Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Insurance Policies

We establish a liability under our automobile and workers’ compensation insurance policies for expected claims incurred but not reported on a monthly basis. As claims are paid, the liability is relieved. Our accruals for automobile and workers’ compensation claims are presented in the following table.

For periods prior to October 1, 2017, we pre-funded our estimated claims, and therefore, we could either receive a return of premium paid or be assessed for additional premiums up to pre-established limits. Additionally, in certain instances, the risk of insured losses was shared with a group of similarly situated entities through an insurance captive. We have appropriately recognized estimated expenses and liabilities related to these policies for losses incurred but not reported to us or our insurance carrier. The amount of pre-funded insurance premiums left to cover potential future losses are presented in the following table. If the potential insurance claims do not further develop, the pre-funded premiums will be returned to us as a premium refund.

The amount of pre-funded insurance premiums left to cover potential future losses related to periods prior to October 1, 2017, and our accruals for automobile and workers’ compensation claims were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):


	December 31,
	2019		2018

Pre-funded premiums for losses incurred but not reported	$	168	$	427
Accrued automobile and workers’ compensation claims	2,956		2,246

We maintain a self-insurance program for managing employee medical claims. A liability for expected claims incurred but not reported is established on a monthly basis. As claims are paid, the liability is relieved. We also maintain third party insurance stop-loss coverage for individual medical claims exceeding a certain minimum threshold. In addition, we maintain $1.0 million of umbrella insurance coverage for annual aggregate medical claims exceeding approximately $9.6 million. Medical accrual amounts were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):


	December 31,
	2019		2018

Accrued medical claims	$	1,016	$	1,181

Legal Proceedings

On August 15, 2019, we received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding a proposed penalty of approximately $1.2 million for our 2017 tax year information returns. The notice alleges that certain taxpayer identification numbers supplied to the IRS for our returns in 2017 were either missing or incorrect and that certain filings were late. We believe that the IRS’ claims are without merit and plan to pursue all available administrative and judicial remedies necessary to resolve this matter. Accordingly, we responded to the IRS on September 25, 2019 disputing the proposed penalty and requesting that the amount be waived, abated or a hearing held. We have not received a response at this time and are unable to predict when this matter might be resolved. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from examinations such as this to determine the adequacy of our tax reserves. Since we are unable to predict whether the IRS will waive or abate the proposed penalty as requested, no liabilities have been accrued to date. We intend to vigorously defend our position in this matter. We believe that the final adjudication of this matter will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Litigation

From time to time as incidental to our operations, we may become involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes. Primarily as an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, we are a party to motor vehicle accidents, worker compensation claims and other items of general liability as would be typical for the industry. We are presently unaware of any claims against us that are either outside the scope of insurance coverage or that may exceed the level of insurance coverage and could potentially represent a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Guarantees

AE issues parent guarantees of commitments associated with the activities of its subsidiary companies. The guarantees generally result from subsidiary commodity purchase obligations, subsidiary operating lease commitments and subsidiary banking transactions. The nature of these arrangements is to guarantee the performance of the subsidiary in meeting their respective underlying obligations. The parent would only be called upon to perform under the guarantee in the event of a payment default by the applicable subsidiary company. In satisfying these obligations, the parent would first look to the assets of the defaulting subsidiary company.

At December 31, 2019, parental guaranteed obligations were approximately $44.3 million. Currently, neither AE nor any of its subsidiaries has any other types of guarantees outstanding that require liability recognition.