A Multi-objective Sustainable Vehicle Routing Approach with Flexible Time Window

Abstract

This study proposes a sustainable vehicle routing problem that considers economic, environmental, and social objectives within a realistic, variable-speed scenario. The model aimed to minimize fuel consumption and transport costs while maximizing customer satisfaction. Fuel consumption has two parts, depending on the speed variation and the fixed part. Time windows are designed using generalized bell membership functions, offering flexibility to handle uncertainty better than classical time windows. The solution approach leverages ant colony optimization, while sensitivity analysis examines how input variables impact objectives, providing a robust tool for sustainable and realistic decision-making in transportation planning.