Multimodal Transportation in the Legal Framework of Transport Relations

Introduction. Legal regulation of the multimodal transportation in Russia is actively evolving. The Federal Law No. 288FZ of August 8, 2024 “On Direct Multimodal Transportation and Amendments to Certain Legal Acts of the Russian Federation” has entered into force in September 2025, however, its provisions have been significantly revised compared to the original draft, thus, require scholarly understanding and analysis. The present paper studies the features of the modern approach to legal regulation of multimodal transportation as a special type of logistics. The aim of the study is to provide a scholarly understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of legal regulation of the multimodal transportation as a special type of logistics.
Materials and Methods. The methodology of the study was based on a number of general scientific and specific scientific methods of cognition, whereas the juridical practice analysis method was a predominant one.
Results. The study of the legal substance of the transportation involving multiple modes of transport (by at least two carriers) revealed the terminological ambiguity resulting from the lack of consensus on the technology of the process itself. The features of organising such a transportation as a special type of logistics requiring legal regulation were substantiated. A combination of three integral factors of the multimodal transportation, i.e. physical, teleological, and legal, was ascertained to be a feature distinguishing it from other modes and types of transportation.
Discussion and Conclusion. Multimodality refers to the economic rather than legal features of this type of transportation. Multimodal transportation has both positive and negative economic features. By using the legal means, it is possible to validate and ensure positive features of multimodal transportation, and minimize the negative ones to the extent envisaged by the substance of the legal means proper. Therefore, the conclusion is made by the author about the need to ensure optimal use of material, organisational, transport, and time resources within the multimodal transportation. The legal norms should incorporate the objectives, features, and constraints of this type of transport logistics process, which should be taken into account in law-making practices.

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