INTELLECTUAL ECONOMICS 2007, Number 2(2)
Rimgaudas MinalgaISSUES OF CARGO SECURITY IN SEPARATE LOGISTICS LINKS
Mykolas Romeris University Publishing Centre. Vilnius. Lithuania 2007 Nr.2(2), p. 36–42
Summary
Processes of business globalization precluded international shipment amounts which increase every
year. Cargo shipment is one of the primary tasks in the sphere of logistics, since material flows can not be realized
without transport involvement. Movement of material flows start with supplying of business companies and finishes
with distribution and realization of production. Logistics have to influence the material flow, be provided with necessary
information, move quickly and reliably in order to reduce flow costs to the minimum.
Theoretical aims of business logistics activities are formulated as follows: a certain amount of a certain object of
a certain quality has to be delivered to a certain place within a certain time with certain (optimum) costs. However,
one may discover that these logistics issues do not cover anything related to safety of shipment. We have to admit
that a certain amount of material values is lost or get damaged during a movement of material flow while delivering
cargo by international or internal routes. Thus, this article discusses safety questions of material values not only while
delivering them but also in the stages of storing, reloading, or getting them prepared for delivering.
The author of the study suggests and proves an essential aim of the logistics activities – the importance of safe
delivery to an appointed place.
The article provides the important information that security of material flow depends on a wide range of technical-
organizational aspects: production packing, making bigger shipment units, using transportation containers, choosing
shipment type and proper storing conditions, organizational safety means, and peculiarities of dangerous cargo
shipment. Moreover, each of these factors is thoroughly discussed in the article and given theoretical and practical
argumentation.
Organization (realization) is the next stage which follows the material flow planning. In order to have material
flows safe in terms of quantity and quality, the mentioned technical-organizational means are applied. Some of them
are discussed in logistics and transportation system theory; however, their practical implementation is not sufficient.
The author of the article relates theoretical questions with their practical application. Apart from technical means
which ensure cargo safety, the article discusses organizational means which are necessary to be implemented in transit
countries, and Lithuania is one of them. For example, there are no guarded parking places for transit cargo shipment
in Lithuania to prevent robberies even with vehicles. Factors that have impact on safety of material flow and development
of economics effect are thoroughly discussed in the article both from the theoretical and practical angle.
Keywords: business logistics, material flow, packaging, container, warehouse techniques, dangerous goods, legal norms.