## 5 Discussions  
Developing a theoretical methodology and application for the transportation optimization that seeks to optimize transportation processes and decrease the amount of energy consumed between the port and cargo receiver/sender oriented on practical matters often requires a quantitative technological approach that includes factors from economics and energy demand [50; 51; 52]. Optimal transport corridor selection and its effectiveness is recommended as a benchmark to reflect the operating conditions of the selected transport corridors and/or transport modes due to disruption [53]. The results of the scientific literature review of related literature sources, related to similar tasks [54; 55; 56], indicated that a developed methodology of the transportation parameters evaluation is useful for the practical tasks and could be useful in many similar transportation cases. However, weight coefficients, which are used in developed methodology, could be discussed and further investigated. In some regions, there are different regulations; for example, the permitted weight of the cargo, size parameters and other requirements are different, and it is necessary to adopt these for real conditions. Therefore, we try to relate productivity benchmarks based on a comparative index for transportation using different transport modes management's risks and quantitative transportation time, costs, and an environmental impact analysis approach. Carrying out real transportation experiments on the routes indicated in the paper, as well as theoretical calculations using the methodology developed in this paper, showed the practical importance of optimization of transportation processes, as there are no big differences between the results (the experimental and theoretical calculations results' differences mainly were up to 10-12%). The specified methodology for optimization of transportation processes, integrated assessments using the approach set out in the paper has attracted a great deal of interest from logistics and transport companies. During the experiments, the transport companies, as well as the authors of the paper, identified some additional sources of uncertainty that could be useful for future research. This is mainly due to additional disruptions on individual routes, such as traffic congestion on roads, especially ice on roads during the winter. Weighting factors for the comparative method, adapted to the specific routes and conditions, are very important for future research. In future research, it is also necessary to pay attention to the constraints of the economic market; fluctuations in demand, risks, levels of fuel prices and prices practiced in the other markets, customs regulations, international politics, insurance, environmental factors and macroeconomics. To reduce uncertainty and errors, several recommendations are provided, which include more flexible communication between the parts of the logistics chain between the port and the consignees/shippers, prompting an exchange of information and quick response to possible changes. Analysis of the existing methods and comparison with the proposed development method, as well as future research, is presented on Table 4.  
Studies have shown that the approach to optimizing transportation and reducing energy demand presented in the paper can be adapted to other regions where similar conditions exist. In this study, we have found that several parameters are needed that can be quantified and that are consistent with the management of transport corridors and transport modes by optimizing transport processes and energy demand. The transport mode comparative index (\(K_{i}\)) used in this paper includes economic, time and energy demand factors. This allows the impact category to be assessed in the selected transport corridor. The three main or more factors can then be used as the basis for stakeholders to plan or improve the organization of the transportation process.