Abstract:
A system and method for optimizing a vehicle transport load includes receiving data regarding an inventory of vehicles and data regarding available transports, comparing and analyzing the data, and producing a best profile load. The method may include configuring parameters to further refine the best profile load, deleting and adding vehicles to the best profile load, and outputting the best profile load to a dispatch.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/821,799 entitled “Vehicle Transport Load Optimization” filed Aug. 8, 2006. The contents of this provisional patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The subject of the disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for organizing transportation operations. More specifically, the disclosure relates to the optimization of vehicle transport loads.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,074 describes a method for determining capacity utilization and predicting the future capacity utilization of a goods delivery system from a supplier to a buyer utilizing a system having at least one delivery agent, at least one store, at least one manufacturer, and a plurality of buyers, wherein the at least one delivery agent, at least one store, and the at least one manufacturer are coupled to a communications network. The method comprises the steps of searching for the available capacity in each one of a plurality of markets wherein each market has at least one delivery zone, calculating the capacity utilization by day for each zone, setting a flag which is indicative of over capacity or under capacity, determining the probability that the next day will be over capacity based on historical data, and determining the trend-line of capacity utilization based on historical data.  
         [0004]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040107110 describes optimizing a total cost associated with transporting products on a set of vehicles. Orders representing products are assigned to one or more vehicles in the set. The assignment defines a sequence of pickup and delivery activities for the vehicles. One or more orders are deleted from one or more vehicles; at least one order from the deleted orders is inserted into a vehicle; the assignment is changed for at least one vehicle; and a cost is determined for the transportation of the products on the set of vehicles. The steps of deleting one or more orders, inserting at least one order, changing the assignment, and determining a cost are repeated until an optimal cost has been determined.  
         [0005]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040225507 describes a method of managing the delivery of an order from at least one supplier to a respective delivery agent, and from the delivery agent to a respective buyer, given a requested order date and the respective buyers address, consisting of the steps including: determining a first potential arrival date of the order at a respective delivery agent&#39;s location based on the order request date and the buyer&#39;s address; calculating the capacity of the delivery agent to ship the order based the first potential arrive date request; and finally, determining when there is sufficient capacity to ship the order to the buyer&#39;s address.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,997 describes a system for sharing a fleet of vehicles among a plurality of users where, in preferred embodiments, the shared vehicles are electrically powered, the system comprising a system control computer that assigns vehicles in response to requests by users and monitors system performance, a computer subsystem through which users request vehicles for trips, and a vehicle subsystem within each vehicle that is in communication with the system control computer, allowing the system control computer to monitor the location and status of each vehicle in the vehicle sharing fleet.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,376 describes a mail processing system that delivers articles to delivery locations wherein a first transport vehicle at a first loading point is loaded with a first article and guided along a first delivery path to a first delivery location. A second transport vehicle at a second loading point is loaded with a second article and guided along a second delivery path to a second delivery location. Depending on a determination of whether the first and second transport vehicles deliver the first and second articles to the respective first and second delivery locations, the method returns an empty transport vehicle to the nearest one of the loading points and bypasses one of the first and second loading points for a still loaded transport vehicle. This allows minimization of the number of transport vehicles within the system.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,376 describes a method of scheduling a vehicle in real-time to transport freight and passengers. A host receives transportation requests (e.g., to deliver freight, transport passengers, reschedule, cancel, etc.) over a network from a freight terminal and/or a passenger terminal. A route is created at the host with destinations based on the received transportation requests. The host predicts an arrival time and a departure time for each destination along the route and generates a route schedule. As the vehicle travels to each destination, the host receives actual arrival and departure times and uses these actual times to update the route schedule. The route schedule is also updated when new destinations are added or a scheduled destination is cancelled. In another embodiment, the predicted arrival and departure times are updated based on vehicle positioning data received from a global positioning system. In each embodiment, the generated and updated route schedules are posted at the host and are accessible from any remote terminal over the network.  
         [0009]     Prior systems and methods, including those described above, do not teach or suggest the optimization of vehicle transport loads, such as those in the exemplary embodiments described below.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     An exemplary method is directed towards optimizing a vehicle transport load for a plurality of transportation devices comprising importing data regarding an inventory of vehicles, importing data regarding transportation devices, and creating a best profile load that illustrates a preferred method of distributing the inventory on the transportation devices. The inventory of vehicles is distributed onto the transportation devices based on the data received regarding the inventory and the transportation devices. The method may provide feedback to a user based on the best profile load and may even provide a user interface configured to display the best profile load and metrics of the best profile load.  
         [0011]     An exemplary method may further include determining the delivery distance for the inventory. Furthermore, the method may include modifying the best profile load by deleting or adding vehicles and by configuring prioritization parameters. The best profile load may also be outputted to a dispatch system.  
         [0012]     An exemplary computer-readable medium includes programmed instructions which optimize vehicle load transports and include inputs of an inventory, inputs of a plurality of transportation devices, and a processor for producing a preferred method of distributing the inventory onto the transportation devices. The computer-readable medium may further include configurable parameters for refining the preferred method, displays for communicating the preferred method and its metrics to a user, and output means for communicating the preferred method to a dispatch system. Furthermore, the computer-readable medium may produce the preferred method by utilizing a pre-defined set of rules to compare the inventory to the transportation devices.  
         [0013]     Furthermore, an exemplary system is directed toward producing an optimized vehicle transport load comprising an inventory of vehicles, a plurality of transportation devices, and a load optimizer with input and output means, wherein the load optimizer produces a preferred method of distributing the inventory onto the transportation devices. In addition, information about the inventory and transportation devices may be input into the load optimizer and the load optimizer may produce the preferred method by utilizing a pre-defined set of rules. Furthermore, the system may include displays for communicating the preferred method and its metrics to a user and the displays may even include graphical user interfaces. The system may also communicate the preferred method from the load optimizer to a dispatch system.  
         [0014]     Other principal features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     Exemplary embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a general block diagram depicting a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a depiction of information obtained for inventory in the vehicle load optimization system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating operational components of a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating operations performed in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a sample dashboard user interface in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a sample available transport user interface in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a sample import/export user interface in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a sample execute user interface in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a sample solution set user interface in a vehicle load optimization system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     Described herein are exemplary embodiments which optimize vehicle distribution via multi-car carriers.  FIG. 1  illustrates a system  8  wherein the transportation of vehicles from an inventory  10  to each vehicle&#39;s individual destination is optimized, according to an exemplary embodiment. Information on the vehicles in inventory  10 , available transport trucks  20 , and a best fit table  50  are entered into a load optimizer  30 . A plurality of best fit tables may be used. The load optimizer  30  determines the most efficient and profitable method of transporting the vehicles and outputs this transportation method as a chosen best load profile  40 .  
         [0026]     The inventory  10  includes all vehicles that are available for transportation.  FIG. 2  illustrates exemplary information for each vehicle in the inventory  10  which is later imported into the load optimizer  30 . A VIN  102  is a vehicle identification number which is unique to each vehicle and is used to identify the vehicle. An origin zip  104  represents the postal ZIP code where the vehicle is located prior to transport. A destination zip  106  represents the postal ZIP code of the destination where the vehicle is to be transported. A destination client number  108  represents the client to which the vehicle is to be transported. A size  110  represents the size of the vehicle. Vehicles may be classified into a plurality of sizes  110  as determined by the user. In an exemplary embodiment, vehicles are classified into five sizes  110 . A released date  112  represents the date and time that the vehicle was entered into inventory. A revenue  114  represents the amount of money to be earned by the transportation of the vehicle to its destination. A must ship flag  116  represents whether or not the vehicle must be immediately shipped to its destination.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the load optimizer  30  and its operational components. In an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI), these operational components are accessed by way of graphical tabs. In the exemplary embodiment, the GUI for the load optimizer  30  includes a dashboard tab  302 , an available transport tab  304 , an import/export tab  306 , an execute tab  308 , and a solution set tab  310 . The dashboard tab  302  provides a graphical representation of the current load optimization solution based on specific parameters further described below.  
         [0028]     The available transport tab  304  provides a user input mechanism to define the transport truck availability. The process of inputting the transport truck availability is further defined below.  
         [0029]     In an exemplary embodiment, the import/export tab  306  engages the load optimizer  30  to import required data including truck type definitions, best fit table  50 , inventory, and order information and to export the generated load profile to an external application. The imported data will be further defined below.  FIG. 7  depicts a screen shot of a GUI after the import/export tab has been chosen. The GUI in  FIG. 7  allows the user to input parameters into a best fit table. Other embodiments of the import/export tab may include user definable inputs for inventory, truck type definitions, and order information.  
         [0030]     The execute tab  308  allows the user to configure parameters of the load optimizer  30  to refine the optimization process. These configuration parameters are further defined below. The solution set tab  310  displays the results of the optimization process and is further defined below.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates operations performed by the load optimizer  30  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed depending on the particular implementation. Further, while a certain order or sequence in the operations is illustrated and described, alternative embodiments could have operations in a different order. In an operation  410 , certain data is imported into the optimizer  30 . This data may include the inventory  10 , truck type definitions, and best fit table  50 . The truck type definitions define the different types of transport trucks. Best fit table  50  defines how different combinations of vehicle sizes fit most efficiently on each type of transport truck. After the data is imported, the load optimizer  10  determines the delivery distance by comparing the destination zip  106  to the origin zip  104  in an operation  420 .  
         [0032]     The transport truck availability is input in an operation  430 .  FIG. 6  depicts a screen shot of a GUI presented upon selection of the transport truck availability tab. The GUI allows the number and types of available trucks to be inputted. In addition, the transport truck availability is further defined by both the load type and the delivery type of each transport truck. In an exemplary embodiment, transport trucks may be defined by one of four load types; city, mini, turn, and line. The city load type can be loaded, delivered, and returned in a single day. The mini load type can be loaded and delivered in a single day, but the return drive is completed in the following work period. The turn load type can be loaded, delivered, and returned in 2-3 work periods. The line load type is loaded, delivered, and returned in a period greater than 3 days. In an exemplary embodiment, transports trucks may also be defined by one of four delivery types. The day delivery type can be delivered between normal working hours. The night delivery time can only be delivered during off hours. The weekend delivery time can only be delivered on Saturday or Sunday. The all delivery time can be delivered at any time.  
         [0033]     Prior to running the optimization, the user may also configure parameters of the load optimizer in an operation  440  by utilizing the execute tab  308 .  FIG. 8  depicts a screen shot of a GUI after the selection of the execute tab  308 . The GUI allows the user to configure the allowable load efficiency threshold, load factor, skid drops, revenue per loaded mile, loaded miles, revenue miles, running miles, and days at origin. In addition, other embodiments may allow the user to choose inventory  10  from certain individual inventory origins or select multiple locations. The user may also configure the allowable must ship vehicles and transport trucks. The load efficiency threshold relates to the minimum number of vehicles on the load divided by the truck capacity. Skid drops relate to the number of different destination clients  108  on each load. The revenue per loaded mile on a load is determined based on the sum of the revenues  114  of the vehicles on the load divided by the total drive miles of the load. After modification of these parameters, the user may run the optimization.  
         [0034]     Upon running the optimization, the inventory is prioritized based on parameters such as load distance, must ship vehicle statuses, release date vulnerability, same destination, and other destinations in an operation  450 . The load optimizer  30  creates a best profile set of loads in an operation  460  based on the following four exemplary rules (additional, fewer, or different rules may be used depending on the particular embodiment): 1) Maximize the revenue per mile on the load; 2) Minimize the number of skid drops on the load; 3) Minimize the age of the remaining inventory that is not included in the best profile load; and 4) Maximize the number of vehicles on the truck in accordance with best fit table  50 . The age of the remaining inventory is determined from the released dates  112  of the vehicles.  
         [0035]     Certain metrics of the best profile set of loads are displayed on a GUI upon selection of the dashboard tab  302 , and the best profile set of loads is displayed on a GUI upon selection of the solution set tab  310  in an operation  465 .  FIG. 5  depicts a screen shot of a GUI after the selection of the dashboard tab  302 . The GUI depicts graphical representations of the load efficiency, the load factor, the average age of cars dispatched, the revenue per loaded mile, and the average skid drops per trip. The graphical representations are in the form of gauges. The gauges have threshold values which are illustrated by green to represent good values, yellow to represent neutral values, and red to represent bad values. In addition, the GUI depicts a summary of the metrics.  
         [0036]     Selection of the solution set tab  310  displays a GUI the solution set at the load level and may include the following data elements: load number, origin location, destination location, number of cars in load, skid drops, revenue miles, revenue, load efficiency, and revenue/loaded mile.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  depicts a screen shot of a GUI after the solution set tab has been chosen. The solution set tab also enables a secondary display to view details of individual loads which may contain the order number, origin  104 , destination  106 , VIN  102 , released date  112 , date out, vehicle type, make, model, revenue  114 , revenue miles, loaded miles, and must ship flag  116 . In addition, the user may manually delete a selected vehicle from a load and add a vehicle from inventory  10  which is not part of the current best profile set of loads.  
         [0038]     If the user is not satisfied with the current best profile set of loads, the user may reconfigure the parameters of the load optimizer in an operation  440  and re-run the optimization. Once the user is satisfied with the best profile set of loads, the user will select the “commit” function in an operation  480  within the solution set tab  310 . A visual confirmation mechanism is provided to ensure the user wants to commit to the current best profile set of loads. Upon confirmation, in an operation  490 , the best profile set of loads will be exported to the dispatch and the transports are loaded according to the profile. Possible export methodologies include web services, file export, or direct database update.  
         [0039]     By way of example, in an exemplary implementation using computer software, a delivery distance is determined for all vehicles in inventory from an origin ZIP code to a destination ZIP code. An example inventory table is shown below.  
                                                                                                         Origin   Dest.   Dest.                   Must       VIN   Zip   Zip   Client   Distance   Size   Released   Revenue   Ship                                212211222   12345   23456   11   65   3   2/10/06   $315.00   False                               15:00       655144244   12345   23222   14   120   1   2/7/06   $230.00   False                               8:00       345222245   12345   23222   14   120   2   2/10/06   $264.00   False                               12:00                  
 
         [0040]     A set of inventory objects is found by running a call multiple times with varying parameters. Examples of such parameters include quantity of inventory desired (numeric); load distance type (the types include city (less than 100 miles), mini (100-250 miles), turn (250-350 miles), and line (greater than 350 miles)); flag for inclusion of must ship vehicles; flag for inclusion of non-must ship vehicles; flag to include other vehicles going to same destination; must ship destination codes (if applicable); and flag to determine whether other destinations are allowed. The inventory candidates are prioritized, for example, by must ship first, then release data vulnerability, etc. For each candidate set, profile candidates are found by transport type and candidate set to determine the set&#39;s load factor, number of skid drops, revenue per mile, running miles, and which inventory items fit (or do not fit) into a load. The set of candidates with the best profile is chosen, e.g., using the Best Fit Matrix in the table shown below. Then a load is created for the set with the best profile.  
                                                                                                               Transport   Vehicle Size                Type   1   2   3   4   5                            A   10   0   0   0   0           A   7   0   1   1   0           A   9   1   0   0   0           B   10   0   0   0   0           B   9   1   0   0   0                      
 
         [0041]     A sample computer program product to implement the optimization method can include programming logic which determines delivery distance for all vehicles in inventory. Once a delivery distance is determined, the computer program product cycles through requested loads and, for each load, a software routine or method is called multiple times with varying parameters. This method provides a list of inventory objects based on requested parameters. Parameters can include: quantity of inventory desired, load distance type (city, mini, etc.), flag for inclusion of must ship vehicles, flag for inclusion of non-must ship vehicles, flag to include other vehicles going to same destination, must ship destination codes (if applicable), flag to determine whether other destinations are allowed. Inventory candidates can be returned in priority order (must ship, release date vulnerability, same destination, other destinations).  
         [0042]     Another routine or method can be used, for each set of candidates, to determine that set&#39;s load factor, number of skid drops, revenue per mile, running miles, and which inventory items fit or do not fit in a load. The set of candidates with the best profile can be selected and a load for the set of candidates with the best profile can be created.  
         [0043]     One or more flow diagrams have been used to describe exemplary embodiments. The use of flow diagrams is not meant to be limiting with respect to the order of operations performed. The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.