diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/vehicle/VehicleImpl.java b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/vehicle/VehicleImpl.java
index 31ceabda..de24ce54 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/vehicle/VehicleImpl.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/vehicle/VehicleImpl.java
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ public class VehicleImpl extends AbstractVehicle {
          * @return this builder
          */
         public Builder setEarliestStart(double earliest_startTime) {
+            if(earliest_startTime < 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("earliest start cannot be negative");
             this.earliestStart = earliest_startTime;
             return this;
         }
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ public class VehicleImpl extends AbstractVehicle {
          * @return this builder
          */
         public Builder setLatestArrival(double latest_arrTime) {
+            if(latest_arrTime < 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("latest arrival time cannot be negative");
             this.latestArrival = latest_arrTime;
             return this;
         }
@@ -214,6 +216,7 @@ public class VehicleImpl extends AbstractVehicle {
          *                               or (endLocationId!=null AND returnToDepot=false)
          */
         public VehicleImpl build() {
+            if(latestArrival < earliestStart) throw new IllegalStateException("latest arrival of vehicle " + id + " must not be smaller than its start time");
             if (startLocation != null && endLocation != null) {
                 if (!startLocation.getId().equals(endLocation.getId()) && !returnToDepot)
                     throw new IllegalStateException("this must not be. you specified both endLocationId and open-routes. this is contradictory. <br>" +