This study examines whether the transparency of algorithmic dispatch systems is associated with the logistics service quality perceived by riders on last-mile delivery platforms, and whether rider trust accounts for part of this association. Drawing on procedural justice theory and research on trust in organizations and intelligent systems, the study analyzes survey data from 420 active delivery riders in China collected in 2025. Hierarchical ordinary least squares regression with heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors, together with a bootstrap analysis based on 5,000 resamples, was used to test the hypotheses. Perceived algorithmic dispatch transparency was positively associated with rider trust, which in turn was positively associated with rider-perceived logistics service quality. Transparency was also directly associated with perceived service quality, and rider trust partially mediated the association between transparency and perceived service quality. These findings contribute to research on logistics informatics and platform service systems by showing how the information platforms provide about dispatch decisions relates to the judgments riders form about platform coordination. The results also offer a basis for designing dispatch explanation, feedback, and appeal mechanisms on delivery platforms.
