Costs

In most cases, the optimal blocking solution provides the lowest number of blocks with the lowest number of vehicles.

The following table explains the fields in the Costs frame.
Fields Description
Pullout The value you type affects the number of pull-outs in the blocking solution. This should be the average pull-out deadhead if the Garage check box is not selected on the Automatic tab of the Blocking dialog box. The time you type is added to the existing garage deadhead as a penalty if the Garage check box is selected.
Pullin The value entered affects the number of pull-ins in the blocking solution. This should be the average pull-in deadhead time if the Garage check box is not selected on the Automatic tab of the Blocking dialog box. The time you type is added to the existing garage deadhead as a penalty if the Garage check box is selected.
DHD (Deadhead) This parameter is used to control the number of interline deadheads in your blocking solution while hooking trips. The time you type is added to each interline deadhead time as a penalty; therefore, the value entered allows or discourages interlining combinations. To discourage deadheading, use the default of 2h00 (two hours) to allow the system to search for an optimal solution without deadheading. Be sure to set the Interline and Deadhead properties as well. To adjust the blocking solution provided by the system, type a lower or negative value to encourage deadheading.
No DHD (No Deadhead) The value you type allows or discourages garage deadheads; establishes the penalty for starting a block without a pull-out or ending a block without a pull-in. If a garage deadhead is missing, it uses this value instead. If there are garage deadheads already associated with the trips, the new deadhead value does not interfere with them. The default value is 2h00.

Select the Deadhead OK check box if you use this field.

I/line (Interline) The value you type affects how interlining occurs. For example, type a positive value in this field if you want the system to hook same line trips rather than interline them into a block. type a negative value to favor hooking interlined trips.

Select the Interline OK check box if you use this field.