Quest for Quality 2022: Less than Truckload (LTL)
Less than Truckload (LTL) is equal to the e-commerce task.
As our trucking correspondent John Schulz reported last month in our comprehensive State of Logistics report, the $83 billion less-than-truckload (LTL) sector is booming, thanks to demand from the active e-commerce sector, better pricing strategies and an effective lid on capacity because of expenses associated with building costly hub-and-spoke networks.
Indeed, LTL carriers now find themselves firmly in command of a tight capacity market as the sector takes advantage of the growing volume of last-mile, time-
sensitive deliveries. At the same time, rate hikes can be expected. However, many reports point to savvy shippers now working more closely with their carriers to avoid the bulk of those increases through elimination of wasteful practices.
“Analysts and carrier executives we’ve interviewed over the past year agree that for the next year or two at least, carriers will have the upper hand in rate negotiations because capacity will remain tight and LTL options will be limited,” adds Schulz. “So, now is the time to engage in those improved shipper/carrier partnerships we’ve been advocating over the years.”
Well, we can be certain that the 20 LTL carriers taking home Quest for Quality gold in 2022 have gone the extra mile in working with their shipper partners to create a service experience that’s been equal to the e-commerce task.
In our National LTL Carriers category this year, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) posted an impressive 48.43 weighted score this year, the top overall mark among the six winners in this category. ODFL lead the way in On-time Performance (11.94), Information Technology (8.20), Customer Service (9.80), and Equipment & Operations (8.87). R+L Carriers put up the top score in the Value attribute (9.68).
National LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology | Customer service | Equipment & operations | Weighted score | |
| Old Dominion Freight Line | 11.94 | 9.61 | 8.20 | 30.00 | 8.87 | 48.43 |
| R+L Carriers | 10.66 | 9.68 | 7.60 | 8.81 | 8.28 | 45.02 |
| FedEx Freight | 10.49 | 9.06 | 8.11 | 8.38 | 8.59 | 44.64 |
| XPO Logistics | 10.05 | 9.15 | 7.95 | 8.45 | 7.89 | 43.49 |
| Estes Express Lines | 10.02 | 8.70 | 7.78 | 8.71 | 7.83 | 43.04 |
| Daylight Transport | 10.34 | 9.48 | 6.86 | 8.44 | 7.78 | 42.91 |
| AVERAGE | 9.88 | 8.90 | 7.37 | 8.39 | 7.84 | 42.38 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
A.Duie Pyle posted a 48.15 overall weighted score in our Northeast/Mid-Atlantic category this year, the top score among the three winners in this region. The carrier scored top marks in On-time Performance (11.48), Information Technology (8.12), Customer Service (9.77), and Equipment & Operations (8.63). Ward Transport & Logistics posted a 10.43, the top mark in the Value attribute.
Surface Package Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology |
Customer service |
Equipment & operations |
Weighted score |
|
| UPS | 11.16 | 9.76 | 8.30 | 8.64 | 8.51 | 46.42 |
| FedEx Ground | 10.45 | 9.43 | 8.05 | 8.51 | 8.38 | 44.81 |
| AVERAGE | 10.17 | 9.58 | 7.67 | 8.20 | 7.97 | 43.59 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology |
Customer service |
Equipment & operations |
Weighted score |
|
| A. Duie Pyle | 11.48 | 10.15 | 8.12 | 9.77 | 8.63 | 48.15 |
| Ward Transport & Logistics | 10.22 | 10.43 | 7.08 | 8.69 | 7.51 | 43.93 |
| Pitt Ohio | 10.67 | 9.39 | 7.12 | 8.74 | 7.83 | 43.76 |
| AVERAGE | 10.29 | 9.48 | 7.08 | 8.75 | 7.81 | 43.42 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
In the South/South Central, Southeastern Freight Lines racked up an impressive 50.40 overall weighted score, putting up solid numbers across all the attribute categories in the region. While in the Midwest/North Central, Moran Transportation racked up a category leading 57.17 overall weighted score, one of the highest in the entire 2022 Quest for Quality survey.
South/South Central
Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology |
Customer service |
Equipment & operations |
Weighted score |
|
| Southeastern Freight Lines | 12.68 | 10.60 | 8.00 | 10.08 | 9.04 | 50.40 |
| Averitt | 10.96 | 9.70 | 7.59 | 9.96 | 8.85 | 47.06 |
| AVERAGE | 10.04 | 9.36 | 7.07 | 8.62 | 7.91 | 43.01 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
Midwest/North Central
Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology |
Customer service |
Equipment & operations |
Weighted score |
|
| Moran Transportation Corporation | 13.38 | 12.31 | 9.80 | 11.62 | 10.06 | 57.17 |
| Dayton Freight Lines | 11.35 | 9.14 | 7.59 | 8.51 | 8.53 | 45.12 |
| AVERAGE | 10.45 | 9.37 | 7.59 | 8.95 | 8.13 | 44.50 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
Western
Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)
| On-time performance |
Value | Information technology |
Customer service |
Equipment & operations |
Weighted score |
|
| Lynden Transport | 12.13 | 11.31 | 8.58 | 11.14 | 9.39 | 52.54 |
| Honolulu Freight | 11.55 | 11.85 | 7.72 | 11.03 | 9.68 | 51.83 |
| Peninsula Truck Lines | 11.55 | 10.06 | 6.86 | 12.03 | 9.39 | 49.88 |
| Daylight Transport | 11.55 | 10.78 | 8.11 | 9.84 | 8.64 | 48.92 |
| Oak Harbor Freight Lines | 11.55 | 9.82 | 7.05 | 9.52 | 8.36 | 46.30 |
| AVERAGE | 10.91 | 9.77 | 7.09 | 9.19 | 8.12 | 45.07 |
Source: Logistics Management, Peerless Research Group (PRG)
This year we find five winners in the hotly-contested Western region. Lynden Transport rolled in with a 52.54 overall weighted score this year, as the carrier put up top marks in On-time Performance (12.13) and Information Technology (8.58). Honolulu Freight lead the way in Value (11.85) and Equipment & Operations (9.68), while Peninsula Truck Lines scored an impressive 12.03 in the all-important Customer Service attribute this year.
And in the always tight Surface Package category, UPS Ground put up a 46.42 overall weighted score, edging out FedEx Ground’s 44.81. It seems the two industry bellwethers swap top spot every year, with UPS putting up top marks in each of the attribute categories this year, a feat FedEx pulled off last year.
2022 Quest for Quality Winners Categories
Article Topics
Motor Freight News & Resources
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index shows modest growth Trucking executives are set to anxiously welcome in New Year amid uncertainty regarding freight demand 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 DOT revokes licenses of 17,000 non-domiciled CDL holders in California National Electric Manufacturers Association calls for stronger enforcement, predictability in upcoming USMCA review National diesel average sees its steepest decline in nearly a year More Motor FreightLatest 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 LogisticsSubscribe to Logistics Management Magazine
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.
December 2025 Logistics Management
Latest Resources
