In a recent Inbound Logistics feature, Kelly Martinez, President and Co-Founder of ePost Global, joined other industry experts to outline critical factors in transportation provider selection, a decision that has never been more important for business success.
"Companies are judged so harshly on delivery," Martinez explained. "They can have the greatest product in the world, but if it doesn't get delivered into somebody's hands at the right time, they're in trouble."
Why transportation provider selection is a strategic imperative
According to Arthur Axelrad, CEO of Dispatch Science, "Poor carrier selection or weak carrier management can erode margins, damage customer experience, reduce flexibility and scale, and limit the ability to adapt in a rapidly evolving marketplace."
The article, "Betting on the Right Transportation Provider" by Tom Gresham, details six essential best practices that logistics professionals should follow when evaluating and selecting carriers.
The 6 best practices for transportation provider selection
1. Know your needs before starting the process
Martinez emphasizes a common pitfall: "Shippers often approach us with an RFP that is all over the place and doesn't clearly communicate what they're looking for in a provider."
The article explains how shippers must understand what they're shipping, where it's shipping from, and all the different services they need before approaching potential providers. "They need to know how all those components play as a whole," Martinez notes.
2. Be flexible in a changed landscape
The transportation provider selection process has evolved dramatically. According to Mike Hane of Descartes, "The process has become more fluid and flexible," with fewer annual bids and more ongoing evaluation. This shift means carrier selection is now "an ongoing process marked by constant consideration of their carrier portfolio."
3. Look beyond just price
Erin Mitchell, COO of YMX Logistics, recommends starting with alignment instead of price. "Too often, selection begins with bids rather than values," she explains. "The right partner should share your view on safety, service, and transparency."
The article details how "unreliable service creates hidden costs—missed appointments, product loss, overtime, customer penalties" that often exceed any initial savings from choosing the lowest-cost provider.
4. Push technology and data to the foreground
"The most critical best practice for shippers is to evaluate a carrier's technological capabilities alongside their operational performance," Axelrad advises. The feature explores how technology capabilities have become the primary differentiator in transportation provider selection.
5. Ask strategic-minded questions
The article provides specific questions shippers should ask to evaluate carriers as strategic partners rather than transactional vendors, including how providers have helped similar clients grow and how they've adapted to unexpected challenges.
6. Include the right people in the process
"It benefits logistics executives to have their input and buy-in in the selection process," Martinez says. The article explains why cross-functional teams—including operations, IT, finance, and customer service—lead to better transportation provider selection outcomes.
Red flags to watch
The Inbound Logistics feature also identifies critical warning signs during the vetting process, including lack of data transparency, fraud risks, and "too-good-to-be-true" rates that usually indicate corners being cut.
Read the full article
For comprehensive guidance on each best practice, detailed expert insights, and specific questions to ask during your transportation provider selection process, read the complete Inbound Logistics article.
The feature includes additional perspectives from industry leaders and practical frameworks for implementing these best practices in your carrier selection process.
Read the full article: Gresham, T. (2026, January). Betting on the Right Transportation Provider. Inbound Logistics.
