Less-than-truckload carrier Con-way Freight said 2009 was the company's best year for safety since 2003, with a 13.1 percent drop in its accident frequency rate from 2008.

According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards, the company reported an accident frequency rate of .53, or one accident for every 1.9 million miles driven. FMCSA defines a reportable accident as an occurrence that renders a vehicle inoperable or causes a fatality or an injury requiring immediate medical assistance away from the scene.

Under Con-way Freight's more stringent internal accident reporting standards, the company recorded its best statistics since 2003, with an accident frequency rate of 8.87 per million miles driven in 2009. This is the lowest since the score of 9.50 it achieved seven years ago. Con-way Freight has also seen a reduction in accident frequency every year for the past five years, with 2009's figure a full 26 percent lower than the rate it reported in 2005. Within the company, an accident is defined as any incident in which a company commercial motor vehicle makes contact with another vehicle, causing any type of damage or injury.

"Con-way Freight's exemplary results demonstrate a clear dedication to the safety of its drivers and the motoring public," said Bill Graves, president and CEO, American Trucking Associations. "I congratulate the company on continuing its successful trend of progress in this extremely important area."

Con-way Freight also sent a record 88 competitors to the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) -- also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety" -- held in Pittsburgh in August. The company racked up Grand Champion, Rookie of the Year and three divisional first-place wins. State winners from 37 states participated in the event, with each driver facing tests in three areas: a timed written exam, a pre-trip inspection test and a driving skills test.

In 2009, the company received more than 70 safety awards during the course of the year, including 32 trucking association fleet safety awards; 34 state trucking association driver of the month awards; three state trucking association driver of the year awards; and two state trucking association safety professional of the year awards.

"These impressive safety achievements truly exemplify the commitment to safety shown by the drivers who represent Con-way Freight on the roads and at our customers' facilities every day," said John G. Labrie, president, Con-way Freight.