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Principal Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Con-way Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Con-way" or the "Company") provide transportation, logistics and supply-chain management services for a wide range of manufacturing, industrial and retail customers. Con-way's business units operate in regional, inter-regional and transcontinental less-than-truckload and full-truckload freight transportation, contract logistics and supply-chain management, multimodal freight brokerage, and trailer manufacturing. As more fully discussed in Note 12, "Segment Reporting," for financial reporting purposes, Con-way is divided into three reporting segments: Freight, Logistics and Truckload.

Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Con-way and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Estimates

Management makes estimates and assumptions when preparing the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements and notes. Changes in estimates are recognized in accordance with the accounting rules for the estimate, which is typically in the period when new information becomes available. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Such estimates relate to revenue-related adjustments, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, amortization and depreciation, income taxes, self-insurance accruals, pension plan and postretirement obligations, contingencies, and assets and liabilities recognized in connection with acquisitions, restructurings and dispositions.

Con-way evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. Estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatility in financial markets and changing levels of economic activity increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

Recognition Of Revenues

Recognition of Revenue

Con-way Freight recognizes revenue between reporting periods based on relative transit time in each period and recognizes expense as incurred. Estimates for future billing adjustments to revenue, including those related to weight and freight-classification verification and pricing discounts, are recognized at the time of shipment. Con-way Truckload recognizes revenue and related direct costs when the shipment is delivered. Menlo Logistics ("Menlo") recognizes revenue based on the service outputs provided to the customer.

Menlo records revenue on a gross basis, without deducting third-party purchased transportation costs, on transactions for which it acts as a principal. Menlo records revenue on a net basis, after deducting purchased transportation costs, on transactions for which it acts as an agent. When recognizing revenue for services provided under performance-based incentive arrangements, the contingent portion of the revenue is not considered fixed or determinable until the performance criteria have been met.

Under certain Menlo contracts, billings in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as unearned revenue. Unearned revenue is recognized over the contract period as services are provided. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, unearned revenue of $8.2 million and $12.1 million was reported in Con-way's consolidated balance sheets within accrued liabilities, respectively. In addition, Menlo has deferred certain recoverable direct and incremental costs related to the setup of logistics operations under long-term contracts. These deferred setup costs are recognized as expense over the contract term. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, these deferred setup costs of $4.7 million and $9.9 million were reported in the consolidated balance sheets within deferred charges and other assets, respectively.

Cash Equivalents And Marketable Securities

Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash equivalents consist of short-term interest-bearing instruments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, cash-equivalent investments of $385.5 million and $441.2 million, respectively, consisted primarily of commercial paper, certificates of deposit and money-market funds.

Con-way classifies its marketable debt securities as available-for-sale and reports them at fair value. Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale securities are recognized in other comprehensive income or loss, unless an unrealized loss is an other-than-temporary loss. If any portion of the unrealized loss is determined to be other than temporary, that portion of the loss is recognized in earnings. At December 31, 2014, Con-way held $8.3 million of variable-rate demand notes.

Schedule Of Allowance For Uncollectible Accounts



			Additions
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to expense		Charged to other accounts		Write-offs net of recoveries			Balance at end of period
2014	$	6,103	$	2,869	$	—	$	(2,976	)	$	5,996
2013	9,774		6,908		—		(10,579		)	6,103
2012	6,951		6,358		—		(3,535		)	9,774

Trade Accounts Receivable, Net

Con-way Freight and Con-way Truckload report accounts receivable at net realizable value and provide an allowance when losses are probable. Estimates for uncollectible accounts are based on various judgments and assumptions, including revenue levels, historical loss experience and the aging of outstanding accounts receivable. Menlo, based on the size and nature of its client base, performs a periodic evaluation of its customers' creditworthiness and accounts receivable portfolio and recognizes expense from uncollectible accounts when losses are both probable and reasonably estimable. Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts is presented in the following table:



			Additions
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to expense		Charged to other accounts		Write-offs net of recoveries			Balance at end of period
2014	$	6,103	$	2,869	$	—	$	(2,976	)	$	5,996
2013	9,774		6,908		—		(10,579		)	6,103
2012	6,951		6,358		—		(3,535		)	9,774

Estimates for billing adjustments, including those related to weight and freight-classification verifications and pricing discounts, are also reported as a reduction to accounts receivable. Activity in the allowance for revenue adjustments is presented in the following table:



			Additions
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to expense		Charged to other accounts - Revenue		Write-offs			Balance at end of period
2014	$	12,215	$	—	$	94,032	$	(89,801	)	$	16,446
2013	13,816		—		74,481		(76,082		)	12,215
2012	16,920		—		77,310		(80,414		)	13,816

Schedule Of Allowance For Revenue Adjustments



			Additions
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to expense		Charged to other accounts - Revenue		Write-offs			Balance at end of period
2014	$	12,215	$	—	$	94,032	$	(89,801	)	$	16,446
2013	13,816		—		74,481		(76,082		)	12,215
2012	16,920		—		77,310		(80,414		)	13,816

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are reported at historical cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, generally 25 years for buildings, 4 to 14 years for revenue equipment and 3 to 10 years for most other equipment. Leasehold improvements and assets acquired under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of the terms of the respective leases or the useful lives of the assets, with the resulting expense reported as depreciation. Depreciation expense was $232.4 million in 2014, $221.2 million in 2013 and $204.9 million in 2012.

In response to conditions in the used-trailer market, Con-way Truckload increased the estimated salvage values for certain of its trailers in the fourth quarter of 2013. The effect of this change in estimate decreased depreciation expense and increased operating income by $6.2 million and $1.3 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. As a result of this change, net income in 2014 increased by $3.8 million and basic and diluted earnings per share increased by $0.07 and $0.06 per share, respectively.

Expenditures for equipment maintenance and repairs are charged to operating expenses as incurred; betterments are capitalized. Gains or losses on sales of equipment and property are recorded in other operating expenses.

Tires

Tires and Maintenance

The cost of replacement tires are expensed at the time those tires are placed into service, as is the case with other repairs and maintenance costs. The cost of tires on new revenue equipment is capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related equipment.

Capitalized Software, Net

Capitalized software consists of certain direct internal and external costs associated with internal-use software, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization of capitalized software is computed on an item-by-item basis depending on the estimated useful life of the software, currently between 3 years and 7 years. Amortization expense related to capitalized software was $7.9 million in 2014, $7.2 million in 2013 and $8.3 million in 2012. Accumulated amortization at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $161.0 million and $158.7 million, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

Con-way performs an impairment analysis of long-lived assets whenever circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. For assets that are to be held and used, an impairment charge is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or group of assets is less than carrying value. If impairment exists, a charge is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the fair value. Fair values are determined using quoted market values, discounted cash flows or external appraisals, as applicable. Assets held for disposal are carried at the lower of carrying value or estimated net realizable value. Con-way's accounting policies for goodwill and other long-lived intangible assets are more fully discussed in Note 2, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets.

Book Overdrafts

Book overdrafts represent outstanding drafts not yet presented to the bank that are in excess of recorded cash for that particular bank. These amounts do not represent bank overdrafts, which occur when drafts presented to the bank are in excess of cash in Con-way's bank account, and would effectively be a loan to Con-way. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, book overdrafts of $28.8 million and $40.8 million, respectively, were included in accounts payable.

Self-Insurance Accruals

Con-way uses a combination of self-insurance programs and purchased insurance to provide for the costs of medical, casualty, liability, vehicular, cargo and workers' compensation claims. The long-term portion of self-insurance accruals relates primarily to workers' compensation and vehicular claims that are expected to be payable over several years. Con-way periodically evaluates the level of insurance coverage and adjusts insurance levels based on risk tolerance and premium expense.

The measurement and classification of self-insured costs requires the consideration of historical cost experience, demographic and severity factors, and judgments about the current and expected levels of cost per claim and retention levels. These methods provide estimates of the undiscounted liability associated with claims incurred as of the balance sheet date, including estimates of claims incurred but not reported. Changes in these assumptions and factors can materially affect actual costs paid to settle the claims and those amounts may be different than estimates.

Con-way participates in a reinsurance pool to reinsure a portion of its workers' compensation claims. Each company that participates in the pool cedes premiums and claims to the pool and assumes premiums and claims from the pool. Reinsurance does not relieve Con-way of its liabilities under the original policy. However, in the opinion of management, potential exposure to Con-way for non-payment in reinsured losses is minimal. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, Con-way had recorded a liability related to assumed claims of $57.4 million and $59.2 million, respectively, and had recorded a receivable from the reinsurance pool of $43.3 million and $38.1 million, respectively. Revenue related to these reinsurance activities is reported net of the associated expenses and is classified as other operating expenses. In connection with its participation in the reinsurance pool, Con-way recognized operating income of $6.1 million in 2014, operating income of $2.2 million in 2013 and operating loss of $2.5 million in 2012.

Foreign Currency Translation

Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in the statements of consolidated comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange-rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the statements of consolidated income within miscellaneous, net. Con-way recognized foreign exchange losses of $6.0 million, $1.4 million and $0.3 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Con-way has determined that advances to certain of its foreign subsidiaries are indefinite in nature. Accordingly, the corresponding foreign currency gains or losses related to these advances are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in the statements of consolidated comprehensive income (loss).

Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share



	Years ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2014		2013		2012
Numerator:
Net income	$	137,039	$	99,153	$	104,546
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	57,390,945		56,511,563		55,837,574
Stock options and nonvested stock	627,498		729,025		648,413
	58,018,443		57,240,588		56,485,987
Diluted EPS	$	2.36	$	1.73	$	1.85
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted EPS	461,071		911,041		1,801,995

Earnings per share

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing reported net income or loss by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is calculated as follows:



	Years ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2014		2013		2012
Numerator:
Net income	$	137,039	$	99,153	$	104,546
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	57,390,945		56,511,563		55,837,574
Stock options and nonvested stock	627,498		729,025		648,413
	58,018,443		57,240,588		56,485,987
Diluted EPS	$	2.36	$	1.73	$	1.85
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted EPS	461,071		911,041		1,801,995

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." This ASU, codified in the "Revenue Recognition" topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, requires revenue to be recognized upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard also requires disclosures sufficient to describe the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from these customer contracts. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016 and can be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized on the date of adoption. Con-way plans to adopt this standard in the first quarter of 2017. Con-way is currently evaluating the method of application and the potential impact on the financial statements and related disclosures.