Criteria for and determinants of transportation selection decisions in exports: A case study of five industries in Turkey

In modern economy, decisions regarding what is to be produced correlates with the availability of a proper transportation network and the ability to supply these products to the market at lower cost. The most important question in world distribution is how the goods will be shipped from the origin to the destination. Regular mode selection depends on several dimensions. Among these dimensions are size, durability and value of the product which are issues related to the nature of the product. These may lead to the elimination of some modes from consideration as these modes cannot physically, legally or safely handle the goods. Weight, density and shape of a product can also greatly influence this decision. There were three major aims of the present research. The first one was to identify the major criteria and factors that might influence the selection mode process. The second was to implement those factors in five different Turkish export-oriented companies from various industries. Taking into account the diversity and complexity of the study, the participants were chosen according to their direct role in decision-making. Among them are CEOs, heads of export departments, and directors. The third aim was to conduct a case study aiming to compare proposed hypotheses and real-life situations. A decision-making flowchart that accounts for internal as well as important external factors was proposed.