42nd Annual Quest for Quality: Truckload

Truckers leading with strategic adaptably

By LM Staff · August 11, 2025

42nd Annual Quest for Quality: Truckload

As group news editor Jeff Berman clearly illustrated in last month’s Truckload Roundtable, the truckload (TL) sector remains stuck in an extended downturn, defined by soft freight demand and persistent overcapacity.

And as he’s been reporting through first half of this year, these challenges are only compounded by broader economic uncertainty, shifting trade policies, and new tariffs—all of which are dampening expectations for a meaningful recovery before 2026.

“Rates remain depressed, and service levels may slip as conditions continue to tighten,” says Berman. “Our key analyst contacts can only suggest that shippers lock in favorable rates now, strengthen strategic carrier relationships, and remain agile in the face of ongoing market volatility.”

Despite the continued hardships in the TL market, we can confidently report that the 29 TL carriers awarded with Quest for Quality gold this year have excelled in fostering those critical, strategic relationships that shippers need to navigate this period of uncertainty.

Bulk Motor Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

	On-time performance	Value	Information technology	Customer service	Equipment & operations	Weighted score
Schneider National Bulk Carriers	10.08	10.25	8.30	9.32	9.48	47.41
Quality Carriers	9.16	8.54	4.98	12.42	11.37	46.47
Bulkmatic Transport	10.31	8.54	6.64	9.32	9.48	44.28
Prime, Inc.	9.16	9.96	6.64	9.66	8.84	44.27
AVERAGE	9.68	9.46	7.47	9.70	7.94	44.26

Dry Freight Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

	On-time performance	Value	Information technology	Customer service	Equipment & operations	Weighted score
Weber Logistics	13.74	7.12	6.64	12.42	11.37	51.29
Greatwide Truckload Management	11.45	8.54	6.64	12.42	11.37	50.42
Stevens Transport	13.74	6.41	7.47	11.04	11.37	50.03
Averitt	12.6	9.07	7.64	10.35	9.95	49.60
J.B. Hunt Transport Services	11.45	9.85	8.43	9.94	9.62	49.29
Landstar Transportation	11.45	9.25	6.64	10.35	10.61	48.30
Schneider National	10.47	9.61	8.06	9.83	9.75	47.72
Werner Enterprises	10.69	10.68	7.38	9.66	9.00	47.40
AVERAGE	10.58	8.63	7.10	9.62	9.35	45.27

Expedited Motor Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

	On-time performance	Value	Information technology	Customer service	Equipment & operations	Weighted score
Schneider Expedited Services	10.60	10.39	8.85	12.42	10.11	52.37
Dayton Freight	10.21	9.39	8.89	12.28	11.47	52.24
OD Expedited	10.69	8.54	8.85	12.12	11.37	51.57
PITT OHIO	10.69	10.81	8.75	10.75	9.48	50.47
Saia	11.85	9.96	8.19	10.76	9.60	50.37
Panther Premium Logistics	13.09	9.25	7.59	10.35	8.84	49.12
ABF Freight	11.07	9.49	8.85	9.94	9.69	49.03
Heartland Express	10.19	9.79	8.85	10.42	9.73	48.98
AVERAGE	11.45	9.37	8.11	10.38	9.64	48.94

Industrial and Heavy-Haul Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

	On-time performance	Value	Information technology	Customer service	Equipment & operations	Weighted score
Roehl Transport	10.74	10.39	8.85	10.35	9.58	49.91
Melton Truck Lines	11.21	10.81	6.51	11.12	10.11	49.76
Anderson Trucking Services	10.82	9.54	6.64	11.39	10.42	48.81
Landstar Carrier Group	10.99	10.25	6.09	8.28	10.61	46.22
AVERAGE	11.10	8.94	7.03	9.80	9.35	46.22

Household Goods and High-Value Goods Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

	On-time performance	Value	Information technology	Customer service	Equipment & operations	Weighted score
Atlas Van Lines	9.69	7.81	7.64	9.43	10.37	44.94
United Van Lines	9.41	8.81	7.22	9.61	8.97	44.02
Bekins Van Lines	9.45	8.54	7.64	8.28	9.37	43.28
ArcBest	9.47	7.68	7.27	9.32	9.48	43.21
AVERAGE	9.81	7.88	6.09	9.66	9.69	43.13

Article Topics

Latest in Logistics

FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index shows modest growth

Trucking executives are set to anxiously welcome in New Year amid uncertainty regarding freight demand

ASCM’s top 10 supply chain trends highlight a year of intelligent transformation

Tariffs continue to cast a long shadow over freight markets heading into 2026

U.S.-bound imports see November declines, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence

FTR Trucking Conditions Index shows slight gain while remaining short of growth

AAR reports mixed U.S. carload and intermodal volumes, for week ending December 6

More Logistics

Subscribe to Logistics Management Magazine

Not a subscriber? Sign up today!

Subscribe today. It's FREE.
Find out what the world's most innovative companies are doing to improve productivity in their plants and distribution centers.

Start your FREE subscription today.