TRANSPORTATION METRICS: HOW DOES YOUR CARRIER MEASURE UP?
LEVERAGING METRICS Shippers can get more from the metrics they use by keeping in mind a few guidelines. One is to remain connected with both their logistics providers and carriers, even when they’ve outsourced their transportation management function. This includes participating in performance reviews. “Carriers behave differently when they know the shipper is in the room,” says Marc Held, CEO of HOPTEK. It’s also important to stick introduced, the tracking often is very stringent. Over time, however, the commitment to tracking tends to fade and standards aren’t as rigorously enforced. This can lead to drops in service levels. Along with measuring their transportation providers, shippers benefit by monitoring their own with the metrics for the long haul. When a new carrier is one-third of a truck on Monday, another third on Wednesday, and yet another on Friday, rather than ordering one full truck each week, even when it’s feasible. Reviewing order minimums and frequencies can boost discipline and cut costs. Moreover, shippers can impact a carrier’s service with their own missteps, such as late tendering or unrealistic transit expectations. “The shippers who get the best service aren’t the ones with the toughest scorecards,” Held says. “They’re the ones who measure themselves on the same axis.” actions. For instance, some shippers will regularly order
By tracking carrier safety metrics, shippers can effectively gauge fleet reliability, mitigate risk, and partner with providers that prioritize long-term performance.
“With the adoption of AI and other breakthrough technologies, we could see an increase in logistics productivity and throughput at warehouses and DCs,” Ren says. Logistics metrics growing in use include: Sustainability. Because more consumers are environmentally conscious, they’ll often notice—not favorably—packages with a great deal of wasted space or packing peanuts, Moyer says. That said, many organizations tend to focus on actions, such as optimizing package sizes, that can reduce both cost and the impact on the environment. When measuring emissions, empty miles is the most honest proxy. It’s harder to massage than a carbon figure, and it impacts both cost and driver retention. “Density is the rare metric where the sustainability answer and the economic answer are identical,” Held says. While carriers generally don’t publish empty miles, shippers can check industry averages. They also can watch how carriers price specific lanes, or whether they generally want a backhaul on certain routes.
becoming an increasingly important aspect of online shopping, Moyer says. While this is generally more subjective than, say, on-time delivery rates, several measurements can help shippers measure the experience. One is the percentage of deliveries made by uniformed rather than non- uniformed personnel. Many customers view a uniformed delivery person as more professional. A second could be customer complaints per 100 deliveries, focusing on issues that are within the carrier’s responsibility, such as a delivery person throwing a package or failing to follow delivery instructions. DEPTH OVER VOLUME Key metrics reveal a carrier’s true operational performance, while underrated variables such as decision latency and empty-mile sustainability offer deeper insights into long- term resilience. Ultimately, prioritizing metric depth over volume ensures shippers build predictable and cost-effective transportation networks.
The Delivery Experience. The perceived delivery experience is
32 Inbound Logistics • September 2026
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