ULOGA ŠPEDITERA U ORGANIZACIJI MULTIMODALNOG TRANSPORTA

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.