Consolidated Freightways Attracts Key Clients With Customized Web Environment; New Highly Secure Tech-Tool Gives Clients More Control.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 2000

Customers of transportation giant Consolidated Freightways (Nasdaq:CFWY) now have high-security access to customized shipping data featuring proprietary information about their CF shipments.

A secure environment for delivering client-specific customized shipping data is the latest in a series of web-based tools that CF has introduced in recent months. Each tool is designed to give CF's 155,000 primary clients -- most of whom are long-haul shippers -- more control of freight that is within CF's system. Access to all data and information is specific to each customer and protected in a highly secure environment.

"Proprietary data now can be viewed directly from a web browser where our clients can actively manage the information," reports Marty Larson, VP of e-commerce and marketing technology. "For example, with one mouse click clients can transmit a document image -- such as a delivery receipt -- anywhere within their supply chain."

With a user name and password, clients can execute real-time tracing and satellite tracking of every shipment the customer has in CF's transportation system. Customers can access up to 15 different transit reports and manifests, rated shipment information, documents and images.

Customers have access to information that is exclusive to their freight. "This tool goes well beyond the reporting of simple status reports," explains Larson. "Data are constantly updated, and our clients are making supply chain decisions while they are online with CF."

Customized web environments include the following:

-- Access to document images including delivery receipts, bill of ladings and
weight certificates easily viewed on the web browser. A mouse click will
transmit information to any email address.

-- Real-time detailed shipment tracking including GPS location of freight while
in CF's line-haul system.

-- Freight bill copies including rated shipment information.

-- Fifteen different transit reports and shipment manifests detailing activity
while in the CF system.

-- On-line access to freight claim status.

Larson says that supply chain managers are becoming more and more sophisticated in their use of these kind of highly detailed proprietary data.

"Clients are using information to control freight movements as they happen, and they are leveraging the service by providing their own customers with up-to-the-minute information," Larson says. "These are the kinds of e-commerce initiatives that are enhancing the usability and practicality of the web experience."

Larson reports that JIT strategies are becoming quite common within organizations both large and small. He attributes the increase to all-time highs in confidence of transportation performance. "Overall performance is good. Now technology is giving us tools that allow us to inform our clients as we perform the service," he says.

Clients pull the information from a private web environment that is protected through server-application security. Access is gained only through highly secure passwords and confidential user names. Information is limited to the proprietary activities of each customer, and includes an array of lucrative data.

Document images, such as signed delivery receipts and original bills of lading, are easily and quickly accessed and viewed online. In addition, those clients operating within a customized web environment can share relevant information and knowledge throughout their supply chain -- or to their own customers -- by forwarding or e-mailing documents with a simple mouse click.

For example, in a single transit report, customers can view complete manifests, and see all their inbound and outbound activity within CF's system, including the latest delivery schedules.

The system allows satellite tracing and freight bill copies to be accessed through PRO, P.O. or BOL numbers, whichever method the customer finds most convenient.

The private web environments have been in beta testing this summer, and went "live" throughout CF's system this month. Customers can register for the service and related eBusiness tools through their local sales executives.

The latest web-based tools support customer applications currently available at www.cf.com, including creation of bills of lading, shipment tracking, filing freight claims, printing labels and shipping forms, scheduling pickups, rate quotes, invoice inquiry, and routing and terminal data.

According to Larson, CF is rapidly expanding its tech-related initiatives, and is focusing on eBusiness tools that allow customers to conduct business in a self-service environment.

"Our top priority is with our existing loyal customer base," Larson says. "We are investing heavily in capabilities that provide real business value to these core customers while making www.cf.com easy to use, friendly and intuitive."

Consolidated Freightways operates one of the world's largest less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation networks. The company's highly skilled 22,000 team members specialize in long-haul freight deliveries that cross the entire North American continent.

CF's network of 350 terminals serves virtually every market in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Each shipment typically moves between 500 and 3,000 miles and weighs between 300 and 15,000 pounds.

CF is the largest component of the Consolidated Freightways Corporation, a transportation organization with an array of transportation and supply chain services. The corporate stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange using the CFWY stock symbol.