The Service Excellence Award (Supply Chain Partner of the Year) recognizes freight forwarders, logistics service providers (LSPs) and other supply chain stakeholders (railroads, MTOs, inland rail providers, drayage providers etc.) for activities and efforts that delivered a measurable, quantitative improvement in service levels, thereby enhancing the supply chain of their partners and the gateway as a whole. The winner is selected based on the scope of the initiative and net impact to supply chains in the gateway.
Examples of activities that might qualify for recognition:
- MTOs – Improved truck turn times, terminal utilization rate, or other key metrics
- LSPs – On-time delivery, appointment schedule compliance, freight tracking compliance, and collaboration
- Drayage providers – Adherence to terminal appointments, equipment availability, or other key metric
- Railroads – Equipment availability, rail dwell, on-time performance, transit time
Click the link to learn more about our past winners.
Award Criteria
Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Activities from Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2025.
- Activities are primarily privately funded and do not rely exclusively on port or other public funding
- Has a multiplier effect with positive downstream impacts for port customers, tenants, and supply chain partners
- Has recognizable potential for medium or long-term benefits to the port and the region’s citizens
- Nominee may be located outside of the Puget Sound (King, Pierce and surrounding counties), but activities must generate direct economic and community benefits for the region
Nominations will be accepted June 1-30, 2026.