Simulation-based optimization of vehicle routing problem with multiple vehicle frequencies and vehicle classes

The actual express delivery network problem is to find a minimum-time tour solution and obtain vehicle classes and frequencies of mail routes. In order to solve the actual problem, the vehicle routing problem with multiple vehicle classes and vehicle frequencies is presented and described, and simulation-based optimization model of the actual problem is developed. With respect to huge perturbation of mail production between different regions, the code based hub and the GA algorithm using a special partition method are designed. Finally, several tests of an actual express delivery network of one province are performed to discuss the effectiveness of this approach.