John A. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
John A. Smith is president and chief executive officer at FedEx Freight, where he is responsible for leading the company’s transition into an independent, publicly-traded company.
Smith has nearly 40 years of experience in the transportation industry. He joined Federal Express Corporation in 2000 and served as chief operating officer for the United States and Canada, where he oversaw surface operations for all parcel and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services.
His previous leadership roles include serving as president and CEO of FedEx Ground from 2021 to 2023, and president and CEO of FedEx Freight (a then-subsidiary of FedEx) from 2018 to 2021 . Throughout his tenure, he has managed operations across nearly all parts of the organization including sales, transportation, fleet maintenance, facility services, and safety. His current focus at FedEx Freight is strengthening the company’s position as the world’s largest LTL provider, creating sustainable growth by investing in advanced infrastructure and intelligent operations.
Outside of FedEx Freight, Smith serves on the board of the American Transportation Research Institute.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in geology from Northwestern State University.
