With so many different LTL carriers on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose. However, there are several industry measurements that you can use as a proxy for reliability.

The first consideration, particularly for longer distance shipments, is the delivery schedule and the number of times the package will be interlined. Longer shipping times and more interlining often suggest that a shipper cannot efficiently deliver your shipment. This may result in higher costs, and creates more opportunities for something to go wrong during interline transfers.

A second statistic to consider is on-time delivery. This indicates how often a firm meets its declared delivery schedule. A good firm will typically quote on-time delivery rates in the mid to high nineties.

A final area to examine is the claims to damage ratio. This ratio measures the percentage of revenue paid out in claims for problems caused by loss, damage or theft. The industry average is 1.25%-1.4%. You should use a company with a similar or lower ratio.