PLIANT PICKS CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS FOR LTL SERVICES

PLIANT PICKS CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS FOR LTL SERVICES    Pliant Corp., a producer of plastic film and flexible packaging, has selected Consolidated Freightways as its primary provider of nationwide less-than-truckload services.
   The multimillion-dollar contract with Schaumburg, Ill.-based Pliant runs through April 2004. Under the contract, Consolidated Freightways will ship manufactured products direct from Pliant's 22 U.S. and Canadian manufacturing operations and eight distribution centers to customers throughout the United States and Canada.
   Pliant will immediately implement CF's eBusiness tools into its current information technology system.
   'We are impressed with CF's ability to produce real-time information and Internet-based reporting,' said Randy Barthel, director of corporate transportation and logistics at Pliant. 'In the early weeks of this contract, we will already be using CF technology to push tracking and tracing information direct to our clients.'
   Pliant, which provides product for packaging, food, personal care, medical, agricultural and industrial applications, reports annual sales of $850 million.
   CF is the nationwide LCL carrier unit of Consolidated Freightways Corp.