Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Background

CSX Corporation (“CSX”), and together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”), based in Jacksonville, Florida, is one of the nation's leading transportation companies. The Company provides rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers.

CSX's principal operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (“CSXT”), provides an important link to the transportation supply chain through its approximately 21,000 route mile rail network, which serves major population centers in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company's intermodal business links customers to railroads via trucks and terminals.

Other entities

In addition to CSXT, the Company's subsidiaries include CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc. (“CSX Intermodal Terminals”), Total Distribution Services, Inc. (“TDSI”), Transflo Terminal Services, Inc. (“Transflo”), CSX Technology, Inc. (“CSX Technology”) and other subsidiaries.  CSX Intermodal Terminals owns and operates a system of intermodal terminals, predominantly in the eastern United States and also performs drayage services (the door to door pickup and delivery of intermodal shipments) and trucking dispatch operations. TDSI serves the automotive industry with distribution centers and storage locations, while Transflo provides logistical solutions for transferring products from rail to trucks.  CSX Technology and other subsidiaries provide support services for the Company.

CSX's other holdings include CSX Real Property, Inc., a subsidiary responsible for the Company's real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities.  These activities are classified in other income - net because they are not considered to be operating activities by the Company. Results of these activities fluctuate with the timing of non-operating real estate transactions.

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the following:

• Consolidated income statements for the quarter and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010;

• Consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; and

• Consolidated cash flow statements for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010.

NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been omitted from these interim financial statements. CSX suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes included in CSX's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any current reports on Form 8-K.

Fiscal Year

CSX follows a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar with the last day of each reporting period ending on a Friday:

• The third fiscal quarter of 2011 and 2010 consisted of 13 weeks ending on September 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010, respectively.

• The nine month periods of 2011 and 2010 consisted of 39 weeks ending on September 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010, respectively.

• Fiscal year 2010 consisted of 53 weeks ending on December 31, 2010. Therefore, fourth quarter 2010 consisted of 14 weeks.

• Fiscal year 2011 will consist of 52 weeks ending on December 30, 2011.        

Except as otherwise specified, references to “third quarter(s)” or “nine months” indicate CSX's fiscal periods ending September 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010, and references to year-end indicate the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Comprehensive Earnings

CSX reports comprehensive earnings or loss in accordance with the Comprehensive Income Topic in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity. Total comprehensive earnings are defined as all changes in shareholders' equity during a period, other than those resulting from investments by and distributions to shareholders (e.g., issuance of equity securities and dividends).  Generally, for CSX, total comprehensive earnings equals net earnings plus or minus adjustments for pension and other post-retirement liabilities. Total comprehensive earnings represent the activity for a period net of tax and were $473 million and $431 million for third quarters 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion for nine months 2011 and 2010, respectively.

While total comprehensive earnings is the activity in a period and is largely driven by net earnings in that period, accumulated other comprehensive income or loss (“AOCI”) represents the cumulative balance of other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, as of the balance sheet date.  For CSX, AOCI is primarily the cumulative balance related to pension and other post-retirement adjustments and reduced overall equity by $738 million and $771 million as of the end of third quarter 2011 and December 2010, respectively.

See the New Accounting Pronouncements section below for information related to the change in presentation requirements.

NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts on uncollectible amounts related to freight receivables, government reimbursement receivables, claims for damages and other various receivables. The allowance is based upon the credit worthiness of customers, historical experience, the age of the receivable and current market and economic conditions. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account. Allowance for doubtful accounts of $40 million and $38 million is included in the consolidated balance sheets as of the end of third quarter 2011 and December 2010, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update to the Comprehensive Income Topic in the ASC aimed at increasing the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income in the financial statements. This update requires companies to present comprehensive income in a single statement below net income or in a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. Companies will no longer be allowed to present comprehensive income on the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. In both options, companies must present the components of net income, total net income, the components of other comprehensive income, total other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income. This update does not change which items are reported in other comprehensive income or the requirement to report reclassifications of items from other comprehensive income to net income. This requirement will become effective for CSX beginning with the first quarter 2012 10-Q filing. CSX will present comprehensive income in two separate statements. This update will require retrospective application for all periods presented.

Other Items

Other Capital

During third quarter 2011, CSX's other capital balance was reduced to zero as a result of share repurchases. In accordance with the Equity Topic in the ASC, other capital cannot be negative. Therefore, a reclassification of $978 million was made between retained earnings and other capital to bring the other capital balance to zero. Generally, retained earnings is only impacted by net earnings and dividends.