The nation's truckload carriers continued to bump along an uneven roadbed this year, one rutted by heavy economic damage. Despite the challenges, this year's convoy of truckload carrier honorees was bigger than last year's, numbering 19 compared to last year's 15.

Winning accolades among dry-freight carriers two years in a row were U.S. Xpress and Schneider National. Joining them this year were Crete Carrier Corp., Werner Enterprises and J.B. Hunt Transport.

Despite an increase in the number of winners, the overall customer satisfaction score for dry-freight carriers dropped to 32.15 from 34.02. Scores also fell in four out of five categories: on-time performance, which decreased to 9.42 from 10.60; value, which slipped to 7.81 from 8.35; information technology, which slid to 3.07 from 3.29; and customer service, which decreased to 6.38 from 6.40. The one exception was equipment and operations, whose mark rose to 5.47 from 5.38

Turning to household-goods carriers, four earned a spot on the Readers' Choice list this year. Returning champions included United Van Lines and Atlas Van Lines. They were joined by North American Van Lines and Bekins Van Lines.

The general grades for household-goods carriers, though, dropped. With scores dropping in four out of five categories, the composite customer satisfaction number fell to 33.05 from 33.88. The on-time performance rating crashed to 9.80 from 10.80. The information technology rating tumbled to 3.11 from 3.35. Customer service slipped to 6.63 from 6.93. And the equipment and operations score fell to 5.64 from 5.93. Only the score for value rose, soaring to 7.87 from 6.86.

The high-value goods category saw only two winners this year—United Van Lines and North American Van Lines. Here, too, overall scores dropped. Last year's composite customer satisfaction score of 35.09 plummeted to 30.85.

Four categories witnessed spinouts. The number for on-time performance plummeted to 9.19 from 11.18. The information technology rating declined to 2.93 from 3.42. The customer service score slid to 6.40 from 7.36. And equipment and operations slowed to 5.15 from 6.08. The solitary increase occurred in the value category, whose score rose to 7.18 from 7.05.

As for industrial and heavy-haul carriers, three earned honors for excellence. Landstar Ranger, which won last year, was joined by Schneider National and Landstar Inway.

Scores for this group generally fell below last year's. The composite customer satisfaction ranking skidded to 32.72 this year from 34.69 last year. Also dropping were scores for on-time performance (to 9.68 from 10.91), value (to 7.99 from 8.33), information technology (to 2.98 from 3.31), and customer service (to 6.63 from 6.74). Only the equipment and operations score increased, inching up to 5.45 from 5.38.

Finally, five bulk motor carriers earned accolades for excellence this year. Prime Inc., Miller Transporters, Schneider National Bulk, DSI Transports (now known as Trimac Transportation Inc.) and Bulkmatic Transport all rose to the top.

But some scores in this category slumped as well. The overall customer satisfaction score dropped to 31.49 from 32.05. The on-time performance rating declined to 9.22 from 10.30, while the equipment and operations score dropped to 5.20 from 6.00. On the other hand, the value rating increased to 7.58 from 7.50, the information technology number rose to 3.09 from 2.75, and the customer service score jumped to 6.39 from 5.50.