The challenges of combined transport in an integrating European economy : a case study for international firms

In this paper, we deal with the challenges offered to international firms by combined transport. We start with an introduction to logistics and marketing channels. An attempt is made to link the current theory about marketing channels to combined transport and logistics in order to develop a customer-based and broadly applicable approach to the study of freight transport in Europe. Furthermore, we researched the critical success factors of combined freight networks in relation to international firms. A framework has been developed in order to structure the opportunities that intermodal transport offer to support the activities of international firms. Subsequently, an overview is given of the development of international trade with emphasis on the European Union, and in particular, The Netherlands. The actual freight flows generated by a sample of recently international relocated firms are included in a survey. A second survey has been conducted among the same companies in order to examine the opportunities of combined transport in relation to international firms and their freight flows. The paper closes with conclusions and recommendations for further research.