Does anyone remember reading an article on UPSer.com about last spring regarding what UPS thought was an outstanding freight and logistics company which they admired? The company in question was Manitoulin Transport of Canada!!! Not ABF, YRC, OD, etc. but a very well oiled machine up north. If you go to Manitoulin's web site you will find a carrier that is embedded firmly into the landscape on the frozen barrens with a network of terminals and services that would fit nicely into UPS's scheme of things. Consider the fact that FedEx's purchase of Watkins was mainly for the purpose of establishing a foothold in Canada. It just happens to be a bonus that FDX gets a US carrier to boot and gains more market share. Now an arguement can be made that FXFN is a long haul carrier and FXF is regional. Well if you use FXF, CF, OD, UPGF, Estes, R+L etc. from Boston to LA, your freight gets there on the said service times. In my eyes it's not about long haul vs. short haul, it's about market share. UPSF will fill in the blanks on the map as FXF did in the US. Besides UPS has there hands full with UPSF alone. Another US aquisition merger so early in the game would only add to the chaos as UPS is trying to establish a quality carrier. And I think after reading this article in UPSers, UPS is looking to the north.
I agree 100%