2015 Quest for Quality: National/Multiregional LTL rolling strong

As we roll deeper into 2015, the longer-haul less-than-truckload (LTL) sector remains solidly profitable overall. Carriers in this category are seeing capacity closely aligned with demand, and with significant barriers to entry in the sector, little additional capacity is expected in the near future.

However, when analysts take a close look at this sector they find widely varying levels of profitability—and the reasons for this variability in profits are numerous. But as we find in our reporting over the course of the year, it’s those carriers that pay attention to operational excellence and are able to match available capacity to demand that are the most profitable. According to LM readers, those carriers listed below have done an excellent job of improving their operations—and it’s resulting in world-class service.

Crossing the finish line in our National LTL carriers category this year is FedEx Freight with a 46.84 weighted average. FedEx put up category-leading scores in On-time Performance (11.71), Information Technology (8.55), and Equipment & Operations (8.64).

For the second year in a row, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) crossed the finish line first in the Multiregional LTL category with a 47.78 weighted average. ODFL put up a category high 9.53 in Customer Service, while FedEx Freight lead the way in On-time Performance (12.01), Information Technology (8.49), and Equipment & Operations (8.72). R+L Carriers rounded out this year’s winners with a 9.87 in Value.

UPS posted an impressive 50.55 weighted average this year in surface package. While UPS lead FedEx in every attribute, FedEx pulled in just 1.5 points behind in one the closest battles in this category in years.

2015 Quest for Quality Winners Categories NATIONAL LTL | REGIONAL LTL | TRUCKLOAD | RAIL/INTERMODAL | OCEAN CARRIERS | PORTS | 3PL | AIR CARRIERS and FREIGHT FORWARDERS	home page