Profile: Forward Air Corp (FWRD.O)

Forward Air Corporation provides time-definite surface transportation and related logistics services to the North American deferred airfreight market. The Company operates in two segments: Forward Air, Inc. (Forward Air) and Forward Air Solutions, Inc. (FASI). Through its Forward Air segment, the Company is a provider of time-definite surface transportation and related logistics services to the North American deferred air freight market. It operates the Forward Air segment through a network of terminals located on or near airports in 82 cities in the United States and Canada, including a central sorting facility in Columbus, Ohio and 11 regional hubs. Through its Forward Air segment, Forward Air Corporation markets its airport-to-airport services primarily to air freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, and passenger and cargo airlines.

Forward Air, Inc.

The Company receives freight from air freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers and passenger and cargo airlines at its terminals, which are located on or near airports in the United States and Canada. It also picks up freight from customers at designated locations via Forward Air Complete service. Forward Air Corporation consolidates and transports these shipments by truck through its network to the terminals nearest the ultimate destinations of the shipments. The Company also operates regularly scheduled shuttle service directly between terminals where the volume of freight warrants bypassing the Columbus, Ohio central sorting facility or a regional hub. When a shipment arrives at the terminal nearest its destination, the customer arranges for the shipment to be picked up and delivered to its final destination, or the Company, in the alternative, through its Forward Air Complete service, delivers the freight for the customer to its final destination.

The Company operates direct terminal-to-terminal services and regional overnight service between terminals. It provides regional overnight service to many of the markets within its network. Forward Air Corporation operates regional hubs in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Newark, Newburgh, Orlando and San Francisco. The Company’s logistics and other services allow customers to access services, such as expedited truckload brokerage; fleets; customs brokerage, such as assistance with United States Customs and Border Protection procedures for both import and export shipments; warehousing, dock and office space, and shipment consolidation and handling, such as shipment build-up and break-down and reconsolidation of air or ocean pallets or containers.

Forward Air Solutions, Inc.

Through its FASI segment the Company provides pool distribution services through a network of terminals and service locations in 19 cities throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest continental United States. Pool distribution involves managing high-frequency handling and distribution of time-sensitive product to numerous destinations in specific geographic regions. Forward Air Corporation’s primary customers for this product are regional and nationwide distributors and retailers, such as mall, strip mall and outlet based retail chains. During the year ended December 31, 2008, it added locations in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.