2008 Quest for Quality Awards: 25th Annual Quest for Quality Awards: Delivering on the promise THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS: Shifting in the polls FREIGHT FORWARDERS: Foreign policy titans AIR CARRIERS: Delivering under pressure OCEAN CARRIERS: Steadfast incumbents RAIL/INTERMODAL: Popularity rising in the polls TRUCKLOAD: Influential long-haulers REGIONAL LTL: Perennial local front runners NATIONAL LTL: Canvassing the nation Order Online

While global 3PL gross revenues continue to surge ahead, posting a record $487 billion for 2007, the U.S. sector posted its second straight year of single-digit numbers after nearly a decade of averaging 14 percent annual growth.

According to a recent report issued by Armstrong & Associates, a market-leading research firm, volume rose only 7.4 percent to $122 billion from last year’s $113.6 billion, and the consultants anticipate this slowdown drift will continue for the immediate future, wrote Quinn.

Quinn added that during the coming year it will be interesting to watch these revenue numbers as shippers begin to reassess overseas strategies as the geographic fundamentals of sourcing begin to shift. Even so, it needs to be repeated that the U.S. 3PL industry’s growth pattern, despite its deceleration, is still more than triple that of the gross domestic product—numbers that any market would love to take to the bank.

And while 3PL revenues continue to surge on the growing reliance on the international marketplace, we’re happy to report that the overall scores in the 3PL category jumped up as well. Four of the five key attributes that shipper’s vote on in this category saw a subtle increase in 2008, led by Carrier Selection/Negotiation, which improved by 1.42 points over 2007. It’s also important to note that shippers voted in 10 providers in 2008 that did not make the cut last year, marking a notable shifting of allegiance over the past year.

In fact, Unyson Logistics, a company that did not make the list in 2007, led the way this year by posting an impressive overall weighted score of 38.31. Unyson put up top scores in the Carrier Selection/Negotiation (9.00) and Logistics Information Systems (7.14) key 3PL attribute categories. Taking the lead this year in Order Fulfillment was Ozburn-Hessey Logistics with an impressive 8.75. Placing first in the Transportation/Distribution category was last year’s overall winner Expeditors International of Washington with a 9.15. Rounding out our list of category leaders is Cardinal Logistics which posted a 5.14 score in the only category that saw its overall weighted score drop a bit over last year’s numbers.

In 2008, shippers welcomed Penske Logistics (35.92), Averitt Express Supply Chain Solutions (35.56), Crowley Logistics (35.49), Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (35.09), Caterpillar Logistics Services (35.01), Jacobson Companies (34.99), Landair (34.91), Saddle Creek Corp. (34.53), Lynden Logistics (34.00), and UTi International (33.87) up to the podium this year after missing the cut in 2007.