Quest for Quality 2023: Less Than Truckload (LTL)

As our John Schulz reported last month in our comprehensive breakdown of the “Annual State of Logistics Report,” the great freight slowdown of 2023 has produced an unusually sharp falloff in demand in the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector. However, he reports that what’s most surprising to market analysts is how strong pricing has held up despite the sluggish market.

“Because of newfound pricing discipline among LTL leaders, tonnage is down, but it’s not affecting overall revenue,” says Schulz. “The LTL market’s surprising profitability and ability to not only exist, but to become the most lucrative and well-managed niche of the overall trucking industry, is astounding to even veteran leaders in the sector.”

According to the readers of Logistics Management, the 20 carriers taking home Quest for Quality gold are also maintaining world-class service levels as they continue to manage these still uncertain times.

This year’s National LTL category sees an astounding six Quest for Quality winners this year, with Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL) posting a most impressive 49.13 weighted score this year. ODFL put up top marks in On-time Performance (12.35), Information Technology (8.05), Customer Service (10.32), and Equipment & Operations (9.21). R+L Carriers lead the way with a 9.66 in Value.

In the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region, A. Duie Pyle, PITT OHIO, and Ross Express are taking home Quest for Quality gold. A. Duie put up top marks in On-time Performance (11.41), Information Technology (7.15), and Equipment & Operations (8.54), while PITT OHIO lead the way in Value (9.62) and Ross Express had top marks in the tight Customer Service attribute (9.12).

The South/South Central Region and the Midwest/North Central Region both see two carriers per region winning Quest for Quality awards this year. In the South/South Central, Averitt posted an impressive 49.57 weighted score, while in the Midwest/North Central Dayton Freight Lines put up a 48.41 weighted score to lead the way. As one can see in the chart, scores across all of the attribute categories were very close in both of these regions.

The Western Region finds five Quest for Quality winners this year, with Oak Harbor Freight Lines posting a notable 52.11 weighted average, the highest weighted score in the entire 2023 LTL category. Oak Harbor put up impressive marks in all five of the attribute categories this year. Perennial Quest for Quality winner Lynden Transport posted an impressive 48.85 this year, one of the top scores in the overall category this year.

Surface Package Carriers rounds out this year’s less-than-truckload category, and as always we find UPS and FedEx Ground both taking home Quest for Quality gold. For the second year in a row, UPS pulls in with a top weighted score (46.26), posting top scores in four of the five attributes. FedEx led the way in Customer Service this year with an 8.77. 

2023 Quest for Quality Winners Categories

• 40th Annual Quest for Quality Awards: Service stars in the new era of collaboration
• LTL
• TRUCKLOAD
• RAIL/INTERMODAL
• OCEAN CARRIERS
• PORTS
• 3PL
• AIR CARRIERS and FREIGHT FORWARDERS