History

Until the late 1980s, the logistics industry was made up of companies that offered one or more logistics services, such as contract warehousing, contract carriage, fleet management, contract distribution and information management. Seeking to broaden its service portfolio beyond less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation, CF, Inc. launched Menlo Logistics in mid-1990 to capitalize on this trend. Menlo was among the first of a new breed of integrated logistics companies.

The reputation for excellence of CF’s two LTL operating units, CF MotorFreight and Con-way Transportation, was critical in giving the fledgling company its start. The Menlo sales force worked to persuade large shippers to take advantage of this new service, but the market was skeptical. In 1991, two Fortune 500 companies broke ranks and initiated relationships with Menlo. The success of these projects established Menlo as a viable, competitive logistics service provider, and by the end of the first year, two more Fortune 500 companies became Menlo customers.

Menlo established itself as a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider in the 1990s, and rode the popularity of the outsourcing trend by notching double-digit growth every year during that era. Under the guidance of John Williford, the CF executive who founded Menlo, the company achieved profitable growth, unlike some competitors who sought market share with noncompensatory pricing.

The new millennium brought greater opportunity. In December 2000, Menlo Logistics collaborated with General Motors to create Vector SCM, a new global supply chain management company that served the automotive industry. Vector SCM proved to be a role model for a successful lead logistics provider business model. In 2006, GM exercised its right to purchase Menlo’s interest in Vector SCM, and the sale was completed in December.

Effective January 1, 2002, Con-way formed Menlo Worldwide by combining Menlo Logistics (renamed Menlo Worldwide Logistics), Vector SCM and Emery Worldwide Forwarding (later renamed Menlo Worldwide Forwarding). John Williford became the president of Menlo Worldwide, and Robert Bianco succeeded him as president of Menlo Worldwide Logistics. Menlo absorbed the operations of Emery’s logistics unit, Emery Global Logistics (EGL). The EGL operations gave Menlo presence in Asia and South America, and expanded its European scope. Menlo began leveraging these operations to pursue organic growth outside of North America and grow its European footprint.

In December 2004, Con-way sold Menlo Worldwide Forwarding to UPS, and Con-way sought to further streamline its operating units by merging Con-way Transportation’s logistics unit, Con-way Logistics, into Menlo Worldwide. This completed the rationalization of three logistics entities into a single business unit.

In seeking to grow its business in the dynamic Asian logistics market, Menlo purchased two Asian logistics companies, Cougar Holdings Pte, Ltd. and Chic Holdings, Ltd. in 2007. Singapore-based Cougar enlarged Menlo’s operational scope in southeastern Asia, and Shanghai-based Chic significantly expanded Menlo’s presence in China. These two acquisitions transformed Menlo into a major Asian logistics company.

Today, Menlo Worldwide Logistics operates in five continents, offering companies a range of local to global solutions. Its business has grown rapidly into one of the most trusted names in global logistics, and its reputation for quality and excellence has continued to grow ever since.