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Printer-Friendly FedEx Timeline
1913
C.J. Tower & Sons – the forerunner of FedEx Trade Networks subsidiary FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage — begins operation as a customs broker in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
1947
Roberts Cartage (now FedEx Custom Critical) is founded as a pickup and delivery trucking company in Akron, Ohio.
1966
Viking Freight Inc. (now FedEx Freight West) is founded in San Jose, Calif.
1971
Federal Express Corporation is founded in Little Rock, Ark.
1973
Federal Express relocates operations to Memphis, Tenn.
On the first night of continuous operation, 389 Federal Express employees and 14 Dassault Falcon jets deliver 186 packages overnight to 25 U.S. cities – and the modern air/ground express industry is born.
1975
Federal Express installs the first Federal Express Drop Box.
1977
After two years of lobbying led by Federal Express, Congress passes Public Law 95-163 enabling FedEx and other cargo airlines to use larger aircraft with no geographic restrictions on routes.
Federal Express purchases seven Boeing 727 aircraft, each with a cargo capacity of 40,000 pounds – almost seven times that of the Dassault Falcon.
1978
Federal Express Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; ticker symbol is FDX.
1979
Federal Express launches COSMOS (Customers, Operations and Services Master Online System), a centralized computer system to manage people, packages, vehicles and weather scenarios in real time.
1980
Federal Express implements DADS (Digitally Assisted Dispatch System) to coordinate on-call pickups for customers.
Roberts Cartage is renamed Roberts Express Inc. (now FedEx Custom Critical), becoming the first carrier to offer exclusive-use, non-stop transportation services – and the expedited transportation industry is born.
1981
Federal Express introduces the Overnight Letter.
Federal Express begins international delivery with service to Canada.
Federal Express opens its SuperHub adjacent to Memphis International Airport.
1982
Arkansas Freightways (now FedEx Freight East) is founded Harrison, Ark.
1983
Federal Express becomes the first U.S. company to reach revenues of $1 billion without merger or acquisition.
1984
Federal Express acquires Gelco Express International and launches operations in Asia Pacific.
The first PC-based automated shipping system, later named FedEx PowerShip®, is introduced.
1985
RPS Inc. (now FedEx Ground) is founded in Pittsburgh, Pa., and introduces bar code labeling to the ground transportation industry.
1986
Federal Express introduces the SuperTracker®, a hand-held bar code scanner system that captures detailed package information.
1989
Federal Express purchases Flying Tigers to expand its international presence.
Roberts Express (now FedEx Custom Critical) begins service to Europe and launches an on-board communications system that uses satellite tracking to pinpoint vehicle location.
1990
Federal Express becomes the first company to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the service category.
1991
CharterAirâ(now Air Expedite under FedEx Custom Critical), an expedited, exclusive-use air charter service of Roberts Express, makes its inaugural flight.
1993
RPS (now FedEx Ground) exceeds $1 billion in annual revenue in its ninth year of existence, recording the fastest growth of any ground transportation company.
RPS (now FedEx Ground) launches MultiShip®, the first carrier-supplied customer automation system to process packages shipped by other transportation providers.
The Federal Express ClearSM Electronic Customs Clearance System is created to expedite regulatory clearance while cargo is en route.
Arkansas Freightways (now FedEx Freight East) changes its name to American Freightways.
1994
Federal Express officially adopts “FedEx” as its brand for recognition as the worldwide standard for fast, reliable service.
FedEx launches fedex.com as the first transportation Web site to offer online package status tracking, enabling customers to conduct business via the Internet.
FedEx Ship® software (now FedEx Ship Manager QuickShip) allows customers to process and manage shipping from their desktop.
1995
FedEx acquires air routes from Evergreen International with authority to serve China.
FedEx opens the Asia Pacific Hub in Subic Bay, Philippines, and launches the FedEx AsiaOne® network.
1996
RPS (now FedEx Ground) achieves 100 percent coverage of North America.
FedEx becomes the first company to allow customers to process shipments online with the introduction of FedEx interNetShip® (now FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com).
1997
FedEx opens its hub at Alliance Airport near Dallas, Texas.
1998
FedEx acquires Caliber System Inc. and creates FDX Corporation. The move creates a $16 billion transportation powerhouse, comprised of the traditional Federal Express distribution service and small-package carrier RPS, less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier Viking Freight, Caliber Logistics, Caliber Technology and Roberts Express.
1999
FedEx Marketplace launches on fedex.com, providing easy access to online merchants that offer fast, reliable FedEx express shipping.
Federal Express launches its EuroOne® Network with the opening of its hub at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport.
FedEx Corp. acquires Caribbean Transportation Services.
2000
Parent company FDX is renamed FedEx Corporation with services divided into companies that operate independently yet compete collectively: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Global Logistics, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Services.
FedEx Ground launches FedEx Home Delivery, an innovative business-to-residential service, in major U.S. markets.
FedEx Trade Networks is created with the acquisitions of Tower Group International and WorldTariff.
FedEx Custom Critical acquires Passport Transport.
FedEx teams with Amazon.com on a major e-commerce event, delivering the book “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” to 250,000 eager customers on the Saturday of its release.
FedEx introduces customer technology solutions including a redesigned fedex.com, FedEx e-Commerce Builder, FedEx Global Trade Manager and FedEx Ship Manager.
2001
FedEx Express and the U.S. Postal Service forge a public-private alliance. FedEx Express provides air transportation of some U.S. mail and places FedEx Drop Boxes at post offices nationwide.
FedEx Corp. acquires American Freightways, a less-than-truckload carrier serving the 40 eastern states in the U.S.
2002
FedEx brands Viking Freight and American Freightways as FedEx Freight, with American Freightways as FedEx Freight East and Viking Freight as FedEx Freight West. The companies continue to operate independently to optimize service in their geographic markets.
FedEx Trade Networks reorganizes with Tower Group International, becoming FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage Inc. and a new subsidiary, FedEx Trade Networks Trade Services, incorporating the services of WorldTariff.
FedEx Home Delivery completes its expansion to serve virtually 100 percent of the U.S. population.
2003
The FedEx brand marks its 30th anniversary from its founding in 1973.