FreightWaves spotlights top shippers in 2023 Shipper of Choice awards

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CLEVELAND — FreightWaves unveiled the 2023 Shipper of Choice awards during the second day of its Future of Supply Chain conference. This year’s list showcases a blend of both familiar and new names, with two companies securing their fifth consecutive awards and 15 companies making their debut.

FreightWaves’ Timothy Dooner and Tony Mulvey announced the awards Thursday alongside TriumphPay’s Melissa Forman. The awards, presented in partnership with TriumphPay, are designed to honor shippers that have proven themselves to be collaborative, flexible and attentive to carrier partners over the last year. Quick and transparent payment terms were also frequently cited by nominators.

“It’s all about collaboration, right? It’s all about working together and being a good partner,” Dooner said. ”There’s an old saying in freight: ‘If your wheels aren’t moving, you’re not making money.’ And what keeps your wheels from moving? Traffic. What also keeps your wheels from moving? Bad docks and long wait times.”

At its core, being a Shipper of Choice is a matter of human decency. Good shippers give drivers access to clean bathrooms and waiting spaces. As Mulvey noted, the freight industry is still a people business.

“Friendly service never hurts,” Forman said. “Treat people with respect and kindness, which was a huge theme in this year’s comments.”

These companies received nominations between February and May detailing how they went above and beyond in the past year to ensure efficient and effective operations. The FreightWaves Research team then evaluated the hundreds of nominations and contextualized them with SONAR data sets like industry-specific detention times to select this year’s 25.

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The awards have become a significant benchmark in the freight industry, highlighting the companies that are leading the way in fostering strong relationships with their carrier partners and creating a positive impact in the industry. The 2023 list reflects the dynamic nature of the industry, with a mix of long-standing leaders and new entrants making their mark.

In the coming weeks, FreightWaves will highlight the winners with dedicated articles.

Agri-Mark

Agri-Mark is a dairy cooperative owned by more than 800 dairy farm families in New England and New York, processing and selling dairy products under brands like Cabot and McCadam. It previously won in 2020.

BASF

BASF is a German multinational chemical company with a significant presence in the U.S., operating more than 100 production sites across the country, including its largest North American site in Geismar, Louisiana.

Bridgestone Americas

Bridgestone Americas, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corp., is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and operates multiple production plants and R&D facilities across the U.S.

Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods, headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, is one of the largest producers, distributors and marketers of branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market.

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Dow Chemical Co.

Dow is an American multinational chemical corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, operating 109 manufacturing sites in the U.S.

Grain Millers Inc.

Grain Millers, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of whole grain ingredients used in various products.

HNI Corporation

HNI Corp. is an office furniture and hearth products company based in Muscatine, Iowa. It previously was named a Shipper of Choice in 2020.

Ken’s Foods

Ken’s Foods, located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is a privately held food manufacturing company known for its production of salad dressings, sauces and marinades.

Kitchen Cabinet Distributors

Kitchen Cabinet Distributors, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, provides cabinetry solutions throughout the United States.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, a retail company specializing in home improvement, is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and operates a chain of retail stores in North America. It previously was named a Shipper of Choice in both 2021 and 2022.

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Molson Coors

Molson Coors, a multinational beverage and brewing company with roots in both Canada and the U.S., is headquartered in Chicago and operates breweries across the world.

Owens Corning

Owens Corning, established in 1938 in Toledo, Ohio, specializes in the production and development of insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites.

PepsiCo

PepsiCo, headquartered in Harrison, New York, is an American multinational food, snack and beverage corporation with a wide range of products. It previously won in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

S&C Electric

S&C Electric Co., based in Chicago, is a global provider of equipment and services for electric power systems.

Schreiber Foods

Schreiber Foods, headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is an employee-owned dairy company that produces and distributes various dairy products. It previously won in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Shorr Packaging

Shorr Packaging Corp., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is one of the largest independent packaging distribution firms in the nation.

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Southwire

Southwire, headquartered in Carrollton, Georgia, is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of wire and cable used in the distribution and transmission of electricity.

The Coca-Cola Co.

The Coca-Cola Co. is an American multinational beverage corporation headquartered in Atlanta. It previously won in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

The Home Depot

The Home Depot, headquartered in Atlanta, is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States. It previously won in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Kraft Heinz Co.

The Kraft Heinz Co., co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, is an American multinational food and beverage company. It previously won in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

TJ Maxx

TJ Maxx, a retail company founded in 1976, is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, and operates more than 1,200 locations.

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Tractor Supply Co.

Tractor Supply Co. is an American retail chain of stores that offers products for home improvement, agriculture, lawn and garden maintenance, and livestock, equine and pet care. It is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. It previously won in 2022.

Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas. It is one of the world’s largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork. It previously won in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Univar Solutions

Univar Solutions is a global chemical and ingredients distributor and provider of value-added services. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Walmart

Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores and grocery stores. The company was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. It previously won in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

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