The new $13 million facility at 14710 FM 1472 Mines Road features a 70,000-square-foot dock with 148 loading doors, more than doubling the capacity of the previous service center. As Con-way's primary gateway for freight traffic to and from Mexico, the facility also includes dedicated space for 'in-bond' shipments, a secure area of the facility for trans-shipping of cargoes to and from Mexico while maintaining their integrity under secure Customs bond.
'This new facility, combined with the proven skills and experience of our Laredo team, is essential for providing timely, responsive and reliable service in the cross-border trade market, and supporting our business relationships with customs brokers and both Mexico and U.S. customs officials,' said Greg Lehmkuhl, president of Con-way Freight. 'This is our principal gateway for shipments to and from Mexico and we look forward to continued growth for Laredo serving this market.'
'Encouraging collaboration between Customs and Border Protection and the business community facilitates strong partnership and helps drive expanded trade opportunity for all parties,' said Sidney K. Aki, port director, Laredo Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 'Cross-border trade is the lifeblood of commerce, and Con-way Freight's investment in Laredo speaks volumes to its support for trade growth in Laredo.'
'We celebrate the hard work, dedication and passion by Con-way Freight to improve trade opportunities in Laredo that not only make a difference in the economy, but also to the quality of life for the Laredoans who work for them,' said city of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas. 'Con-way Freight has long known the value of having and expanding their operations here in Laredo, given our position as the nation's number-one inland port and our long-standing relationship and experience with doing business in and with Mexico. This continues to reinforce the city of Laredo's commitment to seek businesses from around the globe to utilize our locale for their trade opportunities.'
Con-way employs 133 local residents in Laredo in jobs such as driver sales representative, customer service, sales, freight operations and management, serving over 2,000 local businesses, noted Ted Garcia, Laredo's service center manager. The new facility marks the company's third expansion since opening for business in Laredo in 1989.
'From Laredo, we provide next-day service throughout Texas to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Harlingen and Del Rio; second-day service to Orlando, Fla., Nashville, Minneapolis, Denver and Phoenix; and three-day service as far as Southern Florida, and into Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Dakota and Southern California, ' Garcia said. The remainder of the continental U.S. and major cities in Canada are primarily four-day delivery points.
For Mexico, cross-border service and pickup/delivery within the country is provided in partnership with sister company Con-way Truckload, which also has operations in Laredo. Con-way Truckload owns and operates CFI Logistica, its dedicated Mexico subsidiary, which has 30 years of experience in Mexico. CFI Logistica provides intra-Mexico coverage through long-established carrier partners in Mexico providing local service and connecting cross-border gateways with major business and industrial centers in the country.
Garcia added that the breadth and precision of Con-way Freight's operating network in the continental U.S. enables the company to provide the industry's fastest transit times to and from Mexico, on average 25 percent faster. 'Our door-to-door delivery and service to all major cities in Mexico gives cus
