The parcel hub scheduling problem with limited conveyor capacity and controllable unloading speeds

Abstract We investigate a specific truck scheduling problem at cross-docks in the postal service industry on an operational level aiming to maximise number of duly parcels assuming fixed departure times outbound trucks. The inbound gates and conveyors as means transportation inside hub constitute bottleneck resources. As novel extension, we propose flexible unloading speeds efficiently utilise scarce formalise with mixed integer program explicitly incorporate controllable determine computational complexity develop genetic algorithm solve problem. Our investigation focuses both performance applicability results real-world environment by implementing policies simulation model that considers individual parcel interactions. Based our experimental results, can state especially settings conveyor capacities, approach has potential significantly increasing parcels.