BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MULTIMODAL LOGISTICS: IDENTIFYING MAIN TRENDS AND THE ROLE OF TRANSPORTATION

Abstract

The integration of various transportation modes is a critical aspect of global supply chain management, commonly referred to as multimodal logistics. This method is utilised to optimise cost, time, and environmental impact. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to investigate the evolving trends and the essential role of transportation in multimodal logistics. The analysis emphasises the unique advantages of trucking, rail, maritime shipping, and air transport. The study utilises keywords from the Scopus database to search for materials and analyses them based on the year of discovery, industry, producing authors, and state. The analysis is restricted to research subjects and focuses on highly specific areas, such as modelling processes, digitalisation, ecological impact, and regional performance evaluation. The literature significantly focuses on the challenges of coordinating multiple transportation modes, technological advancements, and sustainability. The study identifies prevailing trends, key research areas, and future directions, differentiating between multimodal and intermodal logistics and their respective implementation challenges and advantages. Multimodal logistics, a vital sector of the economy, also supports other sectors by reducing direct economic costs through efficient linkages between manufacturing and extractive industries. The study emphasises the importance of empirical research, technological integration, and sustainable practices in advancing multimodal logistics.