Optimal control of road freight flows by route choice inducement: A case from Mexico

Abstract Contrasting with much of the research in freight transportation around the impacts to transport operators, this work focuses on the Road Planner providing the infrastructure. This viewpoint, seeking minimal repair costs and other payments generally conflicts with the carriers’ view, looking for the best hauling route. On a random utility frame, the user-planner interaction is modelled on a partially tolled road network, considering two types of costs: (a) lorries’ trip cost guiding the route choice, and affected by planners’ actions, and (b) planners’ road repair costs, depending on the traffic, the vehicles’ type and the control implementation. A Monte Carlo simulation bases the stochastic assignment on the network, determining optimal subsidies that divert traffic to tolled roads. On a portion of the Mexican Paved network optimal subsidies are found, increasing the toll roads’ use and reducing traffic on the non-charged roads, generally having weaker pavements and higher maintenance costs.