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{{Short description|American logistics and transportation holding company}}{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Caliber System Inc.
| logo = 
| former_name = {{Nowrap|Roadway Services Inc.{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1982-1996)}}
| type = 
| industry = [[Transportation]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1982}} in [[Akron, Ohio]]
| defunct = {{End date|1998|01}}
| fate = Acquired by [[FedEx]]
| successors = {{Ubl|[[FedEx Ground]]|[[FedEx Freight]]|FedEx Custom Critical|FedEx Global Logistics}}
| hq_location_city = [[Akron, Ohio]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| subsid = '''At acquisition:''' {{Ubl|class=nowrap|Caliber Logistics|Caliber Technology|Roberts Express|[[FedEx Ground|RPS]]|Viking Freight}}
'''Prior to acquisition:''' {{Ubl|class=nowrap|[[Central Freight Lines]]{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1993-1996)|Cole's Express{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1993-1996)|Nationwide Carriers{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1984-1989)|[[YRC Worldwide|Roadway Express]]{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1982-1996)|RGA{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1993-1995)|Spartan Express{{wbr}}{{nbsp}}(1984-1990)}}
}}

'''Caliber System Inc.''', known until 1996 as '''Roadway Services Inc.''', was a transportation holding company based in [[Akron, Ohio]], United States. During its history, Caliber owned a number of logistics companies including [[Roadway Express]], Viking Freight and Roadway Package System (RPS) among others. Roadway Express was spun off in 1995 and Caliber was acquired by [[FedEx]] in 1998 with subsidiaries becoming [[FedEx Ground]], FedEx Freight, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Global Logistics.

==History==

===Foundation and diversification===

[[File:Roadway truck.jpg|thumb|upright|A vintage Roadway Express truck]]
[[File:Henry Ford Museum August 2012 41 (1952 Federal 45M truck tractor with 1946 Fruehauf semi-trailer).jpg|thumb|An original Coles Express truck. Coles was acquired by RSI in 1993.]]

'''Roadway Services Inc. (RSI)''' was created in 1982<ref name="FW RE Hist">{{Cite web |last=Mall |first=Scott |date=18 May 2021 |title=FreightWaves Haul of Fame: Roadway Express was an LTL leader for decades |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-roadway-express-was-an-ltl-leader-for-decades |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202505/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-roadway-express-was-an-ltl-leader-for-decades |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=FreightWaves}}</ref> as a holding company by national [[Less than truckload shipping|less than truckload]] (LTL) carrier [[Roadway Express]]. Roadway Express was initially RSI's only subsidiary but in 1984 the company acquired short-haul carrier Spartan Express Inc., then specialized truckload carrier Nationwide Carriers Inc., and finally in 1984, it purchased Roberts Express, a same-day critical trucking company, from [[Emery Worldwide|Emery Air Freight]].<ref name="SA Parcel">{{Cite web |date=20 September 2010 |title=The Small Parcel Oligopoly |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/225976-the-small-parcel-oligopoly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819190720/https://seekingalpha.com/article/225976-the-small-parcel-oligopoly |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[Seeking Alpha]] |publisher=Ohio Capital Ideas |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:RPS Logo.jpg|thumb|Logo of Roadway Package System (RPS)]]

With both truckload and LTL services available via its subsidiaries, in 1985 RSI founded a package delivery service, '''Roadway Package System (RPS)''' in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Financial timeline |url=https://investors.fedex.com/company-overview/financial-timeline/default.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421013808/https://investors.fedex.com/company-overview/financial-timeline/default.aspx |archive-date=21 April 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=FedEx}}</ref> RPS was intended to out-compete the package delivery services of [[United Parcel Service|UPS]] by structuring itself for lower costs.<ref name="SA Parcel" /> By 1988, RPS covered 70% of the US from 130 terminals.<ref name="FW RE Hist" />

In the late 1980s and early 1990s RSI experienced both expansion and contraction as it acquired the largest western US regional carrier, Viking Freight, but closed the unprofitable Nationwide Carriers in 1989. In 1990, Viking subsidiary VFS Transportation was closed and Spartan was absorbed into Viking, operating as a subsidiary. At the same time Roadway Express continued its expansion with services to Europe in 1991 and a number of Pacific Rim ports soon after.<ref name="FW RE Hist" /> Also in 1991, RSI replaced [[Pan Am|Pan Am Corp.]] on the [[Dow Jones Transportation Average]].<ref name="Dow Switch">{{Cite web |date=23 January 1998 |title=Roadway Express to Join Dow Jones Transports |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB885508452766164000 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819205405/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB885508452766164000 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> At the time, RSI was the third-largest motor freight carrier in the US.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 1991 |title=Dow Jones Average to list OTC stock |url=https://greensboro.com/dow-jones-average-to-list-otc-stock/article_24850cc5-54d2-5b89-a0fd-dcff7caa442b.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819210203/https://greensboro.com/dow-jones-average-to-list-otc-stock/article_24850cc5-54d2-5b89-a0fd-dcff7caa442b.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[News & Record]] |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Boeing 727-251(F), Roadway Global Air AN0207899.jpg|thumb|right|RSI launched Roadway Global Air in 1993]]
In 1993, RSI acquired Southwest regional LTL carrier [[Central Freight Lines]]<ref name="FWCFLHIST">{{Cite web |last=Mall |first=Scott |date=30 March 2021 |title=FreightWaves Haul of Fame: Central Freight Lines has served its customers for 95+ years |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-central-freight-lines-has-served-its-customers-for-95-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811225038/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-central-freight-lines-has-served-its-customers-for-95-years |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=FreightWaves}}</ref> which it placed in its Roadway Regional Group along with Viking in the West, Viking subsidiary Spartan in the central and southern US and Cole's Express in New England.<ref name="TSHA">{{Cite web |last=Madan |first=Rajni |title=Central Freight Lines |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/central-freight-lines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811225037/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/central-freight-lines |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}}</ref> RSI also expanded into air freight with its 1993 founding of '''Roadway Global Air''' (RGA) based in Indianapolis.<ref name="Limping RGA">{{Cite news |last=Dinnen |first=S.P. |date=7 November 1995 |title=Roadway sells limping air freight operation |page=A11 |work=[[Indianapolis News]] |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84167546/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022091347/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84167546/the-indianapolis-news/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RGA Airport">{{Cite news |last=Dinnen |first=S.P. |date=19 May 1996 |title=Airport holds a steady course |page=E1 |work=[[Indianapolis Star]] |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84167301/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033250/https://www.newspapers.com/c/clip.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Roadway Express spinoff===

{{main|Roadway Express}}

While RSI's smaller regional carriers were all non-union, Roadway Express was unionized<ref name="RDWYSPINOFF">{{Cite news |date=24 August 1995 |title=Roadway Services to spin off trucking unit |page=74 |work=[[New York Times]] |agency=AP |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/24/business/company-news-roadway-services-to-spin-off-trucking-unit.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811225037/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/24/business/company-news-roadway-services-to-spin-off-trucking-unit.html |archive-date=11 August 2021}}</ref> and in April 1994 it was impacted by a nationwide strike of the [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters|Teamsters Union]]. The strike was the result of a breakdown in negotiations between the Teamsters and Trucking Management Inc., a negotiating group which represented 23 large trucking companies including Roadway Express, [[Consolidated Freightways]], and [[YRC Worldwide|Yellow Freight]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manegold |first=Catherine S. |date=6 April 1994 |title=Teamster Strike Stops Activity Of Big Haulers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/06/us/teamster-strike-stops-activity-of-big-haulers.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819190709/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/06/us/teamster-strike-stops-activity-of-big-haulers.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[New York Times]] |pages=1,17}}</ref> In the end, the strike lasted 24 days<ref name="SA Parcel" /> and, according to the RSI, resulted in losses of {{US$|68 million}} for the quarter at Roadway Express.<ref name="RS FUNDUNI">{{Cite web |title=History of Roadway Express, Inc. |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/roadway-express-inc-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811225101/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/roadway-express-inc-history/ |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=FundingUniverse}}</ref>

The strike at Roadway Express highlighted the division's profitability imbalance when compared to RSI's non-union carriers. At the time, Roadway Express contributed over 40% of the parent company's {{US$|5 billion}} annual revenue<ref name="RDWYSPINOFF" /> but was less profitable than the other trucking units.<ref name="RS FUNDUNI" /> As a result, RSI announced in August 1995 that it would spin off Roadway Express as a separate, publicly traded company.<ref name="RDWYSPINOFF" /> As an independent company, Roadway Express grew substantially achieving profits of {{US$|21.8 million}} in its first year.<ref name="FW RE Hist" /> In 2003 Roadway was acquired by Yellow Freight to form [[Yellow Corporation|Yellow Roadway Corporation]].<ref name="Yellow YRC">{{Cite news |last=Deutsch |first=Claudia H. |date=9 July 2003 |title=No. 2 in Trucking, Yellow, Will Buy No. 1, Roadway |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/business/no-2-in-trucking-yellow-will-buy-no-1-roadway.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=17 Aug 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818103541/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/business/no-2-in-trucking-yellow-will-buy-no-1-roadway.html |archive-date=18 August 2020}}</ref>

===Caliber System===

[[File:Boeing 727-81(F), Roadway Global Air AN0192356.jpg|thumb|right|An RGA Boeing 727. RGA operated for less than two years before it was shut down and its assets were sold to Burlington Air Express.]]

In November 1995, Roadway Services announced it was changing its name to '''Caliber System''', effective in January 1996 and would move its stock listing from the Nasdaq to the NYSE under the new symbol "CBB."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=28 November 1995 |title=Roadway Services plans to change its name |url=https://www.joc.com/roadway-services-plans-change-its-name_19951128.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819192221/https://www.joc.com/roadway-services-plans-change-its-name_19951128.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[Journal of Commerce]]}}</ref><ref name="RS Name Change CS">{{Cite news |date=1995-11-28 |title=Roadway adopts new name |page=43 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84165963/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=2021-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033250/https://www.newspapers.com/c/clip.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref> It also rebranded Roadway Logistics and Roadway Technology to Caliber Logistics and Caliber Technology, respectively.{{cn|date=August 2021}}

Caliber immediately began an effort to reorganize in an attempt to decrease costs. In November it shut down RGA and sold the assets to [[Burlington Air Express]].<ref name="Airport Sees">{{Cite news |date=26 November 1995 |title=Airport sees silver lining to shutdown |page=D3 |work=Palladium-Item |agency=[[Associated Press]] |location=Terre Haute, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84167756/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033317/https://www.newspapers.com/c/base.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref> Caliber said it had lost {{US$|103 million}} on the venture.<ref name="RGA Airport" /> In December it announced it would be consolidating its remaining trucking companies, Viking (with subsidiary Spartan), Central, and Cole's into a nationwide carrier named Viking Freight Inc.<ref name="FWCFLHIST" /> But, Caliber continued to experience significant losses.<ref name="HOUBIZ">{{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Laura Elizabeth |date=27 April 1997 |title=Trucking firm may sell to former management |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1997/04/28/story2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912092919/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1997/04/28/story2.html |archive-date=12 September 2007 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=The Business Journals |publisher=Houston Business Journal}}</ref>

Viking announced a wage freeze in July 1996 and in December said it would be eliminating 30 terminals and 1,500 jobs in a bid to reduce costs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 1996 |title=Viking Freight's parent company plans to cut 1,500 jobs |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/viking-freights-parent-company-plans-to-cut-1-500-jobs/article_9559a5e1-0164-52c0-92d3-d7c8544dd7e8.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819190709/https://buffalonews.com/news/viking-freights-parent-company-plans-to-cut-1-500-jobs/article_9559a5e1-0164-52c0-92d3-d7c8544dd7e8.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[Buffalo News]] |language=en}}</ref> Despite positive performances from RPS, Roberts, and Caliber Logistics in Q1 1997, Caliber announced in March it would be selling or closing a large portion of the eastern operations of Viking leaving it as a west coast-focused carrier.<ref name="Viking Cuts">{{Cite web |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=30 March 1997 |title=Caliber to shed part of Viking: Eastern market will lose a major low-cost trucking alternative |url=https://www.joc.com/caliber-shed-part-viking-eastern-market-will-lose-major-low-cost-trucking-alternative_19970330.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819194859/https://www.joc.com/caliber-shed-part-viking-eastern-market-will-lose-major-low-cost-trucking-alternative_19970330.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=[[Journal of Commerce]]}}</ref>

Caliber reported Viking had seen losses of around {{US$|127 million}} after having been unable to bring Viking to profitability since merging its smaller, regional carriers into a nationwide offering. The cuts were expected to include 4,000 jobs and 83 terminals in the eastern, southern, and central US. These areas had been primarily served by the former Coles and Spartan subsidiaries.<ref name="Viking Cuts" /> In June 1997, Caliber sold the assets that had formerly comprised Central to an investment group led by former Central leadership backed by trucking magnate and [[Swift Transportation]] co-founder [[Jerry Moyes]]. It was re-incorporated as Central Freight Lines and continued as an independent regional LTL carrier.<ref name="FWCFLHIST" />

===Acquisition by FedEx===

In January 1998, Caliber System was acquired<ref name="FDX Buys CS">{{Cite news |last=Pinkston |first=Will |date=13 January 1998 |title=FedEx shareholders approve Caliber buyout |page=34 |work=[[The Tennessean]] |agency=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84165844/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022091301/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84165844/the-tennessean/ |url-status=live }}</ref> by the newly formed FDX Corp., now [[FedEx]] Corp, a company formed by [[FedEx Express|Federal Express]] to serve as a holding company for its express business and its new, Caliber subsidiaries.<ref name="FDX History" /> Following the acquisition, former Caliber subsidiary Roadway Express ({{Nasdaq|ROAD}}) took Caliber's place on the Dow Jones Transportation Average.<ref name="Dow Switch" />

==Fate of subsidiaries==

[[File:Yrc worldwide by cam vilay.jpg|thumb|right|Roadway Express eventually merged with rival Yellow]]

In the years prior to its acquisition by FedEx, Caliber had already spun off, sold, or shut down several major subsidiaries:

* '''Nationwide Carriers''', its truckload subsidiary, shut down in 1988 and its operations were absorbed by Viking<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 December 1989 |title=1980s Hits and Misses: Roadway Services Inc. (Akron) |page=D6 |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84174519/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033251/https://www.newspapers.com/static/scss/newspapers-theme.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref>

* '''[[Roadway Express]]''' was spun off as an independent, publicly traded company in 1995. It was acquired by rival Yellow Corp. in 2003 to form '''[[Yellow Corporation|Yellow Roadway Corporation]]'''.<ref name="RDWYSPINOFF" /><ref name="Yellow YRC" />

* '''Roadway Global Air''' was shut down in 1995 and its assets were sold to '''[[Burlington Air Express]]'''.<ref name="Airport Sees" />

* '''Spartan Express''' had been made a subsidiary of Viking in 1990 and was merged into Viking in 1996. Its former operations were shut down in 1997 when Viking pulled out of the southeast.<ref name="Closing Jobless">{{Cite news |date=28 March 1997 |title=Closing to leave 4,000 jobless |page=A5 |work=News-Messenger |agency=Associated Press |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84175315/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033328/https://www.newspapers.com/c/base.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Central Freight Lines truck.jpg|thumb|right|Central was reconstituted from its former assets]]
*'''Coles Express''' had been merged into Viking in 1996 and its former operations were shut down in 1997 when Viking pulled out of the northeast.<ref name="Coles Name">{{Cite news |last=Kessell |first=Doug |date=19 December 1995 |title=Coles Express losing name, some jobs |pages=A1,A3 |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |location=Bangor, Maine |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84176376/ |access-date=26 August 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033252/https://www.newspapers.com/static/scss/newspapers-theme.css?v=cf5221f |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Closing Jobless" />

* '''[[Central Freight Lines]]''' former assets (Viking's central operations) were sold to former Central management in 1997 and resumed independent operations.<ref name="Coles Name" /><ref name="FWCFLHIST" />

At the time of its acquisition by FedEx, Caliber had five major subsidiaries remaining:<ref name="FDX History">{{Cite web |title=FedEx history |url=https://www.fedex.com/en-us/about/history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819040055/https://www.fedex.com/en-us/about/history.html |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=FedEx |language=en-us}}</ref>
[[File:Yvfdx 1b (13388218454).jpg|thumb|right|FedEx Ground delivery vehicle. RPS became FedEx Ground in 2000.]]
* '''RPS''' became '''[[FedEx Ground]]''' in January 2000 complementing FedEx's existing Federal Express courier business.<ref name="FDX History" />
[[File:FedEx View.jpg|thumb|right|Viking eventually became FedEx Freight]]
* '''Viking''' continued until 2002 when it was renamed '''FedEx Freight West''', part of the new FedEx Freight brand along with [[American Freightways]], renamed FedEx Freight East. With the 2006 acquisition of [[Watkins Motor Lines]], all three were integrated into a single entity, '''FedEx Freight'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 May 2006 |title=FedEx buys Watkins Motor Lines |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-buys-watkins-motor-lines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811225041/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-buys-watkins-motor-lines |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=FreightWaves |publisher=American Shipper}}</ref>

* '''Roberts''' remained focused on same-day-critical trucking services and was renamed '''FedEx Custom Critical''' in January 2000.<ref name="FDX History" />

* '''Caliber Logistics''' and '''Caliber Technology''' were merged to form '''FedEx Global Logistics''' shortly after the acquisition.<ref name="FDX History" />

== See also ==
* [[Trucking industry in the United States]]
* [[History of the trucking industry in the United States]]
* [[Package delivery#Package delivery in the United States|Package delivery in the United States]]
* [[FedEx Express]]
* {{portal-inline|Companies}}
* {{portal-inline|Transport}}
* {{Commons-inline}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{FedEx}}
{{Yellow Corporation}}
{{Trucking industry in the United States}}
{{US logistics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1998 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Companies based in Akron, Ohio]]
[[Category:Logistics companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Trucking companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Transportation companies based in Ohio]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1982]]