Modeling cross-dock networks with time constraints using simulation

We address in this paper a cross-dock network problem where trucks must be routed from origins to destinations either directly or indirectly through cross-dock facilities. Loads to be shipped are subject to delivery time constraints with a required service level that is important to customers for the service to be acceptable. This problem has been addressed in the literature previously but in a deterministic fashion and with several strong assumptions. In this paper, we introduce simulation model that relaxes some of these conditions to solve the problem and evaluate its behavior against a traditional distribution system. The contribution of this paper is to take into consideration stochastic parameters that have been previously considered deterministic, and to predict how the system will behave under a specific number of trucks and network configuration.