PTV xTOUR SERVER (Trip Optimization)

• Calculation of ideal order sequence for the various stop-off points of a trip. Vehicle capacity, time restrictions, and legal guidelines on driving times and rest periods are all taken into account. PTV xTour Server solves the Travelling Salesman Problem, even in the context of other applications, independently of the trip planning.

• Dynamic train formation distinguishes between tractors, trailers and trains, to enable optimum capacity distribution and thereby optimise vehicle deployment.

• All the plans are normally “depotrelated“. That means a vehicle starts its trip at a depot and ends at a depot – although not necessarily the same one. Multi-depot planning is also possible with PTV xTour Server. This involves checking the available depots for suitable vehicles and then assigning consignments to the appropriate depot in each case. Direct distance, route or driving time can be selected as basis for planning.

• You can use the RoadEditor to block or release roads and road segments, or block or release them for certain vehicle classes (trucks, for example). That way, you decide which roads are included in your route calculations, and how to include them.

• This function is based on a precalculated routing network for a defined map and defined vehicle profiles. When calculating the route, the algorithm accesses this pre-calculated routing network, which considerably speeds up the process compared to conventional processes. If another map or vehicle profile is accessed, the PTV xTour Server automatically switches to the known flexible routing.

A semi-automatic function, which provides alternative suggestions for trip planning. The suggestions are optimised and sorted according to cost considerations.

• Suggestions for the integration of new orders into existing trips.
• Suggestions of other orders for existing trips for the best possible capacity utilisation.
• Vehicle suggestions for existing trips.

•  Trips suggestions for a particular vehicle. It is also helpful when a vehicle unexpectedly becomes available or returns from the repair shop.

Feedback on why certain orders could not be included in current planning:

• no suitable vehicle available (e.g. no vehicle is capable of transporting the weight of the cargo)
• Suitable vehicle available but order no longer fits in a trip (e.g. because, with it, the maximum trip duration would be exceeded)

PTV xTour Server considers the following time limits when planning trips:

• Depot opening hours
• Vehicle availability
• Customer opening hours
• Availability / latest arrival time at depot: goods are only available at the depot after a certain time or have to be delivered to the depot by a certain time.
• Fixed pick-up / delivery times
• Maximum time between pick-up and delivery

PTV xTour Server considers the following parameters when planning trips:  Predefined vehicle profiles:

• Select from between truck, car, cyclist and pedestrian.
• Vehicle capacity: the unit for the cargo capacity can be freely selected (e.g. cubic metres, litres).
• Free vehicle parameters: up to 255 freely definable characteristics can be allocated to a vehicle (e.g. refrigeration available yes/no), which can be taken into account during planning. The transport order must be provided with the corresponding criteria (e.g. refrigeration available yes/no).
• Loading and unloading time: this parameter adds to a fixed component another variable component that rises as the amount of cargo increases.

THROUGHOUT EUROPE PTV xTour Server takes into account all European regulations in terms of driving times and rest periods as well as German working time regulations for the commercial transportation of goods and people. They can be supplemented with the following rules:

• Vehicle loading and unloading times can be classified as breaks
• Break period in which a break must be taken (e.g. 30-min break in the period from 12.00 – 14.00)

PTV xTour Server integrates with SAP applications through SAP Netweaver iDOcs, and other systems over standardised web service interfaces (XML, SOAP, JSON). It is scalable and actively supports multiprocessor systems and 64-bit versions of Windows and Linux.

• PTV xTour Server uses PTV‘s standard maps. PTV offers a wide range of regularly updated maps. For decades, PTV has worked closely with HERE, TomTom and AND - all leading suppliers of map data