Planning models for long-haul operations of postal and express shipment companies

Postal and express shipment companies face the task of providing service between a number of fixed locations. The increasing competition and service orientation of this market sets new standards for planning. One must meet the required service level without letting costs get out of control. This paper identifies important planning tasks which have to be addressed at these companies and defines corresponding optimization models. The relationship between these models and their use within a decision support system are highlighted as well as future research challenges stemming from this application area.