Truckload carriers wow their shipper customers when they shift into high gear and make that special delivery happen. They also win praise for good communications and taking the initiative when things go wrong. "When problems occur, I expect our carriers to be proactive and do whatever it takes to resolve them," wrote one shipper when asked what makes a truckload carrier a winner.

For industrial and heavy-haul carriers, readers gave the thumbs-up to Schneider Specialized Carriers, Tri-State Motor Transit, Universal Am-Cam, Landstar Ranger, and Anderson Trucking Service.

Six dry-freight carriers earned recognition for quality. Finishing in front were three winners from last year: Heartland Express, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Schneider National. Joining them were Crete Carrier Corp., CRST, and CFI (Contract Freighters Inc.).

A new category was created for expedited carriers, which specialize in time-critical shipments. Bringing home the gold were FedEx Custom Critical, UPS, USF Corporation, Menlo Worldwide Expedite!, Con-Way NOW, Pitt Ohio Express, and BAX Global.

In the bulk category, readers applauded Miller Transporters, Trimac Transportation, Schneider National Bulk Carriers, Bulkmatic Transport, and Prime Inc.

This year we combined high-value goods carriers and household-goods carriers into one category for van lines. Here readers held three companies in the highest esteem: United Van Lines, Bekins Van Lines, and Atlas Van Lines.

Overall performance scores for three out of the five truckload categories were lower than they were last year. Industrial and heavy-haul carriers witnessed a drop in their overall weighted score from 35.41 to 34.27. Dry-freight carriers also hit a rough patch as their weighted score tumbled by more than a point, from 34.35 to 33.20.

The average weighted score for bulk motor carriers, meanwhile, declined slightly from 31.77 to 31.70.

Both of the two new categories scored very well. The newly combined household and high value goods category checked in with a weighted score of 36.29. The brand-new category for expedited motor carriers posted an average weighted score of 35.26.