Transport Path Selection: Multi-Criteria Comparison

Transport type selection problem constitutes a multi criteria decision-making problem which requires considering a lot of factors. Organizations which give transport services, target transporting materials or services demanded to demand centers with the lowest cost, in the fastest, the most correct and the safest way are agile. In this context, transport type selection seems important. Alternative factors that have to be considered in the process of transport type selection are generally determined as speed, reliability, capacity, suitability, cost, and safety and accessing. The aim of the study is to research which factors are important among speed, reliability, capacity, suitability, cost, and safety, and accessing the criteria that which one(s) must be selected. To be able to decide, transport type was selected and compared by using AHP and PROMETHEE methods which are multiple criteria decision-making methods. At the end of the study, according to their net superiorities, selection sequence has been obtained as follows: airway (0,18), road (0,07), railway (0,05),road-railway (0,04), road-railway-seaway (0,01),road- seaway (-0,01), railway- seaway (-0,01), seaway (-0,10), pipeline (-0,21). When the sequences are compared, it has been concluded that road transportation is the most appropriate transportation method subsequent to airway transportation. It has been determined that combined transport is superior to single seaway and road transport is important in combined transport.