A Web-Based Joint-Distribution Platform to Reduce LTL Shipping of Urban Logistics

Joint-distribution can reduce the less-than-truck-load (LTL) shipping, so that it is important to metropolis, where individual logistic firms are usually small and can not obtain economies of scale. Unfortunately, most of existing web-platforms of common logistics can not play its pre-determined role of join-distribution because of lacking of the incentive mechanism and cost allocation mechanism among all players, including the all kinds of logistics firms and distributors. To address the problems, a new type of a web-based join-distribution platform is proposed in this paper. First, the framework of such a system is illustrated by multi-agent model. Second, two strategies based on game theory is devised to accomplish cost allocating scheme for all distributors. Furthermore, the system platform´s procedure is discussed to improve its feasibility.