arXiv subjects

Tiankuo Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Tiankuo Zhang.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Distributed and Dynamic Hub Network Operation Planning in a Hyperconnected Less-Than-Truckload Operating System

The less-than-truckload (LTL) industry plays a vital role in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of logistics systems, as LTL shipments offer greater consolidation opportunities than full-truckload shipments. Despite of this flexibility, the average cost of LTL shipments remains considerably higher due to less efficient operations and highly fragmented networks of small and medium-sized carriers. Building on our ongoing effort to develop a distributed and dynamic logistics hub network system grounded in the Physical Internet (PI) principles of modular containers and open resource sharing, this study focuses specifically on inter-hub and in-hub operations, with cooperation among multiple regional hub networks. Therefore, a shipment may traverse multiple cooperating hub networks. With respect to each hub network each shipment enters, it is defined by its expected arrival time at the entry hub and its latest arrival time at the exit hub. Based on the defined shipment information, we design a set of multi-hub operation planning protocols for distributed hub operators. In their operating networks, operators use our smartly designed protocol separately to plan in-hub shipments' assignments to destination-specific trailers and inter-hub trailers' dispatch schedules. With carefully designed interconnections between hub networks, the aggregated hub network system is well-positioned to achieve cooperative outcomes and fulfill shipment requests. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol through a simulation-based experiment under multiple scenarios in an operator's multi-hub network. Overall, this research improves the practicality and robustness of PI-based networks and supports greater cooperation among hub networks toward more efficient and sustainable logistics systems.

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arXiv2025

Dynamic Pricing System for Physical Internet Enabled Hyperconnected Less-than-Truckload Freight Logistics Networks

Less than truckload shipping plays a critical role in modern supply chains by consolidating freight from multiple shippers into shared vehicles. Despite its operational flexibility and potential sustainability benefits, the LTL sector faces persistent challenges, including high per unit costs and financial instability, as evidenced by recent industry bankruptcies. This paper investigates two structural issues limiting LTL performance, including the constrained consolidation potential imposed by proprietary logistics networks, and the inefficiency of fixed pricing models that fail to reflect realtime network conditions. To address these, we explore a Physical Internet enabled, hyperconnected LTL logistics system based on open asset sharing and dynamic flow consolidation. We then propose a dynamic pricing framework tailored for this network. Through a simulation based study grounded in Freight Analysis Framework data and cost estimates from industry sources, we evaluate system performance across three demand and cost uncertainty scenarios in the Southeastern U.S. The results validate our system effectiveness and suggest a promising path forward for building more efficient LTL logistics operations.

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arXiv2025

Dynamic Less-Than-Truckload Transportation Planning in Hyperconnected Hub Networks with Multi-Carrier Operations

Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment is vital in modern freight transportation yet is in dire need of more efficient usage of resources, higher service responsiveness and velocity, lower overall shipping cost across all parties, and better quality of life for the drivers. The industry is currently highly fragmented, with numerous small to medium-sized LTL carriers typically operating within dedicated regions or corridors, mostly disconnected from each other. This paper investigates the large-scale interconnection of LTL carriers enabling each to leverage multi-carrier networks for cross-region services exploiting their mutual logistic hubs, in line with Physical Internet principles. In such a network, efficient open cooperation strategies are critical for optimizing multiparty relay shipment consolidation and delivery, transport and logistic operations and orchestration, and enabling inter-hub driver short hauls. To dynamically plan relay truck transportation of involved carriers across hyperconnected hub networks, we develop an optimization-based model to build loads, coordinate shipments, and synchronize driver deliveries. We report a simulation-based experiment in a multiparty LTL network covering the eastern U.S. in three scenarios: 1) each carrier operates separately and serves its clients with end-to-end transportation, 2) each carrier operates separately and adopts relay transportation in its service region, and 3) all carriers operate jointly and serve clients in the multi-carrier hyperconnected relay network. By comparing these three scenarios, we evaluate the impact of relay transportation and carrier cooperations on cost savings, trip duration, and greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, this research advances operational efficiencies through an effective collaborative solution across the LTL industry and contributes to the pursuit of sustainable logistics networks.

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arXiv2025

Efficient, Fast, and Fair Voting Through Dynamic Resource Allocation in a Secure Election Physical Intranet

Resource allocations in an election system, often with hundreds of polling locations over a territory such as a county, with the aim that voters receive fair and efficient services, is a challenging problem, as election resources are limited and the number of expected voters can be highly volatile through the voting period. This paper develops two propositions to ensure efficiency, fairness, resilience, and security. The first is to leverage Physical Internet (PI) principles, notably setting up a "secure election physical intranet" (SEPI) based on open resource sharing and flow consolidation between election facilities in the territory. The second is to adopt a smart dynamic resource allocation methodology within the SEPI based on queueing networks and lexicographic optimization. A queueing model is developed to provide feasible combinations of resources and individual performances for each polling location by considering layout and utilization constraints. A two-stage lexicographic optimizer receives the queueing model's outputs and finds an optimal solution that is less expensive, fast, and fair. A scenario-based case study validates the proposed methodology based on data from the 2020 US Presidential Election in Fulton County, Georgia, USA.

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