Exploration on Practical Application of Cold-Chain Logistics Distribution in Real Road Networks from the Perspective of Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problems

Abstract

This paper investigates the application of cold-chain logistics distribution in real road networks through the framework of dynamic vehicle routing problems (DVRP). It does not offer new empirical data, but gathers previous research on vehicle routing, dynamic routing models and cold chain distribution to explore how dynamic VRP formulations can support decision-making under real-time information, traffic fluctuations and temperature-control constraints. Based on taxonomies of DVRP variants, classification studies of vehicle routing problems and specific models for perishable products and multi-compartment refrigerated vehicles have been conducted, and this paper explores how logistics practitioners can adapt the dynamic VRP framework to real road conditions, such as time-dependent travel times, congestion, and heterogeneous customer requirements. Cold-chain distribution in practice is expected to integrate routing optimisation with risk management for product quality, customer satisfaction and environmental performance, and dynamic VRP approaches offer a practical, albeit not exhaustive, path to explore these trade-offs. Therefore, the application should be based on a well-defined problem, integrated with monitoring technology, and have realistic expectations for the limits of optimisation models.