What criteria did FreightWaves use to evaluate Shipper of Choice winners?

FreightWaves evaluated shippers across four primary areas: data connectivity, ease of doing business, carrier relationships, and facility operations. Industry voting determined the winners, with emphasis on practices that make companies preferred partners for trucking carriers. The awards recognize shippers that address challenges like long facility wait times, unreliable scheduling, and complicated administrative processes that reduce driver productivity.

How do these shippers reduce detention and improve carrier efficiency?

Winners employ several proven tactics: Schreiber Foods uses drop trailers to reduce detention and trains plant employees on hours-of-service rules; Aldi USA maintains predictable appointment scheduling with typical detention on only a handful of loads weekly; Agri-Mark reduces facility time to about 45 minutes and allows appointment changes through an online portal; North American Stainless offers drop-and-hook operations and preloaded trailers at no carrier cost. These practices directly increase the number of loads drivers can complete daily.

What role does communication play in these winning relationships?

Communication is central to the award-winning approach. Kraft Heinz holds weekly scorecard calls and conducts in-person business reviews with carriers. Agri-Mark operates a quoting tool showing how rates compare with market prices and responds to carriers on weekends. Aldi USA provides clear feedback on freight bids so carriers understand their competitive position. This transparency and regularity build trust and help carriers make informed business decisions.

How do payment terms factor into carrier satisfaction?

Payment reliability and terms significantly impact carrier cash flow. Schreiber Foods pays most carriers on net-35-to-45-day terms, while North American Stainless pays on net-30 terms. Beyond standard terms, award winners honor contracted rates and volumes even when spot-market prices are lower, providing carriers with predictability and financial stability that reduces their working capital burden.

Why should other shippers adopt these practices?

Companies that invest in these carrier-focused practices gain competitive advantages: stronger carrier relationships mean more reliable freight movement, reduced delays, and priority access during tight market conditions. Additionally, improved facility operations and predictable scheduling increase driver satisfaction, which helps mitigate driver shortages in the trucking industry. These practices ultimately reduce total logistics costs and improve supply chain resilience.

Shipping & Freight

Moderate

FreightWaves Names 2024 Shipper of Choice Winners

Oct 28, 2026

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The signal

FreightWaves announced its 2024 Shipper of Choice awards, recognizing 10 companies that demonstrate exceptional practices in carrier relationships, data connectivity, facility operations, and scheduling reliability. The award program, which emphasizes industry voting and evaluates practices that benefit trucking carriers, highlights companies ranging from Schreiber Foods to Nestlé USA that have invested in reducing detention times, improving communication with carriers, and creating predictable operational environments.

This recognition underscores a critical trend in freight logistics: shippers that prioritize carrier efficiency and satisfaction gain competitive advantages through stronger partnerships and more reliable freight movement. For supply chain professionals, these award winners provide benchmarks for best practices that can directly reduce driver wait times, increase load completion rates, and improve overall supply chain efficiency.

The emphasis on data connectivity, transparent communication, and facility optimization reflects the industry's shift toward more collaborative shipper-carrier relationships that benefit both parties.

Companies affected by this story:

Best Buy

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Best Buy

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McLane Company Inc.

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#shipper-of-choice-awards

#carrier-relationships

#trucking-industry

#freight-efficiency

#supply-chain-best-practices

#detention-reduction

#carrier-satisfaction

#logistics-management

#freightwaves

#supply-chain-excellence

Frequently Asked Questions

What This Means for Your Supply Chain

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if your company adopts drop-trailer operations like North American Stainless?

Model the impact of implementing drop-and-hook operations and preloaded trailers at your facilities. Simulate reduction in detention time from current levels to industry benchmarks (30 to 90 minutes), increased carrier capacity utilization, and changes in equipment costs versus service level improvements. Assume carrier participation increases by 15 to 25 percent due to improved conditions.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if you implement predictable appointment scheduling like Aldi USA?

Simulate the operational and financial impact of switching to Aldi USA's predictable appointment scheduling model with online booking and change capabilities. Model the reduction in detention time to Aldi's benchmark levels (minimal detention on most loads), carrier satisfaction improvements, and increased frequency of contracted business. Test scenarios where carriers increase load frequency by 10 to 20 percent due to improved reliability.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

strategic

What if you establish weekly communication cadences like Kraft Heinz?

Simulate the cost and service level impact of implementing weekly scorecard calls, in-person business reviews, and frequent anonymous feedback collection from carrier partners. Model improved visibility into operational issues, faster resolution of disputes, and increased carrier commitment. Estimate the labor cost of additional touchpoints against potential reductions in missed shipments, service failures, and carrier churn.

Run this scenario

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