An iterated local search algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with backhauls

Daniel Palhazi Cuervo, Peter Goos (), Kenneth Sörensen and Emely Arráiz

European Journal of Operational Research, 2014, vol. 237, issue 2, 454-464

Abstract: The Vehicle Routing Problem with Backhauls (VRPB) is an extension of the VRP that deals with two types of customers: the consumers (linehaul) that request goods from the depot and the suppliers (backhaul) that send goods to the depot. In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective iterated local search algorithm for the VRPB. Its main component is an oscillating local search heuristic that has two main features. First, it explores a broad neighborhood structure at each iteration. This is efficiently done using a data structure that stores information about the set of neighboring solutions. Second, the heuristic performs constant transitions between feasible and infeasible portions of the solution space. These transitions are regulated by a dynamic adjustment of the penalty applied to infeasible solutions. An extensive statistical analysis was carried out in order to identify the most important components of the algorithm and to properly tune the values of their parameters. The results of the computational experiments carried out show that this algorithm is very competitive in comparison to the best metaheuristic algorithms for the VRPB. Additionally, new best solutions have been found for two instances in one of the benchmark sets. These results show that the performance of existing metaheuristic algorithms can be considerably improved by carrying out a thorough statistical analysis of their components. In particular, it shows that by expanding the exploration area and improving the efficiency of the local search heuristic, it is possible to develop simpler and faster metaheuristic algorithms without compromising the quality of the solutions obtained.

Keywords: Vehicle routing problem; Metaheuristic; Iterated local search; Oscillating local search (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Working Paper: An iterated local search algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with backhauls (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:237:y:2014:i:2:p:454-464

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2014.02.011

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