Con-way Freight announced the nationwide deployment of SafeStack, an advanced load management and cargo protection system, installed across its less-than-truckload fleet of 16,800 freight trailers in North America.

The unique, adjustable decking and securing system enables LTL shipments to be handled more efficiently, travel more securely and gain increased protection against damage.

Con-way Freight retrofitted its existing fleet of 16,800 28-foot "pup" trailers with the SafeStack system, and is installing the equipment in 1,300 new trailers scheduled for delivery this year. The system was purchased from Ancra International, which applied its expertise in aircraft cargo systems to the manufacture of highly engineered freight loading, decking and restraint systems designed for the rigors of trucking operations.

Heavy-duty, aluminum tracks are attached to supporting vertical posts along the trailer walls. Height-adjustable horizontal shoring beams clamp securely into the vertical tracks and can be moved up and down in 1-inch increments, creating multiple decking platforms set at precise levels for palletized freight of various shapes and sizes. The system also features custom-designed anchors and heavy-duty straps that securely brace and tie down shipments to prevent movement in transit and protect shipments against damage.

Running parallel with system installation was an extensive education and hands-on training program for Con-way Freight drivers and freight operations personnel nationwide. All freight handling employees were trained in best practices and proper use of the tools and then certified -- more than 15,000 employees to date. In addition, feedback from Con-way's drivers on the design of SafeStack's components led to a number of improvements which increased the system's utility and usability.

As drivers and dock associates have become proficient with the SafeStack tools, shipment delivery exceptions, a leading indicator of customer claims, have declined while productivity and operating efficiencies have improved. Trailers are achieving better cube utilization in the daytime pickup and delivery (P&D) operation, creating opportunity for drivers to pick up and deliver more customer shipments per route, compared to pre-SafeStack-equipped trailers.

In the night-time line-haul operation, SafeStack is generating additional benefits. On a nightly basis, Con-way Freight's network operates roughly 8,000 inter-city trips, or schedules (a schedule or trip consists of a company driver and tractor operating a double-trailer set running between two service centers). SafeStack has enabled consistently improving load factor and more complete trailer space utilization, requiring fewer trailers and a reduced number of schedules to move nightly freight volumes.