THE ROLE OF FREIGHT FORWARDER IN THE ORGANIZATION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT

Promet je oduvijek bio jedna od najvažnijih komponenta svakog gospodarskog sustava jer bez razvijenog prometnog sustava ne mogu biti razvijene gospodarske i društvene djelatnosti. Stoga je cilj ovog rada analizirati špediciju kao vrlo značajnu gospodarsku djelatnost bez čijeg djelovanja sustav međunarodne razmjene i prometa ne bi mogao funkcionirati. Špediteri predstavljaju važne sudionike u poslovima međunarodne razmjene, koji su često kompleksni i složeni, obavljajući niz djelatnosti u ime uvoznika ili izvoznika, rasterećujući ga aktivnosti oko prijevoza. Unutar rada analizira se važnost uloge međunarodnog špeditera u organizaciji multimodalnog transporta kao i bitne karakteristike multimodalnog transporta. Multimodalni transport kao suvremeni način transporta robe odnosi se na prijevoz tereta uključujući dva prijevozna sredstva iz različitih prometnih grana s ciljem smanjenja troškova te bržeg i efikasnijeg prijevoza robe. S obzirom da je pred međunarodne špeditere stavljen težak izazov koordinacije svih aktivnosti i sudionika, pojavljuju se problemi osiguranja odgovornosti te utvrđivanja naknada za izvršene špediterske usluge. Na temelju provedenog primarnog istraživanja zaključuje se kako danas glavna vrlina špeditera mora biti fleksibilnost, odnosno stalno prilagođavanje novim trendovima i na taj način osigurajući sebi konkurentsku prednost. Sve navedeno potvrđuje i poduzeće Hit trans d.o.o. koje se susrelo sa mnogobrojnim promjenama u svom poslovanju. Ona najznačajnija dogodila se ulaskom Hrvatske u Europsku uniju čime se obujam poslovanja špeditera znatno smanjio.Transport has always been one of the most important components of any economic system, because without a well-built transport system, economic and social activities cannot be developed. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze freight forwarding as a very significant economic activity without which the system of international exchange and transport would not be able to function. Freight forwarders are important participants in international trade, which are often complex and performing a range of activities on behalf of importers or exporters, relieving it of transport activities. The paper will analyze the importance of the role of the international freight forwarder in the organization of multimodal transport as well as the important characteristics of multimodal transport. Multimodal transport as a modern mode of transport of goods refers to the transport of goods, including two means of transport from different branches of transport in order to reduce costs and faster and more efficient transport of goods. Given that international freight forwarders are faced with the difficult challenge of coordinating all activities and participants, there are problems of ensuring liability and determining fees for freight forwarding services. The paper will use primary and secondary data sources. Secondary data sources will be collected from domestic and foreign professional literature, specialized journals and books. In order to examine the connection between multimodal transport and freight forwarding in business practice, a primary survey will be conducted, and a structured interview reminder will be used as an instrument. Based on the conducted primary research, it is concluded that today the main virtue of freight forwarders must be flexibility, ie constant adaptation to new trends and thus ensuring a competitive advantage. All the above is confirmed by the company Hit trans d.o.o. which has encountered numerous changes in its business. The most significant one happened with Croatia's accession to the European Union, which significantly reduced the volume of freight forwarders' business