NASSTRAC announces the recipients of its 2012 Carrier of the Year program, an annual program that recognizes transportation providers on a quantitative scale in five key areas: customer service, operational excellence, pricing, business relationship, leadership and technology.

This year, a record number of NASSTRAC regular members who are qualified buyers of transportation services graded carriers they use on a 4-point scale in the following categories, based upon regional scope and capabilities: National Truckload, Parcel, Expedited, and LTL (in National, Multi-Regional, Regional-Northeast, Regional-Southeast, Regional-Midwest, and Regional-West categories).

"NASSTRAC's goal through this program is to encourage high performance by carriers through this shipper-based recognition program," said Eric Morley, NASSTRAC's current chairman and senior director – supply chain of Best Buy Co. "As a shipper-based association, we leverage this annual awards program to continuously encourage performance excellence in various market segments of transportation. Shippers and carriers alike see this to be a very credible program through which appropriate industry recognition is given." As NASSTRAC grows its association membership in all modes of transportation, it plans to continue expanding the categories represented in the awards program.

Receiving the prestigious NASSTRAC Carrier of the Year Awards in 2012 are:

• U.S. Xpress, in the Truckload category
• FedEx Services, in the Parcel category
• FedEx Custom Critical, in the Expedited category

In LTL, the following are receiving awards:

• YRC, in the National category
• FedEx Freight, in the Multi-Regional category
• A. Duie Pyle, in the Regional-Northeast category
• Southeastern Freight Lines, in the Regional-Southeast category;
• Dayton Freight Lines, in the Regional-Midwest category
• Oak Harbor Freight Lines, in the Regional-West category

Recipients of the award will be recognized at the 2012 NASSTRAC Logistics Conference & Expo taking place April 29 – May 2 in Orlando, Fla.

For more information on NASSTRAC's awards program, annual conference, or membership, visit the website or call 952-442-8850, ext. 208.