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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates — The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates and periodically adjusts its estimates and assumptions, based on historical experience, the impact of the current economic environment, and other key factors. Volatile energy markets, as well as changes in consumer spending have increased the inherent uncertainty in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include:


•	carrying amount of property and equipment, intangibles, and goodwill;


•	valuation allowances for receivables, inventories, and deferred income tax assets;


•	valuation of financial instruments;


•	calculation of stock-based compensation;


•	estimates of claims accruals;


•	leases, and


•	contingent obligations.

Segments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segments — The Company uses the "management approach" to determine its reportable segments, as well as to determine the basis of reporting the operating segment information. Certain of the Company's operating segments have been aggregated into reportable segments. The management approach focuses on financial information that management uses to make operating decisions. The Company's chief operating decision makers use total revenue, operating expense categories, operating ratios, operating income, and key operating statistics to evaluate performance and allocate resources to the Company's operations.

Operating income is the measure that management uses to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources, which is consistent with GAAP for segment reporting. Operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP net income (loss). Management believes the presentation of operating income enhances the understanding of the Company's performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business segments. Operating income is defined as "Total revenue" less "Operating expenses."

Based on the unique nature of the Company's operating structure, certain revenue-generating assets are interchangeable between segments. Additionally, the Company's chief operating decision makers do not review assets or liabilities by segment to make operating decisions. The Company allocates depreciation and amortization expense of its property and equipment to the segments based on the actual utilization of the asset by the segment during the period.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash, money market funds, and highly liquid instruments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities of three months or less. Cash balances with institutions may be in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") limits or may be invested in sweep accounts that are not insured by the institution, the FDIC, or any other government agency.

Restricted Cash — The Company's wholly-owned captive insurance companies, Red Rock and Mohave, maintain certain operating bank accounts, working trust accounts, and investment accounts. The cash and short-term investments within the accounts are restricted by insurance regulations to fund the insurance claim losses to be paid by the captive insurance companies. Therefore, these cash and short-term investments are classified as "Cash and cash equivalents – restricted" in the consolidated balance sheets.

Restricted Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Investments — The Company's investments are restricted by insurance regulations to fund the insurance claim losses to be paid by the captive insurance companies. The Company accounts for its investments in accordance with ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates the determination on a quarterly basis. As of December 31, 2017, all of the Company's investments in fixed-maturity securities were classified as held-to-maturity, as the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted using the effective interest rate method for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Amortization and accretion are reported in "Other income, net" in the consolidated income statements.

Management periodically evaluates restricted investments for impairment. The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on management's case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in estimated fair value. Management accounts for other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities in accordance with ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. This guidance requires the Company to evaluate whether it intends to sell an impaired debt security or whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell an impaired debt security before recovery of the amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria are met, an impairment loss equal to the difference between the debt security's amortized cost and its estimated fair value is recognized in earnings. For impaired debt securities that do not meet these criteria, the Company determines if a credit loss exists with respect to the impaired security. If a credit loss exists, the credit loss component of the impairment (i.e., the difference between the security's amortized cost and the present value of projected future cash flows expected to be collected) is recognized in earnings and the remaining portion of the impairment is recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Inventories and Supplies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories and Supplies — Inventories and supplies, which are included in "Other current assets" in the consolidated balance sheets, primarily consist of spare parts, tires, fuel, and supplies and are stated at lower of cost or net realizable value. Depending on the class of inventory, cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method or average cost.

Property and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Costs to construct significant assets include capitalized interest incurred during the construction and development period. Expenditures for replacements and improvements are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis down to the salvage value, as applicable, over the following estimated useful lives:



Category:	Range (in years)
Revenue equipment	4	—	20
Shop and service equipment	2	—	10
Land improvements	5	—	15
Buildings and building improvements	10	—	40
Furniture and fixtures	3	—	10
Leasehold improvements	Life of the lease

Net gains on the disposal of property and equipment are presented in the consolidated income statements within miscellaneous operating expenses, net.

Tires on purchased revenue equipment are capitalized along with the related equipment cost when the vehicle is placed in service and depreciated over the life of the vehicle. Replacement tires are classified as inventory and expensed when placed in service.

Management evaluates its property and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, management performs a recoverability test that compares the carrying amount with the projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group. An impairment is recorded for any excess of the carrying amount over the estimated fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values, and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

Intangible Assets other than Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets other than Goodwill — The Company's intangible assets other than goodwill primarily consist of acquired customer relationships and trade names from the 2017 Merger, as well as intangibles from Knight's 2014 acquisition of Barr-Nunn Transportation, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. Amortization of acquired customer relationships is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life, which ranges from 5 years to 20 years. The trade names have indefinite useful lives and are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least annually, unless events occur or circumstances change between annual tests that would more likely than not reduce the fair value.

Management reviews its intangible assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, management performs a recoverability test that compares the carrying amount with the projected discounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group. An impairment is recorded for any excess of the carrying amount over the estimated fair value, which is generally determined using discounted future cash flows.

Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill — Management evaluates goodwill on an annual basis as of June 30^th, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company conducts a two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The first step of the quantitative impairment test involves comparing the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their carrying values. Management estimates the fair values of its reporting units using a combination of the income and market approaches. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, then management performs the second step of the quantitative impairment test. The second step of the quantitative impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill. Any amount by which the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value is recognized as an impairment loss. Refer to Note 11 for discussion of the results of the Company's annual evaluation as of June 30, 2017.

Claims Accruals, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Claims Accruals — The Company is self-insured for a portion of its risk related to auto liability, workers' compensation, property damage, and cargo damage. Self-insurance results from buying insurance coverage that applies in excess of a retained portion of risk for each respective line of coverage. The Company accrues for the cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims by evaluating the nature and severity of individual claims and by estimating future claims development based upon historical claims development trends. The actual cost to settle self-insured claim liabilities may differ from the Company's reserve estimates due to legal costs, claims that have been incurred but not reported, and various other uncertainties, including the inherent difficulty in estimating the severity of the claims and the potential judgment or settlement amount to dispose of the claim.

Operating Leases, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In accordance with ASC 840, Leases, property and equipment held under operating leases, and liabilities related thereto, are off-balance sheet. All expenses related to operating leases are reflected in the consolidated income statements in "Rental expense." At lease inception, management determines whether the lease should be classified as operating or capital lease, based on the guidance set forth in ASC 840. Additionally at lease inception, management determines the useful life and estimates residual values of the related equipment. Future minimum lease payments used in determining lease classification represent the minimum rental payments called for over the lease term, inclusive of residual value guarantees (if applicable) and amounts that would be required to be paid, if any, by the Company upon default for leases containing subjective acceleration or cross default clauses.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The estimated fair values of the financial instruments shown in the above table as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, represent management's best estimates of the amounts that would be received to sell those assets or that would be paid to transfer those liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at that date. The estimated fair value measurements maximize the use of observable inputs. However, in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date, the estimated fair value measurement reflects the Company's own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These judgments are developed by the Company based on the best information available under the circumstances.

The following summary presents a description of the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument.

Restricted Investments, Money Market Funds, and Debt Securities — The estimated fair value of the Company's restricted investments is based on quoted prices in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. See Note 6 for additional investments disclosures.

Term Loans — The estimated fair value of the Term Loan approximates the face value. See Note 16 for additional debt disclosures.

Securitization of Accounts Receivable — The Company's securitization of accounts receivable consists of borrowings outstanding pursuant to the 2015 RSA as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, as discussed in Note 15. The estimated fair value of the 2015 RSA approximates the face value.

Fair Value Hierarchy — ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands financial statement disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASC 820 further specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques, which is based on whether the inputs into the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. The hierarchy follows:


•	Level 1 — Valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are identical to the assets or liabilities being measured.

•

Level 2 — Valuation techniques in which significant inputs include quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are similar to the assets or liabilities being measured and/or quoted prices from markets that are not active for assets or liabilities that are identical or similar to the assets or liabilities being measured. Also, model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets are Level 2 valuation techniques.


•	Level 3 — Valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are valuation technique inputs that reflect the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

When available, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine the estimated fair value of an asset or liability. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company measures fair value using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently-sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the estimated fair value measurement in its entirety.

Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation primarily arising in the normal course of business. The majority of these claims relate to workers' compensation, auto collision and liability, physical damage, and cargo damage, as well as certain class action litigation in which plaintiffs allege failure to provide meal and rest breaks, unpaid wages, unauthorized deductions, and other items. The Company accrues for the uninsured portion of claims losses and the gross amount of other losses when the likelihood of the loss is probable and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. These accruals are based on management's best estimate within a possible range of loss. When there is no amount within the range of loss that appears to be a better estimate than any other amount, then management accrues to the low end of the range. Legal fees are expensed as incurred.

When it is reasonably possible that exposure exists in excess of the related accrual (which could be no accrual), management discloses an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, unless an estimate cannot be determined (because, among other reasons, (1) the proceedings are in various stages that do not allow for assessment; (2) damages have not been sought; (3) damages are unsupported and/or exaggerated; (4) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals; and/or (5) there are significant factual issues to be resolved).

If the likelihood of a loss is remote, the Company does not accrue for the loss. However, if the likelihood of a loss is remote, but it is at least reasonably possible that one or more future confirming events may materially change management's estimate within twelve months from the date of the financial statements, management discloses an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, unless an estimate cannot be determined.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition — In accordance with ASC 605-20-25-13, Services for Freight-in-Transit at the End of a Reporting Period, the Company currently recognizes operating revenue and the related direct costs of such revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectability is probable, all of which occur as of the date the freight is delivered.

Credit terms for customer accounts are generally on a net 30 day basis. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and any known trends or uncertainties related to customer billing and account collectability. The Company reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts on a quarterly basis. Uncollectible accounts are written off when deemed uncollectible, and accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.

The Company recognizes operating lease revenue from leasing tractors and related equipment to independent contractors. Operating lease revenue from rental operations is recognized as earned, which is straight-lined per the rent schedules in the lease agreements. Losses from lease defaults are recognized as offsets to revenue.

Stock-based Compensation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-based Compensation — The Company accounts for stock-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires that all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in the financial statements based upon a grant-date fair value of an award. The fair value of performance units is estimated using the Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model. Equity awards settled in cash are remeasured at each reporting period and are recognized as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets during the vesting period until settlement. The fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. The Company calculates the number of awards expected to vest as awards granted, less expected forfeitures over the life of the award (estimated at grant date). Compensation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis, by amortizing the grant-date fair value over the requisite service period of the entire award. Unless a material deviation from the assumed forfeiture rate is observed during the term in which the awards are expensed, any adjustment necessary to reflect differences in actual experience is recognized in the period the award becomes payable or exercisable.

Income Taxes, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes — Management accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Additionally, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and respective tax bases of assets and liabilities (using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse). The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of changes in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Net deferred incomes taxes are classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheets.

A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets if the Company determines it is more likely than not that such assets will not ultimately be realized. In making such determinations, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and recent financial operations.

Unrecognized tax benefits are defined as the difference between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured pursuant to ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company does not recognize a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions unless it concludes that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit (including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes) by the taxing authority, based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, the Company recognizes a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that, in the management's judgment, is greater than 50% likely to be realized. The Company records expected incurred interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in "Income tax (benefit) expense" in the consolidated income statements. To the extent interest and penalties are not assessed with respect to uncertain tax positions, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision.