For Immediate Release: April 27, 2001

AKRON, Ohio – Customers who call FedEx Custom Critical for expedited shipping service receive a quote for the most cost-effective surface or air transportation option with the company’s new Point-to-Point solutions software.

The proprietary, internal application enables Customer Assistance Team members at FedEx Custom Critical to quickly identify which of several services offered by the company is the best solution for the customer.

“With the new software, customers don’t need to know ahead of time which service to request,” said Joel Childs, vice president of marketing. “They simply give us their critical pickup and delivery times and freight specifications, then we identify the service that would best meet their needs – whether that’s Surface Expedite, Point-to-Point Next A.M. or even an air charter.”

With FedEx Custom Critical’s Surface Expedite service, customers’ freight is shipped non-stop, door-to-door in an exclusive-use vehicle. The service offers pickups and deliveries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Point-to-Point Next A.M. heavyweight air-freight service utilizes FedEx Custom Critical exclusive-use vehicles and scheduled FedEx Express aircraft for early next-morning delivery. Point-to-Point service features later evening pickup cut-off times and earlier morning delivery times than many standard overnight air-freight services. It can be faster and less expensive than Surface Expedite for longer distances.

Mishawaka, Ind.-based AM General, which manufactures military and special-purpose vehicles, is one customer that has recently begun using Point-to-Point Next A.M. service, thanks to the new solutions software. Preston Chaney, AM General manager of logistics, saved the company several hundred dollars on a single shipment – and shaved three hours off the delivery time – with Point-to-Point Next A.M.

“Whenever I have an emergency shipment, I explain my situation to the FedEx Custom Critical service agent, and they inform me of the best option, giving me a choice,” Chaney said. “In one recent case, I needed parts delivered early in the morning. I didn’t even know Point-to-Point service would be an alternative until the agent told me how much it could save, while still meeting my delivery time. I know I can trust FedEx Custom Critical to inform me of the best service to use.” 

To receive a quote for a shipment, customers should call 800-762-3787. FedEx Custom Critical provides exclusive-use, time-specific shipment services throughout the U.S. and Canada and within Europe. Among its divisions are Surface Expedite, for non-stop, door-to-door transport of critical shipments; White Glove Services®, for shipments that require special care in handling; and CharterAir®, which offers an array of expedited air solutions to meet customers’ critical delivery times. FedEx Custom Critical is an operating subsidiary of FedEx Corp.

With annual revenues of $20 billion, FedEx Corp. is the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently, including FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, North America's second largest provider of small-package ground delivery service; FedEx Freight, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload freight services; FedEx Custom Critical, the world's largest provider of expedited, time-critical shipments; and FedEx Trade Networks, a provider of customs brokerage, consulting, information technology and trade facilitation solutions.