TNT And Con-Way Freight Develop Intercontinental Express Service
TNT and Con-way Freight recently announced the start of a commercial alliance that provides a door-to-door road/air/road solution for heavier, expedited intercontinental shipments between Europe and the United States.
The new service links up TNT's renowned European road network, with intercontinental air cargo uplift and Con-way Freight's day-definite delivery network for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight in the United States to provide a fast-response, expedited door-to-door service. The new service is being launched initially for heavy freight shipments originating in Europe with a destination to any city in the United States.
The alliance establishes Con-way Freight as TNT's primary transportation network provider in the USA. Under the program's first phase rollout, TNT will manage cargo pickup in Europe; consolidation, tendering and management of direct intercontinental air cargo service into the United States; and customs clearance and deconsolidation at TNT's U.S. gateway at New York's Kennedy International Airport. Cargoes are then expedited into Con-way Freight's network via its Brooklyn, N.Y., service center as LTL shipments for direct-to-door delivery to final destination in the continental USA.
The alliance also offers both companies the opportunity to explore and develop an expanded range of international freight services under their own brands, utilizing the network connectivity now in place between Con-way Freight in the USA and TNT in the rest of the world.
Marie-Christine Lombard, Group Managing Director Express, member of TNT's Board of Management, said: "TNT's partnership with Con-way Freight will provide cost-efficient, yet fast and reliable express freight services to customers on both sides of the Atlantic. We have identified many clients and prospects that are looking to develop their export business to the USA requiring reliable transport solutions for freight shipments. The new collaboration between TNT and Con-way Freight is there to assist them."
"This strategic alliance with TNT further expands Con-way Freight's capabilities to serve the international needs of our customers, a key differentiator in today's global economy," said John G. Labrie, president, Con-way Freight. "We're both playing to our strengths, with shippers realizing significant benefit from a highly reliable, cost-effective service that can reduce overall logistics costs, shorten supply cycles and accelerate product to market. We're excited to be launching this solution with one of the world's most respected and successful global express service providers."
TNT and Con-way Freight operate industry-leading networks in their respective home markets. With Europe's largest road express network, TNT provides local, regional and intra-European service through 414 depots linking more than 33 European countries. Con-way Freight's network of more than 300 service centers provides direct, day-definite service to 99 percent of all zip codes in the continental USA. Linking these two networks creates a unique capability that allows international businesses with heavier shipments (over 70 kg or 150 lbs) to gain market advantage from a highly consistent and reliable door-to-door service, including online track and trace and expedited customs clearance at competitive rates.
The new European offering represents Con-way Freight's latest expansion into international service. The company also provides expedited service for seafreight shipments inbound to the USA from Asia through its OceanGuaranteed program with APL Logistics. Launched in 2006, OceanGuaranteed provides guaranteed, time-definite international less-than-container (LCL)/LTL transportation from seven major origin cities in Asia to all points in the continental USA and Canada.
Shippers interested in the new TNT/Con-way Freight service for European shipments can obtain more information at the companies' respective websites, www.group.tnt.com or www.con-way.com/freight.
About Con-way Freight
Con-way Freight is North America's leading less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation company, providing guaranteed, day-definite regional and transcontinental service through a single, unified network of more than 300 service centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Con-way Freight offers LTL freight delivery across North America, as well as delivery in the United States for international less-than-container (LCL) ocean shipments from Asia through its OceanGuaranteed service. Con-way Freight is a certified FAST highway carrier and is ISO 9001- and 14001-, C-TPAT/PIP, ACE- and CSA-certified.
Con-way Freight is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc., a $5.0B diversified freight transportation and logistics services company. For more information, visit www.con-way.com/freight.
About TNT
TNT provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. Headquartered in the Netherlands, TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximize its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs more than 163,000 people. Over 2008, TNT reported €11.1B in revenues and an operating income of €982M. TNT recognizes its social responsibility and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme to fight hunger and pollution in the world. Our efforts are being recognized: in 2008 TNT again reached the highest score of all companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and in the Carbon Disclosure Project in the carbon intensive sector. For more information about TNT, visit: www.group.tnt.com.
SOURCE: Con-way Freight