Shipper Scorecards from the Carrier’s POV
Let’s be honest—most shippers are used to calling the shots when it comes to scorecards. But lately, the tables have started to turn. Carriers are no longer just passive vendors ticking boxes on someone else’s checklist. They’re tracking their own data, evaluating shippers based on how easy—or difficult—they are to work with. From dwell time at docks to payment delays and driver treatment, carriers are keeping score. And if you’re not paying attention to that scorecard, you could be quietly losing access to top-tier capacity without even realizing it. This article pulls back the curtain on what carriers are really tracking—and what shippers can do to stay in their good books.
Dwell Time: The Silent Capacity Killer
One of the first things a carrier monitors is how long their drivers wait at a shipper’s dock. Dwell time directly impacts Hours of Service (HOS), driver morale, and fleet efficiency.
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Is your team staging freight on time?
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Are appointments honored promptly?
High dwell times mean lost time and extra cost. Carriers often log this with time-stamped GPS data, ELD systems, and detention reports. Shippers with frequent loading delays quickly become less attractive.
Load Readiness: When Scheduled Doesn’t Mean Ready
Being scheduled for 9 AM means nothing if the freight isn’t staged or paperwork isn’t ready. Carriers track:
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Percentage of “ready-to-load” on arrival
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Delays due to missing product, documents, or staff
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Trailer pre-load efficiency
Every minute a truck idles is a minute not earning. This metric tells carriers whether your operation values their time.
Tendering Accuracy and Forecast Stability
Are you giving carriers accurate forecasts and honoring your tenders? Or are you the type that double-books lanes and drops commitments at the last minute?
Carriers monitor:
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Tender rejection patterns
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Forecast vs. actual freight volume
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Lane consistency
Unstable tendering behavior leads to network disruptions—and carriers may charge higher rates or stop bidding on your lanes altogether.
Invoicing and Payment Practices
Carriers aren’t just hauling freight—they’re also watching your Accounts Payable department.
They score shippers based on:
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Payment speed (Net-30 vs. Net-60 or worse)
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Accuracy of invoice reconciliation
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Frequency of invoice disputes
Late payments strain cash flow and can deprioritize you on the capacity list, especially with owner-operators and smaller fleets.
Driver-Friendly Amenities
This one might surprise you. Carriers increasingly track how their drivers are treated.
They look at:
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Availability of restrooms, vending, or waiting areas
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Overnight parking or safe staging zones
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Attitude of dock staff
Treat drivers well, and you’ll earn carrier loyalty. Treat them poorly, and your loads become the last to get covered.
Facility Communication and Responsiveness
When carriers call with issues—be it reschedules, directions, or dock assignments—how quickly does your team respond?
Carriers score:
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Response time to calls and emails
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Problem-solving attitude
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After-hours accessibility
Quick, helpful communication makes a shipper “easy to work with,” and that’s gold in a high-demand freight environment.
Load and Lane Predictability
Consistency is king. Carriers evaluate:
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Are your volumes steady?
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Are lane origins and destinations predictable?
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Are your pickup/drop-off times reliable?
This helps carriers plan routes, allocate drivers, and reduce deadhead miles. Unpredictability leads to inefficiency and resentment.
Visibility Compliance and Tech Integration
Do you mandate tracking apps and then ignore whether your facilities are EDI or API capable?
Carriers notice:
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GPS tracking reliability
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App or API integration support
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Real-time communication capability
Scorecards reflect whether your tech is helping or hindering the carrier’s visibility promise to their customers.
Freight Claims and Product Issues
Carriers aren’t just monitoring claims from shippers—they’re tracking how many they receive from brokers, too.
They flag:
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Product improperly packed or labeled
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Conflicts over damage accountability
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High frequency of “disputes” post-delivery
Shippers who generate headaches get fewer yeses during bid season.
Respect for Appointment Windows
Last but not least, carriers care about whether your appointments are honored. That includes:
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Clear time windows
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Minimal wait before or after
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A culture of respecting ETAs
Facilities that run like clockwork earn respect—and capacity.
How Carriers Use These Scorecards
Carrier scorecards aren’t just internal notes. They influence key business decisions like:
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Which shippers get offered spot capacity
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Which lanes get dedicated trucks
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Which accounts are targeted in RFP season
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Who gets hit with higher accessorial charges
If you’re a shipper who values strong carrier partnerships, this information should matter deeply. Your performance doesn’t just affect today’s delivery—it impacts your future competitiveness in the freight market.
Why Smart Shippers Ask for Their Own Scorecards
Here’s the kicker: very few shippers ever ask carriers for this feedback. And that’s a missed opportunity.
When shippers proactively ask, “How are we doing from your side?” they:
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Build trust
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Show respect
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Uncover hidden inefficiencies
Carriers love shippers who care enough to ask—and more importantly—take action.
Want to Improve Your Score? Here’s How
To become a preferred shipper, focus on:
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Reducing dock delays with better staging
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Ensuring appointments mean “ready to load”
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Honoring your tender commitments
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Paying carriers on time—every time
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Treating drivers like humans, not just trucks
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Upgrading to live tracking and system integrations
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Scheduling regular review meetings with core carriers
This isn’t rocket science. It’s operational respect. And it’s rewarded with reliable service, better rates, and loyalty that money can’t buy.
Conclusion: A Two-Way Street Worth Walking
For decades, carriers have been judged, scored, and critiqued by shippers. But in today’s data-driven world, carriers now have the tools to score right back—and they are using them wisely.
If you’re a shipper looking to improve freight performance, lower your rates, or secure long-term partnerships, one of the smartest moves you can make is to simply ask your carriers:
“How are we doing?”
Because better performance begins with honest feedback—and a willingness to fix what’s broken.
FAQs
What is a shipper scorecard from a carrier’s point of view?
It’s a performance evaluation that carriers use to track how efficiently and respectfully shippers operate, covering everything from dwell time to payment practices.
Do all carriers keep scorecards on shippers?
Not all, but many medium to large carriers (and most brokers) now maintain formal or informal shipper scorecards to aid business decisions.
What’s the biggest red flag carriers track?
Consistent late loading or long detention times. Nothing burns HOS hours faster or frustrates drivers more.
How can shippers access their own scorecards?
Just ask! Most carriers are open to sharing insights when they see the shipper genuinely wants to improve.
Can improving my scorecard lead to better rates?
Absolutely. Carriers often reserve their best pricing and availability for shippers who are easy and efficient to work with.
How often should we review our performance with carriers?
Quarterly reviews are ideal. They provide enough time to spot trends, correct issues, and foster stronger collaboration.