğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, çok amaçlı optimizasyon yaklaşımı ile kapasite kullanımından ödün vermeden maliyetlerin önemli ölçüde azaltılabildiği ortaya konmuştur. Çalışma, aynı veri seti üzerinde kapasite kullanımı ve maliyet optimizasyonunun karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz edilmesiyle literatüre katkı sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca, önerilen modelin kolay uygulanabilir yapısı, küçük ve orta ölçekli lojistik işletmelerin operasyonel önceliklerine göre etkin yük atama planlamaları yapabilmesine olanak tanımaktadır.

Keywords

• Doğrusal Programlama
• Kapasite Kullanımı
• Lojistik Planlama
• Taşıma Maliyeti Optimizasyonu
• Teslimat Araçları.

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