Vehicle dispatch planning system

Abstract

Develop efficient dispatch plans that take into account driver working hours while meeting the complex constraints specific to the transportation of liquid and powder products. [Solution] The dispatch plan output unit 15 of the dispatch plan planning system 1 generates and outputs a dispatch plan that determines at least the loading location, unloading location, type of liquid / powder product, and transport quantity for each transport vehicle to which a driver is assigned, based on transport vehicle information, driver information, order information, and constraint information. The constraint information is information on multiple constraints, including at least multiple labor constraints related to the driver's working hours and multiple product constraints related to the transport of liquid / powder products. The dispatch plan output unit 15 generates a dispatch plan that satisfies all of the multiple first constraints C1 and at least some of the multiple second constraints C2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation planning system for formulating an allocation plan for a plurality of transport vehicles that transport liquid and powder products.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a technique for formulating an allocation plan for determining a plurality of transport vehicles that transport liquid and powder products from the loading location to the unloading location based on order information, vehicle information, etc. (Patent Document 1). The transportation of liquid and powder products has complex constraints that are not present in products other than liquid and powder products, such as constraint conditions where the specifications of the transport vehicle are specified according to the variety of the liquid and powder products, and constraint conditions regarding quality control due to contamination of the liquid and powder products. The vehicle allocation planning system of Patent Document 1 formulates an allocation plan that satisfies these complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid and powder products.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for formulating an efficient vehicle allocation plan considering the working hours of drivers, and there is a technique for formulating a vehicle allocation plan considering the available working hours of drivers in accordance with the laws and regulations determined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Patent Document 2). In addition, there is a problem of a shortage of drivers in the entire logistics industry, and there is a demand for formulating a more efficient vehicle allocation plan that suppresses the number of transport vehicles used while considering the working hours of drivers.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch planning system that can formulate an efficient dispatch plan for multiple transport vehicles transporting liquid and powder products, while satisfying the complex constraints specific to the transport of liquid and powder products and taking into account the working hours of the drivers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is a vehicle dispatch planning system for planning the dispatch of multiple transport vehicles for transporting liquid and powder products, comprising: a transport vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires transport vehicle information which is information relating to the multiple transport vehicles; a driver information acquisition unit that acquires driver information which is information relating to the multiple drivers who operate the transport vehicles; an order information acquisition unit that acquires order information which is information based on orders from customers and includes at least information on the type of liquid and powder product, the amount to be transported, the loading location and the unloading location; and a plurality of constraints which include at least a plurality of labor constraints relating to the working hours of the drivers and a plurality of product constraints relating to the transport of the liquid and powder products. The system includes a constraint acquisition unit that acquires constraint information, which is information relating to the transport vehicle, the driver, the order information, and the constraint information, and generates and outputs a dispatch plan that determines at least the loading location, the unloading location, the type of liquid / powder product, and the transport quantity for each transport vehicle to which the driver is assigned. The plurality of constraints are distinguished into at least a plurality of first constraints that are always satisfied and a plurality of second constraints that are satisfied to the extent that they are feasible, and the dispatch plan output unit generates the dispatch plan so as to satisfy all of the plurality of first constraints and at least some of the plurality of second constraints.

[0007] This configuration distinguishes multiple constraints, including constraints on driver working hours and complex constraints specific to the transportation of liquid and powder products, into at least two first constraints and two second constraints. The first constraints are then treated as essential constraints that must be satisfied, and the second constraints are treated as optional constraints that can be satisfied to the extent possible, in order to generate a dispatch plan. It should be noted that "multiple second constraints that can be satisfied to the extent possible" does not mean that only some of the multiple second constraints are considered when generating the dispatch plan, but rather that all second constraints are considered when generating the dispatch plan, while at least some of the multiple second constraints that can be satisfied are satisfied as a result of the dispatch plan generation. In other words, generating a dispatch plan that satisfies at least some of the multiple second constraints means generating a dispatch plan that satisfies as many of the multiple second constraints as possible. Therefore, by designating the constraint that must be met as the first constraint among multiple constraints, including constraints on driver working hours and constraints specific to the transportation of liquid and powder products, it becomes possible to efficiently plan vehicle dispatch even with complex constraints. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is a vehicle dispatch planning system for multiple transport vehicles transporting liquid and powder products, and can formulate an efficient vehicle dispatch plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transport of liquid and powder products. Furthermore, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention does not exclude cases where it generates a vehicle dispatch plan that does not satisfy all of the multiple second constraints. In other words, depending on the circumstances, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention may generate a vehicle dispatch plan that does not satisfy all of the multiple second constraints.

[0008] The vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention may have the following configuration. The transport vehicle information includes information on at least one of the transport vehicle's load capacity, specifications, current operating status, and waiting location; the driver information includes information on at least one of the driver's current work status, past work status, and holiday schedule; the plurality of work constraints include constraints on at least one of the driver's working hours, rest periods between shifts, driving time, rest periods, holiday work hours, overtime hours, consecutive nights of stay, distance traveled, and number of loading / unloading trips; and the plurality of product constraints include at least one of the constraints on contamination of the liquid / powder products and constraints on the specifications of the transport vehicle necessary for loading the liquid / powder products.

[0009] In this configuration, constraints related to the driver's working hours, such as the amount of time they are required to be on duty, and constraints specific to the transportation of liquid and powder products, such as the contamination of liquid and powder products, are included in multiple constraints in the constraint information. By setting these constraints as the first constraint, it becomes possible to efficiently plan the vehicle dispatch. Here, constraints related to the contamination of liquid and powder products include, for example, a constraint that the transport vehicle's tank must be cleaned if the current shipment contains a type of product that requires cleaning depending on the type of product in the previous shipment, or a constraint that the current shipment must not contain a type of product that cannot be loaded depending on the type of product in the previous shipment. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is a vehicle dispatch planning system for multiple transport vehicles transporting liquid and powder products, and can formulate an efficient vehicle dispatch plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transport of liquid and powder products.

[0010] The vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention may have the following configuration. The constraint acquisition unit acquires constraint information relating to the plurality of constraints, which include a plurality of vehicle constraints relating to the transport vehicle, and the plurality of vehicle constraints include at least one of the following: constraints relating to the types of transport vehicles that can enter the loading area and the unloading area, constraints relating to the consolidation of transport vehicles, and constraints relating to whether or not the head and chassis of the transport vehicle need to be separated.

[0011] This configuration allows for more efficient vehicle dispatch planning, taking into account constraints on the types of transported vehicles, constraints on the consolidation of transported vehicles, and constraints on whether or not the head and chassis need to be separated. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is a vehicle dispatch planning system for multiple transport vehicles transporting liquid and powder products, and can formulate an efficient vehicle dispatch plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transport of liquid and powder products.

[0012] The vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention may have the following configuration. The dispatch plan output unit determines the optimal or approximate solution of the dispatch plan as an optimization problem with the efficiency of the transport vehicles and drivers as the objective function, and the plurality of first constraints and the plurality of second constraints as constraints, and generates the dispatch plan.

[0013] This configuration allows for the efficient planning of vehicle dispatches by solving an optimization problem with the efficiency of transport vehicles and drivers as the objective function. Here, the efficiency of transport vehicles and drivers refers to at least one of the following: reducing the number of transport vehicles in operation, equalizing the mileage of multiple transport vehicles, reducing the mileage of multiple transport vehicles, equalizing the working hours of multiple drivers, or reducing the working hours of multiple drivers. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is a vehicle dispatch planning system for multiple transport vehicles transporting liquid and powder products, and can formulate an efficient vehicle dispatch plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transport of liquid and powder products.

[0014] The vehicle allocation plan creation system of the present invention may have the following configuration. The vehicle allocation plan output unit determines the optimal solution or the approximate solution of the vehicle allocation plan by using a mathematical optimization algorithm.

[0015] According to this configuration, a vehicle allocation plan can be efficiently created by using a mathematical optimization algorithm. Here, the vehicle allocation plan creation system may use a quantum computer to utilize a mathematical optimization algorithm. Therefore, the vehicle allocation plan creation system of the present invention is a vehicle allocation plan for a plurality of transport vehicles that transport liquid and powder products, and can create an efficient vehicle allocation plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid and powder products.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the vehicle allocation plan creation system of the present invention, it is a vehicle allocation plan for a plurality of transport vehicles that transport liquid and powder products, and can create an efficient vehicle allocation plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid and powder products.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram showing the vehicle allocation plan creation system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a flowchart showing the processing of the vehicle allocation plan creation system according to this embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] The vehicle allocation plan creation system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle allocation plan creation system 1 creates a vehicle allocation plan for a plurality of transport vehicles that transport liquid products.

[0019] In this embodiment, the liquid products to be transported are classified into any one of the categories of vegetable oils, animal fats, foods, alcohols, and chemical products. The liquid products of vegetable oils are, for example, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, palm oil, etc. The liquid products of animal fats are, for example, lard, beef fat, etc. The liquid products of foods are, for example, chocolate, milk, soy milk, soy sauce, vinegar, liquid sugar, etc. The liquid products of alcohols are, for example, refined alcohol, whiskey, sake, etc. The liquid products of chemical products are, for example, formalin, adhesives, etc.

[0020] In this embodiment, the transport vehicle has a tank in which the liquid product is stored. The plurality of transport vehicles includes a plurality of tank lorries and a plurality of tank semi-trailers. A tank lorry is a transport vehicle having a tank integrated with a head. A tank semi-trailer is a transport vehicle having a chassis on which a tank is mounted and a trailer head (tractor) for towing the chassis. The plurality of tank semi-trailers includes a plurality of tank semi-trailers having a chassis integrated with a tank and a plurality of tank semi-trailers having a chassis on which a tank container is detachably mounted. The chassis integrated with the tank and the chassis on which the tank container is detachably mounted can be towed by the same trailer head if their towing capacities, etc. are compatible. The plurality of transport vehicles includes transport vehicles (tank lorries or tank semi-trailers) in which the interior of the tank is divided into a plurality of compartments and different liquid products can be loaded together.

[0021] The vehicle dispatch planning system 1 of this embodiment is used by a transportation company to transport liquid products from a designated loading location to a designated unloading location, based on orders received from multiple customers. The customers are, for example, companies that manufacture or process liquid products. Basically, one transport vehicle makes 1 to 3 transport trips per day from the loading location to the unloading location. In some cases, the transporter may stay overnight at a highway rest area (parking area or service area) during the transport of liquid products. Depending on the loading and unloading locations, a ferry may be used for transport. If the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer, the chassis and trailer head may be separated at the ferry yard before boarding, and only the chassis with the tank mounted may be transported by ferry. After boarding, the chassis may be connected to another trailer head at the ferry yard and transported to the unloading location.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the dispatch planning system 1 is connected to at least one user terminal device 50 via a network such as the Internet. The user terminal device 50 is, for example, a personal computer. The user, who is the dispatch manager, uses input means such as a keyboard and mouse included in the user terminal device 50 to input data and perform operations to generate dispatch plans. The user terminal device 50 also includes display means for displaying dispatch plans and various data. The user terminal device 50 may be connected to a printer (not shown) for printing dispatch plans. The dispatch planning system 1 may also be connected via the network to at least one management terminal device 60 for managing the dispatch planning system 1. Furthermore, the dispatch planning system 1 may be connected via the network to multiple driver terminal devices (not shown) held by multiple drivers, and the dispatch plans may be displayed on the driver terminal devices. The driver terminal devices are, for example, smartphones or tablets.

[0023] The vehicle dispatch planning system 1 may consist of a single computer device, or it may consist of multiple computer devices connected via a network such as the Internet, WAN, or LAN. The multiple computer devices may include, for example, a quantum computer. Although not shown in the diagram, the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 has an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The arithmetic unit may consist of multiple devices. The arithmetic unit may consist of, for example, a CPU, GPU, microprocessor, multiprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic circuit (PLC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and quantum computing unit (QPC). The storage unit includes at least one storage medium for non-temporarily storing programs and various data, and at least one storage medium for temporarily storing data processed by the arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit executes the programs stored in the storage unit, thereby executing various functional units, and the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 outputs a vehicle dispatch plan. The communication unit transmits and receives information between the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 and external devices (such as a user terminal device 50). If the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 is composed of multiple computer devices connected via a network, the communication unit may send and receive information between the multiple computer devices that make up the vehicle dispatch planning system 1.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 has the following functional units, which are realized by executing a program stored in a memory unit (not shown): a transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11, a driver information acquisition unit 12, an order information acquisition unit 13, a constraint condition acquisition unit 14, and a vehicle dispatch plan output unit 15.

[0025] <Transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11> The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires transport vehicle information, which is information about multiple transport vehicles. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires transport vehicle information either when generating the dispatch plan planning system 1, based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60, or by reading the dispatch plan stored in the storage unit.

[0026] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the transport vehicle's vehicle number, specifications, and load capacity. Vehicle numbers are assigned to tank trucks, trailer heads, and chassis, respectively. Specifications are set for each vehicle assigned a vehicle number. These specifications include information indicating the type of vehicle assigned a vehicle number, i.e., whether it is a tank truck, trailer head, or chassis. If the vehicle type is a tank truck or chassis, the specifications include information on the categories of liquid products that can be loaded into the tank, and the number of tanks that can be mixed (number of compartments within the tank). The categories of liquid products that can be loaded into the tank are predetermined according to the vehicle (chassis or tank truck) specifications (e.g., tank material, presence or absence of heating equipment). Each tank is used for transporting only one category of liquid product. If the vehicle type is a tank truck or chassis, the vehicle specifications may include information on the tank material (e.g., stainless steel, with insulation), the presence or absence of onboard equipment (e.g., electric pump, heating device), and its performance. If the vehicle type is a trailer head, the vehicle specifications may include information on the trailer head's towable weight. The vehicle specifications (tank truck, trailer head, and chassis) may include information on the vehicle weight. If the vehicle type is a tank truck or tractor head, the vehicle specifications may include information on whether a heavy vehicle license is required. The transport vehicle's load capacity information is set when the vehicle type is a tank truck or chassis. The transport vehicle's load capacity information includes the loadable weight, loadable capacity, and, if the tank is divided into multiple compartments, the loadable capacity of each compartment. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires information on the transport vehicle's vehicle number, specifications, and load capacity based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0027] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information regarding the vehicle inspection registration of the transport vehicle. This information includes information on the type of connectable chassis listed on the trailer head's vehicle inspection certificate, and information on the type of connectable trailer head listed on the chassis's vehicle inspection certificate. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires information regarding the vehicle inspection registration of transport vehicles based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0028] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the current and near-future operational status of transport vehicles obtained from the ongoing dispatch plan. The information on the current and near-future operational status of transport vehicles obtained from the ongoing dispatch plan includes information on the final destination of each vehicle (tank truck, trailer head and chassis) in the ongoing dispatch plan, information on the type of liquid product to be loaded into the tank last in the ongoing dispatch plan, information on the maintenance of each vehicle (tank truck, trailer head and chassis), information on the mileage of tank trucks and trailer heads in the ongoing dispatch plan, the number of loading and unloading operations of tank trucks and trailer heads in the ongoing dispatch plan, and information on the regular cleaning dates of tanks in the ongoing dispatch plan. The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the operational status of transport vehicles in the past, obtained from completed dispatch plans. The information on the operational status of transport vehicles in the past, obtained from completed dispatch plans, includes information on the mileage of tank trucks and trailer heads in completed dispatch plans, information on the number of times tank trucks and trailer heads were loaded and unloaded in completed dispatch plans, and information on the dates of periodic cleaning of tanks in completed dispatch plans. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires this information by reading the currently ongoing dispatch plan and the completed dispatch plan stored in the storage unit.

[0029] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the current and near-future operational status of transport vehicles, as well as maintenance information related to the maintenance of transport vehicles. Maintenance includes repairs, inspections, and vehicle inspections. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires this maintenance information based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0030] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the transport vehicle's waiting location. The transport vehicle's waiting location is, for example, the transport company's office. In this embodiment, there are multiple waiting locations, but there may be just one. The transport vehicle's waiting location information includes the address of the waiting location. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires information on the waiting locations of transport vehicles either when generating the dispatch plan system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0031] The transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 includes information on the types of roads that can be traveled for each transport vehicle (in the case of a tank semi-trailer, for each combination of chassis and head) according to the specifications of the transport vehicle. The transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11 acquires this information either when generating the dispatch plan system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0032] <Driver information acquisition unit 12> The driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires driver information, which is information about multiple drivers who operate the transport vehicles. The driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires driver information either when the dispatch planning system 1 is generated, based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60, or by reading the dispatch plan stored in the storage unit.

[0033] The driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 12 includes the driver's name (or identification number for each driver) and information on the qualifications held by the driver. Qualifications held by the driver include, for example, a large vehicle license, a towing license, a Class B Hazardous Materials Handler license, a Class C Hazardous Materials Handler license, etc. The driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires the driver's name and the qualifications the driver possesses based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0034] The driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 12 includes the current, near-future, and past work status of drivers obtained from ongoing and completed dispatch plans. The information on the current, near-future, and past work status of drivers obtained from ongoing dispatch plans includes information such as the driver's working hours, driving hours, interval time between shifts, rest time, holiday work hours, and overtime hours. The driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires this information by reading the driver's current and past work status information from the currently ongoing dispatch plan and completed dispatch plan stored in the memory unit.

[0035] The driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 12 includes information on the driver's desired holiday schedule. The driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires information on the driver's desired holiday schedule based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0036] Each driver may be assigned a dedicated tank truck or trailer head in advance, and the combination of driver and vehicle (tank truck or trailer head) may be changed. In the former case, the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 12 includes information on the vehicle number of the tank truck or trailer head that has been assigned to the driver in advance, and the driver information acquisition unit 12 acquires this information based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0037] <Order Information Acquisition Unit 13> The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires order information, which is information based on orders from customers. The order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes information set for each order and information that is not updated for a long period of time. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires order information either when the dispatch planning system 1 is generated, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0038] The information set for each order includes the order number, customer name, liquid product name, transport quantity (transport weight or transport volume), loading location, unloading location, loading date, unloading date, and whether or not the order can be consolidated. Depending on the order, the information set for each order may also include information on loading time and / or unloading time. In this embodiment, orders from the same customer with the same loading location and loading date are considered as one order. In one order, a customer may request the transport of one liquid product name (type) to multiple unloading locations. In another order, a customer may request the transport of multiple liquid products name (types) to the same or different unloading locations. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires the information set for each of these orders based on the information entered into the user terminal device 50.

[0039] The storage unit of the dispatch planning system 1 stores information about the type of liquid product for each product name. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires the liquid product type information as order information when the dispatch planning system 1 is generated, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60. If the liquid product is a vegetable oil, the type information may include information such as the type of oil, grade, state of the oil (hardened oil, semi-liquid oil, or liquid oil), and additives. The liquid product type information also includes specific gravity information. The dispatch planning system 1 calculates the transport volume or transport weight from the transport weight or transport volume and specific gravity of the liquid product.

[0040] Depending on the loading location, there may be restrictions on the types of transport vehicles that can enter (e.g., maximum load capacity). Similarly, depending on the unloading location, there may be restrictions on the types of transport vehicles that can enter. The order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes information on the types of transport vehicles that can enter each loading location and each unloading location. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires this information either when generating the dispatch planning system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0041] The order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes information on the addresses of multiple loading locations, multiple unloading locations, multiple ferry yards, and multiple highway rest areas (parking areas or service areas) that can serve as rest stops or accommodations during transport. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires this address information either when generating the dispatch planning system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0042] After unloading liquid products at a loading location, transport vehicles may either return to the waiting area or proceed directly to the loading location for another order without returning to the waiting area. Furthermore, in cases of consolidated transport or when a single order transports a single type of liquid product to multiple loading locations, transport vehicles may move to a different loading location after unloading the liquid products at one location. Transport vehicles may also move from the waiting area to the loading location. Additionally, loading may be performed only on the night before transport. That is, after loading at the loading location the night before transport, the vehicle may return to the waiting area and then move from the waiting area to the unloading location the following day. Furthermore, the vehicle may stop at a highway rest area for rest or overnight stay during transport from the loading location to the unloading location. Trailer heads, after being separated from chassis at the ferry yard, generally return to the waiting area, but may also be coupled with another chassis at the ferry yard and proceed to the loading location for another order without returning to the waiting area. Additionally, chassis transported by ferry may be coupled with trailer heads that have moved from the waiting area to the ferry yard without being coupled with chassis. The order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes information such as the distance and travel time from the loading location to the unloading location, the distance and travel time from the unloading location to the waiting location, the distance and travel time from the unloading location to the loading location, the distance and travel time from the unloading location to another unloading location, the distance and travel time from the waiting location to the loading location, the distance and travel time from the loading location to the waiting location, the distance and travel time from the waiting location to the unloading location, the distance and travel time from the loading location to the highway rest area, the distance and travel time from the highway rest area to the unloading location, the distance and travel time from the loading location to the ferry yard, the distance and travel time from the ferry yard to the waiting location, the distance and travel time from the ferry yard to the loading location, the distance and travel time from the waiting location to the ferry yard, and the ferry's departure and arrival times. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires this distance and travel time information when generating the dispatch planning system 1, or based on the information entered into the management terminal device 60. Alternatively, the dispatch planning system 1 may calculate this distance and travel time based on address information such as the loading location and map information stored in the memory unit or acquired from an external source, and the order information acquisition unit 13 may acquire the calculated information.

[0043] In general, if the type of liquid product transported in the previous shipment is different from the type of liquid product transported in the next shipment, the transport vehicle's tank must be cleaned before the next shipment. Even if the types of products transported in the previous and next shipments are the same, tank cleaning may still be necessary depending on the combination of products, and the required cleaning method will differ depending on the combination of products. Even if the types of products transported in the previous and next shipments are different, tank cleaning may not be necessary depending on the combination of products. Furthermore, there are combinations of products that cannot be loaded even after the tank has been cleaned. Also, when transporting a specific type of liquid product continuously in one tank, periodic (e.g., every three months) tank cleaning may be necessary depending on the product. In this embodiment, tank cleaning is possible at all waiting locations, but the tank cleaning locations are not limited to these. In addition, if the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer, the tank may be cleaned with the tractor head and chassis separated. The order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes, for each combination of liquid product types from the previous transport and liquid product types for the next transport, information on whether tank cleaning is required before loading the liquid product for the next transport, whether loading is impossible even after cleaning, information on whether periodic tank cleaning is required for each type of liquid product, information on what type of cleaning is required if tank cleaning is necessary, and information on the required cleaning time (including drying time) for each type of cleaning. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires this information either when generating the dispatch planning system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0044] Furthermore, the order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 includes information on whether each type (product name) of liquid product falls under a classification stipulated by the Fire Service Act or a local government (for example, designated flammable material or flammable liquid under the Fire Service Act). In addition, the order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13 may also include information on the time required for loading and unloading according to the transport volume for each type (product name) of liquid product. The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires this information either when generating the dispatch planning system 1, or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60.

[0045] <Constraint condition acquisition part 14> The constraint acquisition unit 14 acquires constraint information, which is information about multiple constraints. Constraints are limitations imposed when generating a vehicle dispatch plan. The constraint acquisition unit 14 acquires constraint information either when generating the vehicle dispatch plan system 1 or based on information entered into the user terminal device 50 or the management terminal device 60. Multiple constraints are distinguished into multiple first constraints C1 that are always satisfied and multiple second constraints C2 that are satisfied to the extent feasible. Multiple constraints include multiple labor constraints related to the driver's working hours, multiple product constraints related to the transport of liquid products, and multiple vehicle constraints related to transport vehicles.

[0046] ≪Labor Restrictions≫ Labor constraints are those that comply with laws and regulations established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Standards for Improving Working Hours, etc., for Motor Vehicle Drivers) or the internal regulations of the transportation company. Multiple labor constraints include multiple first constraints C1 and multiple second constraints C2.

[0047] The multiple labor constraints include, as the first constraint C1, several constraints relating to the driver's working hours, rest periods between shifts, driving time, break times, holiday work hours, and overtime hours. Specific examples are given below, but are not limited to these. Note that the following constraints apply to each individual driver. • The total working hours over a specified period (e.g., one month, one year) shall be less than or equal to the specified hours. • Months in which the total working hours exceed the prescribed hours are limited to a maximum of three consecutive months. • If no overnight stay is required, the daily time commitment must be less than or equal to the prescribed time. • The number of days in which the daily working hours exceed the prescribed hours when not staying overnight is limited to two days per week. • The daily time commitment for overnight stays must be less than or equal to the prescribed hours. • When staying overnight, the number of days in a week where the daily time spent exceeds the prescribed hours is limited to two. • The interval between shifts must be at least the prescribed time. • The average daily operating time over two consecutive days shall be less than or equal to the specified time. • The average weekly operating time over two consecutive weeks shall be less than or equal to the specified time. • Continuous operation time shall be less than or equal to the specified time. During the prescribed driving time, drivers must take one break of 30 minutes or more, or multiple breaks of 10 minutes or more. • The total amount of holiday work hours and overtime hours per year shall be less than or equal to the prescribed hours. • Holiday work is limited to once every two weeks. • The total amount of overtime hours per month must be less than or equal to the prescribed hours.

[0048] Multiple work constraints may include, as a second constraint C2, conditions that change only one of the numerical values ​​of the above-mentioned first constraints C1. In other words, multiple work constraints may include, as a second constraint C2, at least one constraint relating to at least one of the following: driver's working hours, rest periods between shifts, driving time, break times, holiday work hours, and overtime hours. For example, if multiple first constraints C1 include a condition that the daily working hours when there is no overnight stay are 15 hours or less, then multiple second constraints C2 may include a condition that the daily working hours when there is no overnight stay are 13 hours or less.

[0049] Multiple labor constraints, designated as Second Constraint Condition C2, include constraints on the number of consecutive nights a driver stays, the distance traveled per driver, the number of loading / unloading trips per driver, the driver's desired holiday schedule, and multiple constraints related to the transport route. Specific examples are given below, but are not limited to these. Note that constraints (1) to (7) and (9) below apply to each driver.

[0050] (1) The maximum number of consecutive nights of stay is three. (2) The difference between the maximum and minimum monthly mileage over a specified period (e.g., one year) shall be less than or equal to a specified value (e.g., 1000 km). (3) The difference between the number of transports during a specified period in which the distance traveled from the loading location to the unloading location exceeds a specified distance and the average number of such transports for all drivers shall be no more than a specified value (for example, 2). (4) The difference between the maximum and minimum monthly loading and unloading counts during a specified period (e.g., one year) shall be less than or equal to a specified value (e.g., 10% of the total loading and unloading counts for the specified period). Note that "loading count" refers to the number of times loading and unloading are counted as one each. (5) Follow the driver's preferred holiday schedule. (6) If staying overnight, the accommodation shall be at a highway rest area. (7) If staying overnight, the accommodation shall be the highway rest area closest to the last unloading location of the day and the loading location for the following day. (8) When sending transport vehicles directly from a waiting area to a loading area, the transport vehicle that is in the waiting area closest to the loading area will be sent. (9) If loading is not done the night before the transport to ensure that the designated unloading time is met, then loading shall be done the night before the transport.

[0051] The constraints in (2) to (4) above are constraints that suppress the variation in mileage (working hours) for a single driver. The constraints in (7) and (8) above are constraints that suppress mileage (working hours).

[0052] ≪Product constraints≫ Product constraints, as described above, are constraints relating to the transportation of liquid products. Multiple product constraints include multiple first constraints C1 and at least one second constraint C2.

[0053] Multiple product constraints include, as the first constraint C1, constraints on the specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product. As mentioned above, the categories of liquid products that can be loaded into a tank are predetermined according to the specifications of the vehicle (chassis or tank truck). Therefore, the constraint that liquid products of categories other than those determined for each tank must not be loaded is included in the constraints on the specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product. The specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product are the specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product according to the type of liquid product. Furthermore, the constraints on the specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product include constraints that comply with the Fire Service Act. Specifically, if the liquid product corresponds to a designated flammable material under the Fire Service Act, the transport vehicle must meet the prescribed standards. The constraints on the specifications of the transport vehicle required to load the liquid product may also include constraints that comply with ordinances established by local governments.

[0054] Multiple product constraints include, as the first constraint C1, a constraint concerning the contamination of liquid products, such as the following: • The combination of liquid product types in the current and previous shipments is not a combination that cannot be loaded. • If the combination of liquid product types in the current shipment and the previous shipment requires cleaning, the current shipment must not be loaded without cleaning the tanks corresponding to that combination. • For liquid products that require periodic tank cleaning (e.g., every three months), the tank should be cleaned if a specified period (e.g., 85 days) has elapsed since the last cleaning.

[0055] Multiple product constraints may include a second constraint C2, such as the following constraint regarding contamination of liquid products: • For liquid products that require periodic tank cleaning (e.g., every three months), the tank should be cleaned if a specified period (e.g., 80 days) has elapsed since the last cleaning.

[0056] The product constraints described so far all relate to both the type of liquid product and the transport vehicle. Multiple product constraints may include constraints that relate to the type of liquid product but not directly to the transport vehicle. Multiple product constraints may include, as the first constraint C1, constraints that comply with the Fire Service Act, such as the following. The following constraints relate to the type of liquid product but not directly to the transport vehicle. • If the liquid product is classified as a Class B Hazardous Materials, the driver must be a Class B Hazardous Materials Handler. • If the liquid product is classified as a Class C hazardous material, the driver must be a Class C hazardous materials handler.

[0057] Vehicle Restrictions Vehicle constraints, as described above, are constraints relating to the transport vehicle and are not directly related to the type of liquid product. Multiple vehicle constraints include multiple first constraints C1 and at least one second constraint C2.

[0058] Multiple vehicle constraints include, as the first constraint C1, constraints that comply with the Road Traffic Act and ordinances established by local governments. Specific examples are given below, but are not limited to these. • Do not load more than the maximum load capacity of the transport vehicle. • Do not load more goods than the transport vehicle's load capacity allows. • If the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer, the combination must be a chassis of the type listed on the trailer head's vehicle registration certificate and a trailer head of the type listed on the chassis's vehicle registration certificate. • If the transport vehicle is a large vehicle, it must be driven by a driver with a large vehicle license. • If the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer, it must be driven by a driver with a towing license. • Vehicles must travel only on roads that are permitted according to the specifications of the transport vehicle.

[0059] Multiple vehicle constraints include, as the first constraint C1, constraints on the types of transport vehicles that can enter the loading and unloading areas. Specifically, these constraints are as follows: If there are restrictions on the types of transport vehicles that can enter the loading area (e.g., maximum load capacity), transport vehicles that meet those restrictions must be used. If there are restrictions on the types of transport vehicles allowed into the unloading area (e.g., maximum load capacity), the transport vehicle used must meet those restrictions.

[0060] Multiple vehicle constraints include, as the first constraint C1 or second constraint C2, constraints relating to whether or not the trailer head and chassis of the transport vehicle need to be separated, such as the following: • If the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer and a ferry is used for transport, the trailer head and chassis are separated at the ferry yard, and only the chassis (and tank) are transported by ferry.

[0061] Multiple vehicle constraints may include, as a second constraint C2, constraints related to the consolidation of transport vehicles, such as the following: • Only one order will be handled per transport vehicle at a time. (In other words, liquid products from different orders will not be mixed together.) Consolidated shipments are only permitted when an order includes the transportation of multiple liquid products with different product names and when consolidation is indicated as possible.

[0062] If each driver is assigned one dedicated trailer head, then the multiple transport vehicle constraints include, as the first constraint C1, the condition that it must be the assigned driver.

[0063] <Vehicle dispatch plan output unit 15> The dispatch plan output unit 15 generates and outputs a dispatch plan based on the transport vehicle information acquired by the transport vehicle information acquisition unit 11, the driver information acquired by the driver information acquisition unit 12, the order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit 13, and the constraint information acquired by the constraint condition acquisition unit 14.

[0064] The dispatch planning output unit 15 determines the optimal or approximate solution to the dispatch plan as an optimization problem, using the efficiency of transport vehicles and drivers as the objective function (evaluation function), and subjecting it to multiple first constraints C1 and multiple second constraints C2. The determination variables for the optimization problem are based on transport vehicle information, driver information, and order information. An optimization problem is a mathematical model that optimizes the value of the objective function. The dispatch planning output unit 15 uses a mathematical optimization algorithm to determine the optimal or approximate solution to the dispatch plan. The type of mathematical optimization algorithm used is not particularly limited.

[0065] There is a one-to-one relationship between the solution to an optimization problem and the vehicle dispatch plan. The vehicle dispatch plan is generated based on the determined optimal solution or approximate solution. The approximate solution is a solution that is close to the optimal solution. Determining an approximate solution and generating a vehicle dispatch plan based on that approximate solution is particularly effective when calculating the exact optimal solution takes a long time. The vehicle dispatch plan output unit 15 may use the solution that first falls within the acceptable range when solving the optimization problem as the approximate solution and generate the vehicle dispatch plan based on this approximate solution. The solution that first falls within the acceptable range may be, for example, the solution in which the value of the objective function first falls within the acceptable range.

[0066] As mentioned above, the objective function of the optimization problem for generating a vehicle dispatch plan is to improve the efficiency of transport vehicles and drivers. Specifically, the objective function may be at least one of the following: reducing the number of transport vehicles in operation, leveling the mileage of multiple transport vehicles, reducing the mileage of multiple transport vehicles, leveling the working hours of multiple drivers, or reducing the working hours of multiple drivers. For example, if the objective function is leveling the mileage of multiple transport vehicles, the difference between the maximum and minimum mileage of multiple transport vehicles over a given period may be an element of the objective function. However, the example of leveling the mileage of multiple transport vehicles as the objective function is not limited to this.

[0067] The dispatch plan output unit 15 generates a dispatch plan that satisfies all of the multiple first constraints C1 and at least some of the multiple second constraints C2. The dispatch plan output unit 15 generates a dispatch plan that satisfies as many of the multiple second constraints C2 as possible. In order to generate a dispatch plan that satisfies as many of the multiple second constraints C2 as possible, the dispatch plan output unit 15 may set the second constraints C2 as soft constraints of the optimization problem. Soft constraints of an optimization problem are constraints that do not necessarily need to be satisfied but would be desirable to satisfy. When the second constraint C2 is set as a soft constraint, the dispatch plan output unit 15 may or may not use the degree of soft constraint violation as the objective function. When the second constraint C2 is set as a soft constraint, the dispatch plan output unit 15 may use a solution in which the degree of soft constraint violation is within an acceptable range as an approximate solution. The dispatch plan output unit 15 may generate a dispatch plan that satisfies as many of the second constraints C2 as possible without setting the second constraint C2 as a soft constraint in the optimization problem. For example, it may select a solution that satisfies as many of the second constraints C2 as possible from among several solutions that satisfy the first constraint C1. Alternatively, for example, the objective function may be to satisfy as many of the second constraints as possible. The dispatch plan output unit 15 may generate a dispatch plan that satisfies as many of the second constraints C2 as possible by methods other than those described above.

[0068] The dispatch planning output unit 15 determines the corresponding order for each transport vehicle to which a driver is assigned and generates a dispatch plan that includes that information. In other words, for each transport vehicle, the dispatch planning output unit 15 determines at least the loading location, unloading location, name (type) of the liquid product, and transport volume. The dispatch planning output unit 15 also determines the route for each transport vehicle. The daily route includes a starting point, at least one intermediate point, and a final destination. The starting point, intermediate point, and final destination can be a waiting area, loading location, unloading location, highway rest area, or ferry yard. The route includes departure times from the starting point and intermediate point, and arrival times from the intermediate point and final destination. The route also includes information on tank cleaning. Furthermore, if the transport vehicle is a tank semi-trailer, the combination of trailer head and chassis is determined by the dispatch planning output unit 15, and that information is also included in the dispatch plan. If the combination of driver and vehicle (tank truck or trailer head) can be changed, the dispatch plan output unit 15 determines the combination of driver and vehicle (tank truck or trailer head) and includes that information in the dispatch plan.

[0069] The dispatch plan output unit 15 outputs a dispatch plan for a period set by the user terminal device 50 (e.g., 3 days, 2 weeks, etc.). When the outputted dispatch plan is displayed on the user terminal device 50, information regarding transportation for the set period is displayed for each driver or for each vehicle (tank truck or trailer head). The displayed transportation information includes, for example, the transportation route, the name (type) of the liquid product being transported, and the quantity being transported. The displayed transportation information may also include notes for the driver. The displayed transportation information includes information on the combination of the trailer head and chassis. If the combination of driver and vehicle (tank truck or trailer head) can be changed, the displayed transportation information includes information on the combination of driver and vehicle (tank truck or trailer head).

[0070] The dispatch planning system 1 may be configured so that, after the dispatch plan output unit 15 outputs the dispatch plan, the dispatch plan can be modified by the user terminal device 50.

[0071] Next, an example of the processing procedure of the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 will be described using Figure 2. However, the processing procedure of the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 in this embodiment is not limited to the procedure shown in Figure 2. Transport vehicle information, driver information, some order information that is not specific to each order, and constraint information are stored in the storage unit in advance (step S1). The order information acquisition unit 13 acquires order information for a new order based on the information input to the user terminal device 50 (step S2). When the dispatch plan output unit 15 receives a dispatch plan output command from the user terminal device 50, it generates and outputs a dispatch plan based on some of the order information acquired in step S2, transport vehicle information, driver information, some of the order information, and constraint information read from the storage unit (step S3).

[0072] According to the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 of this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0073] In this embodiment, multiple constraints, including constraints on driver working hours and complex constraints specific to the transportation of liquid products, are distinguished into a first constraint C1 and a second constraint C2. A dispatch plan is generated with the first constraint C1 as an essential constraint that must be satisfied, and the second constraint C2 as an arbitrary constraint that can be satisfied to the extent feasible. Therefore, by designating the first constraint C1 as the constraint that must be satisfied among multiple constraints, including constraints on driver working hours and constraints specific to the transportation of liquid products, a dispatch plan can be efficiently formulated even with complex constraints. Thus, the dispatch planning system 1 can formulate an efficient dispatch plan that takes driver working hours into consideration while satisfying complex constraints specific to the transportation of liquid products.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multiple labor constraints include constraints relating to at least one of the following: driver's working hours, rest periods between shifts, driving time, rest periods, holiday work hours, overtime hours, number of consecutive nights of stay, distance traveled, and number of loading / unloading trips. By designating these constraints as the first constraint C1, a vehicle dispatch plan can be efficiently formulated. In addition, the multiple product constraints include at least one of the following: constraints relating to contamination of liquid products and constraints relating to the specifications of transport vehicles required to carry liquid products. By designating these constraints as the first constraint C1, a vehicle dispatch plan can be efficiently formulated. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 can formulate an efficient vehicle dispatch plan that takes into account the driver's working hours while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid products.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multiple vehicle constraints include at least one of the following: constraints on the types of transport vehicles that can enter the loading and unloading areas, constraints on the consolidation of transport vehicles, and constraints on whether or not the head and chassis of the transport vehicles need to be separated. Therefore, dispatch plans can be formulated more efficiently. Thus, the dispatch planning system 1 can formulate an efficient dispatch plan that takes into account the driver's working hours while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transport of liquid products.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the dispatch plan output unit 15 determines the optimal or approximate solution to the dispatch plan as an optimization problem with the efficiency of transport vehicles and drivers as the objective function, and with a plurality of first constraints C1 and a plurality of second constraints C2 as constraints, thereby generating the dispatch plan. Therefore, the dispatch plan planning system 1 can formulate an efficient dispatch plan that takes into account the working hours of drivers while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid products.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the dispatch plan output unit 15 uses a mathematical optimization algorithm to determine the optimal or approximate solution for the dispatch plan. Therefore, the dispatch plan can be efficiently formulated using a mathematical optimization algorithm. Consequently, the dispatch plan formulation system 1 can formulate an efficient dispatch plan that takes into account the driver's working hours while satisfying the complex constraints related to the transportation of liquid products.

[0078] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various design modifications are possible as long as they are within the scope of the claims.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the dispatch plan output unit 15 outputs only one dispatch plan in response to a dispatch plan output command from the user terminal device 50. As an example of a modification of the above-described embodiment, the dispatch plan output unit may solve an optimization problem to determine multiple approximate solutions, output multiple options to the user terminal device based on the multiple approximate solutions, and determine the dispatch plan based on the option selected by the user through operation of the user terminal device.

[0080] In the embodiments described above, the multiple constraints are distinguished only as multiple first constraints (C1) and multiple second constraints (C2). However, the multiple second constraints may be distinguished according to the priority they should be satisfied. For example, a high penalty may be imposed if a high-priority second constraint is not satisfied, and a low penalty may be imposed if a low-priority second constraint is not satisfied, and the optimization problem may be set up so that the sum of the penalties is as small as possible. Alternatively, for example, stepwise optimization may be used to search for a solution that satisfies the second constraints in order from the highest priority.

[0081] In the embodiment described above, the customer specifies the transport volume, loading date, and unloading date for each order. However, the customer's order may also be, for example, a request to replenish the storage tank installed at the unloading location so that the remaining amount does not fall below a predetermined level. In this case, the transport company monitors the remaining amount in the storage tank, determines the transport volume, loading date, and unloading date based on the remaining amount in the storage tank, and transports the predetermined amount of liquid or powder product from the loading location to the storage tank (unloading location). In this case, the order information acquired by the order information acquisition unit includes information on the transport volume, loading date, and unloading date based on the remaining amount in the storage tank.

[0082] Although the vehicle dispatch planning system 1 of the above-described embodiment is applied to the transport of liquid products only, the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention may be applied to the transport of both liquid and powder products, or to the transport of powder products only. In this case, the multiple transport vehicles may include bulk transport vehicles for transporting powder products. Furthermore, when the vehicle dispatch planning system of the present invention is applied to the transport of both liquid and powder products, or to the transport of powder products only, the constraint information acquired by the constraint acquisition unit may include information on the same constraints as those listed in the embodiment, to the extent that there is no inconsistency. For example, the constraints regarding contamination may include the constraints listed in the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1: Vehicle dispatch planning system, 11: Vehicle information acquisition unit, 12: Driver information acquisition unit, 13: Order information acquisition unit, 14: Constraint condition acquisition unit, 15: Vehicle dispatch plan output unit, C1: First constraint condition, C2: Second constraint condition

Claims

1. A vehicle dispatch planning system for planning the dispatch of multiple transport vehicles that transport liquid and powder products, A transport vehicle information acquisition unit acquires transport vehicle information, which is information relating to the aforementioned multiple transport vehicles. A driver information acquisition unit acquires driver information, which is information about multiple drivers operating the transport vehicle. An order information acquisition unit acquires order information based on customer orders, which includes at least information on the type of liquid / powder product, the quantity to be transported, the loading location, and the unloading location. A constraint acquisition unit acquires constraint information which is information relating to multiple constraints, including at least multiple labor constraints relating to the driver's working hours and multiple product constraints relating to the transportation of the liquid / powder products. The system includes a dispatch plan output unit that generates and outputs a dispatch plan for each transport vehicle to which a driver is assigned, based on the transport vehicle information, driver information, order information, and constraint information, which at least determines the loading location, unloading location, type of liquid / powder product, and transport quantity. The aforementioned multiple constraints are distinguished into at least a number of first constraints that are always satisfied and a number of second constraints that are satisfied to the extent that they are feasible. A vehicle dispatch planning system characterized in that the vehicle dispatch plan output unit generates the vehicle dispatch plan such that it satisfies all of the plurality of first constraints and at least some of the plurality of second constraints.

2. The transport vehicle information includes at least one of the following: the transport vehicle's load capacity, specifications, current operating status, and waiting location. The driver information includes information regarding at least one of the driver's current work status, past work status, and holiday schedule. The aforementioned labor constraints include constraints relating to at least one of the following: the driver's working hours, interval time, driving time, rest time, holiday work hours, overtime hours, number of consecutive nights of stay, distance traveled, and number of loading / unloading trips. The vehicle dispatch planning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of product constraints include at least one of constraints relating to contamination of the liquid / powder products and constraints relating to the specifications of the transport vehicles necessary for loading the liquid / powder products.

3. The aforementioned constraint condition acquisition unit, The constraint information relating to the plurality of constraints, including the plurality of vehicle constraints relating to the transport vehicle, is obtained. The vehicle dispatch planning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of vehicle constraints include at least one of the following: constraints on the types of transport vehicles that can enter the loading and unloading areas, constraints on the consolidation of transport vehicles, and constraints on whether or not the head and chassis of the transport vehicles need to be separated.

4. The aforementioned vehicle dispatch plan output unit is: A vehicle dispatch planning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it generates a vehicle dispatch plan by determining the optimal or approximate solution of the vehicle dispatch plan as an optimization problem with the efficiency of the transport vehicles and the drivers as the objective function and the plurality of first constraints and the plurality of second constraints as constraints.

5. The vehicle dispatch planning system according to claim 4, characterized in that the vehicle dispatch planning output unit determines the optimal solution or approximate solution of the vehicle dispatch plan using a mathematical optimization algorithm.

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