Roadway Express, Akron, Ohio, has formed Roadway Corp. to act as a holding company, with its first venture teaming up with major airlines and technology companies in an integrated airfreight services company.

Roadway Corp. will identify acquisition, merger, and partnership candidates. It will also provide strategic, financial, legal, and capital market services to the Roadway group of businesses.
The new company today announced that it will participate as an equity partner in Integres Global Logistics, Inc. Integres is an integrated airfreight service provider that will offer small- and medium-sized shippers a single source solution for multi-modal shipment of heavy freight. Roadway Corp. will be a minority shareholder in the newly formed company.
Roadway Express will serve as Integres' primary North American ground carrier. Other Integres partners include: United Airlines and American Airlines, who will provide access to a broad worldwide combination passenger/cargo network; Unisys and G-Log, who will provide access to transportation management systems, integration, and hosting; and UTi Worldwide, a global logistics service provider and customs broker, who will provide the primary international services.
Integres, slated for a third quarter launch, will give shippers instant access to logistics management resources such as dynamic pricing, routing and tracking information, online reporting, and payment and claims processing.
Robert Stull, Roadway vice president of new venture commerce, says the venture will let the company provide its customers with broader offerings in the expedited marketplace. "Roadway has an unparalleled ground network serving the LTL and expedited customer," he says. "We thing Integras can accomplish that in a big way. We think this is a breakthrough new service and a strong business model."
Michael W. Wickham, chairman and CEO of Roadway Corp., points out that "today's economy is increasingly global. Shippers are looking for a full range of expedited services and e-commerce enabled business solutions. Integres offers us the opportunity to broaden our expedited domestic and international service offerings for current customers. It will do so through a product line that provides access to the world's leading cargo carriers and freight movers. Additionally, with Roadway Express serving as Intregres' primary North American ground carrier, we will have a new channel to additional market and business development opportunities."