Taking Flight and Becoming Grounded: Con-Way Now, AirBorne Freight Expand

Struggling for business in a competitive environment, two transportation companies are invading each other’s domains in an effort to survive in the shadow of two industry giants.

Airborne Express confirmed that it is considering expanding into ground transportation to compete with United Parcel Service, while at the same time, trucking-based Con-Way Now wants to get into the air-expedited market to match up against certain UPS and FedEx Corp. products.

Con-Way Now started in the expedited ground market in 1996. It is a part of Con-Way Transportation Services, which in turn is part of the giant CNF Inc. empire. It entered the expedited air-freight arena in March in 24 major U.S. markets. As of July 18, Con-Way Now had added 176 cities, and now serves 200 metropolitan areas in the 48 contiguous states and Canada.

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From the company’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., spokesman Joseph DeLuca said Con-Way’s Now division is using its air product to specialize in emergency deliveries.



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