Evaluation of the Selection of Low-Bed Trailers in the Transportation of Oversized and Overweight Cargo: A Hybrid Picture Fuzzy CRITIC-MARCOS Model

Abstract

Project logistics consists of operational processes that require attention, especially involving the transportation of heavy and sensitive loads. Trailer selection is a critical factor for the successful completion of projects, as trailers play a fundamental role in the safe and efficient transportation of loads. The characteristics of the cargo to be transported and the transportation requirements affect the type and characteristics of the trailer. Choosing the wrong trailer can lead to disruption of projects, additional costs, safety risks, and environmental damage. In addition, the use of improper equipment can compromise road safety and cause legal problems. Therefore, the choice of trailers is of great importance. The presence of many criteria in the selection process complicates this process. The excess of influencing factors requires the use of multi-criteria decision-making methods. This study presents a roadmap to guide decision-makers in selecting trailers for project logistics and heavy transportation using a hybrid decision-making procedure. This procedure combines the Picture Fuzzy CRITIC method, which is a multi-criteria decision-making technique that deals with subjective and imprecise information, and the MARCOS method, which is a multi-criteria decision-making technique that identifies the best alternative based on the shortest distance from the positive ideal solution and the farthest distance from the negative ideal solution. The results show that carrying capacity is more critical than economic criteria. The results of a comprehensive robustness test confirm the results obtained in the study.