A DEA-TOBIT ANALYSIS ON THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF LOGISTICS FIRMS IN TÜRKİYE

Performance evaluation research on logistics firms mainly concentrates on financial performance. Therefore, there is a need for further research on operational efficiency, which constitutes an essential component of performance evaluation. On these grounds, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the operational efficiency of selected logistics firms from Borsa Istanbul (BIST) Transportation Index in Türkiye and to evaluate the influential factors of efficiency. In this way, this research aims to contribute to the literature by incorporating operational input/output factors and assessing the causal factors that determine efficiency in logistics firms. The sample consists of six companies selected, and the period of analysis spans from 2019 to 2024. Methodologically, a two-phase investigation is applied with an integrated two-stage DEA and Tobit analysis approach. The findings indicate that efficiency scores vary across firms, with only a single firm consistently operating at the efficient frontier throughout the period under evaluation. Besides, slack-based analysis points to the need for efficiency improvements, especially in operations and inventory management areas. The results of the Tobit analysis emphasize the importance of working capital, which is vital for daily operations, and staff, which is essential for the operational efficiency of logistics companies that rely heavily on labor. Moreover, the analysis suggests that logistics firms should maintain their flexibility early on and avoid organizational rigidity for better operational performance, as they gain more experience in the sector.