“There's some shifting going on,” Fred Boehler, vice president of logistics for Borders Group told our John Schulz in June. “Regional LTL carriers who aren't able to execute from a service standpoint are losing market share because competition can match them on price and deliver a better service product.”

This year, readers identified 18 carriers that have hit their stride in all of the critical service criteria. Trotting into the winners circle in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic for the fourth consecutive year are A. Duie Pyle (37.05) and New Penn Motor Express (35.09). New Century Transportation (35.97) and Pitt Ohio Express (36.69) made it two years in a row.

Down South, readers told us that five carriers kept pace this year, up from two in 2006. Southeastern Freight Lines leads the way again with an impressive 37.58, the highest all-around weighted score in this category. Con-way Freight makes it two years in a row (34.55), and we welcome back Wilson Trucking (35.10), Averitt Express (34.23), and AAA Cooper Transportation (34.23.).

In the Midwest/North Central Regional category we now have two confirmed dynasties. For the fourth year in a row, shippers told us that Con-way Freight (35.25) and USF Holland (33.40) dominated the region.

Out West, Oak Harbor Freight Lines (36.22), Con-way Freight (35.60), and USF Reddaway (34.01) received top marks for the third year in a row. Lynden Transport (34.53) makes it two years in a row, and Estes West makes its first appearance with 33.43.