USF CEO Skinner to Retire

USFreightways Corp. said Tuesday that Sam Skinner, the Chicago-based company’s chairman and chief executive officer, announced he will retire.

Skinner said that the company would conduct a nationwide search for his replacement.

Skinner, who will be 65 in June, said that he was stepping aside so the company can who "can make the long-term commitment that will be necessary to ensure USFreightways' continued progress."

No date was immediately announced for Skinner's departure, though Skinner said he would remain on board until a replacement was found. He said he was planning to "to explore different opportunities that previously he had been unable to pursue." He has been the top official at USFreightways for three years, the company said.

Before to coming to USFreightways, Skinner was president of Commonwealth Edison Co., and its holding company Unicom Corp., an electric utility. Skinner also was chief of staff under President George Bush. Skinner also served three years as the secretary of transportation prior to taking over as chief of staff, the company said in its release.

USFreightways is ranked No. 8 on the 2002 Transport Topics 100 listing of the largest trucking companies in United States and Canada.

By Sean McNally

I>Staff Reporter

(Click here for the full press release.)