Income Taxes Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Con-way's second-quarter and year-to-date effective tax rates in 2013 were 31.7% and 28.5%, respectively. In the second quarter and first half of 2012, the effective tax rates were 35.4% and 36.4%, respectively. Significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and pretax income were largely due to discrete adjustments. In the second quarter and first half of 2013, the effective tax rates included discrete tax benefits of $3.8 million and $7.2 million, respectively. In the second quarter and first half of 2012, the effective tax rates included discrete tax benefits of $2.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively. In the second quarters of 2013 and 2012, the discrete items primarily related to the expiration of the statute of limitations on uncertain tax positions. The effective tax rate in 2013 also included a first-quarter benefit for the alternative-fuel tax credits for 2012 that were recognized in the first quarter of 2013 because of a retroactive change to tax laws.

Other accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets include income tax receivables of $14.5 million and $6.6 million at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.