Earlier this year, Landstar was ranked number one in the trucking industry on Fortune magazine’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies. The ranking is based on input from trucking industry executives, directors, and analysts. Landstar ranked first in six of the nine categories including innovation, people management, quality of management, use of corporate assets, financial soundness and value as a long term investment. Landstar made the Most Admired list the five previous years, as well.

So, what makes Landstar stand out among trucking companies?

"We are proud to be ranked first on this prestigious list," said Landstar President and CEO Henry Gerkens in a press release about the ranking. "This ranking reflects the talent, hard work and dedication of Landstar's independent sales agents, third-party capacity providers and employees, who help make this recognition possible."

In preparing the 2009 rankings, a total of 689 companies from 28 countries were surveyed by Fortune and its consulting partner, the Hay Group.

According to the Landstar, its safety first approach helps them stand out in the trucking industry. Landstar (officially Landstar System Inc.) is a publicly traded company (ticker symbol LSTR) based in Jacksonville, Fla.