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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
C U R R E N T R E P O R T
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) ______August 11, 1997______
CALIBER SYSTEM, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio 0-10716 34-1365496
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
3925 Embassy Parkway, Akron, Ohio 44333
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (330) 665-5646
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Caliber System, Inc. Form 8-K
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REPORT
Item 5. Other Events
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The Registrant's news releases dated August 11 and 13, 1997, copies of which are
attached hereto, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
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(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Caliber System, Inc. News Release dated August 11, 1997.
99.2 Caliber System, Inc. News Release dated August 13, 1997.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereto duly authorized.
CALIBER SYSTEM, INC.
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REGISTRANT
Date: August 14, 1997 By: /s/ John E. Lynch
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John E. Lynch, Jr.
Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Caliber System, Inc. News Release dated August 11, 1997.
99.2 Caliber System, Inc. News Release dated August 13, 1997.
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Exhibit 99.1
Contact: Dave Edmonds
(330) 665-8847
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 11, 1997
EXTRAORDINARY TIMES CALL FOR EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES
RPS EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS GO THE EXTRA MILE
TO MEET INCREASED PACKAGE VOLUME - INCLUDING PACKAGE DELIVERY VIA GROCERY CART
AKRON, OHIO - Caliber System, a leading provider of transportation and
logistics services, reported that with package volume at an all-time high at
RPS, its business-to-business, small-package operating unit, the carrier's
employees and contractors are taking extreme measures to deliver more than 1.5
million packages a day an increase of at least 20% over normal package volume.
RPS, Inc., which serves the business-to-business market, is the
second-largest small-package ground carrier in North America. While the company
announced last week that it was not taking any new customers, RPS has seen
package volume increase dramatically due to an influx of additional packages
from its active customers since the start of the UPS labor dispute.
"We're running right up against the red line," said Bram Johnson, RPS
vice president of Marketing and Strategic Planning. "But we're doing what we set
out to do, which is to maintain service quality. And we've heard from a number
of our customers who have been pleasantly surprised to find that service to them
hasn't suffered throughout the past two weeks."
Meet Me at the State Fair - And Don't Forget the Packages
The Ohio State Fair comes only once a year, and vendors have to sell
while the selling is good. On Tuesday, August 5, RPS account representative
Tawana Owens was helping out the contractors at the RPS Columbus, Ohio, terminal
by delivering RPSAIR(R) packages to vendors at the fair.
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RPS Deliveries
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Upon arriving at the fairgrounds, Owens "commandeered" a grocery cart
to make her deliveries. After searching more than an hour for her final stop,
she finally found the vendor she'd been searching for, who greeted her with open
arms and thankful praise for her persistence. It seems this T-shirt vendor had
completely sold out of T-shirts.
Getting the Unexpected - Good Service
Cindy Winn, general manager of Wax Works, a candle manufacturer in
Albertus, Pa., was prepared for the worst after hearing the news about the UPS
work stoppage. The 15-year-old Wax Works distributes its decorator and wedding
candles throughout the continental United States and Canada.
"Although we use RPS exclusively for product shipping, we just figured
that service would suffer due to an increase in packages going through the RPS
system," Winn said. "It was only common sense."
But RPS service didn't falter, said Winn. "I told my customers to
expect delays, but they haven't seen any. Service has been great."
At RPS's nearby Allentown terminal, which services Wax Works, terminal
manager Richard Kraynak, Jr., said his staff has been working up to 15 hours a
days. "Everyone in the terminal is helping to deliver packages," Kraynak said,
"including me and the sales reps." Even so, the toughest part of his job, he
said, is turning away new customers. "I really hate to do that."
Caliber System, Inc. (NYSE:CBB) is a leading provider of value-added
transportation, logistics and related information services. Its operating
companies include RPS; Viking Freight, a supplier of regional freight service in
the West; Caliber Logistics, a contract logistics provider; Roberts Express, a
critical- shipment carrier; and Caliber Technology, a producer of systemwide
information services.
For more information about Caliber, visit the company's homepage at
www.calibersys.com.
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Exhibit 99.2
Investor Contact: Investor Relations
(330) 665-8814
Media Contact: Dina Gruey
(330) 665-8849
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 13, 1997
CALIBER SYSTEM DECLARES DIVIDEND
AKRON, OHIO - Caliber System, Inc. (NYSE:CBB) announced today that its
Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.10 per share,
payable November 3, 1997 to shareholders of record on October 15, 1997.
Caliber System, Inc. is a leading provider of value-added transportation,
logistics and related information services. Its operating companies include RPS,
a business-to-business small-package carrier; Viking Freight, a supplier of
regional freight service in the West; Caliber Logistics, a contract logistics
provider; Roberts Express, a critical-shipment carrier; and Caliber Technology,
a producer of systemwide information services. By combining its operating units'
products and services, Caliber offers integrated, customized solutions that meet
customer demand for more comprehensive transportation and logistics programs.
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