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The development of multi-country consolidation services has become a major feasible direction for major ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan. However, ocean freight forwarding firms must ponder which factors are most important when considering with the development of multi-country consolidation services. Therefore, the main purpose of this article was to apply the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method to evaluate the key factors influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan. Based on the literature and experts’ opinions, a hierarchical structure with 4 assessment aspects and 16 assessment factors was first constructed, and the steps of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method then proposed. Finally, based on the analytic hierarchy process experts’ questionnaires, we used the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method to evaluate the key factors. The results showed that (1) “cost” is the most important aspect influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan; (2) in order of relative importance, the top eight key factors influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan are “cargo accuracy and tracking management,”“consolidation cost,”“deregulation of operations,”“transport cost,”“integrated logistics information management,”“high frequency of ship sailings,”“logistics-related operating costs,” and “convenience of customs clearance,” respectively. Furthermore, some discussions and recommendations concerning practical implications are provided for ocean freight forwarding firms operating in the multi-country consolidation market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safe handling operations for container terminals significantly determine whether cargos can be successfully delivered. However, the container terminals involve frequent container operations with heavy machinery and accidents occur quite often, causing financial losses, injuries and even deaths. Since various handling operations cannot guarantee absolute safety as well as many of these operations have substantial risks that can cause losses, we find safe handling operations a topic worthy of in-depth investigation. This study analyzed risk factors influencing safe handling operation problems with complicated cause–effect relationships and their correlations; hence, the main purpose of this article was to apply the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method to evaluate the core risk factors of the container handling operations at Kaohsiung port in Taiwan. This article first sorted out five major risk aspects with 17 risk factors through interviews with other scholars and direct investigation at Kaohsiung port. Then, based on the questionnaire surveys, we used the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method to analyze the cause–effect relationships of each risk factor. To clearly explain the relationship between each risk factor shown in the cause–effect diagram, the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory results finally showed four quadrants and their corresponding risk factors. To achieve our research purpose, the seven core risk factors in the first quadrant are identified, including “individual experience,”“operation safety protocols,”“implementation of safety education,”“training and assessment of operation skills,”“personnel safety equipment conditions,”“establishment of a culture that values safety” and “delegation of work,” respectively. Furthermore, some suggestions concerning risk control strategies and financial strategies addressing the core risk factors are provided in this article. We hope the results of this research should prove beneficial to cargo-handling businesses in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]