Development of modern freight forwarding in Serbia: An economic activity older than the principality of Serbia

Abstract

For the first time, development of freight forwarding, as an economic activity in Serbia, is analysed in this paper. At the beginning, a brief literature review on the origin and evolution of freight forwarding is given, as well as the research motivation and goal. Currently, there is any study that systematically deals with the historical development of the freight forwarding in Serbia. The development of freight forwarding in the period before the Second World War is almost entirely unknown. The main goal of presented research is to highlight a long tradition of the freight forwarding in Serbia and significance of its exploring. An analysis of archival material available in the archives and libraries of the Republic of Serbia revealed that the first freight forwarding firms, engaged in some of the basic modern freight forwarding operations (custom brokerage, transport organization, storage of customs goods, etc.), were mentioned at the end of the XVIII century. Socio-political, economic, and other historical circumstances directly affected the characteristics of freight forwarding businesses and companies. The paper briefly describes the development of freight forwarding over the time through a description of the basic characteristics of freight forwarding companies (size, types of business, geographical distribution, and others) within the distinct periods from the XVIII to the XXI century.

Keywords

• freight forwarding
• the modern and contemprorary history of serbia
• development of freight forwarding
• serbia