Con-way

Con-way, Inc. was an American freight transportation and logistics company that developed from the operating businesses retained by Consolidated Freightways after a major corporate separation in 1996. The company was headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and operated through a portfolio of freight and logistics businesses rather than as a single-mode trucking carrier. Its principal operating units included Con-way Freight, Con-way Truckload, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, Con-way Enterprise Services, and Con-way Manufacturing. The company’s roots went back to 1929, when Leland James established Consolidated Truck Lines in Portland, Oregon. The business expanded from a small intercity trucking operation into a major long-haul carrier with a national presence. Its headquarters moved to the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1950s as the company expanded eastward and broadened its operating footprint. Consolidated Freightways became an important participant in the development of American motor freight transportation, particularly in long-haul and less-than-truckload services. A defining turning point came in 1996, when the unionized long-haul operation known as CF MotorFreight and related businesses were separated from the parent company. The spun-off company adopted the name Consolidated Freightways Corporation, while the remaining parent was renamed CNF Transportation, Inc. and retained the Con-way-branded less-than-truckload subsidiaries and other logistics and freight-forwarding activities. This created two separately traded companies with related historical origins but different operating portfolios. The spun-off Consolidated Freightways Corporation later entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002 and ceased operations; that event concerned the separated long-haul company rather than the continuing CNF business. CNF increasingly positioned itself as a diversified transportation and supply-chain services provider. Con-way Freight delivered less-than-truckload transportation throughout North America, consolidating shipments that did not require a full trailer. Con-way Truckload handled full-truckload movements in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Menlo Worldwide Logistics designed and managed logistics programs involving warehousing, distribution, transportation management, and broader supply-chain coordination. Con-way Enterprise Services provided administrative and information-technology capabilities, while Con-way Manufacturing produced and refurbished trailers and other equipment for the company’s fleet. The company expanded its truckload capabilities in 2007 by acquiring Contract Freighters, Inc., commonly known as CFI. The transaction added a substantial North American full-truckload operation and strengthened Con-way’s ability to serve customers requiring dedicated and long-distance capacity. In 2006, CNF Transportation had formally adopted the Con-way name, changing its New York Stock Exchange symbol from CNF to CNW. The company later moved its headquarters from San Mateo, California, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2011. Con-way remained a significant North American less-than-truckload provider while also serving international contract-logistics and managed-transportation customers. Reference material described annual revenue of approximately $5.5 billion and operations from more than 500 locations across North America and 20 countries, although those figures should be understood as period-specific descriptions rather than current financial information. On September 9, 2015, Con-way announced that it would be acquired by XPO, Inc. The transaction closed on October 30, 2015. XPO subsequently integrated the operating businesses under its own corporate structure, and the Con-way brand was retired by May 9, 2017. The former Con-way Truckload business was later acquired by TFI International in 2016 and renamed CFI.

Con-way’s historical lineage began in 1929, when Leland James founded Consolidated Truck Lines in Portland, Oregon. The company grew from an intercity carrier into a major American long-haul trucking enterprise. During the 1950s, its headquarters moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, reflecting the company’s increasing scale and geographic reach. Over subsequent decades, the business expanded across long-haul trucking, less-than-truckload freight, and related transportation services. In 1996, the company reorganized its operations through a significant separation. Its unionized long-haul trucking business, CF MotorFreight, together with several related subsidiaries, was spun off into an independent company named Consolidated Freightways Corporation. The remaining parent company was renamed CNF Transportation, Inc., using the familiar CNF stock symbol. CNF retained the Con-way less-than-truckload subsidiaries and other freight-forwarding and logistics businesses. The two companies therefore shared a historical origin but followed separate corporate paths. Consolidated Freightways Corporation later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 3, 2002, and ceased operations. CNF developed the retained businesses into a broader transportation and logistics group. Its principal operating company, Con-way Freight, provided less-than-truckload service across North America. Con-way Truckload served full-truckload customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Menlo Worldwide Logistics provided international contract-logistics and supply-chain services, including logistics design, warehousing, distribution, and transportation management. Con-way Enterprise Services supported administration and information technology, while Con-way Manufacturing, formerly known as Road Systems, produced and refurbished trailers and other fleet equipment. In 2006, CNF Transportation changed its corporate name to Con-way, Inc. and changed its New York Stock Exchange ticker from CNF to CNW. The company strengthened its truckload position in 2007 by acquiring Contract Freighters, Inc., a privately held carrier based in Joplin, Missouri. The acquisition added a large fleet and an established North American customer base. Con-way moved its headquarters from San Mateo to Ann Arbor in 2011. By the middle of the 2010s, Con-way was a diversified freight and logistics provider rather than a conventional long-haul trucking company. Its activities included less-than-truckload and full-truckload transportation, logistics outsourcing, managed transportation, freight brokerage, warehousing, and supply-chain management. Period descriptions characterized the company as operating from more than 500 locations across North America and in 20 countries, with annual revenue of about $5.5 billion. These figures belong to the period before its acquisition and are not current company data. On September 9, 2015, Con-way announced that XPO, Inc. would acquire the company. The transaction closed on October 30, 2015, ending Con-way’s independent public-company status. XPO integrated the acquired operations into its transportation and logistics network, and the Con-way brand was retired by May 9, 2017. The former Con-way Truckload operation was acquired by TFI International in 2016 and subsequently operated under the CFI name.

• 2017

  Con-way brand is retired

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  The Con-way name was retired after the company’s operations were integrated into XPO.

• 2015

  Acquisition by XPO is completed

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  XPO completed its acquisition of Con-way on October 30, ending the company’s independent corporate status.

• 2011

  Headquarters move to Ann Arbor

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  Con-way relocated its headquarters from San Mateo, California, to Ann Arbor, Michigan.

• 2007

  Contract Freighters, Inc. is acquired

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  Con-way acquired CFI to expand its full-truckload transportation capabilities in North America.

• 2006

  CNF becomes Con-way, Inc.

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  CNF Transportation adopted the Con-way corporate name and changed its NYSE ticker from CNF to CNW.

• 2002

  Consolidated Freightways Corporation enters bankruptcy

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  The separately spun-off Consolidated Freightways Corporation filed for Chapter 11 and later ceased operations.

• 1996

  Long-haul business is spun off

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  CF MotorFreight and related long-haul operations were separated into Consolidated Freightways Corporation, while the remaining parent became CNF Transportation, Inc.

• 1950

  Headquarters move to the San Francisco Bay Area

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  The growing freight company moved its headquarters from Portland to the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1950s.

• 1929

  Consolidated Truck Lines is founded

  [1]Con-wayen.wikipedia.org

  Leland James founded the Portland, Oregon, intercity trucking company that became the historical predecessor of Con-way.

A diversified North American freight and logistics platform combining less-than-truckload transportation with truckload, contract logistics, managed transportation, and supply-chain services.

• Less-than-truckload transportation

  Con-way Freight

  Con-way Freight was the group’s principal less-than-truckload carrier. It transported consolidated shipments across North America, allowing customers to move freight that did not require an entire trailer. The operation formed the core of Con-way’s North American freight network and was central to the company’s identity after the 1996 separation.

• Full-truckload transportation

  Con-way Truckload

  Con-way Truckload provided full-truckload freight transportation in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The unit served shipments requiring dedicated trailer capacity and complemented Con-way Freight’s less-than-truckload network. Its capabilities were strengthened by the 2007 acquisition of Contract Freighters, Inc.

• Contract logistics and supply-chain management

  Menlo Worldwide Logistics

  Menlo Worldwide Logistics designed and implemented logistics programs for global customers. Its activities included warehousing, distribution, transportation management, and supply-chain coordination. The business gave Con-way an international contract-logistics capability beyond its core trucking operations.

• Trailer manufacturing and refurbishment

  Con-way Manufacturing

  Con-way Manufacturing, formerly known as Road Systems, produced and refurbished trailers and related trailing equipment for the company’s transportation fleet. The unit supported internal fleet requirements and formed part of Con-way’s vertically integrated operating structure.

• 2015

  Sell Con-way to XPOM&A

  Background

  Con-way operated as a diversified freight and logistics group when XPO proposed acquiring the company.

  Action taken

  Con-way announced the acquisition agreement on September 9, 2015, and the transaction closed on October 30, 2015.

  Aftermath

  Con-way ceased to operate as an independent public company, its businesses were integrated into XPO, and the Con-way brand was subsequently retired.

  Source

• 2007

  Acquire Contract Freighters, Inc.M&A

  Background

  Con-way sought to expand its full-truckload platform and complement its established less-than-truckload business.

  Action taken

  Con-way acquired privately held Contract Freighters, Inc., a North American truckload carrier based in Joplin, Missouri.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded Con-way’s truckload fleet and geographic coverage; the business later became associated with the CFI name under new ownership.

  Reported transaction value. $750 million (2007 transaction)

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt the Con-way corporate identityStrategy

  Background

  CNF Transportation retained businesses that were already associated with the Con-way operating name and sought a corporate identity aligned with its continuing portfolio.

  Action taken

  CNF Transportation changed its name to Con-way, Inc. and changed its NYSE ticker from CNF to CNW.

  Aftermath

  The Con-way name became the group’s principal corporate brand until its acquisition by XPO.

  Source

• 1996

  Separate the long-haul trucking businessStrategy

  Background

  The company reorganized its transportation portfolio by separating the unionized CF MotorFreight long-haul operation and related businesses from the parent.

  Action taken

  The long-haul operations became Consolidated Freightways Corporation, while the remaining parent was renamed CNF Transportation and retained the Con-way-branded LTL and logistics businesses.

  Aftermath

  The separation created two independent corporate entities with different operating portfolios and ultimately left CNF positioned around LTL freight and logistics.

  Source

1. 1Con-wayen.wikipedia.org