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Combinable containers: A container innovation to save container fleet and empty container repositioning costs

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  • Shintani, Koichi
  • Konings, Rob
  • Imai, Akio

Abstract

Combinable containers can either be used as a standard 20 ft or in combined state as a 40 ft container by altering the dimensional to match the cargo size. This paper examines the viability of combinable containers for saving the container related costs. We present a model of a minimum cost multi-commodity network flow problem that can be used to simultaneously determine the fleet sizes of standard and combinable containers and their empty container allocation/repositioning. Based on numerical experiments, we discovered that mixed use of both types of containers can save a significant portion of container related cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Shintani, Koichi & Konings, Rob & Imai, Akio, 2019. "Combinable containers: A container innovation to save container fleet and empty container repositioning costs," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 248-272.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:130:y:2019:i:c:p:248-272
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2019.09.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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