Con-Way Central Express and Con-Way Western Express to Go Coast-to-Coast With Full Service Between Regional Networks.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 1998--

Latest Service Expansion Completes Link of Con-Way Carriers Into

Nationwide Network With Full Regional, Inter-Regional and

Transcontinental Trucking Capability

Con-Way Central Express (CCX) and Con-Way Western Express (CWX) announced today an expansion of services that will provide customers with full nationwide coverage incorporating all points within CCX's and CWX's respective regional trucking networks.

The expansion will enable customers of CCX and CWX to ship and receive goods border-to-border within each carrier's regional market. CWX operates in 13 western states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and the province of British Columbia. The CCX network serves 25 Midwestern and Northeastern states, and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Both carriers also service Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The Con-Way regional carriers provide transportation for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipments of commercial and industrial businesses.

The expansion marks the final link of Con-Way's three regional carriers into a seamless, fully integrated national network that can provide complete, day-definite freight trucking service -- across the street, across town, statewide, regionally and transcontinental, noted Gerald L. Detter, Con-Way's president and CEO.

It also reflects Con-Way's ongoing strategy of leveraging its infrastructure to create new services that provide shorter transit times, to more points, over longer distances. Earlier this year, Con-Way Western Express and Con-Way Southern Express (CSE), whose regional network covers 12 states of the Southeast U.S., began providing 100 percent coverage of all points in their respective markets. Con-Way Central Express and Con-Way Southern Express have provided full coverage among their geographic regional markets since January 1995.

"We started these companies as home grown enterprises with a goal to provide a premium level of regional overnight service," observed Detter, one of Con-Way's first employees when the company was founded in 1983. "As we grew, we extended this formula, stretching our service into longer lanes, redefining transit time standards, creating 2-day service up to 1,600 miles.

"Now, in our 15th year, we are completing the circle, building on the infrastructure and the talent of our 15,000 employees, responding once again to our customers' demands for a premium service alternative, this time, in the long-haul markets."

CCX and CWX together deploy a direct service network encompassing more than 110,000 communities. The two carriers combined have nearly 20,000 trucks, tractors and trailers at 270 service centers across 38 states, three Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and service for Mexico. Between them, CCX and CWX service an area of geography and population density with the largest concentration of industrial production and consumer purchasing power in North America. Including CSE, the Con-Way carriers have 370 locations and 15,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, serving a base of some 325,000 customer accounts.

Completing the final link in full joint service between Con-Way's three regional carriers provides substantial advantages for shippers, Detter noted. The expanded service enables CCX, CWX and CSE to handle all of a customer's LTL freight transportation needs -- whether the shipment is moving 30, 300 or 3,000 miles virtually anywhere their product is going in North America.

Even though it was not envisioned in the original business plan 15 years ago, the subsequent expansions within each Con-Way, and the joint services between them, were a natural development in a marketplace adapting to deregulation and driven by competitive improvement. "All this from day one has been a response to customer demand and market opportunity," said Detter. "We've always strived to deliver a premium product in which the customer perceives distinct value to his or her organization, and their customers."

It was the surprisingly strong customer reaction and acceptance to the full-network, coast-to-coast premium service begun by CSE and CWX in January that convinced the company to move ahead with the final link for CCX. "We have been quite pleased with response to this initiative," said Detter. "Our longer-haul services are not a substitute for what the traditional national carriers provide. They are an alternative that goes to the next level."

As exciting as the new services are, however, Detter was quick to emphasize that the Con-Ways are and always will remain dedicated regional carriers whose primary market strength is reliable next-day and 2-day service. Each Con-Way carrier continues to "fly its own colors" and has a mandate to generate market share growth consistently within their primary regional territory. "Our primary market remains regional 1 and 2-day freight. It's 95 percent of our traffic," he said.

Unlike other trucking companies who have tried and failed to combine operations for expanded coverage, the Con-Ways are able to draw on several unique strengths that have been at the heart of their successful joint services. These include a common culture, single integrated computer system, consistent operating and management procedures, and fleet equipment that is the same from one carrier to the next. There is also the tangible asset of a workforce which is given clear incentive to focus on the customer, is trained extensively and continuously, and has experience adapting readily to market shifts and new customer needs.

"We are a service business, and the key to superior service is good people who are treated fairly, communicated with honestly, and have a stake in the success," said Detter. "What we do best is give our people the knowledge and tools to do the job. Then we get out of their way and let them do what they do best."

Con-Way Transportation Services, based in Palo Alto, Calif., is a $1.5 billion company providing time-definite and day-definite freight delivery services for commercial and industrial businesses with a network of 400 locations and 15,000 employees in North America. Within the Con-Way group are regional LTL carriers Con-Way Central Express, Con-Way Southern Express and Con-Way Western Express; Con-Way Truckload Services, providing nationwide full-truckload multi-modal shipping; and Con-Way NOW, a company providing expedited time-definite ground transportation. CTS is a subsidiary of CNF Transportation Inc.

Further information about Con-Way and additional press releases are available via the Internet at www.con-way.com.

CONTACT: Con-Way Transportation Services, a CNF Company

Gary Frantz, 415/424-1400

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