Impact of Collaborative Multimodal Transport on the Logistics Performance of Bangladesh

The heavy reliance on road transport in Bangladesh poses major challenges that hamper the country's logistics landscape due to congestion, long haulage durations and increased associated costs. Bangladesh currently ranks 100th out of 160 nations in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index with an inefficient logistics sector that needs significant improvement. In this research, the authors explore how multimodal transport may offer potential advantages in addressing these challenges not easily handled by today's conventional logistics industry landscape. The study identifies key areas for logistics improvements. It explored the idea of cooperative multimodal transportation and its ability to simplify logistics operations, accelerate delivery times, lower costs & drive customer service. The questionnaire was used for a survey of transportation industry experts to determine the dimensions of collaborative multimodal transport (CMT) and their impact on logistics performance. This was followed by measuring CMT and logistics performance with the data collected, where structural equation modeling would be utilized to test a series of factors such as construct validity and hypothesis testing on how different aspects of CMT relate to logistics performance. The results indicate a positive outcome of IT innovation, infrastructure quality, administrative efficiency, and logistics performance. IT developments across multimodal transportation systems increase logistics efficiency and reliability. This study fills this gap and offers practical guidance to policy makers, despite potential limitations in the information available on the ground, issues with infrastructure as well numerous other conditions. Addressing these challenges and utilizing collective multimodal transport would open up new vistas of growth to its logistics space.