Multimodal Route and Inventory Optimization for the Supply of Inert Materials and Refrigerated Cargoes within the Trans-European Corridors

Citation: Yurii Gerasymov, "Multimodal Route and Inventory Optimization for the Supply of Inert Materials and Refrigerated Cargoes within the Trans-European Corridors", Universal Library of Innovative Research and Studies, Volume 02, Issue 03.

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The study is devoted to a comprehensive investigation and synthesis of optimization models and digital technologies for managing multimodal cargo flows with conflicting logistics regulations, inert materials, and refrigerated cargoes, in the context of the Trans-European Transport Network corridors (TEN-T). The aim of the study is to develop a conceptual framework for integrated management of the specified flows, oriented toward improving the operational performance, resilience, and fault tolerance of logistics chains. The methodological basis includes a systematic review of the scientific literature on vehicle routing problems (VRP) and inventory routing problems (IRP), as well as a content analysis of European Union strategic documents and industry reports. The analysis records a persistent structural imbalance in the modal split of freight transport in the EU: the dominance of road transport contradicts the strategic goals of decarbonization. As a response, a multilayer conceptual architecture is proposed, integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain to ensure data integrity and traceability, digital twins for predictive modeling, and multi-agent systems (MAS) for decentralized autonomous coordination. The conclusion of the study is that replacing centralized planning with decentralized orchestration of logistics services is a necessary condition for overcoming existing barriers and unlocking the potential of the TEN-T network. The material presented in the study will be of interest to researchers in logistics and supply chain management, transport planning specialists, and decision-makers in the development of transport infrastructure.

Keywords: Multimodal Transport, Route Optimization, Inventory Management, Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, Refrigerated Cargoes, Inert Materials, Digital Twin, Multi-Agent Systems, Blockchain.

https://doi.org/10.70315/uloap.ulirs.2025.0203013