TNT and Con-way Freight announced the start of a commercial alliance that provides a door-to-door road/air/road solution for heavier, expedited intercontinental shipments between Europe and the United States.

The new service links up TNT's European road network, with intercontinental air cargo uplift and Con-way Freight's day-definite delivery network for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight in the United States, providing a fast-response, expedited door-to-door service. The new service is being launched initially for heavy freight shipments originating in Europe with a destination to any city in the United States.

The alliance establishes Con-way Freight as TNT's primary transportation network provider in the United States. Under the program's first phase rollout, TNT will manage cargo pickup in Europe; consolidation, tendering and management of direct intercontinental air cargo service into the United States; and customs clearance and deconsolidation at TNT's U.S. gateway at New York's Kennedy International Airport. Cargoes are then expedited into Con-way Freight's network via its Brooklyn, N.Y., service center as LTL shipments for direct-to-door delivery to final destination in the continental US.

TNT and Con-way Freight operate industry-leading networks in their respective home markets. With Europe's largest road express network, TNT provides local, regional and intra-European service through 414 depots linking more than 33 European countries. Con-way Freight's network of more than 300 service centers provides direct, day-definite service to 99 percent of all zip codes in the continental US. Linking these two networks creates a unique capability that allows international businesses with heavier shipments (over 70 kg or 150 lbs) to gain market advantage from a highly consistent and reliable door-to-door service, including online track and trace and expedited customs clearance at competitive rates.

The new European offering represents Con-way Freight's latest expansion into international service. The company also provides expedited service for seafreight shipments inbound to the USA from Asia through its OceanGuaranteed® program with APL Logistics. Launched in 2006, OceanGuaranteed provides guaranteed, time-definite international less-than-container (LCL)/LTL transportation from seven major origin cities in Asia to all points in the continental US and Canada.