| Article ID: | iaor1999200 |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Volume: | 93 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page Number: | 135 |
| End Page Number: | 147 |
| Publication Date: | Aug 1996 |
| Journal: | European Journal of Operational Research |
| Authors: | Gerdessen Johanna C. |
In this research the vehicle routing problem is extended to the vehicle routing problem with trailers. The optimal deployment of a vehicle fleet of truck–trailer combinations is investigated. Truck–trailer combinations may encounter manoeuvring problems at certain customer sites. Therefore the opportunity is introduced to leave the trailer at a parking-place and visit some ‘difficult’ customers with the easily manoeuvrable truck only. Construction and improvement heuristics are presented.