Con-Way NOW Extends Express Service Into West; Service Coverage Expanded to 48 States.

Business Editors/Automotive Writers

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(AutomotiveWire)--June 19, 2000

Con-Way NOW, a freight carrier specializing in emergency and express service, has expanded its service coverage area into the western United States. Pickup and delivery of both surface and air express shipments will now be available throughout the continental United States. The company previously had covered only the Eastern half of the country.

Ed Conaway, vice president and general manager, explained that this coverage expansion brings the development process for Con-Way NOW full circle. In 1995, a market test was conducted within Con-Way Western Express (CWX) to determine if there was a market for express service. The company also wanted to know if expedite services could be provided within the normal less-than-truckload (LTL) operations of CWX by using existing drivers and equipment.

"We learned two important lessons during that test at CWX," said Conaway. "First, there was a strong market for expediting services. And secondly, the service could best be provided by an operation devoted exclusively to express service." He explained that "NOW Service," the original name of the product, was provided by taking drivers and equipment from the normal CWX operations when a customer called for NOW Service. While this worked and the customers were served, it was found to be disruptive to the LTL operations. "As the demand for the service grew it became clear that a separate group of people and equipment was needed to make sure customer expectations and promised delivery times were met," said Conaway. "We were promising delivery based on the number of hours from pickup. Tracking, managing shipments and delivering on-time required another level of resources to make this happen all the time."

Con-Way Western Express continued to provide "NOW Service" to its customers. Con-Way NOW started in 1996 and has steadily extended its operations from its Midwest headquarters in Ann Arbor, MI. The takeover of the Western service by Con-Way NOW gives express customers in the West a new central number to call for land express service as well as air express service--1(800) 950-7670.

"The transfer of this service to Con-Way NOW gives our Western customers the extra benefit of air express," said Jim Gray, executive vice president of Con-Way Western Express. "This can include next-day delivery to eastern markets, next flight out, and even the option to charter a plane to make emergency deliveries. It's an added value to the surface express service we've offered in the past," said Gray.

Con-Way NOW and Con-Way Western Express are component companies of Con-Way Transportation Services, a $1.9 billion transportation company that provides time-definite and day-definite freight delivery and logistics services for commercial and industrial businesses. Within the CON-WAY family are regional less-than-truckload carriers Con-Way Central Express, Con-Way Southern Express, Con-Way Western Express and Con-Way Canada Express; Con-Way Truckload Services, providing multi-modal, full truckload shipping; Con-Way NOW, an expedited carrier specializing in emergency shipment service; and Con-Way Integrated Services, a contract supply chain execution service provider.

CON-WAY is a subsidiary of Palo Alto, California-based CNF (NYSE: CNF) a $5.6 billion management company of global supply chain services with businesses in regional trucking, air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, global logistics management and trailer manufacturing.

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