Tracking What Matters: The KPIs That Power Food Logistics

Food supply chains are under more pressure than ever, from compliance demands to shrinking delivery windows. That’s why the right KPIs aren’t just helpful - they’re essential. In food shipping, with its stringent requirements for chain of custody and time-sensitive deliveries, KPIs take on a whole new level of importance.

Trailer Bridge supports some of the biggest names in food shipping, where strong KPI management is key to our shared success. In this post, Eric Masotti, President of Logistics, shares insights on how top food shippers use KPIs to drive performance, ensure compliance, and strengthen their supply chains.

Top KPIs for Food Shippers

On-time Delivery & Loading Percentage

“On-time percentage can be managed a thousand different ways,” Masotti says. On-time loading and on-time delivery are both tracked closely by industry leaders. In food shipping, expectations are often higher than in other freight categories due to temperature-control and shelf-life constraints.

Due Date Adherence vs. On-Time Delivery

Masotti notes that many food shippers prioritize due date percentage over exact on-time performance. Unlike time-critical produce, many food products can be delivered within a broader window. The key KPI here is meeting the delivery by the agreed-upon date, typically two weeks out for Trailer Bridge customers.

EDI Compliance

This KPI tracks the percentage of loads providing required electronic data interface (EDI) updates for a set of milestones such as load pickup and delivery. These updates are ordinarily automated system-generated emails. According to Masotti, most Trailer Bridge food shippers expect at least 95% compliance. While this KPI is milestone specific, it complements broader tracking metrics.

Shipment Tracking for Real-Time Visibility

Tracking measures the percentage of drivers connected to continuous location-sharing technology. For shippers working with Trailer Bridge, the information is provided through the company’s carrier management platform and transportation management system (TMS). “Tracking is an absolute must, a non-negotiable in today’s freight market,” says Masotti. “If you can't track shipments and provide updates, customers simply won’t work with you.”

Tender Acceptance Rates & Carrier Commitments

This KPI reflects the amount of loads transportation partners accept from the shippers they contract with. “Once a transportation provider is onboarded, shippers expect tender acceptance to be 90% or better,” Masotti explains. Some contracts set tiered expectations. In some cases, the primary carrier on a lane will be contracted to meet a higher tender acceptance rate than a secondary carrier. One Trailer Bridge beverage customer requires 87% tender acceptance from primary carriers and 85% from secondary carriers.

KPI Selection Depends on Business Goals

Beyond these core KPIs, shippers also track rate per mile, detention time, and detention-related charges. However, Masotti advises avoiding data overload.

Choose KPIs that align with your objectives, whether it's improving delivery precision, reducing operational costs, or enhancing service consistency.

Best Practices for Leveraging KPIs

KPIs function like vital signs for your logistics program, offering early warning for issues that could lead to costly service failures. Masotti recommends:

• Bi-weekly performance reviews with a clear agenda
• KPI dashboards broken down by lane or mode
• Root cause analysis for underperformance
• Corrective action plans involving all stakeholders

“For us, the business reviews focus on identifying issues, revealing root causes and determining corrective actions alongside the team members working on the account,” said Masotti.

Open communication is essential in these meetings. Issues with on-time performance or detention can originate with carriers, shippers’ operations, or many other sources. For that reason, transparency is the best policy and leads to the best solutions for all parties. Trailer Bridge’s reviews are a two-way conversation with the emphasis on problem-solving. During reviews, the shipper’s analytics lead and Trailer Bridge’s analytics team are often brought in to provide context or validate data when necessary.

“Things come up – a truck breaks down or a pickup is missed. We communicate the good and the bad with our customers. That builds trust,” said Masotti. “Especially with perishables, communication must be free-flowing and consistent.”

Big Shipper Lessons Smaller Shippers Can Use

Large food shippers may have in-house analytics teams. But smaller brands can still benefit from robust data by partnering with a provider like Trailer Bridge.

“We deliver the same level of reporting and insight that large shippers expect,” said Masotti. “And we help customers understand what those numbers mean for their business.”

In the competitive food and beverage market, consistent, high-quality service is a must. The KPIs that keep service on track must be just as strong.