The objectives of this project are to:
1) Collect data regarding load/unload and driver hours-of-service and wait times for deliveries to a large retail warehouse operated by CVS/pharmacy so that computer simulation models can be built and analyzed.
2) Assess the impact of the new hours-of-service regulations by focusing on models of the unloading procedures at the CVS delivery dock following the revisions on January 1, 2004. Loading procedures for distribution of products to CVS stores from warehouses will also be considered to a lesser extent.
3) Suggest procedures for unloading dock operations and truck delivery schedules that will improve the efficiency and reduce the costs of both short haul and long haul transportation, leading to win-win solutions for retailers and trucking companies.
4) Improve highway safety by improving schedules and unloading dock efficiencies so that drivers can avoid unexpected delays, meet schedule demands, and still be in full compliance with hours-of-service regulations.
Intermodal
This study will investigate the impact of new hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers on the warehouse operations of retail distributors. Hours-of-service regulations are determined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in order to maintain safe highway conditions for everyone. These regulations were revised as of January 1, 2004 for the first time since they were established in 1939. The new regulations require drivers to include time spent waiting at loading and unloading docks as part of their on-duty hours, which will have significant effects on retail distribution centers. This project will model shipping operations at the receiving docks of a CVS/pharmacy distribution center. Many industry experts have predicted that the new requirements for calculating hours-of-service will negatively impact transportation costs, but neither the trucking industry nor retail distributors have a clear understanding of how to mitigate these effects. Recommendations will be made for improved procedures that will reduce unnecessary driver wait times and thereby support compliance with the new regulations as well as lead to a more efficient overall distribution and transportation systems.
Tasks for this project:
1) Visit CVS distribution center in Woonsocket with entire research team to discuss project objectives and current status of operations in greater detail.
2) Research hours-of-service regulations and state-of-the-art for load/unload dock operations intended to minimize distribution system delays.
3) Collect data regarding current load/unload and driver hours-of-service and wait times for deliveries to the distribution center through on-site observations, corporate records, and personal interviews.
4) Estimate data on load/unload operations prior to implementation of new regulations.
5) Build, code, and analyze computer simulation models, using ProModel software at URI and/or Arena software at CVS.
6) Identify areas for improvement in efficiency of unloading docks and simulate proposed alternatives.
7) Formulate recommendations to improve distribution dock operations based on analysis results.
8) Summarize results into reports, presentations, and publications.
September-October Research hours-of-service regulations; Assess current operations and collect data at CVS distribution center
November-December Build simulation models of current operations
January-February Analyze alternative designs and procedures
March-April Summarize results and prepare recommendation reports for CVS
May-June Prepare publications related to results, including proposal for TRB conference
$83,460.84 ($83,461.00 Yearly)
One Ph.D. student from the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering department will be supported for one year on this project. Two undergraduate research assistants have already assisted in collecting background materials regarding the changes in the federal hours-of-service regulations and subsequent court proceedings and advocacy group activities. Additional undergraduates may become involved in data collection and modeling activities. Funds are also allocated for a visiting international student to also contribute to this project.
Research has been conducted to support hours-of-service regulations by validating that fatigued drivers are involved in more accidents, but also shows that certain drivers face significant pressure to violate the regulations. A survey of more than 1,200 drivers at truck stops in 4 states found that 31% of drivers had exceeded the weekly limit on hours driven and that 19% reported falling asleep at the wheel at least once within the past month. In addition, many drivers regularly admit to falsifying their logbooks to the point that they call them “comic books.” Pressures to falsify records may be economic, schedule driven, traffic related, or due to a lack of sufficient rest stops that allow large trucks to park for a full nights sleep as opposed to limits of just 1 or 2 hours. In addition, many drivers are still confused about the new regulations that went into effect in January, 2004. For more information and literature review sources, please contact the PI.
The PI and students will use the travel funds in the budget to attend the TRB meeting and other conferences where the results of this project can be presented. In addition, details of the analysis aspects of this project will be published in journal articles. The PI plans to develop courses in material handling and lean manufacturing where topics related to supply chain management, transportation regulations, and retail distribution can be incorporated to enhance the undergraduate education in industrial engineering. In addition, senior design projects can be defined based on the PI establishing a professional research partnership with CVS through this project. The milestones and results of this study will also be summarized in reports and seminar presentations that will be provided to the URI Transportation Center and the sponsoring departments at CVS/pharmacy.
The results from this study will contribute to research on general modeling strategies for supply chains, and transportation related logistics for the retail industry. In addition, these concepts might be extendable to other industries affected by government regulations on transportation, including airline crew scheduling and the distribution of products with limited shelf life such as food or pharmaceuticals. Based on two recent meetings with transportation and logistics executives at CVS, there are many opportunities for collaborations with URI faculty members and students. Three projects, including this one, have been identified as appropriate starting points that represent current open issues at CVS and also match the research interests of URI faculty. The research experience for the graduate students involved in this project will be exceptional, as they will work directly with industry to develop advanced industrial engineering models and make recommendations for improvements to a real-world system. Also, there is the opportunity for undergraduates to be involved in research, and to enhance the undergraduate curriculum with related class projects and course content. The objectives of this project relate to the area of interest in freight/commodity flow identified at the October 1, 2003 transportation stakeholders meeting. The direct customer of the results of this research is CVS, but the results will also be of interest to other retailers, transportation providers, and the government regulating body (FMCSA). CVS will be directly involved in this research. Some of their transportation providers may also become involved, particularly at the driver level when data is being collected, but also at a higher level of analysis involving how schedules are designed. Finally, the highway system will be generally improved if the improvements made based on this research lead to safer driving conditions.
trucking regulations, hours-of-service, distribution