The company said the initiative will reduce freight handling and improve on-time deliveries. The most affected lanes will be those between southern Texas and the Northeast, Chicago and southern Florida, and Chicago and southern Texas.
Greg Lehmkukl, Con-way Freight's executive vice president of operations, said, 'Advanced technology has enabled us to continuously evaluate ways to move freight more efficiently and directly from origin to destination, reducing miles, handling and fuel consumption along the way.'
Con-way Freight has been identifying and adopting new practices and technologies since its parent instituted an enterprise-wide sustainability initiative in early 2008. The latest LTL network re-engineering initiative improves density over the shortest, most direct routes and will allow Con-way Freight to reduce total operating miles per day by 16.6 million. The move will also allow the company to save about 2.6 million gallons of diesel fuel annually, eliminating almost 58.6 million pounds of carbon emissions from the environment.
Previously, Con-way Freight implemented several other operating refinements that have led to 'sustainability benefits.'
In early 2008, the company turned back the engine speed governors of its truck fleet from 65 to 62 mph. This action reduced diesel fuel consumption by nearly 3.2 million gallons a year while removing about 71 million pounds of carbon emissions from the environment, the company said.
