EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Roadway Corporation of our report dated January 22, 2003, included in the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders of Roadway Corporation. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Roadway Corporation listed in Item 15. This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our reports dated January 22, 2003, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Roadway Corporation, Roadway Express, Inc. and Roadway Next Day Corporation and the financial statement schedule of Roadway Corporation referred to above, included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Roadway Corporation, in the following Registration Statements and related Prospectuses: Filing Number Description of Registration Statement Date - ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- 333-71756 Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-4/A) January 4, 2002 relating to the registration of $225,000,000 8 1/4% Senior Notes of Roadway Corporation due December 1, 2008 333-103035 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway February 7, 2003 Corporation 401(k) Stock Savings Plan 333-98005 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway August 13, 2002 Corporation Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan 333-98003 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway August 13, 2002 Express, Inc. Union Stock Plan 333-02562-99 Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement August 13, 2002 (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway Corporation 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 333-65202 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement August 13, 2002 (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway Corporation Equity Ownership Plan 333-98001 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway August 13, 2002 Corporation Nonemployee Directors' Equity Ownership Plan 333-97999 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway August 13, 2002 Corporation Nonemployee Directors' Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan 333-65202 Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway July 16, 2001 Corporation Equity Ownership Plan 033-80685-99 Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement July 13, 2001 (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway Express, Inc. 401(k) Stock Savings Plan 333-02562-99 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement July 13, 2001 (Form S-8) pertaining to the Roadway Corporation 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP March 25, 2003 Akron, Ohio