JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Landstar System, Inc. (Nasdaq: LSTR), a safety-first non-asset-based provider of transportation capacity, announced today that three of its operating subsidiaries earned Logistics Management's 2003 Quest for Quality Awards.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the reader survey that determines the best companies in transportation and Landstar Logistics' debut in the Third Party Logistics (3PL) category. Respondents ranked third party logistics providers on: carrier selection/negotiations; order fulfillment; transportation/distribution; inventory management and logistics information systems. Of the nine award winners in this category, Landstar Logistics ranked second only to FedEx Supply-Chain Logistics.

Carrier Group companies Landstar Ranger, Inc. and Landstar Inway, Inc. placed third and fifth respectively in the Industrial Heavy Haul category. Respondents ranked carriers in this category on: on-time performance; value; information technology; customer service; and equipment and operations. This year, respondents granted only five awards in this category.

"Landstar Logistics is taking the 3PL world by storm," said Landstar President and COO Henry Gerkens, noting that the company also made Inbound Logistics' Top 10 3PL list. "Customers across the board are telling everyone Landstar delivers excellence."

This isn't the first Quest for Quality award Landstar Logistics has earned. The company was recognized for excellent service the past two years in the publication's Intermodal category.

Landstar Ranger and Landstar Inway have also been recognized in their category in past years. "It's gratifying to know shippers are, once again, recognizing our business capacity owners, agents and employees for the consistently superior quality service," said Gerkens.

Thousands of questionnaires were mailed to readers who buy transportation services in 12 different modes. According to Logistics Management, this annual report is the most comprehensive customer satisfaction survey conducted to evaluate and measure transportation service providers in the logistics industry.

"This study is more than a ranking of carriers -- it's a tool for shippers, carriers and transportation providers striving for optimum performance across their supply chains," writes Logistics Management.

Landstar System, Inc., identifies and fulfills shippers' needs through the coordination of individual businesses comprised of independent sales agents, business capacity owners, and other transportation capacity providers. The term, "business capacity owner", refers to Landstar's independent contractors who operate a small business and provide the equipment necessary to haul freight.

Landstar's carrier group is comprised of Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc. and Landstar Ranger, Inc. and delivers excellence in complete over-the-road transportation services. Landstar's multimodal group is comprised of Landstar Express America, Inc. and Landstar Logistics, Inc., provides expedited, contract logistics and intermodal transportation services. All Landstar operating companies are certified to ISO 9001: 2000 quality management system standards. Landstar System, Inc.'s common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol LSTR.

SOURCE Landstar System, Inc.