UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 ------------------
                               FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
 X   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
- ---  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20012004

                                    OR

     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
- ---  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to __________

                      Commission file numberFile Number 0-14690
                          ------------------

                         WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

NEBRASKA                                                        47-0648386
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. employerEmployer
incorporation or organization)                         identification no.Identification No.)

14507 FRONTIER ROAD                                             68145-0308
POST OFFICE BOX 45308                                           (Zip code)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
68145-0308          (402) 895-6640
(Address of                                         (Registrant's principal executive offices)


    (Zip code)Registrant's telephone number)number, including area code: (402) 895-6640

     Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  NONE
    Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  COMMON
                           STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE

Indicate  by  check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed  all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject  to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YesYES  X    No ___NO
                                                    ---      ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to  Item
405  of  Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to  the  best  of  the  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of  this  Form
10-K or any amendment to thethis Form 10-K.   [   ]X
                                          ---

Indicate  by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer  (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  YES  X    NO
                                        ---      ---

The  aggregate market value of the registrant's $.01 par value common stockequity held by nonaffiliatesnon-affiliates  of
the registrantRegistrant (assuming for these purposes that all executive officers and
Directors are "affiliates" of the Registrant) as of February  28,  2002,June 30, 2004, the last
business  day  of  the Registrant's most recently completed  second  fiscal
quarter, was approximately $688 million$1.074 billion (based upon $17.76 per shareon the closing sale  price
of the Registrant's Common Stock on that date as reported by Nasdaq, adjusted for the March 14,  2002  stock
split)Nasdaq).  (Aggregate market value estimated solely for the purposes of  this
report.   This  shall  not  be construed as an admission  for  purposes  of
determining affiliate status.)

As of February 28, 2002, 63,857,36410, 2005, 79,396,187 shares of the registrant's common stock
were outstanding (adjusted for the March 14, 2002 stock split).outstanding.

                    DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions  of  the Proxy Statement of Registrant for the Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders to be held May 14, 2002,10, 2005, are incorporated in Part III of  this
report.



                             TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----

                                  PART I

Item 1.  Business                                                        1
Item 2.  Properties                                                      56
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings                                               57
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders             68

                                  PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity, and Related Stockholder
         Matters 6and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities               8
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data                                        710
Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
         and Results of Operations                                      and Financial Condition                710
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     1526
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                    1627
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
         and Financial Disclosure                                       3145
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures                                        45
Item 9B. Other Information                                              47

                                 PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant             3147
Item 11. Executive Compensation                                         3147
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 3147
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                 3148
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services                         48

                                  PART IV

Item 14.15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules                     and
                Reports on Form 8-K                              3148



                                  PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

General

     Werner   Enterprises,   Inc.  ("Werner"  or  the   "Company")   is   a
transportation company engaged primarily in hauling truckload shipments  of
general  commodities in both interstate and intrastate commerce.commerce as well  as
providing  logistics services.  Werner is one of the five largest truckload
carriers  in  the  United States and maintains its headquarters  in  Omaha,
Nebraska,  near  the  geographic center of its service  area.   Werner  was
founded  in  1956  by  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  Clarence  L.
Werner,  who started the business with one truck at the age of  19.  Werner
completed  its initial public offering in April 1986 with a  fleet  of  630
trucks. Werner ended 20012004 with a fleet of 7,775 trucks.8,600 trucks, of which 7,675 were
owned  by  the  Company and 925 were owned and operated by  owner-operators
(independent contractors).

     The  Company operates throughout the 48 contiguous states pursuant  to
operating authority, both common and contract, granted by the United States
Department  of Transportation ("DOT") and pursuant to intrastate  authority
granted  by  various states.  The Company also has authority to operate  in
the ten provinces of Canada and provides through trailer service in and out
of  Mexico.   The  principal types of freight transported  by  the  Company
include consumer products,  retail store merchandise, foodconsumer products, paper products,  beverages,  industrialmanufactured products,
and  building  materials.grocery  products.   The Company's emphasis is to  transport  consumer
non-durablenondurable  products that ship more consistently throughout  the  year.year  and
throughout changes in the economy. The Company has two reportable segments-
Truckload  Transportation Services and  Value  Added  Services.   Financial
information  regarding  these  segments  can  be  found  in  the  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Marketing and Operations

     Werner's business philosophy is to provide superior on-time service to
its  customers  at a lowcompetitive cost. To accomplish this, Werner  operates
premium,  modern  tractors  and  trailers.   This  equipment  has  a  lower
frequency  of  breakdowns and helps attract and retain  qualified  drivers.
Werner has continually invested indeveloped technology to improve service to customers
and  improve retention of drivers.  Werner focuses on shippers  that  value
the  broad  geographic coverage, equipment capacity, technology, customized
services,  and  flexibility  available  from  a  large,  financially  stablefinancially-stable
carrier.   These  shippers  are generally less sensitive  to  rate  levels,
preferring to have their freight handled by a few core carriers  with  whom
they can establish service-based, long-term relationships.

     Werner  operates  in  the truckload segment of the trucking  industry.
Within  the  truckload  segment, Werner provides  specialized  services  to
customers   based  on  their  trailer  needs  (van,  flatbed,  temperature-controlled)temperature-
controlled),  geographic  area  (medium to  long  haul  throughout  the  48
contiguous  states, Mexico, and Canada; regional), or conversion  of  their
private  fleet to Werner (dedicated).  During the latter part of  2003  and
continuing  through 2004, the Company expanded its brokerage and intermodal
service  offerings by adding senior management and developing new  computer
systems.   Trucking revenues accounted for 89% of total revenues, and  non-
trucking  and  other  operating  revenues,  primarily  brokerage  revenues,
accounted for 11% of total revenues in 2004. Werner's Value Added  Services
("VAS") division manages the transportation and logistics requirements  for
individual   customers.   This  includes  truck  brokerage,  transportation
routing, transportation mode selection, intermodal, transloading, and other
services.   During 2005, VAS is expanding its service offerings to  include
multimodal, which is a blend of truck and rail intermodal services.   Value
Added  Services is a non-asset-based business that is highly  dependent  on
information   systems  and  qualified  employees.   Compared  to   trucking
operations which require a significant capital equipment investment,  VAS's
operating  margins are generally lower and returns on assets are  generally
higher.   Revenues generated by services accounting for more  than  10%  of
consolidated revenues, consisting of Truckload Transportation Services  and

                                     1


Value Added Services, for the last three years can be found under Item 7 of
this Form 10-K.

     Werner has a diversified freight base and is not dependent on a  small
group  of  customers or a specific industry for a majority of its  freight.
During  2001,2004,  the Company's largest 5, 10, 25, and 2550 customers  comprised
24%,  32%37%,  55%,  and  46%68%  of the Company's revenues,  respectively.   No  oneThe
Company's  largest  customer,  Dollar General,  accounted  for more than  9%  of  the
Company's  revenues in 2001.2004.  No other customer exceeded 5% of revenues  in
2004.   By  industry group, the Company's top 50 customers consist  of  47%
retail  and  consumer products, 24% manufacturing/industrial,  22%  grocery
products,  and 7% logistics and other.  Many of our customer contracts  are
cancelable on 30 days notice, which is standard in the trucking industry.

     Virtually  all  of  Werner's company and owner-operator  tractors  are
equipped  with  satellite communications devices manufactured  by  Qualcomm
that  enable the Company and drivers to conduct two-way communication using
standardized  and freeform messages.  This satellite technology,  installed
in all  trucks beginning in 1992, also enables the Company to plan and  monitor
the  progress  of  shipments.  The Company obtains  specific  data  on  the
location of all trucks in the fleet at least every hour of every day. Using
the  real-time  data  obtained  from  the  satellite  devices,  Werner  has
developed  advanced  application systems to improve  customer  service  and
driver  service.  Examples  of such application  systems  include  (1)  automated  engine
diagnostics  to  continually monitor mechanical fault tolerances,  (2)
software  which  preplans shipments that can  be  swapped  by  drivers
enroute  to meet driver home time needs, without compromising  on-time
delivery  requirements, (3) automated "possible  late  load"  tracking
which  informs  the  operations department of shipments  that  may  be
operating  behind  schedule,  thereby allowing  the  Company  to  take
preventive  measures to avoid a late delivery, and (4)  the
Company's  proprietary Paperless Log System to electronically  preplan  the
assignment  of  shipments to drivers based on real-time  available  driving
hours  and to automatically keep track of truck movement and drivers' hours
of  service.service, (2) software which preplans shipments that can be  swapped  by
drivers  enroute  to meet driver home time needs, without compromising  on-
time  delivery schedules, (3) automated "possible late load" tracking which
informs  the  operations department of trucks that may be operating  behind
schedule, thereby allowing the Company to take preventive measures to avoid
a  late  delivery,  and  (4)  automated engine diagnostics  to  continually
monitor  mechanical  fault tolerances.  In June  1998,  Werner  Enterprises became  the
first,  and  only,

                                   1
  trucking  company  in  the  United  States  to  receive
authorization  from  the  Federal Highway Administration,DOT,  under a continuing pilot  program,  to  use  a  global
positioning  system  based  paperless log system  in  place  of  the  paper
logbooks  traditionally  used by truck drivers to track  their  daily  work
activities.  TheOn September 21, 2004, the DOT's Federal Motor Carrier  Safety
Administration  (FMCSA) issued  a
Notice  of  Proposed Rulemaking (FMCSA-98-2350) on May 2,  2000,("FMCSA") agency approved the Company's exemption  for  its
paperless  log  system  that proposedmoves this exemption from  the  FMCSA-approved
pilot  program  to make  numerous changes to the regulations  which  govern
drivers'  hours of service.permanent status.  The comment period for filing comments  to
the  proposed rules was initially scheduledexemption is to be due July  31,  2000,
but  the deadline was extended twice.  Werner Enterprises and hundreds
of other carriers and industry groups submitted comment letters to the
FMCSA  in  the proceeding by the final deadline of December 15,  2000.
In  late  2000, Congress instructed the FMCSA to revise  the  proposed
regulations.  Although the FMCSA announced plans in February  2002  to
develop  a  new  set of proposed rules by separating the controversial
sections of the original proposal from those more favored, the  agency
has   not   determined  a  deadline  for  issuing  the  new   proposed
regulations.

     On  June  30,  2000,  the Company, along with  four  other  large
transportation  companies, contributed their logistics business  units
into   a   commonly  owned,  Internet-based  transportation  logistics
company, Transplace. The Company invested $5 million in cash  and  has
an   approximate  15%  equity  stake  in  Transplace.    The   Company
transferred logistics business representing about 4% of total revenues
for the six months ended June 30, 2000, to Transplace.  The Company is
recording  its  approximate 15% investment  in  Transplace  using  the
equity  method of accounting and is accruing its percentage  share  of
Transplace's earnings as other non-operating income.  As  of  December
31,  2001, the Company's net investment in Transplace is $3.7 million.
The Company is not responsible for the debt of Transplace.renewed  every
two years.

Seasonality

      In  the trucking industry, revenues generally show a seasonal pattern
as  some  customers  reduce shipments during and after the  winter  holiday
season.  The Company's operating expenses have historically been higher  in
the  winter  months  due primarily to decreased fuel efficiency,  increased
maintenance  costs  of revenue equipment in colder weather,  and  increased
insurance  and claims costs due to adverse winter weather conditions.   The
Company  attempts  to  minimize  the  impact  of  seasonality  through  its
marketing  program  that  seeks additional freight from  certain  customers
during traditionally slower shipping periods.  Revenue can also be affected
by bad weather and holidays, since revenue is directly related to available
working days of shippers.

Employees and Owner-Operator Drivers

      As  of  December 31, 2001,2004, the Company employed 9,15711,051  drivers,  579840
mechanics  and  maintenance  personnel,  1,3151,620  office  personnel  for  the
trucking  operation, and 166211 personnel for the VAS and  other  non-trucking
operations.   The  Company also had 1,135925 contracts with independent  contractors
(owner-operators)owner-operators  for
services  that  provide both a tractor and a qualified driver  or  drivers.
None  of  the  Company's U.S. or Canadian employees isare  represented  by  a
collective  bargaining unit, and the Company considers relations  with  its
employees to be good.

      The Company recognizes that its professional driver workforce is  one
of  its  most  valuable assets.  Most of Werner's drivers  are  compensated
based  upon miles driven.  For Companycompany-employed drivers, the rate per  mile

                                     2


increases with the drivers' length of service. Additional compensation  may
be  earned  through a fuel efficiency bonus, a mileage bonus, an annual achievement bonus,  and  for
extra  work associated with their job (loading and unloading, extra  stops,
and shorter mileage trips, for example).

      At  times,  there are shortages of drivers in the trucking  industry.
In  prior years, theThe  number  of qualified drivers in the industry was reducedhas decreased because  of the elimination of federal funding for
driving  schools,
changes  in the demographic composition of the workforce, alternative  jobs
to  truck  driving  which  become available in an  improving  economy,  and
individual  drivers' desire to be home more often,  and  a
declining  unemployment rate in the U.S. over the past several  years.
Althoughoften.   In recent months,  the
market  for  attractingrecruiting  experienced drivers improved during 2001 due to
the  higher domestic unemployment rate and other factors, thehas  tightened.   The  Company
anticipates that the competition for qualified drivers will continue to  be
high and cannot predict whether it will experience shortages in the future.
2
If  such a shortage were to occur and increases in driver pay rates  became
necessary  to  attract  and  retain  drivers,  the  Company's  results   of
operations  would  be negatively impacted to the extent that  corresponding
freight rate increases were not obtained.

      The  Company  also recognizes that carefully selected owner-
operatorsowner-operators
complement  its  company-employed drivers. Owner-operators are  independent
contractors  that supply their own tractor and driver and  are  responsible
for  their  operating expenses. Because owner-operators provide  their  own
tractors,  less financial capital is required from the Company for  growth.
Also, owner-operators provide the Company with another source of drivers to
support  its  growth.  The  Company intends to  continue  its  emphasis  on
recruiting  owner-operators, as well as company drivers.  However,  it  has
been morecontinued  to be difficult for the Company and the industry to recruit  and
retain  owner-operators  over the past yearfew years  due  to  higherseveral  factors
including  high  fuel prices, tightening of equipment financing  standards,
and declining values for most of the year and a weakolder used truck pricing market.trucks.

Revenue Equipment

      As  of December 31, 2001,2004, Werner operated 6,6407,675 company tractors  and
had  contracts for 1,135925 tractors owned by owner-operators. Approximately  75%A majority of the
company  tractors  are  manufactured  by  Freightliner,  a  subsidiary   of
DaimlerChrysler. Most of the remaining company tractors are manufactured by
either Peterbilt a divisionor Kenworth, divisions of PACCAR,
Inc.PACCAR.  This standardization of
the  company  tractor fleet decreases downtime by simplifying  maintenance.
The  Company  adheres  to  a  comprehensive maintenance  program  for  both
tractors  and  trailers.  Due
to  continuous upgrading of the company tractor fleet, the average age
was 1.5 years at December 31, 2001.  The Company generally adheres  to
a  3-year  replacement cycle for most of its tractors.  Owner-operator tractors are  inspected  prior  to
acceptance  by  the  Company  for compliance with  operational  and  safety
requirements  of  the  Company  and  the  Department of Transportation.DOT.  These  tractors  are   then
periodically  inspected, similar to company tractors, to monitor  continued
compliance.   The vehicle speed of company-owned trucks is regulated  to  a
maximum of 65 miles per hour to improve safety and fuel efficiency.

      The Company operated 19,77523,540 trailers at December 31, 2001: 17,9702004: 21,925 dry
vans;  805622  flatbeds; 935965 temperature-controlled; and 6528 other  specialized
trailers.  Most  of  the  Company's trailers  are  manufactured  by  Wabash
National  Corporation. As of December 31, 2001, 97%2004, 98% of the Company's  fleet
of  dry  van  trailers consisted of 53-foot trailers, and 99%98% consisted  of
aluminum  plate  or composite (duraplate) trailers.  Other trailer  lengths
such  as  48-foot and 57-foot are also provided by the Company to meet  the
specialized needs of certain customers.

      TheEffective October 1, 2002, all newly manufactured truck engines  must
comply  with  new  engine emission standards mandated by the  Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), in  a  1998  consent
decree  with a group of heavy-duty diesel engine makers, mandated  new
standards for production of low-emission("EPA").  All truck engines bymanufactured prior to October
1,  2002.2002  are  not subject to these new standards.  To delay the  cost  and
business  risk  of  buying these new truck engines with inadequate  testing
time prior to the October 1, 2002 effective date, the Company significantly
increased  the  purchase of trucks with pre-October 2002  engines.   As  of
December  31,  2004,  approximately 47% of the  company-owned  truck  fleet
consisted  of trucks with the post-October 2002 engines.  The  new standards call for a 37.5%Company  has
experienced  an approximate 5% reduction in fuel efficiency  to  date,  and
increased  depreciation expense due to the amount of nitrogen
oxides  emitted  by  the engines, from 4.0 grams per  brake-horsepower
hour  to  2.5 grams.  The EPA has proposed a schedule of fines  to  be
levied  on the manufacturers of engines that fail to comply  with  the
standards, ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per unit.  The major engine-
makers  are  beginning initial production of engines to meet  the  new
standards  in  early  2002. Little is known  about  the  new  engines'
performance, fuel economy and price, or when engines will be available
for  testing. However, it is expected that fuel economy may  be  worse
than  that of the current engines.  It is also anticipated that engine
prices may increase to enable engine manufacturers to recoup thehigher cost of  complying  with  the new emissions standards. At  this  time,  the
amount of such price increases, if they occur, are not known, nor  are
the  possible  increases  to fuel expense,  supplies  and  maintenance
expense, and depreciation expense with the new engines.  Several large
carriers  have  publicly  stated that they are  considering  modifying
their  normal truck-replacement cycles to allow more time for  testing the new  engines.
The  Company will closely monitor the developmentaverage age of
these new engines to determine the Company's coursetruck fleet at December 31, 2004  is  1.6
years.  A new set of action.more stringent emissions standards mandated by the EPA
will  become effective for newly manufactured trucks beginning  in  January
2007.  The Company intends to gradually reduce the average age of its truck

                                     3


fleet  in  advance  of  the new standards.  The Company  expects  that  the
engines  produced under the 2007 standards will be less fuel-efficient  and
have a higher cost than the current engines.

Fuel

      The Company purchases approximately 90% of its fuel through a network
of approximately 300  fuel  stops  throughout the United States.  The Company has  negotiated
discounted  pricing  based on certain volume commitments  with  these  fuel
stops.  Bulk  fueling  facilities are maintained  at  7  of  the  Company's
terminals.terminals and 4 dedicated locations.

     Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices, or rationing of petroleum
products  can  have  a  materially adverse effect  on  the  operations  and
profitability  of  the  Company.   Beginning in the  second
half  of  1999 and continuing throughout 2000, the Company experienced
significant increases in the cost of diesel fuel.  Diesel fuel  prices
began  to  decrease  in  the fourth quarter  of  2001.  The Company's  customer  fuel  surcharge
reimbursement  programs have historically enabled the  Company  to  recover
mostfrom its customers a significant portion of the higher fuel prices from its

                                   3


customers compared
to   normalized   average  fuel  prices.   These  fuel  surcharges,   which
automatically  adjust from week to week depending on the costDepartment of Energy ("DOE")  weekly
retail on-highway diesel fuel prices, enable the Company to rapidly recoup much  of
the  higher cost of fuel when prices increase except for miles not billable
to  customers, out-of-route miles, and truck engine idling.   During  2004,
the Company's fuel expense and reimbursements to owner-operator drivers for
the  higher  cost of fuel resulted in an additional cost of $63.5  million,
while  the  Company collected an additional $52.6 million in fuel surcharge
revenues  to  offset the fuel cost increase.  Conversely, when fuel  prices
decrease, fuel surcharges decrease. The Company cannot predict whether high
fuel prices will continue to decreaseincrease or will increasedecrease in the future or the
extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected to offset such increases.
As   of  December  31,  2001,2004,  the  Company  had  no  derivative  financial
instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations.

      The  Company maintains aboveground and underground fuel storage tanks
at  most  of  its  terminals.  Leakage or damage to these facilities  could
expose  the  Company  to  environmental  clean-up  costs.   The  tanks  are
routinely inspected to help prevent and detect such problems.

Regulation

      The  Company is a motor carrier regulated by the United  States
Department ofDOT and the  Federal
and  Provincial  Transportation (DOT).Departments in Canada.  The  DOT  generally
governs  matters  such as safety requirements, registration  to  engage  in
motor    carrier   operations,   accounting   systems,   certain   mergers,
consolidations,  acquisitions,  and  periodic  financial  reporting.    The
Company  currently  has  a satisfactory DOT safety  rating,  which  is  the
highest  available  rating.   A conditional or  unsatisfactory  DOT  safety
rating  could  have  an  adverse effect on the  Company,  as  some  of  the
Company's  contracts  with customers require a satisfactory  rating.   Such
matters  as weight and dimensions of equipment are also subject to federal,
state, and international regulations.

     The  FMCSA  issued  a final rule on April 24, 2003 that  made  several
changes  to  the  regulations that govern truck drivers' hours  of  service
("HOS").   These  new federal regulations became effective  on  January  4,
2004.  On July 16, 2004, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District
of  Columbia  rejected these new hours of service rules for  truck  drivers
that  had  been in place since January 2004 because it said the  FMCSA  had
failed  to  address  the impact of the rules on the health  of  drivers  as
required by Congress. In addition, the judge's ruling noted other areas  of
concern including the increase in driving hours from 10 hours to 11  hours,
the  exception that allows drivers in trucks with sleeper berths  to  split
their  required rest periods, the new rule allowing drivers to reset  their
70-hour  clock  to  0 hours after 34 consecutive hours off  duty,  and  the
decision  by  the  FMCSA  not  to require the  use  of  electronic  onboard
recorders  to  monitor  driver compliance.   On  September  30,  2004,  the
extension  of  the  Federal highway bill signed into law by  the  President
extended  the  current hours of service rules for one year or whenever  the
FMCSA develops a new set of regulations, whichever comes first.  On January
24, 2005, the FMCSA re-proposed its April 2003 HOS rules, adding references
to  how the rules would affect driver health, but making no changes to  the
regulations.   The FMCSA is seeking public comments by March  10,  2005  on
what  changes to the rule, if any, are necessary to respond to the concerns
raised  by  the  court, and to provide data or studies that  would  support
changes  to, or continued use of, the 2003 rule. The Company cannot predict
what  rule  changes, if any, will result from the court's ruling,  nor  the

                                     4


ultimate impact of any upcoming changes to the hours of service rules.  Any
changes could have an adverse effect on the operations and profitability of
the Company.

      The  Company has unlimited authority to carry general commodities  in
interstate  commerce throughout the 48 contiguous states. The  Company  currently  has
authority  to  carry  freight on an intrastate basis  in  4443  states.   The
Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (the FAAA Act)"FAAA  Act")
amended  sections  of  the Interstate Commerce Act to prevent  states  from
regulating  rates, routes, or service of motor carriers  after  January  1,
1995.  The FAAA Act did not address state oversight of motor carrier safety
and  financial  responsibility or state taxation of transportation.   If  a
carrier  wishes to operate in intrastate commerce in a state where  it  did
not  previously  have intrastate authority, it must, in most  cases,  still
apply for authority.

      The  Company's operations are subject to various federal, state,  and
local  environmental laws and regulations, implemented principally  by  the
EPA  and  similar  state regulatory agencies, governing the  management  of
hazardous  wastes, other discharge of pollutants into the air  and  surface
and  underground  waters,  and the disposal  of  certain  substances.   The
Company  believesdoes  not  believe that its operations are in  material compliance with current lawsthese  regulations  has  a
material  effect  on  its capital expenditures, earnings,  and  regulations.

      President  Bush  is considering implementingcompetitive
position.

      The  implementation of various provisions of the North American  Free
Trade  Agreement  (NAFTA), which could  result("NAFTA")  may  alter  the  competitive  environment  for
shipping  into  and  out of Mexico.  It is not possible  at  this  time  to
predict  when  and  to what extent that impact will be  felt  by  companies
transporting goods into and out of Mexico.  The Company does a  substantial
amount  of  business in increased  competition between U.S.international freight shipments  to  and  Mexicanfrom  the
United States and Mexico (see Note 9 "Segment Information" in the Notes  to
Consolidated  Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K)  and  is
continuing  to  prepare for the various scenarios that may finally  result.
The  Company  believes it is one of the five largest truckload carriers  for truckload
services between these two countries.in
terms of the volume of freight shipments to and from the United States  and
Mexico.

Competition

      The trucking industry is highly competitive and includes thousands of
trucking  companies.  It is estimated that the annual revenue  of  domestic
trucking amounts to $400approximately $600 billion per year.  The Company has a
small  but  growing share (estimated at approximately 1%)  of  the  markets
targeted  by  the  Company.   The  Company competes  primarily  with  other
truckload  carriers. Railroads, less-than-
truckloadless-than-truckload carriers,  and  private
carriers also provide competition, but to a much lesser degree.

      Competition  for  the  freight transported by the  Company  is  based
primarily  on service and efficiency and, to some degree, on freight  rates
alone.  Few other truckload carriers have greater financial resources,  own
more equipment, or carry a larger volume of freight than the Company.   The
Company is one of the five largest carriers in the truckload transportation
industry.

      Industry-wide truck capacity in the truckload sector is being limited
due  to  a  number of factors.  An extremely challenging driver  recruiting
market  is  causing  most large truckload carriers  to  limit  their  fleet
additions. There are continuing cost issues and concerns with the new post-
October  2002 diesel engines.  Trucking company failures in the  last  five
years  are  continuing  at a pace higher than the previous  fifteen  years.
Some  truckload carriers are having difficulty obtaining adequate  trucking
insurance  coverage  at  a  reasonable  price.   Many  truckload  carriers,
including  Werner, slowed their fleet growth in the last  four  years,  and
some  carriers  have  downsized their fleets  to  improve  their  operating
margins and returns.

Internet Web Site

      The  Company  maintains  a  web  site  where  additional  information
concerning  its  business can be found.  The address of that  web  site  is
www.werner.com.  The Company makes available free of charge on its Internet

                                     5


web  site  its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form  10-Q,
current  reports  on  Form 8-K, and amendments to those  reports  filed  or
furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as
reasonably  practicable  after it electronically files  or  furnishes  such
materials  to  the  SEC.    Information on the  Company's  website  is  not
incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Information

       The   forward-looking  statements  in  this  report,  which  reflect
management's best judgment based on factors currently known, involve  risks
and  uncertainties.   Actual  results could differ  materially  from  those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements included herein as  a  result
of  a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those 4
discussed  in
Item  7,  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.Operations."

ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES

     Werner's  headquarters is located alongnearby Interstate 80  just  west  of
Omaha,  Nebraska,  on approximately 197195 acres, 147111 of which  are  held  for
future  expansion.  The Company's 286,000  square-foot  headquarters office building  includes  a 5,000 square-foot
computer  center, drivers' lounge areas, a drivers' orientation section,  a
cafeteria, and a Company store.  The Omaha headquarters also consists of  131,000 square
feet  ofa
driver  training  facility and equipment maintenance and repair  facilities
containing  a  central parts warehouse, frame straightening  and  alignment
machine,  truck and trailer wash areas, equipment safety lanes, body  shops
for  tractors  and trailers, and a paint booth including a 77,500 square-foot trailer
maintenance  facility  constructed in 1999.  Portions  of  the  former
trailer  maintenance building were converted into  a  driver  training
facility  in 2001.  The Company owns all of its corporate headquarters
facilities.booth.  The Company's headquarters
facilities have suitable space available to accommodate planned  expansion needs  for
the next 3 to 5 years.

      The  Company also has several terminals throughout the United States,
consisting  of office and/or maintenance facilities.  The Company  recently
added  equipment  maintenance  body shops to  its  Dallas  and  its  subsidiaries  ownSpringfield
terminals  and  is  currently  constructing a  22,000  square-foot
terminal  in  Springfield,  Ohio, a 33,000 square-foot  facility  near
Denver,  an  18,000  square-foot facility near Los Angeles,  a  31,000
square-foot  terminal near Atlanta, a 48,000 square-foot  terminal  in
Dallas  (including  21,000 square feet of trailer repair,  parts,  and  body  shop  facilities added in 2001), and a 32,000 square-footat  its  Atlanta
terminal.  The Company's terminal in  Phoenix.locations are described below:

Location Owned or Leased Description - -------- --------------- ----------- Omaha, Nebraska Owned Corporate headquarters, maintenance Omaha, Nebraska Owned Disaster recovery, warehouse Phoenix, Arizona Owned Office, maintenance Fontana, California Owned Office, maintenance Denver, Colorado Owned Office, maintenance Atlanta, Georgia Owned Office, maintenance Indianapolis, Indiana Leased Office, maintenance Springfield, Ohio Owned Office, maintenance Allentown, Pennsylvania Leased Office, maintenance Dallas, Texas Owned Office, maintenance Laredo, Texas Owned Office, maintenance, transloading Lakeland, Florida Leased Office Portland, Oregon Leased Office Ardmore, Oklahoma Leased Maintenance Indianola, Mississippi Leased Maintenance Scottsville, Kentucky Leased Maintenance Fulton, Missouri Leased Maintenance Tomah, Wisconsin Leased Maintenance Newbern, Tennessee Leased Maintenance
The Company leases terminal facilitiesapproximately 60 small sales offices and trailer parking yards in Allentown, Pennsylvania and in Indianapolis, Indiana. All eightvarious locations include office and maintenance space. The Company opened a new 16,000 square-foot international terminal in Laredo, Texas in May of 2001. The Company alsothroughout the country, owns a 73,000 square-foot disaster recovery and warehouse facility96-room motel located near the Company's headquarters, owns four low-income housing apartment complexes in anotherthe Omaha area, of Omaha and has 50% ownership in a 125,000 square-foot warehouse located near the Company's headquarters. Additionally,Currently, the Company leases several smallhas 16 locations in its Fleet Truck Sales network. Fleet Truck Sales, a wholly owned subsidiary, is one of the largest domestic class 8 truck sales officesentities in the U.S. and trailer parking yards in various locations throughoutsells the country.Company's used trucks and trailers. 6 ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is a party to routine litigation incidental to its business, primarily involving claims for personal injury, and property damage, and workers' compensation incurred in the transportation of freight. The Company has maintained a self-insurance program with a qualified department of Risk Management professionals since 1988. These employees manage the Company's property damage, cargo, liability, and workers' compensation claims. The Company's self-insurance reserves are reviewed by an actuary every six months. The Company has assumedbeen responsible for liability for claims up to $500,000, plus administrative expenses, for each occurrence involving personal injury or property damage.damage since August 1, 1992. For the policy year beginning August 1, 2004, the Company increased its self-insured retention ("SIR") amount to $2.0 million per occurrence. The Company is also responsible for varying annual aggregate amounts of liability for claims above $500,000 and below $4,000,000. For the policy year ending August 1, 2002, these annual aggregate amounts total $4,500,000. The Company maintains insurance, which covers liability in excess of thisthe self-insured retention. The following table reflects the self-insured retention levels and aggregate amounts of liability for personal injury and property damage claims since August 1, 2001:
Primary Coverage Coverage Period Primary Coverage SIR/deductible - ------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ August 1, 2001 - July 31, 2002 $3.0 million $500,000 (1) August 1, 2002 - July 31, 2003 $3.0 million $500,000 (2) August 1, 2003 - July 31, 2004 $3.0 million $500,000 (3) August 1, 2004 - July 31, 2005 $5.0 million $2.0 million (4)
(1) Subject to an additional $1.5 million self-insured aggregate amount in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, and a $2.0 million aggregate in the $3.0 to $4.0 million layer. (2) Subject to an additional $1.5 million aggregate in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, and self-insured in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer. (3) Subject to an additional $1.5 million aggregate in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, a $6.0 million aggregate in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer, and a $5.0 million aggregate in the $5.0 to $10.0 million layer. (4) Subject to an additional $3.0 million aggregate in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer, and a $5.0 million aggregate in the $5.0 to $10.0 million layer. The Company's primary insurance covers the range of liability where the Company expects most claims to occur. Liability claims substantially in excess of coverage amounts listed in the table above, if they occur, are covered under premium-based policies with reputable insurance companies to coverage levels that management considers adequate. The Company believes that adverse results in oneis also responsible for administrative expenses for each occurrence involving personal injury or more of these claims would not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial position.property damage. See also Note (1)1 "Insurance and Claims Accruals" and Note (7)7 "Commitments and Contingencies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. 5On July 29, 2004 and October 25, 2004, the Company was served with complaints naming it and others as defendants in two lawsuits stemming from a multi-vehicle accident that occurred in February 2004. The lawsuits were filed in Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Bernardino, Barstow District and seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages. The Company brokered a shipment to an independent carrier with a satisfactory safety rating which was then involved in the accident, resulting in four fatalities and multiple personal injuries. It is possible that additional lawsuits may be filed by other parties involved in the accident. The Company's Broker-Carrier Agreement with the independent carrier provides for the carrier to indemnify and defend the Company for any loss arising out of or in connection with the transportation of property under the contract. The Company also has a certificate of liability insurance from the carrier indicating that it has insurance coverage of up to $2.0 million per occurrence. For the policy year ended July 31, 2004, the Company's liability insurance policies for coverage ranging up to $10.0 million per occurrence have various annual aggregate levels of liability for all accidents totaling $9.0 million that is the responsibility of the Company (see insurance aggregates in table above). Amounts in excess of $10.0 million are covered under premium-based policies to coverage levels that management considers adequate. As such, the 7 potential exposure to the Company ranges from $0 to $9.0 million. The lawsuits are currently in the discovery phase. The Company plans to vigorously defend the suits, and the amount of any possible loss to the Company cannot currently be estimated. However, the Company believes an unfavorable outcome in these lawsuits, if it were to occur, would not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS During the fourth quarter of 2001,2004, no matters were submitted to a vote of security holders. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES Price Range of Common Stock The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol WERN."WERN". The following table sets forth for the quarters indicated the high and low sale pricesbid information per share of the Company's common stock inquoted on the Nasdaq National Market and the Company's dividends declared per common share from January 1, 2000,2003, through December 31, 2001,2004, after giving retroactive effect for the March 2002September 2003 stock split discussed below.
Dividends Declared Per High Low Common Share ------ ------ ------------ 20012004 Quarter ended: March 31 $14.91 $11.34 $.019$20.00 $17.65 $.025 June 30 18.87 11.67 .01921.11 17.76 .035 September 30 17.93 11.94 .01921.19 17.55 .035 December 31 20.48 12.07 .019 200023.24 18.68 .035 Dividends Declared Per High Low Common Share ------ ------ ------------ 2003 Quarter ended: March 31 $13.22 $ 9.23 $.019$17.50 $13.98 $.016 June 30 14.34 8.11 .01918.98 15.26 .024 September 30 11.11 8.58 .01921.93 16.73 .025 December 31 13.31 7.55 .01921.00 16.98 .025
As of February 27, 2002,10, 2005, the Company's common stock was held by 232227 stockholders of record and approximately 5,0007,900 stockholders through nominee or street name accounts with brokers. The high and low bid prices per share of the Company's common stock in the Nasdaq National Market as of February 10, 2005 were $20.89 and $20.06, respectively. 8 Dividend Policy The Company has been paying cash dividends on its common stock following each of its quarters since the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 1987. The Company does not currently intendintends to discontinuecontinue payment of dividends on a quarterly basis and does not currently anticipate any restrictions on its future ability to pay such dividends. However, no assurance can be given that dividends will be paid in the future since they are dependent on earnings, the financial condition of the Company, and other factors. Common Stock Split On February 11, 2002,September 2, 2003, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a four-for-threefive-for-four split of the Company's common stock effected in the form of a 33 1/325 percent stock dividend. The stock dividend was payablepaid on March 14, 2002,September 30, 2003, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2002.September 16, 2003. No fractional shares of common stock were issued in connection with the stock split. Stockholders entitled to fractional shares received a proportional cash payment based on the closing price of a share of common stock on February 25, 2002.September 16, 2003. All share and per-share information included in this Form 10-K, including in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, for all periods presented have been adjusted to retroactively reflect the stock split. 6Equity Compensation Plan Information For information on the Company's equity compensation plans, please refer to Item 12, "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management". Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers On December 29, 1997, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to repurchase up to 4,166,666 shares of its common stock. On November 24, 2003, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase to its authorization for common stock repurchases of 3,965,838 shares for a total of 8,132,504 shares. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had purchased 4,335,704 shares pursuant to this authorization and had 3,796,800 shares remaining available for repurchase. The Company may purchase shares from time to time depending on market, economic, and other factors. The authorization will continue until withdrawn by the Board of Directors. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the fourth quarter of 2004. 9 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (In thousands, except per share amounts) 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating revenues $1,678,043 $1,457,766 $1,341,456 $1,270,519 $1,214,628 $1,052,333 $863,417 $772,095 Net income 87,310 73,727 61,627 47,744 48,023 60,011 57,246 48,378 EarningsDiluted earnings per share (diluted)* 0.74 0.76 0.94share* 1.08 0.90 0.76 Cash flow from operations 226,920 170,147 131,977 137,940 126,0370.60 0.61 Cash dividends declared per share* .075 .075 .075 .070.130 .090 .064 .060 .060 Return on average stockholders' equity (1) 11.9% 10.9% 10.0% 8.5% 9.3% 12.8% 13.7% 13.1%Return on average total assets (2) 7.5% 6.7% 6.1% 5.1% 5.3% Operating ratio (consolidated) (3) 91.6% 91.9% 92.6% 93.8% 93.2% 90.3% 88.9% 89.9% Book value per share* 9.27 8.55 7.86 6.98 6.20(4) 9.76 8.90 8.12 7.42 6.84 Total assets 1,225,775 1,121,527 1,062,878 964,014 927,207 896,879 769,196 667,638 Long-term debt 20,000 105,000 120,000 100,000 60,000 Total debt (current and long-term) - - 20,000 50,000 105,000 145,000 100,000 60,000 Stockholders' equity 773,169 709,111 647,643 590,049 536,084 494,772 440,588 395,118 - -------------
* After*After giving retroactive effect for the September 2003 five-for-four stock split and the March 2002 four-for-three stock split (all years presented). (1) Net income expressed as a percentage of average stockholders' equity. Return on equity is a measure of a corporation's profitability relative to recorded shareholder investment. (2) Net income expressed as a percentage of average total assets. Return on assets is a measure of a corporation's profitability relative to recorded assets. (3) Operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues. Operating ratio is a common measure in the trucking industry used to evaluate profitability. (4) Stockholders' equity divided by common shares outstanding as of the end of the period. Book value per share indicates the dollar value remaining for common shareholders if all assets were liquidated and all debts were paid at the recorded amounts. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION Critical Accounting PoliciesThis report contains historical information, as well as forward- looking statements that are based on information currently available to the Company's management. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company believes the assumptions underlying these forward- looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available; however, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section of this Item entitled "Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors". Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein, since the statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Overview: The Company operates in the truckload sector of the trucking industry, with a focus on transporting consumer nondurable products that ship more consistently throughout the year. The Company's success depends on its ability to efficiently manage its resources in the delivery of truckload transportation and logistics services to its customers. Resource requirements vary with customer demand, which may be subject to seasonal or general economic conditions. The Company's ability to adapt to changes in customer transportation requirements is a key element in efficiently deploying resources and in making capital investments in tractors and 10 trailers. Although the Company's business volume is not highly concentrated, the Company may also be affected by the financial failure of its customers or a loss of a customer's business from time-to-time. Operating revenues consist of trucking revenues generated by the five operating fleets in the Truckload Transportation Services segment (medium/long-haul van, dedicated, regional short-haul, flatbed, and temperature-controlled) and non-trucking revenues generated primarily by the Company's Value Added Services segment. The Company's Truckload Transportation Services segment also includes a small amount of non- trucking revenues for the portion of shipments delivered to or from Mexico where it utilizes a third-party carrier, and for a few of its dedicated accounts where the services of third-party carriers are used to meet customer capacity requirements. Non-trucking revenues reported in the operating statistics table include those revenues generated by the VAS segment, as well as the non-trucking revenues generated by the Truckload Transportation Services segment. Trucking revenues accounted for 89% of total operating revenues in 2004, and non-trucking and other operating revenues accounted for 11%. Trucking services typically generate revenue on a per-mile basis. Other sources of trucking revenue include fuel surcharges and accessorial revenue such as stop charges, loading/unloading charges, and equipment detention charges. Because fuel surcharge revenues fluctuate in response to changes in the cost of fuel, these revenues are identified separately within the operating statistics table and are excluded from the statistics to provide a more meaningful comparison between periods. Non-trucking revenues generated by a fleet whose operations are part of the Truckload Transportation Services segment are included in non-trucking revenue in the operating statistics table so that the revenue statistics in the table are calculated using only the revenues generated by the Company's trucks. The key statistics used to evaluate trucking revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, are revenue per truck per week, the per-mile rates charged to customers, the average monthly miles generated per tractor, the percentage of empty miles, the average trip length, and the number of tractors in service. General economic conditions, seasonal freight patterns in the trucking industry, and industry capacity are key factors that impact these statistics. The Company's most significant resource requirements are qualified drivers, tractors, trailers, and related costs of operating its equipment (such as fuel and related fuel taxes, driver pay, insurance, and supplies and maintenance). The Company has historically been successful mitigating its risk to increases in fuel prices by recovering additional fuel surcharges from its customers; however, there is no assurance that current recovery levels will continue in future periods. For example, during 2004 the Company's fuel expense and reimbursements to owner-operator drivers for the higher cost of fuel resulted in an additional cost of $63.5 million. During 2004, the Company collected an additional $52.6 million in fuel surcharge revenues from its customers to offset the fuel cost increase. The Company's financial results are also affected by availability of drivers and the market for new and used trucks. Because the Company is self-insured for cargo, personal injury, and property damage claims on its trucks and for workers' compensation benefits for its employees (supplemented by premium-based coverage above certain dollar levels), financial results may also be affected by driver safety, medical costs, the weather, the legal and regulatory environment, and the costs of insurance coverage to protect against catastrophic losses. A common industry measure used to evaluate the profitability of the Company and its trucking operating fleets is the operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues). The most significant variable expenses that impact the trucking operation are driver salaries and benefits, payments to owner-operators (included in rent and purchased transportation expense), fuel, fuel taxes (included in taxes and licenses expense), supplies and maintenance, and insurance and claims. These expenses generally vary based on the number of miles generated. As such, the Company also evaluates these costs on a per-mile basis to adjust for the impact on the percentage of total operating revenues caused by changes in fuel surcharge revenues, per-mile rates charged to customers, and non-trucking revenues. As discussed further in the comparison of operating results for 2004 to 2003, several industry-wide issues, including uncertainty regarding possible changes to the hours of service regulations, a challenging driver recruiting market, and rising fuel prices, could cause costs to increase in future periods. The Company's main fixed costs 11 include depreciation expense for tractors and trailers and equipment licensing fees (included in taxes and licenses expense). Depreciation expense has been affected by the new engine emission standards that became effective in October 2002 for all newly purchased trucks, which have increased truck purchase costs. The trucking operations require substantial cash expenditures for tractors and trailers. The Company has maintained a three-year replacement cycle for company-owned tractors. These purchases are funded by net cash from operations, as the Company repaid its last remaining debt in December 2003. Non-trucking services provided by the Company, primarily through its VAS division, include freight brokerage, intermodal, freight transportation management, and other services. During 2005, VAS is expanding its service offerings to include multimodal, which is a blend of truck and rail intermodal services. Unlike the Company's trucking operations, the non- trucking operations are less asset-intensive and are instead dependent upon information systems, qualified employees, and the services of other third- party providers. The most significant expense item related to these non- trucking services is the cost of transportation paid by the Company to third-party providers, which is recorded as rent and purchased transportation expense. Other expenses include salaries, wages and benefits and computer hardware and software depreciation. The Company evaluates the non-trucking operations by reviewing the gross margin percentage (revenues less rent and purchased transportation expense expressed as a percentage of revenues) and the operating margin. The operating margins for the non-trucking business are generally lower than those of the trucking operations, but the returns on assets are substantially higher. Results of Operations The following table sets forth certain industry data regarding the freight revenues and operations of the Company for the periods indicated.
2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge (1) $1,378,705 $1,286,674 $1,215,266 $1,150,361 $1,097,214 Trucking fuel surcharge revenues (1) 114,135 61,571 29,060 46,157 51,437 Non-trucking revenues, including VAS (1) 175,490 100,916 89,450 66,739 60,047 Other operating revenues (1) 9,713 8,605 7,680 7,262 5,930 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating revenues (1) $1,678,043 $1,457,766 $1,341,456 $1,270,519 $1,214,628 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== Operating ratio (consolidated) (2) 91.6% 91.9% 92.6% 93.8% 93.2% Average revenues per tractor per week (3) $ 3,136 $ 2,988 $ 2,932 $ 2,874 $ 2,889 Average annual miles per tractor 121,644 121,716 123,480 123,660 125,568 Average annual trips per tractor 185 173 166 166 168 Average total miles per trip 657 703 746 744 746 Average loaded miles per trip 583 627 674 670 672 Total miles (loaded and empty) (1) 1,028,458 1,008,024 984,305 952,003 916,971 Average revenues per total mile (3) $ 1.341 $ 1.277 $ 1.235 $ 1.208 $ 1.197 Average revenues per loaded mile (3) $ 1.511 $ 1.431 $ 1.366 $ 1.342 $ 1.328 Average percentage of empty miles 11.3% 10.8% 9.6% 10.0% 9.9% Average tractors in service 8,455 8,282 7,971 7,698 7,303 Total tractors (at year end): Company 7,675 7,430 7,180 6,640 6,300 Owner-operator 925 920 1,020 1,135 1,175 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total tractors 8,600 8,350 8,200 7,775 7,475 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== Total trailers (at year end) 23,540 22,800 20,880 19,775 19,770 ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
(1) Amounts in thousands (2) Operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues. Operating ratio is a common measure in the trucking industry used to evaluate profitability. (3) Net of fuel surcharge revenues 12 The following table sets forth the revenues, operating expenses, and operating income for the Truckload Transportation Services segment.
2004 2003 2002 ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Truckload Transportation Services (amounts in 000's) $ % $ % $ % - --------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Revenues $1,506,937 100.0 $1,358,428 100.0 $1,254,728 100.0 Operating expenses 1,371,109 91.0 1,240,282 91.3 1,155,890 92.1 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating income $ 135,828 9.0 $ 118,146 8.7 $ 98,838 7.9 ========== ========== ==========
Higher fuel prices and higher fuel surcharge collections have the effect of increasing the Company's consolidated operating ratio and the Truckload Transportation Services segment's operating ratio. The following table calculates the Truckload Transportation Services segment's operating ratio using total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge revenues, as a percentage of revenues, excluding fuel surcharges. Eliminating this sometimes volatile source of revenue provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period.
2004 2003 2002 ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Truckload Transportation Services (amounts in 000's) $ % $ % $ % - --------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Revenues $1,506,937 $1,358,428 $1,254,728 Less: trucking fuel surcharge revenues 114,135 61,571 29,060 ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of fuel surcharge 1,392,802 100.0 1,296,857 100.0 1,225,668 100.0 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating expenses 1,371,109 1,240,282 1,155,890 Less: trucking fuel surcharge revenues 114,135 61,571 29,060 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge 1,256,974 90.2 1,178,711 90.9 1,126,830 91.9 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating income $ 135,828 9.8 $ 118,146 9.1 $ 98,838 8.1 ========== ========== ==========
The following table sets forth the non-trucking revenues, operating expenses, and operating income for the VAS segment. Other operating expenses for the VAS segment primarily consist of salaries, wages and benefits expense. VAS also incurs smaller expense amounts in the supplies and maintenance, depreciation, rent and purchased transportation (excluding third-party transportation costs), communications and utilities, and other operating expense categories.
2004 2003 2002 ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Value Added Services (amounts in 000's) $ % $ % $ % - --------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Revenues $ 161,111 100.0 $ 89,742 100.0 $ 80,012 100.0 Rent and purchased transportation expense 145,474 90.3 83,387 92.9 74,635 93.3 ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross margin 15,637 9.7 6,355 7.1 5,377 6.7 Other operating expenses 10,006 6.2 5,901 6.6 4,046 5.0 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating income $ 5,631 3.5 $ 454 0.5 $ 1,331 1.7 ========== ========== ==========
2004 Compared to 2003 - --------------------- Operating Revenues Operating revenues increased 15.1% in 2004 compared to 2003. Excluding fuel surcharge revenues, trucking revenues increased 7.2% due primarily to a 5.0% increase in revenue per total mile, excluding fuel surcharges, and a 2.1% increase in the average number of tractors in service. Revenue per total mile, excluding fuel surcharges, increased due to customer rate increases, an improvement in freight selection, and a 7.0% decrease in the average loaded trip length due to growth in the Company's dedicated fleet. Part of the growth in the dedicated fleet was offset by a decrease in the Company's medium-to-long-haul van fleet. Dedicated fleet business tends to have lower miles per trip, a higher empty mile percentage, a higher rate per loaded mile, and lower miles per truck. The growth in dedicated business had a corresponding effect on these same operating statistics, as reported above, for the entire Company. During 13 2004, the truckload freight environment continued to strengthen due to ongoing truck capacity constraints and a steadily improving economy. Beginning in August, the Company's sales and marketing team met with customers to negotiate annual rate increases to recoup the significant cost increases in fuel, driver pay, equipment, and insurance and to improve margins. Much of the Company's non-dedicated contractual business renewed in the latter part of third quarter and fourth quarter. As a result of these efforts, revenue per total mile, net of fuel surcharges, rose seven cents a mile, or 5.3%, sequentially from second quarter 2004 to fourth quarter 2004. Fuel surcharge revenues, which represent collections from customers for the higher cost of fuel, increased to $114.1 million in 2004 from $61.6 million in 2003 due to higher average fuel prices in 2004. To lessen the effect of fluctuating fuel prices on the Company's margins, the Company collects fuel surcharge revenues from its customers. These surcharge programs, which automatically adjust depending on the DOE weekly retail on- highway diesel prices, continued in effect throughout 2004. The Company's fuel surcharge program has historically enabled the Company to recover a significant portion of the fuel price increases. Typical programs specify a base price per gallon when surcharges can begin to be billed. Above this price, the Company bills a surcharge rate per mile when the price per gallon falls in a bracketed range of fuel prices. When fuel prices increase, fuel surcharges recoup a lower percentage of the incrementally higher costs due to the impact of inadequate recovery for empty miles not billable to customers, out-of-route miles, truck idle time, and "bracket creep". "Bracket creep" occurs when fuel prices approach the upper limit of the bracketed range, but a higher surcharge rate per mile cannot be billed until the fuel price per gallon reaches the next bracket. Also, the DOE survey price used for surcharge contracts changes once a week while fuel prices change more frequently. Because collections of fuel surcharges typically trail fuel price changes, rapid fuel price increases cause a temporarily unfavorable effect of fuel prices increasing more rapidly than fuel surcharge revenues. This effect typically reverses when fuel prices fall. VAS revenues increased to $161.1 million in 2004 from $89.7 million in 2003, or 79.5%, and gross margin increased 146.1% for the same period. Most of this revenue growth came from the Company's brokerage group within VAS. VAS revenues consist primarily of freight brokerage, intermodal, freight transportation management, and other services. During 2004, the expansion of the Company's VAS services assisted customers by providing needed capacity while driving cost out of their freight network. The Company expects to continue to capitalize on the sophisticated service, management, and technology advantages of its logistics solution in an improving freight market. During 2005, VAS is expanding its service offerings to include multimodal. Multimodal provides for the movement of freight using a blending of truck and rail intermodal service solutions. Operating Expenses The Company's operating ratio was 91.6% in 2004 versus 91.9% in 2003. Because the Company's VAS business operates with a lower operating margin and a higher return on assets than the trucking business, the substantial growth in VAS business in 2004 compared to 2003 affected the Company's overall operating ratio. As explained on page 13, the significant increase in fuel expense and related fuel surcharge revenues also affected the operating ratio. The tables on page 13 show the operating ratios and operating margins for the Company's two reportable segments, Truckload Transportation Services and Value Added Services. The following table sets forth the cost per total mile of operating expense items for the Truckload Transportation Services segment for the periods indicated. The Company evaluates operating costs for this segment on a per-mile basis to adjust for the impact on the percentage of total operating revenues caused by changes in fuel surcharge revenues and rate per mile increases, which provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period. 14
Increase Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) 2004 2003 per Mile % ------------------------------------ Salaries, wages and benefits $.519 $.502 $.017 3.4 Fuel .211 .158 .053 33.5 Supplies and maintenance .130 .117 .013 11.1 Taxes and licenses .106 .103 .003 2.9 Insurance and claims .075 .072 .003 4.2 Depreciation .138 .132 .006 4.5 Rent and purchased transportation .140 .131 .009 6.9 Communications and utilities .018 .016 .002 12.5 Other (.003) (.001) (.002) (200.0)
Owner-operator costs are included in rent and purchased transportation expense. Owner-operator miles as a percentage of total miles were 12.7% in 2004 compared to 12.6% in 2003. Owner-operators are independent contractors who supply their own tractor and driver and are responsible for their operating expenses including fuel, supplies and maintenance, and fuel taxes. Because the change in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total miles was only minimal, there was essentially no shift in costs to the rent and purchased transportation category from other expense categories. Over the past year, attracting and retaining owner-operator drivers continued to be difficult due to the challenging operating conditions. Salaries, wages and benefits for non-drivers increased in 2004 compared to 2003 to support the growth in the VAS segment. The increase in salaries, wages and benefits per mile of 1.7 cents for the Truckload Transportation Services segment is primarily the result of higher driver pay per mile. On August 1, 2004, the Company's previously announced two cent per mile pay raise became effective for company solo drivers in its medium-to-long-haul van division, representing approximately 25% of total drivers. The Company recovered a substantial portion of this pay raise through its customer rate increase negotiations. As a result of the new hours of service regulations effective at the beginning of 2004, the Company increased driver pay in the non-dedicated fleets for multiple stop shipments. Additional revenue from increased rates per stop offset most of the increased driver pay. The increase in dedicated business as a percentage of total trucking business also contributed to the increase in driver pay per mile as dedicated drivers are usually compensated at a higher rate per mile due to the lower average miles per truck. The Company's dedicated fleets also typically have higher amounts of loading/unloading pay and minimum pay. In recent months, the market for recruiting experienced drivers has tightened. The Company experienced initial improvement in driver turnover after announcing the two-cent per mile pay raise that became effective in August 2004; however, that improvement has been difficult to sustain in recent months. Alternative jobs with an improving economy, weak population demographics, and competitor pay raises are expected to keep the driver market challenging. The Company is expanding its student-driver training program to attract more drivers to the Company and the industry. The Company is also offering an increasing percentage of driving jobs with more frequent home time in its dedicated, regional, and network-optimization fleets. The Company instituted an optional per diem reimbursement program for eligible company drivers (approximately half of total non-student company drivers) beginning in April 2004. This program increases a company driver's net pay per mile, after taxes. As a result, driver pay per mile was slightly lower before considering the factors above that increased driver pay per mile, and the Company's effective income tax rate was higher in 2004 compared to 2003. The Company expects the cost of the per diem program to be neutral, because the combined driver pay rate per mile and per diem reimbursement under the per diem program is about one cent per mile lower than mileage pay without per diem reimbursement, which offsets the Company's increased income taxes caused by the nondeductible portion of the per diem. The per diem program increases driver satisfaction through higher net pay per mile, after taxes. The Company anticipates that the competition for qualified drivers will continue to be high and cannot predict whether it will experience shortages in the future. If such a shortage were to occur and additional increases in driver pay rates became 15 necessary to attract and retain drivers, the Company's results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that corresponding freight rate increases were not obtained. Fuel increased 5.3 cents per mile for the Truckload Transportation Services segment due primarily to higher average diesel fuel prices. Average fuel prices in 2004 were 30 cents a gallon, or 32%, higher than in 2003. Fuel expense, after considering the amounts collected from customers through fuel surcharge programs, net of reimbursement to owner-operators, had an eight-cent negative impact on 2004 earnings per share compared to 2003 earnings per share. In addition to the increase in fuel prices, company data continues to indicate that the fuel mile per gallon ("mpg") degradation for trucks with post-October 2002 engines (47% of the company- owned truck fleet as of December 31, 2004) is a reduction of approximately 5%. As the Company continues to replace older trucks in its fleet with trucks with the post-October 2002 engines, fuel cost per mile is expected to increase due to the lower mpg. Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices, or rationing of petroleum products can have a materially adverse effect on the operations and profitability of the Company. The Company is unable to predict whether fuel price levels will continue to increase or decrease in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected from customers. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had no derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations. Diesel fuel prices for the first six weeks of 2005 averaged 33 cents a gallon, or 32% higher than average fuel prices for first quarter 2004. Based on current fuel price trends for the first six weeks of 2005 and assuming fuel prices remain at current levels for the remainder of first quarter 2005, the Company expects that fuel will have a minimal impact on first quarter 2005 earnings compared to first quarter 2004 earnings. Supplies and maintenance for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased 1.3 cents on a per-mile basis in 2004 due primarily to increases in the cost of over-the-road repairs and an increase in maintenance on equipment sales related to a larger number of tractors sold through the Company's Fleet Truck Sales subsidiary in 2004 versus 2003. Over-the-road ("OTR") repairs increased as a result of the increase in dedicated-fleet trucks, which typically do not have as much maintenance performed at company terminals. The Company includes the higher cost of OTR maintenance in its dedicated pricing models. Higher driver recruiting costs (including driver advertising) and driver travel and lodging also contributed to a small portion of the increase. Insurance and claims for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased 0.3 cents on a per-mile basis, primarily related to liability claims. Cargo claims expense was essentially flat on a per-mile basis compared to 2003. The Company renewed its liability insurance policies for coverage up to $10.0 million per claim on August 1, 2004. Effective August 1, 2004, the Company became responsible for the first $2.0 million per claim (previously $500,000 per claim). See Item 3 "Legal Proceedings" for information on the Company's coverage levels for personal injury and property damage since August 1, 2001. The increased Company retention from $500,000 to $2.0 million is due to changes in the trucking insurance market and is similar to increased claim retention levels experienced by other truckload carriers. Liability insurance premiums for the policy year beginning August 1, 2004 decreased approximately $0.4 million due to the higher retention level. The Company is unable to predict whether the trend of increasing insurance and claims expense will continue in the future. Depreciation expense for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased 0.6 cents on a per-mile basis in 2004 due primarily to higher costs of new tractors with the post-October 2002 engines. As the Company continues to replace older trucks in its fleet with trucks with the post- October 2002 engines, depreciation expense is expected to increase. Rent and purchased transportation consists mainly of payments to third- party carriers in the VAS and other non-trucking operations and payments to owner-operators in the trucking operations. Rent and purchased transportation for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased 0.9 cents per total mile as higher fuel prices necessitated higher 16 reimbursements to owner-operators for fuel. The Company's customer fuel surcharge programs do not differentiate between miles generated by Company- owned trucks and miles generated by owner-operator trucks; thus, the increase in owner-operator fuel reimbursements is included with Company fuel expenses in calculating the per-share impact of higher fuel prices on earnings. The Company has experienced difficulty recruiting and retaining owner-operators for over two years because of challenging operating conditions. However, the Company has historically been able to add company- owned tractors and recruit additional company drivers to offset any decreases in owner-operators. If a shortage of owner-operators and company drivers were to occur and increases in per mile settlement rates became necessary to attract and retain owner-operators, the Company's results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that corresponding freight rate increases were not obtained. Payments to third-party carriers used for portions of shipments delivered to or from Mexico and by a few dedicated fleets in the truckload segment contributed 0.2 cents of the total per-mile increase for the Truckload Transportation Services segment. As shown in the VAS statistics table under the "Results of Operations" heading on page 13, rent and purchased transportation expense for the VAS segment increased in response to higher VAS revenues. These expenses generally vary depending on changes in the volume of services generated by the segment. As a percentage of VAS revenues, VAS rent and purchased transportation expense decreased to 90.3% in 2004 compared to 92.9% in 2003, resulting in a higher gross margin in 2004. An improving truckload freight environment in 2004 resulted in improved customer rates for the VAS segment. Additionally, to support the ongoing growth within VAS, the group has increased its number of approved third-party providers. This larger carrier base allows VAS to more competitively match customer freight with available capacity, resulting in improved margins. Other operating expenses for the Truckload Transportation Services segment decreased 0.2 cents per mile in 2004. Gains on sales of revenue equipment, primarily trucks, are reflected as a reduction of other operating expenses and were $9.7 million in 2004 compared to $7.6 million in 2003. In 2004, the Company sold about three-fourths of its used trucks to third parties and traded about one-fourth. In 2003, the Company sold about two-thirds of its used trucks and traded about one-third. Gains increased due to a larger number of trucks sold in 2004, with a lower average gain per truck. In July 2004, the Company also began recording gains on certain tractor trades in accordance with EITF 86-29. In 2002, 2003, and the first six months of 2004, the excess of the trade price over the net book value of the trucks exchanged reduced the cost basis of new trucks. This change did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. The Company's wholly-owned used truck retail network, Fleet Truck Sales, is one of the largest class 8 truck sales entities in the United States, with 16 locations, and has been in operation since 1992. Fleet Truck Sales continues to be a resource for the Company to remarket its used trucks. Other operating expenses also include bad debt expense and professional service fees. The Company incurred approximately $0.7 million in professional fees in 2004 in connection with the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company recorded essentially no interest expense in 2004, as it repaid its last remaining debt in December 2003. Interest income for the Company increased to $2.6 million in 2004 from $1.7 million in 2003 due to higher average cash balances in 2004 compared to 2003. The Company's effective income tax rate (income taxes expressed as a percentage of income before income taxes) increased from 37.5% in 2003 to 39.2% in 2004, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The income tax rate increased in 2004 because of higher non-deductible expenses for tax purposes related to the implementation of a per diem pay program for student drivers in fourth quarter 2003 and a per diem pay program for eligible company drivers in April 2004. The Company expects its effective income tax rate in 2005 to increase to 40.5% or higher. 17 2003 Compared to 2002 - --------------------- Operating Revenues Operating revenues increased 8.7% over 2002, due primarily to a 3.9% increase in the average number of tractors in service. Additionally, revenue per total mile, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 3.4% primarily due to customer rate increases and better freight mix. A better freight market and tightening truck capacity contributed to the improvement, compared to the weaker freight market of 2002. Fuel surcharges, which represent collections from customers for the higher cost of fuel, increased from $29.1 million in 2002 to $61.6 million in 2003 due to higher average fuel prices during 2003 (see fuel explanation below). Excluding fuel surcharge revenues, trucking revenues increased 5.9% over 2002. The revenue increases described above were offset by a 1.4% decline in average miles per tractor and a shorter average length of haul due to growth in the Company's regional and dedicated fleets from 37% of the fleet at December 2002 to 46% of the fleet at December 2003. VAS revenues increased $9.7 million to $89.7 million compared to 2002. During the latter part of 2003 and continuing into 2004, the Company expanded its brokerage and intermodal service offerings by adding senior management and developing new computer systems. These less asset-intensive businesses generally have a lower operating margin and a higher return on assets than the Company's truckload business. Freight demand began to improve in March of 2003 as compared to the same period in 2002, and continued to be consistently better for most of the last ten months of 2003 compared to the corresponding period in 2002. The Company believes much of the improvement was achieved by execution of the Company's plan of limited fleet growth, maintenance of a diversified freight base that emphasizes consumer nondurable goods, and the shift from non-dedicated to dedicated trucks discussed below. The Company's empty mile percentage increased from 9.6% to 10.8%, which is due in part to a shorter length of haul and a change in the mix of trucks to the dedicated fleet from the medium-to-long haul van fleet. Werner's Dedicated Services fleet provides truckload services required for a specific company, their plants, or their distribution centers. Werner grew its dedicated fleet from about one-quarter of its total truck fleet at the end of 2002 to about one-third of its total truck fleet at the end of 2003, with much of this growth occurring in the fourth quarter of 2003. Since the Company's overall truck fleet grew 150 trucks, the 800- truck growth in the dedicated fleet was offset by a reduction in the Company's medium-to-long-haul van fleet. Dedicated fleet business tends to have lower miles per trip, a higher empty mile percentage, a higher rate per loaded mile, and lower miles per truck per month. The growth in dedicated business has had a corresponding effect on these same operating statistics for the entire Company. Operating Expenses The Company's operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) improved from 92.6% in 2002 to 91.9% in 2003. Conversely, the Company's operating margin improved 9% from 7.4% in 2002 to 8.1% in 2003. Operating expenses, when expressed as a percentage of total revenues, were lower in 2003 versus 2002 because of the higher revenue per mile and fuel surcharge revenue per mile. Owner-operator miles as a percentage of total miles were 12.6% in 2003 compared to 15.4% in 2002. This decrease in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total miles shifted costs from the rent and purchased transportation category to other expense categories. The Company estimates that rent and purchased transportation expense for the Truckload Transportation segment was lower by approximately 2.6 cents per total mile due to this decrease, and other expense categories had offsetting increases on a total-mile basis, as follows: salaries, wages and benefits (1.2 cents), fuel (0.5 cents), supplies and maintenance (0.2 cents), taxes and licenses (0.3 cents), and depreciation (0.4 cents). During 2003, it continued to be difficult to attract and retain owner-operator drivers due to challenging operating conditions. 18 The following table sets forth the cost per total mile of operating expense items for the Truckload Transportation Services segment for the periods indicated. The Company evaluates operating costs for this segment on a per-mile basis to adjust for the impact on the percentage of total operating revenues caused by changes in fuel surcharge revenues and rate per mile increases, which provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period.
Increase Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) 2003 2002 per Mile % ------------------------------------ Salaries, wages and benefits $.502 $.488 $.014 2.9 Fuel .158 .127 .031 24.4 Supplies and maintenance .117 .115 .002 1.7 Taxes and licenses .103 .100 .003 3.0 Insurance and claims .072 .052 .020 38.5 Depreciation .132 .128 .004 3.1 Rent and purchased transportation .131 .146 (.015) (10.3) Communications and utilities .016 .015 .001 6.7 Other (.001) .003 (.004) (133.3)
Salaries, wages and benefits (including driver and non-driver costs) for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased 1.4 cents per mile due primarily to growth in the percentage of company-owned trucks to total trucks from 87.6% at the end of 2002 to 89.0% at the end of 2003 and an increase in the number of salaried drivers. The market for attracting and retaining company drivers continued to be challenging and became even more difficult in the fourth quarter of 2003. While the market for recruiting qualified drivers tightened, the Company continued to have success recruiting drivers from driver training schools. Salaries, wages and benefits includes expenses for workers' compensation benefits. The related accrued claims for workers compensation are reflected in Insurance and Claims Accruals in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Effective July 2003, the Company changed its monthly mileage bonus pay program for Van solo company drivers, which represented approximately one- third of the Company's total drivers. The goal was to increase driver miles per truck by rewarding higher production from Van solo drivers with higher pay. The monthly mileage bonus pay increased by an average of $93,000 per month during the last six months of 2003. Fuel increased 3.1 cents per total mile for the Truckload Transportation Services segment due to higher fuel prices. The average price per gallon of diesel fuel, excluding fuel taxes, was approximately $.17 per gallon, or 23%, higher in 2003 versus 2002. The Company's customer fuel surcharge reimbursement programs have historically enabled the Company to recover from its customers much of the higher fuel prices compared to normalized average fuel prices. After considering the amounts collected from customers through fuel surcharge programs, net of Company reimbursements to owner-operators, 2003 earnings per share were not impacted by the higher fuel expense. Earnings per share were negatively impacted by $.03 per share in first quarter 2003, positively impacted by $.02 and $.01 per share in the second and third quarters 2003, respectively, and not impacted in fourth quarter 2003. Approximately 10% of the Company's fleet consisted of trucks with the less fuel-efficient post- October 2002 engines as of December 31, 2003. As of December 31, 2003, the Company had no derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations. Supplies and maintenance for the Truckload Transportation Services segment increased only 0.2 cents per total mile due primarily to improved management of maintenance expenses, offset slightly by the growth in the percentage of company-owned trucks to total trucks. Insurance and claims increased 2.0 cents per total mile due to an increase in the frequency and severity of claims, increased retention levels for claims, a higher cost per claim, and higher premiums for catastrophic liability coverage. The Company's premium rate for liability coverage up to $3.0 million per claim was fixed through July 31, 2004, 19 while coverage levels above $3.0 million per claim were renewed effective August 1, 2003 for a one-year period. For the policy year beginning August 2003, the Company's total premiums for liability insurance increased by approximately $1.3 million. This increase includes premiums for terrorism coverage. See Item 3 "Legal Proceedings" for information on the Company's coverage levels for personal injury and property damage since August 1, 2001. Rent and purchased transportation for the Truckload Transportation Services segment decreased 1.5 cents per total mile in 2003 due to a decrease in payments to owner-operators. The decrease in payments to owner- operators resulted from the decrease in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total Company miles as discussed previously, offset by higher fuel surcharge reimbursements paid to owner-operators due to higher average fuel prices. The Company has experienced difficulty recruiting and retaining owner-operators because of challenging operating conditions. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of owner-operator tractors from 1,020 as of December 31, 2002, to 920 as of December 31, 2003. The Company reimburses owner-operators for the higher cost of fuel based on fuel surcharge reimbursements collected from customers. The increase in rent and purchased transportation for the VAS segment corresponded to the higher non-trucking revenues, as shown in the VAS statistics table under the "Results of Operations" heading on page 13. Other operating expenses decreased 0.4 cents per mile due primarily to an increase in the resale value of the Company's used trucks. Because of truckload carrier concerns with new truck engines and lower industry production of new trucks, the resale value of the Company's premium used trucks improved. In 2002, the Company traded about one-half of its used trucks and sold about one-half of its used trucks and realized gains of $2.3 million. In 2003, the Company traded about one-third of its used trucks and sold about two-thirds to third parties. In 2003, due to a higher average sales price, and gain, per truck, the Company realized gains of $7.6 million. For trucks traded, the excess of the trade price over the net book value of the trucks reduces the cost basis of new trucks, and therefore results in lower depreciation expense over the life of the asset. Other operating expenses also include bad debt expense and professional service fees. Interest expense for the Company decreased from $2.9 million in 2002 to $1.1 million in 2003 due to a reduction in the Company's borrowings. Average debt outstanding in 2002 was $35.0 million. In 2003, outstanding debt totaled $20.0 million throughout most of the year, until the Company repaid its only remaining debt in December 2003. The Company's effective income tax rate was 37.5% in 2003 and 2002, respectively, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Liquidity and Capital Resources Net cash provided by operating activities was $226.6 million in 2004, $207.5 million in 2003, and $226.3 million in 2002. Cash flow from operations decreased $18.8 million in 2003 compared to 2002, or 8.3%. This decrease was due to lower truck purchases in 2003, which caused higher tax payments due to lower 2003 tax depreciation and resulted in a smaller payable for tractors received at year-end. Returning to a normal tractor replacement cycle in 2004 resulted in increased cash flow from operations of $19.1 million in 2004 over 2003, or 9.2%. The cash flow from operations enabled the Company to make capital expenditures and repay debt as discussed below. Net cash used in investing activities was $193.5 million in 2004, $101.5 million in 2003, and $235.5 million in 2002. The 90.5% increase ($91.9 million) from 2003 to 2004 and 56.9% decrease ($134.0 million) from 2002 to 2003 were due primarily to the Company's accelerated purchases of tractors with pre-October 2002 engines in the latter part of 2002 and purchasing fewer tractors in 2003. The engine emission standards that 20 became effective October 1, 2002 did not allow the Company sufficient time to test a significant sample of the new engines. This prompted the Company to purchase a large number of trucks with engines manufactured prior to October 2002, which are not subject to the new engine emission standards, in addition to the normal number of new trucks required for the Company's three-year replacement cycle. This enabled the Company to delay the impact of using trucks with new engines in its fleet by approximately one year and allowed additional time for testing. The pre-buy trucks were gradually placed in service throughout 2003, with the last group of these trucks being placed into service during the third quarter of 2003. As of December 31, 2004, approximately 47% of the company-owned truck fleet consisted of trucks with the new engines. The Company intends to gradually reduce the average age of the truck fleet in 2005. As such, capital expenditures are expected to be higher in 2005 compared to 2004. As of December 31, 2004, the Company has committed to property and equipment purchases, net of trades, of approximately $122.0 million. The Company intends to fund these capital expenditure commitments through existing cash on hand and cash flow from operations. Net financing activities used $25.7 million in 2004, $33.8 million in 2003, and $35.2 million in 2002. In 2003 and 2002, the Company made net repayments of debt of $20.0 million and $30.0 million, respectively. The Company repaid its last remaining debt in December 2003. The Company paid dividends of $9.5 million in 2004, $6.5 million in 2003, and $5.0 million in 2002. The Company increased its quarterly dividend rate by $0.01 per share beginning with the dividend paid in July 2004. Financing activities also included common stock repurchases of $21.6 million in 2004, $13.5 million in 2003, and $3.8 million in 2002. From time to time, the Company has repurchased, and may continue to repurchase, shares of its common stock. The timing and amount of such purchases depends on market and other factors. The Company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 8,132,504 shares. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had purchased 4,335,704 shares pursuant to this authorization and had 3,796,800 shares remaining available for repurchase. Management believes the Company's financial position at December 31, 2004 is strong. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had $108.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, no debt, and $773.2 million of stockholders' equity. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had no equipment operating leases, and therefore, had no off-balance sheet equipment debt. Based on the Company's strong financial position, management foresees no significant barriers to obtaining sufficient financing, if necessary. Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments As of December 31, 2004, the Company had no debt outstanding. The following table sets forth the Company's credit facilities and purchase commitments as of December 31, 2004.
Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period (in millions) Total Other Commercial Amounts Less than 1-3 4-5 Over 5 Commitments Committed 1 year years years years - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unused lines of credit $ 39.6 $ 25.0 $14.6 $ - $ - Standby letters of credit 35.4 35.4 - - - Other commercial commitments 122.0 122.0 - - - ------ ------ ----- ---- ---- Total commercial commitments $197.0 $182.4 $14.6 $ - $ - ====== ====== ===== ==== ====
The Company has two credit facilities with banks totaling $75.0 million on which no borrowings were outstanding. The credit available under these facilities is reduced by the amount of standby letters of credit the Company maintains. The unused lines of credit are available to the Company in the event the Company needs financing for the growth of its fleet. With the Company's strong financial position, the Company expects it could obtain additional financing, if necessary, at favorable terms. The standby letters of credit are primarily required for insurance policies. The other commercial commitments relate to committed equipment expenditures. 21 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements The Company does not have any arrangements which meet the definition of an off-balance sheet arrangement. Critical Accounting Policies The Company's success depends on its ability to efficiently manage its resources in the delivery of truckload transportation and logistics services to its customers. Resource requirements vary with customer demand, which may be subject to seasonal or general economic conditions. The Company's ability to adapt to changes in customer transportation requirements is a key element in efficiently deploying resources and in making capital investments in tractors and trailers. Although the Company's business volume is not highly concentrated, the Company may also be affected by the financial failure of its customers or a loss of a customer's business from time-to-time. The Company's greatestmost significant resource requirements includeare qualified drivers, trucks,tractors, trailers, and related costs of operating its equipment (such as fuel and related fuel taxes, driver pay, insurance, and supplies and maintenance). The Company has historically been successful mitigating its risk to increases in fuel prices by recovering additional fuel surcharges from its customers. The Company's financial results are also affected by availability of qualified drivers and the market for new and used trucks. Because the Company is self-insured for cargo, personal injury, and property damage claims on its trucks and for workers' compensation benefits for its driversemployees (supplemented by premium-based coverage above certain dollar levels), financial results may also be affected by driver safety, medical costs, the weather, the legal and regulatory environment, and the costs of insurance coverage to protect against catastrophic losses. The most significant accounting policies and estimates that affect our financial statements include the following: * Selections of estimated useful lives and salvage values for purposes of depreciating tractors and trailers. Depreciable lives of tractors and trailers range from 5 to 1012 years. Estimates of salvage value at the expected date of trade-in or sale (for example, three years for tractors) are based on the expected market values of equipment at the time of disposal. Although the Company's current replacement cycle for tractors is three years, the Company calculates depreciation expense for financial reporting purposes using a five- year life and 25% salvage value. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner continues at the same straight-line rate, which approximates the continuing declining market value of the tractors, in those instances in which a tractor is held beyond the normal three-year age. Calculating depreciation expense using a five-year life and 25% salvage value results in the same annual depreciation rate (15% of cost per year) and the same net book value at the normal three-year replacement date (55% of cost) as using a three- year life and 55% salvage value. The Company continually monitors the adequacy of the lives and salvage values used in calculating depreciation expense and adjusts these assumptions appropriately when warranted. * The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable, and it exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets classified as held and used, if the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the future net cash flows, it is not recoverable. The Company does not separately identify assets by operating segment, as tractors and trailers are routinely transferred from one operating fleet to another. As a result, none of the Company's long-lived assets have identifiable cash flows from use that are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Thus, the asset group used to assess impairment would include all assets and liabilities of the Company. Long-lived assets classified as held for sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. 22 * Estimates of accrued liabilities for insurance and claims for liability and physical damage losses and workers' compensation. The insurance and claims accruals (current and long-term) are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amounts and are 7 based upon individual case estimates, including negative development, and estimates of incurred- but-not-reportedincurred-but-not-reported losses based upon past experience. The Company's self-insurance reserves are reviewed by an actuary every six months. * Policies for revenue recognition. Operating revenues (including fuel surcharge revenues) and related direct costs are recorded when the shipment is delivered. For shipments where a third-party provider is utilized to provide some or all of the service and the Company is the primary obligor in regards to the delivery of the shipment, establishes customer pricing separately from carrier rate negotiations, generally has discretion in carrier selection, and/or has credit risk on the shipment, the Company records both revenues for the dollar value of services billed by the Company to the customer and rent and purchased transportation expense for the costs of transportation paid by the Company to the third-party provider upon delivery of the shipment. In the absence of the conditions listed above, the Company records revenues net of expenses related to third-party providers. * Accounting for income taxes. Significant management judgment is required to determine the provision for income taxes and to determine whether deferred income taxes will be realized in full or in part. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. When it is more likely that all or some portion of specific deferred income tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of deferred income tax assets that are determined not to be realizable. A valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets has not been deemed to be necessary due to the Company's profitable operations. Accordingly, if the facts or financial circumstances were to change, thereby impacting the likelihood of realizing the deferred income tax assets, judgment would need to be applied to determine the amount of valuation allowance required in any given period. Management periodically re-evaluates these estimates as events and circumstances change. Together with the effects of the matters discussed above, these factors may significantly impact the Company's results of operations from period-to-period. Results of Operations The following table sets forth the percentage relationship of income and expense items to operating revenues for the years indicated.
2001 2000 1999 ------ ------ ------ Operating revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ------ ------ ------ Operating expenses Salaries, wages and benefits 36.0 35.4 36.4 Fuel 10.3 11.3 7.5 Supplies and maintenance 9.3 8.5 8.3 Taxes and licenses 7.4 7.3 7.8 Insurance and claims 3.3 2.8 3.0 Depreciation 9.2 9.0 9.5 Rent and purchased transportation 16.9 17.9 17.6 Communications and utilities 1.1 1.2 1.3 Other 0.3 (0.2) (1.1) ------ ------ ------ Total operating expenses 93.8 93.2 90.3 ------ ------ ------ Operating income 6.2 6.8 9.7 Net interest expense and other 0.2 0.4 0.5 ------ ------ ------ Income before income taxes 6.0 6.4 9.2 Income taxes 2.2 2.4 3.5 ------ ------ ------ Net income 3.8% 4.0% 5.7% ====== ====== ======
8 The following table sets forth certain industry data regarding the freight revenues and operations of the Company.
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Operating ratio 93.8% 93.2% 90.3% 88.9% 89.9% Average revenues per tractor per week (1)$ 2,874 $ 2,889 $ 2,813 $ 2,783 $ 2,755 Average annual miles per tractor 123,660 125,568 125,856 126,492 126,598 Average miles per trip 744 746 734 760 799 Average revenues per total mile (1) $ 1.208 $ 1.197 $ 1.162 $ 1.144 $ 1.132 Average revenues per loaded mile (1) $ 1.342 $ 1.328 $ 1.287 $ 1.265 $ 1.251 Non-trucking revenues (in thousands) $ 74,001 $ 65,977 $ 60,379 $ 41,821 $ 43,955 Average tractors in service 7,698 7,303 6,769 5,662 5,051 Total tractors (at year end) Company 6,640 6,300 5,895 5,220 4,490 Owner-operator 1,135 1,175 1,230 930 860 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total tractors 7,775 7,475 7,125 6,150 5,350 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Total trailers (at year end) 19,775 19,770 18,900 16,350 14,700 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== - ---------------------------- (1) Net of fuel surcharge revenues.
2001 Compared to 2000 Operating revenues increased 4.6% over 2000, due primarily to a 5.4% increase in the average number of tractors in service. Revenue per total mile, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 0.9% primarily due to customer rate increases, and revenue per total mile, including fuel surcharges, increased 0.3% compared to 2000. Fuel surcharges, which represent collections from customers for the higher cost of fuel, decreased from $51.4 million in 2000 to $46.2 million in 2001 due to lower average fuel prices (see fuel explanation below). Excluding fuel surcharge revenues, trucking revenues increased 4.8% over 2000. Revenue from non-trucking transportation services increased $8.0 million compared to 2000. Freight demand during 2001 was soft due to a weaker U.S. economy as compared to 2000. However, the Company developed its freight base and utilized its proprietary technology so that it experienced only a 1.5% decrease in its average annual miles per tractor. The Company's empty mile percentage increased slightly, by one-tenth of one percentage point (from 9.9% to 10.0%). The Company's operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) increased from 93.2% in 2000 to 93.8% in 2001. The decrease in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total miles (16.6% in 2001 compared to 18.6% in 2000), contributed to a shift in costs from the rent and purchased transportation expense category as described on the following pages. Owner-operators are independent contractors who supply their own tractor and driver, and are responsible for their operating expenses including fuel, supplies and maintenance, and fuel taxes. Over the past year, it has been more difficult to attract and retain owner-operator drivers due to the weaker used truck pricing market, higher fuel prices, and weaker economy. Salaries, wages and benefits increased from 35.4% to 36.0% of revenues due in part to a higher percentage of company drivers as compared to owner-operators and an increase in the number of drivers in training. Workers' compensation and health insurance expense increased due to rising medical costs and higher weekly state workers' compensation payment rates. In recent years, workers' compensation and health insurance costs have been increasing at rates higher than inflation, and this is expected to continue. These increases were partially offset by an improvement in the tractor to non-driver employee ratio, which lowered non-driver labor costs per mile. The market for attracting company drivers improved during 2001; however, the Company anticipates that the competition for qualified drivers will continue to be high, and cannot predict whether it will 9 experience shortages in the future. If such a shortage was to occur and increases in driver pay rates became necessary to attract and retain drivers, the Company's results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that corresponding freight rate increases were not obtained. Fuel decreased from 11.3% to 10.3% of revenues due to lower fuel prices, principally in the fourth quarter of 2001. The average price per gallon of diesel fuel, excluding fuel taxes, was approximately $.11 per gallon lower in 2001 versus 2000. The average price per gallon in fourth quarter 2001 was approximately $.17 per gallon lower than the average price for the year of 2001 and was about the same as the average historical fuel price levels over the past ten years. The Company's customer fuel surcharge reimbursement programs have historically enabled the Company to recover most of the higher fuel prices from its customers compared to normalized average fuel prices. These fuel surcharges, which automatically adjust from week to week depending on the cost of fuel, enable the Company to rapidly recoup the higher cost of fuel when prices increase. Conversely, when fuel prices decrease, fuel surcharges decrease. After considering the amounts collected from customers through fuel surcharge programs, net of reimbursements to owner-operators, 2001 earnings per share increased by approximately $.07 over 2000 due to lower fuel costs. Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices, or rationing of petroleum products can have a materially adverse effect on the operations and profitability of the Company. The Company is unable to predict whether fuel prices will continue to decrease or will increase in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected from customers. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had no derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations. Supplies and maintenance increased from 8.5% to 9.3% of revenues due to a higher percentage of company drivers compared to owner- operators during 2001 and more maintenance services performed over-the- road than at Company facilities. Insurance and claims increased from 2.8% to 3.3% of revenues due to unfavorable claims experience in 2001 and higher excess insurance premiums. Insurance premiums in the liability insurance market have increased significantly for many truckload carriers in recent months. For over ten years, the Company has been self-insured and managed virtually all of its liability, cargo, and property damage claims with qualified Risk Department professionals. As a result, higher liability insurance rates have had a less significant effect on the Company, impacting the Company only for catastrophic claim coverage. The Company renewed its annual catastrophic liability insurance coverage effective August 1, 2001, and the effect of the increase in premiums was less than 10% of the Company's total annual insurance and claims expense. The Company's premium rate for liability coverage up to $3.0 million per claim is fixed through August 1, 2004, while coverage levels above $3.0 million per claim will be renewed effective August 1, 2002. Rent and purchased transportation expense decreased from 17.9% to 16.9% of revenues because of a decrease in payments to owner-operators (11.0% of revenue in 2001 compared to 12.6% in 2000), offset by an increase in purchased transportation relating to remaining non- trucking operations following the transfer of most of the Company's logistics business to Transplace. The decrease in payments to owner- operators resulted from the decrease in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total Company miles as discussed above. The Company has experienced difficulty recruiting and retaining owner-operators because of high fuel prices, a weak used truck pricing market, and other factors. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of owner-operator tractors from 1,175 as of December 31, 2000, to 1,135 as of December 31, 2001. The Company reimburses owner-operators for the higher cost of fuel based on fuel surcharge reimbursements collected from customers. Other operating expenses changed from a credit of (0.2)% to an expense of 0.3% of revenues due in part to a weak market for the sale of used trucks. Record levels of trucks manufactured during 1999 and 2000, an increased supply of used trucks caused in part by trucking company business failures, and slower fleet growth by many carriers have all contributed to a decline in the market value of used trucks. During 2001, the Company traded about two-thirds of its used trucks and sold about one-third to third parties. For trucks traded, the excess of the trade price over the net book value of the trucks reduced the cost basis of new trucks. In 2000, the Company traded half of its used trucks and sold half of its used trucks to third parties through its Fleet Truck Sales retail network and realized gains of $5.1 million. In 2001, due to a lower average sale price per 10 truck, the Company realized losses of $0.7 million. The Company renegotiated its trade agreements with its primary truck manufacturer in June 2001 and continued to expand its nationwide retail truck sales network in response to the weak used truck market. Other operating expenses were also impacted by increasing the allowance for uncollectible receivables for the Company's maximum credit exposure related to the fourth quarter 2001 Enron bankruptcy of approximately $1.2 million. The Company has limited credit exposure for the first quarter 2002 Kmart bankruptcy. The Company has focused on improving its collections of accounts receivable; as such, days sales in accounts receivable decreased from 37 days as of December 31, 2000, to 35 days as of December 31, 2001. Net interest expense and other decreased from 0.4% to 0.2% of revenues due to lower interest expense, offset partially by the Company's share of Transplace operating losses. Interest expense decreased from 0.7% to 0.3% of revenues due to a reduction in the Company's borrowings. Average debt outstanding in 2001 was $77.5 million versus $125.0 million in 2000. In 2001, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $1.7 million as its percentage share of estimated Transplace losses versus a gain of approximately $0.3 million in 2000. The Company is recording its approximate 15% investment in Transplace using the equity method of accounting and is accruing its percentage share of Transplace's earnings and losses as an other non-operating item. The Company's effective income tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 37.5% and 38.0% in 2001 and 2000, respectively, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The effective income tax rate for the 2001 period decreased due to the implementation of certain tax strategies. The Company expects the 37.5% income tax rate to be the tax rate in effect for 2002. 2000 Compared to 1999 Operating revenues increased 15% over 1999, due to an 8% increase in the average number of tractors in service, a 3% increase in average revenue per mile (excluding fuel surcharges), and a 5% increase in revenues due to fuel surcharges. Customer rate increases were the primary factor in the increase in average revenue per mile (excluding fuel surcharges). Fuel surcharges were collected from customers in 2000 to recover a majority of the increase in fuel expense caused by higher fuel prices. The Company's operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) increased from 90.3% to 93.2%. Salaries, wages and benefits decreased from 36.4% to 35.4% of revenues by maintaining the average payroll cost per mile while at the same time increasing average revenue per mile. Offsetting this, workers' compensation expense increased due to rising medical costs and higher weekly state workers' compensation payment rates. Fuel increased from 7.5% to 11.3% of revenues due to substantially higher fuel prices. The average price per gallon of diesel fuel, excluding fuel taxes, was 65% higher in 2000 than 1999. The Company implemented customer fuel surcharge programs to recover a majority of the increased fuel cost. Taxes and licenses decreased from 7.8% to 7.3% of revenues due to higher revenue per mile. On a cost per mile basis, taxes and license expenses were about the same. Insurance and claims decreased slightly from 3.0% to 2.8% of revenues. Improved liability claims experience was offset by increased cargo claims. Depreciation decreased from 9.5% to 9.0% of revenues due to higher revenue per mile. On a cost per mile basis, depreciation was slightly higher. Rent and purchased transportation expense increased from 17.6% to 17.9% of revenues due primarily to increases in rental expense on leased tractors (0.3% of revenue in 2000 compared to 0.1% in 1999) and payments to owner-operators (12.6% of revenue in 2000 compared to 12.4% in 1999). Payments to owner-operators increased slightly in 2000 compared to 1999 caused in part by an increase in owner-operator miles as a percentage of total Company miles. On a per-mile basis, payments to owner-operators increased due to amounts reimbursed by the Company to owner-operators for the higher cost of fuel. Increases in logistics and other non-trucking transportation services in the first half of 2000 offset the decrease in the latter half of the year due to 11 transferring most of the Company's logistics business to Transplace on June 30, 2000. The Company is one of five large truckload transportation companies that contributed their logistics businesses to this commonly owned, Internet-based logistics company. The Company transferred logistics business representing about 4% of total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2000, to Transplace. Other operating expenses changed from (1.1%) to (0.2%) of revenues due to a weak market for the sale of used trucks. During 2000, the Company traded more of its used trucks, and the excess of the trade price over the net book value of the trucks reduced the cost basis of new trucks. In 1999, the Company sold most of its used trucks to third parties through its Fleet Truck Sales retail network and realized gains of $13.0 million. In 2000, due to a reduced number of trucks sold to third parties and a lower average gain per truck, the Company realized gains of $5.1 million. The Company's effective income tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 38.0% in 2000 and 1999, as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Liquidity and Capital Resources Net cash provided by operating activities was $226.9 million in 2001, $170.1 million in 2000, and $132.0 million in 1999. The 33.4% increase ($56.8 million) in operating cash flows from 2000 to 2001 was due primarily to higher depreciation due to the growth of the Company truck fleet ($6.9 million), increased deferred taxes due to the implementation of certain tax strategies and growth of the Company truck fleet ($23.8 million), a small loss versus gains on disposal of operating equipment due to a weaker used truck pricing market ($5.8 million), increased long-term insurance and claims accruals ($4.5 million), decreases in other long-term assets ($3.8 million), and working capital improvements ($8.0 million). The cash flow from operations enabled the Company to make capital expenditures and repay debt as discussed below. Net cash used in investing activities was $126.9 million in 2001, $113.2 million in 2000, and $171.0 million in 1999. The growth of the Company's business has required significant investment in new revenue equipment. Net capital expenditures in 2001, 2000, and 1999 were $126.2 million, $108.5 million, and $171.0 million, respectively. The capital expenditures in 2001 and 2000 were financed primarily with cash provided by operations and, to a lesser extent in 1999, borrowings. Capital expenditures were higher in 2001 due to the Company's completion of various construction projects including the Laredo, Texas terminal, the Dallas, Texas terminal expansion, and the driver training facility. The Company also invested $5.0 million in Transplace in 2000. As of December 31, 2001, the Company has committed to approximately $23 million of net capital expenditures, which is a small portion of its estimated 2002 capital expenditures. Net financing activities used $51.1 million in 2001 and $46.8 million in 2000 and generated $38.5 million in 1999. In 2001 and 2000 respectively, the Company made net repayments of $55.0 million and $40.0 million of debt compared to net borrowings of $45.0 million in 1999. The Company paid dividends of $4.7 million in 2001, $4.7 million in 2000, and $4.7 million in 1999. Financing activities also included common stock repurchases of $2.8 million in 2000 and $3.9 million in 1999. From time to time, the Company has and may continue to repurchase shares of its common stock. The timing and amount of such purchases depends on market and other factors. The Company's board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 3,333,333 shares. As of December 31, 2001, the Company has purchased 1,704,701 shares pursuant to this authorization. The Company's financial position is strong. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had $74 million of cash and cash equivalents, $50 million of debt, and $590 million of stockholders' equity. Based on the Company's strong financial position, management foresees no significant barriers to obtaining sufficient financing, if necessary. 12 Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments The following table sets forth the Company's contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2001.
Payments Due by Period -------------------------------------------------------------- Contractual Obligations Total Less than 1 year 1-3 years 4-5 years After 5 years - ----------------------- ------- ---------------- --------- --------- ------------- (In millions) Long-term debt $ 50.0 $ 30.0 $ 20.0 $ - $ - Operating leases 3.3 3.2 0.1 - - ------- ---------------- --------- --------- ------------- Total contractual cash obligations $ 53.3 $ 33.2 $ 20.1 $ - $ - ======= ================ ========= ========= =============
Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period ----------------------------------------------------------------- Other Commercial Total Amounts Commitments Committed Less than 1 year 1-3 years 4-5 years Over 5 years - ---------------- ----------- ---------------- --------- --------- ------------- (In millions) Unused lines of credit $ 25.0 $ 5.0 $ 20.0 $ - $ - Standby letters of credit 12.2 12.2 - - - Other commercial commitments 23.0 23.0 - - - ----------- ---------------- --------- --------- ------------- Total commercial commitments $ 60.2 $ 40.2 $ 20.0 $ - $ - =========== ================ ========= ========= =============
The unused lines of credit are available to the Company in the event the Company needs financing for the growth of its fleet. With the Company's strong financial position, the Company expects it could obtain additional financing, if necessary, at favorable terms. The standby letters of credit are primarily required for insurance policies. The other commercial commitments relate to committed equipment expenditures, which is a small portion of planned equipment expenditures for 2002. Inflation Inflation can be expected to have an impact on the Company's operating costs. A prolonged period of inflation could cause interest rates, fuel, wages, and other costs to increase and could adversely affect the Company's results of operations unless freight rates could be increased correspondingly. However, the effect of inflation has been minimal over the past three years. Year 2000 Issue The impact of the Year 2000 issue on the Company's operations was insignificant. Forward LookingForward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors This discussionThe following risks and analysis contains historical and forward- looking information. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company believes the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available, however any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore,uncertainties may cause actual results mayto differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. Those risks include, but are not limited to, the following:included in this Form 10-K: The Company's business is modestly seasonal with peak freight demand occurring generally in the months of September, October, and November. During the winter months, the Company's freight volumes are typically lower as some customers have lower shipment levels after the Christmas holiday season. The Company's operating expenses have historically been higher in winter months primarily due to decreased fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs of revenue equipment in colder weather, and increased insurance and claims costs due to adverse winter weather conditions. The Company attempts to minimize the impact of seasonality through its marketing program by seeking additional freight from certain customers during traditionally slower shipping periods. Bad weather, holidays, and 23 the number of business 13 days during the period can also affect revenue, since revenue is directly related to available working days of shippers. The trucking industry is highly competitive and includes thousands of trucking companies. The Company estimates the ten largest truckload carriers have less than ten percent of the approximate $150 billion market targeted by the Company. This competition could limit the Company's growth opportunities and reduce its profitability. The Company competes primarily with other truckload carriers. Railroads, less-than-truckload carriers, and private carriers also provide competition, but to a much lesser degree. Competition for the freight transported by the Company is based primarily on service and efficiency and, to some degree, on freight rates alone. The Company is sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that impact customer shipping volumes. The general slowdown in the economy duringin 2001 and 2002 had a negative effect on freight volumes for truckload carriers, including the Company. Beginning in 2003 and continuing throughout 2004, general economic improvements lead to improved freight demand for the Company year over year. As the unemployment rate increased during 2001 and 2002, driver availability improved for the Company and the industry. Fuel prices increasedindustry but became more difficult beginning in fourth quarter 19992003 and were highcontinuing through 20002004. Due to pending concerns in the Middle East and 2001other factors, fuel prices began to rise in the second quarter of 2002, continued to increase throughout the second half of 2002, and increased further in the first part of 2003. In the last nine months of 2003, prices decreased again, ending 2003 at prices slightly higher than at the end of 2002. In 2004, fuel prices, excluding fuel taxes, climbed steadily throughout most of the year, before decreasing in December 2004 to prices about 40% higher than at the latter partend of 2001.2003. Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices, or rationing of petroleum products can have a materially adverse impact on the operations and profitability of the Company. To the extent that the Company cannot recover the higher cost of fuel through customer fuel surcharges, the Company's results would be negatively impacted. Future economic conditions that may affect the Company include employment levels, business conditions, fuel and energy costs, interest rates, and tax rates. The Company is regulated by the United States Department ofDOT and the Federal and Provincial Transportation (DOT). ThisDepartments in Canada. These regulatory authority establishesauthorities establish broad powers, generally governing activities such as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety, financial reporting, and other matters. The Company may become subject to new or more comprehensive regulations relating to fuel emissions, driver hours of service, or other issues mandated by the DOT.DOT, EPA, or the Federal and Provincial Transportation Departments in Canada. For example, new engine emissions standards are to becomebecame effective for truck engine manufacturers in October 2002. TheseThe new engineshours of service regulations that became effective on January 4, 2004 were vacated in their entirety by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and remanded to the FMCSA for reconsideration. On September 30, 2004, the extension of the Federal highway bill signed into law by the President extended the current hours of service rules for one year or whenever the FMCSA develops a new set of regulations, whichever comes first. On January 24, 2005, the FMCSA re-proposed its April 2003 HOS rules, adding references to how the rules would affect driver health, but making no changes to the regulations. The FMCSA is seeking public comments by March 10, 2005 on what changes to the rule, if any, are necessary to respond to the concerns raised by the court, and to provide data or studies that would support changes to, or continued use of, the 2003 rule. The Company cannot predict what rule changes, if any, will result from the court's ruling, nor the ultimate impact of any upcoming changes to the hours of service rules. Any changes could have not yet been available for adequate testing. These new engines may be more costlyan adverse effect on the operations and less fuel efficient.profitability of the Company. At times, there have been shortages of drivers in the trucking industry. Although theThe market for attracting companyrecruiting drivers improved during 2001 due tobecame more difficult in fourth quarter 2003 and continued throughout 2004. During the higher domestic unemployment rate and other factors, the Company anticipates that the competition for company drivers will continue to be high. During 2001,last several years, it becamewas more difficult to recruit and retain owner-operator drivers due to the weak used truck pricing market and higherchallenging operating conditions, including high fuel prices for most of the year.prices. The Company anticipates that the competition for company drivers and owner-operatorowner- operator drivers will continue to be high and cannot predict whether it will experience shortages in the future. 24 The Company is highly dependent on the services of key personnel including Clarence L. Werner and other executive officers. Although the Company believes it has an experienced and highly qualified management group, the loss of the services of these executive officers could have a material adverse impact on the Company and its future profitability. The Company is dependent on its vendors and suppliers. The Company believes it has good relationships with its vendors and that it is generally able to obtain attractive pricing and other terms from vendors and suppliers. If the Company fails to maintain good relationships with its vendors and suppliers or if its vendors and suppliers experience significant financial problems, the Company could face difficulty in obtaining needed goods and services because of interruptions of production or for other reasons, which could adversely affect the Company's business. The efficient operation of the Company's business is highly dependent on its information systems. Much of the Company's software has been developed internally or by adapting purchased software applications to the Company's needs. The Company has purchased redundant computer hardware systems and has its own off-site disaster recovery facility approximately ten miles from the Company's offices to use in the event of a disaster. The Company has taken these steps to reduce the risk of disruption to its business operation if a disaster were to occur. The Company self-insures for liability resulting from cargo loss, personal injury, and property damage as well as workers' compensation. This is supplemented by premium insurance with licensed insurance 14 companies above the Company's self-insurance level for each type of coverage. To the extent that the Company waswere to experience a significant increase in the number of claims, or the cost per claim, or the costs of insurance premiums for coverage in excess of its retention amounts, the Company's operating results would be negatively affected. In 2004, the Company was named a defendant in two lawsuits related to an accident involving a third-party carrier that was transporting a shipment arranged by the Company's VAS division, as described under Item 3 of this Form 10-K. To the extent the Company were to experience more of these types of claims and the Company is held responsible for liability for these types of claims, the Company's results of operations could be negatively impacted. Effective October 1, 2002, all newly manufactured truck engines must comply with the engine emission standards mandated by the EPA. As of December 31, 2004, approximately 47% of the company-owned truck fleet consisted of trucks with the new post-October 2002 engines. The Company maintainshas experienced an approximate 5% reduction in fuel efficiency to date and increased depreciation expense due to the higher cost of the new engines. The Company anticipates continued increases in these expense categories as regular truck replacements increase the percentage of company-owned trucks with new post-October 2002 engines. A new set of more stringent emissions standards mandated by the EPA will become effective for newly manufactured trucks beginning in January 2007. The Company intends to gradually reduce the average age of its truck fleet in advance of the new standards. The Company expects that the engines produced under the 2007 standards will be less fuel-efficient and have a three-year replacement cyclehigher cost than the current engines. The Company is unable to predict the impact these new regulations will have on its tractors.operations, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. The Company sells tractorsis sensitive to third parties or trades tractors to manufacturers to maintain achanges in used equipment prices, especially tractors. Because of truckload carrier concerns with new truck fleet. Used truck pricing for three-year-old tractors has declined by approximately $12,000 to $15,000 per tractorengines and lower industry production of new trucks over the last several years, the resale value of Werner's premium used trucks improved from 1999 to year-endthe historically low values of 2001. In 1999, the Company realized gainsGains on sales of tractorsequipment are reflected as a reduction of $13.0 million or $0.13 per share, resulting from used truck prices that wereother operating expenses in excess of the Company's net book value for those trucks. For the last halfincome statement and amounted to gains of 2001, used truck pricing for three-year-old tractors was approximately the same as the Company's net book value for those trucks. Should the used truck pricing market become significantly worse$9.7 million in 2004, $7.6 million in 2003, and the Company decided to sell trucks at a loss rather than extend the life of its trucks, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and operating results. Also, the Company currently trades a portion of its three-year-old tractors to its primary tractor manufacturer at fixed prices. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to negotiate comparable trade agreements$2.3 million in future years, which may require the Company to sell more of its trucks to third parties using the Company's retail truck sales network.2002. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on forward- lookingforward-looking statements made herein, since the statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 25 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest and exchange rates and commodity prices. Interest Rate Risk The Company's onlyCompany had no debt outstanding debt at December 31, 2001, was $50 million of fixed rate debt.2004. Interest rates on the Company's unused credit facilities are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)("LIBOR"). Increases in interest rates could impact the Company's annual interest expense on future borrowings. Commodity Price Risk The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations due to changes in the level of global oil production, seasonality, weather, and other market factors. Historically, the Company has been able to recover a majority of fuel price increases from customers in the form of fuel surcharges. The Company cannot predict the extent to which high fuel price levels will occurcontinue in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges could be collected to offset such increases. As of December 31, 2001,2004, the Company had no derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations. Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk The Company conducts business in Mexico and Canada. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses were not material to the Company's results of operations for 20012004 and prior years. Accordingly, the Company is not currently subject to material foreign currency exchange rate risks from the effects that exchange rate movements of foreign currencies would have on the Company's future costs or on future cash flows. To date, all foreign revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars, and the Company receives payment for freight services performed in Mexico and Canada primarily in U.S. dollars to reduce foreign currency risk. 1526 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTSACCOUNTING FIRM To the Stockholders and Board of Directors Werner Enterprises, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001,2004 and 2000,2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-yearthree- year period ended December 31, 2001.2004. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedule for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2001,2004, listed in Item 14(a)15(a)(2) of this Form 10-K. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditingthe standards generally accepted inof the United States of America.Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001,2004 and 2000,2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2001,2004, in conformity with accounting principlesU.S. generally accepted in the United States of America.accounting principles. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information for eachset forth therein. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the three years inPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the period endedeffectiveness of Werner Enterprises, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2001, set forth therein.2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 4, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's assessment of, and the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting. KPMG LLP Omaha, Nebraska January 22, 2002, except as to the second paragraph of Note 3 and Note 9 which are as of February 11, 2002 164, 2005 27 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
2001 2000 1999 ---------- ---------- ---------- (In thousands, except per share amounts)
2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating revenues $1,270,519 $1,214,628 $1,052,333$1,678,043 $1,457,766 $1,341,456 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating expenses: Salaries, wages and benefits 457,433 429,825 382,824544,424 513,551 486,315 Fuel 131,498 137,620 79,029218,095 160,465 125,189 Supplies and maintenance 117,882 102,784 87,600138,999 123,680 119,972 Taxes and licenses 93,628 89,126 82,089109,720 104,392 98,741 Insurance and claims 41,946 34,147 31,72876,991 73,032 51,192 Depreciation 116,043 109,107 99,955144,535 135,168 121,702 Rent and purchased transportation 214,336 216,917 185,129289,186 215,463 222,571 Communications and utilities 14,365 14,454 13,44418,919 16,480 14,808 Other 4,059 (2,173) (11,666)(4,154) (1,969) 1,512 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total operating expenses 1,191,190 1,131,807 950,1321,536,715 1,340,262 1,242,002 ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating income 79,329 82,821 102,201141,328 117,504 99,454 ---------- ---------- ---------- Other expense (income): Interest expense 3,775 8,169 6,56513 1,099 2,857 Interest income (2,628) (2,650) (1,407)(2,580) (1,699) (2,340) Other 1,791 (154) 245198 128 333 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total other expense 2,938 5,365 5,403(income) (2,369) (472) 850 ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before income taxes 76,391 77,456 96,798143,697 117,976 98,604 Income taxes 28,647 29,433 36,78756,387 44,249 36,977 ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 47,74487,310 $ 48,02373,727 $ 60,01161,627 ========== ========== ========== Average common shares outstanding 63,147 62,748 63,20779,224 79,828 79,705 ========== ========== ========== Basic earnings per share $ 0.761.10 $ 0.770.92 $ 0.950.77 ========== ========== ========== Diluted shares outstanding 64,147 63,010 63,50880,868 81,668 81,522 ========== ========== ========== Diluted earnings per share $ 0.741.08 $ 0.760.90 $ 0.940.76 ========== ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 1728 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, ---------------------- 2001 2000 ---------- ---------- (In thousands, except share amounts)
December 31 ----------------------- ASSETS 2004 2003 ---------- ---------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 74,366108,807 $ 25,485101,409 Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance of $4,966$8,189 and $3,994,$6,043, respectively 121,354 123,518 Receivable from unconsolidated affiliate - 5,332186,771 152,461 Other receivables 8,527 10,25711,832 8,892 Inventories and supplies 8,432 7,3299,658 9,877 Prepaid taxes, licenses, and permits 12,333 12,396 Current deferred income taxes - 11,55215,292 14,957 Other 11,055 10,908current assets 18,896 17,691 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 236,067 206,777351,256 305,287 ---------- ---------- Property and equipment, at cost: Land 19,357 19,15725,008 21,423 Buildings and improvements 79,704 72,631105,493 96,787 Revenue equipment 854,603 829,5491,100,596 1,013,645 Service equipment and other 115,941 100,342143,552 129,397 ---------- ---------- Total property and equipment 1,069,605 1,021,6791,374,649 1,261,252 Less - accumulated depreciation 354,122 313,881511,651 455,565 ---------- ---------- Property and equipment, net 715,483 707,798862,998 805,687 ---------- ---------- Notes receivable 5,408 4,420 Investment in unconsolidated affiliate 3,660 5,324 Other non-current assets 3,396 2,88811,521 10,553 ---------- ---------- $ 964,014 $ 927,207$1,225,775 $1,121,527 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 33,18849,618 $ 30,710 Current portion of long-term debt 30,000 -40,903 Insurance and claims accruals 40,254 36,05755,095 55,201 Accrued payroll 15,008 12,746 Income taxes payable 1,268 7,15719,579 15,828 Current deferred income taxes 20,473 -15,569 15,151 Other current liabilities 12,066 14,74917,705 15,392 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 152,257 101,419157,566 142,475 ---------- ---------- Long-term debt,Deferred income taxes 210,739 198,640 Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion 20,000 105,000 Deferred income taxes 162,907 152,403 Insurance, claims and other long-term accruals 38,801 32,30184,301 71,301 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 64,427,78080,533,536 shares issued; 63,636,82379,197,747 and 62,719,05379,714,271 shares outstanding, respectively 644 644805 805 Paid-in capital 106,058 105,683106,695 108,706 Retained earnings 490,942 447,943691,035 614,011 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (43) (34)(861) (837) Treasury stock, at cost; 790,9571,335,789 and 1,708,727819,265 shares, respectively (7,552) (18,152)(24,505) (13,574) ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity 590,049 536,084773,169 709,111 ---------- ---------- $ 964,014 $ 927,207$1,225,775 $1,121,527 ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 1829 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)
2001 2000 19992004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- (In thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 47,74487,310 $ 48,02373,727 $ 60,01161,627 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 116,043 109,107 99,955144,535 135,168 121,702 Deferred income taxes 42,529 18,751 22,200 Loss (gain)12,517 (5,480) 35,891 Gain on disposal of operating equipment 740 (5,055) (13,047)(9,735) (7,557) (2,257) Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate - - (1,809) Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliate 1,664 (324) - - 2,105 Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 2,384 130 6633,225 2,863 1,450 Other long-term assets 938 (2,888) -408 1,023 248 Insurance, claims and other long-term accruals 6,500 2,000 (500)13,000 23,500 9,000 Changes in certain working capital items: Accounts receivable, net 2,164 3,693 (32,882)(34,310) (20,572) (10,535) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,875 (8,474) (8,725)(4,261) 6,358 (17,428) Accounts payable 2,478 (4,976) (12,460)8,715 (9,643) 17,358 Accrued and other current liabilities (2,139) 10,160 16,7625,178 8,087 8,919 ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash provided by operating activities 226,920 170,147 131,977226,582 207,474 226,271 ---------- ---------- ---------- Cash flows from investing activities: Additions to property and equipment (170,862) (169,113) (255,326)(294,288) (158,351) (309,672) Retirements of property and equipment 44,710 60,608 84,297 Investment in98,098 54,754 71,882 Sale of unconsolidated affiliate - (5,000) - Decrease (increase)3,364 (Increase) decrease in notes receivable (750) 287 -2,703 2,052 (1,099) ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash used in investing activities (126,902) (113,218) (171,029)(193,487) (101,545) (235,525) ---------- ---------- ---------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 5,000- - 10,000 30,000 Repayments of long-term debt (60,000) (25,000) - Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt - - 30,000 Repayments of short-term debt - (25,000) (15,000)(20,000) (40,000) Dividends on common stock (4,728) (4,710) (4,740)(9,506) (6,466) (5,019) Payment of stock split fractional shares - (9) (12) Repurchases of common stock - (2,759) (3,941)(21,591) (13,476) (3,766) Stock options exercised 8,591 657 2,1885,424 6,167 3,570 ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash provided by (used in)used in financing activities (51,137) (46,812) 38,507(25,673) (33,784) (35,227) ---------- ---------- ---------- Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash (24) (621) - Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 48,881 10,117 (545)equivalents: 7,398 71,524 (44,481) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 25,485 15,368 15,913101,409 29,885 74,366 ---------- ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 74,366108,807 $ 25,485101,409 $ 15,36829,885 ========== ========== ========== Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid (received) during year for: Interest $ 4,31513 $ 7,8761,148 $ 7,3293,080 Income taxes (9,540) 3,916 13,27542,850 34,401 10,422 Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing activities: Notes receivable issued upon sale of revenue equipment $ 2384,079 $ 4,7072,566 $ - Warehouse assets contributed to LLC 1,4462,686 Notes receivable canceled upon return of revenue equipment - - (1,279)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 1930 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Accumulated Other Total Common Paid-In Retained Comprehensive Treasury Stockholders' StockStocK Capital Earnings Loss Stock Equity ------ -------- -------- ------------- --------- ------------ (In thousands, except share amounts)------------------------------------------------------------------ BALANCE, December 31, 1998 $644 $105,177 $349,3512001 $805 $105,897 $490,942 $ - $(14,584) $440,588(43) $ (7,552) $590,049 Purchases of 403,467267,125 shares of common stock - - - - (3,941) (3,941)(3,766) (3,766) Dividends on common stock ($.075.064 per share) - - (4,737)(5,102) - - (4,737)(5,102) Payment of stock split fractional shares - (12) - - - (12) Exercise of stock options, 264,701448,508 shares, including tax benefits - 5461,481 - - 2,305 2,8513,539 5,020 Comprehensive income:income (loss): Net income - - 60,01161,627 - - 60,011 ------61,627 Foreign currency translation adjustments - - - (173) - (173) ----- -------- -------- ----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------Total comprehensive income - - 61,627 (173) - 61,454 ----- -------- -------- ----------- --------- ---------- BALANCE, December 31, 1999 644 105,723 404,625 - (16,220) 494,7722002 805 107,366 547,467 (216) (7,779) 647,643 Purchases of 300,268764,500 shares of common stock - - - - (2,759) (2,759)(13,476) (13,476) Dividends on common stock ($.075.090 per share) - - (4,705)(7,183) - - (4,705)(7,183) Payment of stock split fractional shares - (9) - - - (9) Exercise of stock options, 79,007752,591 shares, including tax benefits - (40)1,349 - - 827 7877,681 9,030 Comprehensive income (loss): Net income - - 48,02373,727 - - 48,02373,727 Foreign currency translation adjustments - - - (34)(621) - (34) ------(621) ----- -------- -------- ----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------ Total comprehensive income - - 48,023 (34)73,727 (621) - 47,989 ------73,106 ----- -------- -------- ----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------ BALANCE, December 31, 2000 644 105,683 447,943 (34) (18,152) 536,0842003 805 108,706 614,011 (837) (13,574) 709,111 Purchases of 1,173,200 shares of common stock - - - - (21,591) (21,591) Dividends on common stock ($.075.130 per share) - - (4,745)(10,286) - - (4,745)(10,286) Exercise of stock options, 917,770656,676 shares, including tax benefits - 375(2,011) - - 10,600 10,97510,660 8,649 Comprehensive income (loss): Net income - - 47,74487,310 - - 47,74487,310 Foreign currency translation adjustments - - - (9)(24) - (9) ------(24) ----- -------- -------- ----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------ Total comprehensive income - - 47,744 (9)87,310 (24) - 47,735 ------87,286 ----- -------- -------- ----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------ BALANCE, December 31, 2001 $644 $106,058 $490,942 $(43) $ (7,552) $590,049 ======2004 $805 $106,695 $691,035 $(861) $(24,505) $773,169 ===== ======== ======== ======================= ========= ========== ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 2031 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Business Werner Enterprises, Inc. (the Company)"Company") is a truckload transportation and logistics company operating under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal and Provincial Transportation Departments in Canada, and various state regulatory commissions. The Company maintains a diversified freight base with no one customer or industry making up a significant percentage of the Company's receivables or revenues. The largest singleOne customer generated 9% of total revenues for 2001.2004, 2003, and 2002. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions relating to these majority-owned entities have been eliminated. TheThrough December 31, 2002, the Company recorded its investment in Transplace using the equity method of accounting is used foruntil the Company's investment in TransplaceCompany reduced its ownership percentage (see Note 2). On January 1, 2003, the Company began accounting for this investment using the cost method. Use of Management Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted accounting principlesin the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments, purchased with a maturity of three months or less, to be cash equivalents. Trade Accounts Receivable Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company's existing accounts receivable. The financial condition of customers is reviewed by the Company prior to granting credit. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and national economic data. The Company reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers. 32 Inventories and Supplies Inventories and supplies consist primarily of revenue equipment parts, tires, fuel, supplies, and suppliescompany store merchandise and are stated at average cost. Tires placed on new revenue equipment are capitalized as a part of the equipment cost. Replacement tires are expensed when placed in service. Property, Equipment, and Depreciation Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost, while maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations as incurred. If equipment is traded rather than sold and cash involved in the exchange is less than 25% of the fair value of the exchange, the cost of new equipment is recorded at an amount equal to the lower of the monetary consideration paid plus the net book value of the traded property or the fair value of the new equipment. Depreciation is calculated based on the cost of the asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method. Accelerated depreciation methods are used for income tax purposes. The lives and salvage values assigned to certain assets for financial reporting purposes are different than for income tax purposes. For financial reporting purposes, assets are depreciated overusing the following estimated useful lives and salvage values:
Lives Salvage Values ------------ -------------- Building and improvements 30 years 0% Tractors 5 years 25% Trailers 12 years 0% Service and other equipment 3-10 years 0%
Although the Company's current replacement cycle for tractors is three years, the Company calculates depreciation expense for financial reporting purposes using a five-year life and 25% salvage value. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner continues at the same straight-line rate, which approximates the continuing declining value of 30 yearsthe tractors, in those instances in which a tractor is held beyond the normal three-year age. Calculating depreciation expense using a five-year life and 25% salvage value results in the same annual depreciation rate (15% of cost per year) and the same net book value at the normal three-year replacement date (55% of cost) as using a three-year life and 55% salvage value. As a result, there is no difference in recorded depreciation expense on a quarterly or annual basis with the Company's five-year life, 25% salvage value as compared to a three-year life, 55% salvage value. Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews its long-lived assets for buildingsimpairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable, and improvements, 5it exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets classified as held and used, if the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the future net cash flows, it is not recoverable. The Company does not separately identify assets by operating segment, as tractors and trailers are routinely transferred from one operating fleet to 10 yearsanother. As a result, none of the Company's long-lived assets have identifiable cash flows from use that are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Thus, the asset group used to assess impairment would include all assets and liabilities of the Company. Long-lived assets classified as held for revenue equipment, and 3sale are reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less costs to 10 years for service and other equipment.sell. 33 Insurance and Claims Accruals Insurance and claims accruals, both current and noncurrent, reflect the estimated cost for cargo loss and damage, bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD), group health, and workers' compensation claims, including estimated loss development and loss adjustment expenses, not covered by insurance. The costs for cargo and BI/PD 21 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) insurance and claims are included in insurance and claims expense, while the costs of group health and workers' compensation claims are included in salaries, wages and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The insurance and claims accruals are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amounts and are based upon individual case estimates and estimates of incurred-but-not-reportedincurred-but-not- reported losses based upon past experience. Actual costs related to insurance and claims have not differed materially from estimated accrued amounts for all years presented. The Company's insurance and claims accruals are reviewed by an actuary every six months. The Company has been responsible for liability claims up to $500,000, plus administrative expenses, for each occurrence involving personal injury or property damage since August 1, 1992. For the policy year beginning August 1, 2004, the Company increased its self-insured retention ("SIR") amount to $2.0 million per occurrence. The Company is also responsible for varying annual aggregate amounts of liability for claims above $500,000 and below $4,000,000. For the policy year ending August 1, 2002, these annual aggregate amounts total $4,500,000. Liability in excess of these riskthe self-insured retention. The following table reflects the self-insured retention levels is assumed byand aggregate amounts of liability for personal injury and property damage claims since August 1, 2001:
Primary Coverage Coverage Period Primary Coverage SIR/deductible - ------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------ August 1, 2001 - July 31, 2002 $3.0 million $500,000 (1) August 1, 2002 - July 31, 2003 $3.0 million $500,000 (2) August 1, 2003 - July 31, 2004 $3.0 million $500,000 (3) August 1, 2004 - July 31, 2005 $5.0 million $2.0 million (4)
(1) Subject to an additional $1.5 million self-insured aggregate amount in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, and a $2.0 million aggregate in the $3.0 to $4.0 million layer. (2) Subject to an additional $1.5 million aggregate in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, and self-insured in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer. (3) Subject to an additional $1.5 million aggregate in the $0.5 to $1.0 million layer, a $1.0 million aggregate in the $1.0 to $2.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, a $6.0 million aggregate in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer, and a $5.0 million aggregate in the $5.0 to $10.0 million layer. (4) Subject to an additional $3.0 million aggregate in the $2.0 to $3.0 million layer, no aggregate (i.e., fully insured) in the $3.0 to $5.0 million layer, and a $5.0 million aggregate in the $5.0 to $10.0 million layer. The Company's primary insurance carrierscovers the range of liability where the Company expects most claims to occur. Liability claims substantially in excess of coverage amounts whichlisted in the table above, if they occur, are covered under premium-based policies with reputable insurance companies to coverage levels that management considers adequate. The Company's premium rateCompany is also responsible for liability coverage up to $3,000,000 per claim is fixed through August 1, 2004, while coverage levels above $3,000,000 per claim will be renewed effective August 1, 2002.administrative expenses for each occurrence involving personal injury or property damage. See also Note 7 "Commitments and Contingencies". The Company has assumed responsibility for workers' compensation, maintains a $19,000,000$27.3 million bond, has statutory coverage, and has obtained insurance for individual claims above $500,000.$1.0 million. Under these insurance arrangements, the Company maintains $12,100,000$35.4 million in letters of credit as of December 31, 2001.2004. 34 Revenue Recognition The Consolidated Statements of Income reflect recognition of operating revenues (including fuel surcharge revenues) and related direct costs when the shipment is delivered. For shipments where a third-party provider is utilized to provide some or all of the service and the Company is the primary obligor in regards to the delivery of the shipment, establishes customer pricing separately from carrier rate negotiations, generally has discretion in carrier selection, and/or has credit risk on the shipment, the Company records both revenues for the dollar value of services billed by the Company to the customer and rent and purchased transportation expense for the costs of transportation paid by the Company to the third- party provider upon delivery of the shipment. In the absence of the conditions listed above, the Company records revenues net of expenses related to third-party providers. Foreign Currency Translation Local currencies are generally considered the functional currencies outside the United States. Assets and liabilities are translated at year-endyear- end exchange rates for operations in local currency environments. Income and expenseAll foreign revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars. Expense items are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. Foreign currency translation adjustments reflect the changes in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to the net assets of the Mexican and Canadian operations for the years ended December 31, 20012004, 2003, and 2000, and of the Canadian operations for the year ended December 31, 2001.2002. The amounts of such translation adjustments were not significant for all years presented (see the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity)Equity and Comprehensive Income). Income Taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)("SFAS") No. 109 in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Common Stock and Earnings Per Share The Company computes and presents earnings per share (EPS)("EPS") in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. The difference between the Company's weighted average shares outstanding and diluted shares outstanding is due to the dilutive effect of stock options for all periods presented. There are no differences in the numerator of the Company's computations of basic and diluted EPS for any period presented. 22Stock Based Compensation At December 31, 2004, the Company has a nonqualified stock option plan, as described more fully in Note 6. The Company applies the intrinsic value based method of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plan. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under the plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The Company's pro forma net income and earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts) would have been as indicated below had the fair value of option grants been charged to salaries, wages, and benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation: 35 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
Year Ended December 31 ----------------------------- 2004 2003 2002 ------- ------- ------- Net income, as reported $87,310 $73,727 $61,627 Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects 2,006 2,516 3,456 ------- ------- ------- Pro forma net income $85,304 $71,211 $58,171 ======= ======= ======= Earnings per share: Basic - as reported $ 1.10 $ 0.92 $ 0.77 ======= ======= ======= Basic - pro forma $ 1.08 $ 0.89 $ 0.73 ======= ======= ======= Diluted - as reported $ 1.08 $ 0.90 $ 0.76 ======= ======= ======= Diluted - pro forma $ 1.05 $ 0.87 $ 0.71 ======= ======= =======
Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that are not included in net income, but rather are recorded directly in stockholders' equity. For the years ended December 31, 20012004, 2003, and 2000,2002, comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company had no items of other comprehensive income (loss), and, accordingly, comprehensive income is the same as net income. Accounting Standards On July 20, 2001,In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)("FASB") revised FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. FIN No. 46(R) addresses consolidation by business enterprises of certain variable interest entities. For public entities that are not small business issuers, the provisions of FIN No. 46(R) are effective no later than the end of the first reporting period that ends after March 15, 2004. If the variable interest entity is considered to be a special-purpose entity, FIN No. 46(R) shall be applied no later than the first reporting period that ends after December 15, 2003. Management has determined that adoption of this interpretation did not have any material effect on the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company. In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (SFAS 141), Business Combinations153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets. This Statement amends the guidance in APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions. APB 29 provided an exception to the basic measurement principle (fair value) for exchanges of similar assets, requiring that some nonmonetary exchanges be recorded on a carryover basis. SFAS 153 eliminates the exception to fair value for exchanges of similar productive assets and No. 142 (SFAS 142), Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.replaces it with a general exception for exchange transactions that do not have commercial substance, that is, transactions that are not expected to result in significant changes in the cash flows of the reporting entity. The provisions of SFAS 141 requires all business combinations initiated153 are effective for exchanges of nonmonetary assets occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 30, 2001, to be accounted for using the purchase method. Business combinations accounted for as poolings-of-interests and initiated prior to June 30, 2001, are grandfathered. SFAS 142 replaces the requirement to amortize intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill with a requirement for an impairment test. The elimination of the requirement to amortize goodwill also applies to investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. SFAS 142 also requires an evaluation of intangible assets and their useful lives and a transitional impairment test for goodwill and certain intangible assets upon adoption. After transition, the impairment tests will be performed annually. SFAS 142 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, as of the beginning of the year.2005. As of December 31, 2001, the Company has no goodwill or intangible assets recorded in its financial statements. Management2004, management believes that SFAS 141 and SFAS 142153 will have no significant effect on the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company. During June 2001,In December 2004, the FASB issuedrevised SFAS No. 143 (SFAS 143)123 (revised 2004), AccountingShare- Based Payments. SFAS 123(R) eliminates the alternative to use APB Opinion 25's intrinsic value method of accounting (generally resulting in recognition of no compensation cost) and instead requires a company to recognize in its financial statements the cost of employee services received in exchange for Asset Retirement Obligations. This Statement addresses financial accountingvaluable equity instruments issued, and reporting for obligations associated withliabilities incurred, to employees in share-based payment transactions (e.g., stock options). The cost will be based on the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS 143 requires an enterprise to record thegrant-date fair value of the award and will be recognized over the period for which an asset retirement obligationemployee 36 is required to provide service in exchange for the award. For public entities that do not file as a liabilitysmall business issuers, the provisions of the revised statement are to be applied prospectively for awards that are granted, modified, or settled in the first interim or annual period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset. SFAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002.2005. Additionally, public entities would recognize compensation cost for any portion of awards granted or modified after December 15, 1994, that is not yet vested at the date the standard is adopted, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated under SFAS 123 (as originally issued) for either recognition or pro forma disclosures. When the Company adopts the standard on July 1, 2005, it will be required to report in its financial statements the share-based compensation expense for the last six months of 2005 and may choose to use the modified retrospective application method to restate results for the two earlier interim periods. As of December 31, 2001,2004, management believes that SFAS 143adopting the new statement will have no significant effect ona negative impact of approximately one cent per share (two cents per share if the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company. On October 3, 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144 (SFAS 144), Accountingmodified retrospective application method is used) for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which addresses financial accounting and reportingyear ending December 31, 2005, representing the expense to be recognized from July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 for the impairment or disposalunvested portion of long-lived assets. While SFAS 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long- Lived Assetsawards which were granted prior to Be Disposed Of, it retains many of the fundamental provisions of that Statement. SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2001. As of December 31, 2001, management believes that SFAS 144 will have no significant effect on the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company.July 1, 2005. (2) INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATE Effective June 30, 2000, the Company contributed its non-asset based logistics business to Transplace (TPC)("TPC"), a joint venture of six large transportation companies, in exchange for an equity interest in TPC of approximately 15%. TPC is a joint venture of five large transportation companies - Covenant Transport, Inc.; J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.; Swift Transportation Co., Inc.; U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.; and Werner Enterprises, Inc. TheThrough December 31, 2002, the Company is accountingaccounted for its investment in TPC using the equity method. Management believes this method iswas appropriate because the Company hashad the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of TPC through its representation on the TPC boardBoard of directors. AtDirectors. On December 31, 2001,2002, the Company sold a portion of its ownership interest in TPC, reducing the Company's ownership stake in TPC from 15% to 5%. The Company relinquished its seat on the TPC Board of Directors, and TPC agreed to release the Company from certain restrictions on competition within the transportation logistics marketplace. The Company realized net losses of less than one cent per share during 2002, consisting of the Company's gain on sale of a portion of its ownership in TPC in fourth quarter 2002, net of the Company's equity in net losses of TPC during the year. These items are recorded as non-operating expense in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. Beginning January 1, 2003, the Company began accounting for its investment in unconsolidated affiliate (in thousands) is $3,660 (which includes a $5,000 cashon the cost method and no longer accrues its percentage share of TPC's earnings or losses. The Company's recorded investment in TPC less $1,340, which represents the 23 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) Company's 15% equity in the loss from operationsis $0 as of unconsolidated affiliate since June 30, 2000).December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The Company is not responsible for the debt of Transplace. In October 2000, the Company provided funds (in thousands) of $3,200 to TPC in the form of a short-term note with an interest rate of 8%. The Company recorded interest income on the note from TPC (in thousands) of approximately $26 and $61 during 2001 and 2000, respectively. The note was repaid in full in February 2001. The Company and TPC enter into transactions with each other for certain of their purchased transportation needs. The Company recorded operating revenue (in thousands) from TPC of approximately $30,600$8,400, $16,800, and $15,500$25,000 in 20012004, 2003, and 2000,2002, respectively, and recorded purchased transportation expense (in thousands) to TPC of approximately $10,500$7, $711, and $1,500$13,300 during 20012004, 2003, and 2000,2002, respectively. TheDuring 2002, the Company also providesprovided certain administrative functions to TPC as well as providing office space, supplies, and communications. The allocation from the Company for these services (in thousands) was approximately $407 and $518$123 during 2001 and 2000, respectively.2002. The allocations for rent are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as miscellaneous revenue, and the remaining amounts are recorded as a reduction of the respective operating expenses. The Company stopped providing these services in 2003. The Company believes that the transactions with TPC are on terms no less favorable to the Company than those that could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties, on an arm's length basis. 37 (3) LONG-TERM DEBT Long-term debt consistsAs of the following at December 31, (in thousands):
2001 2000 -------- -------- Notes payable to banks under committed credit facilities $ - $ 55,000 6.55% Series A Senior Notes, due November 2002 20,000 20,000 6.02% Series B Senior Notes, due November 2002 10,000 10,000 5.52% Series C Senior Notes, due December 2003 20,000 20,000 -------- -------- 50,000 105,000 Less current portion 30,000 - -------- -------- Long-term debt, net $ 20,000 $105,000 ======== ========
Effective February 11, 2002,2004, the Company reduced its credit facilities to $25 million of available credit pursuant tohas two credit facilities with banks totaling $75.0 million which expire May 16, 2006 and October 22, 2005 and bear variable interest based on LIBOR,the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), on which no borrowings were outstanding at December 31, 2001.2004 or December 31, 2003. As of December 31, 2004, the credit available pursuant to these bank credit facilities is reduced by $35.4 million in letters of credit the Company maintains. Each of the debt agreements require, among other things, that the Company maintain a minimum consolidated tangible net worth and not exceed a maximum ratio of indebtednesstotal funded debt to total capitalization. Theearnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rentals payable as defined in the credit facility. Although the Company washad no borrowings pursuant to these credit facilities as of December 31, 2004, the Company remained in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2001. The aggregate future maturities of long-term2004. (4) NOTES RECEIVABLE Notes receivable are included in other current assets and short-term debt by year consist ofother non- current assets in the following at December 31, 2001, (in thousands):
2002 $ 30,000 2003 20,000 --------- $ 50,000 =========
The carrying amount of the Company's long-term debt approximates fair value due to the duration of the notes and their interest rates. 24 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (4) LEASES The Company leases certain revenue equipment under operating leases which expire through 2003.Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2001, the future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable revenue equipment operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
2002 $3,219 2003 100
Rental expense under non-cancelable revenue equipment operating leases (in thousands) was $3,237 in 2001, $3,185 in 2000, and $596 in 1999. (5) INCOME TAXES Income tax expense consistsnotes receivable consisted of the following (in thousands):
2001 2000 1999 --------- --------- ---------2004 2003 ------- ------- Owner-operator notes receivable $ 7,006 $ 4,866 TDR Transportes, S.A. de C.V. 3,600 3,758 Warehouse One, LLC 1,451 1,525 Other notes receivable 500 - ------- ------- 12,557 10,149 Less current portion 2,753 1,722 ------- ------- Notes receivable - non-current $ 9,804 $ 8,427 ======= =======
The Company provides financing to some independent contractors who want to become owner-operators by purchasing a tractor from the Company and leasing their truck to the Company. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company had 221 and 153 notes receivable totaling $7,006 and $4,866 (in thousands), respectively, from these owner-operators. See Note 8 for information regarding notes from related parties. The Company maintains a first security interest in the tractor until the owner-operator has paid the note balance in full. The Company also retains recourse exposure related to owner-operators who have purchased tractors from the Company with third-party financing arranged by the Company. During 2002, the Company loaned $3,600 (in thousands) to TDR Transportes, S.A. de C.V. ("TDR"), a truckload carrier in the Republic of Mexico. The loan has a nine-year term with principal payable at the end of the term, is subject to acceleration if certain conditions are met, bears interest at a rate of five percent per annum which is payable quarterly, contains certain financial and other covenants, and is collateralized by the assets of TDR. The Company had a receivable for interest on this note of $31 (in thousands) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003. During 2003, the Company loaned an additional $158 (in thousands) to TDR for the purchase of revenue equipment, which was repaid in March 2004. See Note 8 for information regarding related party transactions. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in a 125,000 square-foot warehouse (Warehouse One, LLC) located near the Company's headquarters. The Company has a note receivable from the owner of the other 50% interest in the warehouse with a principal balance (in thousands) of $1,451 and $1,525 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The note bears interest at a variable rate based on the prime rate and is adjusted annually. The note is secured by the borrower's 50% ownership interest in the warehouse. The Company's 50% ownership interest in the warehouse (in thousands) of $1,337 and $1,364 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, is included in other non-current assets. 38 (5) INCOME TAXES Income tax expense consisted of the following (in thousands):
2004 2003 2002 ------- ------- ------- CurrentCurrent: Federal $(12,194)$38,206 $46,072 $ 9,132 $11,787959 State (1,688) 1,550 2,800 --------- --------- --------- (13,882) 10,682 14,587 --------- --------- --------- Deferred5,664 3,657 127 ------- ------- ------- 43,870 49,729 1,086 ------- ------- ------- Deferred: Federal 37,358 16,001 19,11212,336 (6,159) 31,692 State 5,171 2,750 3,088 --------- --------- --------- 42,529 18,751 22,200 --------- --------- ---------181 679 4,199 ------- ------- ------- 12,517 (5,480) 35,891 ------- ------- ------- Total income tax expense $ 28,647 $29,433 $36,787 ========= ========= =========$56,387 $44,249 $36,977 ======= ======= =======
The effective income tax rate differs from the federal corporate tax rate of 35% in 2001, 2000,2004, 2003 and 19992002 as follows (in thousands):
2001 2000 1999 -------- --------- ---------2004 2003 2002 ------- ------- ------- Tax at statutory rate $26,737 $27,110 $33,879$50,294 $41,292 $34,511 State income taxes, net of federal tax benefits 2,264 2,795 3,8273,800 2,818 2,812 Non-deductible meals and entertainment 2,670 172 117 Income tax credits (900) (900) (638) (638) (691) Other, net 284 166 (228) -------- --------- --------- $28,647 $29,433 $36,787 ========= ========= =========523 867 175 ------- ------- ------- $56,387 $44,249 $36,977 ======= ======= =======
25 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) At December 31, deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
2001 2000 --------- ---------2004 2003 -------- -------- Deferred tax assets: Insurance and claims accruals $ 27,01653,994 $ 24,70648,081 Allowance for uncollectible accounts 1,752 1,4253,813 3,078 Other 3,579 3,099 --------- ---------4,584 3,743 -------- -------- Gross deferred tax assets 32,347 29,230 --------- ---------62,391 54,902 -------- -------- Deferred tax liabilities: Property and equipment 166,818 161,338242,139 219,849 Prepaid expenses 38,286 4,43142,517 42,174 Other 10,623 4,312 --------- ---------4,043 6,670 -------- -------- Gross deferred tax liabilities 215,727 170,081 --------- ---------288,699 268,693 -------- -------- Net deferred tax liability $183,380 $140,851 ========= =========$226,308 $213,791 ======== ========
These amounts (in thousands) are presented in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31 as follows:
2001 2000 --------- ---------2004 2003 -------- -------- Current deferred tax assetliability $ -15,569 $ 11,552 Current deferred tax liability 20,473 -15,151 Noncurrent deferred tax liability 162,907 152,403 --------- ---------210,739 198,640 -------- -------- Net deferred tax liability $183,380 $140,851 ========= =========$226,308 $213,791 ======== ========
39 The Company has not recorded a valuation allowance as it believes that all deferred tax assets are likely to be realized as a result of the Company's history of profitability, taxable income and reversal of deferred tax liabilities. (6) STOCK OPTION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Stock Option Plan The Company's Stock Option Plan (the Stock"Stock Option Plan)Plan") is a nonqualified plan that provides for the grant of options to management employees. Options are granted at prices equal to the market value of the common stock on the date the option is granted. Options granted become exercisable in installments from six to seventy-twoseventy- two months after the date of grant. The options are exercisable over a period not to exceed ten years and one day from the date of grant. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be optioned under the Stock Option Plan is 11,666,66720,000,000 shares. At the May 11, 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders approved an amendment to increase the maximum number of shares that may be optioned or sold under the Stock Option Plan by 5,416,666 shares, from 14,583,334 to 20,000,000 shares. The stockholders also approved an amendment to increase the maximum aggregate number of options that may be granted to any one person under the Stock Option Plan by 1,000,000, from 1,562,500 to 2,562,500 options. At December 31, 2001, 3,129,6792004, 9,227,976 shares were available for granting additional options. At December 31, 2001, 2000,2004, 2003, and 1999,2002, options for 828,851, 1,124,919,2,485,582, 2,183,597, and 892,2371,598,594, shares with weighted average exercise prices of $10.31, $9.81,$8.48, $8.45, and $9.47$8.18 were exercisable, respectively. 26 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) The following table summarizes Stock Option Plan activity for the three years ended December 31, 2001:2004:
Options Outstanding ---------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted-Average Shares Exercise Price ---------- ----------------------------------------------- Balance, December 31, 1998 2,033,306 9.982001 6,714,076 $ 8.46 Options granted 1,892,680 9.398,333 13.94 Options exercised (264,701) 8.27(448,508) 7.96 Options canceled (26,668) 11.27 ----------(136,441) 7.47 --------- Balance, December 31, 1999 3,634,617 9.792002 6,137,460 8.52 Options granted 1,506,667 9.65- - Options exercised (79,007) 8.17(752,591) 8.19 Options canceled (275,693) 9.77 ----------(110,022) 7.84 --------- Balance, December 31, 2000 4,786,584 9.772003 5,274,847 8.58 Options granted 1,598,000 12.22787,000 18.33 Options exercised (917,770) 9.36(656,676) 8.26 Options canceled (95,553) 9.60 ----------(448,042) 8.79 --------- Balance, December 31, 2001 5,371,261 10.57 ==========2004 4,957,129 10.16 =========
40 The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2001:2004:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Weighted-Average------------------------------------------------- Weighted- Average Weighted- Weighted- Remaining Average Average Range of Number RemainingContractual Exercise Number Exercise Exercise Prices Outstanding Contractual Life Price Exercisable Price --------------- ----------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 7.856.28 to $ 9.94 3,088,113 8.07.95 2,191,695 5.3 years $ 9.37 465,7247.57 1,442,633 $ 8.87 $11.207.55 $ 8.96 to $15.38 2,283,148 8.7$ 9.77 1,933,003 6.2 years 12.20 363,127 12.15 ----------- ----------- 5,371,261 8.39.75 1,001,647 9.73 $10.43 to $13.94 49,431 4.5 years 10.57 828,851 10.31 =========== ============11.24 41,302 10.81 $18.33 783,000 9.4 years 18.33 0 0.00 --------- --------- 4,957,129 6.3 years 10.16 2,485,582 8.48 ========= =========
The Company applies the intrinsic value based method of Accounting Principles Board (APB)APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its Stock Option Plan. SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation requires pro forma disclosure of net income and earnings per share had the estimated fair value of option grants on their grant date been charged to salaries, wages and benefits. The fair value of the options granted during 2001, 2000,2004 and 19992002 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 5.04.0 percent in 2001, 6.0 percent in 2000,2004 and 6.5 percent in 1999;2002; dividend yield of 0.40.66 percent in 20012004 and 0.50.40 percent in 2000 and 1999;2002; expected life of 8.06.5 years in 2001 and 2000,2004 and 7.0 years in 1999;2002; and volatility of 37 percent in 2004 and 38 percent in 2001, 35 percent in 2000, and 30 percent in 1999.2002. The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 2001, 2000,2004 and 19992002 was $6.13, $4.79,$7.60 and $4.17$6.28 per share, respectively. The Company's pro formatable in Note 1 illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share would have been 27 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) as indicated below had the fair value of option grants been charged to salaries, wages, and benefits:
2001 2000 1999 ---- ---- ---- Net income (in thousands) As reported $47,744 $48,023 $60,011 Pro forma 44,589 45,735 59,170 Basic earnings per share As reported 0.76 0.77 0.95 Pro forma 0.71 0.73 0.94 Diluted earnings per share As reported 0.74 0.76 0.94 Pro forma 0.70 0.73 0.93
benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Employee Stock Purchase Plan Employees meeting certain eligibility requirements may participate in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Purchase Plan). Eligible participants designate the amount of regular payroll deductions and/or single annual payment, subject to a yearly maximum amount, that is used to purchase shares of the Company's common stock on the Over-The-Counter Market subject to the terms of the Purchase Plan. The Company contributes an amount equal to 15% of each participant's contributions under the Purchase Plan. Company contributions for the Purchase Plan (in thousands) were $108, $117,$102, and $104$106 for 2001, 2000,2004, 2003, and 1999,2002, respectively. Interest accrues on Purchase Plan contributions at a rate of 5.25%. The broker's commissions and administrative charges related to purchases of common stock under the Purchase Plan are paid by the Company. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan The Company has an Employees' 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan)"401(k) Plan"). Employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan if they have been continuously employed with the Company or its subsidiaries for six months or more. The Company matches a portion of the amount each employee contributes to the 401(k) Plan. It is the Company's intention, but not its obligation, that the Company's total annual contribution for employees will equal at least 2 1/2 percent of net income (exclusive of extraordinary items). Salaries, wages and benefits expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income includes Company 401(k) Plan contributions and administrative expenses (in thousands) of $1,574, $1,528,$2,043, $1,711, and $1,364$1,599 for 2001, 2000,2004, 2003, and 1999,2002, respectively. (7) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company has committed to property and equipment purchases, net of trades, of approximately $23$122.0 million. On July 29, 2004 and October 25, 2004, the Company was served with complaints naming it and others as defendants in two lawsuits stemming from a multi-vehicle accident that occurred in February 2004. The lawsuits were 41 filed in Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Bernardino, Barstow District and seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages. The Company brokered a shipment to an independent carrier with a satisfactory safety rating which was then involved in the accident, resulting in four fatalities and multiple personal injuries. It is possible that additional lawsuits may be filed by other parties involved in the accident. The Company's Broker-Carrier Agreement with the independent carrier provides for the carrier to indemnify and defend the Company for any loss arising out of or in connection with the transportation of property under the contract. The Company also has a certificate of liability insurance from the carrier indicating that it has insurance coverage of up to $2.0 million per occurrence. For the policy year ended July 31, 2004, the Company's liability insurance policies for coverage ranging up to $10.0 million per occurrence have various annual aggregate levels of net capital expenditures, whichliability for all accidents totaling $9.0 million that is the responsibility of the Company (see Note 1 "Insurance and Claims Accruals" for insurance aggregate information). Amounts in excess of $10.0 million are covered under premium-based policies to coverage levels that management considers adequate. As such, the potential exposure to the Company ranges from $0 to $9.0 million. The lawsuits are currently in the discovery phase. The Company plans to vigorously defend the suits, and the amount of any possible loss to the Company cannot currently be estimated. However, the Company believes an unfavorable outcome in these lawsuits, if it were to occur, would not have a small portionmaterial impact on the financial position, results of its estimated 2002 capital expenditures. Theoperations, and cash flows of the Company. In addition to the litigation noted above, the Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising in the normal course of business. Management believes the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company. (8) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Company leases land from a trust in which the Company's principal stockholder is the sole trustee, with annual rent payments of $1 per year. The Company is responsible for all real estate taxes and maintenance costs related to the property, which are recorded as expenses in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company has made leasehold improvements to the land totaling approximately $6.1 million for facilities used for business meetings and customer promotion. The Company's principal stockholder is the sole trustee of a trust that owns a one-third interest in an entity that operates a motel located nearby one of the Company's terminals with which the Company has committed to rent a guaranteed number of rooms. During 2004, 2003, and 2002, the Company paid (in thousands) $840, $732, and $542, respectively, for lodging services for its drivers at this motel. In 2003, the Company purchased 2.6 acres of land located adjacent to the Company's disaster recovery center in Omaha, Nebraska for $500,000 from a partnership in which the principal stockholder of the Company is the general partner. The brother and sister-in-law of the Company's principal stockholder own an entity with a fleet of tractors that operates as an owner-operator for the Company. During 2004, 2003, and 2002, the Company paid (in thousands) $6,200, $5,888, and $3,587, respectively, to this owner-operator for purchased transportation services. This fleet is compensated using the same owner-operator pay package as the Company's other comparable third- party owner-operators. The Company also sells used revenue equipment to this entity. During 2004, 2003, and 2002, these sales (in thousands) totaled $193, $292, and $1,328, respectively, and the Company recognized gains (in thousands) of $18, $55, and $6 in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. The Company had 35 and 46 notes receivable from this entity related to the revenue equipment sales (in thousands) totaling $656 and $1,030 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company and TDR transact business with each other for certain of their purchased transportation needs. During 2004, 2003, and 2002, the Company recorded operating revenues (in thousands) from TDR of approximately $168, $206, and $416, respectively, and recorded purchased 42 transportation expense (in thousands) to TDR of approximately $631, $1,099, and $1,087, respectively. In addition, during 2004, 2003, and 2002, the Company recorded operating revenues (in thousands) from TDR of approximately $2,837, $1,495, and $72, respectively, related to the leasing of revenue equipment. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company had receivables related to the equipment leases of $1,351 and $852, respectively. See Note 4 for information regarding notes receivable from TDR. The Company believes that these transactions are on terms no less favorable to the Company than those that could be obtained from unrelated third parties on an arm's length basis. (9) SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company has onetwo reportable segmentsegments - Truckload Transportation Services and Value Added Services. ThisThe Truckload Transportation Services segment consists of five operating fleets that have been aggregated since they have similar economic characteristics and meet the other aggregation criteria of SFAS No. 131. The Medium- to Long-Haulmedium-to-long-haul Van fleet transports a variety of consumer, non-durable 28 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)nondurable products and other commodities in truckload quantities over irregular routes using dry van trailers. The Regional Short-Haul fleet provides comparable truckload van service within five geographic regions. The Flatbed and Temperature-Controlled fleets provide truckload services for products with specialized trailers. The Dedicated Services fleet provides truckload services required by a specific company, plant, or distribution center. The Flatbed and Temperature-Controlled fleets provide truckload services for products with specialized trailers. The Value Added Services segment, which generates the majority of the Company's non-trucking revenues, provides freight brokerage, intermodal services, and freight transportation management. Value Added Services was identified as a new reportable segment as of June 30, 2004. The 2004, 2003, and 2002 amounts shown in the following table have been reclassified to account for the change in composition of the Company's reportable segments. The Company generates non-truckingother revenues related to freight transportation management, third-party equipment maintenance, equipment leasing, and other business activities. None of these operations meet the quantitative threshold reporting requirements of SFAS No. 131. As a result, these operations are grouped in "Other" in the table below. The Company does not prepare separate balance sheets by segmentssegment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment. The Company has no significant intersegment sales or expense transactions that would result in adjustments necessary to eliminate amounts between the Company's segments. The following tables summarize the Company's segment information (in thousands):
Revenues ---------------------------------- 2001 2000 1999---------- 2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- Truckload Transportation Services $1,196,518 $1,148,651 $ 991,954$1,506,937 $1,358,428 $1,254,728 Value Added Services 161,111 89,742 80,012 Other 74,001 65,977 60,3796,424 5,287 4,057 Corporate 3,571 4,309 2,659 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total $1,270,519 $1,214,628 $1,052,333$1,678,043 $1,457,766 $1,341,456 ========== ========== ==========
Operating Income ---------------------------------- 2001 2000 1999---------------- 2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- Truckload Transportation Services $ 78,807135,828 $ 83,773118,146 $ 99,41998,838 Value Added Services 5,631 454 1,331 Other 522 (952) 2,7822,587 1,236 1,059 Corporate (2,718) (2,332) (1,774) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total $ 79,329141,328 $ 82,821117,504 $ 102,20199,454 ========== ========== ==========
43 Information as to the Company's operations by geographic area is summarized below (in thousands). Operating revenues for Mexico and Canada include revenues for shipments with an origin or destination in that country and services provided in that country.
Operating Revenues ------------------ 2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- United States $1,537,745 $1,349,153 $1,260,957 Canada 35,364 30,886 19,725 Mexico 104,934 77,727 60,774 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total $1,678,043 $1,457,766 $1,341,456 ========== ========== ==========
Long-lived Assets ----------------- 2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- ---------- United States $ 850,250 $ 796,627 $ 829,506 Canada 136 142 49 Mexico 12,612 8,918 2,712 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total $ 862,998 $ 805,687 $ 832,267 ========== ========== ==========
Substantially all of the Company's revenues are generated within the United States or from North American shipments with origins or destinations in the United States. No one customer accounts for more than 9% of the Company's total revenues. (9)(10) COMMON STOCK SPLITSPLITS On September 2, 2003, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a five-for-four split of the Company's common stock effected in the form of a 25 percent stock dividend. The stock dividend was paid on September 30, 2003, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 16, 2003. On February 11, 2002, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a four-for-three split of the Company's common stock effected in the form of a 33 1/3 percent stock dividend. The stock dividend was payablepaid on March 14, 2002, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2002. No fractional shares of common stock were issued in connection with the 2003 and 2002 stock split.splits. Stockholders entitled to fractional shares received a proportional cash payment based on the closing price of a share of common stock on February 25, 2002.the record dates. All share and per-share information included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for all periods presented have been adjusted to retroactively reflect the 2003 and 2002 stock split. 29splits. 44 WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (10)(11) QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share amounts)
First Second Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter -------- -------- -------- -------- (In thousands, except per share amounts)------------------------------------------- 2001:2004: Operating revenues $304,577 $322,777 $322,618 $320,547$386,280 $411,115 $425,409 $455,239 Operating income 16,059 19,933 20,621 22,71624,859 34,991 39,510 41,968 Net income 9,455 12,091 12,453 13,74515,568 21,620 24,299 25,823 Basic earnings per share .20 .27 .31 .33 Diluted earnings per share 0.15 0.19 0.19 0.21 2000:.19 .27 .30 .32 First Second Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter ------------------------------------------- 2003: Operating revenues $291,379 $307,242 $304,572 $311,435$347,208 $362,290 $368,034 $380,234 Operating income 18,535 22,418 21,043 20,82518,983 31,576 32,728 34,217 Net income 10,318 12,915 12,291 12,49911,839 19,859 20,516 21,513 Basic earnings per share .15 .25 .26 .27 Diluted earnings per share 0.16 0.20 0.20 0.20.15 .24 .25 .26
30 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE No reports on Form 8-Kunder this item have been required to be filed within the twenty-four months prior to December 31, 2001,2004, involving a change of accountants or disagreements on accounting and financial disclosure. ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in enabling the Company to record, process, summarize and report information required to be included in the Company's periodic SEC filings within the required time period. Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. The Company's internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company's management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria for effective internal control described in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its assessment, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2004. 45 Management has engaged KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to attest to and report on management's evaluation of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Its report is included herein. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Stockholders and Board of Directors Werner Enterprises, Inc.: We have audited management's assessment, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Werner Enterprises, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Werner Enterprises, Inc.'s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, management's assessment that Werner Enterprises, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on COSO. Also, in our opinion, Werner Enterprises, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on COSO. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of 46 income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, and our report dated February 4, 2005, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. KPMG LLP Omaha, Nebraska February 4, 2005 Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting There were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION During the fourth quarter of 2004, no information was required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K, but not reported. PART III Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this report on Form 10-K in that the Company will file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A (Proxy Statement)("Proxy Statement") not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report on Form 10-K, and certain information included therein is incorporated herein by reference. Only those sections of the Proxy Statement which specifically address the items set forth herein are incorporated by reference. Such incorporation does not include the Compensation Committee Report or the Performance Graph included in the Proxy Statement. ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The information required by this Item, with the exception of the Code of Ethics discussed below, is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. Code of Ethics The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer/controller, and all other officers, employees, and directors. The code of ethics is available on the Company's website, www.werner.com. The Company intends to post on its website any material changes to, or waiver from, its code of ethics, if any, within four business days of any such event. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The information required by this Item, with the exception of the equity compensation plan information presented below, is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. 47 Equity Compensation Plan Information The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2004, information about compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance:
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Number of Securities to Weighted-Average Equity Compensation be Issued upon Exercise Exercise Price of Plans (Excluding of Outstanding Options, Outstanding Options, Securities Reflected in Warrants and Rights Warrants and Rights Column (a)) Plan Category (a) (b) (c) - ------------- ----------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 4,957,129 $10.16 9,227,976
The Company does not have any equity compensation plans that were not approved by security holders. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. PART IV ITEM 14.15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Financial Statements and Schedules. (1) Financial Statements: See Part II, Item 8 hereof. Page ---- Report of Independent Registered Public Accountants 16Accounting Firm 27 Consolidated Statements of Income 1728 Consolidated Balance Sheets 1829 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 1930 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity 20and Comprehensive Income 31 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2132 (2) Financial Statement Schedules: The consolidated financial statement schedule set forth under the following caption is included herein. The page reference is to the consecutively numbered pages of this report on Form 10-K. Page ---- Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 34 31 51 Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or are not required or the information required to be set forth therein is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto. 48 (3) Exhibits: The response to this portion of Item 1415 is submitted as a separate section of this report on Form 10-K (see Exhibit Index on page 34)52). (b) Reports on Form 8-K: A report on Form 8-K, filed October 19, 2001, regarding a news release on October 16, 2001, announcing the Company's operating revenues and earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2001. 3249 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 20th15th day of March, 2002.February, 2005. WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. By: /s/ John J. Steele ------------------------------------------------------------- John J. Steele Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Position Date --------- -------- ---- /s/ Clarence L. Werner Chairman of the Board, Chief March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ------------------------------------------------ Executive Officer and Director Clarence L. Werner /s/ Gary L. Werner Vice Chairman and March 20, 2002Director February 15, 2005 - ----------------------- Director------------------------- Gary L. Werner /s/ Curtis G. Werner Vice Chairman - Corporate March 20, 2002 - ----------------------- Development and Director Curtis G. Werner /s/ Gregory L. Werner President, Chief Operating March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ------------------------------------------------ Officer and Director Gregory L. Werner /s/ John J. Steele Senior Vice President, Treasurer and March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ------------------------------------------------ and Chief Financial Officer John J. Steele /s/ James L. Johnson Vice President, Controller March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ------------------------------------------------ and Corporate Secretary James L. Johnson /s/ Irving B. EpsteinJeffrey G. Doll Lead Outside Director March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ----------------------- Irving B. Epstein /s/ Martin F. Thompson Director March 20, 2002 - ----------------------- Martin F. Thompson------------------------- Jeffrey G. Doll /s/ Gerald H. Timmerman Director March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ------------------------------------------------ Gerald H. Timmerman /s/ Donald W. RogertMichael L. Steinbach Director March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ----------------------- Donald W. Rogert------------------------- Michael L. Steinbach /s/ Jeffrey G. DollKenneth M. Bird Director March 20, 2002February 15, 2005 - ----------------------- Jeffrey G. Doll------------------------- Kenneth M. Bird /s/ Patrick J. Jung Director February 15, 2005 - ------------------------- Patrick J. Jung
3350 SCHEDULE II WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (In thousands)
Balance at Charged to Write-OffWrite-off Balance at Beginning of Costs and of Doubtful End of Period Expenses Accounts Period ------ -------- -------- ------ (In thousands)------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- Year ended December 31, 2001:2004: Allowance for doubtful accounts $3,994 $2,057 $1,085 $4,966$6,043 $2,255 $ 109 $8,189 ====== ====== ====== ====== Year ended December 31, 2000:2003: Allowance for doubtful accounts $3,236 $2,191 $1,433 $3,994$4,459 $1,914 $ 330 $6,043 ====== ====== ====== ====== Year ended December 31, 1999:2002: Allowance for doubtful accounts $2,933 $ 606 $ 303 $3,236$4,966 $1,175 $1,682 $4,459 ====== ====== ====== ======
See report of independent registered public accounting firm. 51 EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Page Number or Incorporated by Number Description Reference to ------- ----------- ------------------------------ 3(i)(A) Revised and Amended Exhibit 3 to Registration Statement Articles of on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-5245 Incorporation 3(i)(B) Articles of Amendment to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's to Articles of report on Form 10-Q for the Incorporation quarter Incorporation ended May 31, 1994 3(i)(C) Articles of Amendment to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's report to Articles of on Form 10-K for the year ended Incorporation ended December 31, 1998 3(ii) Revised and Amended Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's By-Laws report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 10.1 Second Amended and Exhibit 10 to the Company's report Restated StockBy-Laws on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Option Plan June 30, 2000 10.2 Initial Subscription2004 10.1 Amended and Restated Exhibit 2.110.1 to the Company's report Agreement ofStock Option Plan on Form 8-K filed July 17, 2000 Transplace.com, LLC, dated April 19, 2000 10.3 Operating Agreement Exhibit 2.2 to10-Q for the Company's report of Transplace.com, LLC, on Form 8-K filed July 17, 2000 dated April 19, 2000quarter ended June 30, 2004 11 Statement Re: Computation Filed herewith Computation of Per Share Earnings 21 Subsidiaries of the Filed herewith Registrant 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP Filed herewith Registrant 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d- Filed herewith 14(a) Certification 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d- Filed herewith 14(a) Certification 32.1 Section 1350 Filed herewith Certification 32.2 Section 1350 Filed herewith Certification
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