Automatic Model Generation for Discrete Event Simulation of Less-than-Truckload Terminals

Planning and optimizing Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) terminals is challenging, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lacking simulation expertise. Despite simulation-based approaches' effectiveness, the required financial investments often prohibit SMEs from utilizing them. This paper introduces a tool combining automatic model generation and generic modeling for discrete event simulation in LTL terminal planning for all terminal shapes. Specifically designed to meet SMEs' needs, the tool generates simulation models customized to individual terminal requirements through user input, facilitating efficient layout planning and resource allocation. The approach ensures that SMEs can benefit from advanced planning techniques without substantial financial investments or specialized knowledge, thus fostering competitiveness and sustainability within the LTL sector. Validation demonstrates that the automatic model generation tool yields results comparable to manually built simulation models regarding the most efficient terminal shapes.