FedEx fills out Freight executive team ahead of spin off

LTL subsidiary’s results deteriorated in recent quarter

A FedEx Freight tractor trailer transports shipments in Calgary, Alberta, on May 16, 2024. (Photo: Shutterstock/oasisamuel)

FedEx management on Tuesday announced several more appointments to run FedEx Freight, the less-than-truckload giant that is scheduled to be spun off as an independent, publicly traded company next spring.

In May, the company named John Smith, the chief operating officer of Federal Express (U.S. and Canada) as president and CEO of FedEx Freight and Brad Martin as the trucking company’s chairman. Smith will remain in his current role until the separation occurs. 

During an earnings call with analysts, CEO Raj Subramaniam said Clint McCoy, who’s worked at FedEx Freight for nearly 30 years, will be chief operating officer. Michael Rogers was named the trucking company’s chief technology officer, having previously worked in a similar role at trucking fuel supplier and travel center operator Pilot Company. Prior to Pilot, Rogers held retail leadership positions at Saks Fifth Avenue and JC Penney. 

Eddie Klank, the current vice president for corporate governance, securities and tax law, will serve as chief human resources and legal officer of FedEx Freight. And Mike Lyons, who has worked at FedEx Trade Networks, the supply chain management arm, since 2007, will serve as chief specialized services and commercial officer. 

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) continues to build out a dedicated sales force for Freight.

Revenue at the largest less-than-truckload carrier in the nation fell 4% to $2.9 billion in the fiscal year fourth quarter due to lower fuel surcharges, reduced weight per shipment, higher healthcare costs and increased wage rates, FedEx reported. The primary challenge, however, is continued weakness in the industrial sector. Operating income was down 6%. The division made a $33 million gain on the sale of a terminal, which accounted for nearly a third of the earnings beat

Year-over-year volume declines moderated sequentially, with average daily shipments down 1% in the fourth quarter compared to down 5% in the third quarter and down 8% in the second quarter. Average daily shipments actually increased 8.3% sequentially, representing the largest Q4 over Q3 since fiscal year 2021.

(Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the names of Eddie Klank and Mike Lyons.)

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Parcel and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com