While the authors of our feature “Right-shoring: A flexible strategy for tough times” were not implying that far-shoring is no longer a viable strategy, they were attempting to stress the fact that “worldwide economic problems and changes have drastically altered the cost dynamics associated with manufacturing and distribution network strategies.” So much so, our authors found, that many shippers no longer assume that far-shore operations are less expensive in the long term.

And as we continue to follow the strategic moves top global shippers are making, we’re finding that companies that are over-invested in far-shore operations tend to be the supply chain operations that are most at risk, as crude oil prices fluctuate wildly, labor costs rise in developing countries, and the value of the U.S. dollar shifts unpredictably.

But no matter how difficult the global supply chain landscape may become, there is one thing for certain: Global shippers will continue to rely on the best connected freight forwarders to move goods through expanding—or contracting—distribution networks. Indeed, this savvy group of freight forwarders has seen their business flourish over the past decade, and now the very top service providers are poised to catch the next phase of growth.

In 2009, global shippers have voted in 14 freight forwarders, three more than we invited to walk down the red carpet in 2008. And as we’ve found in a number of other categories this year, shippers are telling us that this group of winning providers has kicked their performance up a notch. In fact, the overall weighted average for this group ticked up 1.27 points over 2008’s number, signaling an improved overall level of service satisfaction.

As in the other categories that saw the overall weighted average climb this year, there were a couple of the individual attribute categories that helped push the number up. Freight Forwarder executives should be proud to note that four of the five attribute categories saw slight improvements, including On-time Performance, Value, Customer Service, and Equipment & Operations.

Pilot Fright Services (37.51) and UPS SonicAir (37.31) led the pack of winners this year in a race that was nearly too close to call for the overall top position. In the individual attribute categories, UPS posted the top score in On-time Performance (12.63) and Information Technology (5.38), Lynden Air Freight took top honors in Value (8.55), and Pilot Freight Services posted the high mark in Customer Service with a 7.91.