Fleet coalitions for eco sustainable deliveries

Sustainability is a critical concern in multimodal transport, notably in light of governmental initiatives such as cap-and-trade systems, and eco-label regulations, aimed at reducing emissions. This research proposes a novel collaborative planning model for multimodal transport, designed to minimize total costs associated with freight movements, including both direct transportation costs and CO2 emissions. Transshipments of freight between vehicles are modelled in the proposed formulation, promoting coalitions formation with a collaborative approach among carriers. The study incorporates eco-labels, representing different emission ranges, to capture shippers sustainability preferences. The model facilitates an optimal trade-off between economic and environmental considerations, taking into account authority policies in order to assess their impact and offer a comprehensive approach to sustainable transportation planning. A case study on the Naples Bypass network (Italy) is provided, highlighting the model’s applicability in a real-world setting and demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative transport planning.