In an increasingly competitive logistics market, how can regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers distinguish themselves and win customer loyalty? The answer may lie in Logistics Management magazine's annual "Quest for Quality Awards," which recognizes excellence in service quality, operational efficiency, and technological innovation while providing customers with authoritative guidance for selecting logistics partners.
This year's results not only reveal regional leaders but also demonstrate the sector's robust growth amid economic recovery. After weathering recessionary challenges, regional LTL carriers are embracing new opportunities with renewed vigor, continuously elevating service standards to meet rising customer expectations.
Industry-Wide Improvements Signal Renewed Vitality
The 2012 Quest for Quality Awards show significant score improvements across all regional LTL categories, indicating that award-winning carriers have moved beyond recessionary pressures and are tackling new challenges with energy. Companies have made notable advances in service quality, operational efficiency, and technological innovation, delivering more reliable and higher-quality logistics services.
Regional Leaders Raise the Bar
Across regional markets, top performers are pushing service boundaries to deliver superior logistics experiences:
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: A. Duie Pyle Claims Sixth Consecutive Victory
In the fiercely competitive Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region, A. Duie Pyle secured its sixth consecutive gold medal with a 49.32 weighted average score, cementing its regional dominance. The carrier's commitment to network development, process optimization, workforce training, and technological adoption ensures reliable, efficient service.
New Penn Motor Express followed closely with a 47.91 average score for its second gold medal, leveraging strong transportation capabilities and professional customer service. Established players Pitt Ohio ( 46.46 ) and Ward Transport Logistics ( 46.44 ) also delivered strong performances, with all regional carriers improving scores by 0.5-1 point.
South/South Central: Southeastern Freight Lines Maintains Dominance
Southeastern Freight Lines retained its leadership position with a 49.30 score, combining customer-centric service with advanced IT solutions to optimize routes and reduce costs.
Midwest/North Central: Dayton Freight Lines Edges Out Holland in Tight Race
The Midwest/North Central region saw an intense rivalry, with Dayton Freight Lines ( 47.12 ) narrowly defeating Holland ( 47.09 ). Both carriers excel through operational precision and customer-focused service networks.
West: Lynden Transport Achieves Highest Regional Score
Lynden Transport dominated the Western region with a category-leading 49.80 average, topping all key metrics: on-time performance ( 11.67 ), value ( 11.44 ), IT ( 8.23 ), and customer service ( 10.04 ). Oak Harbor Freight Lines followed with a 48.17 score, while reader feedback highlighted Mountain Valley Express 's equipment/operations excellence ( 8.47 ).
Rigorous Evaluation Criteria
The Quest for Quality Awards assess five critical dimensions:
- On-time performance: Measures delivery reliability
- Value: Evaluates service quality relative to price
- Information technology: Assesses real-time tracking capabilities
- Customer service: Rates responsiveness and problem resolution
- Equipment/operations: Examines safety and maintenance standards
This comprehensive framework provides customers with objective benchmarks for partner selection.
Industry-Wide Recognition
The 2012 awards spanned multiple logistics sectors including national LTL, truckload, rail/intermodal, ocean carriers, ports, 3PLs, air carriers, and freight forwarders, highlighting excellence across the supply chain ecosystem.