Foreway Transportation Inc

Why Foreway for trucking service value?
Because this is where transportation works harder. It’s a purchasing tool, a customer service tool, and a production tool.

Foreway Transportation is the evolution of a dynamic trucking organization founded in 1977 by Roger Ensing. Since its humble beginnings as a regional one-truck operation, Foreway has focused its efforts on providing cost-effective transportation solutions to a growing number of manufacturing and distribution clients.

Today, Foreway Transportation services reach across the country as an integral element in progressive logistic programs designed to ensure dependable, on-time delivery. In the past 20 years, Foreway has developed unique Dedicated Transportation programs, turnkey Transportation Management Services and innovative supply chain solutions that leverage the synergy of continuous moves to reduce customer transportation costs.

Foreway invests in the latest supply chain technology, including RedPrairie™. This added benefit of being a Foreway customer allows clients to use best-of-class technology to improve their business processes without investing in hardware or software.

Foreway also offers a wide range of consulting services designed to identify opportunities for improved efficiencies by re-engineering our client’s supply chain.

Team Foreway … your hardest working transportation resource.

What Makes Foreway Different?
We’re in the business of
saving growing companies money

We give expertise of a team of
logistics experts without the fixed overhead

No over inflated promises

Seasoned transportation staff
with more than 20 years of experience

Team Foreway … your hardest
working transportation resource.

Our Story

Foreway Transportation is a family-owned business in operation for nearly four decades. Our CEO best sums it up…

“Foreway has been built through the school of hard knocks, always facing challenges head-on. This history builds more than a monument. It helps our employees understand how everyone’s continued hard work and dedication builds our future.”

According to our founder…

“Foreway has weathered a lot of storms over the years. I believe we are successful because I have always had very committed employees and when it got real tough I knew God watched out for me and my employees.” –Roger Ensing

After driving truck to provide a higher income for his growing family, Roger Ensing purchased his first Ford tilt cab tractor in 1957. He leased to American Transit hauling truckload freight, then Meuwsen hauling grain and produce, and finally in 1963 hauling steel for Michigan Express.

In 1968, Roger added a second truck and hired another driver. By 1971, Roger quit driving full time so he could manage his 5 truck fleet. In 1973 when Roger had 16 tractors, he incorporated as Ensing Trucking. He ran the business out of Allendale Michigan for fifteen years.

The fuel shortage in 1974, affected a lot of business and Roger was advised to file bankruptcy. Against all advice, he mortgaged his house, paid off the business debts and replaced some of the older equipment.

By 1976, the business was again showing a profit and Roger with a new partner, Tom Yost, created Foreway Transportation Inc., a non-asset based carrier.

As the two companies grew, Roger’s two oldest children joined the businesses. In 1977, Rick started as a mechanic for Ensing Trucking. Then Pam joined the company in 1980 as the accounting clerk and receptionist. By 1982, Rick and Pam were running Ensing Trucking while Roger concentrated on growing Foreway.

In 1984, Roger bought out his partner and merged Ensing Trucking and Foreway. At the same time he gave both Rick and Pam the opportunity to purchase stock in the company.

With the companies merged both businesses were moved to Coopersville in 1988. Not long after a newly constructed shop was built, it burned down, and had to be rebuilt. During this same period Roger’s two younger sons started at Foreway; Randy as a mechanic and Steve as a truck driver. They also choose to purchase company stock.

Roger’s heart by-pass surgery in 1990 changed the management structure of the company. Pam was named CEO, as Roger took a less stressful role in the company. Between 1980 and 1991, the company had grown from a regional carrier with 25 tractors to a national carrier with more than 150 tractors.

In 1998 Foreway Management Services, Inc. (FMS) was created to provide distinct logistics services solutions. Creating the logistics division was the healthiest decision for the business. From 1991 to 2008 that business grew to $44 million in annual sales.

To quote the August 2000 edition of the Grand Rapids Magazine, our CEO “is as adept at driving an 18-wheeler as she is at steering her company into the future”. Pam has also been nominated four years for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She has helped us to evolve from a trucking company offering cartage into a transportation company providing the most critical services in logistics.

Over time, there have been changes within the company. Rick now owns his own business installing fall protection on commercial buildings and is blessed to be able to work with his oldest son Matthew and his brother Steve. Pam has been the CEO/President of Foreway for the past 25 years and Randy is Foreway’s Vice President. Roger enjoys fixing up cars for resale in his retirement. Pam and Randy are now the sole owners of Foreway.

Looking Forward
Pam and Randy treasure our rich history and continue the business ethics their father taught them, but our future and its challenges is our motivation. Their management style allows the team to take and own key responsibilities and is why we hire the best people. Their wish is that each employee treats Foreway as if it were their own business. All employees are rewarded a share of the profits they create.

There is no limit as to what tomorrow may bring. The men and women in the driver’s seats, dispatch and on the docks are the wheels that keep us in motion. We must concentrate on constantly improving our performance to provide the customer with added value.

Transportation Management Services
As more companies analyze their cost-per-load in terms technology, staff and liability, Foreway Carrier Management and Freight Management services become a growing preference. Foreway can develop coordinated solutions to help you save significant dollars in your transportation spend.

Transportation management, including carriers, intermodal and parcel, is our core strength. Foreway qualifies your core carrier base, while screening and auditing all carriers for performance-based criteria. Carriers appreciate that Foreway, a fleet operator itself, understands their business. Foreway routinely uses the preferred carriers on the most suitable routes, building dedication to regular customers and improved customer service. By consistently providing preferred carriers with steady freight, Foreway increases carrier loyalty and improves carrier performance.

Improved Customer Communications
In managing your transportation management, Foreway is often the liaison between your customers and your production department. We can plan delivery needs based on the customer constraints for receiving, and share that information with production. With increased visibility of the end-user’s needs, production is able to work from a plan that integrates transportation. Product can be configured directly from the manufacturing floor, eliminating unnecessary handling.

Michigan Trucking Fleet for National Truckload Service.
You name the lane, the load, the need: Foreway delivers. At the core of Foreway fleet services is an expansive truck fleet of modern, well maintained 53′ dry van units. Combine this ready asset with best-of-class technology, experienced transportation managers and a professional driving team, and you have an excellent resource for all your transportation needs.

Michigan trucking inbound and outbound in all lanes in North America with a high on-time delivery record, plus “never say never” attitude for helping out clients. We have extensive lane coverage in the Central States region, plus across the country and throughout Canada. What’s more, our coverage with contracted carriers assures additional coverage throughout North America.

Between the Foreway truck fleet and our community of the more than 4,000 carriers, you are assured responsive service, including expedited shipments on a 24/7 basis. Success is just a phone call away.

National and regional truckload and LTL services

Load building and consolidation

Expedited services

Canada authority

Intermodal/air/ocean and parcel

Drop and hook capacity for timely and convenient pick-up and delivery

Load-specific handling and load protection, such as blanket wrap, logistic rails,
bars and decking; freezable protection

Qualcomm satellite tracking

Core Carrier Services
Contract truckload services geared toward the high-volume, service-oriented needs of manufacturers. Safety compliance, on-time performance and responsive to customer requirements make Foreway an excellent core carrier management choice.

Short Haul

Long Haul

Dedicated Lanes

Expedited Services

Dedicated Truck Fleet Is Your Private Transportation Solution
Turnkey dedicated truck fleet operations assure you an excellent balance of private truck fleet responsiveness and control at a cost-effective level. Safety and regulatory compliance, skilled driver staff and continuous loop operations benefit from the support of Foreway Michigan-based trucking assets during peak shipping times.

Our dedicated transportation team will work closely with your staff to develop an optimum solution to your transportation needs. Our dedicated transportation programs have included fleets as small as 1 unit and those with more than 10 units. You can rest assured that our custom solution will deliver the most value for your transportation dollar.

Foreway Dedication Transportation Provides Value-Added Services
RedPrairie web-based routing, scheduling and load optimization for maximum fleet utilization

Blended Foreway truck fleet and partner carriers to supplement peak periods

QualComm satellite tracking for real time load/delivery information

Benchmarking for performance reporting, service analysis and continual improvements

Expert equipment specification and comprehensive maintenance programs

Thorough driving training and ongoing safety requirements

Foreway Manages Your Dedicated Trucking Program
Relieves your staff of day-to-day operations and long-term planning

Assures transportation performance is geared toward your goals

Partner on new developments, markets, customer service issues

Manages “exceptions” – unexpected demands, out-of-route shipments, equipment failures

Removes fixed overhead and replaces with costs to tied volume

Improves corporate balance sheet by removing long-term lease obligations

Foreway Assures Qualified Drivers for Your Team

Extensive screening and performance evaluation

Strict D.O.T. compliance

Attitude, appearance and professional courtesy

Knowledge of your business, your customers and your goals