Economic tumult has created potholes and bumps in the road this year for the nation's regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers. Not only have these truckers had to steer through wild swings in fuel prices, but they have also had to cope with sky-high insurance rates. All the while shippers have continued to demand high levels of expedited service—including overnight deliveries—from this group of carriers.

Despite the stress, some regional truckers once again have successfully met their customers' demands, earning accolades for their services. They have proven that they can deliver quality even under duress.

In the Western region, three carriers outdistanced their competitors in terms of quality: Lynden Transport, USF Reddaway and Viking Freight (recently renamed FedEx Freight West). All three, by the way, are repeat winners from last year. Joining them in the winners circle this year was USF Bestway. As a group, Western regional truckers received a customer satisfaction score of 32.04, a slight dip from last year's 32.12. Of the five attributes ranked, only one—the value score—increased from last year's mark, rising to 7.80 from 7.52, while the mark for customer service stayed exactly the same, at 6.61. Scores dropped in the other three categories, however. The rating for on-time performance skidded to 10.16 from 10.37, for information technology to 3.75 from 3.86, and for equipment and operations to 3.72 from 3.75.

In the Southern section of the country, three regional haulers earned accolades this year. All three were repeat winners from last year: Southeastern Freight Lines, AAA Cooper Transportation and Averitt Express.

Southern carriers saw their performance pick up speed this past year. The composite customer satisfaction score for the group increased to 32.81 from 32.49. Grades improved in three categories. The mark for information technology increased to 3.79 from 3.71, the score for customer service rose to 6.51 from 6.44, and the rating for equipment and operations moved up to 3.95 from 3.72.

However, the grade for on-time performance stopped short of last year's, slipping to 10.69 from 10.72. The mark for value also veered off course, sliding to 7.87 from 7.90.

In the Midwest/North Central region of the country, the same two carriers that won last year—USF Holland and Con-Way Central Express—again made the Readers' Choice list. The overall customer satisfaction score for Midwestern regional truckers came in ahead of last year's, climbing to 34.47 from 33.65. That composite score was the highest for all trucking regions surveyed.

Ratings topped last year's in four categories: The mark for on-time performance increased to 11.45 from 11.07. The value score bumped up to 8.10 from 8.04. The information technology number rose to 3.96 from 3.56. And the score for customer service climbed to 6.77 from 6.70. Only the mark for equipment and operations dropped, falling to 4.19 from 4.29.

Turning to the East, five carriers once again brought home quality awards. Pitt Ohio Express, New Penn Motor Express, A. Duie Pyle, Ward Trucking and Con-Way Central Express all earned spots on the Readers' Choice list just as they did last year.

These regional truckers saw the most significant improvement of any group. Their composite customer satisfaction score soared to 33.76 from last year's 32.34.

Scores awarded to this last group of regional carriers rose in four of the five categories measured. The mark for on-time performance jumped to 11.08 from 10.69, and the value score climbed to 8.41 from 7.97. Likewise, the information technology ranking increased to 3.94 from 3.70, and the customer service rating rose to 6.56 from 6.11. The only downward move occurred in the equipment and operations category, whose score fell to 3.77 from 3.87.