Improving forestry transportation by using truck platooning

This paper consists of multiple parts. We start with a review on truck platooning transportation planning in existing literature, exploring methodologies and models based on Operations Research (OR) and simulation. Studies related to truck platooning transportation planning specifically addressing forest supply chain challenges are rare in the literature. Moreover, we tackle challenges in forest transportation, such as high costs, fuel consumption, and a shortage of truck drivers, by exploring the integration of truck platooning technology into the upstream forest transportation network. Our goal is to address the significant issues facing the industry by employing advanced modeling techniques to gain insights into the underlying problems. Through modeling and analysis, we propose advanced solution approaches. The study introduces an approach integrating truck platooning technology to be used in transportation. We also study how the collaborative use of platoon trucks results in cost reductions depending on the level of collaboration and network coverage among participating companies. The OR models are based on mixed integer programming and game theory models. Results using these models are described.