The refineries would be a good place to start. Their destinations are more than yours, their hauliers are fewer but they have multple various despatch centres & they are very similar cargoes ie hydrocarbon fuels.

If you have thousands of vehicles then you really have a big job on your hands. As mentioned, the large distribution companies have developed their own software. From what I've seen from the driver's side of the counter this software is alarmingly simple to construct. Once you've appreciated that freight containers utilise a four dimensional array the there isn't much more to it if you put your mind to it. Any self respecting whizz kid could soon geek out a database, fronted by a few fancy forms as a college final year project. The real trick comes in linking the vehicle tracking system to that database. Eddie Stobart Limited is rather good in that regard.■

The refineries would be a good place to start. Their destinations are more than yours, their hauliers are fewer but they have multple various despatch centres & they are very similar cargoes ie hydrocarbon fuels.

If you have thousands of vehicles then you really have a big job on your hands. As mentioned, the large distribution companies have developed their own software. From what I've seen from the driver's side of the counter this software is alarmingly simple to construct. Once you've appreciated that freight containers utilise a four dimensional array the there isn't much more to it if you put your mind to it. Any self respecting whizz kid could soon geek out a database, fronted by a few fancy forms as a college final year project. The real trick comes in linking the vehicle tracking system to that database. Eddie Stobart Limited is rather good in that regard.■

You might try Modular Mining or their competitors. You need to know the position (GPS) or other recognition sensors. Theirs and others are used to control truck dispatch in mines for ore and waste haulage optimization in real time. Modular Mining website is: http://www.mmsi.com/

I would believe there are many such programs that control fleet trucks on highways using GPS. Mines I know open road I do not.

The principle is to fine an appropriate Objective Function such as maximize profit, minimize cost, maximize throughput, minimize truck fleet size, and include stockpile or bin or other storage devices at the ends to enhance the Objective Function, etc.

There are many software firms that do provide such activities. You can also determine which is best for you by Monte Carlo simulation of the programs you believe will yield the greatest benefits and you are able to observe queuing on highways; can see with insight the time of day and traffic patterns on highways, semaphore complications et al.

I disagree that it is simple unless you are quite knowledgeable in Queuing theory and do so in real time.

The problem can become more complex if you include blending or try to optimize overall cost with the products produced and networking to gain advantage of looking at the total picture and not just individual contributions.

We performed a study for a large coal producer in South Africa where the Objective Function was to plan the expansion of many coal mines with a network of conveyor transport options and identify the which mine should come into service in a sequential order and what transport network would yield the minimum cost over a 40 year program. Conveyors or trucks have many points in common.

We developed a program to study rail and conveyor transport options for a multiple mine to power plant optimization study in South Africa some years ago for ESKOM. This could easily be extended to truck haulage.

We developed a similar program for a sand and gravel producer in the city of Los Angeles to organize a strategy of plant production and truck dispatch feeding government demands for product, private demands, competitors influences, and upgrading of certain plants to better improve the client's Objective Function. ■

You might try Modular Mining or their competitors. You need to know the position (GPS) or other recognition sensors. Theirs and others are used to control truck dispatch in mines for ore and waste haulage optimization in real time. Modular Mining website is: http://www.mmsi.com/

I would believe there are many such programs that control fleet trucks on highways using GPS. Mines I know open road I do not.

The principle is to fine an appropriate Objective Function such as maximize profit, minimize cost, maximize throughput, minimize truck fleet size, and include stockpile or bin or other storage devices at the ends to enhance the Objective Function, etc.

There are many software firms that do provide such activities. You can also determine which is best for you by Monte Carlo simulation of the programs you believe will yield the greatest benefits and you are able to observe queuing on highways; can see with insight the time of day and traffic patterns on highways, semaphore complications et al.

I disagree that it is simple unless you are quite knowledgeable in Queuing theory and do so in real time.

The problem can become more complex if you include blending or try to optimize overall cost with the products produced and networking to gain advantage of looking at the total picture and not just individual contributions.

We performed a study for a large coal producer in South Africa where the Objective Function was to plan the expansion of many coal mines with a network of conveyor transport options and identify the which mine should come into service in a sequential order and what transport network would yield the minimum cost over a 40 year program. Conveyors or trucks have many points in common.

We developed a program to study rail and conveyor transport options for a multiple mine to power plant optimization study in South Africa some years ago for ESKOM. This could easily be extended to truck haulage.

We developed a similar program for a sand and gravel producer in the city of Los Angeles to organize a strategy of plant production and truck dispatch feeding government demands for product, private demands, competitors influences, and upgrading of certain plants to better improve the client's Objective Function. ■

Originally Posted by nordell

.... You can also determine which is best for you by Monte Carlo simulation of the programs you believe will yield the greatest benefits and you are able to observe queuing on highways; can see with insight the time of day and traffic patterns on highways, semaphore complications et al.

I disagree that it is simple unless you are quite knowledgeable in Queuing theory and do so in real time.

...

I used to have a girlfriend whose great uncle topped himself on the balcony of the casino at Monte Carlo. Up until then I had always thought the situation was a film fantasy. Surely they could have come up with a better name?

I still think it is quite simple. The man is trying to avoide queues whether they be theoretical or actual in real time. There is no place for "tell me what you want to prove" statistics in day to day road transport.

The softwares originally mentioned are supply chain 'visibility/monitoring solution' and have most of their experience in rail. Rail & supply chain are very hard to reconcile. "How old are the bananas on your shelves?" is the issue to be considered for rail transport. Just put rail tracking, pun intended, into perspective & appreciate that while it is possible to track a truck within 5 metres & instruct the driver by cab phone; the jolly old railways are still spending unbelievable sums to modernise their 'semaphore' signalling systems. A better system is needed & can be customised out of any large fleet management software. Supermarkets deliver a range of many thousand items to hundreds of stores from national/regional distribution centres, without any significant error, fresh daily. What's so difficult about shifting a bit of the black stuff then? Talk to "Bulk Freight (Midlands) Ltd +44 1332 853 358 or your local equivalent. ■

Originally Posted by nordell

.... You can also determine which is best for you by Monte Carlo simulation of the programs you believe will yield the greatest benefits and you are able to observe queuing on highways; can see with insight the time of day and traffic patterns on highways, semaphore complications et al.

I disagree that it is simple unless you are quite knowledgeable in Queuing theory and do so in real time.

...

I used to have a girlfriend whose great uncle topped himself on the balcony of the casino at Monte Carlo. Up until then I had always thought the situation was a film fantasy. Surely they could have come up with a better name?

I still think it is quite simple. The man is trying to avoide queues whether they be theoretical or actual in real time. There is no place for "tell me what you want to prove" statistics in day to day road transport.

The softwares originally mentioned are supply chain 'visibility/monitoring solution' and have most of their experience in rail. Rail & supply chain are very hard to reconcile. "How old are the bananas on your shelves?" is the issue to be considered for rail transport. Just put rail tracking, pun intended, into perspective & appreciate that while it is possible to track a truck within 5 metres & instruct the driver by cab phone; the jolly old railways are still spending unbelievable sums to modernise their 'semaphore' signalling systems. A better system is needed & can be customised out of any large fleet management software. Supermarkets deliver a range of many thousand items to hundreds of stores from national/regional distribution centres, without any significant error, fresh daily. What's so difficult about shifting a bit of the black stuff then? Talk to "Bulk Freight (Midlands) Ltd +44 1332 853 358 or your local equivalent. ■

Ryan,

I work for Runge Limited - an international mining consultancy and software supplier to the minerals industry.

90 mines and 12 powerstations indicates that an off the shelf solution is unlikely. With that size of project a bespoke solution is your only hope. And I would recommend a specialist in this field.

1. Runge Limited have supplied bespoke logistics solutions on the East Cost of Australia. From multiple mines to port that include quality/grade characteristics. Contact the Brisbane office for further details. Or your local Runge office (MRM in South Africa or PAH in the USA).

2. Runge have scheduling solutions in a large number of coal mining operations worldwide (USA, RSA, Indonesia, CIS & Australia). This includes modelling haulage systems and forecasting equipment operating hours and equipment replacement - that are spatially linked to the mining reserve (this is key as mines are not like factories) - these models are typically owned by the mining operations.

Runge also have completed sophisticated solutions in other bulk commodities such as Phosphates, Bauxite and Iron Ore (you name it!). You can get a list of their client base from the website or via head office.

3. TALPAC is a truck and loader optimisation tool. It has a comprehensive truck and loader database and models travel time using monte carlo simulations and includes queing. TALPAC has been integrated with systematic planning solutions in Australia and across the world. The integrated solution scheduled with spatial information including quality parameters, quantitites, destination objectives and economic indicators such as cost, revenue and margin.

TALPAC is used globally by mines, consultants and OEM's.

5. Dispatch systems like Modular and their competitors offer real time monitoring and truck allocation solutions. I am not sure they are suitable for your needs - optimisation of extraction (and quality blending from pits or seams) and stockpiling is as important as optimisning the haulage to Powerstation. But they are great dispatch systems.

Personally I do not know open roads either. I agree with Lawrence - it is not a straight forward problem. But Runge may be able to comment if you can define your exact requirement.

I hope this gives you another lead.

JSRunge ■

Ryan,

I work for Runge Limited - an international mining consultancy and software supplier to the minerals industry.

90 mines and 12 powerstations indicates that an off the shelf solution is unlikely. With that size of project a bespoke solution is your only hope. And I would recommend a specialist in this field.

1. Runge Limited have supplied bespoke logistics solutions on the East Cost of Australia. From multiple mines to port that include quality/grade characteristics. Contact the Brisbane office for further details. Or your local Runge office (MRM in South Africa or PAH in the USA).

2. Runge have scheduling solutions in a large number of coal mining operations worldwide (USA, RSA, Indonesia, CIS & Australia). This includes modelling haulage systems and forecasting equipment operating hours and equipment replacement - that are spatially linked to the mining reserve (this is key as mines are not like factories) - these models are typically owned by the mining operations.

Runge also have completed sophisticated solutions in other bulk commodities such as Phosphates, Bauxite and Iron Ore (you name it!). You can get a list of their client base from the website or via head office.

3. TALPAC is a truck and loader optimisation tool. It has a comprehensive truck and loader database and models travel time using monte carlo simulations and includes queing. TALPAC has been integrated with systematic planning solutions in Australia and across the world. The integrated solution scheduled with spatial information including quality parameters, quantitites, destination objectives and economic indicators such as cost, revenue and margin.

TALPAC is used globally by mines, consultants and OEM's.

5. Dispatch systems like Modular and their competitors offer real time monitoring and truck allocation solutions. I am not sure they are suitable for your needs - optimisation of extraction (and quality blending from pits or seams) and stockpiling is as important as optimisning the haulage to Powerstation. But they are great dispatch systems.

Personally I do not know open roads either. I agree with Lawrence - it is not a straight forward problem. But Runge may be able to comment if you can define your exact requirement.

I hope this gives you another lead.

JSRunge ■

Originally Posted by JSRUNGE

.....

Personally I do not know open roads either. I agree with Lawrence - it is not a straight forward problem. But Runge may be able to comment if you can define your exact requirement.

I hope this gives you another lead.

JSRunge

Avoid the definition "A consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time & then walks away with your watch."

Ninety mines & 12 power stations is a perfectly straight forward problem. ■

Originally Posted by JSRUNGE

.....

Personally I do not know open roads either. I agree with Lawrence - it is not a straight forward problem. But Runge may be able to comment if you can define your exact requirement.

I hope this gives you another lead.

JSRunge

Avoid the definition "A consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time & then walks away with your watch."

Ninety mines & 12 power stations is a perfectly straight forward problem. ■

Inuendo attacks are not warranted. Keep the forum on a positive note. Help where you can.

Bananas, watches, girlfriends don't move, store, or handle material.

Queueing Theory and Monte Carlo are nothing more than a kids game? Please, nay-sayer tell us how to combine the many different probability density functions and parameters of these functions into coherent Event or Time based analysis that can solve the dynamic interactions of Decision Tree is question.

All others seem to think it is not so Simple. We surely would like to see how it can be made Simple. Our polite bows will follow with a Simple answer.

On a separate note: Professor John Sturgul, University of Idaho, has been teaching us about Queueing Theory & Simulation Modeling and why we need this understanding:

http://www.angelfire.com/ab3/stream/MDUSimulation.pdf ■

Inuendo attacks are not warranted. Keep the forum on a positive note. Help where you can.

Bananas, watches, girlfriends don't move, store, or handle material.

Queueing Theory and Monte Carlo are nothing more than a kids game? Please, nay-sayer tell us how to combine the many different probability density functions and parameters of these functions into coherent Event or Time based analysis that can solve the dynamic interactions of Decision Tree is question.

All others seem to think it is not so Simple. We surely would like to see how it can be made Simple. Our polite bows will follow with a Simple answer.

On a separate note: Professor John Sturgul, University of Idaho, has been teaching us about Queueing Theory & Simulation Modeling and why we need this understanding:

http://www.angelfire.com/ab3/stream/MDUSimulation.pdf ■

If you don't find anything off the shelf after having done reasonable investigation (i.e. a good Google-search) it's probably reasonable to assume a bespoke solution (i.e. custom database application) is needed.

Go for a basic version 1 and take it from there. Get a good local software development company preferably through someone you know. Bespoke doesn't have to mean expensive these days and you may well find you get a really great result (a much closer fit than is possible with off-the-shelf). ■

If you don't find anything off the shelf after having done reasonable investigation (i.e. a good Google-search) it's probably reasonable to assume a bespoke solution (i.e. custom database application) is needed.

Go for a basic version 1 and take it from there. Get a good local software development company preferably through someone you know. Bespoke doesn't have to mean expensive these days and you may well find you get a really great result (a much closer fit than is possible with off-the-shelf). ■