Bulk transport I-Rute

Hydro Texaco and Landbruksdistribusjon are two large transport companies in Norway operating within widely different market segments. Whereas Hydro Texaco sell and distribute oil and gas to private customers and industry, Landbruksdistribusjon offer transport services to farmers and the agricultural industry, distributing a range of product types from animal food to fertilizers and machines. Despite their different market segments, both companies face similar challenges with regard to safe transport of bulk products. This has resulted in a joint project for the period 2003-2004 with partners being The Department of Optimisation, Spider Solutions AS (formerly: GreenTrip AS) and the two transport companies. The aim is to develop robust tools for optimal planning of bulk transport, and the project is sponsored by The Research Council of Norway.

The optimisation tools available on the market today for transport planning do not take into account the complex demands within bulk transport. Aspects of the planning problem that are particularly relevant to bulk transport include modeling of compartments, weight distribution, handling of hazardous materials, use of alternative depot locations, and split deliveries. The goal of "I-Rute" is to extend the transport optimisation tool SPIDER to cover such requirements. The project will also address issues such as optimal fleet design, uncertainty and use of prognoses. Benefits of using the new tools will be evaluated with regard to logistics efficiency, customer relations, and resource utilisation in the planning process.