Price matters more than service, says survey of Atlantic shippers

FREDERICTON, N.B. (Feb. 19) — Nearly three-quarters of Atlantic shippers said price was the number-one factor in their choice of a motor carrier to handle their freight.

The survey was conducted by the Atlantic Provinces Transportation Commission to study how shippers in the region responded compared with how U.S. shippers responded to similar questions about how they each choose core carriers.

A competitive rate was ranked second by U.S. shippers, behind the ability to pick up and deliver freight on time. Shippers in Atlantic Canada ranked the timeliness of their shipments fifth on their list — two spots below the timeliness of billing by carriers.

Number-two in Atlantic Canada was the availability and condition of equipment, which ranked fifth among U.S. shippers.

Level of loss and damage was ranked similarly, with Atlantic Canadians ranking it sixth, while shippers in the U.S. ranked it seventh.

Other rankings showed more significant differences between the two groups.

> The ability to track shipment status ranked fourth in the U.S. and ranked eighth in Atlantic Canada.

> The volume of freight was 15th in the U.S. and ninth in the Atlantic Canada.

> Responsiveness to system service failures ranked third in the U.S. and seventh in Atlantic Canada.

> Past experience of the carrier ranked fourth, compared to sixth in the U.S.

The remaining factors showed similar rankings between shippers in the U.S. and Atlantic Canada, the APTC said. The only identical ranking was the degree of aervice customization, which ranked tenth in both surveys.


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