CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS INC
S-4/A, 1995-08-09
TRUCKING (NO LOCAL)
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<PAGE>
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 9, 1995.
    
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-60625
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-4
    
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              -------------------
                         CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                          <C>
          DELAWARE                        4213                    94-1444798
(State or other jurisdiction        (Primary Standard          (I.R.S. Employer
             of                 Industrial Classification    Identification No.)
      incorporation or                Code Number)
        organization)
</TABLE>

                              3240 HILLVIEW AVENUE
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (415) 494-2900
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of Registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                            EBERHARD G. H. SCHMOLLER
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                         CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS, INC.
                              3240 HILLVIEW AVENUE
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (415) 494-2900
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
             including area code, of agent for service of process)
                             ---------------------
                                WITH COPIES TO:

            Eric S. Haueter                      William H. Hinman, Jr.
              Brown & Wood                        Shearman & Sterling
         555 California Street                   555 California Street
    San Francisco, California 94104         San Francisco, California 94104
             (415) 772-1200                          (415) 616-1100
          (415) 397-4621 (fax)                    (415) 616-1199 (fax)

                             ---------------------

    APPROXIMATE  DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
                             ---------------------

    If the  securities  being registered  on  this  Form are  being  offered  in
connection  with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box.  / /
                             ---------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             PROPOSED MAXIMUM    PROPOSED MAXIMUM
        TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF              AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
     SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED          BE REGISTERED        PER UNIT (1)     OFFERING PRICE (1)   REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
7.35% Notes due 2005..................     $100,000,000            100%            $100,000,000       $34,482.76(2)
<FN>
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
(2)  Paid previously.
</TABLE>
    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

               Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K Showing
           the Location of Information Required by Part I of Form S-4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NO.    CAPTION                                                              LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
----------  ---------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                  <C>
Item 1.     Forepart of Registration Statement and Outside
             Front Cover Page of
             Prospectus........................................  Facing Page of the Registration Statement; Outside
                                                                  Front Cover Page of the Prospectus
Item 2.     Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of
             Prospectus........................................  Available Information; Incorporation of Certain
                                                                  Documents by Reference
Item 3.     Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
             and Other Information.............................  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference;
                                                                  Summary; Selected Consolidated Financial Data; The
                                                                  Exchange Offer
Item 4.     Terms of the Transaction...........................  Summary; The Exchange Offer; Description of the New
                                                                  Notes; Description of the Old Notes; Certain United
                                                                  States Federal Income Tax Considerations
Item 5.     Pro Forma Financial Information....................  *
Item 6.     Material Contracts with the Company Being
             Acquired..........................................  *
Item 7.     Additional Information Required for Reoffering by
             Persons and Parties Deemed to Be Underwriters.....  *
Item 8.     Interest of Named Experts and Counsel..............  *
Item 9.     Disclosure of Commission Position on
             Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities....  *
Item 10.    Information with Respect to S-3 Registrants........  Available Information; Incorporation of Certain
                                                                  Documents by Reference
Item 11.    Incorporation of Certain Information by
             Reference.........................................  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
Item 12.    Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3
             Registrants.......................................  *
Item 13.    Incorporation of Certain Information by
             Reference.........................................  *
Item 14.    Information with Respect to Registrants Other than
             S-2 or S-3 Registrants............................  *
Item 15.    Information with Respect to S-3 Companies..........  *
Item 16.    Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3 Companies...  *
Item 17.    Information with Respect to Companies Other than
             S-2 or S-3 Companies..............................  *
Item 18.    Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorizations
             are to be Solicited...............................  *
Item 19.    Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorizations
             are not to be Solicited or in an Exchange Offer...  The Exchange Offer
<FN>
------------------------
* Omitted because the item is inapplicable or the answer is negative.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
   
PROSPECTUS
    
-------------

                         CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS, INC.

                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                              7.35% NOTES DUE 2005
          WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                              7.35% NOTES DUE 2005

   
       THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
           NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1995, UNLESS EXTENDED.
    
                              -------------------

    Consolidated  Freightways,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the "Company"),
hereby offers, upon the terms  and subject to the  conditions set forth in  this
Prospectus  (as the same may  be amended or supplemented  from time to time, the
"Prospectus") and  in the  accompanying Letter  of Transmittal  (which  together
constitute  the  "Exchange Offer"),  to  exchange up  to  $100,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of its 7.35% Notes due 2005 (the "New Notes"), which have  been
registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
pursuant  to  a  Registration  Statement  (as  defined  herein)  of  which  this
Prospectus  constitutes a part,  for a like principal  amount of its outstanding
7.35% Notes  due  2005  (the  "Old  Notes"),  of  which  $100,000,000  aggregate
principal amount is outstanding.

    The  terms of the  New Notes are  identical in all  material respects to the
terms of the Old Notes, except that (i) the New Notes have been registered under
the Securities Act and therefore will not be subject to certain restrictions  on
transfer  applicable to the Old  Notes and will not  be entitled to registration
rights, (ii)  the New  Notes are  issuable in  minimum denominations  of  $1,000
compared  to minimum denominations of $250,000 for  the Old Notes, and (iii) the
New Notes will not  provide for any  increase in the  interest rate thereon.  In
that  regard,  the  Old  Notes  provide  that,  if  the  Exchange  Offer  is not
consummated by October 29, 1995, the interest  rate borne by the Old Notes  will
increase  by 0.25% per annum following October 29, 1995 until the Exchange Offer
is consummated. See  "Description of  the Old Notes."  The New  Notes are  being
offered  for exchange  in order  to satisfy  certain obligations  of the Company
under  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement  dated  as  of  June  1,  1995  (the
"Registration  Rights Agreement") between the Company and the Initial Purchasers
(as defined herein) of  the Old Notes.  The New Notes will  be issued under  the
same  Indenture (as defined herein)  as the Old Notes and  the New Notes and the
Old Notes  will  constitute  a  single  series  of  debt  securities  under  the
Indenture.  In the event that  the Exchange Offer is  consummated, any Old Notes
which remain outstanding after  consummation of the Exchange  Offer and the  New
Notes  issued in  the Exchange Offer  will vote  together as a  single class for
purposes  of  determining  whether  holders  of  the  requisite  percentage   in
outstanding  principal amount  of Notes (as  defined herein)  have taken certain
actions or exercised certain rights under  the Indenture. The New Notes and  the
Old  Notes are collectively referred to  herein as the "Notes." See "Description
of the New Notes" and "Description of the Old Notes."

    Interest on the New Notes is payable  semiannually on June 1 and December  1
of  each year (each, an  "Interest Payment Date"), commencing  on the first such
date following the original issuance date of  the New Notes. The New Notes  will
mature  on June 1, 2005. The New Notes  are not entitled to any sinking fund and
are not redeemable prior to maturity.  The New Notes will constitute  unsecured,
unsubordinated  indebtedness of the Company and will rank PARI PASSU in right of
payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the  Company
for borrowed money. Because the Company is a holding company, the New Notes will
be  effectively  subordinated in  right of  payment to  all existing  and future
indebtedness, trade payables, guarantees, lease obligations and letter of credit
obligations of the Company's subsidiaries. See "Capitalization" and "Description
of the New Notes -- Ranking; Holding Company Structure."

                                                      --------------------------
                                                   (CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE)

                            ------------------------

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES  AND
  EXCHANGE   COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION
     PASSED  UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY
                 REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                             ---------------------

   
                 The date of this Prospectus is August 9, 1995.
    
<PAGE>
    The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of  the
staff  of the  Division of  Corporation Finance  of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission")  as set  forth  in certain  interpretive  letters
addressed  to third parties in other  transactions. However, the Company has not
sought its own interpretive letter and there can be no assurance that the  staff
of  the Division of Corporation  Finance of the Commission  would make a similar
determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as it has in such  interpretive
letters  to third parties.  Based on these  interpretations by the  staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance,  and subject to  the two immediately  following
sentences,  the Company believes that New Notes issued pursuant to this Exchange
Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and  otherwise
transferred  by a holder  thereof (other than  a holder who  is a broker-dealer)
without  further  compliance  with  the  registration  and  prospectus  delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in
the  ordinary  course of  such holder's  business  and that  such holder  is not
participating, and  has  no arrangement  or  understanding with  any  person  to
participate,  in a  distribution (within the  meaning of the  Securities Act) of
such New Notes. However, any  holder of Old Notes who  is an "affiliate" of  the
Company  or who intends to participate in  the Exchange Offer for the purpose of
distributing New Notes, or  any broker-dealer who purchased  Old Notes from  the
Company  to resell pursuant to Rule 144A  under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A")
or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, (a) will not be  able
to  rely on  the interpretations  of the  staff of  the Division  of Corporation
Finance of the Commission set forth in the above-mentioned interpretive letters,
(b) will not be permitted or entitled  to tender such Old Notes in the  Exchange
Offer  and  (c)  must  comply  with  the  registration  and  prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or other transfer
of such Old Notes unless  such sale is made pursuant  to an exemption from  such
requirements.  In addition, as  described below, if  any broker-dealer holds Old
Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading
activities and exchanges such Old Notes  for New Notes, then such  broker-dealer
must  deliver a  prospectus meeting  the requirements  of the  Securities Act in
connection with any resales of such New Notes.

    Each holder of Old Notes who wishes  to exchange Old Notes for New Notes  in
the  Exchange  Offer  will  be required  to  represent  that (i)  it  is  not an
"affiliate" of the Company, (ii)  any New Notes to be  received by it are  being
acquired  in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement or
understanding with  any person  to  participate in  a distribution  (within  the
meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes, and (iv) if such holder is not
a  broker-dealer, such holder is  not engaged in, and  does not intend to engage
in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes  for its own account pursuant to  the
Exchange  Offer must  acknowledge that  it acquired  the Old  Notes for  its own
account as the result  of market-making activities  or other trading  activities
and must agree that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities  Act in connection with  any resale of such  New Notes. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by  so acknowledging and by  delivering a prospectus,  a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning  of the Securities Act. Based on the  position taken by the staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance  of the Commission  in the interpretive  letters
referred  to above,  the Company believes  that broker-dealers  who acquired Old
Notes for their own accounts, as  a result of market-making activities or  other
trading activities ("Participating Broker-Dealers") may fulfill their prospectus
delivery  requirements with respect  to the New Notes  received upon exchange of
such Old Notes (other  than Old Notes which  represent an unsold allotment  from
the  original sale of the Old Notes)  with a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the Securities  Act, which  may be the  prospectus prepared  for an  exchange
offer  so long  as it contains  a description  of the plan  of distribution with
respect to the resale of such New Notes. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may
be amended or supplemented  from time to  time, may be  used by a  Participating
Broker-Dealer  during the period referred to below in connection with resales of
New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were  acquired
by  such  Participating  Broker-Dealer  for  its  own  account  as  a  result of
market-making or other  trading activities.  Subject to  certain provisions  set
forth  in the  Registration Rights Agreement,  the Company has  agreed that this
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be  used
by  a Participating Broker-Dealer  in connection with resales  of such New Notes
for a period ending 90 days after the Expiration Date referred to below (subject
to extension  under  certain  limited  circumstances  described  below)  or,  if
earlier,  when all such  New Notes have  been disposed of  by such Participating
Broker-Dealer. See "Plan of  Distribution." Any Participating Broker-Dealer  who
is  an "affiliate" of the Company may  not rely on such interpretive letters and
must comply with the  registration and prospectus  delivery requirements of  the
Securities  Act in  connection with  any resale  transaction. See  "The Exchange
Offer -- Resales of New Notes."

    In that regard,  each Participating Broker-Dealer  who surrenders Old  Notes
pursuant  to the Exchange Offer  will be deemed to  have agreed, by execution of
the Letter of Transmittal, that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of  the
occurrence  of any event or the discovery  of any fact which makes any statement
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which causes this Prospectus to omit

                                       2
<PAGE>
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained  or
incorporated by reference herein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading or of the occurrence of certain other events specified
in  the  Registration Rights  Agreement,  such Participating  Broker-Dealer will
suspend the sale of New Notes pursuant to this Prospectus until the Company  has
amended or supplemented this Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission
and  has  furnished copies  of the  amended or  supplemented Prospectus  to such
Participating Broker-Dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the
New Notes may be resumed, as the case  may be. If the Company gives such  notice
to suspend the sale of the New Notes, it shall extend the 90-day period referred
to  above during  which Participating  Broker-Dealers are  entitled to  use this
Prospectus in connection  with the resale  of New  Notes by the  number of  days
during  the period from and  including the date of the  giving of such notice to
and including the  date when  Participating Broker-Dealers  shall have  received
copies  of the amended or supplemented Prospectus necessary to permit resales of
the New Notes or to and including the date on which the Company has given notice
that the sale of New Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.

    The New Notes will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is
no market. Although the Initial Purchasers  have informed the Company that  they
each  currently intend to make a market in the New Notes, they are not obligated
to do so, and  any such market  making may be discontinued  at any time  without
notice.  Accordingly,  there  can  be  no assurance  as  to  the  development or
liquidity of any market for the New Notes. The Company currently does not intend
to apply  for  listing of  the  New Notes  on  any securities  exchange  or  for
quotation  through  the  National Association  of  Securities  Dealers Automated
Quotation System.

    Any Old Notes not  tendered and accepted in  the Exchange Offer will  remain
outstanding  and will be entitled to all the  same rights and will be subject to
the same limitations applicable  thereto under the  Indenture (except for  those
rights  which  terminate upon  consummation  of the  Exchange  Offer). Following
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the holders of Old Notes will continue to be
subject to the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof and the Company  will
have no further obligation to such holders (other than to the Initial Purchasers
under  certain  limited circumstances)  to  provide for  registration  under the
Securities Act of the Old Notes held by  them. To the extent that Old Notes  are
tendered  and  accepted  in  the  Exchange Offer,  a  holder's  ability  to sell
untendered Old  Notes  could be  adversely  affected. See  "Summary  --  Certain
Consequences of a Failure to Exchange Old Notes."

    THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND THE  RELATED LETTER  OF TRANSMITTAL  CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF  OLD NOTES  ARE URGED TO  READ THIS  PROSPECTUS AND  THE
RELATED  LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR
OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.

   
    Old Notes may be tendered  for exchange on or prior  to 5:00 p.m., New  York
City time, on September 8, 1995 (such time on such date being hereinafter called
the "Expiration Date"), unless the Exchange Offer is extended by the Company (in
which  case the term  "Expiration Date" shall  mean the latest  date and time to
which the Exchange Offer is extended). Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn  at
any  time  on  or  prior to  the  Expiration  Date. The  Exchange  Offer  is not
conditioned upon any minimum  principal amount of Old  Notes being tendered  for
exchange.  However,  the  Exchange  Offer  is  subject  to  certain  events  and
conditions which may be waived by the Company and to the terms and provisions of
the Registration Rights Agreement. Old Notes may be tendered in whole or in part
in a principal amount of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, provided that if
any Old Note is tendered for  exchange in part, the untendered principal  amount
thereof  must be $250,000 or any integral  multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Company has  agreed to  pay all  expenses of  the Exchange  Offer. See  "The
Exchange  Offer -- Fees and Expenses". Each New Note will bear interest from the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Old
Note surrendered in exchange for such New Note or, if no such interest has  been
paid  or duly provided for on  such Old Note, from June  1, 1995. Holders of the
Old Notes whose  Old Notes are  accepted for exchange  will not receive  accrued
interest  on such  Old Notes  for any  period from  and after  the last Interest
Payment Date to which interest  has been paid or duly  provided for on such  Old
Notes  prior to the original issue date of the New Notes or, if no such interest
has been paid or  duly provided for,  will not receive  any accrued interest  on
such  Old Notes,  and will  be deemed to  have waived  the right  to receive any
interest on such Old Notes accrued from and after such Interest Payment Date or,
if no such interest has been paid or  duly provided for, from and after June  1,
1995.
    

   
    This  Prospectus, together with the Letter  of Transmittal, is being sent to
all registered holders of Old Notes as of August 9, 1995.
    
    The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the  New
Notes  offered hereby. No  dealer-manager is being used  in connection with this
Exchange Offer. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Plan of Distribution."

                                       3
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The  Company is subject to the  informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act  of 1934,  as  amended (the  "Exchange  Act"), and,  in  accordance
therewith,  files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with the
Commission.  Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  may  be
inspected  and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by the
Commission at Room 1024,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W., Judiciary Plaza,  Washington,
D.C.  20549, and at  the Commission's Regional  Offices in New  York City (Seven
World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048), and Chicago (Citicorp
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661). Copies of
these materials  may  be obtained  from  the  Public Reference  Section  of  the
Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
Reports,  proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may also
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005 and at the offices of the Pacific Stock Exchange, 301  Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104.

    This  Prospectus constitutes a part of  a registration statement on Form S-4
(together with all  amendments thereto, the  "Registration Statement") filed  by
the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act. This Prospectus, which
forms a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all the information
set  forth  in the  Registration  Statement, certain  parts  of which  have been
omitted in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Commission.
Reference  is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits and
schedules filed therewith for  further information with  respect to the  Company
and  the New  Notes offered hereby.  Statements contained  herein concerning the
provisions of any document are not  necessarily complete and, in each  instance,
reference  is  made  to the  copy  of  such document  filed  or  incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed by  the
Company with the Commission and each such statement is qualified in its entirety
by  such reference.  The Registration Statement  and the  exhibits and schedules
thereto  may  be  inspected  and  copied  at  the  public  reference  facilities
maintained by the Commission at the addresses described above.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The  following documents heretofore filed with the Commission by the Company
pursuant to  the Exchange  Act are  incorporated herein  by reference:  (i)  the
Company's  Annual Report  on Form  10-K for the  fiscal year  ended December 31,
1994; and (ii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1995.

    All documents filed by the Company  with the Commission pursuant to  Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to
the  termination of the Exchange  Offer for the New Notes  shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from  the
respective  dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or
in a document  incorporated or  deemed to  be incorporated  by reference  herein
shall  be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently  filed
document  which also is  incorporated or deemed to  be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement or document  so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to  constitute  a  part  of  this  Prospectus.  Subject  to  the  foregoing, all
information appearing in  this Prospectus is  qualified in its  entirety by  the
information appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference.

    The  Company  will  furnish  without  charge to  each  person  to  whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon request,  a copy of any  and all of the  documents
incorporated  by reference other  than exhibits to such  documents which are not
specifically incorporated by reference in  such documents. Written or  telephone
requests  should be directed  to: Consolidated Freightways,  Inc., Office of the
Corporate Secretary,  at  3240  Hillview Avenue,  Palo  Alto,  California  94304
(telephone (415) 494-2900).

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                    SUMMARY

    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY,  AND IS SUBJECT TO,
THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED ELSEWHERE  AND
INCORPORATED  BY  REFERENCE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS.  UNLESS OTHERWISE  INDICATED OR
UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES, ALL REFERENCES IN THIS PROSPECTUS TO  THE
COMPANY INCLUDE CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.

                                  THE COMPANY

    Consolidated  Freightways, Inc. (the  "Company") is a  holding company which
participates through subsidiaries  in various forms  of nationwide and  regional
trucking   services,  truckload  and  intermodal  rail  services,  domestic  and
international air  cargo  delivery  services,  contract  logistics  and  related
transportation  activities. These  operations are  organized into  three primary
business groups: nationwide, full-service  trucking (CF MotorFreight);  regional
trucking  and full-service truckload services  (Con-Way); and air freight (Emery
Worldwide).

CF MOTORFREIGHT

    CF MotorFreight provides general freight  services nationwide and in  Canada
and,  on  a limited  basis, in  Mexico,  the Caribbean  area, Central  and South
America, Europe  and  the  Pacific  Rim.  Operations  consist  of  an  extensive
transportation  network moving freight  that typically consists  of shipments of
manufactured or non-perishable processed  products having relatively high  value
and  requiring expedited  service. The  primary business  of CF  MotorFreight is
transporting  freight   that  is   less-than-truckload  ("LTL"),   an   industry
designation  for shipments weighing  less than 10,000 pounds.  Based on its 1994
revenues of $2,094.1 million, CF MotorFreight is one of the nation's largest LTL
motor carriers.

CON-WAY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

    Con-Way includes  three business  units that  provide regional  LTL  freight
trucking  and  one business  unit that  provides full-service  truckload freight
delivery   utilizing   over-the-road   and   intermodal   rail   resources   for
transcontinental,  inter-regional  and  regional  transportation.  Con-Way  also
provides local  and  interstate  container  drayage  and  freight  assembly  and
distribution services. Con-Way's 1994 revenues were $1,018.5 million.

EMERY WORLDWIDE

    Emery  Worldwide  provides  commercial door-to-door  delivery  for same-day,
next-day, second-day and deferred shipments in North America through a dedicated
aircraft and  ground  fleet. Internationally,  with  offices and  agents  in  89
countries,  Emery  Worldwide operates  primarily as  a freight  forwarder. Emery
Worldwide is focused primarily on heavy air freight. Emery Worldwide was  formed
when  the  Company purchased  Emery Air  Freight Corporation  in April  1989 and
merged it with the Company's  existing air freight operation. Emery  Worldwide's
1994 revenues were $1,567.9 million.

    The  Company  was incorporated  in  Delaware in  1958  as a  successor  to a
business originally  established  in  1929. The  Company's  principal  executive
office  is  located  at  3240  Hillview  Avenue,  Palo  Alto,  California  94304
(telephone (415) 494-2900).

                                       5
<PAGE>
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

   
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
The Exchange Offer................  Up to  $100,000,000 aggregate  principal amount  of  New
                                    Notes are being offered in exchange for a like aggregate
                                    principal amount of Old Notes. Old Notes may be tendered
                                    for  exchange in whole or in  part in a principal amount
                                    of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, provided  that
                                    if  any Old Note  is tendered for  exchange in part, the
                                    untendered principal amount thereof must be $250,000  or
                                    any  integral multiple of $1,000  in excess thereof. The
                                    Company is making the Exchange Offer in order to satisfy
                                    its obligations under the Registration Rights  Agreement
                                    relating  to  the Old  Notes. For  a description  of the
                                    procedures for tendering  Old Notes,  see "The  Exchange
                                    Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Old Notes."

Expiration Date...................  5:00  p.m.,  New York  City time,  on September  8, 1995
                                    (such time  on such  date being  hereinafter called  the
                                    "Expiration Date") unless the Exchange Offer is extended
                                    by the Company (in which case the term "Expiration Date"
                                    shall  mean  the  latest  date  and  time  to  which the
                                    Exchange Offer is extended). See "The Exchange Offer  --
                                    Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments."

Certain Conditions to the Exchange
 Offer............................  The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions. The
                                    Company  reserves  the right  in  its sole  and absolute
                                    discretion, subject to applicable  law, at any time  and
                                    from  time to time,  (i) to delay  the acceptance of the
                                    Old Notes for exchange,  (ii) to terminate the  Exchange
                                    Offer  if  certain  specified conditions  have  not been
                                    satisfied, (iii) to  extend the Expiration  Date of  the
                                    Exchange   Offer  and  retain  all  Old  Notes  tendered
                                    pursuant to the Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the
                                    right of holders of Old Notes to withdraw their tendered
                                    Old Notes, or (iv) to  waive any condition or  otherwise
                                    amend  the terms of  the Exchange Offer  in any respect.
                                    See "The Exchange Offer -- Expiration Date;  Extensions;
                                    Amendments"  and "-- Certain  Conditions to the Exchange
                                    Offer."

Withdrawal Rights.................  Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time on  or
                                    prior  to the  Expiration Date  by delivering  a written
                                    notice of  such  withdrawal  to the  Exchange  Agent  in
                                    conformity with certain procedures set forth below under
                                    "The Exchange Offer -- Withdrawal Rights."

Procedures for Tendering Old
 Notes............................  Tendering  holders of Old Notes must complete and sign a
                                    Letter   of   Transmittal   in   accordance   with   the
                                    instructions  contained therein and  forward the same by
                                    mail, facsimile  or  hand delivery,  together  with  any
                                    other  required  documents,  to the  Exchange  Agent (as
                                    defined below), either with the Old Notes to be tendered
                                    or in  compliance  with  the  specified  procedures  for
                                    guaranteed  delivery  of  Old  Notes.  Certain  brokers,
                                    dealers, commercial  banks,  trust companies  and  other
                                    nominees may also effect tenders by book-entry transfer.
                                    Holders of Old Notes registered in the name of a broker,
                                    dealer,  commercial bank, trust company or other nominee
                                    are urged to contact such  person promptly if they  wish
                                    to tender Old Notes pursuant to the
</TABLE>
    

                                       6
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    Exchange  Offer. See  "The Exchange  Offer -- Procedures
                                    for Tendering  Old Notes."  Letters of  Transmittal  and
                                    certificates  representing Old Notes  should not be sent
                                    to the Company.  Such documents should  only be sent  to
                                    the  Exchange Agent.  Questions regarding  how to tender
                                    and requests for information  should be directed to  the
                                    Exchange  Agent.  See  "The Exchange  Offer  -- Exchange
                                    Agent."

Resales of New Notes..............  The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance  on
                                    the position of the staff of the Division of Corporation
                                    Finance  of  the  Commission  as  set  forth  in certain
                                    interpretive letters addressed to third parties in other
                                    transactions. However, the  Company has  not sought  its
                                    own  interpretive letter  and there can  be no assurance
                                    that the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of
                                    the Commission would make  a similar determination  with
                                    respect  to  the  Exchange  Offer  as  it  has  in  such
                                    interpretive letters to  third parties.  Based on  these
                                    interpretations   by  the  staff   of  the  Division  of
                                    Corporation Finance, and subject to the two  immediately
                                    following sentences, the Company believes that New Notes
                                    issued  pursuant to this Exchange  Offer in exchange for
                                    Old  Notes  may  be  offered  for  resale,  resold   and
                                    otherwise  transferred by a holder thereof (other than a
                                    holder  who   is   a  broker-dealer)   without   further
                                    compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
                                    requirements  of the Securities  Act, provided that such
                                    New Notes are  acquired in the  ordinary course of  such
                                    holder's   business   and  that   such  holder   is  not
                                    participating, and has  no arrangement or  understanding
                                    with  any  person  to  participate,  in  a  distribution
                                    (within the meaning of the  Securities Act) of such  New
                                    Notes.  However,  any  holder  of Old  Notes  who  is an
                                    "affiliate" of the Company or who intends to participate
                                    in the Exchange  Offer for the  purpose of  distributing
                                    the  New Notes,  or any broker-dealer  who purchased the
                                    Old Notes from  the Company to  resell pursuant to  Rule
                                    144A   or  any  other   available  exemption  under  the
                                    Securities Act,  (a) will  not be  able to  rely on  the
                                    interpretations   of  the  staff   of  the  Division  of
                                    Corporation Finance of the  Commission set forth in  the
                                    above-mentioned  interpretive letters,  (b) will  not be
                                    permitted or entitled  to tender such  Old Notes in  the
                                    Exchange Offer and (c) must comply with the registration
                                    and  prospectus delivery requirements  of the Securities
                                    Act in connection  with any  sale or  other transfer  of
                                    such  Old Notes unless such sale  is made pursuant to an
                                    exemption  from  such  requirements.  In  addition,   as
                                    described  below, if  any broker-dealer  holds Old Notes
                                    acquired  for   its  own   account   as  a   result   of
                                    market-making  or other trading activities and exchanges
                                    such Old Notes  for New Notes,  then such  broker-dealer
                                    must  deliver a  prospectus meeting  the requirements of
                                    the Securities  Act in  connection with  any resales  of
                                    such New Notes.

                                    Each  holder  of Old  Notes who  wishes to  exchange Old
                                    Notes for  New  Notes  in the  Exchange  Offer  will  be
                                    required  to represent that (i) it is not an "affiliate"
                                    of the Company, (ii) any New Notes to be received by  it
                                    are  being  acquired  in  the  ordinary  course  of  its
                                    business, (iii) it has  no arrangement or  understanding
                                    with any person to participate in a distribution (within
                                    the meaning of the
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    Securities  Act)  of such  New Notes,  and (iv)  if such
                                    holder is  not  a  broker-dealer,  such  holder  is  not
                                    engaged  in,  and  does  not  intend  to  engage  in,  a
                                    distribution (within the meaning of the Securities  Act)
                                    of  such New Notes. Each broker-dealer that receives New
                                    Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer
                                    must acknowledge that it acquired the Old Notes for  its
                                    own account as the result of market-making activities or
                                    other  trading activities  and must  agree that  it will
                                    deliver a  prospectus meeting  the requirements  of  the
                                    Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New
                                    Notes.  The  Letter  of Transmittal  states  that  by so
                                    acknowledging  and   by  delivering   a  prospectus,   a
                                    broker-dealer  will not be deemed to admit that it is an
                                    "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities  Act.
                                    Based on the position taken by the staff of the Division
                                    of   Corporation  Finance  of   the  Commission  in  the
                                    interpretive letters  referred  to  above,  the  Company
                                    believes  that broker-dealers who acquired Old Notes for
                                    their  own  accounts  as   a  result  of   market-making
                                    activities  or other  trading activities ("Participating
                                    Broker-Dealers") may fulfill  their prospectus  delivery
                                    requirements with respect to the New Notes received upon
                                    exchange  of such Old Notes  (other than Old Notes which
                                    represent an unsold allotment from the original sale  of
                                    the   Old   Notes)   with  a   prospectus   meeting  the
                                    requirements of  the Securities  Act, which  may be  the
                                    prospectus  prepared for an exchange offer so long as it
                                    contains a description of the plan of distribution  with
                                    respect  to the  resale of such  New Notes. Accordingly,
                                    this Prospectus, as  it may be  amended or  supplemented
                                    from  time  to  time,  may be  used  by  a Participating
                                    Broker-Dealer in connection  with resales  of New  Notes
                                    received  in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes
                                    were acquired  by such  Participating Broker-Dealer  for
                                    its  own account as  a result of  market-making or other
                                    trading activities.  Subject to  certain provisions  set
                                    forth  in the  Registration Rights Agreement  and to the
                                    limitations described below under "The Exchange Offer --
                                    Resale of New Notes", the  Company has agreed that  this
                                    Prospectus,  as it  may be amended  or supplemented from
                                    time  to   time,  may   be  used   by  a   Participating
                                    Broker-Dealer  in  connection with  resales of  such New
                                    Notes for a period ending  90 days after the  Expiration
                                    Date   (subject  to  extension   under  certain  limited
                                    circumstances) or, if earlier,  when all such New  Notes
                                    have    been   disposed   of   by   such   Participating
                                    Broker-Dealer.   See   "Plan   of   Distribution."   Any
                                    Participating Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of the
                                    Company  may not  rely on such  interpretive letters and
                                    must  comply  with   the  registration  and   prospectus
                                    delivery   requirements   of  the   Securities   Act  in
                                    connection  with  any   resale  transaction.  See   "The
                                    Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Notes."

Exchange Agent....................  The exchange agent with respect to the Exchange Offer is
                                    Bank  One,  Columbus,  NA  (the  "Exchange  Agent"). The
                                    addresses, and telephone  and facsimile  numbers of  the
                                    Exchange  Agent are set forth  in "The Exchange Offer --
                                    Exchange Agent" and in the Letter of Transmittal.
</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
Use of Proceeds...................  The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from  the
                                    issuance  of the New  Notes offered hereby.  See "Use of
                                    Proceeds."

Certain United States Federal
 Income Tax Considerations........  Holders of Old Notes  should review the information  set
                                    forth under "-- Certain United States Federal Income Tax
                                    Considerations"  prior  to  tendering Old  Notes  in the
                                    Exchange Offer.

                                       THE NEW NOTES

Securities Offered................  Up to  $100,000,000 aggregate  principal amount  of  the
                                    Company's   7.35%  Notes   due  2005   which  have  been
                                    registered under the Securities Act.
                                    The New  Notes will  be issued  and the  Old Notes  were
                                    issued  under an  Indenture dated  as of  August 1, 1989
                                    (the "Indenture")  between  the Company  and  Bank  One,
                                    Columbus,  NA, as successor trustee (the "Trustee"). The
                                    New Notes  and any  Old Notes  which remain  outstanding
                                    after consummation of the Exchange Offer will constitute
                                    a  single series of debt  securities under the Indenture
                                    and, accordingly, will vote  together as a single  class
                                    for  purposes  of  determining  whether  holders  of the
                                    requisite percentage  in  outstanding  principal  amount
                                    thereof  have taken certain actions or exercised certain
                                    rights under the Indenture. See "Description of the  New
                                    Notes -- General."
                                    The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material
                                    respects  to the terms of the Old Notes, except that (i)
                                    the New Notes have been registered under the  Securities
                                    Act   and   therefore   are  not   subject   to  certain
                                    restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Notes and
                                    will not  be entitled  to registration  rights or  other
                                    rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) the
                                    New  Notes  are  issuable  in  minimum  denominations of
                                    $1,000 compared to minimum denominations of $250,000 for
                                    the Old Notes and (iii)  the New Notes will not  provide
                                    for  any increase in the interest rate thereon. See "The
                                    Exchange  Offer  --  Purpose  of  the  Exchange  Offer,"
                                    "Description  of the New Notes"  and "Description of the
                                    Old Notes."

Maturity Date.....................  June 1, 2005.

Interest Payment Dates............  June 1 and December  1 of each  year, commencing on  the
                                    first  such date following the  original issuance of the
                                    New Notes.

Denominations.....................  The New Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of
                                    $1,000  and  integral  multiples  of  $1,000  in  excess
                                    thereof.

Redemption........................  The New Notes may not be redeemed prior to maturity.

Sinking fund......................  None.

Ranking...........................  The  New Notes will  constitute unsecured unsubordinated
                                    indebtedness of the Company and will rank PARI PASSU  in
                                    right   of   payment  with   all  other   unsecured  and
                                    unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company for  borrowed
                                    money. Because the Company is a holding company, the New
                                    Notes  will  be  effectively  subordinated  in  right of
                                    payment to all existing  and future indebtedness,  trade
                                    payables, guarantees, lease obligations and
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    letter   of   credit   obligations   of   the  Company's
                                    subsidiaries.  As  of  March  31,  1995,  the  Company's
                                    subsidiaries   had   approximately   $133   million   of
                                    outstanding indebtedness and  obligations under  capital
                                    leases  and  approximately  $88  million  of outstanding
                                    undrawn  letters   of  credit.   In  addition,   certain
                                    subsidiaries  are  guarantors under  the  Company's $300
                                    million bank credit  facility (the "Credit  Agreement").
                                    At  December 31,  1994, the  Company's subsidiaries were
                                    subject to  long-term  non-cancelable  operating  leases
                                    requiring future minimum lease payments of approximately
                                    $501  million. See "Capitalization"  and "Description of
                                    the New Notes -- Ranking; Holding Company Structure."

Absence of Market for the New
 Notes............................  The New  Notes will  be a  new issue  of securities  for
                                    which  there  currently is  no market.  Although Merrill
                                    Lynch &  Co.,  Merrill  Lynch, Pierce,  Fenner  &  Smith
                                    Incorporated,   Goldman,  Sachs   &  Co.,   J.P.  Morgan
                                    Securities Inc., and Salomon  Brothers Inc, the  initial
                                    purchasers  of the Old Notes (the "Initial Purchasers"),
                                    have informed  the  Company  that  they  each  currently
                                    intend  to make a market in  the New Notes, they are not
                                    obligated to do so,  and any such  market making may  be
                                    discontinued  at any  time without  notice. Accordingly,
                                    there can  be  no assurance  as  to the  development  or
                                    liquidity  of any market for  the New Notes. The Company
                                    currently does not  intend to apply  for listing of  the
                                    New  Notes on  any securities exchange  or for quotation
                                    through the National  Association of Securities  Dealers
                                    Automated Quotation System.
</TABLE>

FOR  FURTHER INFORMATION  REGARDING THE NEW  NOTES, SEE "DESCRIPTION  OF THE NEW
NOTES."

                                       10
<PAGE>
            CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OLD NOTES

    The Old Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws and therefore may not be offered, sold or otherwise  transferred
except  in compliance with  the registration requirements  of the Securities Act
and any other applicable securities laws, or pursuant to an exemption  therefrom
or  in a transaction  not subject thereto,  and in each  case in compliance with
certain other  conditions  and restrictions,  including  the Company's  and  the
Trustee's right in certain cases to require the delivery of opinions of counsel,
certifications and other information prior to any such transfer. Old Notes which
remain  outstanding after  consummation of the  Exchange Offer  will continue to
bear a  legend  reflecting such  restrictions  on transfer.  In  addition,  upon
consummation   of  the  Exchange  Offer,  holders  of  Old  Notes  which  remain
outstanding will not be entitled to any rights to have such Old Notes registered
under the Securities Act or to any similar rights under the Registration  Rights
Agreement  (subject  to  certain  limited exceptions  applicable  solely  to the
Initial Purchasers). The Company currently does not intend to register under the
Securities Act any Old Notes which remain outstanding after consummation of  the
Exchange Offer (subject to such limited exceptions, if applicable).

    To  the extent  that Old  Notes are  tendered and  accepted in  the Exchange
Offer, a  holder's ability  to  sell untendered  Old  Notes could  be  adversely
affected.  In addition, although the  Old Notes are eligible  for trading in the
Private Offerings,  Resale and  Trading  through Automatic  Linkages  ("PORTAL")
market,  to the extent  that Old Notes  are tendered and  accepted in connection
with the  Exchange  Offer,  any  trading  market  for  Old  Notes  which  remain
outstanding after the Exchange Offer could be adversely affected.

    The  New Notes and any Old Notes which remain outstanding after consummation
of the Exchange Offer will constitute  a single series of debt securities  under
the  Indenture  and,  accordingly, will  vote  together  as a  single  class for
purposes  of  determining  whether  holders  of  the  requisite  percentage   in
outstanding  principal amount  thereof have  taken certain  actions or exercised
certain rights  under  the Indenture.  See  "Description  of the  New  Notes  --
General."

    The  Old Notes  provide that,  if the Exchange  Offer is  not consummated by
October 29, 1995,  the interest rate  borne by  the Old Notes  will increase  by
0.25%  per  annum  following  October  29,  1995  until  the  Exchange  Offer is
consummated. See "Description of the  Old Notes." Following consummation of  the
Exchange  Offer,  the Old  Notes will  not be  entitled to  any increase  in the
interest rate thereon. The New Notes will  not be entitled to any such  increase
in the interest rate thereon.

                                       11
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    The  Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New
Notes offered hereby. In consideration for issuing the New Notes in exchange for
Old Notes as described in this Prospectus, the Company will receive Old Notes in
like principal amount. The Old Notes  surrendered in exchange for the New  Notes
will  be retired and cancelled. Accordingly, the  issuance of the New Notes will
not result in any change in the indebtedness of the Company.

    The net  proceeds  to  the Company  from  the  sale of  the  Old  Notes  was
approximately $98,890,000. The Company used approximately $71 million of the net
proceeds  from the sale of the Old Notes to repay short-term borrowings incurred
for capital  expenditures and  other general  corporate purposes,  and used  the
remaining  net  proceeds for  capital expenditures  and other  general corporate
purposes.

                                 CAPITALIZATION

    The following table sets forth (i) the current maturities of long-term  debt
and capital leases and short-term borrowings of the Company as of March 31, 1995
and  as adjusted to  reflect the application  of a portion  of the estimated net
proceeds from the sale of the Old Notes to repay short-term borrowings, and (ii)
the consolidated  capitalization of  the Company  as of  March 31,  1995 and  as
adjusted to reflect the sale of the Old Notes.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             AS OF MARCH 31, 1995
                                                                                                            -----------------------
                                                                                                              ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
                                                                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                                         <C>         <C>
SHORT-TERM DEBT
  Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases.................................................  $    2,174   $   2,174
  Short-term borrowings (1)...............................................................................      55,000          --
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Short-Term Debt...............................................................................  $   57,174   $   2,174
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASES (NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES)
  9 1/8% Notes due 1999...................................................................................  $  117,705   $ 117,705
  Industrial Revenue Bonds due through 2014...............................................................      19,900      19,900
  7.35% Notes due 2005....................................................................................          --     100,000
  Guaranteed TASP Notes due through 2009 (2)..............................................................     149,000     149,000
  Obligations under capital leases........................................................................     111,010     111,010
  Other debt..............................................................................................          74          74
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Long-Term Debt (3)............................................................................     397,689     497,689
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Preferred Stock, no par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares:
    Series A, designated 600,000 shares; none issued......................................................          --          --
    Series B, 8.5% cumulative, convertible, $.01 stated value; designated 1,100,000 shares; issued 961,032
     shares...............................................................................................          10          10
  Additional paid-in capital, preferred stock.............................................................     146,163     146,163
  Deferred Thrift and Stock Plan compensation.............................................................    (119,167)   (119,167)
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Preferred Shareholders' Equity................................................................      27,006      27,006
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
  Common Stock, $.625 par value; authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued 50,892,217 shares..................      31,808      31,808
  Additional paid-in capital, common stock................................................................     230,229     230,229
  Cumulative translation adjustment.......................................................................       2,672       2,672
  Retained earnings.......................................................................................     594,726     594,726
  Cost of repurchased common stock (7,589,934 shares).....................................................    (187,139)   (187,139)
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Common Shareholders' Equity...................................................................     672,296     672,296
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Shareholders' Equity..........................................................................     699,302     699,302
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
      Total Capitalization................................................................................  $1,096,991   $1,196,991
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
                                                                                                            ----------  -----------
<FN>
------------------------------
(1)  Short-term borrowings consist of borrowings outstanding under the Company's
     $300 million Credit Agreement.
(2)  These  notes (the  "TASP Notes")  were issued  by the  Company's Thrift and
     Stock Plan and are guaranteed by the Company. See "Description of the Notes
     -- Certain Covenants of the Company."
(3)  In addition to the amounts reflected in the above table, at March 31,  1995
     the  Company had $110.1 million of  letters of credit outstanding under the
     Credit Agreement,  $70.4  million  of letters  of  credit  outstanding  and
     secured  by  Emery  Worldwide  receivables  under  the  $100  million Emery
     Worldwide receivables  sales  facility, and  $40.4  million of  letters  of
     credit  outstanding under several unsecured letter of credit facilities. At
     that date, no drawings were outstanding under these letters of credit.
</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

    The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data for  the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the three months ended March 31, 1994
and  1995 and as of and for the five years ended December 31, 1994. The selected
consolidated financial data (other than the  ratio of earnings to fixed  charges
set  forth below) as of and for the  five years ended December 31, 1994 has been
derived from  the  Company's  audited  consolidated  financial  statements.  The
selected  consolidated financial data (other than the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges set forth below) as of and for the three months ended March 31, 1994 and
1995 has  been  derived  from the  Company's  unaudited  consolidated  financial
statements.  In the opinion of management, such unaudited consolidated financial
statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present  fairly
the  information required  to be  set forth  therein. Operating  results for the
three months ended March 31, 1995 are not necessarily indicative of the  results
to  be expected for the year ending December 31, 1995. The following data should
be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements  and
notes thereto incorporated by reference herein. See "Available Information."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        THREE MONTHS
                                       ENDED MARCH 31,                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                -----------------------------   -------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1995            1994            1994            1993            1992            1991
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                         (UNAUDITED)               (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  REVENUES
    CF MotorFreight...........  $  608,425      $  532,383      $2,094,081      $2,112,237      $2,184,190      $2,142,603
    Con-Way...................     274,890         230,408       1,018,544         818,301         724,195         639,443
    Emery Worldwide...........     412,772         340,430       1,567,854       1,261,273       1,147,204       1,300,211
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
      Total...................  $1,296,087      $1,103,221      $4,680,479      $4,191,811      $4,055,589      $4,082,257
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
  OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
    CF MotorFreight...........  $   10,123      $    3,913      $  (46,602)     $   31,712      $   27,485(1)   $   51,991
    Con-Way...................      28,848          20,924         111,220          71,854          53,747          33,318
    Emery Worldwide...........      13,062          10,647          77,616          16,591         (32,651)        (83,573)
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
      Total...................  $   52,033      $   35,484      $  142,234      $  120,157      $   48,581      $    1,736
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
  Depreciation and
   amortization...............  $   35,310      $   36,749      $  145,765      $  146,297      $  166,917      $  168,527
  Investment income...........         125             515           2,205           5,586           5,041          10,558
  Interest expense............       7,201           6,876          27,945          30,333          38,893          46,703
  Net income (loss)...........      24,166          15,256          54,773(3)       50,574         (81,075)(4)     (40,421)
  Preferred stock dividends...       4,324           4,734          19,063          18,967          16,653          12,691
  Net income (loss) applicable
   to common shareholders.....      19,842          10,522          35,710(3)       31,607         (97,728)(4)     (53,112)
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
   charges(5).................         2.5x            2.0x            1.9x            1.8x            0.8x(6)         0.5x(6)

BALANCE SHEET DATA AT END OF
 PERIOD:
  Net working capital.........  $   63,601      $   80,069      $   86,297      $   56,931      $  152,309      $  141,008
  Cost in excess of net assets
   of businesses acquired,
   net........................     319,585         351,463         322,169         354,076         363,710         373,881
  Property, plant and
   equipment, net.............     972,474         913,230         944,592         910,444         886,834         896,922
  Total assets................   2,558,865       2,335,031       2,472,723       2,316,350       2,293,067       2,285,466
  Long-term indebtedness
   (7)........................     397,689         408,199         397,857         408,409         505,320         646,655
  Shareholders' equity........     699,302         640,351         673,629         623,375         579,161         547,083

<CAPTION>

                                    1990
                                -------------

<S>                             <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  REVENUES
    CF MotorFreight...........  $2,185,271
    Con-Way...................     638,098
    Emery Worldwide...........   1,385,158
                                -------------
      Total...................  $4,208,527
                                -------------
                                -------------
  OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
    CF MotorFreight...........  $  108,462
    Con-Way...................      25,547(2)
    Emery Worldwide...........    (127,965)
                                -------------
      Total...................  $    6,044
                                -------------
                                -------------
  Depreciation and
   amortization...............  $  170,757
  Investment income...........       2,531
  Interest expense............      40,178
  Net income (loss)...........     (27,981)
  Preferred stock dividends...      12,746
  Net income (loss) applicable
   to common shareholders.....     (40,727)
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
   charges(5).................         0.6x(6)
BALANCE SHEET DATA AT END OF
 PERIOD:
  Net working capital.........  $  125,161
  Cost in excess of net assets
   of businesses acquired,
   net........................     384,179
  Property, plant and
   equipment, net.............     953,504
  Total assets................   2,412,003
  Long-term indebtedness
   (7)........................     673,611
  Shareholders' equity........     581,979
<FN>
------------------------------
(1)  Includes  special charges of  $17.3 million related  to CF MotorFreight and
     the write-off of Canadian operating authorities.
(2)  Includes one-time subsidiary closure costs of $11.3 million.
(3)  Includes $5.5 million  extraordinary charge, net  of related tax  benefits,
     for the write-off of intrastate operating rights.
(4)  Includes  $70 million cumulative  effect of change  in method of accounting
     for post retirement  benefits and  $7.4 million  extraordinary charge  from
     early  retirement of  debt, net of  income tax benefits.  Also included are
     special charges  of $11.6  million  and $6.5  million  of charges  for  the
     write-down  of properties held for sale  and certain other intangibles, net
     of income tax benefits.
(5)  The ratio  of  earnings to  fixed  charges  is unaudited  for  all  periods
     presented.  The ratio of earnings to  fixed charges was derived by dividing
     earnings before fixed charges and income  taxes by fixed charges. For  this
     purpose,  "earnings" represents income before consolidated income taxes and
     fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest  and dividends on all of  the
     Company's  preferred stock). "Fixed charges" represents interest on capital
     leases and short-term and  long-term debt, capitalized interest,  dividends
     on  shares of the  Series B Cumulative Convertible  Preferred Stock used to
     pay debt service  on notes issued  by the Company's  Thrift and Stock  Plan
     (the  "TASP")  (see "Capitalization"),  and the  applicable portion  of the
     consolidated rent expense which approximates the interest portion of  lease
     payments.  All  of  the  outstanding shares  of  such  Series  B Cumulative
     Convertible Preferred Stock are held by the TASP.
(6)  Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the periods shown;  the
     deficiency was $23.9 million, $57.7 million and $47.9 million for the years
     ended December 31, 1992, 1991 and 1990, respectively.
(7)  Long-term  indebtedness includes capital lease obligations and notes issued
     by the TASP which are guaranteed by the Company. See "Capitalization."
</TABLE>

                                       13
<PAGE>
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

   
    The following table sets forth selected consolidated operating data for  the
Company  and its subsidiaries for  the three and six  months ended June 30, 1994
and 1995.  In the  opinion of  management, the  following selected  consolidated
operating  data includes all  normal recurring adjustments  necessary to present
fairly the information required to be  set forth therein. Operating results  for
the periods ended June 30, 1995 are not necessarily indicative of the results to
be  expected for the year ending December 31, 1995. The following data should be
read in conjunction  with the  Company's consolidated  financial statements  and
notes thereto incorporated by reference herein (see "Available Information") and
the  information set forth  herein under "Selected  Consolidated Financial Data"
and "Business of the Company."
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED           SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    JUNE 30,                    JUNE 30,
                                                           --------------------------  --------------------------
                                                                  (UNAUDITED)                 (UNAUDITED)
                                                               1995          1994          1995          1994
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                           (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
REVENUES
  CF MotorFreight........................................  $    599,092  $    396,113  $  1,207,517  $    928,496
  Con-Way................................................       288,122       273,913       563,012       504,321
  Emery Worldwide........................................       433,372       389,749       846,144       730,179
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total................................................  $  1,320,586  $  1,059,775  $  2,616,673  $  2,162,996
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
  CF MotorFreight........................................  $      2,328  $    (42,144) $     12,451  $    (38,231)
  Con-Way................................................        28,238        36,749        57,086        57,673
  Emery Worldwide........................................        17,654        23,367        30,716        34,014
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total................................................        48,220        17,972       100,253        53,456
Other expense, net.......................................        (7,058)       (7,167)      (14,340)      (13,893)
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Income before income taxes...............................        41,162        10,805        85,913        39,563
Income taxes.............................................        18,935         5,598        39,520        19,100
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Net income...............................................        22,227         5,207        46,393        20,463
Preferred stock dividends................................         2,141         4,763         6,465         9,497
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Net income applicable to common shareholders.............  $     20,086  $        444  $     39,928  $     10,966
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>

    For the first six months of  1995, the Company reported operating income  of
$100.3  million on revenues of $2,616.7 million, compared to operating income of
$53.5 million on revenues of $2,163.0 million for the comparable period in 1994.
The Company's  results  of  operations  for the  second  quarter  of  1994  were
adversely affected by a 24-day strike against CF MotorFreight and other national
carriers  by the  International Brotherhood  of Teamsters  (the "IBT")  in April
1994. However, Con-Way's  and Emery  Worldwide's results of  operations for  the
second  quarter of 1994 were positively affected by additional business received
as a result  of the  strike. Net income  applicable to  common shareholders  was
$39.9 million for the first six months of 1995 compared to $11.0 million for the
first  six months of 1994. Net income  applicable to common shareholders for the
second quarter of 1995 of $20.1  million compared favorably to $19.8 million  of
net  income applicable  to common  shareholders for  the first  quarter of 1995,
despite a slowing U.S.  economy and extensive  price discounting throughout  the
freight transportation industry.

CF MOTORFREIGHT

    CF  MotorFreight reported operating  income of $12.5  million on revenues of
$1,207.5 million for the first six months of 1995, compared to an operating loss
of $38.2 million on revenues of $928.5 million for the first six months of 1994.
Results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 1994 reflect the adverse
impact of the April  1994 IBT strike and  the subsequent recovery period,  while
results  of operations for the first six months  of 1995 include a 3.3% wage and
benefit   increase   for    contractual   labor   which    went   into    effect

                                       14
<PAGE>
on  April  1, 1995.  Results  of operations  for  the 1995  period  also reflect
extensive price discounting (chiefly  during the second  quarter of 1995)  which
largely  eroded the effect  of a rate  increase announced by  CF MotorFreight in
January 1995, increased competition and a slowing U.S. economy.

   
    CF MotorFreight is  seeking to  implement a rate  increase of  approximately
3.5%  effective as of August  1, 1995 for some  of its customers. However, there
can be no  assurance that CF  MotorFreight will  be able to  maintain this  rate
increase in light of continued rate discounting.
    

CON-WAY

    For  the first  six months  of 1995, Con-Way  had operating  income of $57.1
million on revenues of  $563.0 million, compared to  $57.7 million of  operating
income  on  revenues of  $504.3 million  during the  comparable period  in 1994.
Results for  the  second quarter  of  1994 benefitted  from  additional  freight
carried during the IBT strike referred to above.

EMERY WORLDWIDE

    Emery  Worldwide reported operating  income of $30.7  million on revenues of
$846.1 million for  the six months  ended June 30,  1995, compared to  operating
income  of $34.0 million  on revenues of  $730.2 million for  the same period in
1994. Results for the second quarter of 1994 benefitted from the April 1994  IBT
strike  referred to  above, as shippers  turned to airfreight  to replace ground
capacity lost during the strike.

   
    Revenues and tonnage from Emery Worldwide's international operations grew in
the second quarter  of 1995  compared to the  second quarter  of 1994,  although
revenue  and tonnage from its domestic operations for the second quarter of 1995
declined in  comparison to  the 1994  period. For  the second  quarter of  1995,
international  revenue was  up approximately  58.3% over  the second  quarter of
1994, while domestic revenue for the  same periods was down approximately  10.7%
due  in  large part  to  the impact  of  the IBT  strike  in 1994.  Tonnage from
international operations increased approximately 52.6% for the second quarter of
1995 over the second quarter of 1994, compared to an approximately 10.5% decline
in domestic tonnage for the same periods.
    

                            BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY

    Consolidated Freightways,  Inc.  is  a holding  company  which  participates
through  subsidiaries  in  various  forms of  nationwide  and  regional trucking
services, truckload and intermodal rail services, domestic and international air
cargo  delivery  services,   contract  logistics   and  related   transportation
activities.  These operations are organized  into three primary business groups:
nationwide, full-service  trucking  (CF  MotorFreight);  regional  trucking  and
full-service truckload services (Con-Way); and air freight (Emery Worldwide).

CF MOTORFREIGHT

    CF  MotorFreight provides general freight  services nationwide and in Canada
and, on  a limited  basis, in  Mexico,  the Caribbean  area, Central  and  South
America,  Europe  and the  Pacific Rim.  General  freight consists  typically of
shipments of  manufactured or  non-perishable processed  products of  relatively
high  value and requiring expedited service,  compared to the bulk raw materials
characteristically transported by railroads,  pipelines and water carriers.  The
primary   business  of   CF  MotorFreight   is  transporting   freight  that  is
less-than-truckload ("LTL"), an industry designation for shipment weighing  less
than  10,000  pounds.  Based  on  its  1994  revenues  of  $2,094.1  million, CF
MotorFreight is one of the nation's largest LTL motor carriers.

    As a large carrier of LTL  general freight, CF MotorFreight has pick-up  and
delivery  fleets  in each  area  served, in  addition  to a  fleet  of intercity
tractors  and  trailers.   It  has   a  network   of  437   U.S.  and   Canadian
freight-terminals,  metro centers and regional  consolidation centers. The metro
centers reduce freight handling  by allowing more direct  city to city  service,
thereby  improving productivity. CF  MotorFreight operations are  supported by a
sophisticated data  processing system  for  the control  and management  of  the
business.

    Industry  trends towards  regionalization and  new competitors  entering the
small shipment segment  of the business  have led to  increased competition  and
consequent pricing pressure. The Company believes that

                                       15
<PAGE>
these  competitive pressures will be offset, in part, by various CF MotorFreight
initiatives. In that regard, CF MotorFreight  began to implement changes to  its
operations in the fourth quarter of 1994 which are intended, among other things,
to  take  advantage  of flexibilities  achieved  through a  new  labor agreement
entered into  in  1994 with  the  International Brotherhood  of  Teamsters  (the
"IBT"). The agreement, which expires in 1998, allows the Company to (i) increase
its  use  of  lower-cost  rail on  long-haul  segments,  (ii)  utilize part-time
employees to supplement the  regular work force  rather than providing  overtime
for unionized employees, and (iii) pay new hires 75% of the standard wage for an
initial  employment  period. In  addition, the  Company  expects to  continue to
implement changes to its transportation  network to reduce freight handling  and
total miles driven. These changes are expected to be implemented throughout 1995
and  thereafter. CF  MotorFreight also believes  that the  trend towards certain
customers limiting themselves to a core group of carriers plays to the strengths
of CF MotorFreight's national network and integrated information services.

    CF MotorFreight had approximately 20,700 employees at December 31, 1994,  at
which time approximately 85% of its domestic employees were represented by labor
unions,  primarily the  IBT. The Company's  results of operations  for 1994 were
adversely affected by a 24-day strike against CF MotorFreight and other national
carriers by the  IBT in April  1994. In  connection with the  settlement of  the
strike,  CF  MotorFreight  and the  IBT  entered  into the  new  labor agreement
described above.

    CF MotorFreight's 1994 revenues of $2,094.1 million were 0.9% less than 1993
revenues of $2,112.2 million.  Due in large part  to losses incurred during  the
April   1994  strike  and  the   subsequent  recovery  period,  CF  MotorFreight
experienced a 1994 operating loss of  $46.6 million, compared to 1993  operating
income  of $31.7  million. For  the first quarter  of 1995,  CF MotorFreight had
operating income of  $10.1 million on  revenues of $608.4  million, compared  to
$3.9  million  of operating  income  on revenues  of  $532.4 million  during the
comparable period in 1994. CF MotorFreight's first quarter 1995 results  reflect
benefits from a rate increase announced in January 1995 and programs intended to
improve  its revenues and  operational efficiencies. Also  contributing to first
quarter 1995  results  was increased  operating  income from  CF  MotorFreight's
non-carrier  operations compared  to the  first quarter  of 1994.  However, with
growth in  the  economy  beginning  to slow,  CF  MotorFreight  is  experiencing
increased  rate discounting and intensified competition. A 3.3% wage and benefit
increase for contractual labor went into effect on April 1, 1995. To offset,  in
part,  the impact  of rate  discounting and this  wage and  benefit increase, CF
MotorFreight intends to  initiate additional changes  to operations designed  to
reduce freight handling and transit times.

    The CF MotorFreight business group also includes three non-carrier operating
units.  Menlo Logistics Inc., founded in 1990, provides customized single-source
logistics solutions for manufacturing,  industrial and retail businesses.  These
services  include carrier management, dedicated  fleet and warehouse operations,
just-in-time delivery  programs,  customer  order processing  and  freight  bill
payment  and auditing.  Road Systems,  Inc. primarily  manufactures trailers for
sale to other business units within the Company. VantageParts (formerly known as
Willamette Sales Co.) serves  as a distributor of  heavy-duty truck, marine  and
construction equipment parts and generates a substantial portion of its revenues
from sales within the Company.

CON-WAY

    Con-Way  includes  three business  units that  provide regional  LTL freight
trucking and  one business  unit that  provides full-service  truckload  freight
delivery   utilizing   over-the-road   and   intermodal   rail   resources   for
transcontinental,  inter-regional  and  regional  transportation.  Con-Way  also
provides  local  and  interstate  container  drayage  and  freight  assembly and
distribution services. At  December 31, 1994,  Con-Way had approximately  10,000
employees, none of whom were unionized.

    Three of Con-Way's business units are regional motor carriers, each of which
operates   dedicated  regional   trucking  networks   principally  serving  core
geographic territories  with  next-day  and  second-day  service.  The  regional
carriers    serve    manufacturing,    industrial,    commercial    and   retail
business-to-business customers with a fleet in excess of 16,700 trucks, tractors
and trailers. For  1994, more  than two-thirds of  the shipments  made by  these
three regional carriers were next-day shipments.

                                       16
<PAGE>
    Con-Way  Western  Express ("CWX")  operates in  13  western states  and also
serves Canada and Mexico. In 1994,  CWX expanded operations to include Utah  and
Colorado.  At December  31, 1994,  CWX operated  74 service  centers. In January
1995, CWX  expanded operations  into Oregon,  Washington, Idaho  and  Vancouver,
British Columbia, opening 22 new service centers in the Pacific Northwest.

    Con-Way  Central  Express  ("CCX")  serves  23  states  of  the  central and
northeast U.S. and Ontario, Canada. CCX expanded into the New England states  in
1994  and, at December 31, 1994, operated 187 service centers. In February 1995,
CCX expanded into New  Jersey and began providing  service for metropolitan  New
York City.

    Con-Way  Southern  Express ("CSE")  serves a  14-state southern  market from
Texas to the Carolinas and Florida, and also serves Puerto Rico and Mexico.  CSE
operated  92 service centers  at December 31,  1994. CSE was  formed in December
1994 when, in order to improve operating efficiencies, Con-Way Southern Express,
Inc. and Con-Way Southwest Express, Inc.  were combined into a single  operating
unit under the CSE name.

    A service expansion program initiated by Con-Way in 1994 allows each of CWX,
CCX  and CSE to  provide next-day and second-day  freight delivery between their
principal geographic  regions.  The  program generates  additional  business  by
allowing  each carrier  to compete  for new traffic  and to  provide coverage of
regional market lanes not  individually serviced as part  of the carrier's  core
territory.  Business from this initiative is expected to continue to increase as
additional lanes are opened.

    Regional carriers  currently face  increasing  competition as  national  LTL
companies  extend  into  regional  markets  and  acquire  and  combine  formerly
independent regional carriers into inter-regional groups. Con-Way has pursued  a
geographic  expansion program in  recent years and  believes that further growth
can be anticipated  as these  new territories are  developed. Additionally,  new
service  offerings, extension of  next-day and second-day  service standards and
enhanced inter-regional network capabilities are positioning Con-Way for  growth
opportunities.

    Con-Way's  fourth business unit is Con-Way Truckload Services, Inc. ("CWT"),
a  full-service,  multi-modal  truckload   company.  It  provides   door-to-door
transcontinental  movement  of truckload  shipments by  rail container  and rail
trailer, utilizing nationwide operating alliances with major railroads. It  also
provides  expedited inter-regional and  regional over-the-road truckload service
with a fleet of Company-owned tractors and trailers. Additionally, CWT  provides
rail  freight forwarding with domestic  intermodal marketing services, and local
and interstate container drayage.

    Con-Way's 1994 revenues  of $1,018.5  million were 24.5%  greater than  1993
revenues  of $818.3 million.  This revenue growth  was largely due  to a tonnage
gain of approximately 21%  over 1994, attributable  to geographic expansion  and
growth in existing markets, and also reflects business obtained during the April
1994  strike against unionized LTL carriers.  Con-Way's 1994 operating income of
$111.2 million increased 54.8% from 1993 operating income of $71.9 million.  For
the  first quarter  of 1995,  Con-Way had  revenues of  $274.9 million,  a 19.3%
increase over first quarter 1994 revenues of $230.4 million, while first quarter
1995 operating income  of $28.8 million  represented a 37.9%  increase over  the
$20.9  million in operating  income for the comparable  1994 period. With weaker
economic growth expected for  the second quarter of  1995, Con-Way is  expecting
increased  pricing pressure, especially  in light of  deregulation of intrastate
traffic. Con-Way  expects to  counter, at  least in  part, the  weakness in  the
economy by differentiating the level and type of services it provides customers,
including its ability to provide expanded geographic coverage.

EMERY WORLDWIDE

    Emery  Worldwide  provides  commercial door-to-door  delivery  for same-day,
next-day, second-day and deferred shipments in North America through a dedicated
aircraft and  ground fleet  and, as  discussed separately  below, also  provides
domestic services to the United States Postal Service ("USPS"). Internationally,
with offices and agents in 89 countries, Emery Worldwide operates primarily as a
freight forwarder.

                                       17
<PAGE>
Emery  Worldwide is focused primarily on  heavy air freight. Emery Worldwide was
formed when the Company  purchased Emery Air Freight  Corporation in April  1989
and merged it with the Company's existing air freight operation.

    Emery  Worldwide  provides  commercial  door-to-door  service  within  North
America by using its own airlift system, supplemented with commercial  airlines.
International  services are performed  by operating primarily  as an air freight
forwarder using commercial airlines and, when appropriate, using dedicated  lift
capacity  which is  generally comprised  of aircraft  under contract  from third
parties. For the first quarter of  1995, approximately 40% of Emery  Worldwide's
commercial revenues were attributable to international shipments.

    As  of December 31, 1994, Emery Worldwide's commercial operations utilized a
fleet of 69 aircraft, 42 of which were  leased on a long-term basis, 9 of  which
were  owned by the Company and 18 of which were contracted on a short-term basis
to supplement nightly volumes and to provide feeder services. At that date,  the
nightly   lift  capacity  of   the  aircraft  fleet,   excluding  charters,  was
approximately 4  million pounds.  Emery  Worldwide also  operated  approximately
1,300 trucks, vans and tractors at December 31, 1994.

    Emery   Worldwide's  hub-and-spoke  system  is  centralized  at  the  Dayton
International Airport where a leased air cargo facility (the "Hub") and  related
support  facilities are located. The Hub handles all types of shipments, ranging
from small packages to heavyweight cargo,  with a total effective sort  capacity
of  approximately  1.2 million  pounds per  hour.  The operation  of the  Hub in
conjunction with Emery  Worldwide's airlift  system enables  Emery Worldwide  to
maintain a high level of service reliability.

    Through  a separate subsidiary,  the Company provides  nightly cargo airline
services under a  contract with  the USPS to  carry Express  and Priority  Mail,
using  23 aircraft, 6 of which  are leased on a long-term  basis and 17 of which
are owned by the Company. The  original contract for this operation was  awarded
to  the Company in 1989 and had  been renewed and extended through early January
1994. A new USPS contract was awarded to the Company during 1993 and expires  in
2004.  In total, the Company recognized approximately $112 million of revenue in
1994 under  contracts with  the USPS,  of which  approximately $95  million  was
realized under the new ten-year USPS contract.

    Emery  Worldwide's 1994 revenues of $1,567.9 million were 24.3% greater than
1993 revenues of $1,261.3  million. Emery Worldwide's  1994 operating income  of
$77.6   million  represented  an  approximately  four-fold  increase  over  1993
operating income of  $16.6 million.  In addition, since  Emery Worldwide's  1990
operating  loss of  $128.0 million, 1994  marked the fourth  consecutive year in
which Emery  Worldwide's  operating income  (loss)  had improved  by  more  than
approximately  $45 million over the  prior year. For the  first quarter of 1995,
Emery Worldwide had  revenues of $412.8  million, a 21.3%  increase over  $340.4
million for the first quarter of 1994, while first quarter 1995 operating income
of  $13.1 million represented  a 22.7% increase over  $10.6 million of operating
income recorded in the  first quarter of 1994.  Domestic revenues for the  first
quarter  of 1995 increased 8.4%  over the comparable quarter  of 1994, despite a
weakening U.S. economy, particularly in the automotive sector which  constitutes
a  significant customer base for Emery Worldwide. International revenues for the
first quarter of 1995 increased 54.7% over the first quarter of 1994, reflecting
a continuation of Emery  Worldwide's marketing strategy  to increase its  global
market  share.  Although  the  Company believes  that  improvements  at  its Hub
operation, the better utilization of dedicated lift capacity and other operating
efficiencies could yield improvements in its results of operations, there can be
no assurance in this regard.

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

    In connection with the sale of the  Old Notes, the Company entered into  the
Registration Rights Agreement with the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the
Company  agreed  to  use  its  best  efforts  to  file  with  the  Commission  a
registration statement with respect  to the exchange of  the Old Notes for  debt
securities with terms identical in all material respects to the terms of the Old
Notes,  except that (i) the New Notes  have been registered under the Securities
Act   and   therefore   will   not   be   subject   to   certain    restrictions

                                       18
<PAGE>
on transfer applicable to the Old Notes and will not be entitled to registration
and other rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) the New Notes are
issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 compared to minimum denominations of
$250,000  for the Old  Notes, and (iii) the  New Notes will  not provide for any
increase in the interest  rate thereon. In that  regard, the Old Notes  provide,
among  other things, that, if  the Exchange Offer is  not consummated by October
29, 1995, the interest rate  borne by the Old  Notes following October 29,  1995
will  increase by 0.25% per annum until  the Exchange Offer is consummated. Upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer, Holders of Old Notes will not be entitled to
any increase in the rate of interest thereon or any further registration  rights
under  the Registration Rights Agreement, except that the Initial Purchasers may
have certain registration  rights under limited  circumstances. See "Summary  --
Certain Consequences of a Failure to Exchange Old Notes" and "Description of the
Old Notes."

    The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will the Company accept tenders
for  exchange  from, holders  of  Old Notes  in  any jurisdiction  in  which the
Exchange Offer or  the acceptance thereof  would not be  in compliance with  the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.

TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE

    The  Company hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in  this Prospectus  and in  the accompanying  Letter of  Transmittal,  to
exchange  up to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount  of New Notes for a like
aggregate principal amount  of Old Notes  properly tendered on  or prior to  the
Expiration Date (as defined below) and not properly withdrawn in accordance with
the  procedures  described below.  The Company  will  issue, promptly  after the
Expiration Date, an  aggregate principal  amount of  up to  $100,000,000 of  New
Notes  in exchange for a like principal amount of outstanding Old Notes tendered
and accepted in connection with the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender their Old
Notes in whole or in part in a principal amount of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof, provided that if  any Old Note  is tendered for  exchange in part,  the
untendered principal amount thereof must be $250,000 or any integral multiple of
$1,000 in excess thereof.

    The  Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon  any minimum number of Old Notes
being tendered.  As  of  the  date of  this  Prospectus  $100,000,000  aggregate
principal amount of the Old Notes is outstanding.

    Holders  of Old  Notes do  not have any  appraisal or  dissenters' rights in
connection with  the  Exchange Offer.  Old  Notes  which are  not  tendered  for
exchange  or are tendered but not accepted in connection with the Exchange Offer
will remain outstanding and  be entitled to the  benefits of the Indenture,  but
will  not be entitled to any  further registration rights under the Registration
Rights  Agreement,  except  that  the   Initial  Purchasers  may  have   certain
registration rights under limited circumstances.

    If  any  tendered Old  Notes are  not  accepted for  exchange because  of an
invalid tender,  the occurrence  of certain  other events  set forth  herein  or
otherwise,  certificates for  any such  unaccepted Old  Notes will  be returned,
without expense, to the tendering  holder thereof promptly after the  Expiration
Date.

    Holders  who tender Old Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer will not
be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions
in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Old
Notes in connection with  the Exchange Offer. The  Company will pay all  charges
and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See " -- Fees and Expenses."

    NEITHER  THE BOARD  OF DIRECTORS  OF THE COMPANY  NOR THE  COMPANY MAKES ANY
RECOMMENDATION TO HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES AS  TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN  FROM
TENDERING  ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
IN ADDITION, NO ONE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY SUCH RECOMMENDATION. HOLDERS
OF OLD NOTES  MUST MAKE THEIR  OWN DECISION  WHETHER TO TENDER  PURSUANT TO  THE
EXCHANGE  OFFER AND, IF  SO, THE AGGREGATE  AMOUNT OF OLD  NOTES TO TENDER AFTER
READING THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CONSULTING WITH  THEIR
ADVISERS, IF ANY, BASED ON THEIR OWN FINANCIAL POSITION AND REQUIREMENTS.

                                       19
<PAGE>
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS

   
    The term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September
8,  1995 unless the Exchange Offer is extended by the Company (in which case the
term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange
Offer is extended).
    

    The  Company  expressly  reserves  the  right  in  its  sole  and   absolute
discretion, subject to applicable law, at any time and from time to time, (i) to
delay  the  acceptance of  the Old  Notes  for exchange,  (ii) to  terminate the
Exchange Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted  for
exchange)  if the Company determines, in  its sole and absolute discretion, that
any of the events or conditions referred to under "-- Certain Conditions to  the
Exchange  Offer" have  occurred or  exist or have  not been  satisfied, (iii) to
extend the  Expiration Date  of the  Exchange  Offer and  retain all  Old  Notes
tendered  pursuant  to the  Exchange Offer,  subject, however,  to the  right of
holders of Old Notes to withdraw their tendered Old Notes as described under "--
Withdrawal Rights," and (iv) to waive any condition or otherwise amend the terms
of the Exchange  Offer in any  respect. If the  Exchange Offer is  amended in  a
manner  determined by  the Company  to constitute a  material change,  or if the
Company waives a  material condition  of the  Exchange Offer,  the Company  will
promptly  disclose such amendment by means  of a prospectus supplement that will
be distributed to the registered holders of the Old Notes, and the Company  will
extend  the  Exchange Offer  to  the extent  required  by Rule  14e-1  under the
Exchange Act.

    Any such delay in  acceptance, extension, termination  or amendment will  be
followed promptly by oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent and by
making  a public announcement thereof,  and such announcement in  the case of an
extension will be made no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the  next
business  day after the  previously scheduled Expiration  Date. Without limiting
the manner in which the Company may  choose to make any public announcement  and
subject  to applicable  law, the  Company shall  have no  obligation to publish,
advertise or otherwise communicate  any such public  announcement other than  by
issuing a release to the Dow Jones News Service.

ACCEPTANCE FOR EXCHANGE AND ISSUANCE OF NEW NOTES

    Upon  the terms  and subject  to the conditions  of the  Exchange Offer, the
Company will exchange, and will issue to  the Exchange Agent, New Notes for  Old
Notes  validly tendered  and not  withdrawn (pursuant  to the  withdrawal rights
described under "-- Withdrawal Rights") promptly after the Expiration Date.

    In all cases, delivery of New Notes  in exchange for Old Notes tendered  and
accepted  for exchange pursuant  to the Exchange  Offer will be  made only after
timely receipt  by  the  Exchange  Agent  of  (i)  Old  Notes  or  a  book-entry
confirmation  of a  book-entry transfer of  Old Notes into  the Exchange Agent's
account at The Depositary Trust Company ("DTC"), (ii) the Letter of  Transmittal
(or  facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees, and (iii)  any other documents required  by the Letter  of
Transmittal.

    The  term  "book-entry  confirmation"  means  a  timely  confirmation  of  a
book-entry transfer of Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC.

    Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Company  will
be  deemed  to have  accepted  for exchange,  and  thereby exchanged,  Old Notes
validly tendered and not  withdrawn as, if  and when the  Company gives oral  or
written  notice to the  Exchange Agent of  the Company's acceptance  of such Old
Notes for exchange pursuant to the  Exchange Offer. The Exchange Agent will  act
as  agent for  the Company for  the purpose  of receiving tenders  of Old Notes,
Letters of Transmittal and related documents, and as agent for tendering holders
for the  purpose of  receiving Old  Notes, Letters  of Transmittal  and  related
documents and transmitting New Notes to validly tendering holders. Such exchange
will  be made promptly after the Expiration  Date. If for any reason whatsoever,
acceptance for exchange or  the exchange of any  Old Notes tendered pursuant  to
the  Exchange Offer is delayed (whether before or after the Company's acceptance
for exchange of  Old Notes)  or the  Company extends  the Exchange  Offer or  is
unable  to accept for  exchange or exchange  Old Notes tendered  pursuant to the
Exchange Offer,  then,  without prejudice  to  the Company's  rights  set  forth
herein,  the  Exchange Agent  may, nevertheless,  on behalf  of the  Company and

                                       20
<PAGE>
subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the  Exchange Act, retain tendered Old Notes  and
such  Old Notes may not be withdrawn  except to the extent tendering holders are
entitled to withdrawal rights as described under "-- Withdrawal Rights."

    Pursuant to the Letter  of Transmittal, a holder  of Old Notes will  warrant
and  agree in the Letter of Transmittal that  it has full power and authority to
tender, exchange, sell,  assign and transfer  Old Notes, that  the Company  will
acquire  good, marketable and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes, free
and clear of  all liens,  restrictions, charges  and encumbrances,  and the  Old
Notes  tendered for exchange are  not subject to any  adverse claims or proxies.
The holder also will warrant and agree  that it will, upon request, execute  and
deliver  any additional documents deemed by the Company or the Exchange Agent to
be necessary  or  desirable to  complete  the exchange,  sale,  assignment,  and
transfer of the Old Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES

    VALID  TENDER.   Except as  set forth below,  in order  for Old  Notes to be
validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange  Offer, a properly completed and  duly
executed  Letter  of  Transmittal  (or  facsimile  thereof),  with  any required
signature guarantees and any other required  documents, must be received by  the
Exchange  Agent at one of its addresses set forth under "-- Exchange Agent," and
either (i) tendered Old Notes  must be received by  the Exchange Agent, or  (ii)
such  Old  Notes must  be  tendered pursuant  to  the procedures  for book-entry
transfer set forth below and a  book-entry confirmation must be received by  the
Exchange  Agent, in each  case on or prior  to the Expiration  Date, or (ii) the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below must be complied with.

    If less than all of  the Old Notes are  tendered, a tendering holder  should
fill  in the amount  of Old Notes being  tendered in the  appropriate box on the
Letter of Transmittal. The entire amount of Old Notes delivered to the  Exchange
Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

    THE  METHOD OF DELIVERY  OF CERTIFICATES, THE LETTER  OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED  DOCUMENTS, IS  AT THE  OPTION  AND SOLE  RISK OF  THE  TENDERING
HOLDER,  AND DELIVERY  WILL BE  DEEMED MADE ONLY  WHEN ACTUALLY  RECEIVED BY THE
EXCHANGE AGENT.  IF  DELIVERY  IS  BY  MAIL,  REGISTERED  MAIL,  RETURN  RECEIPT
REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR AN OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN
ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

    BOOK-ENTRY  TRANSFER.   The Exchange  Agent will  establish an  account with
respect to the Old Notes  at DTC for purposes of  the Exchange Offer within  two
business  days after the date of this Prospectus. Any financial institution that
is a  participant  in DTC's  book-entry  transfer  facility system  may  make  a
book-entry  delivery of the Old Notes by  causing DTC to transfer such Old Notes
into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's procedures for
transfers. However,  although delivery  of  Old Notes  may be  effected  through
book-entry  transfer into  the Exchange  Agent's account  at DTC,  the Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly  completed and duly executed,  with
any  required signature guarantees and any other required documents, must in any
case be delivered to and received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth
under "-- Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the  guaranteed
delivery procedure set forth below must be complied with.

    DELIVERY  OF DOCUMENTS TO  DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH  DTC'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

    SIGNATURE GUARANTEES.  Certificates for the  Old Notes need not be  endorsed
and signature guarantees on the Letter of Transmittal are unnecessary unless (a)
a  certificate for the Old Notes is registered  in a name other than that of the
person surrendering the certificate or (b) such registered holder completes  the
box  entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions"
in the Letter of Transmittal. In the case of (a) or (b) above, such certificates
for Old Notes must be duly endorsed  or accompanied by a properly executed  bond
power,  with the endorsement or signature on the bond power and on the Letter of
Transmittal guaranteed by  a firm  or other  entity identified  in Rule  17Ad-15
under  the Exchange  Act as an  "eligible guarantor  institution," including (as
such terms are defined  therein): (i) a bank;  (ii) a broker, dealer,  municipal
securities  broker or dealer or government  securities broker or dealer; (iii) a
credit union;

                                       21
<PAGE>
(iv) a  national  securities  exchange,  registered  securities  association  or
clearing  agency;  or (v)  a  savings association  that  is a  participant  in a
Securities Transfer Association (an "Eligible Institution"), unless  surrendered
on  behalf of  such Eligible  Institution. See  Instruction 1  to the  Letter of
Transmittal.

    GUARANTEED DELIVERY.  If  a holder desires to  tender Old Notes pursuant  to
the  Exchange Offer and the certificates for  such Old Notes are not immediately
available or time will not permit  all required documents to reach the  Exchange
Agent  on  or  before the  Expiration  Date,  or the  procedures  for book-entry
transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, such Old Notes may  nevertheless
be  tendered, provided that all of  the following guaranteed delivery procedures
are complied with:

        (i) such tenders are made by or through an Eligible Institution;

        (ii) a  properly  completed  and  duly  executed  Notice  of  Guaranteed
    Delivery,  substantially in the form accompanying the Letter of Transmittal,
    is received by the  Exchange Agent, as  provided below, on  or prior to  the
    Expiration Date; and

       (iii)  the certificates  (or a book-entry  confirmation) representing all
    tendered Old Notes, in  proper form for transfer,  together with a  properly
    completed  and duly executed  Letter of Transmittal  (or facsimile thereof),
    with any required signature guarantees  and any other documents required  by
    the  Letter of Transmittal, are received  by the Exchange Agent within three
    New York Stock  Exchange trading days  after the date  of execution of  such
    Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

    The  Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may  be delivered by hand, or transmitted
by facsimile or mail to  the Exchange Agent and must  include a guarantee by  an
Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such notice.

    Notwithstanding  any other  provision hereof, the  delivery of  New Notes in
exchange for  Old Notes  tendered  and accepted  for  exchange pursuant  to  the
Exchange  Offer  will in  all cases  be made  only after  timely receipt  by the
Exchange Agent of  Old Notes, or  of a book-entry  confirmation with respect  to
such Old Notes, and a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
(or  facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees and any
other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, the delivery
of New Notes might not  be made to all tendering  holders at the same time,  and
will  depend upon when  Old Notes, book-entry confirmations  with respect to Old
Notes and other required documents are received by the Exchange Agent.

    The Company's acceptance for exchange of Old Notes tendered pursuant to  any
of  the procedures described  above will constitute  a binding agreement between
the tendering  holder  and  the  Company  upon the  terms  and  subject  to  the
conditions of the Exchange Offer.

    DETERMINATION  OF  VALIDITY.   All questions  as to  the form  of documents,
validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of
any tendered  Old  Notes  will  be  determined  by  the  Company,  in  its  sole
discretion,  whose determination shall be final  and binding on all parties. The
Company reserves the  absolute right, in  its sole and  absolute discretion,  to
reject  any and all  tenders determined by  it not to  be in proper  form or the
acceptance of  which, or  exchange  for, may,  in the  view  of counsel  to  the
Company,  be unlawful. The Company also  reserves the absolute right, subject to
applicable law, to  waive any of  the conditions  of the Exchange  Offer as  set
forth  under "-- Certain Conditions  to the Exchange Offer"  or any condition or
irregularity in any tender of Old Notes of any particular holder whether or  not
similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders.

    The  Company's interpretation  of the terms  and conditions  of the Exchange
Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be
final and binding. No tender  of Old Notes will be  deemed to have been  validly
made  until all irregularities  with respect to  such tender have  been cured or
waived. Neither  the Company,  any affiliates  or assigns  of the  Company,  the
Exchange  Agent  nor  any other  person  shall be  under  any duty  to  give any
notification of any irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure
to give any such notification.

    If any Letter of Transmittal, endorsement, bond power, power of attorney, or
any other document required by the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a trustee,
executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-

                                       22
<PAGE>
fact, officer  of  a  corporation or  other  person  acting in  a  fiduciary  or
representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and unless
waived  by the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company, in its sole
discretion, of such person's authority to so act must be submitted.

    A beneficial owner of Old Notes that  are held by or registered in the  name
of  a  broker,  dealer,  commercial  bank, trust  company  or  other  nominee or
custodian is urged  to contact such  entity promptly if  such beneficial  holder
wishes to participate in the Exchange Offer.

RESALES OF NEW NOTES

    The  Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
staff of the Division of Corporation Finance  of the Commission as set forth  in
certain  interpretive letters addressed to  third parties in other transactions.
However, the Company has not sought its own interpretive letter and there can be
no assurance  that the  staff of  the  Division of  Corporation Finance  of  the
Commission would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer
as  it  has  in such  interpretive  letters  to third  parties.  Based  on these
interpretations by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance, and subject
to the two immediately following sentences, the Company believes that New  Notes
issued  pursuant to this Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be offered
for resale, resold and otherwise transferred  by a holder thereof (other than  a
holder  who is a broker-dealer) without further compliance with the registration
and prospectus delivery requirements of  the Securities Act, provided that  such
New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and that
such  holder is not participating, and  has no arrangement or understanding with
any person  to  participate,  in  a distribution  (within  the  meaning  of  the
Securities  Act) of such New  Notes. However, any holder of  Old Notes who is an
"affiliate" of the Company or who  intends to participate in the Exchange  Offer
for  the purpose of  distributing New Notes, or  any broker-dealer who purchased
Old Notes  from  the Company  to  resell pursuant  to  Rule 144A  or  any  other
available  exemption under the Securities  Act, (a) will not  be able to rely on
the interpretations of the staff of  the Division of Corporation Finance of  the
Commission  set forth in the above-mentioned  interpretive letters, (b) will not
be permitted or entitled to tender such Old Notes in the Exchange Offer and  (c)
must  comply with the  registration and prospectus  delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any sale  or other transfer of such Old  Notes
unless  such sale is  made pursuant to  an exemption from  such requirements. In
addition, as described below, if any broker-dealer holds Old Notes acquired  for
its  own account as  a result of  market-making or other  trading activities and
exchanges such Old Notes for New  Notes, then such broker-dealer must deliver  a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resales of such New Notes.

    Each  holder of Old Notes who wishes to  exchange Old Notes for New Notes in
the Exchange  Offer  will  be required  to  represent  that (i)  it  is  not  an
"affiliate"  of the Company, (ii)  any New Notes to be  received by it are being
acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement  or
understanding  with  any person  to participate  in  a distribution  (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes, and (iv) if such holder is not
a broker-dealer, such holder is  not engaged in, and  does not intend to  engage
in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes.
Each  broker-dealer that receives New Notes for  its own account pursuant to the
Exchange Offer  must acknowledge  that it  acquired the  Old Notes  for its  own
account  as the result  of market-making activities  or other trading activities
and must agree that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with  any resale of such  New Notes. The Letter  of
Transmittal  states that by  so acknowledging and by  delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. Based on  the position taken by the staff of  the
Division  of Corporation Finance  of the Commission  in the interpretive letters
referred to above,  the Company  believes that broker-dealers  who acquired  Old
Notes  for their own accounts  as a result of  market-making activities or other
trading activities ("Participating Broker-Dealers") may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect  to the New Notes  received upon exchange  of
such  Old Notes (other than  Old Notes which represent  an unsold allotment from
the original sale of the Old  Notes) with a prospectus meeting the  requirements
of  the Securities  Act, which  may be the  prospectus prepared  for an exchange
offer so long  as it contains  a description  of the plan  of distribution  with
respect to the resale of such New Notes. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may
be  amended or supplemented  from time to  time, may be  used by a Participating
Broker-Dealer during the period referred

                                       23
<PAGE>
to  below in connection with  resales of New Notes  received in exchange for Old
Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such Participating Broker-Dealer for
its own  account as  a  result of  market-making  or other  trading  activities.
Subject  to certain provisions  set forth in  the Registration Rights Agreement,
the  Company  has  agreed  that  this  Prospectus,  as  it  may  be  amended  or
supplemented  from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in
connection with resales of such New Notes for a period ending 90 days after  the
Expiration  Date  (subject  to  extension  under  certain  limited circumstances
described below) or, if earlier, when all  such New Notes have been disposed  of
by   such  Participating   Broker-Dealer.  See   "Plan  of   Distribution."  Any
Participating Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of the Company may not rely on
such interpretive letters and must  comply with the registration and  prospectus
delivery  requirements  of  the Securities  Act  in connection  with  any resale
transaction.

    In that regard,  each Participating Broker-Dealer  who surrenders Old  Notes
pursuant  to the Exchange Offer  will be deemed to  have agreed, by execution of
the Letter of Transmittal, that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of  the
occurrence  of any event or the discovery  of any fact which makes any statement
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or  which  causes this  Prospectus  to omit  to  state a  material  fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained or incorporated by reference
herein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
or  of  the occurrence  of certain  other events  specified in  the Registration
Rights Agreement, such Participating Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of  New
Notes  pursuant to this Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented
this Prospectus  to correct  such  misstatement or  omission and  has  furnished
copies   of  the  amended  or  supplemented  Prospectus  to  such  Participating
Broker-Dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the New Notes may
be resumed, as the case may be. If the Company gives such notice to suspend  the
sale  of the  New Notes,  it shall  extend the  90-day period  referred to above
during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use this Prospectus in
connection with the resale of New Notes by the number of days during the  period
from  and including the date  of the giving of such  notice to and including the
date when Participating Broker-Dealers shall have received copies of the amended
or supplemented Prospectus necessary  to permit resales of  the New Notes or  to
and  including the date on  which the Company has given  notice that the sale of
New Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.

WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS

    Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders  of Old Notes may be  withdrawn
at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.

    In  order for a withdrawal to be  effective a written, telegraphic, telex or
facsimile transmission of such notice of  withdrawal must be timely received  by
the  Exchange Agent at one of its  addresses set forth under "-- Exchange Agent"
on or prior to the Expiration Date.  Any such notice of withdrawal must  specify
the name of the person who tendered the Old Notes to be withdrawn, the aggregate
principal amount of Old Notes to be withdrawn, and (if certificates for such Old
Notes  have been tendered) the name of the registered holder of the Old Notes as
set forth on the Old  Notes, if different from that  of the person who  tendered
such  Old Notes. If Old Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the
Exchange Agent,  then prior  to the  physical  release of  such Old  Notes,  the
tendering  holder must  submit the  serial numbers  shown on  the particular Old
Notes to be  withdrawn and the  signature on  the notice of  withdrawal must  be
guaranteed  by an Eligible Institution, except in the case of Old Notes tendered
for the account  of an  Eligible Institution. If  Old Notes  have been  tendered
pursuant  to the procedures for book-entry  transfer set forth in "-- Procedures
for Tendering Old  Notes," the notice  of withdrawal must  specify the name  and
number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawal of Old Notes, in
which case a notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered to the Exchange
Agent  by written, telegraphic, telex  or facsimile transmission. Withdrawals of
tenders of Old Notes may not be rescinded. Old Notes properly withdrawn will not
be deemed  validly tendered  for purposes  of  the Exchange  Offer, but  may  be
retendered  at  any  subsequent time  on  or  prior to  the  Expiration  Date by
following any  of  the  procedures  described above  under  "--  Procedures  for
Tendering Old Notes."

    All  questions as to  the validity, form and  eligibility (including time of
receipt) of such withdrawal  notices will be determined  by the Company, in  its
sole   discretion,   whose  determination   shall  be   final  and   binding  on

                                       24
<PAGE>
all parties. Neither the Company, any affiliates or assigns of the Company,  the
Exchange  Agent  nor  any other  person  shall be  under  any duty  to  give any
notification of any  irregularities in  any notice  of withdrawal  or incur  any
liability  for failure to give  any such notification. Any  Old Notes which have
been tendered but  which are withdrawn  will be returned  to the holder  thereof
promptly after withdrawal.

INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES

    Each  New Note will  bear interest at the  rate of 7.35%  per annum from the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Old
Note surrendered in exchange for such New Note or, if no interest has been  paid
or  duly provided for on such  Old Note, from June 1,  1995. Interest on the New
Notes will  be payable  semiannually on  June 1  and December  1 of  each  year,
commencing  on the first such  date following the original  issuance date of the
New Notes.

    Holders of Old  Notes whose  Old Notes are  accepted for  exchange will  not
receive  accrued interest on  such Old Notes  for any period  from and after the
last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided  for
on  such Old Notes prior to  the original issue date of  the New Notes or, if no
such interest has been paid or duly  provided for, will not receive any  accrued
interest  on such  Old Notes,  and will be  deemed to  have waived  the right to
receive any interest  on such  Old Notes accrued  from and  after such  Interest
Payment  Date or, if no  such interest has been paid  or duly provided for, from
and after June 1, 1995.

CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER

    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension
of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for  exchange,
or  to exchange, any Old  Notes for any New Notes,  and, as described below, may
terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been
accepted for exchange)  or may  waive any conditions  to or  amend the  Exchange
Offer,  if any of the  following conditions have occurred  or exists or have not
been satisfied:

        (a) the  Exchange Offer,  or the  making of  any exchange  by a  holder,
    violates any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of
    the Commission;

        (b) any action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in
    any  court or by or  before any governmental agency  or body with respect to
    the Exchange Offer  which, in  the Company's judgment,  would reasonably  be
    expected  to impair the ability of the  Company to proceed with the Exchange
    Offer;

        (c) any law,  statute, rule  or regulation  shall have  been adopted  or
    enacted  which, in the  Company's judgment, would  reasonably be expected to
    impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer;

        (d) a  banking moratorium  shall  have been  declared by  United  States
    federal  or California or New York state authorities which, in the Company's
    judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the  Company
    to proceed with the Exchange Offer;

        (e)  trading on the New  York Stock Exchange or  generally in the United
    States over-the-counter market  shall have  been suspended by  order of  the
    Commission  or  any other  governmental  authority which,  in  the Company's
    judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the  Company
    to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or

        (f)  a stop order shall have been  issued by the Commission or any state
    securities  authority  suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the  Registration
    Statement  or proceedings shall have been  initiated or, to the knowledge of
    the Company, threatened for that purpose.

    If the Company determines  in its sole and  absolute discretion that any  of
the  foregoing  events or  conditions has  occurred  or exists  or has  not been
satisfied, the Company may,  subject to applicable  law, terminate the  Exchange
Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted for exchange)
or  may waive any  such condition or  otherwise amend the  terms of the Exchange
Offer in any respect. If such waiver or amendment constitutes a material  change
to the Exchange Offer, the Company will promptly

                                       25
<PAGE>
disclose  such  waiver  by  means  of  a  prospectus  supplement  that  will  be
distributed to the  registered holders of  the Old Notes,  and the Company  will
extend  the  Exchange Offer  to  the extent  required  by Rule  14e-1  under the
Exchange Act.

EXCHANGE AGENT

    Bank One,  Columbus,  NA, has  been  appointed  as Exchange  Agent  for  the
Exchange  Offer. Delivery of  the Letters of Transmittal  and any other required
documents, questions,  requests  for  assistance, and  requests  for  additional
copies  of this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal should be directed to
the Exchange Agent as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>
            BY MAIL:                    BY OVERNIGHT DELIVERY OR HAND:
--------------------------------  ------------------------------------------
     Bank One, Columbus, NA                 Bank One, Columbus, NA
     235 West Schrock Road                  235 West Schrock Road
    Columbus, OH 43271-0184                 Westerville, OH 43081
               or                                     or
     Bank One, Columbus, NA                 Bank One, Columbus, NA
c/o First Chicago Trust Company        c/o First Chicago Trust Company
          of New York                            of New York
Attn: Corporate Trust Department       Attn: Corporate Trust Department
         14 Wall Street                         14 Wall Street
      8th Floor, Window 2                    8th Floor, Window 2
       New York, NY 10005                     New York, NY 10005
</TABLE>

                  TO CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE OR FOR INFORMATION:
                             (614) 248-4856 (Ohio)
                              (212) 240-8862 (NY)

                            FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS:
                             (614) 248-7238 (Ohio)
                              (212) 240-8938 (NY)

Delivery to other than one of the above addresses or facsimile numbers will  not
constitute a valid delivery.

FEES AND EXPENSES

    The  Company has agreed  to pay the Exchange  Agent reasonable and customary
fees for its  services and will  reimburse it for  its reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses in connection therewith. The Company will also pay brokerage houses and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred  by them in forwarding copies  of this Prospectus and related documents
to the beneficial owners of  Old Notes, and in  handling or tendering for  their
customers.

    Holders who tender their Old Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay
any  transfer taxes in  connection therewith. If,  however, New Notes  are to be
delivered to, or  are to be  issued in the  name of, any  person other than  the
registered holder of the Old Notes tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed for
any  reason other than the exchange of Old Notes in connection with the Exchange
Offer, then  the amount  of any  such  transfer taxes  (whether imposed  on  the
registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder.
If  satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will
be billed directly to such tendering holder.

    The Company  will  not  make  any payment  to  brokers,  dealers  or  others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer.

                          DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES

GENERAL

    The  Old Notes  were issued  and the New  Notes are  to be  issued under the
Indenture dated as of August 1,  1989 (the "Indenture") between the Company  and
Bank One, Columbus, NA, as successor trustee

                                       26
<PAGE>
(the  "Trustee"). The summaries of certain  provisions of the Indenture, the Old
Notes and the New Notes set forth below and under "Description of the Old Notes"
do not purport  to be complete  and are subject  to and are  qualified in  their
entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Indenture and the forms of
the  certificates evidencing  the Old Notes  and the New  Notes, which documents
have been filed  or incorporated by  reference as exhibits  to the  Registration
Statement and are incorporated herein by reference. See "Available Information."
Certain  capitalized terms used herein are defined  in the Indenture. As used in
this "Description of the New Notes," all references to the "Company" shall  mean
Consolidated  Freightways, Inc.,  excluding, unless the  context shall otherwise
require, its subsidiaries.

    The Indenture  does  not  limit  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  debt
securities  which may be issued thereunder and provides that debt securities may
be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series.

    The Old Notes  and the New  Notes will  constitute a single  series of  debt
securities under the Indenture. If the Exchange Offer is consummated, holders of
the  Old Notes  who do  not exchange  their Old  Notes for  New Notes  will vote
together with  the holders  of New  Notes for  all relevant  purposes under  the
Indenture.  In that regard,  the Indenture requires that  certain actions by the
holders thereunder (including acceleration following  an Event of Default)  must
be taken, and certain rights must be exercised, by specified minimum percentages
of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  outstanding debt  securities of the
relevant series. In determining whether  holders of the requisite percentage  in
principal  amount have given  any notice, consent  or waiver or  taken any other
action permitted under  the Indenture,  any Old Notes  which remain  outstanding
after  the Exchange Offer will be aggregated  with the New Notes and the holders
of such Old Notes and  New Notes will vote together  as a single series for  all
such  purposes. Accordingly, all  references herein to  specified percentages in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall be deemed to mean,  at
any  time after the Exchange Offer  is consummated, such percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Old Notes and New Notes then outstanding.

    The New Notes and the Old Notes are sometimes referred to as,  collectively,
the "Notes" and, individually, a "Note."

    The  New  Notes  will be  unsecured  and unsubordinated  obligations  of the
Company and will be  limited to an aggregate  principal amount of  $100,000,000.
Each  New Note will bear interest  at the rate of 7.35%  per annum from the most
recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Old Note
surrendered in exchange for such  New Note or, if no  interest has been paid  or
duly  provided for on such Old Note,  from June 1, 1995, payable semiannually on
June 1  and  December  1  of  each year  (each,  an  "Interest  Payment  Date"),
commencing  with the  first Interest  Payment Date  occurring after  the date of
original issuance of such New Note, to the person in whose name such New Note is
registered at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next  preceding
such  Interest Payment Date. Interest  on the New Notes  will be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year  of twelve 30-day months. The  New Notes will mature  on
June  1, 2005. The New Notes may not  be redeemed prior to maturity and will not
be subject to any sinking fund.

    The New  Notes  will not  provide  for any  increase  in the  interest  rate
thereon. For a discussion of the circumstances in which the interest rate on the
Old Notes may be temporarily increased, see "Description of the Old Notes."

FORM, DENOMINATION AND REGISTRATION

    The New Notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons,
in  denominations  of  $1,000 and  any  integral  multiple of  $1,000  in excess
thereof.

    Principal and interest on the New Notes  will be payable, and New Notes  may
be registered for transfer or exchange, at an office or agency maintained by the
Company  in New York City,  except that, at the  option of the Company, interest
may be paid by check mailed to  the persons entitled thereto. No service  charge
may  be made to a holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of the New
Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any  tax
or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                                       27
<PAGE>
    In  case any  New Note shall  become mutilated, defaced,  destroyed, lost or
stolen, the Company will  execute and, upon the  Company's request, the  Trustee
will  authenticate and deliver a new New Note, of like tenor and equal principal
amount in  exchange and  substitution  for such  New  Note (upon  surrender  and
cancellation  thereof) or in lieu of and substitution for such New Note. In case
such New Note is destroyed, lost or stolen, the applicant for a substituted  New
Note  shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as
may be required by  them to hold each  of them harmless, and,  in every case  of
destruction, loss or theft of such New Note, the applicant shall also furnish to
the  Company or  the Trustee satisfactory  evidence of the  destruction, loss or
theft of such New Note  and of the ownership thereof.  Upon the issuance of  any
substituted  New Note,  the Company  may require  the payment  by the registered
holder thereof  of  a  sum  sufficient to  cover  fees  and  expenses  connected
therewith.

RANKING; HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE

    The  Old  Notes  are and  the  New  Notes will  be  unsecured unsubordinated
obligations of  the Company  and rank  and will  rank on  a parity  in right  of
payment  with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company
for borrowed money.

    The Old Notes are and the New  Notes will be obligations exclusively of  the
Company.   The  Company  is  a  holding   company  substantially  all  of  whose
consolidated assets are held by its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the cash flow  of
the Company and the consequent ability to service its debt, including the Notes,
are largely dependent upon the earnings of such subsidiaries.

    Because  the Company  is a holding  company, the  Old Notes are  and the New
Notes will be effectively subordinated in  right of payment to all existing  and
future indebtedness, trade payables, guarantees, lease obligations and letter of
credit  obligations  of  the Company's  subsidiaries.  Therefore,  the Company's
rights and the rights of its creditors,  including the holders of the Notes,  to
participate  in the  assets of any  subsidiary upon the  latter's liquidation or
reorganization will  be  subject  to  the  prior  claims  of  such  subsidiary's
creditors,  except to the extent that the  Company may itself be a creditor with
recognized claims  against the  subsidiary,  in which  case  the claims  of  the
Company  would still be effectively subordinate  to any security interest in, or
mortgages or  other  liens  on, the  assets  of  such subsidiary  and  would  be
subordinate  to any indebtedness of  such subsidiary senior to  that held by the
Company. As of March 31, 1995, (i) the Company had approximately $322 million of
outstanding indebtedness (including  TASP debt  guaranteed by  the Company  (see
"Capitalization"))  and  approximately $133  million  of outstanding  letters of
credit, and (ii) the  Company's subsidiaries had  approximately $133 million  of
outstanding  indebtedness and obligations under capital leases and approximately
$88 million of outstanding letters of credit; no drawings were outstanding under
any such letters of  credit at that date.  In addition, certain subsidiaries  of
the  Company are  guarantors under  the Credit  Agreement, including  letters of
credit issued thereunder. At December 31, 1994, the Company's subsidiaries  were
subject  to long-term  non-cancelable operating leases  requiring future minimum
lease payments of approximately $501 million. Although certain debt  instruments
to  which the Company and its subsidiaries are parties impose limitations on the
incurrence of additional  indebtedness, both  the Company  and its  subsidiaries
retain  the ability to  incur substantial additional  indebtedness and lease and
letter of credit obligations.

CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

    The Indenture does not limit the amount of indebtedness or lease obligations
that may be incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries. The Indenture does not
contain provisions which would  give holders of the  Notes the right to  require
the  Company to repurchase their  Notes in the event of  a decline in the credit
rating  of   the  Company's   debt  securities   resulting  from   a   takeover,
recapitalization  or similar restructuring. Holders  of certain of the Company's
outstanding indebtedness, including its  9 1/8% Notes due  1999, the TASP  Notes
and  indebtedness  under the  Credit Agreement,  have the  right to  require the
Company to repurchase or repay such indebtedness upon the occurrence of  certain
changes  in control of the  Company or similar events  or declines in the credit
rating on such indebtedness. See "Capitalization."

    LIMITATION ON LIENS.  In the Indenture, the Company covenants that, so  long
as  any of  the Notes remain  outstanding, it will  not, nor will  it permit any
Restricted Subsidiary (as  defined below)  to, create, assume  or guarantee  any
Debt  (as defined below) that  is secured by a  mortgage, pledge, lien, security
interest or other

                                       28
<PAGE>
encumbrance (a "Lien"), on any  property or shares of  capital stock or Debt  of
the  Company or any  Restricted Subsidiary without in  any such case effectively
providing, concurrently with the creation,  assumption or guarantee of any  such
Debt,  that the Notes shall, so  long as such other Debt  is so secured (and, if
the Company shall so determine, any  other existing Debt (or Debt thereafter  in
existence)  created,  assumed or  guaranteed by  the  Company or  any Restricted
Subsidiary), be secured by any  such Lien equally and  ratably with or prior  to
the  Debt  thereby secured;  provided that  Debt  secured by  such Liens  may be
created, assumed or guaranteed  if immediately after  giving effect thereto  the
aggregate amount of all such Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(not including Debt described in (i) through (vii) below) does not exceed 15% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below).

    The  foregoing restrictions shall not apply to  Debt secured by (i) Liens on
property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date of the
Indenture (August 1, 1989); (ii) certain Liens on property existing at the  time
of  acquisition thereof;  (iii) Liens  in favor of  the Company  or a Restricted
Subsidiary securing Debt of the Company  or a Restricted Subsidiary; (iv)  Liens
created  in connection with tax assessments  or legal proceedings and mechanic's
and materialman's liens and other similar  liens created in the ordinary  course
of  business; (v) Liens on property of  the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
(except Liens on  the capital stock  or Debt  of the Company  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary)  in favor of the  United States of America  or any state thereof, or
any agency or political subdivision of either, or in favor of any other  country
or  agency or  political subdivision  thereof, in  each case  to secure payments
pursuant to contract or statute or to secure Debt created, assumed or guaranteed
for the purpose of financing all or any  part of the purchase price or the  cost
of  construction or improvement of the property subject to such Liens, including
Liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue bond  or
other  similar financings; (vi) certain purchase  money Liens on property of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a fixed asset or a surface
or air transportation vehicle used in  the freight business securing all or  any
part of the purchase price thereof, or any Debt incurred to finance the purchase
price  or the cost  of construction or  improvement thereof for  which a written
commitment was executed within 180 days  after acquisition or the completion  of
construction  or improvement,  as the  case may  be; or  (vii) certain permitted
extensions, renewals  or replacements  (or  successive extensions,  renewals  or
replacements),  in whole or  in part, of  any Lien referred  to in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (vi), inclusive.

    CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS.   The Indenture provides that  the
Company  may  not (i)  consolidate  with or  merge  into any  Person  or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to  any
Person, or (ii) permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company,
or  convey,  transfer or  lease its  properties and  assets substantially  as an
entirety to the Company,  unless (a) in  the case of (i)  above, such Person  is
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment
of  the principal of and interest on all of the Notes and the performance of the
Company's obligations under the Indenture  and the Notes; (b) immediately  after
giving  effect to such transaction no Event of Default, and no event which after
notice or lapse of  time or both  would become an Event  of Default, shall  have
happened and be continuing; and (c) certain other conditions are met.

    DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS.  The term "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" as
used  in the Indenture means, as of any particular time, the aggregate amount of
the Consolidated Assets  (as defined in  the Indenture) of  the Company and  its
consolidated  Subsidiaries  (as defined  in  the Indenture)  (less depreciation,
amortization and other applicable reserves and other properly deductible  items)
after  deducting therefrom (i)  all current liabilities,  and (ii) all goodwill,
tradenames,  trademarks,   patents,  debt   discount  and   expense  and   other
intangibles,  in each case net  of applicable amortization, all  as shown on the
Company's most recent consolidated  financial statements prepared in  accordance
with  generally accepted accounting principles. The term "Restricted Subsidiary"
as used in the  Indenture means any majority-owned  or controlled Subsidiary  of
the  Company or any of  its Subsidiaries (A) substantially  all of the operating
assets of which are located or the principal business of which is carried on  in
the  United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S.  Virgin Islands or Canada, and (B) the
assets of which have a gross book value (without deduction of any  depreciation,
amortization  and other applicable  reserves) which exceeds  1% of the Company's
Consolidated Assets  (except for  any Subsidiary  which in  the opinion  of  the
Company's Board of Directors is not of

                                       29
<PAGE>
material  importance  to the  total business  conducted by  the Company  and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole). The term  "Debt" as used in the Indenture  means
(a)  any liability of the Company or  any Restricted Subsidiary (1) for borrowed
money, or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit,  or
(2)  evidenced by  a bond,  note, debenture  or similar  instrument, or  (3) for
payment obligations arising under any conditional sale or other title  retention
arrangement (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the
acquisition  of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind, or (4) for the
payment of money relating to a  capitalized lease obligation; (b) any  liability
of  others  described  in the  preceding  clause  (a) that  the  Company  or any
Restricted Subsidiary has guaranteed or  that is otherwise its legal  liability;
and (c) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or
refunding  of any  liability of  the types  referred to  in clauses  (a) and (b)
above.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

    An Event of Default with respect to the Notes is defined in the Indenture as
being: (i) default for 30  days in payment of any  interest with respect to  any
Note;  (ii) default in  payment of principal  with respect to  any Note when due
upon maturity or otherwise; (iii) default by the Company in the performance,  or
breach,  of any other  covenant or warranty  in the Indenture  or any Note which
shall not have been remedied for a period of 90 days after notice to the Company
by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount
of the Notes then outstanding; (iv)  acceleration of the maturity of any  single
outstanding  issue of Debt of  the Company or any  Restricted Subsidiary with an
outstanding principal amount in excess of  $25,000,000, as a result of an  event
of  default thereunder, which acceleration is not  annulled or which Debt is not
discharged within 30  days thereafter  or such  longer period  during which  the
Company  is contesting in  good faith such acceleration;  (v) default in payment
(after the expiration  of any  applicable grace period)  of any  portion of  the
principal or any premium with respect to any single outstanding issue of Debt of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with an outstanding principal amount in
excess  of  $25,000,000,  which  default  is not  cured  or  which  Debt  is not
discharged within 30  days thereafter  or such  longer period  during which  the
Company  is contesting  in good  faith such default;  or (vi)  certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company. The Indenture  provides
that  the Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the Notes of any default
with respect thereto (except a default  in payment of principal or interest)  if
the Trustee considers it in the interest of the holders to do so.

    The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default with respect to the Notes
shall  have occurred and be  continuing, the Trustee or  the holders of at least
25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare the  principal
amount  of all  the Notes to  be due  and payable immediately,  but upon certain
conditions such  declaration  may be  annulled  and past  defaults  (except  for
payment  defaults and certain other defaults) may  be waived by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

    Subject to the provisions of the Indenture requiring the Trustee, during  an
Event  of Default, to  act with the  requisite standard of  care, the Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the  Indenture
at  the request or direction of any of  the holders of Notes unless such holders
have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to the foregoing, holders
of a majority in principal amount of  the Notes then outstanding shall have  the
right,  subject to certain limitations, to direct  the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding  for any  remedy available  to the  Trustee under  the
Indenture.  The Indenture  requires the  annual filing  by the  Company with the
Trustee of a certificate as to the absence of default and as to compliance  with
the terms of the Indenture.

MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE

    The  Indenture contains provisions  permitting the Company  and the Trustee,
with the  consent of  the  holders of  a majority  in  principal amount  of  the
outstanding  Notes, to modify the  rights of the holders  of the Notes under the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture or the terms of the Notes, provided that
no such modification shall, among other  things, (i) change the stated  maturity
of  any Notes  or reduce  the principal  amount thereof,  or reduce  the rate or
change the time of payment  of interest thereon, or  change any place where,  or
the  currency in which, any  Notes are payable, or  impair the holder's right to
enforce the payment  of any Notes,  or (ii) reduce  the aforesaid percentage  of
Notes,   the  consent  of  the  holders  of  which  is  required  for  any  such
modification; without in each such case  obtaining the consent of the holder  of
each outstanding

                                       30
<PAGE>
Note  so affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company
and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of any Notes, to modify  the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture in order to, among other things, (a) add
to  the Events of Default or the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
holders of  Notes,  or (b)  cure  any ambiguity  or  correct or  supplement  any
provision therein which may be inconsistent with other provisions therein, or to
make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the
Indenture,  provided that such actions shall  not adversely affect the interests
of the holders of the Notes in any material respect.

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

    The Indenture provides that the Company may elect either (A) to defease  and
be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the Notes (except for
the  obligations to register the  transfer or exchange of  the Notes, to replace
temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or  stolen Notes, to maintain an  office
or  agency in  respect of  the Notes and  to hold  moneys for  payment in trust)
("defeasance"), or (B) to be released  from its obligations with respect to  the
Notes  described above under "-- Certain  Covenants of the Company -- Limitation
on Liens" ("covenant defeasance"), upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee
(or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money, and/or U. S.
Government Obligations (as defined in  the Indenture) which through the  payment
of  principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in
an amount sufficient to pay  the principal of and interest  on the Notes on  the
due  dates  therefor, whether  upon maturity  or  otherwise. Such  defeasance or
covenant defeasance shall only be effective if, among other things, (i) it shall
not result in  a breach  or violation  of, or  constitute a  default under,  the
Indenture  or  any  other  agreement  to which  the  Company  or  any Restricted
Subsidiary is a party  or is bound,  and (ii) the Company  has delivered to  the
Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the Indenture) to the effect that
the  holders of the  Notes will not  recognize income, gain  or loss for federal
income tax purposes as  a result of such  defeasance or covenant defeasance,  as
the  case may be, and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts,
in the same manner  and at the same  times as would have  been the case if  such
defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. It shall also be a condition
to  the effectiveness of  such defeasance (but not  covenant defeasance) that no
Event of Default  or event  which with  notice or lapse  of time  or both  would
become  an Event of  Default with respect  to the Notes  shall have occurred and
been continuing on  the date of,  or during the  period ending on  the 91st  day
after the date of, such deposit into trust.

GOVERNING LAW

    The Indenture and the Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.

REGARDING THE TRUSTEE

    The  Trust Indenture Act of  1939 contains limitations on  the rights of the
Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims
in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect  of
any such claims, as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in
other  transactions with  the Company  and its  subsidiaries from  time to time,
provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate
such conflict upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, or else resign.

                          DESCRIPTION OF THE OLD NOTES

    The terms of the Old Notes are identical in all material respects to the New
Notes, except  that  (i)  the Old  Notes  have  not been  registered  under  the
Securities Act, are subject to certain restrictions on transfer and are entitled
to  certain registration rights  under the Registration  Rights Agreement (which
rights will terminate  upon consummation of  the Exchange Offer,  except to  the
extent  that the Initial  Purchasers may have  certain registration rights under
limited circumstances); (ii) the New Notes are issuable in minimum denominations
of $1,000 and integral  multiples thereof compared  to minimum denominations  of
$250,000  and integral multiples of $1,000 in  excess thereof for the Old Notes;
and (iii) the New Notes will not  provide for any increase in the interest  rate
thereon.  In that  regard, the  Old Notes  provide that,  in the  event that the
Exchange Offer is not consummated or a shelf registration statement (the  "Shelf
Registration Statement")

                                       31
<PAGE>
with  respect to  the resale of  the Old Notes  is not declared  effective on or
prior to October 29, 1995, the interest  rate on the Old Notes will increase  by
0.25%  per  annum following  October 29,  1995; provided,  however, that  if the
Company requests holders of Old Notes to provide certain information called  for
by   the  Registration  Rights  Agreement  for   inclusion  in  any  such  Shelf
Registration Statement, then Old Notes owned by holders who do not deliver  such
information  to  the  Company  or  who do  not  provide  comments  on  the Shelf
Registration  Statement  when  required  pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  will not be entitled to any  such increase in the interest rate. Upon
the consummation  of  the  Exchange  Offer  or  the  effectiveness  of  a  Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, after October 29, 1995, the interest
rate on any Old Notes which remain outstanding will be reduced, from the date of
such  consummation or effectiveness, as the case  may be, to 7.35% per annum and
the Old Notes will not  thereafter be entitled to  any increase in the  interest
rate  thereon.  The New  Notes  are not  entitled to  any  such increase  in the
interest rate  thereon.  In addition,  the  Old Notes  and  the New  Notes  will
constitute  a  single  series  of  debt  securities  under  the  Indenture.  See
"Description of the  New Notes --  General." Accordingly, holders  of Old  Notes
should  review the information set forth  under "Summary -- Certain Consequences
of a Failure to Exchange Old Notes" and "Description of the New Notes."

            CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

    The following summary  describes certain  United States  Federal income  tax
considerations  to holders of the  New Notes who are  subject to U.S. net income
tax with respect to  the New Notes  ("U.S. persons") and who  will hold the  New
Notes  as  capital assets.  There can  be  no assurance  that the  U.S. Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") will take a similar view of the purchase,  ownership
or disposition of the New Notes. This discussion is based upon the provisions of
the  Internal Revenue  Code of  1986, as  amended, and  regulations, rulings and
judicial decisions now in effect,  all of which are  subject to change. It  does
not  include any  description of  the tax  laws of  any state,  local or foreign
governments or any estate or gift  tax considerations that may be applicable  to
the  New  Notes or  holders thereof.  It does  not discuss  all aspects  of U.S.
Federal income taxation that may be  relevant to a particular investor in  light
of  his particular  investment circumstances  or to  certain types  of investors
subject to  special  treatment under  the  U.S.  Federal income  tax  laws  (for
example,  dealers in  securities or  currencies, S  corporations, life insurance
companies,  tax-exempt  organizations,  taxpayers  subject  to  the  alternative
minimum  tax and non-U.S. persons) and also does not discuss New Notes held as a
hedge against currency risks or as part of a straddle with other investments  or
as  part of a  "synthetic security" or other  integrated investment (including a
"conversion transaction")  comprised  of  a  New Note  and  one  or  more  other
investments,  or situations in  which the functional currency  of the holders is
not the U.S. dollar.

    Holders of Old Notes contemplating  acceptance of the Exchange Offer  should
consult  their own tax  advisors with respect  to their particular circumstances
and with respect to  the effects of  state, local or foreign  tax laws to  which
they may be subject.

EXCHANGE OF NOTES

    The  exchange of Old  Notes for New Notes  should not be  a taxable event to
holders for federal income tax purposes. The  exchange of Old Notes for the  New
Notes  pursuant to the Exchange Offer should not be treated as an "exchange" for
federal income tax purposes  because the New Notes  should not be considered  to
differ  materially  in kind  or  extent from  the  Old Notes.  If,  however, the
exchange of the  Old Notes for  the New Notes  were treated as  an exchange  for
federal  income tax purposes, such exchange should constitute a recapitalization
for federal income  tax purposes.  Accordingly, a  holder should  have the  same
adjusted  basis and holding period in  the New Notes as it  had in the Old Notes
immediately before the exchange.

INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES

    A holder of  a New  Note will  be required  to report  as ordinary  interest
income  for U.S. Federal income tax purposes  interest earned on the New Note in
accordance with the holder's method of tax accounting.

DISPOSITION OF NEW NOTES

    A holder's tax basis for a New Note generally will be the holder's  purchase
price for the Old Note. Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other
disposition    of    a    New    Note,   a    holder    will    recognize   gain

                                       32
<PAGE>
or loss equal to  the difference (if  any) between the  amount realized and  the
holder's  tax basis in the New Note. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital
gain or loss if the New Note has been held for more than one year and  otherwise
will  be  short-term  capital  gain  or loss  (with  certain  exceptions  to the
characterization as  capital gain  if the  New  Note was  acquired at  a  market
discount).

BACKUP WITHHOLDING

    A  holder of a New Note may be  subject to backup withholding at the rate of
31% with respect to interest  paid on the New Note  and proceeds from the  sale,
exchange,  redemption or retirement of the New Note, unless such holder (a) is a
corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when  required,
demonstrates that fact or (b) provides a correct taxpayer identification number,
certifies  as  to no  loss of  exemption from  backup withholding  and otherwise
complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A  holder
of  a  New Note  who  does not  provide the  Company  with his  correct taxpayer
identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.

    A holder of a  New Note who is  not a U.S. person  will generally be  exempt
from  backup  withholding and  information  reporting requirements,  but  may be
required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order  to
obtain an exemption from backup withholding and information reporting.

    Any  amount  paid  as  backup withholding  will  be  creditable  against the
holder's U.S. Federal income tax liability.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in connection
with the Exchange Offer  must acknowledge that it  will deliver a prospectus  in
connection  with any  resale of such  New Notes.  This Prospectus, as  it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by Participating  Broker-
Dealers  during the period referred  to below in connection  with resales of New
Notes received in exchange for Old Notes if such Old Notes were acquired by such
Participating Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making
activities or  other  trading  activities.  The Company  has  agreed  that  this
Prospectus,  as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a Participating Broker-Dealer  in connection with resales  of such New  Notes
for  a period  ending 90  days after the  Expiration Date  (subject to extension
under certain limited circumstances described  herein) or, if earlier, when  all
such  New Notes have  been disposed of by  such Participating Broker-Dealer. See
"The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Notes."

    The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the  New
Notes  offered  hereby.  New  Notes received  by  broker-dealers  for  their own
accounts in connection with the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time  in
one   or  more  transactions  in  the  over-the-counter  market,  in  negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options  on the New Notes or a  combination
of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices  related to  such prevailing market  prices or at  negotiated prices. Any
such resale may  be made  directly to  purchasers or  to or  through brokers  or
dealers  who may receive compensation in  the form of commissions or concessions
from any such  broker-dealer and/or the  purchasers of any  such New Notes.  Any
broker-dealer  that  resells New  Notes that  were  received by  it for  its own
account in connection  with the  Exchange Offer and  any broker  or dealer  that
participates  in  a  distribution of  such  New Notes  may  be deemed  to  be an
"underwriter" within the meaning  of the Securities Act,  and any profit on  any
such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such
persons  may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver  and
by  delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Certain legal matters in connection with  the New Notes will be passed  upon
for the Company by Brown & Wood, San Francisco, California.

                                       33
<PAGE>
                                    EXPERTS

    The  audited consolidated financial statements  and schedule incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus  and elsewhere in  the Registration Statement  have
been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,  as
indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein  by
reference  in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said
reports.

                                       34
<PAGE>
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------

    NO  PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE
ANY  INFORMATION  OR  MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATION  OTHER  THAN  AS  CONTAINED  AND
INCORPORATED  BY  REFERENCE  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND,  IF GIVEN  OR  MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED
BY  THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN
OFFER TO SELL,  OR A  SOLICITATION OF  AN OFFER TO  BUY, ANY  OF THE  SECURITIES
OFFERED  HEREBY BY ANY PERSON  IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH  OR TO ANY PERSON TO
WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR  SUCH PERSON TO MAKE  SUCH AN OFFERING OR  SOLICITATION.
NEITHER  THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN IS  CORRECT AS OF ANY DATE  SUBSEQUENT
TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

                              -------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
Available Information..........................           4
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
 Reference.....................................           4
Summary........................................           5
Use of Proceeds................................          12
Capitalization.................................          12
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...........          13
Recent Developments............................          14
Business of the Company........................          15
The Exchange Offer.............................          18
Description of the New Notes...................          26
Description of the Old Notes...................          31
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
 Considerations................................          32
Plan of Distribution...........................          33
Legal Matters..................................          33
Experts........................................          34
</TABLE>

                                     [LOGO]

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                               FREIGHTWAYS, INC.

                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                              7.35% NOTES DUE 2005
                           WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                              7.35% NOTES DUE 2005

                             ---------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS
                             ---------------------

   
                                 AUGUST 9, 1995
    

-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    As  authorized by Section 102(b)(7) of  the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the "DGCL"), the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, eliminates
to the fullest extent  permitted by Delaware law  the personal liability of  its
directors to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach
of fiduciary duty as a director.

    The  Company's By-laws, as amended (the "By-laws"), provide that each person
who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved
in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason  of
the  fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Company or of another enterprise, serving as such at the request of the Company,
shall be indemnified  and held  harmless by the  Company to  the fullest  extent
permitted  under  the DGCL;  provided,  however, that  except  as to  actions to
enforce indemnification  rights, the  Company shall  indemnify any  such  person
seeking  indemnification in  connection with an  action, suit  or proceeding (or
part thereof) initiated by  such person only if  the action, suit or  proceeding
(or  part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company. When
indemnification is authorized by the  Company's By-laws, the director,  officer,
employee  or agent  shall be  indemnified for  expenses, liabilities  and losses
(including attorneys' fees,  judgments, fines, ERISA  excise taxes or  penalties
and  amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by him or her
in connection  therewith.  The  Company's By-laws  also  provide  that  expenses
incurred  by an officer or  director (acting in his or  her capacity as such) in
defending a  proceeding  shall  be paid  by  the  Company in  advance  of  final
disposition  of the proceeding; provided, however, that if required by the DGCL,
the officer  or director  shall deliver  to the  Company an  undertaking by  the
officer  or director to repay such expenses  if it is ultimately determined that
he or she is not  entitled to be indemnified by  the Company. The Company's  By-
laws also provide that in other circumstances expenses may be advanced upon such
terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

    The  Company's  By-laws further  provide that  the right  to indemnification
granted thereunder shall be  a contract right for  the benefit of the  Company's
directors,  officers, employees and agents. The Company's By-laws also authorize
actions against the Company  to enforce the  indemnification rights provided  by
the  By-laws, subject  to the Company's  right to  assert a defense  in any such
action that the  claimant has  not met  the standards  of conduct  that make  it
permissible  under the DGCL  for the Company  to indemnify the  claimant for the
amount claimed,  and the  Company shall  bear  the burden  of proving  any  such
defense.

    Under  Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may provide indemnification to
directors, officers, employees  and agents  may be  provided against  judgments,
penalties,  fines,  settlements  and reasonable  expenses  (including attorneys'
fees) incurred in the defense or settlement of a third party action, or  against
reasonable  expenses (including attorneys' fees) in the defense or settlement of
a derivative action, provided there is a  determination by a majority vote of  a
quorum  of disinterested directors, a  committee of directors, independent legal
counsel,  or   a  majority   vote  of   stockholders  that   a  person   seeking
indemnification acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in
or  not opposed to the best interests of  the corporation, and, in the case of a
criminal proceeding, with no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct  was
unlawful.  However, Section 145 also states  that no indemnification may be made
in derivative actions where such person  is adjudged liable to the  corporation,
unless,  and only to the  extent, that a court  determines upon application that
such person is  fairly and reasonably  entitled to indemnity  for such  expenses
which  the  court  deems proper.  Section  145 also  permits  indemnification of
expenses which  the court  deems  proper and  provides that  indemnification  of
expenses  actually and reasonably incurred shall be provided when the individual
being indemnified  has  successfully  defended  the  action  on  the  merits  or
otherwise in any action, suit or proceeding. The indemnification rights provided
by  statute in Delaware are not deemed to be exclusive of any other rights which
those seeking  indemnification may  be entitled  under any  bylaw, agreement  or
otherwise.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
    The  Company's By-laws also  authorize the Company  to purchase and maintain
insurance to protect itself and  any person who is  or was a director,  officer,
employee or agent of the Company against any liability, expense or loss incurred
by  or asserted against such  person, whether or not  the Company would have the
power to indemnify  such person against  such liability, expense  or loss  under
applicable  law  or the  Company's By-laws.  The  Company presently  maintains a
directors' and officers' liability insurance policy which insures directors  and
officers of the Company and those of certain of its subsidiaries.

ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

    (a) Exhibits

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                 DESCRIPTION
-----------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
       4.1   Indenture dated as of August 1, 1989 between the Registrant and Security Pacific National Bank, as
              trustee. (Exhibit 4.3 to December 31, 1989 Form 10-K, as filed on Form SE dated March 20, 1990*).
       4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1995, between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch &
              Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan
              Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc.**
       4.3   Form of Security for 7.35% Notes due 2005 originally issued by Consolidated Freightways, Inc. on
              June 1, 1995.**
       4.4   Form of Security for 7.35% Notes due 2005 to be issued by Consolidated Freightways, Inc. and
              registered under the Securities Act of 1933.**
       5     Opinion of Brown & Wood.**
      12     Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.**
      23.1   Consent of Independent Public Accountants (included on page II-6).**
      23.2   Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).**
      24     Powers of Attorney (included on page II-4).**
      25     Statement of eligibility of trustee.**
      99.1   Form of Letter of Transmittal.**
      99.2   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.**
      99.3   Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.**
<FN>
------------------------
 * Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated
   herein by reference.
** Previously filed.
</TABLE>
    

ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS

    Insofar  as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing provisions, or  otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the  opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and  is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the  payment by the registrant of  expenses
incurred  or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities  being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has
been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to  a  court  of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification by it is against  public
policy  as expressed  in the Securities  Act and  will be governed  by the final
adjudication of such issue.

    The undersigned  registrant hereby  undertakes to  respond to  requests  for
information  that is incorporated  by reference into  the Prospectus pursuant to
Item   4,   10(b),   11   or   13   of   this   form,   within   one    business

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
day  of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first
class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in
documents filed subsequent to the  effective date of the registration  statement
through the date of responding to the request.

    The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes to  supply  by  means  of a
post-effective amendment  all  information  concerning a  transaction,  and  the
company  being acquired  or involved  therein, that was  not the  subject of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.

    The  undersigned  registrant  hereby   undertakes  that,  for  purposes   of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrant's annual report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section  15(d) of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  (and, where  applicable,  each filing  of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934)  that is  incorporated  by reference  in the
registration statement  shall  be deemed  to  be a  new  registration  statement
relating  to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Palo  Alto,
State of California, on the 8th day of August, 1995.
    

                                          CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS, INC.

                                          By     /s/  EBERHARD G.H. SCHMOLLER

                                            ------------------------------------
                                                  Eberhard G.H. Schmoller
                                             SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL
                                                         COUNSEL

    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, this amendment
to the registration statement  has been signed by  the following persons in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE                         DATE
------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -----------------
<C>                                                     <S>                                     <C>

                    /s/  DONALD E. MOFFITT*             Chairman of the Board, President and
     -------------------------------------------         Chief Executive Officer (Principal        August 8, 1995
                  Donald E. Moffitt                      Executive Officer)

                                                        Executive Vice President and Chief
                   /s/  GREGORY L. QUESNEL*              Financial Officer (Principal
     -------------------------------------------         Financial and Principal Accounting        August 8, 1995
                  Gregory L. Quesnel                     Officer)

                     /s/  ROBERT ALPERT*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                    Robert Alpert

     -------------------------------------------        Director
                    Earl F. Cheit

                     /s/  G. ROBERT EVANS*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                   G. Robert Evans

                     /s/  MARGARET G. GILL*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                   Margaret G. Gill

                    /s/  ROBERT JAUNICH II*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                  Robert Jaunich II
</TABLE>
    

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE                         DATE
------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -----------------
<C>                                                     <S>                                     <C>

     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  Gerhard E. Liener

                    /s/  RICHARD B. MADDEN*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                  Richard B. Madden

                    /s/  RONALD E. POELMAN*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                  Ronald E. Poelman

                     /s/  ROBERT D. ROGERS*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                   Robert D. Rogers

                     /s/  WILLIAM D. WALSH*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                   William D. Walsh

                    /s/  ROBERT P. WAYMAN*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   August 8, 1995
                   Robert P. Wayman

            *By     /s/  DAVID F. MORRISON
     -------------------------------------------
                  David F. Morrison
                   ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>
    

                                      II-5


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