Transportation Planning — as Easy as 1-2-3

As a special application of Linear Programming, a model is described that minimizes route mileage in a clear and understandable way. This application makes use of two inexpensive products, Lotus 1-2-3 and Whats Best! which combined provide a user-friendly modelling technique for truck routing. An example will be discussed where by a fleet of 135 trucks operate out of twenty terminals providing overnight delivery. Cutting out between 1000 and 2500 miles each night explains the large savings that can be reached. In addition to the description of the application, the author gives an explanation of how models using these two tools can be easily constructed. Some comments on limitation and problem size are discussed.