A bi-objective model for the collaborative pickup and delivery problem under time windows

Urban logistics faces challenges such as congestion and pollution, prompting innovative collaborative projects to emerge. With the growth of e-commerce, customers want faster and flexible service. Government incentives should, however, stress the need for a shift to greener delivery. In this sense, an intelligent platform for pooling and synchronizing urban logistics players’ activities is under development in Wallonia. This research focuses on a Collaborative Pickup and Delivery Problem under Time Windows through a bi-objective of minimizing total transportation cost and environmental impact associated with each transport mode. The model is tested on a real case within Wallonia (Belgium). A profit distribution model should also be set to share the gains among the logistics operators who collaborated equitably. This project should make it possible to prioritize the use of electric vehicles such as cargo bicycles in city centres, but also to consolidate inter-urban deliveries in order to maximize the use of the vehicles on the road. Consolidation should thus maximize the loading of vehicles, hence reducing empty trips.