Every week, Tusk Logistics analyzes tens of thousands of parcel deliveries across our nationwide alternative carrier network. The goal is simple: provide real performance data that helps shippers build a smarter multi-carrier shipping strategy.

Here’s what we saw last week.

📦 On-Time Performance Holds at 95%

95% of all shipments were delivered on time.

For retailers looking to reduce parcel shipping costs with regional carriers without sacrificing reliability, consistency matters more than one-off spikes. Week after week, alternative carriers continue to deliver dependable service levels across dense markets.

On-time performance at this scale reinforces a broader trend we’re seeing across the industry: alternative carrier infrastructure is no longer experimental, it’s operational.

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⚡ 65.5% Delivered Within Two Days

For many ecommerce brands, two-day delivery is the baseline expectation. Alternative carriers are increasingly competitive on speed, particularly in high-density zones where national networks often introduce unnecessary handoffs.

As more shippers compare alternative carriers vs national carriers, speed in core markets becomes a deciding factor.

🔁 74% of Late Parcels Recovered the Next Day

Delays happen across every carrier network. What matters is recovery.

74% of late parcels were delivered the very next day.

That next-day recovery rate reduces customer impact and limits refund or reship costs — an often overlooked metric when evaluating carrier diversification strategies.

🏆 Standout Carriers This Week

100% On-Time Performance

• Falcon Express Transportation — First week back on the list

Carriers achieving 100% OTP demonstrate what’s possible in optimized zones with the right infrastructure and routing density.

>97% On-Time Performance

The following carriers delivered exceptional service last week:

• Courier Express — First week back on the list
• CDL Last Mile — First week back on the list
• United Delivery Service — First week back on the list
• Purple Mountain Solutions Inc. — First week back on the list
• Optima Overnight — First week back on the list
• DoorDash — Second consecutive week on the list

Strong reappearances across the board signal healthy network stability and improved consistency across regions.

What This Means for Shippers

If you’re building a carrier diversification strategy, here’s what the data reinforces:

• Alternative carriers are maintaining mid-90s on-time performance at scale
• Two-day delivery coverage continues to expand
• Recovery rates help mitigate downstream customer experience risk
• High-performing regional networks are becoming more predictable week over week

In short: alternative carriers are performing like infrastructure, not experiments.

For ecommerce brands evaluating alternative shipping methods for ecommerce businesses, real performance transparency should guide the decision, not assumptions.

If you’re ready to build a smarter alternative carrier stack, let’s talk.