FedEx expands CND LTL footprint via Watkins acquisition

MEMPHIS, Tenn. FedEx Corp. officially launched its new long-haul LTL service, FedEx National LTL; as well as direct LTL service in Canada through the newly-formed FedEx Freight Canada.

FedEx National LTL and FedEx Freight Canada were created through the acquisition of the business assets of the former Watkins Motor Lines and Watkins Canada Express, which was finalized on Sept. 3, 2006. The new services respond to customer demand for greater flexibility in the LTL sector, the company says.

“In five months, we have made tremendous progress in our strategy of providing a reliable and cost-effective service for long-haul shippers,” said Douglas G. Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight. “The cultural fit between the former Watkins Motor Lines and FedEx, with a shared focus on employee engagement and customer service, has made it possible for us to achieve a great deal in a short period of time.”

FedEx Freight Canada will handle LTL shipments moving into and out of Canada and as well as intra-Canada loads. This door-to-door service through FedEx companies will provide greater visibility for Canadian LTL shipments and transborder pickup and delivery points in the U.S, the company says.

FedEx has hired close to 9,000 new employees, re-branded equipment and integrated web sites to allow customers to quickly and seamlessly navigate between our regional and long-haul services.

FedEx National LTL has also re-engineered its operations to focus on the long-haul market with a strictly scheduled network, similar to FedEx Freight’s operations in the regional market. These changes enhance FedEx National LTL’s already strong on-time performance, a key requirement of shippers in all sectors.

“We believe that FedEx National LTL will offer a level of consistency and on-time performance that has been missing in the long-haul market,” said Fred Boehler, vice-president of global retailer Borders Group Inc.

Borders Group is a leading global retailer with more than 1,300 stores worldwide, including Borders and Waldenbooks stores located throughout the U.S. The retailer currently uses FedEx Freight to provide next-day and second-day deliveries to its domestic retail locations. Borders Group will use FedEx National LTL to transport products from suppliers on the East Coast to its distribution center on the West Coast, as well as to handle returns.