SAN MATEO, Calif. Con-way has announced that its truckload operating unit, Contract Freighters, Inc. (CFI), will now be known as Con-way Truckload.

Con-way Inc. completed the $750 million acquisition of the privately held Joplin, Mo.-based international truckload carrier on Aug. 23, 2007.

“The new name communicates that we are truly part of the Con-way organization, and that’s an exciting development,” said Herb Schmidt, president, Con-way Truckload. “Our integration into Con-way has brought us a larger customer base and, with it, more opportunities for our company and our people.”

The new, combined Con-way Truckload forms a business unit of more than 2,800 tractors, 8,000 trailers and 3,500 employees, which is expected to bring in $500 million in annual revenues. The division, combined with Con-way’s less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, Con-way Freight, and global supply chain services provider, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, brings to market extensive capabilities to provide superior transportation and logistics solutions from “first-mile” sourcing in Asia or Europe to “last-mile” delivery in North America.

“Acquiring CFI enabled Con-way to significantly enhance our truckload resources, which complements our less-than-truckload and supply chain management business units, and expands the diverse suite of high-value solutions we can offer customers,” said Douglas W. Stotlar, president and CEO, Con-way Inc. “With the name change, the former CFI becomes effectively integrated into the greater Con-way brand, while still delivering the consistently excellent service that has been its hallmark for more than 50 years.”

Shortly after the announcement that CFI and Con-way Truckload would be merging into one operating unit, the two companies began soliciting driver input to design a pay and benefits package that would best serve the needs of all drivers. The new pay package, which was effective Jan. 1, includes an increase of $.01 per mile and numerous other driver-requested enhancements. Con-way Truckload also recently purchased 300 Freightliner Cascadia and 160 Kenworth T660 truck models, which feature a combination of expanded and studio sleeper accommodations designed expressly for more room and improved driver comfort. In addition, the company also announced that it is purchasing 140 of the new SmartWaySM-approved Cummins 2007 ISX engines with the Cummins Particulate Filter, in an effort to support a long-term solution toward reducing emissions and fuel consumption from trucking operations.