Con-way Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE:CNW), today announced it has enhanced its Mexico service offering with the introduction of real-time, door-to-door online tracking, a 24-hour Customer Resource Center and new web tools for tendering and managing shipments moving to and from Mexico.
Already an industry leader in cross-border shipping, Con-way’s enhanced service package provides customers with improved shipment planning and execution resources, complete visibility for door-to-door shipments in transit, and expanded tools to simplify and streamline shipping of goods between the United States and Mexico. In addition, customers benefit from the velocity of Con-way Freight’s reliable, single integrated U.S. network, which provides 25 percent faster transit times to and from U.S.-Mexico border gateways and the company’s more than 400 U.S. service locations.
Con-way Freight provides two primary LTL service offerings for U.S.-Mexico shippers:
- Cross-border “through” service with door-to-door delivery inbound to and outbound from Mexico cities on a single bill of lading, in cooperation with Mexico sister company CFI Logistica; and
- Border gateway service, providing pickup and delivery in the United States to and from 13 gateway transfer points on the Mexico border.
A recent survey of Con-way’s customers showed that with increased NAFTA traffic, and more manufacturing being shifted from Asia to Mexico, the provision of fast, efficient and simplified services, coupled with enhanced door-to-door visibility to shipments, is increasingly a requirement for today’s fast-response demand cycles. Just as Con-way began shipping to Mexico in 1985 at the request of a customer, the company acted on that feedback to improve its service offering today.
“Our customers spoke and we listened. They needed better service and accurate visibility to where their cross-border shipments were at all times, no matter which side of the border they’re on,” stated Ed Conaway, senior vice president of sales for Con-way Freight. “With our enhanced service offering, and our partnership with Con-way Truckload, we’re addressing that need and providing customers with capacity, experience and proven expertise in handling Mexico shipments. It supports efficient supply chains and helps our customers deliver a quality service experience for their customers.”
Conaway added that Mexico’s growing economy also is driving increased demand for reliable, competitive cross-border trucking services. “With Con-way’s integrated systems, the shipper can track their goods door-to-door with one PRO number at the Con-way website,” he noted. “Ease of use, combined with 24-hour support resources and a customer-friendly web interface all align with our objective of responding to customers with service enhancements that support their emerging needs.”
Over its nearly 30 years of providing freight transportation service to, from and within Mexico, Con-way has been forging partnerships with customs brokers and Mexican carriers to successfully navigate the complexities of cross-border shipping. Working with its sister companies, Con-way Truckload, and within Mexico, wholly owned subsidiary CFI Logistica, Con-way Freight now provides trackable door-to-door service to all major cities in Mexico. In addition, the depth and breadth of Con-way Freight’s operating network in the continental United States includes more border crossings than any other carrier. Gateways on the Mexico border include Laredo, El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville, Eagle Pass and Del Rio, Texas; Calexico, San Diego, Tecate and Otay Mesa, Calif.; Douglas and Nogales, Ariz., and Santa Teresa, N.M.
The value of United States-Mexico trade has increased by 194 percent since 1994, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Additionally, 2012 cross-border surface transportation trade totaled $960 billion — the highest annual dollar amount since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is a growing market and Con-way has been there for over 30 years. Con-way Truckload positions more than 2,200 trailers in Mexico, and has plans to add several hundred more this year. “Mexico business accounts for some 33 percent of our revenues, and we expect that to grow to over 35 percent over the next two years,” said Pete Montaño, vice president of sales at Con-way Truckload.
The company is continuing to invest in its Mexico service capabilities. In March of this year, Con-way Freight opened a new $13 million facility in Laredo, Texas, featuring a 70,000-square-foot dock and 148 dock doors. The facility is Con-way’s principal gateway for shipments to and from Mexico and reflects the company’s commitment to not only continue, but also expand Con-way’s unmatched service to customers in need of fast, reliable, and transparent cross-border shipping. The expansive facility is also home to a 24-hour cross-border resource center that monitors all shipments to help mitigate costly delays at the border.
“Our unrivaled service to and from Mexico is a major part of our business,” said Conaway. “We’re proud of the door-to-door service we offer. This new, cutting-edge tracking capability allows our customers to see our entire team in action — working for them.”
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About Con-way Freight
Con-way Freight is the industry’s leading less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation company, providing guaranteed, day-definite regional and transcontinental service with exception-free delivery, on-time service performance and faster transit times through a single, unified network of 425 operating locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Con-way Freight offers LTL freight transportation across North America and through Global LTLTM delivery delivery in the United States from around the world. Global solutions include international less-than-container load (LCL) ocean shipments from Asia through its OceanGuaranteed® service; direct service to more than 30 Bahamian and Caribbean ports through TropicalDirectSM; and domestic offshore transportation to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Con-way Freight is a certified FAST highway carrier and is C-TPAT/PIP-, ACE- and CSA-certified.
Con-way Freight is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE:CNW), a $5.6 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics services company. For more information, visit www.con-way.com/en/freight.