Factors That Influence Intermodal Routing.

Factors that influence intermodal routing.

Every day we use many times a route advice, when we walk in to the street and ask for an address, another person gives you the instructions; nowadays exists many navigation systems on the smartphones, computers, etc. A lot of these advices are for the personal mode, or the shared mode, but actually, there is a route advice system that can mix the both methods; an intermodal routing system. Trough out this essay we’re going to explain the factors that the firm need to consider for the routing system for oxxo.

According to an article of the University of Twente, Netherlands, an analysis on the main factors to consider for intermodal routing was made; the results are given on the next tableau:

The first are main factors, the “must be considered” factors before anything, the second group are the ones that must be implemented as the project runs, and the last group of aspects are the ones that may be implemented on the future, at the moment that the system is already working.

First of all, we need to know the dates, due dates of the routes, it must be considered if the due dates are holydays, or days where usually the vehicular affluence increases; other factors as ready times, and arrival times are also important, many companies made their deliveries during night time since the traffic decreases during that time, which make the delivery times shorter and therefore the costs involved.

Factors as origin and destination also must be considered, it may be that the starting point or the warehouse is located in a very conflicted area, which delays the delivery times because of the way of the street, and so the distances may increase as well.

Factors as the distance, are also important to consider, as it was said before, the way of the street may complicate the arrival, even if the location is close, given the way of the streets more distance must be traveled and more time to make it to the origin, so it is the case of one location presented on this project, the Oxxo located on Jose Ma. Morelos 500, located 200 meters away from the warehouse, but given the way of the Street, the driver will have to drive over 1 km to get to the destination.+

Other factors as the speed limit, or the local regulations, the average speed of the driver, or the average speed of the regular traffic on each street are also important and affect the outcome.

Further that, factors as historical data may be considered, local trends on conflictive areas, accident rates.

A lot of factors must be taken into consideration, most of them are easy to identify and easy to improve or work with them, as we know it is not just about taking the distances between locations and the warehouse, there is also a lot of external factors.

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