| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Revenue | USD 3 billion (FY2008) |
| Parent | Con-way, Inc. |
| Website | http://www.con-way.com/en/freight |
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Con-way Freight is a less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier utilizing a network of freight service centers to provide regional, inter-regional and transcontinental less-than-truckload freight services throughout North America. The business unit provides day-definite delivery service to manufacturing, industrial and retail customers.[1] [2] Con-way Freight is the largest division of Con-way, Inc. with 16,600 employees, more than 365 operating locations, 16,000 dock doors and 32,750 tractors and trailers. In 2009 Con-way Freight reported revenues of over $2.6 billion.[3]
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Con-way Freight originated in May 1983 with the launch of Con-way Western Express, with 11 service centers in three western states, followed one month later by the start of Con-way Central Express, with 11 locations in seven Midwest states. On their first day of business the two carriers — which collectively began with 230 employees and 334 trucks, tractors and trailers handled 113 shipments.[4]
LTL carriers transport freight from multiple shippers utilizing a network of freight service centers,[5] combined with a fleet of linehaul and pickup-and-delivery tractors and trailers. Freight is picked up from customers and consolidated for shipment at the originating service center. The freight is then loaded into trailers and transferred to the destination service center providing service to the delivery area. From the destination service center, the freight is delivered to the customer. Typically, LTL shipments weigh between 150 and 25,000 pounds. In 2008, Con-way Freight’s average weight per shipment was 1,190 pounds.
Following the integration of the three regional component companies of Con-way Freight into a consolidated single network in 2007, Con-way Freight completed a major network re-engineering in November 2008. The re-engineering was designed to reduce service exceptions, improve on-time delivery and deliver faster transit times [6] while deploying a lower-cost, more efficient service center network better aligned to customer needs and business volumes. The re-engineering did not change Con-way Freight’s service coverage.
Con-way Freight has always had a strong presence at the National Truck Driving Championships. In 2010 the company sent a record 92 drivers to the competition and for the past two years Con-way Freight took home the title of Grand Champion. In 2009 Dale Duncan was named Grand Champion while in 2010 Carl Krites took home the title.
To qualify for U.S. state and national competitions, drivers must have maintained an accident-free driving record for the previous year. At the national competition, drivers face testing in three areas: a timed written exam, a pre-trip inspection test and a driving skills test. Each driver competes in one of nine equipment classes: 3-Axle, 4-Axle, 5-Axle, 5-Axle Flatbed, 5-Axle Sleeper, Step Van, Straight Truck, Tankers and Twins.