Federal Express





Federal Express (or FedEx) is a company that offers overnight courier and
logistics services. The company was founded in 1971 by former US Marine
Frederick W. Smith in Memphis, Tennessee, and began operations in 1973. The
name was chosen to symbolize a national marketplace, and help in obtaining
government contracts. The company, the first cargo airline to use jet
airplanes for its services, expanded greatly after deregulation of the cargo
airlines sector. FedEx pioneered use of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm
in air freight, which enabled it to become a world leader in its field. The
company operates most of its US overnight freight through its Memphis hub,
thus packages from one side of town to another might find the fastest way
through Memphis.

In 1989 the company acquired Flying Tigers, an international cargo airline. In
January 1998 Federal Express acquired Caliber System, Inc, bringing in a number
of units. It acquired Viking Freight and American Freightways.

It is now organized into a number of operating units:

   * FedEx Express (The original overnight courier services)
   * FedEx Freight East - Less than truckload (LTL) services (formerly
     American Freightways)
   * FedEx Freight West - (formerly Viking Freight)
   * FedEx Ground - including slower speed, heavier freight services to
     businesses and homes (formerly Roadway Package Services or RPS)
   * FedEx Home Delivery - A division of FedEx Ground that is exclusive to
     home delivery.
   * FedEx Custom Critical - non-stop door-door delivery (formerly Roberts
     Express)
   * FedEx Trade Networks - trade and shipping planning on non-FedEx
     carriers
   * FedEx Services - an internal to FedEx unit

Advertising:

   * The company made famous the line "Absolutely, Positively" for their
     overnight service.

Other facts of interest

   * The movie Cast Away is based on a true story about a Federal Express
     employee who survived a plane crash.
   * Company operating officer Jim Barksdale went on to lead Netscape.
   * "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn
     better than a 'C', the idea must be feasible." A Yale University
     management professor comments on Fred Smith's class paper proposing
     what became Federal Express.Ê