SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K (Mark One) [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [No Fee Required] FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [No Fee Required] For the transition period from ______________ to ________________ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 33-91238 ________ A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: U.S. XPRESS ENTERPRISES, INC. 2931 SOUTH MARKET STREET CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 37410 REQUIRED INFORMATION The U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN (the "Plan") is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Therefore, in lieu of the requirements of Items 1-3 of Form 11-K, the financial statements and schedules of the Plan for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, which have been prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of ERISA, are attached hereto as Appendix 1 and incorporated herein by this reference. The consent of Arthur Andersen LLP is included in Appendix 1 to this annual report. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. U.S. XPRESS ENTERPRISES, INC. XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN By: /s/ James B. Baker ------------------------------------- Member of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. Pension Committee Date: June 23, 1997 XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 TOGETHER WITH AUDITORS' REPORT XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits--December 31, 1996 Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits--December 31, 1995 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 1996 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES Schedule I: Item 27a--Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes--December 31, 1996 Schedule II: Item 27d--Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1996 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS To the Plan Administrator of the Xpre$$avings 401(k) Plan: We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN (the "Plan") as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements and the schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes and reportable transactions are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The fund information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. The supplemental schedules and fund information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. Chattanooga, Tennessee ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP April 28, 1997 XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS (WITH FUND INFORMATION) DECEMBER 31, 1996 NON-PARTICIPANT PARTICIPANT DIRECTED DIRECTED --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- STI CLASSIC TWENTIETH CAPITAL SUNTRUST EMPLOYEE U.S. XPRESS CENTURY STI CLASSIC GROWTH BENEFIT STABLE ENTERPRISES PARTICIPANT ULTRA FUND BALANCED FUND FUND ASSET FUND STOCK FUND LOANS TOTAL ------------ -------------- --------- -------------- ------------ --------------- ------- ASSETS: Investments, at fair value: Mutual funds $1,200,922 $474,594 $720,873 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $2,396,389 Common trust fund 0 0 0 1,804,507 0 0 1,804,507 Company stock 0 0 0 0 159,880 0 159,880 Participant loans 0 0 0 0 0 190,418 190,418 ---------- -------- -------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- Total investments 1,200,922 474,594 720,873 1,804,507 159,880 190,418 4,551,194 Participant contributions receivable 22,949 8,453 11,761 24,529 3,530 0 71,222 Cash 0 0 0 2,819 0 0 2,819 ---------- -------- -------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- Total assets 1,223,871 483,047 732,634 1,831,855 163,410 190,418 4,625,235 ---------- -------- -------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $1,223,871 $483,047 $732,634 $1,831,855 $163,410 $190,418 $4,625,235 ========== ======== ======== ========== ======== ======== ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS (WITH FUND INFORMATION) DECEMBER 31, 1995 PARTICIPANT DIRECTED --------------------------------------------------------------------------- STI CLASSIC TWENTIETH CAPITAL SUNTRUST EMPLOYEE U.S. XPRESS CENTURY STI CLASSIC GROWTH BENEFIT STABLE ENTERPRISES ULTRA FUND BALANCED FUND FUND ASSET FUND STOCK FUND ------------ -------------- --------- -------------- ------------ ASSETS: Investments, at fair value: Mutual funds $638,917 $329,231 $470,958 $ 0 $ 0 Common trust fund 0 0 0 1,178,439 0 Funds held in The 0 0 0 0 0 Travelers general account Company stock 0 0 0 0 20,441 Participant loans 0 0 0 0 0 -------- -------- -------- ---------- ------- Total investments 638,917 329,231 470,958 1,178,439 20,441 Participant contributions 11,990 3,920 6,144 15,424 1,067 receivable Cash 18,892 0 1,460 0 823 -------- -------- -------- ---------- ------- Total assets 669,799 333,151 478,562 1,193,863 22,331 -------- -------- -------- ---------- ------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $669,799 $333,151 $478,562 $1,193,863 $22,331 ======== ======== ======== ========== ======= NON-PARTICIPANT DIRECTED ------------------------------ THE TRAVELERS GIC FIXED PARTICIPANT INCOME FUND LOANS TOTAL -------------- --------------- ---------- ASSETS: Investments, at fair value: Mutual funds $ 0 $ 0 $1,439,106 Common trust fund 0 0 1,178,439 Funds held in The Travelers general account 339,267 0 339,267 Company stock 0 0 20,441 Participant loans 0 72,529 72,529 -------- ------- ---------- Total investments 339,267 72,529 3,049,782 Participant contributions receivable 0 0 38,545 Cash 0 0 21,175 -------- ------- ---------- Total assets 339,267 72,529 3,109,502 -------- ------- ---------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $339,267 $72,529 $3,109,502 ======== ======= ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS (WITH FUND INFORMATION) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 PARTICIPANT DIRECTED --------------------------------------------------------------------------- STI CLASSIC TWENTIETH CAPITAL SUNTRUST EMPLOYEE U.S. XPRESS CENTURY STI CLASSIC GROWTH BENEFIT STABLE ENTERPRISES ULTRA FUND BALANCED FUND FUND ASSET FUND STOCK FUND ------------ -------------- --------- -------------- ------------ ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO : Participant contributions $ 390,815 $134,190 $200,519 $ 458,308 $ 56,342 Employer contributions 130,186 48,328 69,741 172,247 19,288 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 0 0 0 0 74,900 Net investment income-registered investment companies 111,048 41,542 99,090 0 0 Net investment income-common trusts 0 0 0 99,570 0 Net investment income-The Travelers general account 0 0 0 0 0 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total additions 632,049 224,060 369,350 730,125 150,530 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO: BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS 91,184 53,554 95,131 339,170 3,199 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS (57,746) (26,223) (32,577) (91,902) (2,645) --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- LOAN PAYMENTS 26,857 12,492 13,284 31,476 242 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- INTERFUND TRANSFERS 44,096 (6,879) (854) 307,463 (3,849) --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) 554,072 149,896 254,072 637,992 141,079 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: Beginning of year 669,799 333,151 478,562 1,193,863 22,331 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- End of year $1,223,871 $483,047 $732,634 $1,831,855 $163,410 ========= ======== ======== ========= ======== NON-PARTICIPANT DIRECTED ------------------------------ THE TRAVELERS GIC FIXED PARTICIPANT INCOME FUND LOANS TOTAL -------------- --------------- ---------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO: Participant contributions $ 0 $ 0 $1,240,174 Employer contributions 0 0 439,790 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 0 0 74,900 Net investment income-registered investment companies 0 0 251,680 Net investment income-common trusts 0 0 99,570 Net investment income-The Travelers general account 710 0 710 --------- --------- ---------- Total additions 710 0 2,106,824 --------- --------- ---------- DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO: BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS 0 8,853 591,091 --------- --------- ---------- LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS 0 211,093 0 --------- --------- ---------- LOAN PAYMENTS 0 (84,351) 0 --------- --------- ---------- INTERFUND TRANSFERS (339,977) 0 0 --------- --------- ---------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) (339,267) 117,889 1,515,733 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: Beginning of year 339,267 72,529 3,109,502 --------- --------- ---------- End of year $ 0 $190,418 $4,625,235 ========= ======== =========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 1. PLAN DESCRIPTION The following description of the Xpre$$avings 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") is provided for general information purposes only. More complete information regarding the Plan's provisions may be found in the plan document. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan established January 1, 1993, by U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company") under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"), which includes a qualified deferred arrangement as described in Section 401(k) of the IRC, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan when they have completed one year of service, as defined in the plan document, and have attained age 21. CONTRIBUTIONS Eligible employees can make before-tax contributions up to 6% of compensation, as defined in the plan document, limited by requirements of the IRC. Eligible employees can, in addition, make after-tax contributions up to 10% of compensation, as defined in the plan document, limited by requirements of the IRC. The Company provides a matching contribution of 50% of all before-tax contributions. After-tax contributions are not matched by the Company. -2- VESTING Participants are fully vested in their contributions and the earnings thereon. Vesting in employer matching contributions and earnings thereon is based on years of service. A participant vests according to the following schedule: PERCENTAGE YEARS OF SERVICE VESTED ---------------- ------- Less than two years of service 0% Two but not three years of service 30% Three but not four years of service 65% Four or more years of service 100% For vesting purposes, years of service are counted from the later of a participant's date of hire or the effective date of the Plan (January 1, 1993). Participants automatically become 100% vested in employer contributions upon attainment of retirement age, as defined in the plan document, or termination due to death or total disability. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $24,700 and $81,300, respectively. These accounts will be used to reduce future employer contributions. During 1996, employer contributions were reduced by $117,800 from forfeited nonvested accounts. No forfeitures were used to reduce employer contributions in 1995. BENEFITS Upon termination of service, a participant may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account. The form of payment is a lump-sum distribution, an annuity, or a combination thereof. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS Individual accounts are maintained for each of the Plan's participants to reflect the participant's share of the Plan's income, expenses, the Company's contribution, and the participant's contribution. Allocations of income and administrative expenses are based on individual participant account balances in proportion to total participant account balances. -3- INVESTMENT OPTIONS Participants direct contributions, including employer matching contributions, into the following investment options in 5% increments. Participants may change their investment elections daily. A description of each investment option is provided below: * Twentieth Century Ultra Fund This fund invests primarily in equities. The fund's primary objective is capital growth over time. * STI Classic Balanced Fund This fund seeks to provide capital appreciation and current income by investing primarily in common stocks, preferred stocks, and investment-grade fixed income securities. * STI Classic Capital Growth Fund This fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks which, in the opinion of the fund manager, have potential for capital appreciation. * SunTrust Employee Benefit This fund is an actively managed Stable Asset Fund portfolio of insurance company guaranteed investment contracts and short-term money market investments. The fund seeks to maximize current income and maintain a high degree of liquidity. * U.S. Xpress Enterprises Stock This fund invests principally in U.S. Fund Xpress Enterprises common stock. This investment option was introduced in August 1995. * The Travelers GIC Fixed This fund invests primarily in Income Fund investment contracts of insurance companies. The objective of this fund is to provide a fixed rate of return on investments and stability of principal. Effective April 1, 1994, the Company discontinued this investment option. The investment contract related to this fund expired December 31, 1995. Investments in the U.S. Xpress Enterprises Stock Fund are assigned units of participation. The unit value of the U.S. Xpress Enterprises Stock Fund is determined daily based on the fair market value of the underlying net assets. The total units assigned to participants at December 31, 1996 and 1995 were 11,613 and 2,907, respectively. The unit value at December 31, 1996 and 1995 was $13.76 and $7.03, respectively. -4- PARTICIPANT LOANS Subject to approval, participants can secure a loan from the Plan against their account balance up to a maximum of 50% of their vested account balance or $50,000, whichever is less. Loans may generally be repaid over one to five years. The minimum loan amount allowed is $1,000. Loans must be repaid through automatic payroll deductions unless otherwise provided by the plan administrator. The interest rate is determined by the trustee based on prevailing market conditions and is fixed over the life of the note. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The accompanying financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan's management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the accompanying financial statements and disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. INCOME RECOGNITION Investment income is recorded as earned on the accrual basis. Net realized gains (losses) and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) are presented in the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits as net appreciation in fair value of investments. INVESTMENT VALUATION Investments of the Plan are stated at fair value. Securities traded in public markets are valued at their quoted market prices. The Travelers GIC Fixed Income Fund and the SunTrust Employee Benefit Stable Asset Fund are at contract value, which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are reflected on a trade-date basis. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES For the year ended December 31, 1996, the participants paid loan processing fees which are reflected in loans to participants on the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits. The Company paid all other administrative expenses of the Plan. 3. TAX STATUS The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on September 27, 1995, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as amended and restated August 30, 1994, was in compliance with the applicable design requirements of the IRC. The Plan has been amended since that date. However, the plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore, management believes that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax exempt for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. -5- 4. PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts. SCHEDULE I XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN ITEM 27A--SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1996 (EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 62-1378182, PLAN NUMBER 001) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, IDENTITY OF ISSUER, BORROWER, RATE OF INTEREST, COLLATERAL, AND CURRENT LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY PAR ON MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- Twentieth Century Investors Twentieth Century Ultra Fund $1,095,258 $1,200,922 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. STI Classic Balanced Fund 460,508 474,594 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. STI Classic Capital Growth Fund 724,525 720,873 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. SunTrust Employee Benefit Stable Asset Fund 1,685,627 1,804,507 * U.S. Xpress Enterprises U.S. Xpress Enterprises Stock Fund 91,726 159,880 * The Plan Loans to participants, with interest rates from 7.8% to 11.6% 190,418 190,418 ---------- ---------- $4,248,062 $4,551,194 ========== ========== *Indicates a party in interest The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule. SCHEDULE II XPRE$$AVINGS 401(k) PLAN ITEM 27d--SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS (a) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 62-1378182, PLAN NUMBER 001) PURCHASES DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS, ---------------------------------------------- INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, PURCHASE PRICE AND RATE OF INTEREST, CURRENT VALUE OF COLLATERAL, AND PAR OR NUMBER OF ASSET ON IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED MATURITY VALUE TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTION DATE(b) - ---------------------------------- -------------------------- ------------- ------------------------ Twentieth Century Investors Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 235 $ 717,758 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. STI Classic Balanced Fund 207 254,350 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. STI Classic Capital Growth Fund 221 441,110 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. SunTrust Employee Benefit Stable Asset Fund 274 1,092,884 * The Travelers The Traveler GIC Fixed Income Fund 1 710 SALES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SELLING PRICE AND CURRENT VALUE OF NUMBER OF ASSET ON COST OF IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTION DATE(b) ASSETS NET GAIN - ---------------------------------- ------------ ------------------------ ------------- -------------- Twentieth Century Investors 124 $203,220 $175,590 $27,630 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. 102 101,141 90,588 10,553 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. 10 162,047 142,175 19,872 * SunBank Capital Management, N.A. 215 566,449 538,021 28,428 * The Travelers 2 339,977 339,977 0 *Indicates a party in interest (a) Represents a single transaction or a series of transactions in the same security that exceed 5% of the fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year. (b) The normal expenses associated with asset purchases and sales are included in the purchase and selling price and therefore, are not shown separately. The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.