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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period From              to             

 

Commission File Number 1-5046

 


 

CNF INC.

 


 

Incorporated in the State of Delaware

I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 94-1444798

3240 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304

Telephone Number (650) 494-2900

www.cnf.com

 


 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

    New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock ($.625 par value)   Pacific Exchange
(Title of Each Class)   (Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered)

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

8 7/8% Notes Due 2010

7.35% Notes Due 2005

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). x  Yes    ¨  No

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

 

Aggregate market value of voting stock held by persons other than Directors, Officers and those shareholders holding more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock, based upon the closing price per share Composite Tape on June 30, 2003: $851,040,333

 

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 31, 2004: 50,011,311

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III

 

Proxy Statement for CNF’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 20, 2004 (only those portions referenced specifically herein are incorporated in this Form 10-K).

 



Table of Contents

CNF INC.

 

FORM 10-K

Year Ended December 31, 2003

 


 

INDEX

 


 

Item


        Page

    

PART I

    

1.

  

Business

   1

2.

  

Properties

   9

3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   10

4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Stockholders

   12
    

PART II

    

5.

  

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

   13

6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   14

7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   15

8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   34

9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   65

9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

   65
    

PART III

    

10.

  

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

   66

11.

  

Executive Compensation

   68

12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   68

13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   68

14.

  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

   68
    

PART IV

    

15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

   69


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CNF INC.

 

FORM 10-K

Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

Legal Organization

 

CNF Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1958, and in 2001, changed its name from CNF Transportation Inc. to CNF Inc. CNF Inc. and its subsidiaries (“CNF”) provide supply chain management services for business-to-business shipments by land, air and sea throughout the world.

 

At December 31, 2003, CNF owned 100% of the capital stock of Con-Way Transportation Services, Inc., Con-Way NOW, Inc., Con-Way Logistics, Inc., Con-Way Air Express, Inc., Menlo Worldwide, LLC, Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., and other less significant wholly owned subsidiaries. In December 2001, CNF formed Menlo Worldwide, LLC, and in December 2002, CNF transferred 100% of the capital stock of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc., Menlo Worldwide Expedite!, Inc. and Menlo Logistics, Inc. (also known as Menlo Worldwide Logistics) to Menlo Worldwide, LLC. In August 2003, CNF also transferred its majority ownership interest in the Vector SCM joint venture with General Motors to Menlo Worldwide, LLC.

 

Reporting Segments

 

Information on reporting segments is presented in the manner in which components are organized for making operating decisions, assessing performance and allocating resources, which may be different than the manner in which components are organized for legal purposes, as described above. Accordingly, for financial reporting purposes, CNF is divided into five segments. The Menlo Worldwide group of businesses, which was formed effective in 2002, represents the collective operating results of the separate Menlo Worldwide Forwarding (formerly Emery Forwarding), Menlo Worldwide Logistics and Menlo Worldwide Other reporting segments.

 

Con-Way Transportation Services reporting segment (“Con-Way”). Includes the combined operating results of Con-Way Transportation Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. Con-Way provides next-day, second-day and transcontinental freight trucking throughout the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, as well as expedited transportation, air freight forwarding, contract logistics and warehousing and truckload brokerage services.

 

Menlo Worldwide Forwarding reporting segment (“Forwarding”). Includes the combined operating results of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc. (“MWF”), previously Emery Air Freight Corporation, and its subsidiaries, Menlo Worldwide Expedite!, Inc. (formerly Emery Expedite! Inc.) and a portion of the operations of Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. (“EWA”), which ceased air carrier operations in December 2001. Forwarding provides time-definite domestic and international air freight and ocean forwarding services, customs brokerage, and other trade services.

 

Menlo Worldwide Logistics reporting segment (“Logistics”). Includes the operating results of Menlo Worldwide Logistics and its subsidiaries. Menlo Worldwide Logistics develops integrated contract logistics solutions, including the management of complex distribution networks and supply chain engineering and consulting.

 

Menlo Worldwide Other reporting segment. Includes the operating results of Vector SCM, a company jointly owned by Menlo Worldwide, LLC and General Motors (“GM”). It serves as the lead logistics manager for GM.

 

CNF Other reporting segment. Includes the operating results of Road Systems, Inc., a trailer manufacturer, and certain corporate activities.

 

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For financial information concerning CNF’s geographic and reporting segment operating results, refer to Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” under Note 16, “Segment Reporting.”

 

Information Available on Website

 

CNF makes available, free of charge, on its website at “www.cnf.com,” under the headings “Investor Relations/Annual Report, Proxy and Other SEC Filings,” copies of its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, in each case as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

In addition, CNF makes available, free of charge, on its website at “www.cnf.com,” under the headings “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance,” current copies of the following documents: (i) the charters of the Audit, Compensation, and Director Affairs Committees of its Board of Directors; (ii) its Corporate Governance Guidelines; (iii) its Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial Officers; (iv) its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors; and (v) its Code of Ethics for employees. Copies of these documents are also available in print to shareholders upon request, addressed to the Corporate Secretary at 3240 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304.

 

None of the information on CNF’s website shall be deemed to be a part of this report.

 

Con-Way Transportation Services

 

Con-Way Regional Carriers

 

Con-Way’s primary business units are regional less-than-truckload (“LTL”) motor carriers that operate a combined network of freight service centers that provide complete market coverage in North America. The regional carriers provide industry-leading time-definite delivery service to manufacturing, industrial, commercial and retail business-to-business customers, and consist of Con-Way Western Express (“CWX”), which serves 13 Western states, including Hawaii and Alaska, with service into Mexico; Con-Way Central Express (“CCX”), which serves 25 central and eastern states; Con-Way Southern Express (“CSE”), which serves 12 southeastern states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; and Con-Way Canada Express, which serves 11 Canadian provinces. In 2003, the regional carriers accounted for 94.1% of Con-Way’s revenue.

 

Typically, LTL carriers transport shipments weighing between 100 and 15,000 pounds from multiple shippers utilizing a network of freight service centers combined with a fleet of line-haul and pickup-and-delivery tractors and trailers. Freight is picked up from customers and consolidated for shipment at the originating service center. The freight is then loaded into trailers and transferred to the destination service center providing service to the delivery area. At the destination service center, the freight is delivered to the customer.

 

Con-Way NOW, Con-Way Logistics and Con-Way Air Express

 

In addition to the regional LTL carriers, Con-Way operates a group of asset-light businesses, including Con-Way NOW, Con-Way Logistics, and Con-Way Air Express. Con-Way defines “asset-light” businesses as those subsidiaries or affiliated companies that require a comparatively smaller capital investment than its LTL operations.

 

Con-Way NOW specializes in time-definite shipments, such as replacement parts, medical equipment and other urgent shipments, where expedited delivery is critical. Con-Way NOW has delivery service in 48 states and parts of Canada.

 

Con-Way Logistics offers integrated supply chain services for shippers, using its own warehouses, transportation provided by other ground and air carriers as well as Con-Way’s regional carriers and alliances with leading supply chain software firms.

 

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Con-Way Air Express (“CAX”) is an air freight forwarder that arranges freight shipments using transportation provided by other operators, including commercial airlines, dedicated air operators and drayage companies. Through an agency network and connections with other Con-Way components, CAX provides full-service coverage in the United States and Puerto Rico.

 

Prior to the sale of most of its assets in August 2000, Con-Way Truckload Services operated as a full-service, multi-modal truckload company that provided door-to-door delivery of truckload shipments.

 

Con-Way-Competitive Conditions

 

The trucking, logistics and air freight forwarding industries are intensely competitive. Principal competitors of Con-Way include regional and national LTL companies. Competition in the trucking industry is based on freight rates, service, reliability, transit times and scope of operations.

 

Menlo Worldwide

 

Effective January 1, 2002, CNF combined its Forwarding, Logistics and Vector SCM units to form Menlo Worldwide, a business that provides a full range of logistics services from a single source. The formation of Menlo Worldwide was intended to address a trend among businesses to outsource the management of increasingly complex supply chain and logistics services in order to lower costs, reduce inventories and increase speed, flexibility and efficiency. The Menlo Worldwide companies were aligned to meet this demand by combining their air and ocean freight forwarding capabilities, extensive proprietary information systems and full range of value-added supply chain management services including transportation, warehouse, inventory management and customs clearance on a global scale. The Menlo Worldwide sales team markets all global services provided by the Menlo Worldwide companies to deliver customer-specific solutions using bundled forwarding and logistics services.

 

Menlo Worldwide – Forwarding

 

Forwarding provides expedited and deferred domestic and international air freight service, ocean container service, and customs brokerage. As described below under “Forwarding – International,” and “Forwarding – North America,” Forwarding utilizes primarily commercial airlines for the transportation of its customers’ freight in international markets and, for the transportation of freight within North America, Forwarding relies primarily upon third-party air carriers and its own dedicated ground transportation network.

 

Restructuring Plans

 

Prior to the restructuring described in the following paragraph, Forwarding provided air freight services in North America using owned and leased aircraft operated by EWA and, to a lesser extent, owned and leased aircraft operated by third parties. EWA, a separate subsidiary of CNF, is included in the Forwarding reporting segment except for EWA’s previous operations under the now-terminated Priority Mail contract with the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”), which are reported separately as discontinued operations.

 

In June 2001, Forwarding began an operational restructuring to align it with management’s estimates of future business prospects for domestic heavy air freight and to address changes in market conditions, which deteriorated due primarily to a slowing domestic economy and loss of EWA’s contracts with the USPS to transport Express Mail and Priority Mail. The $340.5 million second-quarter restructuring charge in 2001 consisted primarily of non-cash impairment charges and estimated future cash expenditures related primarily to the return to lessors of certain aircraft leased to EWA. Based on issues identified during inspections conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), on August 13, 2001, EWA was required to suspend its air carrier operations as part of an interim settlement agreement with the FAA. As a result, EWA furloughed approximately 400 pilots and crew members and Forwarding made arrangements to continue its service to customers by

 

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utilizing aircraft operated by several other air carriers. Primarily in response to the FAA action and a worsening global economic downturn, Forwarding re-evaluated its restructuring plan. On December 5, 2001, CNF announced that Forwarding in 2002 would become part of CNF’s new Menlo Worldwide group of supply chain services providers and in North America would utilize aircraft operated by other air carriers instead of EWA operating its own fleet of aircraft, and that EWA would permanently cease air carrier operations. In connection with the revised restructuring plan, in the fourth quarter of 2001 Forwarding recognized additional restructuring charges of $311.7 million for the planned disposal of leased aircraft, cessation of EWA’s remaining operations, employee separation costs for 157 of EWA’s non-pilot employees, and other costs.

 

For further discussion of FAA actions and other regulatory matters, including the termination of EWA’s air carrier operations in 2001 and the surrender of EWA’s air carrier certificate in 2002, refer to “ – Regulation – Air Transportation.”

 

In response to continued declines in North American air freight revenue, Forwarding continued restructuring its operations in the fourth quarter of 2003, primarily to reduce the costs of its North American freight service center network. Under the restructuring plan, Forwarding closed nine freight service centers located in markets for which the transportation of shipments between service centers and customers could be served more cost effectively by cartage agents.

 

For further discussion of Forwarding’s restructuring plans, refer to “Results of Operations – Menlo Worldwide – Forwarding – Restructuring Plans” under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis.” For cumulative activity related to Forwarding’s 2001 and 2003 restructuring charges, refer to Note 3, “Restructuring Plans,” under Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

For further discussion of Forwarding’s terminated Express Mail contract with the USPS, refer to “Results of Operations – Menlo Worldwide – Forwarding – Express Mail Contract,” under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis.” For a discussion of Forwarding’s terminated Priority Mail contract with the USPS, refer to “Results of Operations – Discontinued Operations – Priority Mail Contract,” under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis.”

 

Forwarding - International

 

Internationally, Forwarding provides air and ocean freight transportation services, using primarily commercial airlines and ocean carriers. International business comprises shipments that either originate or terminate outside of the United States. For international air freight with an origination or destination point in North America, Forwarding primarily utilizes its hub-and-spoke freight service center network and dedicated ground transportation fleet for pickup-and-delivery service and for the consolidation or deconsolidation of customer shipments. At origination or destination points in continents other than North America, these activities are primarily completed by third-party cartage agents. International business is marketed through Forwarding’s domestic network of sales offices as well as its international network of foreign subsidiaries, branches and agents.

 

Forwarding - North America

 

Forwarding’s hub-and-spoke system is centered at the Dayton, Ohio International Airport, where its leased air cargo facility (the “Hub”) and related support facilities are located. The Hub handles a wide variety of shipments, ranging from small packages to heavyweight cargo. While Forwarding’s freight system is designed to handle parcels, packages and shipments of a variety of sizes and weights, its air freight operations are focused primarily on heavy air freight (defined as shipments of 70 pounds or more). In addition to the Hub, Forwarding operates nine regional hubs, strategically located around the United States, and a system of freight service centers and sales offices.

 

In North America, Forwarding primarily utilizes third-party air carriers to transport customer shipments between hub and freight service center facilities. The aircraft used to transport customer shipments are primarily

 

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owned or leased by the third-party air carriers. However, as of December 31, 2003, the third-party air carriers also operated 11 aircraft that were owned or leased by EWA. The duration of Forwarding’s agreements with the third-party air carriers, which range from one week to 21 months, is intended to provide Forwarding with the flexibility to adjust its fleet size to meet changes in demand due to seasonality or market conditions. For the pickup and delivery of customer shipments in North America, Forwarding primarily utilizes its dedicated ground transportation fleet, and to a lesser degree, cartage agents.

 

Other Business Units

 

Forwarding has established several variable-cost-based business units to enhance the range of services it can offer to its customers. Menlo Worldwide Expedite! is a rapid-response freight handling subsidiary that provides door-to-door delivery of shipments in North America and overseas. Menlo Worldwide Trade Services (formerly Emery Customs Brokerage) provides full-service customs clearance regardless of mode or carrier.

 

Competition

 

The air freight industry is intensely competitive. Principal competitors of Forwarding include integrated air freight carriers, air freight forwarders and international airlines and, to a lesser extent, trucking companies and passenger and cargo air carriers. Competition in the air freight industry is based on, among other things, freight rates, quality of service, reliability, transit times and scope of operations.

 

Menlo Worldwide – Logistics

 

Logistics specializes in developing and managing complex national and global supply and distribution networks, including transportation management, dedicated contract warehousing, dedicated contract carriage and supply chain consulting services. Transportation management refers to the management of third-party transportation providers for customers’ inbound/outbound supply chain needs through the use of state-of-the-art logistics management systems to consolidate, book and track shipments. Contract warehousing refers to the optimization of warehouse operations for customers using technology and warehouse management systems to reduce inventory carrying costs and supply chain cycle times. For several customers, contract-warehousing operations include light assembly or kitting operations, where manuals and cords are packed with the finished goods prior to distribution. Logistics’ ability to link these systems with its customers’ internal enterprise resource planning systems is intended to provide customers with improved visibility to their supply chains. Contract carriage refers to the management of a dedicated transportation fleet for a single customer.

 

Since the formation of Logistics in 1990, the third-party logistics industry has grown significantly as the outsourcing of non-core functions, such as distribution, has become more commonplace and businesses increasingly evaluate overall logistics costs. The ability to access information through computer networks also increases the value of capturing real-time logistics information to track inventories, shipments and deliveries. These industry trends, combined with Logistics’ ability to provide solutions for complex supply chain issues, have helped it to secure new contracts and expand contracts with existing customers, which are primarily large companies.

 

At December 31, 2003, Logistics’ client base included 40 companies, many of which are Fortune 200 businesses. Four customers, each with a Standard & Poors investment-grade credit rating, collectively accounted for 52.4% of the revenue reported for the Menlo Worldwide Logistics reporting segment in 2003. Although no single Logistics customer accounts for more than 3.8% of the consolidated revenue of CNF and its subsidiaries, the loss of significant revenue from any of Logistics’ major customers by termination of the customer relationship for any reason, including the business failure of the customer, could have an adverse effect on Logistics’ results of operations. Logistics generally seeks to mitigate risks related to the termination of a customer relationship, for reasons other than the business failure of a customer, by requiring that any facility or major equipment lease that it enters into on behalf of a customer must be assumed by the customer upon termination of the arrangement. Compensation from Logistics’ customers takes different forms, including cost-plus, gain-sharing, transaction, fixed-dollar and consulting fees.

 

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Competition

 

The third-party logistics industry is intensely competitive. Competition for larger projects is generally based on the ability to rapidly implement technology-based transportation and logistics solutions. Competitors in the logistics industry are numerous and include domestic and foreign logistics companies, the logistics arms of integrated transportation companies and contract manufacturers; however, Logistics primarily competes against a limited number of major competitors that have resources sufficient to provide services under large logistics contracts.

 

Menlo Worldwide Other

 

In December 2000, CNF and GM formed the Vector SCM (supply chain management) joint venture for the purpose of providing logistics management services on a global basis for GM, and ultimately for customers in addition to GM. In August 2003, CNF transferred its majority ownership interest in Vector SCM (“Vector”) to Menlo Worldwide, LLC. Although Menlo Worldwide, LLC (“MW”) owns a majority interest in Vector, MW’s portion of Vector’s operating results are reported in the Menlo Worldwide Other reporting segment as an equity-method investment based on GM’s ability to control certain operating decisions. Vector was established to reduce GM’s supply chain costs and improve GM’s supply chain management by bringing increased speed, flexibility and reliability to GM’s global supply chain, including shipment of parts to manufacturing plants and vehicles to dealers.

 

Prior to the amendments described below, agreements pertaining to Vector (collectively, “Vector Agreements”) provided that Vector would be compensated by sharing in efficiency gains and cost savings achieved through the implementation of Approved Business Cases (“ABCs”) and other special projects in GM’s North America region and three international regions. An ABC is a project, developed with and approved by GM, aimed at reducing costs, assuming operational responsibilities, and/or achievement of operational changes.

 

In August 2003, the Vector Agreements were amended, primarily to expedite the transition of logistics services in the North America region from GM to Vector. The amendments changed the compensation principles for GM’s North American logistics operations, revised the allocation of Vector’s profit between GM and MW, and modified the formula for the valuation of Vector in the event that MW exercises its Put Right, as more fully discussed in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” under “Results of Operations – Menlo Worldwide – Menlo Worldwide Other.” Also refer to Note 4, “Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture” in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

CNF Other

 

The CNF Other reporting segment included the operating results of Road Systems, Inc. and certain corporate activities. A majority of the revenue from Road Systems was from sales to other CNF subsidiaries and, prior to its bankruptcy in September 2002, Consolidated Freightways Corporation.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

Priority Mail Contract

 

On November 3, 2000, EWA and the USPS announced an agreement to terminate their contract for the transportation and sortation of Priority Mail (the “Priority Mail contract”), which was originally scheduled to terminate in the first quarter of 2002, subject to renewal options. Under separate agreements, the USPS agreed to reimburse EWA for Priority Mail contract termination costs and settle claims relating to the underpayment of amounts owed to EWA under the Priority Mail contract. As described under “Results of Operations – Discontinued Operations – Priority Mail Contract,” of Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” claims relating to amounts owed to EWA under the Priority Mail contract were settled in connection with payments from the USPS to EWA in 2002 and 2001.

 

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Spin-Off of CFC

 

On December 2, 1996, CNF completed the spin-off of Consolidated Freightways Corporation (“CFC”) to CNF’s shareholders. Refer to Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” under “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Discontinued Operations – Spin-Off of CFC” for a discussion of matters related to CFC’s filing for bankruptcy in September 2002.

 

General

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2003, CNF’s operations had approximately 26,000 regular full-time employees. The approximate number of regular full-time employees by segment was as follows: Con-Way, 16,000; Forwarding, 6,500, including 900 covered by collective bargaining agreements; Logistics, 1,800; Menlo Worldwide Other, 900; CNF Other, 800. The 800 employees included in the CNF Other segment consist primarily of executive, administrative and technology positions that support CNF’s operating subsidiaries.

 

Cyclicality and Seasonality

 

CNF’s businesses operate in industries that are affected by general economic conditions and seasonal fluctuations, both of which affect demand for transportation services. In the trucking and airfreight industries, for a typical year, the months of September and October usually have the highest business levels while the months of December, January and February usually have the lowest business levels.

 

Regulation

 

Air Transportation

 

Based on issues identified during inspections conducted by the FAA, on August 13, 2001, EWA was required to suspend its air carrier operations as part of an interim settlement agreement with the FAA, as more fully discussed in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” under “Results of Operations – Forwarding – Restructuring Plans.” In a final settlement agreement with the FAA entered into on September 17, 2001, EWA agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty related to alleged operations, avionics, and maintenance irregularities. EWA surrendered its air carrier certificate on December 4, 2002.

 

Forwarding is subject to certain FAA regulations pertaining to freight handling, including maintenance and upkeep of air cargo containers and safety, including the transportation of hazardous materials, as more fully discussed below under “ –Environmental.” However, since EWA ceased air carrier operations in 2001, it no longer is a certificated air carrier and is not subject to the FAA aircraft-related safety regulations.

 

Ground Transportation

 

The motor carrier industry is subject to federal regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) and the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”), both of which are units of the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”). The FMCSA enforces comprehensive trucking safety regulations and performs certain functions relating to such matters as motor carrier registration, cargo and liability insurance, extension of credit to motor carrier customers, and leasing of equipment by motor carriers from owner-operators. The STB has authority to resolve certain types of pricing disputes and authorize certain types of intercarrier agreements.

 

At the state level, federal preemption of economic regulation does not prevent the states from regulating motor vehicle safety on their highways. In addition, federal law allows all states to impose insurance requirements on motor carriers conducting business within their borders, and empowers most states to require motor carriers conducting interstate operations through their territory to make annual filings verifying that they

 

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hold appropriate registrations from FMCSA. Motor carriers also must pay state fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, which normally are apportioned on the basis of mileage operated in each state.

 

In April of 2003, the FMCSA issued a final rule to change the regulations governing hours of service for commercial truck drivers. The new rules increase the total consecutive off-duty hours a driver must take prior to driving in interstate commerce, reduce the total daily consecutive driving and on-duty hours allowed, and increase the number of weekend hours a driver must rest prior to the start of a new on-duty cycle. Motor carriers are required to comply with the new regulations effective January 4, 2004. Con-Way’s management does not believe the new rules will have a material effect on its operations.

 

Environmental

 

CNF is subject to laws and regulations that (i) govern activities or operations that may have adverse environmental effects such as discharges to air and water, as well as handling and disposal practices for solid and hazardous waste, and (ii) impose liability for the costs of cleaning up, and certain damages resulting from, sites of past spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous materials. Environmental liabilities relating to CNF’s properties may be imposed regardless of whether CNF leases or owns the properties in question and regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by CNF or by a prior owner or tenant, and also may be imposed with respect to properties which CNF may have owned or leased in the past. CNF has provided for its estimate of remediation costs at these sites.

 

CNF’s operations involve the storage, handling and use of diesel and jet fuel and other hazardous substances. In particular, CNF is subject to environmental laws and regulations dealing with underground fuel storage tanks and the transportation of hazardous materials. In 2003, Forwarding resolved an outstanding matter related to an investigation by the DOT and the FAA into the handling of so-called hazardous materials by MWF and EWA. EWA was fined and recognized a $6.5 million charge in the third quarter of 2003. As a condition of the resolution, MWF is required to develop and implement a hazardous materials compliance program to detect and prevent future violations. For a three-year period, MWF is required to engage an approved third-party auditor to assess whether its hazardous materials operation is consistently in compliance with all applicable laws.

 

CNF has been designated a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) by the EPA with respect to the disposal of hazardous substances at various sites. CNF expects that its share of the clean-up costs will not have a material adverse effect on CNF’s financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

 

Homeland Security

 

CNF is subject to compliance with cargo security and transportation regulations issued by the Transportation Security Administration and by the Department of Homeland Security, including regulation by the new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”). CNF believes that it will be able to comply with pending CBP rules, which will require pre-notification of cross-border shipments, with no material effect on its operations.

 

Con-Way’s regional carriers and Forwarding, as well as certain other subsidiaries, are approved by the CBP to participate in the voluntary Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (“C-TPAT”). The C-TPAT was designed in 2002 to provide a process to facilitate the efficient release of goods and provide resolution of any outstanding issues affecting CBP processing of cross-border shipments. As participants of C-TPAT, these subsidiaries have developed security measures that have been reviewed and certified by the CBP.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

Management believes that CNF’s facilities are suitable and adequate, that they are being appropriately utilized, and that they have sufficient capacity to meet operational needs in the foreseeable future. Management continuously reviews anticipated requirements for facilities and may acquire additional facilities and/or dispose of existing facilities as appropriate.

 

Con-Way Transportation Services

 

As of December 31, 2003, Con-Way’s regional carriers operated 336 freight service centers, of which 138 were owned and 198 were leased. The service centers, which are strategically located to cover the geographic areas served by Con-Way, represent physical buildings and real property with dock, office and/or shop space. These facilities do not include meet-and-turn points, which generally represent small owned or leased real property with no physical structures. The total number of trucks, tractors and trailers utilized by the Con-Way regional carriers at December 31, 2003 was approximately 28,100.

 

At December 31, 2003, Con-Way Logistics leased 7 warehouses in the U.S. and Con-Way Air Express operated 13 leased warehouse and service center facilities.

 

Menlo Worldwide – Forwarding

 

Forwarding’s Hub, which encompasses approximately 800,000 square feet, is centered at the Dayton, Ohio International Airport. The Hub was financed by industrial revenue bonds, of which $108 million in principal amount was outstanding as of December 31, 2003.

 

As of December 31, 2003, Forwarding operated 102 freight facilities in North America, including nine regional hubs, as well as service centers, of which 10 were owned and 92 were leased. The freight service centers are strategically located to cover the geographic areas served by Forwarding. Additionally, Forwarding leased 25 facilities for office space. At December 31, 2003, Forwarding operated 133 leased facilities in international locations, including freight service centers, logistics warehouses and office space.

 

As described above under Item 1, “Business—Menlo Worldwide—Forwarding—International,” Forwarding primarily utilizes third-party air carriers to transport North American customer shipments between hub and freight service center facilities. The aircraft used to transport customer shipments are primarily owned or leased by the third-party air carriers. However, as of December 31, 2003, the third-party air carriers also operated 11 aircraft that were owned or leased by EWA. At December 31, 2003, Forwarding operated approximately 1,200 trucks, tractors, and trailers, along with equipment provided by its agents.

 

Menlo Worldwide – Logistics

 

As of December 31, 2003, Logistics operated 40 warehouses in North America, of which 26 were leased by Logistics and 14 were leased or owned by clients of Logistics. Internationally, Logistics operated an additional 20 warehouses, of which 9 were leased by Logistics and 11 were leased or owned by clients.

 

At December 31, 2003, Logistics operated approximately 80 trucks, tractors, and trailers.

 

CNF Other

 

Principal properties of the CNF Other segment included CNF’s leased executive offices in Palo Alto, California, and its owned Administrative and Technology Center in Portland, Oregon.

 

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Certain legal proceedings of CNF are summarized in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” under Note 3, “Restructuring Plans,” and Note 15, “Commitments and Contingencies.” Environmental matters are discussed in Item 1, “Business,” under “Regulation – Environmental.”

 

In 2001, EWA received subpoenas issued by federal grand juries in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia and the USPS Inspector General for documents relating to the Priority Mail contract. EWA cooperated fully and provided the documents requested in those subpoenas. In September 2003, CNF received notice from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia that EWA is being considered for possible civil action under the False Claims Act for allegedly submitting false invoices to the USPS for payment under the Priority Mail contract. EWA has entered into a tolling agreement with the government in order to give the parties more time to investigate the allegations. EWA is in the early stages of conducting its own investigation of the allegations and as a result CNF is currently unable to predict the outcome of this matter. Under the False Claims Act, the government would be entitled to recover treble damages, plus penalties, if a court was to ultimately conclude that EWA knowingly submitted false invoices to the USPS.

 

On February 16, 2000, a DC-8 cargo aircraft operated by EWA personnel crashed shortly after take-off from Mather Field, near Sacramento, California. The crew of three was killed. The National Transportation Safety Board subsequently determined that the probable cause of the crash was the disconnection of the right elevator control tab due to improper maintenance, but was not able to determine whether the maintenance errors occurred during the most recent heavy maintenance “D” check by an outside vendor or during subsequent maintenance of the aircraft. MWF, EWA and CNF Inc. have been named as defendants in wrongful death lawsuits brought by the families of the three deceased crew members, seeking compensatory and punitive damages. MWF, EWA and CNF Inc. also may be subject to other claims and proceedings relating to the crash, which could include other private lawsuits seeking monetary damages and governmental proceedings. Although MWF, EWA and CNF Inc. maintain insurance that is intended to cover claims that may arise in connection with an airplane crash, there can be no assurance that the insurance will in fact be adequate to cover all possible types of claims. In particular, any claims for punitive damages or any sanctions resulting from possible governmental proceedings would not be covered by insurance.

 

On December 5, 2001, EWA announced that it would cease operating as an air carrier, and in connection therewith terminated the employment of all pilots and crew members, bringing the total number of terminated employees in 2001 to 800. Those pilots and crew members are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (“ALPA”) under a collective bargaining agreement. Subsequently, ALPA filed a grievance on behalf of the pilots and crew members protesting the cessation of EWA’s air carrier operations and Forwarding’s use of other air carriers. The ALPA matters are the subject of litigation in U.S. District Court and, depending on the outcome of that litigation, may be subject to binding arbitration. Based on CNF’s current evaluation, management believes that it has provided for its estimated exposure related to the ALPA matters. However, CNF cannot predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of these matters.

 

EWA, MWF, Menlo Worldwide, LLC and, CNF Inc. are named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in state court in California by approximately 140 former EWA pilots and crew members. The lawsuit alleges wrongful termination in connection with the termination of EWA’s air carrier operations, and seeks $500 million and certain other unspecified damages. CNF believes that the lawsuit’s claims are without merit, and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit.

 

CNF has become aware of information that Emery Transnational, a Philippines-based joint venture in which MWF may be deemed to be a controlling partner, may be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. CNF is conducting an internal investigation and has notified the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission of this matter. CNF will share the results of its internal investigation, when completed, with the appropriate regulatory agencies, and will fully cooperate with any investigations that may be conducted by such regulatory agencies.

 

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Certain current and former officers of CNF, EWA and Forwarding and all of CNF’s current directors have been named as defendants in a purported shareholder derivative suit filed in September 2003 in California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo. The complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, waste and abuse of control relating to the management, control and operation of EWA and Forwarding. CNF is named only as a nominal defendant and no relief is sought against it. CNF maintains insurance for the benefit of its officers and directors, and the applicable insurance carriers have been notified of the claims asserted in the lawsuit.

 

A lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by certain participants in CFC’s defined benefit pension plan, naming as defendants CFC’s fiduciary committee and certain former CFC employees individually, and also naming as defendants CNF Inc., CNF Service Company, certain individuals and Towers Perrin. The lawsuit alleges breach of ERISA fiduciary duties in connection with the spin-off of assets and liabilities from CNF’s defined benefit plan to CFC’s defined benefit plan as part of CNF’s 1996 spin-off of CFC, and seeks class action status on behalf of all affected participants. In November 2003, the Court granted motions to dismiss filed by CNF Inc. and CNF Service Company, and entered a final judgment dismissing both parties from the lawsuit.

 

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ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

CNF did not submit any matter to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

CNF’s common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and the Pacific Exchange under the symbol “CNF.”

 

See Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” under Note 17, “Quarterly Financial Data,” for the range of common stock prices as reported on the NYSE and common stock dividends paid for each of the quarters in 2003 and 2002. At January 31, 2003, CNF had 7,977 common shareholders of record.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

CNF Inc.

 

Five Year Financial Summary

 

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)


   2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

 

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

                                        

Revenues

                                        

Con-Way Transportation Services

   $ 2,212,597     $ 2,011,477     $ 1,912,313     $ 2,044,896     $ 1,878,216  

Menlo Worldwide

                                        

Forwarding

     1,881,496       1,778,712       2,044,794       2,608,142       2,408,416  

Logistics

     1,009,952       969,089       898,182       890,800       716,008  
    


 


 


 


 


       2,891,448       2,747,801       2,942,976       3,498,942       3,124,424  

CNF Other

     287       2,841       7,442       28,539       34,661  
    


 


 


 


 


Total Revenues

   $ 5,104,332     $ 4,762,119     $ 4,862,731     $ 5,572,377     $ 5,037,301  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating Income (Loss)

                                        

Con-Way Transportation Services

   $ 195,343     $ 147,154 (a)   $ 157,467     $ 227,312     $ 228,820  

Menlo Worldwide

                                        

Forwarding

     (47,579 )     (11,980 )     (790,345 )     28,365       75,514  

Logistics

     25,312       31,827       (15,818 )     33,303       22,255  

Other

     20,718       18,188       (9,415 )     (560 )     —    
    


 


 


 


 


       (1,549 )     38,035       (815,578 )     61,108       97,769  

CNF Other

     (2,357 )     (3,369 )     (2,540 )     1,546       27,649 (c)
    


 


 


 


 


Total Operating Income (Loss)

   $