Fourth-quarter profits rose sharply at five publicly traded less-than-truckload carriers, buoyed by strong shipment growth across the sector.

Gregory Orr has been promoted to president of Con-way Multimodal, the freight brokerage division of Con-way Inc. unit Menlo Logistics, the company said Dec. 22.

Con-way Freight transported thousands of donated phones for the nonprofit Cell Phones For Soldiers to be sold for phone cards for soldiers overseas.

Con-way Inc. reported third-quarter net income increased as revenue in the freight and logistics business rose, but truckload business declined.

Workers at two of three Con-way Freight terminals in Southern California voted against joining the Teamsters union, while a third, in Los Angeles, voted narrowly in favor of representation, the company said.

Con-way Freight said it will boost rates by an average 4.7% for noncontractual business, effective Oct. 27.

Con-way Freight announced a driver pay increase Sept. 30, several weeks before scheduled union representation elections at three Southern California terminals.

Con-way Freight will boost drivers' pay rates and reduce the time it takes for drivers to reach top pay scale.

Drivers and dock workers at Con-way Freight’s Laredo, Texas, terminal have become the first workers at the less-than-truckload carrier to become union members.

Con-way Truckload said it is raising per-mile pay for drivers as well as increasing layover pay and adding a new incentive program.