UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016

 

Commission File Number 0-15010

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

39-1140809

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

 

 

129 Marten Street, Mondovi, Wisconsin 54755

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

715-926-4216

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 

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.

Yes☒   No☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes☒   No☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer☐   Accelerated filer☒   Smaller reporting company☐   Non-accelerated filer☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes☐   No☒

 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, was 32,479,83132,571,400 as of JulyOctober 26, 2016.

 

 
 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 June 30,   December 31,   September 30,  December 31, 

(In thousands, except share information)

 2016   2015   

2016

  

2015

 
                

ASSETS

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

 $208  $434  $175  $434 

Receivables:

                

Trade, net

  66,076   70,597   69,874   70,597 

Other

  3,065   10,885   3,939   10,885 

Prepaid expenses and other

  17,122   18,134   16,715   18,134 

Total current assets

  86,471   100,050   90,703   100,050 
        

Property and equipment:

                

Revenue equipment, buildings and land,office equipment and other

  744,234   724,597 

Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other

  754,448   724,597 

Accumulated depreciation

  (206,317)  (196,588)  (202,092)  (196,588)

Net property and equipment

  537,917   528,009   552,356   528,009 

Other assets

  3,168   3,469   2,881   3,469 
        

Total assets

 $627,556  $631,528  $645,940  $631,528 
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $45,129  $33,641  $46,121  $33,641 

Insurance and claims accruals

  17,400   16,235   17,761   16,235 

Checks issued in excess of cash balances

  199   - 

Total current liabilities

  62,529   49,876   64,081   49,876 

Long-term debt

  4,376   37,867   8,549   37,867 

Deferred income taxes

  141,194   134,364   144,610   134,364 

Total liabilities

  208,099   222,107   217,240   222,107 
                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share;2,000,000 shares authorized; no sharesissued and outstanding

   -    - 

Common stock, $.01 par value per share;96,000,000 shares authorized; 32,466,081 sharesat June 30, 2016, and 32,759,806 shares atDecember 31, 2015, issued and outstanding

  325   328 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

  -   - 

Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 96,000,000 shares authorized; 32,571,400 shares at September 30, 2016, and 32,759,806 shares at December 31, 2015, issued and outstanding

  326   328 

Additional paid-in capital

  71,405   76,468   73,024   76,468 

Retained earnings

  347,727   332,625   355,350   332,625 

Total stockholders’ equity

  419,457   409,421   428,700   409,421 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $627,556  $631,528 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $645,940  $631,528 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

    

 

Three Months

  Six Months  

Three Months

  Nine Months  
 

Ended June 30, 

  Ended June 30,  

Ended September 30, 

  Ended September 30,  

(In thousands, except per share information)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 
                                

Operating revenue

 $166,090  $163,588  $328,019  $324,875  $170,464  $171,346  $498,483  $496,221 
                                

Operating expenses (income):

                                

Salaries, wages and benefits

  56,196   50,964   111,026   99,772   57,090   55,129   168,116   154,901 

Purchased transportation

  26,187   28,083   54,222   57,587   27,775   30,756   81,997   88,343 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  23,930   28,281   43,560   54,757   24,845   26,556   68,405   81,313 

Supplies and maintenance

  10,908   10,942   21,407   21,384   11,618   11,351   33,025   32,735 

Depreciation

  20,368   18,311   40,415   36,138   20,790   19,331   61,205   55,469 

Operating taxes and licenses

  2,250   2,014   4,435   3,890   2,297   2,295   6,732   6,185 

Insurance and claims

  7,696   6,778   15,051   14,868   8,194   7,105   23,245   21,973 

Communications and utilities

  1,497   1,388   3,117   2,916   1,584   1,431   4,701   4,347 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (2,703)  (1,787)  (4,137)  (2,948)  (3,325)  (1,895)  (7,462)  (4,843)

Gain on disposition of facility

  -   -   -   (3,712)  -   -   -   (3,712)

Other

  4,985   4,453   10,022   8,751   4,727   4,933   14,749   13,684 
                                

Total operating expenses

  151,314   149,427   299,118   293,403   155,595   156,992   454,713   450,395 
                                

Operating income

  14,776   14,161   28,901   31,472   14,869   14,354   43,770   45,826 
                                

Other

  237   6   452   21   342   126   794   147 
                                

Income before income taxes

  14,539   14,155   28,449   31,451   14,527   14,228   42,976   45,679 
                                

Provision for income taxes

  6,008   5,798   11,725   12,906   6,090   5,818   17,815   18,724 
                                

Net income

 $8,531  $8,357  $16,724  $18,545  $8,437  $8,410  $25,161  $26,955 
                                

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.52  $0.55  $0.26  $0.25  $0.77  $0.80 
                                

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.51  $0.55  $0.26  $0.25  $0.77  $0.80 
                                

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.025  $0.025  $0.05  $0.05  $0.025  $0.025  $0.075  $0.075 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 (Unaudited)

 

                  

Total 

 
          

Additional 

      

Stock-

 
  

Common Stock 

  

Paid-In 

  

Retained 

  

holders’ 

 

(In thousands)

 

Shares 

  

Amount

  

Capital 

  

Earnings

  

Equity

 
                     

Balance at December 31, 2014

  33,419  $334  $87,370  $300,222  387,926 

Net income

  -   -   -   18,545   18,545 

Issuance of common stock fromshare-based payment arrangementexercises and vesting of performanceunit awards

  200   2   2,301   -   2,303 

Tax benefits from share-based paymentarrangement exercises

  -   -   448   -   448 

Share-based payment arrangementcompensation expense

  -   -   856   -   856 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (1,678)  (1,678)

Balance at June 30, 2015

  33,619   336   90,975   317,089   408,400 

Net income

  -   -   -   17,200   17,200 

Repurchase and retirement ofcommon stock

  (941)  (9)  (16,166)  -   (16,175)

Issuance of common stock fromshare-based payment arrangementexercises and vesting of performanceunit awards

  82   1   1,186   -   1,187 

Tax deficiencies from share-based paymentarrangement exercises

  -   -   (75)  -   (75)

Share-based payment arrangementcompensation expense

  -   -   548   -   548 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (1,664)  (1,664)

Balance at December 31, 2015

  32,760   328   76,468   332,625   409,421 

Net income

  -   -   -   16,724   16,724 

Repurchase and retirement ofcommon stock

  (456)  (5)  (7,508)  -   (7,513)

Issuance of common stock fromshare-based payment arrangementexercises and vesting of performanceunit awards

  162   2   2,052   -   2,054 

Tax deficiencies from share-based paymentarrangement exercises

  -   -   (148)  -   (148)

Employee taxes paid in exchange forshares withheld

  -   -   (127)  -   (127)

Share-based payment arrangementcompensation expense

  -   -   668   -   668 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (1,622)  (1,622)

Balance at June 30, 2016

  32,466  $325  $71,405  $347,727  419,457 

          Additional      

Total

Stock-

 
  Common Stock   Paid-In   Retained   

holders’

 

(In thousands)

 

Shares 

  Amount  

Capital

  

Earnings 

  

Equity

 
                     

Balance at December 31, 2014

  33,419  $334  $87,370  $300,222  $387,926 

Net income

  -   -   -   26,955   26,955 

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards

  204   2   2,361   -   2,363 

Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  -   -   451   -   451 

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  -   -   1,189   -   1,189 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (2,518)  (2,518)

Balance at September 30, 2015

  33,623   336   91,371   324,659   416,366 

Net income

  -   -   -   8,790   8,790 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (941)  (9)  (16,166)  -   (16,175)

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards

  78   1   1,126   -   1,127 

Tax deficiencies from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  -   -   (78)  -   (78)

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  -   -   215   -   215 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (824)  (824)

Balance at December 31, 2015

  32,760   328   76,468   332,625   409,421 

Net income

  -   -   -   25,161   25,161 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (456)  (5)  (7,508)  -   (7,513)

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards

  267   3   3,505   -   3,508 

Tax deficiencies from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  -   -   (55)  -   (55)

Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld

  -   -   (127)  -   (127)

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  -   -   741   -   741 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (2,436)  (2,436)

Balance at September 30, 2016

  32,571  $326  $73,024  $355,350  $428,700 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

  

Six Months 

Ended June 30,

 
(In thousands) 2016  2015 

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

        

Operations:

        

Net income

 $16,724  $18,545 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation

  40,415   36,138 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (4,137)  (2,948)

Gain on disposition of facility

  -   (3,712)

Deferred income taxes

  6,830   4,612 
Tax (deficiencies) benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises  (148)  448 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  (30)  (428)

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  668   856 
Equity in loss from affiliate  325   143 

Changes in other current operating items:

        

Receivables

  12,256   11,536 

Prepaid expenses and other

  1,012   948 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  5,041   5,991 

Insurance and claims accruals

  1,165   (353)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  80,121   71,776 
         

Cash flows used for investing activities:

        

Revenue equipment additions

  (66,009)  (68,524)

Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions

  29,112   28,867 

Buildings and land, office equipment and other additions

  (2,764)  (8,280)

Proceeds from buildings and land, office equipment and other dispositions

  7   4,625 
Other  (24)  (23)
Net cash used for investing activities  (39,678)  (43,335)
         

Cash flows used for financing activities:

        

Borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt

  76,044   13,444 

Repayment of borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt

  (109,535)  (37,817)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (7,513)  - 

Dividends on common stock

  (1,622)  (1,678)

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  2,054   2,303 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  30   428 

Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld

  (127)  - 

Change in checks issued in excess of cash balances

  -   (745)
Net cash used for financing activities  (40,669)  (24,065)
         

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

  (226)  4,376 
         

Cash and cash equivalents:

        

Beginning of period

  434   123 

End of period

 $208  $4,499 
         

Supplemental non-cash disclosure:

        

Change in property and equipment not yet paid

 $6,532  $30,210 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash (received) paid for:

        

Income taxes

 $(3,631) $(7,440)

Interest

 $127  $53 

  

Nine Months

 
  Ended September 30, 

(In thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

        

Operations:

        

Net income

 $25,161  $26,955 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash providedby operating activities:

        

Depreciation

  61,205   55,469 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (7,462)  (4,843)

Gain on disposition of facility

  -   (3,712)

Deferred income taxes

  10,246   (383)
Tax (deficiencies) benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises  (55)  451 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  (129)  (432)

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  741   1,189 
Equity in loss from affiliate  621   184 

Changes in other current operating items:

        

Receivables

  8,251   15,300 

Prepaid expenses and other

  1,419   1,057 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  2,617   9,353 

Insurance and claims accruals

  1,526   834 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  104,141   101,422 
         

Cash flows used for investing activities:

        

Revenue equipment additions

  (111,503)  (139,788)

Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions

  48,097   43,451 

Buildings and land, office equipment and other additions

  (5,416)  (11,784)

Proceeds from buildings and land, office equipment and other dispositions

  13   4,625 
Other  (33)  (30)
Net cash used for investing activities  (68,842)  (103,526)
         

Cash flows (used for) provided by financing activities:

        

Borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt

  130,128   94,437 

Repayment of borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt

  (159,446)  (92,530)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (7,513)  - 

Dividends on common stock

  (2,436)  (2,518)

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  3,508   2,363 

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  129   432 

Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld

  (127)  - 

Change in checks issued in excess of cash balances

  199   (58)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities  (35,558)  2,126 
         

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

  (259)  22 
         

Cash and cash equivalents:

        

Beginning of period

  434   123 

End of period

 $175  $145 
         

Supplemental non-cash disclosure:

        

Change in property and equipment not yet paid

 $9,281  $10,237 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash (received) paid for:

        

Income taxes

 $(2,595) $(4,451)
Interest $174  $136 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

 

 MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SIXNINE MONTHS ENDEDJUNESEPTEMBER 30, 2016

(Unaudited)

 

(1)  Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements, and therefore do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly present our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the results for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements should be read with reference to the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

(2)  Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows: 

  

Three Months

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 

Numerator:

                

Net income

 $8,531  $8,357  $16,724  $18,545 

Denominator:

                

Basic earnings per common share -weighted-average shares

  32,441   33,582   32,448   33,521 

Effect of dilutive stock options

  192   271   186   281 

Diluted earnings per common share -weighted-average shares andassumed conversions

  32,633   33,853   32,634   33,802 
                 

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.52  0.55  

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.51  0.55  

  

Three Months

  Nine Months  
  

Ended September 30,

  Ended September 30,  

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 

Numerator:

                

Net income

 $8,437  $8,410  $25,161  $26,955 

Denominator:

                

Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares

  32,531   33,622   32,476   33,555 

Effect of dilutive stock options

  184   224   177   261 

Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions

  32,715   33,846   32,653   33,816 
                 

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.77  $0.80 

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.26  $0.25  $0.77  $0.80 

 

              Options totaling 321,200248,000 and 337,400344,000 equivalent shares for the three-month and six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, and 224,000324,600 and 307,000311,200 equivalent shares for the three-month and six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares, due to their exercise prices exceeding the average market price of the common shares, or because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the options to be antidilutive.

 

Unvested performance unit awards totaling 58,36742,543 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, and 71,75167,595 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015, were considered outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the performance units to be antidilutive.

 

 

(3)  Long-Term Debt

 

We maintain a credit agreement that provides for an unsecured committed credit facility which matures in December 2019. In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to the facility which increased the aggregate principal amount of the facility from $50.0 million to $75.0 million, and on April 25, 2016, we elected to reduce the aggregate principal amount of the facility to $30.0 million. At JuneSeptember 30, 2016, there was an outstanding principal balance of $4.4$8.5 million on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $11.2 million and remaining borrowing availability of $14.4$10.2 million. At December 31, 2015, there was an outstanding principal balance of $37.9 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the lender’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins. The weighted average interest rate for the facility was 1.15%1.2% at JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

 

Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver of the 25% limitation for 2015 and 2016 was obtained from the lender. This facility also contains restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

(4)  Related Party Transactions

 

We purchase fuel and tires and obtain related services from Bauer Built, Inc., or BBI. Jerry M. Bauer, one of our directors, is the chairman of the board, chief executive officer and the principal stockholder of BBI. We paid BBI $182,000$278,000 in the first sixnine months of 2016 and $203,000$274,000 in the first sixnine months of 2015 for fuel, tires and related services. In addition, we paid $928,000$1.5 million in the first sixnine months of 2016 and $628,000$1.1 million in the first sixnine months of 2015 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases.

 

We provide transportation services to MW Logistics, LLC (MWL) as described in Note 8.

 

(5)  Share Repurchase Program

 

In December 2007, our Board of Directors approved and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. On November 4, 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately 2 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2015 we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million. We repurchased and retired 455,581 shares of our common stock for $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 and did not repurchase any shares in the second or third quarters of 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016.2015 we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million.

 

(6)  Dividends

 

In 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share of common stock were declared in each of the first twothree quarters of 2016 and 2015.Our ability to pay cash dividends is currently limited by restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility, which prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver of the 25% limitation for 2015 and 2016 was obtained from the lender.

 

 

(7)  Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

 

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification, or FASB ASC, 718,Compensation – Stock Compensation. During the first sixnine months of 2016, there were no significant changes to the structure of our stock-based award plans. Pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and performance unit awards recorded in the first sixnine months of 2016 and 2015 was $668,000$741,000 and $856,000,$1.2 million, respectively. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed description of stock-based awards.
awards.


(8)  Equity Investment

 

We own a 45% equity interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry. A non-related party owns the other 55% equity interest in MWL. We received $966,000$1.1 million and $3.7$4.5 million of our revenue for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL in the six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we also had a trade receivable in the amount of $52,000$46,000 from MWL and an accrued liability of $3.8$3.0 million to MWL for the excess of payments by MWL’s customers into our lockbox account over the amounts drawn on the account by MWL.

 

(9)  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying amount of our long-term debt approximates fair value as its interest rate is based upon prevailing market rates.

(10)  Commitments and Contingencies

 

We are committed to purchase $84.9$47.3 million of new revenue equipment in the remainder of 2016; building construction expenditures of $123,000$1.1 million in the remainder of 2016; and operating lease obligation expenditures totaling $281,000$191,000 through 2018.2019.

 

We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance with varying risk retention levels. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review, and reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims.

 

We are also involved in other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based upon present knowledge of the facts, it is remote that the ultimate outcome of any such legal actions will have a material adverse effect upon our long-term financial position or results of operations.

(11)  Business Segments

 

We have aggregated our five current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes.

 

The primary source of our operating revenue is provided by our Truckload segment through a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada.

 

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our customer contracts range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.


 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States primarily utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers and also, through March 2015, our dry containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.


 

Our Brokerage segment arranges for smaller third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue and operating income by segment. We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment.

 

 

Three Months

  

Six Months

  

Three Months

  

Nine Months

 
 

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended September 30,

  

Ended September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 

Operating revenue:

                                

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

 $85,103  $88,822  $168,045  $175,633  $85,469  $86,594  $253,514  $262,227 

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

  8,933   13,929   16,045   28,519   9,726   11,777   25,771   40,296 

Total Truckload revenue

  94,036   102,751   184,090   204,152   95,195   98,371   279,285   302,523 
                                

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  36,654   22,601   72,164   42,464   37,669   31,477   109,833   73,941 

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

  2,621   2,803   4,208   5,394   2,967   2,937   7,175   8,331 

Total Dedicated revenue

  39,275   25,404   76,372   47,858   40,636   34,414   117,008   82,272 
                                

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  16,118   16,101   31,972   33,120   16,381   17,158   48,353   50,278 

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

  1,664   2,945   3,011   6,318   1,979   2,673   4,990   8,991 

Total Intermodal revenue

  17,782   19,046   34,983   39,438   18,360   19,831   53,343   59,269 
                                

Brokerage revenue

  14,997   16,387   32,574   33,427   16,273   18,730   48,847   52,157 
                                

Total operating revenue

 $166,090  $163,588  $328,019  $324,875  $170,464  $171,346  $498,483  $496,221 
                                

Operating income:

                                

Truckload

 $6,951  $9,808  $13,891  $19,410  $6,509  $8,204  $20,400  $27,614 

Dedicated

  5,134   2,563   9,458   4,567   5,505   3,929   14,963   8,496 

Intermodal

  1,822   969   3,751   2,220   1,645   1,152   5,396   3,372 

Brokerage

  869   821   1,801   1,563   1,210   1,069   3,011   2,632 

Total operating income before gain ondisposition of facility

  14,776   14,161   28,901   27,760   14,869   14,354   43,770   42,114 

Gain on disposition of facility

  -   -   -   3,712   -   -   -   3,712 

Total operating income

 $14,776  $14,161  $28,901  $31,472  $14,869  $14,354  $43,770  $45,826 

 

             Truckload segment depreciation expense was $13.9$14.1 million and $13.5$13.3 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $5.1$5.2 million and $3.2$4.3 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $987,000$995,000 and $1.4 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $376,000$400,000 and $289,000,$295,000, in the three-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively. Truckload segment depreciation expense was $27.6$41.7 million and $26.7$40.0 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $10.0$15.3 million and $6.0$10.4 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $1.9$2.9 million and $2.9$4.3 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $857,000$1.3 million and $559,000,$854,000, in the six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively.

 


(12)  Use of Estimates

 

             We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are primarily related to insurance and claims accruals and depreciation. Ultimate results could differ from these estimates.

 


(13)  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard, which is effective for the first quarter of 2018, will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases” which requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures related to leasing transactions. The standard is effective for the first quarter of 2019. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of this standard will result in an increase or decrease to our provision for income taxes each quarter based on the actual increase in our stock price compared with the grant-date fair value of the quarter’s exercised options and vested performance unit awards. The adoption of the other provisions of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

 

 

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

              The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the selected consolidated financial data and our consolidated condensed financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those included in our Form 10-K, Part 1, Item 1A for the year ended December 31, 2015. We do not assume, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in thisreport.

 

Overview

 

The primary source of our operating revenue is provided by our Truckload segment through a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada.

 

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our customer contracts range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

 

Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other ancillary services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States primarily utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers and also, through March 2015, our dry containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

 

Our Brokerage segment arranges for smaller third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

 

In addition to the factors discussed above, our operating revenue is also affected by, among other things, the United States economy, inventory levels, the level of truck and rail capacity in the transportation market, a contracting driver market, severe weather conditions and specific customer demand.

 

Our operating revenue increased $3.1$2.3 million, or 1.0%0.5%, in the first sixnine months of 2016, despite a 42.2%34.2% decrease in fuel surcharge revenue to $23.3$37.9 million from $40.2$57.6 million in the first sixnine months of 2015 due to lower fuel prices. Our operating revenue, net of both fuel surcharges and revenue from our dry container service discontinued in March 2015, increased $21.4$23.3 million, or 7.6%5.3%, compared with the first sixnine months of 2015. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 4.3%3.3% from the first sixnine months of 2015 primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 69.9%48.5% primarily due to an increase in our average fleet size of 72.5%48.9% from the first sixnine months of 2015. Intermodal segment revenue, net of both fuel surcharges and revenue from our discontinued dry container service, increased 0.5%decreased 1.2% from the first sixnine months of 2015.2015 due to a decrease in volume. Brokerage segment revenue decreased 2.6%6.3% in the first sixnine months of 2016 due to a decrease in revenue per load, primarily caused by lower fuel surcharges.

 

 

 

Our profitability is impacted by the variable costs of transporting freight for our customers, fixed costs, and expenses containing both fixed and variable components. The variable costs include fuel expense, driver-related expenses, such as wages, benefits, training, and recruitment, and independent contractor costs, which are recorded under purchased transportation. Expenses that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our cost of insurance and claims. These expenses generally vary with the miles we travel, but also have a controllable component based on safety, fleet age, efficiency and other factors. Our main fixed costs relate to the acquisition and subsequent depreciation of long-term assets, such as revenue equipment and operating terminals. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, along with any increases in fleet size. Although certain factors affecting our expenses are beyond our control, we monitor them closely and attempt to anticipate changes in these factors in managing our business. For example, fuel prices have significantly fluctuated over the past several years. We manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices primarily through fuel surcharge programs with our customers, as well as through volume fuel purchasing arrangements with national fuel centers and bulk purchases of fuel at our terminals. To help further reduce fuel expense, we have installed and tightly manage the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine, and also have improved the fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. For our Intermodal and Brokerage segments, our profitability is impacted by the percentage of revenue which is payable to the providers of the transportation services we arrange. This expense is included within purchased transportation in our consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” increased to 91.2% in the first sixnine months of 2016 from 90.3%90.8% in the first sixnine months of 2015. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, was 90.5% in the first sixnine months of 2016. Our operating ratio for the first sixnine months of 2015, net of both the facility disposition gain of $3.7 million and fuel surcharges, was 90.2%90.4%. Our net income was $16.7$25.2 million, or $0.51$0.77 per diluted share, in the first sixnine months of 2016 and $18.5$27.0 million, or $0.55$0.80 per diluted share, in the first sixnine months of 2015. Net income in the first sixnine months of 2016 improved 2.2%1.6% over earnings of $16.4$24.8 million, or $0.48$0.73 per diluted share, in the first sixnine months of 2015 excluding the facility disposition gain, due to increased operating income in our Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage segments, partially offset by decreased operating income in our Truckload segment.

 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. At JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we had $208,000 of cash and cash equivalents, $4.4$8.5 million of long-term debt outstanding and $419.5$428.7 million in stockholders’ equity. In the first sixnine months of 2016, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $80.1$104.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $36.9$63.4 million, to repay $33.5$29.3 million of long-term debt, to repurchase and retire 455,581 shares of our common stock for $7.5 million, to partially construct regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.0$3.7 million, and to pay cash dividends of $1.6$2.4 million. We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $80$40 million for the remainder 2016. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 

Our business strategy encompasses a multifaceted set of transportation service solutions, primarily regional Truckload temperature-controlled operations along with Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage services, with a diverse customer base that gains value from and expands each of these operating segments. We believe that we are well-positioned regardless of the economic environment with the services we provide combined with our competitive position, cost control emphasis, modern fleet and strong balance sheet.

 

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes discussions of operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; operating revenue and Intermodal revenue, each net of fuel surcharge revenue and revenue from our dry container service discontinued in March 2015; operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, each net of fuel surcharge revenue and the sum of fuel surcharge revenue and the facility disposition gain; and net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads). We provide these additional disclosures because management believes these measures provide a more consistent basis for comparing results of operations from period to period. These financial measures in this report have not been determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Pursuant to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, we have included the amounts necessary to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures of operating revenue, operating expenses divided by operating revenue, and fuel and fuel taxes.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain operating statistics regarding our revenue and operations:

 

  

Three Months

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 
  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 

Truckload Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $94,036  $102,751  $184,090  $204,152 

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges,per tractor per week(1)

 $3,444  $3,623  $3,405  $3,615 

Average tractors(1)

  1,901   1,886   1,898   1,879 

Average miles per trip

  625   679   634   692 

Total miles (in thousands)

  46,290   47,829   90,761   95,359 
                 

Dedicated Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $39,275  $25,404  $76,372  $47,858 

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges,per tractor per week(1)

 $3,431  $3,493  $3,403  $3,469 

Average tractors(1)

  822   498   816   473 

Average miles per trip

  302   368   308   371 

Total miles (in thousands)

  18,951   12,274   37,472   23,349 
                 

Intermodal Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $17,782  $19,046  $34,983  $39,438 

Loads

  8,755   8,867   17,451   18,234 

Average tractors

  77   91   77   94 
                 

Brokerage Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $14,997  $16,387  $32,574  $33,427 

Loads

  11,428   10,774   24,379   21,624 

  

Three Months

  

Nine Months

 
  

Ended September 30,

  

Ended September 30,

 
  

2016

  

2015

  

2016

  

2015

 

Truckload Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $95,195  $98,371  $279,285  $302,523 

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges,per tractor per week(1)

 $3,440  $3,492  $3,417  $3,573 

Average tractors(1)

  1,890   1,887   1,896   1,882 

Average miles per trip

  617   643   628   675 

Total miles (in thousands)

  46,734   45,811   137,495   141,170 
                 

Dedicated Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $40,636  $34,414  $117,008  $82,272 

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges,per tractor per week(1)

 $3,471  $3,416  $3,426  $3,446 

Average tractors(1)

  826   701   819   550 

Average miles per trip

  295   341   304   358 

Total miles (in thousands)

  19,035   16,533   56,507   39,882 
                 

Intermodal Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $18,360  $19,831  $53,343  $59,269 

Loads

  9,223   9,531   26,674   27,765 

Average tractors

  75   86   76   91 
                 

Brokerage Segment:

                

Revenue (in thousands)

 $16,273  $18,730  $48,847  $52,157 

Loads

  12,416   13,208   36,795   34,832 

(1)

Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 7772 and 5864 tractors as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

  

 

 

Comparison of ThreeMonths Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 to Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

 

         

Dollar

  

Percentage

          

Dollar

  

Percentage

 
         

Change

  

Change

          

Change

  

Change

 
 

Three Months

Ended

  

Three Months

Ended

  

Three Months

Ended

  

Three Months

Ended

  

Three Months

Ended

  

Three Months

Ended

 
 

June 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

  

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

 

Operating revenue:

                                

Truckload revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

 $85,103  $88,822  $(3,719)  (4.2)%

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

 $85,469  $86,594  $(1,125)  (1.3)%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

  8,933   13,929   (4,996)  (35.9)  9,726   11,777   (2,051)  (17.4)

Total Truckload revenue

  94,036   102,751   (8,715)  (8.5)  95,195   98,371   (3,176)  (3.2)
                                

Dedicated revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

  36,654   22,601   14,053   62.2 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  37,669   31,477   6,192   19.7 

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

  2,621   2,803   (182)  (6.5)  2,967   2,937   30   1.0 

Total Dedicated revenue

  39,275   25,404   13,871   54.6   40,636   34,414   6,222   18.1 
                                

Intermodal revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

  16,118   16,101   17   0.1 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  16,381   17,158   (777)  (4.5)

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

  1,664   2,945   (1,281)  (43.5)  1,979   2,673   (694)  (26.0)

Total Intermodal revenue

  17,782   19,046   (1,264)  (6.6)  18,360   19,831   (1,471)  (7.4)
                                

Brokerage revenue

  14,997   16,387   (1,390)  (8.5)  16,273   18,730   (2,457)  (13.1)
                                

Total operating revenue

 $166,090  $163,588  $2,502   1.5% $170,464  $171,346  $(882)  (0.5)%
                                

Operating income:

                                

Truckload

 $6,951  $9,808  $(2,857)  (29.1)% $6,509  $8,204  $(1,695)  (20.7)%

Dedicated

  5,134   2,563   2,571   100.3   5,505   3,929   1,576   40.1 

Intermodal

  1,822   969   853   88.0   1,645   1,152   493   42.8 

Brokerage

  869   821   48   5.8   1,210   1,069   141   13.2 

Total operating income

 $14,776  $14,161  $615   4.3% $14,869  $14,354  $515   3.6%
                                

Operating ratio(1):

                                

Truckload

  92.6%  90.5%          93.2%  91.7%        

Dedicated

  86.9   89.9           86.5   88.6         

Intermodal

  89.8   94.9           91.0   94.2         

Brokerage

  94.2   95.0           92.6   94.3         

Consolidated operating ratio

  91.1%  91.3%          91.3%  91.6%        

 

 

(1)

Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

 

Our operating revenue increased $2.5 million,decreased $882,000, or 1.5%0.5%, to $166.1$170.5 million in the 2016 period from $163.6$171.3 million in the 2015 period, despiteimpacted by a 32.8%15.6% decrease in fuel surcharge revenue to $13.2$14.7 million from $19.7$17.4 million in the 2015 period due to lower fuel prices. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $9.0$1.8 million, or 6.2%1.2%, to $152.9$155.8 million in the 2016 period from $143.9$154.0 million in the 2015 period. This increase was due to a $14.1$6.2 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and a $17,000 increase in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by a $3.7$2.5 million decrease in Brokerage revenue, a $1.1 million decrease in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and a $1.4 million$777,000 decrease in Brokerage revenue.Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges.

 

 

 

Truckload segment revenue decreased $8.7$3.2 million, or 8.5%3.2%, to $94.0$95.2 million in the 2016 period from $102.8$98.4 million in the 2015 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $3.7$1.1 million, or 4.2%1.3%, to $85.1$85.5 million in the 2016 period from $88.8$86.6 million in the 2015 period, primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor within a continued soft freight market.

 

Dedicated segment revenue increased $13.9$6.2 million, or 54.6%18.1%, to $39.3$40.6 million in the 2016 period from $25.4$34.4 million in the 2015 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 62.2%19.7% primarily due to an increase in our average fleet size of 65.1%17.8% driven by a significant increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily due to an increase in spite of a decrease in theour average revenue per tractor, was achieved by an improvement in supplies and maintenance expense along with other cost control measures.tractor.

 

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $1.3$1.5 million, or 6.6%7.4%, to $17.8$18.4 million in the 2016 period from $19.0$19.8 million in the 2015 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $17,000,decreased $777,000, or 0.1%4.5%, from the 2015 period.period due to a decrease in volume. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily due to decreases in salaries, wages and benefits and depreciation expense, as the fleet size was reduced to optimize productivity.

 

Brokerage segment revenue decreased $1.4$2.5 million, or 8.5%13.1%, to $15.0$16.3 million in the 2016 period from $16.4$18.7 million in the 2015 period, due to a decrease in revenue per load, primarily caused by lower fuel surcharges. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily driven by a decrease in the percentage of the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage ofto our Brokerage revenue. 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:


 

 

Dollar

Change

  

Percentage

Change

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenue

  

Dollar

Change

  

Percentage

Change

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenue

 
 

Three Months

Ended

June 30,

  

Three Months

Ended

June 30,

  

Three Months

Ended

June 30,

  

Three Months

Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months

Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months

Ended

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

 
                                

Operating revenue

 $2,502   1.5

%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

 $(882

)

  (0.5

)%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

Operating expenses (income):

                                

Salaries, wages and benefits

  5,232   10.3   33.8   31.2   1,961   3.6   33.5   32.2 

Purchased transportation

  (1,896

)

  (6.8

)

  15.8   17.2   (2,981

)

  (9.7

)

  16.3   17.9 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  (4,351

)

  (15.4

)

  14.4   17.3   (1,711

)

  (6.4

)

  14.6   15.5 

Supplies and maintenance

  (34

)

  (0.3

)

  6.6   6.7   267   2.4   6.8   6.6 

Depreciation

  2,057   11.2   12.3   11.2   1,459   7.5   12.2   11.3 

Operating taxes and licenses

  236   11.7   1.4   1.2   2   0.1   1.3   1.3 

Insurance and claims

  918   13.5   4.6   4.1   1,089   15.3   4.8   4.1 

Communications and utilities

  109   7.9   0.9   0.8   153   10.7   0.9   0.8 

Gain on disposition ofrevenue equipment

  (916

)

  (51.3

)

  (1.6

)

  (1.1

)

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (1,430

)

  (75.5

)

  (2.0

)

  (1.1

)

Other

  532   11.9   3.0   2.7   (206

)

  (4.2

)

  2.8   2.9 

Total operating expenses

  1,887   1.3   91.1   91.3   (1,397

)

  (0.9

)

  91.3   91.6 

Operating income

  615   4.3   8.9   8.7   515   3.6   8.7   8.4 

Other

  231   3,850.0   0.1   -   216   171.4   0.2   0.1 

Income before income taxes

  384   2.7   8.8   8.7   299   2.1   8.5   8.3 

Provision for income taxes

  210   3.6   3.6   3.5   272   4.7   3.6   3.4 

Net income

 $174   2.1

%

  5.1

%

  5.1

%

 $27   0.3

%

  4.9

%

  4.9

%

 

  

Salaries, wages and benefits consist of compensation for our employees, including both driver and non-driver employees, employees’ health insurance, 401(k) plan contributions and other fringe benefits. These expenses vary depending upon the size of our Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal tractor fleets, the ratio of company drivers to independent contractors, our efficiency, our experience with employees’ health insurance claims, changes in health care premiums and other factors. The increase in salaries, wages and benefits from the 2015 period resulted primarily from an 8.0%a 5.3% increase in the total miles driven by company drivers and increases to several components of the amount paid to company drivers, along with an increase in employees’ health insurance expense of $993,000$718,000 due to an increase in our self-insured medical claims.claims, partially offset by a decrease of $715,000 in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees.

 

Purchased transportation consists of amounts payable to railroads and carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with Brokerage and Intermodal operations and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment. This category will vary depending upon the amount and rates, including fuel surcharges, we pay to third-party railroad and motor carriers, the ratio of company drivers versus independent contractors and the amount of fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors. Purchased transportation expense decreased $1.9$3.0 million in total, or 6.8%9.7%, in the 2016 period from the 2015 period. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment decreased $1.5$2.3 million to $12.4$13.6 million in the 2016 period from $13.9$15.8 million in the 2015 period, primarily due to a decrease in brokerage revenue. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased $873,000$937,000 to $11.3$11.9 million in the 2016 period from $12.1$12.8 million in the 2015 period, primarily due to decreased fuel surcharges paid to railroads within our temperature-controlled intermodal trailer service.revenue. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to our independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $479,000$208,000 in the 2016 period. We expect that purchased transportation expense will increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

 

 

 

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $4.4$1.7 million in the 2016 period from the 2015 period. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) increased $1.3 million,$494,000, or 11.5%4.3%, to $12.2$11.9 million in the 2016 period from $10.9$11.4 million in the 2015 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $1.5$1.7 million from $2.3$2.2 million in the 2015 period. Despite a decrease in the DOE national average cost of fuel to $2.30$2.38 per gallon from $2.85$2.63 per gallon in the 2015 period, net fuel expense increased to 8.8%8.5% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 8.6%8.4% in the 2015 period. The net fuel expense to revenue was lower in the 2015 period due to our discount from retail being larger in this period as a result of level fuel prices during the quarter, compared with increasing fuel pricesincreased slightly in the 2016 period. The discountperiod primarily due to a decrease in our revenue rate per mile from retail typically increases when prices decrease and decreases when prices increase.the 2015 period. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. Auxiliary power units, which we have installed in our company-owned tractors, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.

 

Depreciation relates to owned tractors, trailers, auxiliary power units, communication units, terminal facilities and other assets. The increase in depreciation was primarily due to a continued increase in the cost of revenue equipment and growth of our fleet. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, which will result in greater depreciation over the useful life.

 

Insurance and claims consist of the costs of insurance premiums and accruals we make for claims within our self-insured retention amounts, primarily for personal injury, property damage, physical damage to our equipment, cargo claims and workers’ compensation claims. These expenses will vary primarily based upon the frequency and severity of our accident experience, our self-insured retention levels and the market for insurance. The $918,000$1.1 million increase in insurance and claims in the 2016 period was primarily due to increases in self-insured auto liability claims and workers’ compensation accident claims.auto liability insurance premiums. Our significant self-insured retention exposes us to the possibility of significant fluctuations in claims expense between periods which could materially impact our financial results depending on the frequency, severity and timing of claims.

 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment increased to $2.7$3.3 million in the 2016 period from $1.8$1.9 million in the 2015 period primarily due to an increase in both the average gain per tractor and in the number of tractors sold. Future gains or losses on dispositions of revenue equipment will be impacted by the market for used revenue equipment, which is beyond our control.

 

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 91.1%91.3% in the 2016 period and 91.3%91.6% in the 2015 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 92.6%93.2% in the 2016 period and 90.5%91.7% in the 2015 period, for our Dedicated segment was 86.9%86.5% in the 2016 period and 89.9%88.6% in the 2015 period, for our Intermodal segment was 89.8%91.0% in the 2016 period and 94.9%94.2% in the 2015 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 94.2%92.6% in the 2016 period and 95.0%94.3% in the 2015 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, was 90.3%90.5% in the 2016 period and 90.2%90.7% in the 2015 period.

 

Our effective income tax rate increased slightly to 41.3%41.9% in the 2016 period from 41.0%40.9% in the 2015 period.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income increased to $8.5 million in the 2016 period fromwas $8.4 million in each of the 2016 and 2015 period.periods, respectively. Net earnings per diluted share increased to $0.26 in the 2016 period from $0.25 in the 2015 period.

 

 

Comparison of SixNineMonths Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 to SixNine Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

 

         

Dollar

  

Percentage

          

Dollar

  

Percentage

 
         

Change

  

Change

          

Change

  

Change

 
 

Six Months

Ended

  

Six Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

  

Nine Months

Ended

  

Nine Months

Ended

  

Nine Months

Ended

 
 

June 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

  

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

 

Operating revenue:

                                

Truckload revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

 $168,045  $175,633  $(7,588)  (4.3)%

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

 $253,514  $262,227  $(8,713)  (3.3)%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

  16,045   28,519   (12,474)  (43.7)  25,771   40,296   (14,525)  (36.0)

Total Truckload revenue

  184,090   204,152   (20,062)  (9.8)  279,285   302,523   (23,238)  (7.7)
                                

Dedicated revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

  72,164   42,464   29,700   69.9 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  109,833   73,941   35,892   48.5 

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

  4,208   5,394   (1,186)  (22.0)  7,175   8,331   (1,156)  (13.9)

Total Dedicated revenue

  76,372   47,858   28,514   59.6   117,008   82,272   34,736   42.2 
                                

Intermodal revenue, net of fuelsurcharge revenue

  31,972   33,120   (1,148)  (3.5)

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  48,353   50,278   (1,925)  (3.8)

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

  3,011   6,318   (3,307)  (52.3)  4,990   8,991   (4,001)  (44.5)

Total Intermodal revenue

  34,983   39,438   (4,455)  (11.3)  53,343   59,269   (5,926)  (10.0)
                                

Brokerage revenue

  32,574   33,427   (853)  (2.6)  48,847   52,157   (3,310)  (6.3)
                                

Total operating revenue

 $328,019  $324,875  $3,144   1.0% $498,483  $496,221  $2,262   0.5%
                                

Operating income:

                                

Truckload

 $13,891  $19,410  $(5,519)  (28.4)% $20,400  $27,614  $(7,214)  (26.1)%

Dedicated

  9,458   4,567   4,891   107.1   14,963   8,496   6,467   76.1 

Intermodal

  3,751   2,220   1,531   69.0   5,396   3,372   2,024   60.0 

Brokerage

  1,801   1,563   238   15.2   3,011   2,632   379   14.4 

Total operating income before gainon disposition of facility

  28,901   27,760   1,141   4.1   43,770   42,114   1,656   3.9 

Gain on disposition of facility

  -   3,712   (3,712)  (100.0)  -   3,712   (3,712)  (100.0)

Total operating income

 $28,901  $31,472  $(2,571)  (8.2)% $43,770  $45,826  $(2,056)  (4.5)%
                                

Operating ratio(1):

                                

Truckload

  92.5%  90.5%          92.7%  90.9%        

Dedicated

  87.6   90.5           87.2   89.7         

Intermodal

  89.3   94.4           89.9   94.3         

Brokerage

  94.5   95.3           93.8   95.0         

Consolidated operating ratio beforegain on disposition of facility

  91.2%  91.5%          91.2%  91.5%        

Consolidated operating ratio

  91.2%  90.3%          91.2%  90.8%        

 

 

(1)

Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

  

 

 

Our operating revenue increased $3.1$2.3 million, or 1.0%0.5%, to $328.0$498.5 million in the 2016 period from $324.9$496.2 million in the 2015 period, despite a 42.2%34.2% decrease in fuel surcharge revenue to $23.3$37.9 million from $40.2$57.6 million in the 2015 period due to lower fuel prices. Our operating revenue, net of both fuel surcharges and revenue from our dry container service discontinued in March 2015, increased $21.4$23.3 million, or 7.6%5.3%, to $304.8$460.5 million in the 2016 period from $283.3$437.3 million in the 2015 period. This increase was due to a $29.7$35.9 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by an $8.7 million decrease in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $3.3 million decrease in Brokerage revenue, and a $172,000 increase$605,000 decrease in Intermodal revenue, net of both fuel surcharges and the discontinued dry container service, partially offset by a $7.6 million decrease in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and an $853,000 decrease in Brokerage revenue.service.

 

Truckload segment revenue decreased $20.1$23.2 million, or 9.8%7.7%, to $184.1$279.3 million in the 2016 period from $204.2$302.5 million in the 2015 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $7.6$8.7 million, or 4.3%3.3%, to $168.0$253.5 million in the 2016 period from $175.6$262.2 million in the 2015 period, primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor within a continued soft freight market.

 

Dedicated segment revenue increased $28.5$34.7 million, or 59.6%42.2%, to $76.4$117.0 million in the 2016 period from $47.9$82.3 million in the 2015 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 69.9%48.5% primarily due to an increase in our average fleet size of 72.5%48.9% driven by a significant increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period, in spite of a decrease in the average revenue per tractor, was achieved by an improvement in supplies and maintenance expense along with other cost control measures.

 

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $4.5$5.9 million, or 11.3%10.0%, to $35.0$53.3 million in the 2016 period from $39.4$59.3 million in the 2015 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of both fuel surcharges and $1.3 million of revenue from our discontinued dry container service, increased $172,000,decreased $605,000, or 0.5%1.2%, from the 2015 period.period due to a decrease in volume. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily due to the disposal of our dry container service, which produced a higher operating ratio than our temperature-controlled trailer service, and decreases in salaries, wages and benefits and depreciation expense, as the fleet size was reduced to optimize productivity.

 

Brokerage segment revenue decreased $853,000,$3.3 million, or 2.6%6.3%, to $32.6$48.8 million in the 2016 period from $33.4$52.2 million in the 2015 period, due to a decrease in revenue per load, primarily caused by lower fuel surcharges. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2016 period was primarily driven by a decrease in the percentage of the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage ofto our Brokerage revenue. 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:


 

  

Dollar

Change

  

Percentage

Change

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenue

 
  

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

 
                 

Operating revenue

 $3,144   1.0

%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

Operating expenses (income):

                

Salaries, wages and benefits

  11,254   11.3   33.8   30.7 

Purchased transportation

  (3,365

)

  (5.8

)

  16.5   17.7 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  (11,197

)

  (20.4

)

  13.3   16.9 

Supplies and maintenance

  23   0.1   6.5   6.6 

Depreciation

  4,277   11.8   12.3   11.1 

Operating taxes and licenses

  545   14.0   1.4   1.2 

Insurance and claims

  183   1.2   4.6   4.6 

Communications and utilities

  201   6.9   1.0   0.9 

Gain on disposition ofrevenue equipment

  (1,189

)

  (40.3

)

  (1.3

)

  (0.9

)

Gain on disposition of facility

  3,712   (100.0

)

  -   (1.1

)

Other

  1,271   14.5   3.1   2.7 

Total operating expenses

  5,715   1.9   91.2   90.3 

Operating income

  (2,571

)

  (8.2

)

  8.8   9.7 

Other

  431   2,052.4   0.1   - 

Income before income taxes

  (3,002

)

  (9.5

)

  8.7   9.7 

Provision for income taxes

  (1,181

)

  (9.2

)

  3.6   4.0 

Net income

 $(1,821

)

  (9.8

)%

  5.1

%

  5.7

%

  

Dollar

Change

  

Percentage

Change

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenue

 
  

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016 vs. 2015

  

2016

  

2015

 
                 

Operating revenue

 $2,262   0.5

%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

Operating expenses (income):

                

Salaries, wages and benefits

  13,215   8.5   33.7   31.2 

Purchased transportation

  (6,346

)

  (7.2

)

  16.4   17.8 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  (12,908

)

  (15.9

)

  13.7   16.4 

Supplies and maintenance

  290   0.9   6.6   6.6 

Depreciation

  5,736   10.3   12.3   11.2 

Operating taxes and licenses

  547   8.8   1.4   1.2 

Insurance and claims

  1,272   5.8   4.7   4.4 

Communications and utilities

  354   8.1   0.9   0.9 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (2,619

)

  (54.1

)

  (1.5

)

  (1.0

)

Gain on disposition of facility

  3,712   (100.0

)

  -   (0.7

)

Other

  1,065   7.8   3.0   2.8 

Total operating expenses

  4,318   1.0   91.2   90.8 

Operating income

  (2,056

)

  (4.5

)

  8.8   9.2 

Other

  647   440.1   0.2   - 

Income before income taxes

  (2,703

)

  (5.9

)

  8.6   9.2 

Provision for income taxes

  (909

)

  (4.9

)

  3.6   3.8 

Net income

 $(1,794

)

  (6.7

)%

  5.0

%

  5.4

%

  

 

The increase in salaries, wages and benefits from the 2015 period resulted primarily from a 7.5%6.8% increase in the total miles driven by company drivers and increases to several components of the amount paid to company drivers, along with an increase in employees’ health insurance expense of $912,000$1.6 million due to an increase in our self-insured medical claims.claims, partially offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees.

 

Purchased transportation expense decreased $3.4$6.3 million in total, or 5.8%7.2%, in the 2016 period from the 2015 period. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment decreased $1.5$3.7 million to $27.1$40.6 million in the 2016 period from $28.6$44.4 million in the 2015 period primarily due to a decrease in brokerage revenue. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased $2.8$3.7 million to $22.3$34.2 million in the 2016 period from $25.1$37.9 million in the 2015 period. This decrease was primarily due to decreased fuel surcharges paid to railroadsrevenue within our temperature-controlled intermodal trailer service, along with the disposal in March 2015 of the dry containers that were used in a portion of our intermodal operations. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to our independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $939,000$1.1 million in the 2016 period.

 

 

 

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $11.2$12.9 million in the 2016 period from the 2015 period. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) increased $3.6$4.1 million, or 18.5%13.2%, to $23.0$34.9 million in the 2016 period from $19.4$30.8 million in the 2015 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $2.7$4.4 million from $4.9$7.1 million in the 2015 period. Despite a decrease in the DOE national average cost of fuel to $2.18$2.25 per gallon from $2.88$2.80 per gallon in the 2015 period, net fuel expense increased to 8.5% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 7.7%8.0% in the 2015 period. The net fuel expense to revenue was lower in the 2015 period primarily due to our discount from retail being larger in this period as athe result of the largea significant decrease in fuel prices during the first quarter followed by level fuel prices in the second quarter, compared with level fuel prices in the first quarter of 2016 followed by increasing fuel prices in the second quarter of 2016. The discount from retail typically increases when prices decrease and decreases when prices increase.decrease. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. Auxiliary power units, which we have installed in our company-owned tractors, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.

 

The increase in depreciation was primarily due to a continued increase in the cost of revenue equipment and growth of our fleet.

 

The $1.3 million increase in insurance and claims in the 2016 period was primarily due to increases in self-insured auto liability claims and auto liability insurance premiums.

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment increased to $4.1$7.5 million in the 2016 period from $2.9$4.8 million in the 2015 period primarily due to an increase in both the average gain per tractor and in the number of tractors sold.

 

Gain on disposition of facility was $3.7 million in the 2015 period. The disposition of the facility, located in Ontario, CA, was part of our ongoing program to expand and update the footprint of our facilities throughout the United States, in which we have spent $85.7$87.3 million since 2009. Any future gains or losses on disposition of facilities will be impacted by the market for real estate, which is beyond our control.

 

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” increased to 91.2% in the 2016 period from 90.3%90.8% in the 2015 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 92.5%92.7% in the 2016 period and 90.5%90.9% in the 2015 period, for our Dedicated segment was 87.6%87.2% in the 2016 period and 90.5%89.7% in the 2015 period, for our Intermodal segment was 89.3%89.9% in the 2016 period and 94.4%94.3% in the 2015 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 94.5%93.8% in the 2016 period and 95.3%95.0% in the 2015 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, was 90.5% in the 2016 period. Our operating ratio for the 2015 period, net of both the facility disposition gain and fuel surcharges, was 90.2%90.4%.

The increase in other non-operating expense was primarily due to increased losses in the 2016 period by MWL, a 45% owned affiliate.

 

Our effective income tax rate increased slightly to 41.2%41.5% in the 2016 period from 41.0% in the 2015 period.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income was $16.7$25.2 million in the 2016 period and $18.5$27.0 million in the 2015 period. Net earnings per diluted share was $0.51$0.77 in the 2016 period and $0.55$0.80 in the 2015 period. Net income in the 2016 period improved 2.2%1.6% over earnings of $16.4$24.8 million, or $0.48$0.73 per diluted share, in the 2015 period excluding the facility disposition gain.

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. Our primary sources of liquidity are funds provided by operations and our revolving credit facility. A portion of our tractor fleet is provided by independent contractors who own and operate their own equipment. We have no capital expenditure requirements relating to those drivers who own their tractors or obtain financing through third parties.

 

The table below reflects our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used for(used for) investing activities and net cash flows used for(used for) provided by financing activities for the periods indicated.

 

  

Six Months

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

 

Net cash flows provided by operatingactivities

 $80,121  $71,776 

Net cash flows used forinvesting activities

  (39,678)  (43,335)

Net cash flows used forfinancing activities

  (40,669)  (24,065)
  

Nine Months

Ended September 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

  

2015

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

 $104,141  $101,422 

Net cash flows (used for) investing activities

  (68,842)  (103,526)

Net cash flows (used for) provided by financing activities

  (35,558)  2,126 

 

In December 2007, our Board of Directors approved and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. On November 4, 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately 2 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date. In the fourth quarter of 2015 we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million.

We repurchased and retired 455,581 shares of our common stock for $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 and did not repurchase any shares in the second or third quarters of 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016.2015 we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million.

 

In the first sixnine months of 2016, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $80.1$104.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $36.9$63.4 million, to repay $33.5$29.3 million of long-term debt, to repurchase and retire 455,581 shares of our common stock for $7.5 million, to partially construct regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.0$3.7 million, and to pay cash dividends of $1.6$2.4 million. In the first sixnine months of 2015, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $71.8$101.4 million and borrowings under our credit facility of $1.9 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $39.7$96.3 million, to repay $24.4 million of long-term debt, to partially construct regional operating facilities in the amount of $4.4$7.7 million, and to pay cash dividends of $1.7$2.5 million.

 

We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $80$40 million for the remainder of 2016.Quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share of common stock were declared in each of the first twothree quarters of 2016 and 2015 totaling $1.6$2.4 million and $1.7$2.5 million, respectively. We currently expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. The payment of cash dividends in the future, and the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, and certain corporate law requirements, as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 


We maintain a credit agreement that provides for an unsecured committed credit facility which matures in December 2019. In November 2015, we entered into an amendment to the facility which increased the aggregate principal amount of the facility from $50.0 million to $75.0 million, and on April 25, 2016, we elected to reduce the aggregate principal amount of the facility to $30.0 million. At JuneSeptember 30, 2016, there was an outstanding principal balance of $4.4$8.5 million on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $11.2 million and remaining borrowing availability of $14.4$10.2 million. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the lender’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins.


 

Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver of the 25% limitation for 2015 and 2016 was obtained from the lender. This facility also contains restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

 

The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

 

 

Payments Due by Period

  

Payments Due by Period

 
 

Remainder

  

2017

  

2019

          

Remainder

  

2017

  

2019

         
 

of

  

And

  

And

          

of

  

And

  

And

         

(In thousands)

 

2016

  

2018

  

2020

  

Thereafter

  

Total

  

2016

  

2018

  

2020

  

Thereafter

  

Total

 

Purchase obligations forrevenue equipment

 $84,869  $  $  $  $84,869 

Purchase obligations for revenue equipment

 $47,348  $  $  $  $47,348 

Long-term debt obligations

        4,376      4,376         8,549      8,549 

Operating lease obligations

  145   133   3      281   55   133   3      191 

Building constructionobligations

  123            123 

Building construction obligations

  1,066            1,066 

Total

 $85,137  $133  $4,379  $  $89,649  $48,469  $133  $8,552  $  $57,154 

 

Due to uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows, the obligation under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 of 90,38590,494 shares of Company common stock with a value of $1.8$1.9 million has been excluded from the above table.

 

Related Parties

 

We purchase fuel and tires and obtain related services from Bauer Built, Inc., or BBI. Jerry M. Bauer, one of our directors, is the chairman of the board, chief executive officer and the principal stockholder of BBI. We paid BBI $182,000$278,000 in the first sixnine months of 2016 and $203,000$274,000 in the first sixnine months of 2015 for fuel, tires and related services. In addition, we paid $928,000$1.5 million in the first sixnine months of 2016 and $628,000$1.1 million in the first sixnine months of 2015 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases. Other than any benefit received from his ownership interest in BBI, Mr. Bauer receives no compensation or other benefits from our business with BBI.

 

We own a 45% equity interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry. We received $966,000$1.1 million and $3.7$4.5 million of our revenue for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL in the six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we also had a trade receivable in the amount of $52,000$46,000 from MWL and an accrued liability of $3.8$3.0 million to MWL for the excess of payments by MWL’s customers into our lockbox account over the amounts drawn on the account by MWL.

 

We believe that the transactions with related parties noted above are on reasonable terms which, based upon market rates, are comparable to terms available from unaffiliated third parties.

 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Other than standby letters of credit maintained in connection with our self-insurance programs in the amount of $11.2 million and operating leases summarized above in our summary of contractual obligations, we did not have any other material off-balance sheet arrangements at JuneSeptember 30, 2016.


  

Inflation and Fuel Costs

 

Most of our operating expenses are inflation-sensitive, with inflation generally producing increased costs of operations. During the last two years, the most significant effects of inflation have been on revenue equipment prices, accident claims, health insurance and employee compensation. We attempt to limit the effects of inflation through increases in freight rates and cost control efforts.


 

In addition to inflation, fluctuations in fuel prices can affect our profitability. We require substantial amounts of fuel to operate our tractors and power the temperature-control units on our trailers. Substantially all of our contracts with customers contain fuel surcharge provisions. Although we historically have been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges and higher rates, such increases usually are not fully recovered. These fuel surcharge provisions are not effective in mitigating the fuel price increases related to non-revenue miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling.

 

Seasonality

 

Our tractor productivity generally decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations and some shippers reduce their shipments. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased claims, lower fuel efficiency and more equipment repairs.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses in our consolidated condensed financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates, assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

Revenue Recognition.We recognize revenue, including fuel surcharges,at the time shipment of freight is completed. We account for revenue of our Intermodal and Brokerage segments and revenue on freight transported by independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments on a gross basis because we are the primary obligor in the arrangements, we have the ability to establish prices, we have the risk of loss in the event of cargo claims and we bear credit risk with customer payments. Accordingly, all such revenue billed to customers is classified as operating revenue and all corresponding payments to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment are classified as purchased transportation expense.

 

Accounts Receivable.We are dependent upon a limited number of customers, and, as a result, our trade accounts receivable are highly concentrated.Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $265,000 as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and $305,000 as of December 31, 2015. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer and related aging of the past-due balances, including any billing disputes. In order to assess the collectibility of these receivables, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Through these evaluations, we may become aware of a situation where a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration of its financial viability, credit ratings or bankruptcy. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the best information available to us and is reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. We evaluate the allowance based on historical write-off experience, the size of the individual customer balances, past-due amounts and the overall national economy. We review the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts monthly.

 


Property and Equipment. The transportation industry requires significant capital investments. Our net property and equipment was $537.9$552.4 million as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and $528.0 million as of December 31, 2015. Our depreciation expense was $40.4$61.2 million for the first sixnine months of 2016 and $36.1$55.5 million for the first sixnine months of 2015. We compute depreciation of our property and equipment for financial reporting purposes based on the cost of each asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life. We determine and periodically evaluate our estimate of the projected salvage values and useful lives primarily by considering the market for used equipment, prior useful lives and changes in technology. We have not changed our policy regarding salvage values as a percentage of initial cost or useful lives of tractors and trailers within the last ten years. We believe that our policies and past estimates have been reasonable. Actual results could differ from these estimates. A 5% decrease in estimated salvage values would have decreased our net property and equipment as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 by approximately $11.0$10.7 million, or 2.0%1.9%.


 

Impairment of Assets.Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less the costs to sell.

 

Insurance and Claims.We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance with varying risk retention levels. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. However, we could suffer a series of losses within our self-insured retention limits or losses over our policy limits, which could negatively affect our financial condition and operating results. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim and for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. We have $11.2 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities. The insurance and claims accruals in our consolidated condensed balance sheets were $17.4$17.8 million as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and $16.2 million as of December 31, 2015. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims. We periodically evaluate and adjust these reserves based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and our estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Actual results could differ from these current estimates. In addition, to the extent that claims are litigated and not settled, jury awards are difficult to predict.

 

Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation.We have granted stock options to certain employees and non-employee directors. We recognize compensation expense for all stock options net of an estimated forfeiture rate and only record compensation expense for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (normally the vesting period). Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock options require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock options and stock price volatility. We use the Black-Scholes model to value our stock option awards. We believe that future volatility will not materially differ from our historical volatility. Thus, we use the historical volatility of our common stock over the expected life of the award. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and we use different assumptions, stock option compensation expense could be materially different in the future.

 

We have also granted performance unit awards to certain employees which are subject to vesting requirements over a five-year period, primarily based on our earnings growth. The fair value of each performance unit is based on the closing market price on the date of grant. We recognize compensation expense for these awards based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the performance and service vesting requirements of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard, which is effective for the first quarter of 2018, will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.


 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases” which requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures related to leasing transactions. The standard is effective for the first quarter of 2019. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.


 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of this standard will result in an increase or decrease to our provision for income taxes each quarter based on the actual increase in our stock price compared with the grant-date fair value of the quarter’s exercised options and vested performance unit awards. The adoption of the other provisions of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

  

We are exposed to a variety of market risks, most importantly the effects of the price and availability of diesel fuel. We require substantial amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors and power the temperature-control units on our trailers. The price and availability of diesel fuel can vary, and are subject to political, economic and market factors that are beyond our control. Significant increases in diesel fuel costs could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Based upon our fuel consumption in the first sixnine months of 2016, a 5% increase in the average cost of diesel fuel would have increased our fuel expense by $2.1$3.3 million.

 

We have historically been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in diesel fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge programs are widely accepted among our customers, though they can vary somewhat from customer-to-customer. These fuel surcharges, which adjust weekly with the cost of fuel, enable us to recover a substantial portion of the higher cost of fuel as prices increase. These fuel surcharge provisions are not effective in mitigating the fuel price increases related to non-revenue miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling. In addition, we have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in our trailers’ refrigeration units.

 

While we do not currently have any outstanding hedging instruments to mitigate this market risk, we may enter into derivatives or other financial instruments to hedge a portion of our fuel costs in the future.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We intend to periodically evaluate our disclosure controls and procedures as required by the Exchange Act Rules.

  

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

 

We do not believe there are any material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item1AItem 1A to Part 1 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Item2.      UUnregisterednregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

In December 2007, our Board of Directors approved and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. On November 4, 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately 2 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2015, we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million. We repurchased and retired 455,581 shares of our common stock for $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 and did not repurchase any shares in the second or third quarters of 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016.2015, we repurchased and retired 941,024 shares of our common stock for $16.2 million.


 

Item 6.           Exhibits.

 

Item No.

Item

 

Method of Filing

10.16Named Executive Officer CompensationIncorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 13, 2016.

10.22

2016 Non-Employee Director Compensation Summary

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report Form 8-K filed May 13, 2016.

31.1

Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Randolph L. Marten, the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Filed with this Report.

31.2

Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by James J. Hinnendael, the Registrant’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Filed with this Report.

32.1

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed with this Report.

101

The following financial information from Marten Transport, Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on August 8,November 2, 2016, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the three- and six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, (iii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 December 31,and September 30, 2015, and June 30,for the three-month period ended December 31, 2015, (iv)  Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six-monthnine-month periods ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and JuneSeptember 30, 2015, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

Filed with this Report.

  

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

   
   

Dated: August 8,November 2, 2016

By:

/s/ Randolph L. Marten

  

Randolph L. Marten

  

Chief Executive Officer

  

(Principal Executive Officer)

   
   

Dated: August 8,November 2, 2016

By:

/s/ James J. Hinnendael

  

James J. Hinnendael

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

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