Determination of transportation mode selection criteria in international cold chain logistics

The cold chain is a system that enables the logistics processes of products with short shelf lives are carried out under appropriate conditions. This system aims to prevent spoilage of products and ensure continuity of the supply chain by supporting information technologies that provide temperature monitoring, regulation and control at every stage. A small malfunction that may occur at any stage of the logistics processes may lead to spoilage of the product. Therefore, it is of great importance to carefully select the transportation mode and the equipment used in cold chain logistics. This study aims to determine the transportation mode selection criteria in international cold chain logistics and to reveal the most important criteria by ranking them according to their importance. As a result of the detailed literature review, the criteria that are effective in the selection of the transportation mode in cold chain logistics were obtained and the decision hierarchy of the study was presented. Survey forms were prepared within the scope of the obtained criteria and in accordance with the methodology of the study. The sample of the study consists of experts in cold chain logistics activities determined using the judgement sampling method. Thirty survey forms, which were completely filled out by experts, were included in the study. The data obtained from the survey results were analyzed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) methods among the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods. As a result of the analysis, the criteria in question were ranked hierarchically according to their importance levels. At the end of the study, it was determined that the findings obtained from both two methods were similar. Accordingly, it was found that the sub-criterion with the highest importance in the selection of the international cold chain logistics transportation mode was traceability. This sub-criterion was followed by the sub-criteria of speed, heat and humidity, security, transportation cost, capacity, environmental sensitivity and flexibility, respectively. When the findings of the study were evaluated within the scope of the main criteria, it was revealed that the technology-oriented criteria were more important than the cost-oriented criteria. In this context, it is argued that technology-based vehicles and equipment play a critical role and that the costs that may occur are accepted, particularly in the process of effectively managing cold chain products and safely delivering them to the end consumer. It is assumed that this study will contribute to similar studies to be conducted within the scope of international cold chain logistics.