It’s official: CFI becomes Con-way Truckload; adds new rigs, driver raise

CFI's familiar red rigs will be rebranded in the blue and white colors of Con-way Inc., with the carrier now officially operating as Con-way Truckload.

The Trucker News Services

1/10/2008

SAN MATEO, Calif., and JOPLIN, Mo. — Con-way Inc. reported Thursday that its truckload operating unit, Contract Freighters Inc., will now be known as Con-way Truckload. Con-way Inc. completed the $750 million acquisition of the privately held Joplin, Mo.-based international truckload carrier on Aug. 23, 2007.

“The new name communicates that we are truly part of the Con-way organization, and that’s an exciting development,” said Herb Schmidt, president, Con-way Truckload. “Our integration into Con-way has brought us a larger customer base and, with it, more opportunities for our company and our people.”

The new, combined Con-way Truckload forms a business unit of more than 2,800 tractors, 8,000 trailers and 3,500 employees, which is expected to bring in $500 million in annual revenues. The division, combined with Con-way’s less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, Con-way Freight, and global supply chain services provider, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, is meant to bring to market transportation and logistics solutions from “first-mile” sourcing in Asia or Europe to “last-mile” delivery in North America, the company said.

“Acquiring CFI enabled Con-way to significantly enhance our truckload resources, which complements our less-than-truckload and supply chain management business units, and expands the diverse suite of high-value solutions we can offer customers,” said Douglas W. Stotlar, president and CEO, Con-way Inc. “With the name change, the former CFI becomes effectively integrated into the greater Con-way brand, while still delivering the consistently excellent service that has been its hallmark for more than 50 years.”

Shortly after the announcement that CFI and Con-way Truckload would be merging into one operating unit, the two companies began soliciting driver input to design a pay and benefits package that would best serve the needs of all drivers, according to a Con-way news release. The new pay package, which was effective Jan. 1, includes an increase of $.01 per mile and numerous other driver-requested enhancements.

Con-way Truckload also recently purchased 300 Freightliner Cascadia and 160 Kenworth T660 truck models, which feature a combination of expanded and studio sleeper accommodations designed expressly for more room and improved driver comfort. In addition, the company announced that it is purchasing 140 of the new SmartWaySM-approved Cummins 2007 ISX engines with the Cummins Particulate Filter, in an effort to support a long-term solution toward reducing emissions and fuel consumption from trucking operations.