Con-way Freight Reduces Accident Frequency Rate by 13 Percent

Con-way Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., has reported an accident frequency rate of 0.53 for 2009, or one accident for every 1.9 million miles, based on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards. That number represents a 13.1% decrease from Con-way Freight’s 2008 figure. The nationwide average accident frequency for motor carriers is 0.71, and FMCSA considers a carrier to be operating safely when its rate falls below 1.50.

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. It achieved an accident frequency rate of 8.87 per million miles driven in 2009, 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 26% 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.

In 2009 Con-way Freight received more than 70 safety awards, including:

• 32 trucking association fleet safety awards from 22 states and the American Trucking Associations
• 34 state trucking association driver of the month awards
• Three state trucking association driver of the year awards
• Two state trucking association safety professional of the year awards