Con-way Freight

Con-way Freight was a major North American less-than-truckload (LTL) motor-carrier brand headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was the largest operating division of Con-way, Inc., a transportation company created from businesses associated with Consolidated Freightways. The carrier served manufacturing, industrial, and retail customers with scheduled, day-definite freight transportation rather than moving complete truckloads for a single shipper. The business began in May 1983, when Consolidated Freightways launched Con-way Western Express in the western United States. A month later, it introduced Con-way Central Express in the Midwest. These initial operations were designed to provide non-union regional and short-haul LTL service in markets where Consolidated Freightways was not actively selling. The original western and central operations began with 230 employees and 334 trucks, tractors, and trailers and handled 113 shipments on their first day. Additional regional carriers, including Con-way Southern Express and Con-way Eastern Express, formed part of the same expansion strategy. Con-way Freight’s operating model relied on freight service centers. Shipments from multiple customers were collected, consolidated at an originating center, transported through the linehaul network, separated at a destination center, and delivered locally. This model allowed the carrier to handle shipments that were too large or too complex for parcel networks but did not require an entire trailer. Typical LTL shipments ranged from approximately 150 to 25,000 pounds; the company reported an average shipment weight of 1,190 pounds in 2008. The regional companies were progressively integrated. In 2007, Con-way Freight consolidated the four regional networks into a single operating network. It subsequently undertook network re-engineering intended to improve service while preserving the company’s coverage. At its mature scale, the division had more than 365 operating locations, approximately 16,000 dock doors, and a combined fleet of about 32,750 tractors and trailers. It employed roughly 16,600 people and reported revenue of more than $2.6 billion in 2009. Safety and professional driving were visible elements of the brand’s operating culture. Con-way Freight regularly participated in the National Truck Driving Championships, where drivers competed in written knowledge, vehicle inspection, and driving-skills tests after maintaining an accident-free record. The company sent 92 drivers to the 2010 competition, and its drivers won the overall Grand Champion title in 2009 and 2010. Other company drivers also achieved divisional success, including a Twins Division national title in 2016 and another in 2017. On September 9, 2015, XPO, Inc. completed its acquisition of Con-way, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $3.5 billion. Con-way Freight therefore became part of XPO’s transportation operations. XPO later sold the former Con-way Truckload full-truckload business to TFI International in 2016, but that transaction concerned a separate division rather than the core LTL operation. By May 2017, XPO reported that the Con-way branding had been replaced by XPO branding. The Con-way Freight name was consequently retired, although the acquired LTL operations continued within XPO’s business.

Con-way Freight traces its origins to Consolidated Freightways, a Portland, Oregon-based carrier that sought to expand LTL coverage through non-union regional operations. In May 1983, Consolidated Freightways launched Con-way Western Express with 11 service centers in three western states. One month later, Con-way Central Express began operating with 11 locations across seven Midwestern states. The two carriers opened with a combined 230 employees and 334 trucks, tractors, and trailers, handling 113 shipments on their first day. The regional model was intended to complement rather than directly duplicate Consolidated Freightways’ established business. Con-way created short-haul and regional LTL capacity in markets where its parent was not actively selling. Con-way Southern Express and Con-way Eastern Express were added to the regional structure, giving the business a presence across additional parts of the United States. The regional carriers moved freight for commercial customers through networks of pickup-and-delivery terminals, linehaul routes, and destination service centers. LTL transportation differs from full-truckload service because a trailer carries freight from multiple shippers. Con-way Freight collected shipments at local customer sites, consolidated them at an originating service center, transferred the freight through the network, and separated it at the destination center for final delivery. This structure supported shipments generally too large for parcel services but smaller than a full truckload. The company offered regional, inter-regional, and transcontinental service and emphasized scheduled, day-definite delivery for manufacturing, industrial, and retail customers. The four regional operations were eventually brought together under the Con-way Freight identity. Following their integration into a unified network in 2007, the company carried out a major network re-engineering effort. The stated objective was to improve service without reducing the geographic coverage available to customers. At its mature scale, Con-way Freight operated more than 365 locations with approximately 16,000 dock doors and a fleet of about 32,750 tractors and trailers. The division employed roughly 16,600 people and was the largest division of Con-way, Inc. In 2009, it reported revenue exceeding $2.6 billion. Driver skill and safety competitions formed another part of the company’s public profile. Con-way Freight maintained a strong presence at the National Truck Driving Championships. Drivers had to maintain an accident-free record to qualify for state and national competitions, which tested written knowledge, pre-trip inspection ability, and practical driving skills. Dale Duncan won the Grand Champion title in 2009, followed by Carl Krites in 2010. The company sent a record 92 drivers to the 2010 national event. Chris Poynor later won the Twins Division national championship in 2016 and again in 2017. A major ownership change occurred on September 9, 2015, when XPO, Inc. acquired Con-way, Inc. for approximately $3.5 billion. The acquisition brought Con-way Freight under XPO control along with other Con-way businesses. In October 2016, XPO sold the former Con-way Truckload division to TFI International for $558 million in cash. That sale involved the full-truckload operation and did not represent the disposal of the principal LTL business associated with Con-way Freight. By May 2017, XPO stated that it had completed the rebranding of Con-way operations. The Con-way Freight name was retired, and the business continued under XPO branding.

• 2017

  Con-way name retired

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  XPO completed the rebranding of Con-way operations, ending the Con-way Freight brand identity.

• 2015

  Acquired by XPO

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  XPO completed its acquisition of Con-way, Inc., including Con-way Freight.

• 2009

  Revenue exceeds $2.6 billion

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  Con-way Freight reported revenue of more than $2.6 billion for the year.

• 2007

  Regional networks consolidated

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  The four regional component companies were integrated into a single Con-way Freight network, followed by a network re-engineering program.

• 1983

  Con-way Western Express and Con-way Central Express launch

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  Consolidated Freightways began its non-union regional LTL strategy with the launch of Western Express in May and Central Express in June.

• 1983

  Regional carrier structure expands

  [1]Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org

  Con-way Southern Express and Con-way Eastern Express joined the western and central operations as part of the regional expansion plan.

A large-scale, non-union LTL carrier positioned around scheduled and day-definite freight transportation, broad service-center coverage, operational reliability, and service to commercial and industrial shippers.

• Freight transportation · 1983

  Less-than-truckload transportation

  Con-way Freight’s core service moved freight from multiple shippers in shared trailers. Shipments were collected locally, consolidated at service centers, transported through the linehaul network, and delivered from destination centers. The service was aimed at commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and retail customers whose shipments did not require a full truck.

• LTL transportation · 1983

  Regional and inter-regional freight

  The company’s regional operating companies provided scheduled short-haul and regional service, while the consolidated network supported movements across multiple regions. The structure was designed to extend coverage into markets where Consolidated Freightways had not actively marketed its own services.

• LTL transportation

  Transcontinental LTL freight

  After the regional networks were integrated, Con-way Freight offered transcontinental less-than-truckload transportation through its broad service-center and linehaul network. The offering supported day-definite movements for shippers requiring scheduled delivery across North America.

• 2017

  Retire the Con-way brandStrategy

  Background

  Following XPO’s acquisition of Con-way, the acquired transportation businesses were being incorporated into XPO’s operating and brand structure.

  Action taken

  XPO completed the rebranding of Con-way operations under the XPO identity.

  Aftermath

  Con-way Freight ceased operating as a standalone brand, although its LTL activities continued within XPO.

  Source

• 2015

  Sell Con-way, Inc. to XPOM&A

  Background

  Con-way Freight was the largest division of Con-way, Inc., which also included other transportation operations.

  Action taken

  XPO, Inc. acquired Con-way, Inc. on September 9, 2015, in a transaction valued at approximately $3.5 billion.

  Aftermath

  Con-way Freight became part of XPO’s transportation operations, and the Con-way brand was later replaced by XPO branding.

  Transaction value. $3.5 billion (2015 acquisition)

  Source

• 2007

  Consolidate regional LTL networksStrategy

  Background

  Con-way Freight had developed from several regional carriers, including Western, Central, Southern, and Eastern Express. Operating them as a unified network offered the potential for more consistent service and broader routing.

  Action taken

  The company integrated the regional operations and conducted a subsequent network re-engineering program while retaining its service coverage.

  Aftermath

  The re-engineered network became the operating foundation for Con-way Freight’s large-scale regional, inter-regional, and transcontinental LTL business.

  Source

1. 1Con-way Freighten.wikipedia.org