-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MneF5nzRi35BdAp5WjnwNzZ6hZd6MiWKJi1TWX8Je6P+e3loJR4RznRwBpP9MStz pNquLl0eewHpTEaXeA7MbA== 0000039273-05-000012.txt : 20050323 0000039273-05-000012.hdr.sgml : 20050323 20050323171804 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000039273-05-000012 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 23 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20041231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050323 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050323 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000039273 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213] IRS NUMBER: 751301831 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10006 FILM NUMBER: 05699808 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1145 EMPIRE CENTRAL PLACE CITY: DALLAS STATE: TX ZIP: 75247 BUSINESS PHONE: 2146308090 10-K 1 ffexform10k_2004.htm FFEX FORM 10K 2004 FFEX Form 10K 2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K


[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
or
[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission file number 1-10006


FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
75-1301831
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
1145 EMPIRE CENTRAL PLACE, DALLAS, TEXAS
 (Address of principal executive offices)
 
75247-4309
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (214) 630-8090

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

TITLE OF EACH CLASS
i) Common Stock $1.50 par value
ii)Rights to purchase Common Stock
 

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (l) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]      No [   ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes [ X  ]  No [ ]

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2004 was approximately $110,918,000.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 18, 2005 was 17,811,817.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 5, 2005, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
 
 
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
Business
2
 
 
 
Properties
9
 
 
 
Legal Proceedings
10
 
 
 
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
10
 
 
 
Selected Financial Data
12
 
 
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
13
 
 
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
31
 
 
 
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
31
 
 
 
Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
47
 
 
 
Controls and Procedures
47
 
 
 
Other Information
48
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and Executive Officers of The Registrant
48
 
 
 
Executive Compensation
48
 
 
 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
49
 
 
 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
49
 
 
 
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
49
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
49
 
 
 
 
52


Page 1 of 52



Item 1. Business.
    Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. is the largest publicly-owned temperature-controlled trucking company in North America. We were incorporated in Texas in 1969, as successor to a company formed in 1946. References to we or us, unless the context requires otherwise, include Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and our subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. We are also the only nationwide temperature-controlled trucking company in the United States that is full-service, offering all of the following services.
       - FULL-TRUCKLOAD LINEHAUL SERVICE: A load, typically weighing between 20,000 and 40,000 pounds and usually from a single shipper, filling the trailer. Normally, a full-truckload shipment has a single destination, although we are also able to provide multiple deliveries. According to industry publications and based on 2003 revenue (the most recent year for which data is available), we are one of the largest temperature-controlled, full-truckload carriers in North America.
       - LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD ("LTL") LINEHAUL SERVICE: A load, typically consisting of up to 30 shipments, each weighing as little as 50 pounds or as much as 20,000 pounds, from multiple shippers destined to multiple receivers. Our temperature-controlled LTL operation is the largest in the United States and the only one offering regularly scheduled nationwide service. In providing refrigerated LTL service, multi-compartment trailers enable us to haul products requiring various levels of temperature control as a single load.
       - DEDICATED FLEETS: In providing certain full-truckload services, we contract with a customer to provide service involving the assignment of specific trucks and drivers to handle certain of the customer's transportation needs. Frequently, we and our customers anticipate that dedicated fleet logistics services will both lower the customer's transportation costs and improve the quality of service.
- FREIGHT BROKERAGE: Our freight brokerage helps us to balance the level of demand at our core trucking business. Orders for shipments to be transported for which we have no readily available assets with which to provide the service are assigned to other unaffiliated motor carriers through our freight brokerage. We establish the price to be paid by and invoice the customer. We also assume the credit risk associated with the transaction. Our freight brokerage also negotiates the fee payable to the other motor carrier.
    Following is a summary of certain data for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in millions): 

Revenue from:
   
2004
   
2003
   
2002
   
2001
   
2000
 
Full-truckload linehaul services
 
$
258.7
 
$
239.8
 
$
229.8
 
$
210.1
 
$
198.0
 
Dedicated fleets
   
20.3
   
14.5
   
13.0
   
16.4
   
12.9
 
Less-than-truckload linehaul services
   
123.2
   
115.5
   
87.9
   
90.9
   
101.9
 
Fuel adjustments
   
31.7
   
15.7
   
6.5
   
10.0
   
10.8
 
Freight brokerage
   
24.9
   
15.0
   
7.6
   
3.8
   
4.2
 
Equipment rental
   
5.9
   
5.4
   
3.9
   
2.2
   
1.3
 
Non-freight
   
9.7
   
16.1
   
12.1
   
51.1
   
68.8
 
Total
 
$
474.4
 
$
422.0
 
$
360.9
 
$
384.5
 
$
397.9
 

    Additional information regarding our business segments is presented in the notes to the financial statements included in Item 8 and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations at Item 7 of this annual report on Form 10-K.
    We offer nationwide services to nearly 10,000 customers, each of which accounted for less than 10% of total revenue during each of the past five years. Freight revenue from international activities was less than 10% of total freight revenue during each of the past five years.


Page 2 of 52


MARKETS WHICH WE SERVE

FREIGHT SEGMENT: Our refrigerated and non-refrigerated ("dry") truck operations serve nearly 10,000 customers in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Refrigerated shipments account for about 80% of our total freight revenue. Our customers are involved in a variety of products including food products, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and household goods. Our customer base is diverse in that our 5, 10 and 20 largest customers accounted for 27%, 34%, and 42%, respectively, of our total freight revenue during 2004. None of our markets are dominated by any single competitor. We compete with several thousand other trucking companies. The principal methods of competition are price, quality of service and availability of equipment needed to satisfy customer requirements.
    For decades, most of the market for nationwide refrigerated LTL service has been shared between us and one other company. We competed primarily on price and breadth of services. The competitor's annual LTL revenue was 50% of our revenue. During December of 2002, the competitor announced that it planned to cease operations and liquidate, a process that began in January of 2003, after which we experienced a significant increase in our volume of LTL shipments. In order to provide service to our expanded LTL customer base, in December of 2002, we opened terminals near Miami, FL and Modesto, CA.
    Refrigerated Trucking: The products we haul include meat, poultry, seafood, processed foods, candy and other confectioneries, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, fruits and vegetables, cosmetics and film. The common and contract hauling of temperature-sensitive cargo is highly fragmented and comprised primarily of carriers generating less than $50 million in annual revenue. Industry publications report that only ten other temperature-controlled carriers generated $100 million or more of revenue in 2003, the most recent year for which data is available. In addition, many major food companies, food distribution firms and grocery chain companies transport a portion of their freight with their own fleets ("private carriage").
    High-volume shippers have often sought to lower their cost structures by reducing their private carriage capabilities and turning to common and contract carriers ("core carriers") for their transportation needs. As core carriers continue to improve their service capabilities through such means as satellite communications systems and electronic data interchange, some shippers have abandoned their private carriage fleets in favor of common or contract carriage. According to published industry reports, private carriage accounts for more than 40% of the total temperature-controlled portion of the motor carrier industry.
    Non-refrigerated Trucking: Our non-refrigerated (“dry”) trucking fleet conducts business under the name American Eagle Lines ("AEL"). During 2004, AEL accounted for about 32.7% of our total full-truckload linehaul revenue, as compared to 15% in 2000. AEL serves the dry full-truckload market throughout the United States and Canada. Also, during 2004, about 20% of the full-truckload shipments transported by our refrigerated fleets were of dry commodities.
NON-FREIGHT SEGMENT: We are engaged in a non-freight business segment, which until December 2001 consisted primarily of a franchised dealer and repair facility for Wabash trailers and Carrier Transicold brand truck and trailer refrigeration equipment. We sold this dealership in December of 2001, retaining a 19.9% ownership interest in the buyer. This dealer continues to provide refrigeration units and repair service for our trailers.
    AirPro Holdings, Inc. (“AirPro”), our remaining non-freight segment, distributes motor vehicle air conditioning parts. During 2004, we sold a small division of AirPro that remanufactured mechanical air conditioners and refrigeration components. The sale was at book value and we recognized no gain or loss in connection with the transaction.
OPERATIONS
    From the beginning of 2000 through 2004, our company-operated, full-truckload tractor fleet increased from 1,150 units to 1,470 units. During the same period, we have emphasized expansion of our fleet of independent contractor ("owner-operator") provided full-truckload tractors. As of December 31, 2004, our full-truckload fleet also included 565 tractors provided by owner-operators as compared to approximately 475 at the beginning of 2000.
    The management of a number of factors is critical to a trucking company's growth and profitability, including:
    Employee-Drivers: We maintain an active driver-recruiting program. Driver shortages and high turnover can reduce revenue and increase operating expenses through reduced operating efficiency and higher recruiting costs. Until 2000, our operations were not significantly affected by driver shortages. During 2000, due to historically low unemployment, competition for skilled labor intensified. As a result, we were unable in 2000 to attract and retain a sufficient number of qualified drivers. During the summer of 2000, employee-driver mileage-based pay rates were significantly increased in an effort to attract and retain quality employee-drivers. As the labor market began to soften in 2001, however, the availability of drivers increased, alleviating the driver shortage of 2000.

Page 3 of 52



    For much of 2003, the labor market remained soft, and we experienced less difficulty in attracting qualified employee-drivers than in 2000 through 2002. During the later months of 2003 and throughout 2004 the economy began to improve and our ability to attract such drivers was negatively impacted. If the economic recovery continues during 2005, the availability of qualified drivers could diminish. That, together with new federal regulations regarding the hours that truck drivers are allowed to work, could require that we increase our employee-driver rates of pay during 2005.
    Owner-Operators: We actively seek to expand our fleet with equipment provided by owner-operators. Owner-operators provide tractors and drivers to pull our loaded trailers. Each owner-operator pays for the drivers' wages, fuel, equipment-related expenses and other transportation expenses and receives a portion of the revenue from each load. At the end of 2004, we had contracts for approximately 565 owner-operator tractors in our full-truckload operations and approximately 150 in our LTL operations. Of the 565 such full-truckload tractors, 300 were owned by us and leased to the involved owner-operators.
    To compensate owner-operators for the use of their trucks, we pay them commissions that are based upon the amount of revenue we earn from the shipments they transport. Freight hauled by an owner-operator is transported under operating authorities and permits issued to us by various state and federal agencies. We, and not the owner-operator, are accountable to the customers involved with each shipment for any problems encountered related to the shipment. We, and not the owner-operator, have sole discretion as to the price the customer will pay us for the service, but owner-operators may decline to haul specific loads for any reason including their belief that their revenue-based commission will not be to their satisfaction. Further, we, and not the owner-operator, are 100% at risk for credit losses should the customer fail to pay us for the service. For these reasons, revenue from shipments hauled by owner-operators is recorded as gross of owner-operator commissions, rather than as an agent net of such commissions. 
    We have traditionally relied on owner-operator-provided equipment to transport much of our customers' freight. As competition for employee-drivers has increased, other trucking companies have initiated or expanded owner-operator fleets. Accordingly, we became more aggressive in our solicitation and retention of owner-operator-provided equipment.
    The percent of linehaul full-truckload and LTL revenue generated from shipments transported by owner-operators during each of the last five years is summarized below:
 
Percent of Linehaul Revenue from Shipments
Transported by Owner-Operators
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
 
2001
 
 
2000
 
Full-truckload
   
29
%
 
31
%
 
30
%
 
28
%
 
28
%
LTL
   
68
   
63
   
64
   
68
   
68
 
 
    Dedicated fleet operations are conducted exclusively with company-operated assets, our freight brokerage revenue is generated using assets provided by other motor carriers, and revenue from equipment rental is not directly related to our core trucking operations.
    Fuel: The average per gallon fuel cost we paid increased by approximately 13% in 2003, and an additional 24% during 2004. Cumulatively, such costs increased by almost 21% between 2000 and 2004. Owner-operators are responsible for all costs associated with their equipment, including fuel. Therefore, the cost of such fuel is not a direct expense of ours. Fuel price fluctuations result from many external market factors that cannot be influenced or predicted by us.
    In addition, each year, several states increase fuel and mileage taxes. Recovery of future increases or realization of future decreases in fuel prices and fuel taxes, if any, will continue to depend upon competitive freight market conditions.
    We do not hedge our exposure to volatile energy prices, but we are able to mitigate the impact of such volatility by adding fuel adjustment charges to the basic rates for the freight services we provide. The adjustment charges are designed to, but often do not, fully offset the increased fuel expenses we incur when the prices escalate rapidly.
    Though we will continue to add fuel adjustment charges whenever possible, there can be no assurances that we can continue to add fuel adjustment charges in an amount sufficient to minimize the impact of energy prices on our results of operations.

Page 4 of 52


    Risk Management: Liability for accidents is a significant concern in the trucking industry. Exposure can be large and occurrences can be unpredictable. The cost and human impact of work-related injury claims can also be significant. We maintain a risk management program designed to minimize the frequency and severity of accidents and to manage insurance coverage and claims. As part of the program, we carry insurance policies under which we retain liability for up to $3 million on each property, casualty and general liability claim, $1 million for individual work-related injury claims and $250,000 on each cargo claim.
    As of December 31, 2004 our liability insurance also provides that the insurance company and we share equally in losses between $5 million and $10 million. We are fully insured for liability exposures between $10 million and $25 million. When our current liability insurance coverage expires during mid-2005 we intend to select the best alternative offered to us at that time. At this time we are unable to predict the level of our retained risk or the policy limits that will be in effect during the last half of 2005.
    Prior to December 2001, our retained liability for injury to persons was limited to $1 million per occurrence. During 2001, our industry was subjected to cost-prohibitive renewal prices for a deductible below $5 million. Because of our retained liability, a series of very serious traffic accidents, work-related injuries or unfavorable developments in the outcomes of existing claims could materially and adversely affect our operating results. Claims and insurance expense can vary significantly from year to year. Reserves representing our estimate of ultimate claims outcomes are established based on the information available at the time of an incident. As additional information regarding the incident becomes available, any necessary adjustments are made to previously recorded amounts. The aggregate amount of open claims, some of which involve litigation, is significant.
    During 2004, we retained the services of an independent actuarial firm to analyze our claims history and to establish reasonable estimates of our claims reserves. In addition, the actuarial firm provided us with procedures with which to establish appropriate claims reserves in future periods.
    Insurance premiums do not significantly contribute to our costs, partially because we carry large deductibles under our policies of liability insurance.
    Our risk management program is founded on the continual enhancement of safety in our operations. Our safety department conducts programs that include driver education and over-the-road observation. All drivers must meet or exceed specific guidelines relating to safety records, driving experience and personal standards, including a physical examination and mandatory drug testing.
    Drivers must also complete our training program, which includes tests for motor vehicle safety and over-the-road driving. They must have a current commercial driving license before being assigned to a tractor. Student drivers undergo a more extensive training program as a second driver with an experienced instructor-driver. Applicants who test positive for drugs are turned away and drivers who test positive for such substances are immediately disqualified. In accordance with federal regulations, we conduct drug tests on all driver candidates and maintain a continuing program of random testing for use of such substances.
    Customer Service: The service-oriented corporate culture we gained from our many years as a successful LTL carrier enables us to compete on the basis of service, rather than solely on price. We also believe that major shippers will continue to require increasing levels of service and that they will rely on their core carriers to provide transportation and logistics solutions, such as providing the shipper real-time information about the movement and condition of any shipment.
    Temperature-controlled, full-truckload service requires a substantially lower capital investment for terminals and lower costs of shipment handling and information management than does LTL. Pricing is based primarily on mileage, weight and type of commodity. At the end of 2004, our full-truckload tractor fleet consisted of 1,470 tractors owned or leased by us and 565 tractors contracted to us by owner-operators, making us one of the seven largest temperature-controlled, full-truckload carriers in North America.
    We conduct operations involving "dedicated fleets". In such an arrangement, we contract with a customer to provide service involving the assignment of specific trucks to handle the transportation needs of our customers. Frequently, we and our customer anticipate that dedicated fleet logistics services will both lower the customer's transportation costs and improve the quality of the service the customer receives. We continuously improve our capability to provide, and expand our efforts to market, dedicated fleet services. About 9% of our company-operated full-truckload fleet is now engaged in dedicated fleet operations.
    Though we will continue to add fuel adjustment charges whenever possible, there can be no assurances that we can continue to add fuel adjustment charges in an amount sufficient to minimize the impact of energy prices on our results of operations.

Page 5 of 52


    Temperature-controlled LTL trucking requires a system of terminals capable of holding refrigerated and frozen products. LTL terminals are strategically located in or near New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Lakeland (Florida), Miami, Chicago, Memphis, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Modesto (California) and Los Angeles. Some of these LTL terminals also serve as full-truckload driver centers where company-operated, full-truckload fleets are based. The Miami and Modesto terminals were added late in 2002 in order to help us manage increased LTL traffic to and from the southern Florida and northern California markets.
    In addition to the LTL terminals, which also serve as employee-driver centers, full-truckload activities are also conducted from a terminal in Fort Worth, Texas. Temperature-controlled LTL trucking is service and capital intensive. LTL freight rates are higher than those for full-truckload and are based on mileage, weight, commodity type, trailer space and pick-up and delivery locations.
    Information Management: Information management is essential to a successful temperature-controlled LTL operation. On a typical day, our LTL system handles about 6,000 shipments - about 4,000 on the road, 1,000 being delivered and 1,000 being picked up. In 2004, our LTL operation handled about 282,000 individual shipments.
    Our full-truckload fleets use computer and satellite technology to enhance efficiency and customer service. The satellite-based communications system provides automatic hourly position updates of each full-truckload tractor and permits real-time communication between operations personnel and drivers. Dispatchers relay pick-up, delivery, weather, road and other information to the drivers while shipment status and other information is relayed by the drivers to our computers via the satellite.
    International Operations: During 2002, the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") was expected to be fully implemented with regard to the ability of Mexico and United States-based trucking companies to operate to and from one another's nations.  During 2004, a challenge to the ability of Mexico-based trucks to operate in the United States was pending before the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court has ruled in favor of full implementation of NAFTA. However, there are a number of details to be worked out between the two governments, mostly with regard to insurance and verifying commercial driving licenses issued by Mexico. The Office of the Inspector General of the United States recently issued an opinion that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), which oversees all motor carrier operators in the United States could not grant authority to a Mexico-based carrier to operate in the United States unless the FMCSA has first conducted a safety audit. However, FMCSA has no jurisdiction outside of our borders.  If the provisions of NAFTA become fully effective, we do not anticipate altering our method of service into Mexico nor do we expect NAFTA to generate a significant presence of Mexico-based carriers transporting freight into the United States.  NAFTA does not expand the ability for American or Mexican trucking companies to haul freight between points within one another's countries.
    Service to and from Canada is provided using tractors from our fleets, but we partner with Mexico-based truckers to facilitate freight moving both ways across the southern United States border. Freight moving from Mexico is hauled in our trailers to the border by the Mexico-based carrier. There, the trailer is exchanged. Southbound shipments work much the same way. This arrangement has been in place approximately ten years. Often, we have sold used trailer equipment to these carriers for use in their operations. Based on discussions with our Mexico-based partners, we do not anticipate a need to change our manner of dealing with freight to or from Mexico. Less than 10% of our consolidated linehaul freight revenue during 2004 involved international shipments, all of which was billed in United States currency.
EQUIPMENT
    We operate premium company-operated tractors in order to help attract and retain qualified employee-drivers, promote safe operations, minimize maintenance and repair costs and assure dependable service to our customers. We believe that the higher initial investment for our equipment is recovered through the more efficient vehicle performance offered by such premium tractors and improved resale value. Prior to 2002, we had a three-year replacement policy for most of our full-truckload tractors. Repair costs are mostly recovered through manufacturers' warranties, but routine and preventative maintenance is our expense.

Page 6 of 52


    During 2001, the demand for and value of previously-owned trucks plummeted. When we obtained such assets three years previously, the truck manufacturer agreed to buy the trucks back for a specified price at the end of our three-year replacement cycle. The manufacturer began expressing concern about its obligation to buy used trucks for which there was little demand. After discussions with the manufacturer, in 2002 we agreed to extend by six to twelve months, the turn-in dates of our trucks and to reduce proportionally the price we will be paid for those used trucks. We also agreed that new trucks purchased from this manufacturer during 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 will be returned at predetermined prices to the manufacturer after 42 or 48 months of service. We will determine which trucks will be returned at 42 or 48 months as those dates approach. We cannot return more than 50% of our trucks at 42 months.
    Most of our tractors which were put into service before 2002 are leased for 36-month terms. We approached our equipment lessors to request extended lease terms to match the extended trade-back schedule. Only one lessor refused to do so, and we were able to extend the maturity of those leases with financing provided by the financial services division of the manufacturer. During their primary term, the original leases qualified as off-balance sheet operating leases under U. S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The lease extensions were classified as financing leases on our 2002 balance sheet as required by GAAP.
    Depending upon the availability of drivers and customer demand for our services, we plan to add between 50 and 75 trucks to our company-operated, full-truckload fleet during 2005. Changes in the fleet depend upon acquisitions, if any, of other motor carriers, developments in the nation's economy, demand for our services and the availability of qualified employee-drivers. Continued emphasis will be placed on improving the operating efficiency and increasing the utilization of this fleet through enhanced driver training and retention and reducing the percentage of empty, non-revenue producing miles.
REGULATION
Our trucking operations are regulated by the United States Department of Transportation ("DOT"). The DOT generally governs matters such as safety requirements, registration to engage in motor carrier operations, accounting systems, certain mergers, consolidations, acquisitions and periodic financial reporting. The DOT conducts periodic on-site audits of our compliance with their rules and procedures. Our most recent audit, which was conducted during November 2004, resulted in a rating of "satisfactory", the highest safety rating available. A "conditional" or "unsatisfactory" DOT safety rating could have an adverse effect on our business, as some of our contracts with customers require a satisfactory rating and our qualification to self-insure our liability claims would be impaired.
    Effective January 4, 2004, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") began to enforce changes to the regulations which govern drivers' hours of service. Hours of Service ("HOS") rules issued by the FMCSA, in effect since 1939, generally limit the number of consecutive hours and consecutive days that a driver may work. The new rules reduce by one the number of hours that a driver may work in a shift, but increase by one the number of hours that drivers may drive during the same shift. Drivers often are working at a time they are not driving. Duties such as fueling, loading and waiting to load count as part of a driver's shift that are not considered driving. Under the old rules, a driver was required to rest for at least eight hours between shifts. The new rules increase that to ten hours, thereby reducing the amount of time a driver can be "on duty" by two hours.
    Because of the two additional hours of required rest period time and the amount of time our drivers spend loading and waiting to load, we believe that the new rules have reduced our productivity and may negatively impact our profitability during 2005 and beyond. Accordingly, we are seeking pricing concessions from our customers to mitigate the impact on our profitability.
We are also subject to regulation of various state regulatory agencies with respect to certain aspects of our operations. State regulations generally involve safety and the weight and dimensions of equipment.
SEASONALITY
    Our refrigerated full-truckload operations are somewhat affected by seasonal changes. The early winter, late spring and summer growing seasons for fruits and vegetables in California and Texas typically create increased demand for trailers equipped to transport cargo requiring refrigeration. Our LTL operations are also impacted by the seasonality of certain commodities. LTL shipment volume during the winter months is normally lower than other months. Shipping volumes of LTL freight are usually highest during July through October. In addition, severe winter driving conditions can be hazardous and impair all of our trucking operations from time to time.

Page 7 of 52



EMPLOYEES
    The number of our employees, none of whom are subject to collective bargaining arrangements, as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, was as follows:

Freight operations
 
2004
 
2003
 
Drivers and trainees
   
1,823
   
1,801
 
Non-driver personnel
         
Full time
   
939
   
893
 
Part time
   
66
   
67
 
Total freight operations
   
2,828
   
2,761
 
Non-freight operations
   
28
   
50
 
 
   
2,856
   
2,811
 
OUTLOOK
    This report contains information and forward-looking statements that are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and assumptions we made based upon information currently available. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and adequacy of resources and may be identified by words such as "will", "could", "should", "believe", "expect", "intend", "plan", "schedule", "estimate", "project" and similar expressions. These statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and change.
    Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties underlying such expectations not materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those we expect.
    Factors that are not within our control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements include demand for our services and products, and our ability to meet that demand, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, weather conditions and the general economy, the availability and cost of labor, our ability to negotiate favorably with lenders and lessors, the effects of terrorism and war, the availability and cost of equipment, fuel and supplies, the market for previously-owned equipment, the impact of changes in the tax and regulatory environment in which we operate, operational risks and insurance, risks associated with the technologies and systems we use and the other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
INTERNET WEB SITE
    We maintain a web site on the Internet through which additional information about our company is available. Our web site address is www.ffex.net. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, press releases, earnings releases and other reports filed with the SEC, pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act are available, free of charge, on our web site as soon as practical after they are filed.
SEC FILINGS
    We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The reports we file with the SEC are available at the SEC's Public Reference Room, located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information may be obtained from the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at www.sec.gov that contains information we file with the agency. Our SEC filings can also be accessed by way of links from our Internet site at www.ffex.net.

Page 8 of 52


ITEM 2. Properties.
    The following tables set forth certain information regarding our revenue equipment at December 31, 2004 and 2003:
 
 
Age in Years
 
 
 
 
 
Tractors
 
Less than 1
1 thru 3
4 or more
Total
 
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
 
Company owned and leased
   
346
   
677
   
1,055
   
715
   
172
   
142
   
1,573
   
1,534
 
Owner-operator provided
   
13
   
151
   
48
   
227
   
655
   
379
   
716
   
757
 
   Total
   
359
   
828
   
1,103
   
942
   
827
   
521
   
2,289
   
2,291
 
 
 
 
Age in Years
 
 
 
 
 
Trailers
 
Less than 1
 
1 thru 5
 
6 or more
 
Total
 
 
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
   
2004
   
2003
 
Company owned and leased
   
709
   
921
   
2,062
   
1,933
   
1,363
   
932
   
4,134
   
3,786
 
Owner-operator provided
   
--
   
1
   
4
   
11
   
9
   
4
   
13
   
16
 
   Total
   
709
   
922
   
2,066
   
1,944
   
1,372
   
936
   
4,147
   
3,802
 

    Approximately 75% of our trailers are insulated and equipped with refrigeration units capable of providing the temperature control necessary to handle perishable freight. Trailers that are used primarily in LTL operations are equipped with movable partitions permitting the transportation of goods requiring maintenance of different temperatures. We also operate a fleet of non-refrigerated trailers in our "dry freight" full-truckload operation. Company-operated trailers are primarily 102 inches wide. Full-truckload trailers used in dry freight operations are 53 feet long. Temperature-controlled operations are conducted with both 48 and 53 foot refrigerated trailers.
    Our general policy is to replace our company-operated, heavy-duty tractors after 42 or 48 months, subject to cumulative mileage and condition. Our refrigerated and dry trailers are usually retired after seven or ten years of service, respectively. Occasionally, we retain retired equipment for use in local delivery operations.
    At December 31, 2004, we maintained terminal or office facilities of 10,000 square feet or more in or near the cities listed below. Lease terms range from one month to twelve years. We expect that our present facilities are sufficient to support our operations. We also own three properties in Texas that we lease to W&B Service Company, LP, an entity in which we hold a 19.9% ownership interest.
 
     
Approximate 
     
Division/Location     
Square Footage
 
Acreage 
 
(O)wned or
(L)eased
 
Freight Division
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dallas, TX
 
 
100,000
 
80.0
 
O
 
Ft. Worth, TX
 
 
34,000
 
7.0
 
O
 
Chicago, IL
 
 
37,000
 
5.0
 
O
 
Lakeland, FL
 
 
26,000
 
15.0
 
O
 
Newark, NJ
 
 
17,000
 
5.0
 
O
 
Atlanta, GA
 
 
40,000
 
7.0
 
L
 
Los Angeles, CA
 
 
40,000
 
6.0
 
L
 
Salt Lake City, UT
 
 
12,500
 
*
 
L
 
Miami, FL
 
 
17,500
 
*
 
L
 
Memphis, TN
 
 
11,000
 
*
 
L
 
Non-freight Division
Dallas, TX
 
 
103,000
 
8.5
 
O
 
Corporate Office
Dallas, TX
 
 
34,000
 
1.7
 
O
 
*Facilities are part of an industrial park in which we share acreage with other tenants.

Page 9 of 52



ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.
    We are party to routine litigation incidental to our businesses, primarily involving claims for personal injury and property damage incurred in the ordinary and routine highway transportation of freight. As of December 31, 2004, the aggregate amount of reserves for such claims on our Consolidated Balance Sheet was nearly $20.0 million. We maintain insurance programs and accrue for expected losses in amounts designed to cover liability resulting from personal injury, property damage, cargo and work-related injury claims.

ITEM 4. Submission of Matters To a Vote of Security Holders.
    No matters were submitted to a vote of our shareholders during the fourth quarter of 2004.

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters.
    No dividends have been paid since 1999, we have no current plans to pay dividends, and our credit agreement restricts our ability to pay cash dividends.
    As of March 18, 2005, we had approximately 4,000 beneficial shareholders, including participants in our retirement plans. Our $1.50 par value common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol FFEX. Information regarding our common stock is as follows:
 
2004
 
 
Year
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
Common stock price per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
 
$
13.860
 
$
7.400
 
$
7.990
 
$
7.870
 
$
13.860
 
Low
 
 
5.640
 
 
5.750
 
 
5.640
 
 
5.640
 
 
7.300
 
Common stock trading volume (a)
 
 
14,145
 
 
2,274
 
 
2,605
 
 
1,901
 
 
7,365
 

 
2003
 
 
Year
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
Common stock price per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
 
$
8.850
 
$
2.860
 
$
3.200
 
$
5.060
 
$
8.850
 
Low
 
 
2.180
 
 
2.390
 
 
2.180
 
 
3.070
 
 
4.160
 
Common stock trading volume (a)
 
 
7,705
 
 
479
 
 
869
 
 
1,574
 
 
4,783
 

(a) In thousands

Page 10 of 52


Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
 
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
(a)
 
 
Average Price
Paid per
Share (or Unit)
(b)
 
 
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
(c)
 
 
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) 
(d)
 
October 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004
 
 
3,000
 
$
7.54
 
 
3,000
 
 
593,200
 
November 1, 2004 to November 30, 2004
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
593,200
 
December 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 (2)
 
 
8,710
 
$
12.38
 
 
--
 
 
593,200
 
Total
 
 
11,710
 
$
11.14
 
 
3,000
 
 
593,200
 
(1)  
On August 11, 2004, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 750,000 shares of common stock from time to time on the open market or through private transactions at such times as management deems appropriate. The authorization did not specify an expiration date. Purchases may be increased, decreased or discontinued by our Board of Directors at any time without prior notice.
(2)  
During December of 2004, two non-executive officers of our primary operating subsidiary exchanged 8,710 shares they had owned for more than one year as consideration for the exercise of stock options, as permitted by our stock option plans. Such transactions are not deemed as having been purchased as part of our publicly announced plans or programs.

Page 11 of 52

 
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data.
    The following data for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2004 should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained in Item 7 and other financial information included elsewhere in this Report or incorporated herein by reference. Much of the selected data presented below are derived from our Consolidated Financial Statements. The historical information is not necessarily indicative of future results or performance (unaudited):
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
Summary of Operations
                     
Revenue from:
                     
Freight operations (a)
   
464.7
   
405.9
   
348.7
   
333.4
   
329.1
 
Non-freight operations (a)
   
9.7
   
16.1
   
12.1
   
51.1
   
68.8
 
Total revenue (a)
   
474.4
   
422.0
   
360.9
   
384.5
   
397.9
 
Net income (loss) (a)
   
10.8
   
4.3
   
3.2
   
(0.2
)
 
(1.3
)
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted
   
.59
   
.24
   
.19
   
(0.1
)
 
(0.8
)
Operating expenses (a)
   
457.6
   
415.4
   
360.1
   
382.9
   
396.2
 
Operating income (loss) from
                     
Freight operations (a)
   
16.0
   
11.9
   
4.1
   
2.5
   
(0.9
)
Non-freight operations (a)
   
0.8
   
(5.4
)
 
(3.3
)
 
(0.8
)
 
2.6
 
Financial Data
                     
Total assets (a)
   
170.7
   
155.2
   
137.6
   
126.5
   
147.1
 
Working capital (a)
   
24.4
   
37.1
   
31.3
   
25.1
   
37.0
 
Current ratio (b)
   
1.4
   
1.9
   
1.8
   
1.7
   
1.9
 
Cash provided by operations (a)
   
40.5
   
14.2
   
9.4
   
10.9
   
11.6
 
Debt (a)
   
2.0
   
14.0
   
6.0
   
2.0
   
14.0
 
Shareholders' equity (a)
   
97.0
   
84.1
   
78.6
   
74.6
   
74.4
 
Debt-to-equity ratio (c)
   
--
   
.2
   
.1
   
--
   
.2
 
Common Stock
                     
Average shares outstanding, diluted (a)
   
18.1
   
17.8
   
16.7
   
16.4
   
16.3
 
Book value per share
   
5.50
   
4.88
   
4.66
   
4.50
   
4.54
 
Market value per share
                     
High
   
13.860
   
8.850
   
3.500
   
2.790
   
4.875
 
Low
   
5.640
   
2.180
   
1.900
   
1.500
   
1.234
 
Freight Revenue from:
                     
Full-truckload linehaul services (a)
   
258.7
   
239.8
   
229.8
   
210.1
   
198.0
 
Dedicated fleets (a)
   
20.3
   
14.5
   
13.0
   
16.4
   
12.9
 
Less-than-truckload linehaul services (a)
   
123.2
   
115.5
   
87.9
   
90.9
   
101.9
 
Fuel adjustments (a)
   
31.7
   
15.7
   
6.5
   
10.0
   
10.8
 
Freight brokerage (a)
   
24.9
   
15.0
   
7.6
   
3.8
   
4.2
 
Equipment rental (a)
   
5.9
   
5.4
   
3.9
   
2.2
   
1.3
 
Equipment in Service at year-end
                     
Tractors
                     
Company operated
   
1,573
   
1,534
   
1,411
   
1,389
   
1,265
 
Provided by owner-operators
   
716
   
757
   
737
   
704
   
753
 
Total
   
2,289
   
2,291
   
2,148
   
2,093
   
2,018
 
Trailers
   
4,147
   
3,802
   
3,308
   
3,103
   
3,175
 
Computational notes:
(a)  
In millions
(b)  
Current assets divided by current liabilities
(c)  
Debt divided by shareholder’s equity

Page 12 of 52



ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

OVERVIEW
    We are principally a motor-carrier, also commonly referred to as a trucking company. We offer various transportation services to customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. All of our services involve the over-the-road movement of freight. In the United States, we sometimes also arrange for the use of railroads to transport our loaded trailers between major cities. Most of our revenue is from service which is order-based, meaning that we separately bill our customers for each shipment. A minority of our revenue is from services which are asset-based, meaning that we bill our customer for the use of a truck and driver for a period of time, without regard to the number of shipments hauled. We also refer to our asset-based service as "dedicated fleets", because in these arrangements, the trucks and drivers involved are dedicated for use by a specific customer on a full-time basis.
    Order-based services are either full-truckload or less-than-truckload ("LTL"). Our trailers are designed to carry up to 40,000 pounds of freight. Shipments weighing 20,000 pounds or more are full-truckload, while shipments of less than that amount are classified as LTL.
    Customers let us know that they have shipments requiring transportation and inform us as to any special requirements, such as an identification of the type of product to be shipped, the origin and destination of the load and the expected time by which delivery must occur. We inform our customers of our availability to haul the freight and of the price we will charge. If these fit with the needs of the customer, we schedule the freight for pickup.
    Shipments have three stages: pick-up, linehaul and delivery. The linehaul stage is over-the-road and involves longer distances. Most of our full-truckload shipments will have all of these stages performed by the same truck.
    LTL shipments typically involve different trucks for each of the three stages. For LTL, the linehaul stage may also involve more than one truck as the freight moves among our network of LTL terminals. For example, an LTL truck bound from Los Angeles to Dallas may carry shipments destined for Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. Once the truck arrives in Dallas, the freight for Chicago and Atlanta will be sorted and sent out from Dallas on different trucks to those cities with other LTL shipments that originated in Dallas or arrived there on trucks from other areas of the country. A linehaul load of LTL typically weighs 25,000 to 35,000 pounds and is comprised of between 5 and 30 individual shipments.
    We operate under three primary brand names, FFE Transportation Services ("FFE"), Lisa Motor Lines ("LML") and American Eagle Lines ("AEL"). FFE and LML specialize in products that require temperature control. Most shipments require the maintenance of a cold temperature ranging from minus 10 degrees to plus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Examples include perishable food, beverages, candy, pharmaceuticals, photographic supplies and electronics. Other products require maintenance of a warm temperature in the colder months to prevent freezing while in transit, such as nursery stock and liquid products. FFE conducts all of our LTL business and also has significant order-based and asset-based full-truckload operations. LML specializes in order-based full-truckload operations. AEL serves the market for order-based and asset-based full-truckload activities that do not require temperature control.
    The assets we must have for temperature-controlled service are costly to acquire and maintain. The rates we charge for our temperature-controlled services are usually higher than other companies who offer no temperature-controlled services. Many products that require protection from the heat during the warmer months of the year do not require protection during the colder months. Therefore, during the warmer months, demand for our temperature-controlled full-truckload and LTL services expands.
    There are several companies that provide national temperature-controlled full-truckload services. We know of no other company providing nationwide LTL temperature-controlled service. The vast majority of trucking companies that are nationwide in scope, like our AEL brand, offer only full-truckload service with no temperature control. Therefore, the markets that are served by AEL tend to be very price-competitive and generally lack the level of seasonality as in our FFE and LML operations. Because consumer demand for products requiring temperature control is often less sensitive to economic cycles, revenue from FFE and LML tends to be less volatile during such cycles.
    During 2003, our LTL linehaul revenue increased by 31% over the prior year, after declines during the years leading up to 2002. The 2003 increase was a result of our principal national temperature-controlled LTL competitor having ceased operations. We do not believe that the market for refrigerated LTL services improved significantly in general since 2002, but we do believe that the level of our specific operations improved because of the reduction in capacity in the marketplace. Accordingly, LTL linehaul revenue increased by just 6.7% during 2004 as compared to 2003, more in line with historic patterns.

Page 13 of 52



    Over the past few years, AEL has been the fastest-growing of our brands, and accounted for 32.7% of our 2004 revenue from full-truckload linehaul services. Much of what AEL hauls are products the demand for which exhibits more fluctuation with economic activity. Clothing, electronics, beauty supplies, hygiene products and household appliances are principal among AEL's freight. As consumer demand for such products improved during 2003, much of our revenue growth from our full-truckload activities was from AEL. Full-truckload revenue from our temperature-controlled brands also increased during 2004, but to a lesser extent than was the case for AEL.
    The trucking business is highly competitive. During 2003, the last year for which data is available, there were several thousand companies operating in all sectors of the trucking business in the United States. Among those, the top five companies offering primarily temperature-controlled services collectively generated 2003 revenue of $2.1 billion. The next 27 such companies collectively generated revenues of $1.5 billion. In 2003, we ranked third in terms of revenue generated among all temperature-controlled motor carriers.
    We have nearly 10,000 active customers for our trucking business. We generally collect cash for our services between 30 and 50 days after our service is provided.
    Trucking companies of our size face challenges to be successful. Costs for labor, maintenance and insurance rise every year. Fuel prices can increase or decrease quite rapidly. Due to the high level of competitiveness, it is difficult to pass these rising costs on to our customers. Over the past few years, many trucking companies have ceased operations, resulting in a reduced number of alternatives and increasing the awareness among customers that price increases for trucking services are likely. Throughout 2004, we more aggressively sought and obtained price increases from our customers. These efforts will continue into 2005 and beyond.
    We also have a non-freight business, AirPro Holdings, Inc, (“AirPro”) that deals in vehicle air-conditioning components and compressors for use in stationary refrigeration equipment, such as grocery store coolers and freezers. During 2001 through 2003, we incurred substantial losses in this business. In late 2003, the president of our non-freight subsidiary was replaced with a specialist in the management and turn-around of troubled companies. We have taken significant measures to reduce the cost of operating this business and focused on opportunities to restore our non-freight operations to profitability. During 2004, AirPro reported an operating profit of $810,000.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
    We have several of critical accounting estimates. These require a more significant amount of management judgement than the other accounting policies we employ. Our critical accounting policies are as follows:
    Revenue and Expense Recognition: In our freight operations, which accounted for 98% of our consolidated 2004 revenue, we recognize revenue and estimated direct operating expenses such as fuel and labor on the date we receive shipments from our customers. In 1991, the Emerging Issues Tax Force ("EITF") of the Financial Accounting Standards Board promulgated Issue 91-9, "Revenue and Expense Recognition for Freight Services in Process" ("EITF 91-9"). In 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements", which provides that EITF 91-9 sets forth the revenue and expense recognition methods that may be used in our industry. According to EITF 91-9, our manner of recognizing revenue and expenses for freight in process is acceptable.
    The other methods generally defer the recognition of revenue and expenses to as late as the date on which delivery of the shipments is completed. We have consistently utilized our manner of revenue and expense recognition since we began operations in 1946. Because our consolidated financial statements contain accruals for revenue and associated estimated direct expenses as of the beginning and the end of each reporting period, we believe that if we were to change our manner of recognizing revenue and associated estimated direct expenses to one of the other methods allowed by EITF 91-9, our results of operations would be substantially unaffected. In such an event, each period's revenue and expenses would be adjusted to include in revenue amounts from freight in process at the beginning of the period and to exclude from revenue those amounts from freight in process at the end of the same period. We believe that these amounts would essentially offset one another from period to period, resulting in minimal impact to our revenue or our operating or net income.
    Personal and Work-Related Injury: The trucking business involves risk of injury to our employees and the public. Prior to 2002, we retained the first $500,000 and $1 million of these risks, respectively, on a per occurrence basis. Due primarily to conditions in the insurance marketplace, in 2003 and 2002, we retained the first $1 million for work-related injuries and the first $5 million for public liability risk. This arrangement continued during the first six months of 2004. During mid-2004, our retention for public liability claims was lowered to $3.0 million but we share equally with the insurer losses from liability claims between $5.0 million and $10.0 million. We are fully insured above that $10.0 million level to a policy limit of $25.0 million.

Page 14 of 52


    Because of our large public liability and work-related injury retentions, the potential adverse impact a single occurrence can have on our results is significant. When an event involving potential liability occurs, our internal staff of risk management professionals estimates the range of most probable outcomes. Based on that estimate, we record a reserve in our financial statements during the period in which the event occurred. As additional information becomes available, we increase or reduce the amount of this reserve. We also maintain additional reserves for public liability and work-related injury events that may have been incurred but not reported. As of December 31, 2004, our reserves for personal injury, work-related injury, cargo and other claims against us aggregated nearly $20.0 million. If we were to change our estimates making up those reserves up or down by 10% in the aggregate, the impact on 2004 net income would have been $ 2.0 million, and net income per share of common stock would have been impacted by $0.07.
       Estimate of Uncollectible Accounts: We extend trade credit to our customers. We also establish a reserve to represent our estimate of accounts that will not ultimately be collected. Once we conclude that a specific invoice is unlikely to be paid by the customer, we charge the invoice against the reserve. We estimate the amount of our bad debt reserve based on the composite age of our receivables. During 2004, the amount of our bad debt reserve increased by $0.2 million and the amount of receivables that were more than 90 days old increased by $0.5 million. Significant changes in our receivables aging could impact our profits and financial condition. As of December 31, 2004, our reserve for uncollectible accounts was $3.0 million. If our estimate were to change by 10%, 2004 net income would have been impacted by $300,000 or $0.01 per share of common stock.
       Deferred Taxes: Our deferred tax liability of $5.1 million is stated net of offsetting deferred tax assets. The assets consist of anticipated future tax deductions for items such as for insurance and bad debt expenses which have been reflected on our statements of income but which are not yet tax deductible. In total, our deferred tax assets are about $3.5 million. At current federal tax rates, we will need to generate about $10 million in future taxable income in order to fully realize our deferred tax assets.
We believe it probable that we will generate sufficient taxable income in 2005 and beyond to the remainder of our deferred tax assets. If our expectation of such realizability diminishes, we may be required to establish a valuation allowance on our balance sheet. That could diminish our net income in future periods.
    Stock-based Compensation: We account for stock-based compensation to employees based on the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB 25"). Under APB 25, if the exercise price of employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the grant date, no compensation expense is recorded. We have adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). Had we used SFAS No. 123 to account for our stock-based compensation for 2004, 2003 and 2002, our net income, would have been $700,000, $300,000 and $700,000, respectively, less than our reported results. The impact on our diluted per-share earnings for 2004, 2003 and 2002 would have been $0.03, $0.02 and $0.05, respectively.
    On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, which revised Statement No. 123. SFAS No. 123R also supersedes APB 25, and amends SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows”. Under SFAS No. 123R, companies must calculate and record in the income statement the cost of equity instruments, such as stock options, awarded to employees for services received. Pro forma disclosure is no longer permitted. The cost of the equity instruments is to be measured based on the fair value of the instruments on the date they are granted and is required to be recognized over the period during which the employees are required to provide services in exchange for the equity instruments. SFAS No. 123R is effective in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after June 15, 2005.
SFAS No. 123R provides two alternatives for adoption: (i) a modified prospective method in which compensation cost is recognized for all awards granted subsequent to the effective date of this statement as well as for the unvested portion of awards outstanding as of the effective date: or (ii) a modified retrospective method permits entities to restate prior periods to record compensation cost calculated under SFAS No. 123 for the pro forma disclosure. We plan to adopt SFAS No. 123R using the modified prospective method.
Since we currently account for stock options granted to employees and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plans in accordance with the intrinsic value method permitted under APB Opinion No. 25, no compensation expense is currently recognized. If we continue to issue stock options to our employees, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R could have a significant impact on our results of operations.
    The impact of adopting SFAS No. 123R cannot be accurately estimated at this time, as it will depend on the market value and the amount of share-based awards granted in future periods. Had we adopted SFAS No. 123R in a prior period, the impact would approximate the impact of SFAS No. 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

Page 15 of 52


SFAS No. 123R also requires that tax benefits received by companies in excess of compensation cost be reclassified from operating cash flows to financing cash flows in statements of cash flows. This change in classification will reduce cash flows from operating activities and increase cash flows from financing activities in the periods after adoption. While the amount of this change cannot be estimated at this time, the amount of cash provided by operating activities from such stock-based compensation related tax deductions was $857,000 during 2004 and $168,000 during 2003. No such transactions occurred during 2002.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    Freight Revenue: Our freight revenue is derived from five types of transactions. Linehaul revenue is order-based and earned by transporting cargo for our customers using tractors and trailers that we control by ownership, long-term leases or by agreements with independent contractors (sometimes referred to as “owner-operators”). Within our linehaul freight service portfolio we offer both full-truckload and less-than truckload services. Over 90% of our LTL linehaul shipments must be temperature-controlled to prevent damage to the cargo. We operate fleets that focus on refrigerated or “temperature-controlled” less-than-truckload (“LTL”), full-truckload temperature-controlled shipments and on full-truckload non-refrigerated or “dry” shipments. Of the shipments transported by our temperature-controlled fleets during 2004, about 20% were of dry commodities.
    Our freight brokerage provides freight transportation services to customers using third-party trucking companies. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2004, we had reported freight brokerage’s revenue net of the purchased transportation expense paid to such third parties. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004, we revised amounts previously reported by reclassifying the related purchased transportation expense as an operating expense for all prior periods. The reclassification, which increased freight revenue and operating expenses by $12.7 million and $6.2 million for 2003 and 2002, respectively, and $15.0 million during the first nine months of 2004 had no impact on the amount of or the trends displayed regarding our operating income, net income, cash flows, or financial position for any period.
Our dedicated fleet operation consists of fleets of tractors and trailers that haul only freight for a specific customer. Dedicated fleet revenue is asset based. Customers typically pay us weekly for trucks assigned to their service.
Income from equipment rental represents amounts we charge to independent contractors for the use of trucks which we own and lease to the owner-operator.
The rates we charge for our services include fuel adjustment charges. In periods when the price we incur for diesel fuel is high, we raise our prices in an effort to recover this increase from our customers. The opposite is true when fuel prices decline.
The following table summarizes and compares the significant components of freight revenue for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004: 

Freight revenue from
   
2004
   
2003
   
2002
 
Full truckload linehaul services (a)
 
$
258.7
 
$
239.8
 
$
229.8
 
Dedicated fleets (a)
   
20.3
   
14.5
   
13.0
 
Total full-truckload (a)
   
279.0
   
254.3
   
242.8
 
Less-than-truckload linehaul services (a)
   
123.2
   
115.5
   
87.9
 
Fuel adjustments (a)
   
31.7
   
15.7
   
6.5
 
Freight brokerage (a)
   
24.9
   
15.0
   
7.6
 
Equipment rental (a)
   
5.9
   
5.4
   
3.9
 
Total freight revenue (a)
 
$
464.7
 
$
405.9
 
$
348.7
 
 
             
Total full-truckload revenue (a)
 
$
279.0
 
$
254.3
 
$
242.8
 
Less-than-truckload linehaul revenue (a)
   
123.2
   
115.5
   
87.9
 
Total linehaul and dedicated fleet revenue(a)
 
$
402.2
 
$
369.8
 
$
330.7
 
Weekly average trucks in service
   
2,292
   
2,250
   
2,126
 
Revenue per truck per week (b)
 
$
3,374
 
$
3,161
 
$
2,991
 
Computational notes:
(a) In millions.
(b) Total linehaul and dedicated fleet revenue divided by 52 divided by weekly average trucks in service.

Page 16 of 52


 
      The following table summarizes and compares our revenue from full-truckload linehaul services excluding fuel adjustment charges and related data for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004:

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Revenue from full-truckload linehaul services
             
Temperature-controlled fleet (a)
 
$
174.1
 
$
164.5
 
$
164.4
 
Dry-freight fleet (a)
   
84.6
   
75.3
   
65.4
 
 
 
$
258.7
 
$
239.8
 
$
229.8
 
Total linehaul miles (a)
   
188.5
   
183.4
   
174.9
 
Total loaded miles (a)
   
170.0
   
166.0
   
158.7
 
Empty mile ratio (b)
   
9.8
%
 
9.5
%
 
9.3
%
Number of linehaul shipments (c)
   
190.5
   
184.8
   
173.7
 
Linehaul revenue per total mile (d)
 
$
1.37
 
$
1.31
 
 $
1.31
 
Linehaul revenue per loaded mile (e)
 
$
1.52
 
$
1.44
 
 $
1.45
 
Linehaul revenue per shipment (f)
 
$
1,358
 
$
1,298
 
$
1,323
 
Average loaded miles per shipment (g)
   
892
   
898
   
914
 

Computational notes:
(a)  
In millions.
(b)  
One minus (total loaded miles divided by total linehaul miles).
(c)  
In thousands.
(d)  
Revenue from full-truckload linehaul services divided by total linehaul miles.
(e)  
Revenue from full-truckload linehaul services divided by total loaded miles.
(f)  
Revenue from full-truckload linehaul services divided by number of linehaul shipments.
(g)  
Total loaded miles divided by number of linehaul shipments.


    Full-truckload linehaul revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 increased by $18.9 million (7.9%) and $10.0 million (4.4%), respectively, as compared to the immediately preceding year. During 2004, the average miles of our full-truckload shipments did not change appreciably. The number of full-truckload shipments during 2004 increased by 3.1%, to 190,500. The remainder of 2004’s increase in full-truckload revenue was a result of rate increases that we implemented during the year. During 2004, our full-truckload revenue per loaded mile increased by 5.6% to $1.52, which was tempered somewhat by a slight increase in our empty-mile rates.
During 2004, we continued to focus on revenue growth at American Eagle Lines (“AEL”), our non-refrigerated or “dry” freight trucking fleet. AEL’s revenue increased by $9.3 million (12.4%) during 2004 as compared to 2003, and such revenue now accounts for 32.7% of our total full-truckload linehaul revenue, as compared to 28.5% during 2002. During 2004, approximately 20% of the full-truckload shipments hauled by our temperature-controlled fleets were of “dry” commodities.

Page 17 of 52


The following table summarizes and compares our revenue from less-than-truckload linehaul services and related data for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004:

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Revenue from less-than-truckload linehaul services (a)
 
$
123.2
 
$
115.5
 
$
87.9
 
Total linehaul miles (a)
   
44.6
   
43.7
   
34.9
 
Total loaded miles (a)
   
41.6
   
41.0
   
32.6
 
Empty mile ratio (b)
   
6.7
%
 
6.2
%
 
6.6
%
Number of linehaul shipments (c)
   
282.2
   
285.8
   
222.8
 
Linehaul revenue per total mile (d)
 
$
2.76
 
$
2.64
 
$
2.52
 
Linehaul revenue per loaded mile (e)
 
$
2.96
 
$
2.81
 
$
2.70
 
Linehaul revenue per shipment (f)
 
$
437
 
$
404
 
$
395
 
Hundredweight (a)
   
8.4
   
8.0
   
6.5
 
Average weight per shipment (g)
   
2,977
   
2,799
   
2,917
 
Linehaul revenue per hundredweight (h)
 
$
14.67
 
$
14.44
 
$
13.52
 

Computational notes:
(a)  
In millions.
(b)  
One minus (total loaded miles divided by total linehaul miles).
(c)  
In thousands.
(d)  
Revenue from less-than-truckload linehaul services divided by total linehaul miles.
(e)  
Revenue from less-than-truckload linehaul services divided by total loaded miles.
(f)  
Revenue from less-than-truckload services divided by number of linehaul shipments.
(g)  
Hundredweight times 100 divided by number of shipments.
(h)  
Revenue from less-than-truckload services divided by hundredweight.
 
    LTL linehaul revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 increased by $7.7 million (6.7%) and $27.6 million (31.4%), respectively, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. For decades, most of the market for nationwide temperature-controlled linehaul LTL service had been shared between Alterman Transport Lines ("ATL") and ourselves. We competed primarily on price and breadth of service. In recent years, ATL's annual LTL revenue was about half as much as our LTL revenue. During December of 2002, ATL announced that it planned to cease operations and liquidate, a process that began in January of 2003. As a result, during 2004 and 2003, we experienced a significant increase in our volume of LTL shipments as compared to 2002.
    The sharp increase in our LTL activities caused us to re-deploy some of our vehicles from primarily hauling full-truckload freight to LTL. That has resulted in a somewhat diminished rate of growth for our full-truckload revenue.
    LTL operations offer the opportunity to earn higher revenue on a per-mile and per-hundredweight basis than do full-truckload operations, but the level of investment and fixed costs associated with LTL activities significantly exceed those of full-truckload activities. Accordingly, as LTL revenue fluctuates, many costs remain fixed, leveraging the impact from such revenue fluctuations on our operating income. During 2003 and 2004, as LTL activity and revenue rose, many LTL-related costs remained static.
    During 2004, LTL linehaul revenue increased by $7.7 million to $123.2 million, despite a 1.3% decline in the number of LTL shipments. The average weight of such shipments increased by 5.3%. The remainder of 2004’s increase in LTL revenue is a result of rate increases we implemented during the year.
    We continuously assess the performance of our LTL operations. As a result, we periodically alter the frequency at which we service locations where freight volumes have declined and change the mix of our company-operated vs. independent contractor-provided trucks in order to more closely match our operating costs to the level of our LTL revenue.

Page 18 of 52


    The following table summarizes and compares the makeup of our fleets between full-truckload and LTL and between company-provided tractors and tractors provided by owner-operators as of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Full-truckload tractors
             
Company-provided
   
1,470
   
1,428
   
1,338
 
Owner-operator
   
565
   
568
   
543
 
Total full-truckload
   
2,035
   
1,996
   
1,881
 
LTL tractors
             
Company-provided
   
103
   
106
   
73
 
Owner-operator
   
151
   
189
   
194
 
Total LTL
   
254
   
295
   
267
 
Total company-provided
   
1,573
   
1,534
   
1,411
 
Total owner-operator
   
716
   
757
   
737
 
Tractors in service
   
2,289
   
2,291
   
2,148
 
Trailers in service
   
4,147
   
3,802
   
3,308
 

    Linehaul and dedicated fleet revenue per truck per week was $3,374 during 2004, $3,161 during 2003 and $2,991 during 2002. The 2004 increase is a reflection of improved productivity among our dedicated fleets and of general rate increases taken for our linehaul full-truckload and LTL services.
    At December 31, 2004, our entire LTL fleet consisted of 254 tractors, as compared to 295 at the end of 2003 and 267 at the end of 2002. When the level of our LTL activity increases during peak times of the year, we often re-deploy full-truckload trucks to handle the overload.
    At the end of 2004, our full-truckload fleet numbered 2,035 trucks, as compared to 1,996 at the end of 2003 and 1,881 at the end of 2002. Primarily due to the increased number of trucks, the number of linehaul full-truckload shipments rose by 3.1% during 2004 and 6.4% in 2003, in each case when compared to the immediately preceding year.
    The number of trucks in our full-truckload company-operated fleet rose by 35 to 1,338 during 2002. As of December 31, 2003, there were 1,428 tractors in our full-truckload company-operated fleet, as compared to 1,470 at the end of 2004.
    Continued emphasis will be placed on improving the efficiency and the utilization of our fleets through enhanced driver training and retention, by reducing the percentage of non-revenue-producing miles, by extending the average loaded miles per shipment and through expansion of dedicated fleet operations.
    Our full-truckload fleets use satellite technology to enhance efficiency and customer service. Location updates of each tractor are provided by this network and we exchange dispatch, fuel and other information with the driver by way of satellite.
    Effective January 4, 2004 the federal agency that regulates motor carrier safety began to enforce new Hours of Service ("HOS") rules, which limit the number of hours truck drivers may work in a shift and drive in a shift. Time in a shift spent by a driver in fueling, loading and waiting to load or unload freight count as non-driving work hours. The old HOS rules were introduced in 1939, and the new rules are intended by the government to reflect more closely the equipment and roads in use today, as compared to sixty-five years ago.
    The new rules generally expand from ten to eleven the number of hours that a person can drive an over-the-road truck in a shift, but reduce from fifteen to fourteen the number of hours such a person can work during the same shift. Also, under the old HOS rules, time spent in the middle of a shift waiting to load or unload did not count as hours worked, but such time does count as hours worked under the new HOS rules. The new rules also extend from eight to ten the number of hours that drivers must rest between on-duty shifts.
    In order to compensate our drivers and offset other expenses from diminished asset utilization, we are seeking compensation from our customers, such as rate increases and "detention fees". Such detention fees are designed to motivate our customers to expedite the loading and unloading of their freight, thereby maximizing the number of hours that our drivers can drive during a work shift.

Page 19 of 52



    Freight Operating Expenses: Changes in the proportion of revenue from full-truckload versus LTL shipments, as well as in the mix of company-provided versus independent contractor-provided equipment and in the mix of leased versus owned equipment, contribute to variations among operating and interest expenses.
    The following table sets forth, as a percentage of freight revenue, certain major operating expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004:

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Salaries, wages and related expenses
   
26.5
%
 
28.9
%
 
30.4
%
Purchased transportation
   
27.1
   
26.4
   
24.3
 
Fuel
   
12.9
   
11.7
   
11.6
 
Supplies and expenses
   
12.2
   
11.7
   
12.5
 
Revenue equipment rent and depreciation
   
11.0
   
11.5
   
12.6
 
Claims and insurance
   
3.9
   
3.6
   
4.3
 
Other
   
2.9
   
3.3
   
3.1
 
Total freight operating expenses
   
96.5
%
 
97.1
%
 
98.8
%

    Salaries, Wages and Related Expenses: Salaries, wages and related expenses increased by $5.8 million (5.0%) during 2004 and $11.3 million (10.6%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The following table summarizes and compares the major components of these expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in millions):

Amount of Salaries, Wages and
Related Expenses Attributable to:
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Driver salaries and per-diem expenses
 
$
71.9
 
$
66.5
 
$
63.1
 
Non-driver salaries
   
36.7
   
32.6
   
28.0
 
Payroll taxes
   
8.0
   
8.7
   
7.4
 
Work-related injuries
   
3.2
   
4.8
   
3.1
 
Health insurance and other
   
3.5
   
4.9
   
4.6
 
 
 
$
123.3
 
$
117.5
 
$
106.2
 
 
    Employee full-truckload linehaul drivers are typically paid a certain rate per mile. The number of such miles increased during 2004 and 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The increased number of miles contributed to the increases in driver salaries and per-diem expenses during both 2004 and 2003.
    Employee dedicated fleet drivers are typically paid by the hour or by the day. During 2004 and 2003, we added trucks to our dedicated fleet operations. Those increases also contributed to increases in driver salaries and per-diem expenses.
    Also impacting of the 2004 and 2003 increases in driver salaries and per-diem expenses were changes in the level of shipments, miles and hundredweight in our LTL operation. Drivers hauling LTL typically earn a higher wage than do the full-truckload counterparts. LTL wages are based on a number of factors including the amount of on-duty time, miles driven, hundredweight hauled and in-route stops to load and unload freight. During 2004 and 2003, respectively, LTL miles increased, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. At the same time, hundredweight transported also increased. The number of LTL shipments increased significantly during 2003, but did not change appreciably during 2004. To the extent that LTL freight is hauled by employee drivers, as opposed to owner-operators, the aforementioned changes served to increase LTL driver salaries, wages and per-diem expenses during 2004 and 2003, respectively, each as compared to the immediately preceding year.
    We sponsor bonus and incentive programs for our employees and management. Bonus payments are based on the operating profitability of our company. No bonuses were paid based on our 2002 or 2003 results. For 2004, due to improved performance, our employees and management earned bonuses aggregating approximately $1.3 million, which contributed to the increase in non-driver salaries expense.

Page 20 of 52


 
    We also sponsor a 401(k) wrap plan which enables employees to defer a portion of their current salaries to their post-retirement years. Because the wrap plan’s assets are held by a grantor or “rabbi” trust, we are required to include the wrap plan’s assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2004, such assets included 130,000 shares of our common stock, which are classified as treasury stock in our consolidated balance sheet.
    We are required to value the assets and liabilities of the wrap plan at market value on our periodic balance sheets, but we are precluded from reflecting the treasury stock portion of the wrap plan’s assets at market value. This results in upward pressure on non-driver salaries and wage expense, when the market value of our common stock rises. The opposite is true when our common stock price falls. During 2004, the per-share market price of our stock increased by $6.26, to $12.90. This contributed approximately $800,000 to 2004’s non-driver salary and wage expense. Also, our executive incentive and bonus plan is partially denominated in approximately 150,000 “phantom” shares of our stock, the liability for which is also determined by the value of our stock. That resulted in an additional $940,000 of non-driver salaries and wage expense during 2004. Compared to 2004’s deferred compensation expense of $1.7 million, such expenses were $1.0 million during 2003 and were of a negligible amount during 2002.
    The expanded level of our LTL activities resulted in the need to employ more dispatchers, supervisors and marketing and customer service personnel. During December of 2002, we opened two additional terminals to handle the increasing number of LTL shipments. This, coupled with annual payroll adjustments for our non-driver employees were the principal contributors to 2003's higher level of non-driver salaries and related payroll taxes.
    Costs associated with work-related injuries diminished by 33% during 2004 as compared to 2003 and increased by 55% in 2003 as compared to 2002. Self-insured work-related injuries incurred by drivers are the primary contributors to this expense. The number of our employee-drivers did not change appreciably during 2004 but increased by 11% during 2003.
    We share the cost of health insurance with our employees. For the past several years, we have experienced double digit percentage health insurance cost increases. During mid-2003, we changed to a plan that increased both the amounts employees pay to participate and the amount of medical costs that must be borne by our employees. This helped us mitigate the rate at which our costs have increased.
    During non-recessionary economic periods, we typically have difficulty attracting qualified employee-drivers for our full-truckload operations. Such shortages increase costs of employee-driver compensation, training and recruiting. Significant resources are continually devoted to recruiting and retaining qualified employee-drivers and to improving their job satisfaction. As the economy softened during 2001 and 2002, previous shortages of qualified drivers diminished, but as the economy improved during 2003 we began to experience more difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified employee-drivers. During the latter half of 2004 and the first two months of 2005 , the supply of qualified drivers continued to tighten. With increasing frequency and magnitude, our competitors often increase their employee-driver pay scales. We monitor such events and consider increases should the need arise. The last such increase we implemented was during 2000.
    Purchased Transportation: Purchased transportation expense increased by $18.6 million (17.4%) during 2004 and $22.6 million (26.7%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The following table summarizes our purchased transportation expense for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, by type of service (in millions):
 
Amount of Purchased Transportation Expense incurred for
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Full-truckload linehaul service
 
$
51.3
 
$
49.1
 
$
46.0
 
LTL linehaul service
   
37.9
   
38.5
   
29.8
 
Intermodal
   
4.2
   
1.9
   
0.2
 
Total linehaul service
   
93.4
   
89.5
   
76.0
 
Fuel adjustments
   
9.0
   
4.6
   
2.1
 
Freight brokerage and other
   
23.5
   
13.1
   
6.6
 
 
 
$
125.9
 
$
107.2
 
$
84.7
 

Page 21 of 52


 
    Of the 2004 increase in purchased transportation expense, $3.9 million (21.0%), $4.4 million (23.7%) and $10.4 million (55.9%), respectively, were attributable to linehaul services, fuel adjustment charges and our freight brokerage. Of the 2003 increase, such categories of purchased transportation accounted for $13.5 million (60.0%), $2.5 million (11.1%) and $6.5 million (28.9%) respectively.
    The amount of purchased transportation for LTL equipment increased by nearly a third during 2003. That was a result of 2003’s sharp increase in our LTL shipment count and revenue. During 2004, the growth of our LTL operation returned to more historic levels of between 3% and 5% annually. The dramatic increase in the quantity of our LTL revenue and shipments during 2003 was a result of a major competitor having ceased operations during the first quarter of 2003.
    We run our LTL service on schedules, much like an airline. When terminal departure times arrive, our LTL trucks depart, whether or not they are fully loaded. The only other major nationwide provider of refrigerated LTL service ceased operations in early 2003. That event resulted in the sharp increase in LTL shipments, but much of that increase was handled by trucks from our fleets that were already providing the scheduled service. Because we already had excess capacity in our LTL operation, we were able to service much of the increased freight with equipment that was already present in our fleet. In addition, much of the increased LTL volume during 2003 was handled by our fleet of company-operated LTL trucks, which increased substantially during 2003. Also, the amount of LTL freight transported by owner-operator provided trucks which normally haul full-truckload shipments temporarily increased significantly during 2003.
    Independent contractor equipment generated 29%, 31% and 30% of our full-truckload linehaul revenue during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Independent contractors provide a tractor that they own to transport freight on our behalf. During each of the past three years, between 63% and 68% of our LTL linehaul revenue was generated by independent-contractor equipment. Contractors pay for the cost of operating their tractors, including but not limited to the expense of fuel, labor, taxes and maintenance. We pay independent contractors amounts generally determined by reference to the revenue associated with their activities. At the beginning of 2002, there were 509 such tractors in the full-truckload fleet. By the end of 2002, there were 543 such tractors. At December 31, 2003 and 2004, there were 568 and 565, respectively. As the number of these trucks fluctuates, so does the amount of revenue generated by such units.
    In providing our full-truckload linehaul service, we often engage railroads to transport shipments between major cities. In such an arrangement (called "intermodal" service), loaded trailers are transported to a rail facility and placed on flat cars for transport to their destination. On arrival, one of our company-operated or independent-contractor provided tractors will pick up the trailer and deliver the freight to the consignee. Intermodal service is generally less costly than using one of our own trucks for such movements, but other factors also influence our decision to utilize intermodal services. During 2004, the number of intermodal full-truckload shipments increased by 10%, as many of our normally full-truckload trucks were occupied in handling LTL freight. These factors contributed to our increase of intermodal services in the transport of full-truckload freight.
When fuel prices escalate, as they have during 2002 through 2004, we add fuel adjustment charges to the rates we bill to our customers. Independent contractors are responsible for payment for the fuel used by their trucks in transporting freight for our customers. For shipments that are transported by independent contractors, we pass through to the contractor any fuel adjustments charges that are to be paid to us by the customer. This practice added $9.0 million $4.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, to our purchased transportation expense during 2004, 2003, and 2002 respectively.
From 2002 through 2004, we have significantly expanded the scope of our freight brokerage, which enables us to better adjust our capability to transport loads offered to us but for which we have no available equipment. When we book an order in our brokerage, we arrange for an unaffiliated licensed trucking company to haul the freight. We set the price to be paid by the customer and bear the risk should the customer fail to pay us for the shipment. We determine which trucking company will haul the load and negotiate with them the fee we will pay, which represents freight brokerage purchased transportation expenses.
Fuel: Fuel expense increased by $12.7 million (26.7%) during 2004 and $7.0 million (17.3%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, our fuel expenses were $60.1 million, $47.5 million and $40.4 million, respectively. The following table summarizes and compares the relationship between fuel expense and freight linehaul revenue during each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2004:

Page 22 of 52




 
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
Total linehaul and dedicated fleet revenue
 
$
402.2
 
$
369.8
 
$
330.7
 
Fuel expense
   
60.1
   
47.5
   
40.4
 
Fuel expense as a percent of total linehaul and dedicated fleet revenue
   
14.9
%
 
12.8
%
 
12.2
%

Most of the increases were related to the price of diesel fuel for our company-operated fleet of tractors and trailers. During 2002, our average price per gallon fell by 5% from 2001 levels, but in 2003 our average price per gallon of diesel fuel increased by about 12.9%, as compared to 2002. During 2004, the average price of diesel fuel increased by an additional 24.2% over the 2002 level, for a cumulative two-year increase of 40.2%.
Because fuel adjustment charges do not fully compensate us for our increased fuel costs, fuel price volatility impacts our profitability. We have in place a number of strategies that mitigate, but do not eliminate, the impact of such volatility. Pursuant to the contracts and tariffs by which our freight rates are determined, those rates in most cases automatically fluctuate as diesel fuel prices rise and fall because of the fuel adjustment charges.
    Factors that prevent us from fully recovering fuel cost increases include the presence of deadhead (empty) miles, tractor engine idling and fuel to power our trailer refrigeration units. Such fuel consumption often cannot be attributable to a particular load and, therefore, there is no revenue to which a fuel adjustment may be applied. Also, our fuel adjustment charges are computed by reference to federal government indices that are released weekly for the price week. When prices are rising, the price we incur in a given week is more than the price the government reports for the preceding week. Accordingly, we are unable to recover the excess of the current week’s actual price to the preceding week’s indexed price.    
    With regard to fuel expenses for company-operated equipment, we attempt to further mitigate the impact of fluctuating fuel costs by operating more fuel-efficient tractors and aggressively managing fuel purchasing. Also, owner-operators are responsible for all costs associated with their equipment, including fuel. Therefore, the cost of such fuel is not a direct expense of ours, but to the extent such fuel adjustment charges are passed through by us to owner-operators, fuel price volatility may impact purchased transportation expenses.
    We use computer software to optimize our routing and fuel purchasing. The software enables us to select the most efficient route for a trip. It also assists us in deciding on a real-time basis how much fuel to buy at a particular fueling station.
Supplies and Expenses: Supplies and expenses increased by $8.8 million (18.5%) during 2004 and $4.2 million (9.8%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The following table summarizes and compares the major components of supplies and expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in millions):

Amount of Supplies and
Expenses Incurred for
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
Fleet repairs and maintenance
 
$
17.5
 
$
15.2
 
$
14.4
 
Freight handling
   
11.6
   
9.9
   
8.0
 
Driver travel expense
   
3.1
   
2.7
   
2.7
 
Tires
   
6.9
   
6.3
   
5.5
 
Terminal and warehouse expenses
   
6.1
   
5.1
   
5.0
 
Driver recruiting
   
3.3
   
3.1
   
2.7
 
Other
   
8.0
   
5.4
   
5.1
 
 
 
$
56.5
 
$
47.7
 
$
43.4
 


Page 23 of 52


 
    Fleet repairs and maintenance expenses increased by $0.8 million (5.6%) and $2.3 million (15.1%), respectively, during 2003 and 2004, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The increases are primarily related to repairs and maintenance of our tractor fleet, the replacement cycle of which has been extended since 2002. At the beginning of 2004, 44% of our company-operated tractor fleet was less than one year old. By the end of 2004, only 22% of such tractors were less than one year old. As assets such as tractors age, they become more costly to maintain.
    Although freight handling expenses are present in both our LTL and full-truckload activities, such expenses are mostly LTL-related. The increased level of such costs and terminal and warehouse expense since 2002 is due to the increase in the number of LTL shipments we handled.
    During 2004, other supplies and expense increased by $2.6 million (48.1%) as compared to 2003. The increase is principally attributable to selling general and administrative costs of our freight brokerage operation, the revenue from which increased by 66% during 2004 as compared to 2003.
    Rentals and Depreciation: The total of revenue equipment rent expense and depreciation expense increased by $4.6 million (9.8%) during 2004 and $2.6 million (5.9%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. These fluctuations were due in part to changes in the use of leasing to finance our fleet. Equipment rental includes a component of interest-related expense that is classified as non-operating expense when we incur debt to acquire equipment. Equipment rent and depreciation also are affected by the replacement of less expensive, older model company-operated tractors and trailers with more expensive new equipment.
    In 2002, our tractor replacement cycle was extended. For more than ten years through 2001, our primary tractor manufacturer contracted to repurchase our new trucks at the end of three years of service for an agreed price. During 2001, as the economy softened and demand for new and used trucking assets slackened, the manufacturer found itself with a surplus of used trucks which were difficult to re-sell at prices near the amount the manufacturer had been paying us. Such "sell-back" arrangements have been typical in the trucking industry for many years. In 2002 we agreed to amend our sell-back arrangement. Since then, our tractors have been sold back to the manufacturer under more restrictive terms.
    Also, the trade-back cycle for most of our trucks in service on December 31, 2001 and for trucks delivered to us by this manufacturer after January 1, 2002 was extended by up to 12 months. When we agreed to extend our tractor replacement cycle, the price at which we will sell tractors back to the manufacturer was reduced by an amount that reflects the extension of the cycle. For trucks that were delivered to us before January 1, 2002, there was no significant impact on our periodic equipment rental or depreciation expense resulting from the extended replacement cycle. The lower pre-agreed-to prices for trucks delivered to us after January 1, 2002 resulted in slightly higher monthly rental or depreciation expense over the lives of the trucks.
    In order to help us with the increased cost of maintaining tractors beyond our former 36-month replacement cycle, the manufacturer agreed to extend the warranties on specified major components of the tractors. The more restrictive terms on the trade-back will require that we more closely align our tractor purchases with resales to the manufacturer. We believe that we are not paying more for our new trucks than would be the case if we bought competitive equipment without such a trade-back feature.
    For many years, we have based our trailer depreciation on a seven-year replacement cycle. Based on the results of a study we completed in the third quarter of 2003, beginning in the last three months of 2003, we increased our replacement cycle for owned non-refrigerated trailers from seven to ten years. Owned refrigerated, leased refrigerated and leased non-refrigerated trailers will remain on a seven-year replacement cycle. The change in our service lives of our non-refrigerated trailers reduced our 2003 depreciation expense by about $150,000 from what would have otherwise been reported. The impact on our income for 2004 was approximately $300,000. There was no impact on our diluted per-share earnings for 2003. This change resulted in a $0.01 increase in 2004’s diluted per-share earnings.

Page 24 of 52


Claims and Insurance: Claims and insurance expenses increased by $3.3 million (22.5%) during 2004 and fell by $0.2 million (1.3%) during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The following table summarizes and compares the major components of claims and insurance expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in millions):

Amount of Claims and
Insurance Expense Incurred for
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Liability
 
$
13.3
 
$
11.8
 
$
9.3
 
Cargo
   
2.3
   
1.4
   
2.4
 
Physical damage, property and other
   
2.5
   
1.5
   
3.2
 
 
 
$
18.1
 
$
14.7
 
$
14.9
 
 
    During 2003, our liability and cargo insurance cost per mile driven diminished by 4.2%, as compared to 2002, but such costs per mile increased by approximately 15% during 2004, as compared to 2003. In 2004, the Truckload Carriers Association, an industry association, announced that we had been awarded second place among dozens of companies of size comparable to us in their 2003 annual safety recognition award program.
    During 2004, we engaged the services of independent actuaries to help us improve the process by which we estimate the amount of our claims reserves. Such estimates address the amount of the claims’ settlements as well as legal and other fees associated with attaining such settlements. As a result of the actuarial studies during 2004, we increased our reserves for such claims by approximately $1.5 million. About half of 2004’s increase in per-mile insurance costs was due to this study.    
    During 2002, 2003 and the first several months of 2004, we retained the risk for liability claims up to $5 million. As of December 31, 2004, we retained the first $3 million of our liability risk, our insurance company assumes the risk in full above our $3 million deductible to $5 million, the insurance company and we share the risk equally between $5 million and $10 million and we are fully insured above $10 million to $25 million.
    We have accrued for our estimated costs related to our liability claims. When an incident occurs we record a reserve for the incident's estimated outcome. As additional information becomes available, adjustments are made.
    Accrued claims liabilities include all reserves for over the road accidents, work-related injuries, self-insured employee medical expenses and cargo losses. Employee-related insurance costs are included in salaries, wages and related expenses in our statement of income. The actuarial reports issued to us during 2004 provided us with factors we will continue to use to estimate expected costs associated with claims development and claims handling expenses. It is probable that the estimates we have accrued for at any point in time will change in the future.
    Claims and insurance expenses can vary significantly from year to year. The amount of open claims is significant. There can be no assurance that these claims will be settled without a material adverse effect on our financial position or our results of operations.
    Other and Miscellaneous Expense: Gains on the disposition of equipment were between $1.3 and $1.5 million in each of the two years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. Such gains were $2.2 million during 2004. The amount of such gains depends primarily upon conditions in the market for previously-owned equipment and on the quantity of retired equipment sold.
    We usually pre-arrange the retirement sales value when we accept delivery of a new tractor. Before 2000, the market for used trucking equipment was quite strong. During 2000 and 2001, the market value of previously-owned trucking equipment fell dramatically. The market value of these assets improved somewhat during 2002 and further in 2003, but recovered substantially during 2004. Fluctuations in the market value of our leased equipment do not impact the pre-arranged retirement value of tractors presently in our fleet, but softness in the market for used equipment could diminish future pre-arranged retirement values. That may require us to increase the amount of depreciation and rental expense we incur in 2005 and beyond.
    We do not expect used equipment market prices to alter our current depreciation or rental expense related to trailers, but changes in the trailer market values could impact the amount of gains on sale of trailers in future periods.
    Miscellaneous expenses were $7.2 million, $5.9 million and $4.4 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Page 25 of 52

 
    During 2004, we incurred more than $2.0 million in expenses and professional fees associated with our efforts to comply with the internal control provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. As of March 2005, such initial compliance efforts were substantially complete. Accordingly, these costs are expected to diminish in the future.
Higher legal and professional fees associated with matters other than the management of liability claims against us also contributed to the higher level of miscellaneous expense since 2001, as did a write-down of intangible assets during 2003. The professional fee increase was related to legal and auditing expenses for general corporate matters and our continuing efforts to comply with new corporate governance and financial reporting requirements. The intangible assets we wrote down were related to trade names and other assets we previously acquired but have now effectively been abandoned.
    Non-Freight Operation: Our non-freight operation consists of AirPro Holdings, Inc. (“AirPro”), a business that sells parts for passenger and commercial vehicle air conditioning systems. For 2004, revenue from our non-freight business fell by 39.3% to $9.7 million from $16.1 million during 2003. Our non-freight operating expenses in 2004 fell by 58.4% when compared with 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2004 AirPro earned an operating profit of $810,000, as compared to losses of $5.4 million during 2003 and $3.3 million during 2002.
During the third and fourth quarters of 2002, our non-freight subsidiary recorded inventory write-downs aggregating $1.9 million. The purpose of these write-downs was to reflect our assets at the lower of our cost or market value, as required by GAAP. Further analysis of such market values was conducted after new management was put in place during the fourth quarter of 2003. The disappointing quantities of the inventory that we were able to sell during 2003 was a primary factor in our decision to dispose of a significant amount of the inventory and reduce our expectation as to the net realizable value of what remained. Accordingly, during the fourth quarter of 2003, we recorded $2.4 million in additional write-downs of our non-freight inventory. We do not presently expect to record further write-downs of our non-freight inventories.
Before 2002, we sold the largest component of our non-freight operations. The business we sold is a dealership engaged in the sale and service of refrigeration equipment and of trailers used in freight transportation. When the sale closed, we received a note receivable from the buyer for $4.1 million and a limited partnership interest in the buyer group to which we assigned an initial value of $1 million. The note must be repaid in three equal installments beginning in December of 2007. In December of 2003, the buyer paid us $1 million in cash as a prepayment of the note. Interest payments are due monthly. We account for our limited partnership interest according to the equity method. The income we accrue from this investment is included in miscellaneous non-operating expenses in our consolidated
statements of income.
       Operating Income: Income from operations increased by $10.3 million during 2004 and $5.8 million during 2003, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. The following table summarizes and compares our operating results from our freight and non-freight operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in thousands):

Operating Income (Loss) from
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Freight operations
 
$
16,030
 
$
11,928
 
$
4,059
 
Non-freight operations
   
810
   
(5,381
)
 
(3,329
)
 
 
$
16,840
 
$
6,547
 
$
730
 

       Interest and Other: The following table summarizes and compares our interest and other expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in thousands):

Amount of Interest and
Other (Income) Expense from
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Interest expense
 
$
327
 
$
636
 
$
501
 
Interest income
   
(56
)
 
(99
)
 
(57
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnership
   
(357
)
 
(288
)
 
(221
)
Life insurance and other
   
(166
)
 
(101
)
 
1,316
 
 
 
$
(252
)
$
148
 
$
1,539
 


Page 26 of 52



    Interest expense represents our cost for borrowed funds. Interest income represents our income from invested funds and notes receivable. A major component of our interest and other non-operating income or expense has to do with transactions involving and changes in the net cash surrender value of our life insurance investments. During 2002, transactions involving our life insurance assets resulted in net investment expense of about $0.7 million, as compared to net investment income of $0.9 and $0.7 million during 2003 and 2004, respectively. Our life insurance investments are valued at net cash surrender value (“CSV”).
    Equity in earnings of limited partnership represents our 19.9% share in the earnings of W&B Refrigeration Service Company.
    Pre-Tax and Net Income: For 2004, we earned pre-tax income of $17.1 million as compared to $6.4 million for 2003 and a pre-tax loss of $0.8 million for 2002. During 2004 and 2003, we incurred income tax expense of $6.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively. During 2002, our benefit from income taxes was $4.0 million.
    In certain prior years, we recorded income tax deductions for interest paid on loans against insurance policies as allowed under United States federal tax laws. Due to the uncertainty of such deductions, we maintained a $4 million reserve for the contingent expense that could have resulted from any related tax assessments. During 2002, the risk of a tax assessment had ended, and the reserve for any related expense was no longer required. We therefore reversed the amount of the reserve as a non-recurring reduction of our income tax expense.
    During 2004, 2003, and 2002 we reported net income of $10.8 million, $4.3 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
    Debt and Working Capital: Cash from our freight revenue is typically collected between 30 and 50 days after the service has been provided. We continually seek to accelerate our collection of accounts receivable to enhance our liquidity and reduce our debt. Our freight business is highly dependent on the use of fuel, labor, operating supplies and equipment provided by owner-operators. We are typically obligated to pay for these resources within seven to fifteen days after we use them, so our payment cycle is a significantly shorter interval than is our collection cycle. This disparity between cash payments to our suppliers and cash receipts from our customers can create significant needs for borrowed funds to finance our working capital, especially during the busiest time of our fiscal year.
    The associated increase in operating cash flow was used to reduce our debt by $12.0 million during 2004 and to finance increased expenditures for revenue equipment purchased during 2004 as compared to 2003.
    During 2002, we entered into a new credit agreement with two banks. The credit agreement was amended during June 2004 and expires on June 1, 2007. Debt may be secured by our revenue equipment, trade accounts receivable and inventories.
    As of December 31, 2004, we were using $2.0 million of the credit facility for borrowed funds, and $4.8 million as security for letters of credit, for a total utilization of $6.8 million of the $50 million available to us. Accordingly, our remaining availability was $43.2 million at the end of 2004.
    As amended, the credit agreement contains several restrictive covenants, including:
 
-
The ratio of our annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rental and any non-cash expenses from stock option activity ("EBITDAR") to the amount of our annual fixed charges may not be less than 1.2:1.0. Fixed charges generally include interest payments, rental expense, taxes paid and any portion of long-term debt presently due but not paid.
-
The ratio of our funded debt to EBITDAR may not exceed 2.5:1.0. Funded debt generally includes the amount borrowed under the credit agreement or similar arrangements, letters of credit secured by the credit agreement and the aggregate minimum amount of operating lease payments we are obligated to pay in the future.
-
The yearly sum of our income plus taxes and non-recurring or extraordinary expense (as defined in the credit agreement) must be a positive amount.
-
Our tangible net worth ("TNW") must remain an amount greater than $70 million plus 50% of the positive amounts of our quarterly net income for each fiscal quarter which ends after June 30, 2004. TNW is generally defined as our net shareholders' equity, minus intangible and certain other assets plus 100% of any cash we receive from the issuance of equity securities.
-
We may not enter into a merger or acquire another entity without the prior consent of our banks.
-
The annual amount of our net expenditures for property and equipment may not be more than $35 million after taking into account the amounts we receive from the sale of such assets.
    As of December 31, 2004, we were in compliance with all of our restrictive covenants and we project that our compliance will remain intact during 2005.
    Cash Flows: During 2004, 2003 and 2002 cash provided by operating activities was $40.5 million, $14.2 million and $9.4 million, respectively. As compared to 2003, factors contributing to the $26.4 million improvement in operating cash flows included 2004’s higher net income ($6.5 million), higher depreciation and amortization expense ($5.4 million), higher deferred income tax expense ($3.0 million), higher liability for accounts payable ($7.4 million) and 2004’s higher accrued payroll liability ($4.0 million).
Page 27 of 52

    For discussion of the changes in net income, depreciation, amortization and income taxes, please refer to “Results of Operations” within this item.
    The increase in accounts payable at year-end 2004 as compared to 2003 resulted primarily from the inclusion in accounts payable the liability for two significant accident claims, which were settled during December 2004 but which were paid during January and February 2005. Significantly higher per-gallon diesel fuel prices also impacted our accounts payable to fuel vendors at the end of 2004, as compared to 2003.
    Our increased liability for accrued payroll as of December 31, 2004 as compared to 2003 resulted primarily from a significant increase in the value of our deferred compensation and management incentive bonus programs, as compared to year-end 2003.
    Expenditures for property and equipment totaled $38.8 million in 2004, $31.1 million in 2003 and $24.3 million during 2002. Cash proceeds from the sale of retired equipment were $9.5 million, $9.3 million and $12.7 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition, we financed, through operating leases, the addition of revenue equipment valued at approximately $36 million in 2004, $57 million in 2003 and $37 million during 2002.
    Obligations and Commitments:  The table below sets forth information as to the amounts of our obligations and commitments as well as the year in which they will become due (in millions):
 
Payments Due by Year
 
Total
 
 
2005
 
 
2006
 
 
2007
 
 
2008
 
 
2009
 
 
After
2009
 
Debt and letters of credit
 
$
6.8
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
6.8
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
Purchase obligations
   
12.2
   
12.2
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Operating leases for
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Rentals
   
82.3
   
25.7
   
20.5
   
13.4
   
9.4
   
6.9
   
6.4
 
Residual guarantees
   
9.9
   
5.1
   
3.3
   
1.1
   
0.4
   
--
   
--
 
Accounts payable
   
32.0
   
32.0
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Accrued payroll
   
9.1
   
9.1
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
 
   
152.3
 
$
84.1
 
$
23.8
 
$
21.3
 
$
9.8
 
$
6.9
 
$
6.4
 
Deferred compensation
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Phantom stock (1)
   
1.9
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Rabbi trust (2)
   
2.0
       
   
   
   
   
 
Total
 
$
156.2
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

(1)  
Represents the current value of 147,000 restricted phantom stock units awarded pursuant to the company’s executive Bonus and Phantom Stock Plan and a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. An officer may elect to cash out any number of the phantom stock units between December 1 and December 15 of any year selected by the officer with the payout amount with respect to each phantom stock unit being generally equal to the greater of (i) the actual price of the company’s common stock on December 31 of the year of an officer’s election to cash out the unit, or (ii) the average of the 12 month-end values of such stock during the year in which an officer elects to cash out. Accordingly, we are unable to anticipate the year this currently unfunded obligation will be paid in cash or the amount of cash ultimately payable.
(2)  
Represents the obligations of a "grantor" (or "rabbi") trust established in connection with our 401(k) Wrap Plan to hold company assets to satisfy obligations under the Wrap Plan. The trust obligations include approximately 130,000 shares of the company’s common stock and will be cashed out either upon the eligibility of the obligations to be transferred to our 401(k) Savings Plan or upon the retirement of individual wrap plan participants. Accordingly, we are unable to anticipate the year this currently funded amount will be paid in cash or the amount of cash ultimately payable.


Page 28 of 52



As of December 31, 2004 our debt was $2.0 million and letters of credit issued by us for insurance purposes and to equipment leasing companies were $4.8 million.
As of December 31, 2004, we had contracts to purchase tractors and trailers totaling $ 12.2 million during 2005. We expect to lease many of those assets when they are placed into service.
We lease equipment and real estate. Rentals are due under non-cancelable operating leases for facilities, tractors and trailers. Our minimum lease payments and residual guarantees do not exceed 90% of the leased asset’s cost, the lease terms are for fewer years than 75% of the leased asset’s economic life, the leases do not convey ownership to us at the end of the term of the lease and the leases do not contain bargain purchase arrangements. Accordingly, the leases are accounted for as operating leases and rentals are recorded as rent expense over the term of the leases. 
Facility and trailer leases do not contain guaranteed residual values in favor of the lessors. Most of the tractors we leased prior to 2003 and many of the tractors we leased since 2002 are leased pursuant to agreements under which we have partially guaranteed the assets end-of lease-term residual value. Tractor leases entered into before 2003 typically have 36-month terms, and tractor leases entered into after 2002 have either 42 or 48-month terms. The portions of the residuals we have guaranteed vary from lessor to lessor. Gross residuals are between 40% and 55% of the leased asset’s historical cost, of which we have guaranteed the first 27% to 40% of the historical cost. The lessors remain at risk for between 13% and 15% of the remainder of such leased asset’s historical cost. Because our lease payments and residual guarantees do not exceed 90% of the tractor’s cost, the leases are accounted for as operating leases and rentals are recorded as rent expense over the term of the leases.
       Offsetting our lease residual guarantees, when our tractors were originally leased, the tractor manufacturer conditionally agreed to repurchase the tractors at the end of the term of the lease. Factors which may limit our ability to recover the amount of the residual guaranty from the manufacturer include specifications as to the physical condition of each tractor, their mechanical performance, each vehicles accumulated mileage, and whether or not we order replacement and additional vehicles from the same manufacturer. The price to be paid by the manufacturer is generally equal to the full amount of the lessor's residual. In addition to residual values, our tractor leases contain fair value purchase options. Our agreement with the tractor manufacturer enables but does not require us to sell the tractors back to the manufacturer at a future date, should we own them at such time, at a predetermined price. In order to avoid the administrative efforts necessary to return leased tractors to the lessor, we typically purchase such tractors from the lessor by paying the residual value and then sell the tractors to the manufacturer. There is no gain or loss on these transactions because the residual value we pay to the lessor is generally equal to the manufacturer’s purchase price.
At December 31, 2004, the amount of our obligations to lessors for residual guarantees did not exceed the amount we expect to recover from the manufacturer.
Most of our $12.2 million commitment to acquire equipment during 2005 relates to tractors. We expect to lease most of these tractors when they are placed into service. We also lease a significant portion of our company-operated trailers. Because trailer leases generally do not involve guaranteed residuals, the lessor is fully at risk for the end-of-term value of the asset.
Our lease commitments for 2005 and beyond include $6.9 million for rentals of tractors owned by two of our officers. Because the terms of these leases with such related parties are more flexible than those governing tractors we lease from unaffiliated lessors, we pay the related parties a premium over the rentals we pay to unaffiliated lessors.
Certain terms of our related-party leases are generally more flexible to us than are leases with unrelated parties. Examples of the more favorable terms include requirements as to insurance, financial covenants and restrictions, the ability to reassign tractors among our various operating fleets and the ability to retire leased assets prior to the maturity of the lease term.
For the last three years, we have also rented from the same officers 45 trailers on a month-to-month basis. The annual rentals we paid pursuant to these related-party trailer leases were approximately $400 thousand during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. Per reference to similar rental agreements in effect between ourselves and unrelated party trailer rental companies, as of December 31, 2004, the annual fair rental value of these trailers was approximately $200 thousand. Our audit committee has approved these transactions.
Depending upon the availability of qualified drivers and the level of customer demand for our services, we may add between 50 and 75 tractors to our company-operated fleet during 2005. In addition, approximately 350 of our oldest company-operated tractors are expected to be replaced during 2005. These expenditures will be financed with internally generated funds, borrowings under available credit agreements and leasing. We expect these sources of capital to be sufficient to finance our operations.

Page 29 of 52



    Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements: Our liquidity is not materially affected by off-balance sheet arrangements. Like many other trucking companies, we often utilize non-cancelable operating leases to finance a portion of our revenue equipment acquisitions. As of December 31, 2004, we leased 915 tractors and 2,203 trailers under operating leases with varying termination dates ranging from January 2005 to December 2011. Vehicles held under operating leases are not carried on our balance sheet, and lease payments for such vehicles are reflected in our income statements in the line item "Revenue equipment rent expense". Our rental expense related to operating leases involving vehicles during 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $31.3 million, $32.2 million and $30.7 million, respectively.
    Other: We own a life insurance policy with a death benefit of more than $20 million on the life of one of our founding shareholders. The insured is 90 years old. We paid annual premiums of $1.3 million during each of the eleven years ending in 2003. The policy's cash surrender value of $4.8 million as of December 31, 2004 is included in other assets on our balance sheet. In the event that a benefit becomes payable under the policy, we would record as income the difference between the benefit and the cash surrender value.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
    On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which is a revision of Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). SFAS No. 123R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and amends Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows”. Under SFAS No. 123R, companies must calculate and record in the income statement the cost of equity instruments, such as stock options, awarded to employees for services received. Pro forma disclosure is no longer permitted. The cost of the equity instruments is to be measured based on the fair value of the instruments on the date they are granted and is required to be recognized over the period during which the employees are required to provide services in exchange for the equity instruments. The statement is effective in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after June 15, 2005.
SFAS No. 123R provides two alternatives for adoption: (i) a modified prospective method in which compensation cost is recognized for all awards granted subsequent to the effective date of this statement as well as for the unvested portion of awards outstanding as of the effective date: or (ii) a modified retrospective method which permits entities to restate prior periods to record compensation cost calculated under SFAS No. 123 for the pro forma disclosure. We plan to adopt SFAS No. 123R using the modified prospective method.
Since we currently account for stock options granted to employees and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plans in accordance with the intrinsic value method permitted under APB Opinion No. 25, no compensation expense is currently recognized. If we continue to issue stock options to our employees, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R could have a significant impact on our results of operations, although it will have no impact on our overall financial position.
The impact of adopting SFAS No. 123R cannot be accurately estimated at this time, as it will depend on the market value and the amount of share-based awards granted in future periods. Had we adopted SFAS No. 123R in a prior period, the impact would approximate the impact of SFAS No. 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.
SFAS No. 123R also requires that tax benefits received by companies in excess of compensation cost be reclassified from operating cash flows to financing cash flows in statements of cash flows. This change in classification will reduce cash flows from operating activities and increase cash flows from financing activities in the periods after adoption. While the amount of this change cannot be estimated at this time, the amount of cash provided by operating activities from such stock-based compensation related tax deductions was $857,000 during 2004 and $168,000 during 2003. No such transactions occurred during 2002.

Page 30 of 52


ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
As of December 31, 2004, we held no market risk sensitive instruments for trading purposes.
For purposes other than trading, we held the following market risk sensitive instruments as of December 31, 2004:
 
Description
Discussion
Long-term debt, $2.0 million
The value of our debt at December 31, 2004 was $2.0 million, which approximates fair market value. Our debt is incurred pursuant to our credit agreement, which matures on May 30, 2007.
Rabbi Trust investment in 130,000 shares of our stock, $1.7 million
Our consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities of a Rabbi Trust established to hold the investments of participants in our 401 (k) Wrap Plan. Among such investments at December 31, 2004 were 130,000 shares of our common stock. To the extent that the trust assets are invested in our stock, our future compensation expense and income will be impacted by fluctuations in the market price of our stock.
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies, $6.7 million
The cash surrender value of our life insurance policies is a function of the amounts we pay to the insurance companies, the insurance charges taken by the insurance companies and the investment returns earned by or losses incurred by the insurance company. Changes in any of these factors will impact the cash surrender value of our life insurance policies. Insurance charges and investment performance have a proximate effect on the value of our life insurance assets and on our net income.

We had no other material market risk-sensitive instruments (for trading or non-trading purposes) that would involve significant relevant market risks, such as equity price risk. Accordingly, the potential loss in our future earnings resulting from changes in such market rates or prices is not significant.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
    The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Financial Statements
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003
 32
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
 33
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
 34
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
 35
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 35
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 44

    Financial statement schedules are omitted because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Page 31 of 52



(a) Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
2004 
 
 
2003 
 
Assets
         
  Current assets
         
    Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
3,142
 
$
1,396
 
    Accounts receivable, net
   
57,954
   
55,094
 
    Inventories
   
1,818
   
4,054
 
    Tires on equipment in use
   
5,157
   
5,657
 
    Deferred federal income tax
   
3,473
   
2,657
 
    Other current assets
   
9,103
   
7,464
 
        Total current assets
   
80,647
   
76,322
 
 
         
  Property and equipment, net
   
78,039
   
66,372
 
  Other assets
   
12,006
   
12,537
 
 
 
$
170,692
 
$
155,231
 
 
         
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
         
  Current liabilities
         
    Accounts payable
 
$
31,985
 
$
25,045
 
    Accrued claims
   
13,068
   
7,195
 
    Accrued payroll
   
9,070
   
4,105
 
    Accrued liabilities
   
2,147
   
2,907
 
        Total current liabilities
   
56,270
   
39,252
 
 
         
  Long-term debt
   
2,000
   
14,000
 
  Deferred federal income tax
   
8,551
   
2,878
 
  Accrued claims
   
6,825
   
15,047
 
 
   
73,646
   
71,177
 
 
         
Shareholders' equity
         
  Par value of common stock (17,653 and 17,281 shares issued)
   
26,480
   
25,921
 
  Capital in excess of par value
   
2,518
   
1,097
 
  Retained earnings
   
68,603
   
57,849
 
 
   
97,601
   
84,867
 
  Less - Treasury stock (130 and 195 shares), at cost
   
555
   
813
 
        Total shareholders' equity
   
97,046
   
84,054
 
 
 
$
170,692
 
$
155,231
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
****************************************************

Page 32 of 52



Consolidated Statements of Income
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Years ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)


 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Revenue
             
  Freight revenue
 
$
464,689
 
$
405,901
 
$
348,729
 
  Non-freight revenue
   
9,741
   
16,073
   
12,129
 
 
   
474,430
   
421,974
   
360,858
 
Costs and expenses
             
  Salaries, wages and related expenses
   
123,298
   
117,453
   
106,162
 
  Purchased transportation
   
125,860
   
107,246
   
84,650
 
  Fuel
   
60,124
   
47,451
   
40,441
 
  Supplies and expenses
   
56,488
   
47,672
   
43,430
 
  Revenue equipment rent
   
31,388
   
32,175
   
30,711
 
  Depreciation
   
19,899
   
14,529
   
13,374
 
  Communications and utilities
   
4,016
   
4,095
   
3,934
 
  Claims and insurance
   
18,056
   
14,739
   
14,938
 
  Operating taxes and licenses
   
4,544
   
3,985
   
4,168
 
  Gain on disposition of equipment
   
(2,184
)
 
(1,317
)
 
(1,505
)
  Miscellaneous expense
   
7,170
   
5,945
   
4,367
 
 
   
448,659
   
393,973
   
344,670
 
Non-freight costs and operating expenses
   
8,931
   
21,454
   
15,458
 
 
   
457,590
   
415,427
   
360,128
 
Income from operations
   
16,840
   
6,547
   
730
 
Interest and other (income) expense
   
(252
)
 
148
   
1,539
 
Income (loss) before income tax
   
17,092
   
6,399
   
(809
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
   
6,338
   
2,129
   
(3,985
)
Net income
 
$
10,754
 
$
4,270
 
$
3,176
 
Net income per share of common stock
             
  Basic
 
$
.62
 
$
.25
 
$
.19
 
  Diluted
 
$
.59
 
$
.24
 
$
.19
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
****************************************************

Page 33 of 52



Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Years ended December 31,
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
2004 
 
 
2003 
 
 
2002 
 
Cash flows from operating activities
   
   
   
 
Net income
 
$
10,754
 
$
4,270
 
$
3,176
 
  Non-cash items involved in net income
   
   
   
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
24,966
   
19,593
   
19,615
 
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
   
2,078
   
2,655
   
1,858
 
Deferred income tax
   
4,857
   
1,889
   
(15
)
Gain on disposition of equipment
   
(2,184
)
 
(1,317
)
 
(1,505
)
Provision for losses on inventory
   
91
   
2,385
   
1,903
 
Non-cash contributions to employee benefit plans
   
454
   
604
   
641
 
Non-cash investment income
   
(357
)
 
(288
)
 
(221
)
Income tax benefit of stock options exercised
   
857
   
168
   
-
 
Change in assets and liabilities, net of divestiture
   
   
   
 
  Accounts receivable
   
(4,938
)
 
(14,058
)
 
(6,997
)
  Inventories
   
2,145
   
585
   
(1,518
)
  Tires on equipment in use
   
(4,884
)
 
(5,523
)
 
(4,868
)
  Other current assets
   
(2,073
)
 
642
   
(3,429
)
  Accounts payable
   
6,072
   
1,659
   
1,432
 
  Accrued claims and liabilities
   
(2,349
)
 
(1,140
)
 
3,090
 
  Accrued payroll and other
   
5,044
   
2,045
   
(3,790
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
40,533
   
14,169
   
9,372
 
 
   
   
   
 
Cash flows from investing activities
   
   
   
 
Proceeds from divestiture
   
258
   
1,156
   
--
 
Expenditures for property and equipment
   
(38,794
)
 
(31,130
)
 
(24,334
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
   
9,522
   
9,326
   
12,745
 
Other
   
1,300
   
(886
)
 
(1,788
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(27,714
)
 
(21,534
)
 
(13,377
)
 
   
   
   
 
Cash flows from financing activities
   
   
   
 
Borrowings
   
43,000
   
47,200
   
40,700
 
Payments against borrowings
   
(55,000
)
 
(39,200
)
 
(36,700
)
Capital leases
   
--
   
(2,562
)
 
(370
)
Proceeds from capital stock transactions
   
2,062
   
480
   
--
 
Purchases of treasury stock
   
(1,135
)
 
(18
)
 
--
 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
   
(11,073
)
 
5,900
   
3,630
 
 
   
   
   
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
1,746
   
(1,465
)
 
(375
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
   
1,396
   
2,861
   
3,236
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
$
3,142
 
$
1,396
 
$
2,861
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
****************************************************

Page 34 of 52



Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Three Years Ended December 31, 2004
(in thousands)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Capital In
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par
 
Excess
 
Retained
 
Treasury Stock
 
 
 
 
 
Issued
 
Value
 
of Par
 
Earnings
 
Shares
 
Cost
 
Total
 
December 31, 2001
   
17,281
 
$
25,921
 
$
3,753
 
$
50,403
   
845
 
$
5,501
 
$
74,576
 
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
3,176
   
--
   
--
   
3,176
 
Treasury stock reissued
   
--
   
--
   
(1,184
)
 
--
   
(258
)
 
(1,982
)
 
798
 
December 31, 2002
   
17,281
   
25,921
   
2,569
   
53,579
   
587
   
3,519
   
78,550
 
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
4,270
   
--
   
--
   
4,270
 
Treasury stock reacquired
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
5
   
18
   
(18
)
Treasury stock reissued
   
--
   
--
   
(719
)
 
--
   
(206
)
 
(1,323
)
 
604
 
Exercise of stock options
   
--
   
--
   
(921
)
 
--
   
(191
)
 
(1,401
)
 
480
 
Income tax benefit of stock options exercised
   
--
   
--
   
168
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
168
 
December 31, 2003
   
17,281
   
25,921
   
1,097
   
57,849
   
195
   
813
   
84,054
 
Net income
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
10,754
   
--
   
--
   
10,754
 
Treasury stock reacquired
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
167
   
1,243
   
(1,243
)
Treasury stock reissued
   
--
   
--
   
37
   
--
   
(102
)
 
(525
)
 
562
 
Exercise of stock options
   
372
   
559
   
527
   
--
   
(130
)
 
(976
)
 
2,062
 
Income tax benefit of stock options exercised
   
--
   
--
   
857
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
857
 
December 31, 2004
   
17,653
 
$
26,480
 
$
2,518
 
$
68,603
   
130
 
$
555
 
$
97,046
 


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
***************************************************

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
    Principles of Consolidation - These consolidated financial statements include Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation, and our subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. We are primarily engaged in motor carrier transportation of perishable commodities, providing service for full-truckload and less-than-truckload throughout North America. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
    Accounting Estimates - The preparation of financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the value of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Estimates and assumptions also influence the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual outcomes may vary from these estimates and assumptions.
    Cash Equivalents - We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.
    Accounts Receivable - We extend trade credit to our customers who are primarily located in the United States. Accounts receivable from customers are stated net of estimated allowances for doubtful accounts of $3.0 million and $3.2 million as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. We generally write off receivables that become aged more than 360 days from the date we recognized the revenue.
    Inventories - - Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (principally weighted average cost) or market and primarily consist of finished products which are ready for resale by our non-freight operation. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, we recorded lower of cost or market write-downs of our inventories aggregating $0.1 million, $2.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Page 35 of 52



    Tires - - We record the cost of tires purchased with vehicles and replacement tires as a current asset. Tires are then recorded to expense on a per-mile basis. The number of miles over which a tire is amortized depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the type of tire involved (recap or original tread) and the position of the tire (steering, tractor drive, axle or trailer). Steering tires tend to be shorter-lived (75,000 to 100,000 miles) than do original tread drive-axle (100,000 to 150,000 miles) or original tread trailer tires (125,000 to 150,000 miles). Recaps generally have a service life of about two-thirds as many miles as the similarly-positioned original tread tires. For safety reasons, we do not utilize recaps as steering tires.
    Accrued Claims - We record an expense equal to our estimate of our liability for personal or work-related injury and cargo claims at the time an event occurs. If additional information becomes available, we then determine whether our estimate should be revised.
Revenue and Expense Recognition - Freight revenue and associated direct operating expenses are recognized on the date the freight is picked up from the shipper in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 91-9 “Revenue and Expense Recognition for Freight Services in Progress” (“EITF No. 91-9”).
One of the preferable methods outlined in EITF No 91-9 provides for the allocation of revenue between reporting periods based on relative transit time in each reporting period with expense recognized as incurred. Changing to this method would not have a material impact on our quarterly or annual financial statements.
We are the sole obligor with respect to the performance of our freight services and we assume all of the related credit risk. Accordingly, our freight revenue and our related direct expenses are recognized on a gross basis. Payments we make to independent contractors and others for the use of their trucks in transporting freight are typically calculated based on the gross revenue generated by their trucks. Such payments to independent contractors and others are recorded as purchased transportation expense.
In our non-freight operations, we recognize revenue when products are shipped to our customers.
    Income Taxes - - We use the asset and liability method to account for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts and are valued based upon statutory tax rates anticipated to be in effect when temporary differences are expected to reverse.
    Long-Lived Assets - We periodically evaluate whether the remaining useful life of our long-lived assets may require revision or whether the remaining unamortized balance is recoverable. When factors indicate that an asset should be evaluated for possible impairment, we use an estimate of the asset's undiscounted cash flow in evaluating whether an impairment exists. If an impairment exists, the asset is written down to net realizable value.
    Included in other noncurrent assets is the cash surrender value of life insurance policies and related investments, among which is a policy we own with a cash surrender value of $4.8 million and a death benefit of more than $20 million insuring the life of one of our founding shareholders.
    Prior Period Amounts -  Our freight brokerage provides freight transportation services to customers using third-party trucking companies. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2004, we had reported freight brokerage’s revenue net of the purchased transportation expense paid to such third parties. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004, we revised amounts previously reported by reclassifying the related purchased transportation expense as an operating expense for all prior periods. The reclassification, which increased freight revenue and operating expenses by $12.7 million and $6.2 million for 2003 and 2002, respectively, had no impact on the amount of, or the trends displayed regarding, our operating income, net income, cash flows, or financial position for any period. Certain other prior period amounts have also been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

Page 36 of 52


    Stock-Based Compensation - We apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations to account for our stock options. Accordingly, no expense has been recognized for stock option grants to employees. Had we elected to apply FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123 to account for our stock options, our net income and diluted net income per share of common stock for 2004, 2003 and 2002 would have been as follows:

Pro Forma Impact on
Net Income (in millions)
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
As reported
 
$
10.8
 
$
4.3
 
$
3.2
 
Impact of SFAS No. 123
   
(0.7
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.7
)
 
 
$
10.1
 
$
4.0
 
$
2.5
 
 
Pro Forma Impact on
Basic Net Income per share
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
As reported
 
$
.62
 
$
.25
 
$
.19
 
Impact of SFAS No. 123
   
(.03
)
 
(.02
)
 
(.05
)
 
 
$
.59
 
$
.23
 
$
.14
 

Pro Forma Impact on
Diluted Net Income per share
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
 
2002
 
As reported
 
$
.59
 
$
.24
 
$
.19
 
Impact of SFAS No. 123
   
(.03
)
 
(.02
)
 
(.05
)
 
 
$
.56
 
$
.22
 
$
.14
 

    In calculating the above amounts, we assumed that expenses from employee stock options would accrue over each option's vesting period. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
3.61
%
 
4.12
%
 
4.88
%
Dividend yield
   
-
   
--
   
--
 
Volatility factor
   
.445
   
.404
   
.464
 
Expected life (years)
   
4.0
   
7.0
   
7.0
 

    The Black-Scholes model uses highly subjective assumptions. This model was developed for use in estimating the value of options that have no restrictions on vesting or transfer. Our stock options have such restrictions. Therefore, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of our stock options.
2. Accounts Receivable
    Our accounts receivable are shown net of our estimate of accounts that will not be paid by our customers. A summary of the activity in our allowance for such doubtful accounts receivable from customers is as follows (in millions):

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Balance at January 1
 
$
3.2
 
$
2.2
 
$
4.3
 
Current year provision
   
2.1
   
2.7
   
1.9
 
Accounts charged off and other
   
(2.3
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(4.0
)
Balance at December 31
 
$
3.0
 
$
3.2
 
$
2.2
 


Page 37 of 52

 
    We generally base the amount of our reserve upon the age (in months) of our receivables from a specific customer. When we determine that it is probable that we will not be paid for an outstanding invoice, we charge the invoice against our allowance for doubtful accounts.
3. Property and Equipment
    We calculate our depreciation expense using the straight-line method. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Property and equipment is shown at historical cost and consists of the following as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 (dollar amounts in thousands):

 
 
 
 
Estimated
 
 
     
Useful Life
 
   
2004
 
 2003
 
(Years)
 
Land
 
$
4,025
 
$
4,036
   
--
 
Buildings and improvements
   
16,851
   
17,081
   
20 - 30
 
Revenue equipment
   
91,072
   
70,316
   
2 - 10
 
Service equipment
   
14,887
   
16,586
   
2 - 20
 
Computer, software and related equipment
   
23,474
   
22,776
   
3 - 12
 
 
   
150,309
   
130,795
     
Less accumulated depreciation
   
72,270
   
64,423
     
 
 
$
78,039
 
$
66,372
     

    For many years, we had based all of our trailer depreciation on a seven-year replacement cycle. Based on the results of a study we completed during 2003, beginning in the last three months of 2003, we increased our replacement cycle for owned non-refrigerated trailers from seven to ten years. This change reduced our 2004 and 2003 depreciation expense by about $300,000 and $150,000, respectively, from what would have otherwise been reported. Our 2003 diluted per-share earnings were not impacted by the change, but our 2004 diluted earnings per share would have been reduced by $0.01 had we not made this change.
4. Long-Term Debt
    As of December 31, 2004, we had a $50 million secured line of credit pursuant to a revolving credit agreement with two commercial banks. Interest is due monthly. We may elect to borrow at a daily interest rate based on the bank's prime rate or for specified periods of time at fixed interest rates which are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate in effect at the time of a fixed rate borrowing. At December 31, 2004, $2.0 million was borrowed against this facility, and an additional $4.8 million was being used as collateral for letters of credit. Accordingly, approximately $43.2 million was available under the agreement. To the extent that the line of credit is not used for borrowings or letters of credit, we pay a commitment fee to the banks.
    Loans may be secured by liens against our inventory, trade accounts receivable and over-the-road trucking equipment. The agreement also contains a pricing "grid" where increased levels of profitability and cash flows or reduced levels of indebtedness can reduce the rates of interest expense we incur. The agreement restricts, among other things, payments of cash dividends, repurchases of our stock and our capital expenditures. The amount we may borrow under the facility may not exceed the lesser of $50 million, as adjusted for letters of credit and other debt as defined in the agreement, a borrowing base or a multiple of a measure of cash flow as described in the agreement. The agreement expires on June 1, 2007, at which time loans and letters of credit will become due. As of December 31, 2004, we were in compliance with the terms of the agreement.
    Total interest payments under the credit line during 2004 were approximately $375,000. Such interest payments were approximately $500,000 during both 2003 and 2002. The weighted average interest rate we incurred on our debt during 2004 and 2003 was 3.8% and 3.5%, respectively.

Page 38 of 52



5. Income Taxes
    Our income tax provision (benefit) consists of the following (in thousands):

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Current provision (benefit)
             
    Federal
 
$
1,630
 
$
--
 
$
(3,960
)
    State
   
95
   
240
   
(10
)
Deferred provision (benefit)
           
 
Federal
   
4,322
   
1,889
   
(15
)
State
   
291
   
--
   
--
 
Total provision (benefit)
 
$
6,338
 
$
2,129
 
$
(3,985
)
 
    State income tax is presented net of the related federal tax benefit. During 2004, we paid federal and state income taxes of $2.2 million. We paid no federal income tax during 2003 or 2002. Realization of our deferred tax assets depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income in the future. We anticipate that we will be able to realize our deferred tax assets in future years. Changes between December 31, 2003 and 2004 in the primary components of the net deferred tax asset or (liability) were (in thousands):

 
 
2003
 
Activity
 
2004
 
Deferred tax assets
             
   Accrued claims
 
$
7,232
 
$
(11
)
$
7,221
 
   Net operating loss
   
1,818
   
(1,818
)
 
--
 
   Allowance for bad debts
   
1,225
   
(132
)
 
1,093
 
   Other
   
1,959
   
191
   
2,150
 
 
   
12,234
   
(1,770
)
 
10,464
 
  
             
Deferred tax liabilities
             
Prepaid expense
   
(2,488
)
 
827
   
(1,661
)
Property and equipment
   
(9,967
)
 
(3,914
)
 
(13,881
)
 
   
(12,455
)
 
(3,087
)
 
(15,542
)
 
 
$
(221
)
$
(4,857
)
$
(5,078
)

    Differences between the statutory federal income tax provision (benefit) are as follows (in thousands):

 
 
2004
 
2003 
 
2002 
 
Income tax provision (benefit) at statutory federal rate
 
$
5,982
 
$
2,240
 
$
(283
)
Non-taxable life insurance (income) expense
   
(282
)
 
(308
)
 
242
 
Reversal of reserve for taxes
   
--
   
--
   
(3,960
)
State income taxes and other
   
638
   
197
   
16
 
 
 
$
6,338
 
$
2,129
 
$
(3,985
)

    For 2002, we reported a benefit from income taxes of $4.0 million. In certain prior years, we recorded income tax deductions for interest paid on loans against insurance policies as allowed under the United States federal tax laws. Due to the uncertainty of such deductions, we maintained a $4.0 million reserve for the contingent expense that could have resulted from any related tax assessments. During 2002, the risk of a tax assessment had ended, and the reserve for any related expense was no longer required. We therefore reversed the amount of the reserve as a non-recurring reduction of our income tax expense.

Page 39 of 52



6. Commitments and Contingencies
       We lease real estate and equipment. The aggregate future minimum rentals under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2004 were (in millions):

 
 
Third
Parties
 
Related
Parties
 
 
Total
 
2005
 
$
23.8
 
$
1.9
 
$
25.7
 
2006
   
18.7
   
1.8
   
20.5
 
2007
   
11.9
   
1.5
   
13.4
 
2008
   
8.2
   
1.2
   
9.4
 
2009
   
6.4
   
0.5
   
6.9
 
After 2009
   
6.4
   
--
   
6.4
 
Total
 
$
75.4
 
$
6.9
 
$
82.3
 
 
    Rentals are due under non-cancelable operating leases for facilities, tractors and trailers. Facility and trailer leases do not contain guaranteed residual values in favor of the lessors. Most of the tractors we leased prior to 2003 and many of the tractors we leased since 2002 are leased pursuant to agreements under which we have partially guaranteed the assets end-of-term residual value. Tractor leases entered into before 2003 typically have 36-month terms, and tractor leases entered into after 2002 have either 42 or 48-month terms. The portions of the residuals we have guaranteed vary among lessors. Gross residuals are between 40% and 55% of the leased asset’s historical cost, of which we have guaranteed the first 27% to 40% of the historical cost. The lessors remain at risk for between 13% and 15% of the remainder of such leased asset’s historical cost. Because our lease payments and residual guarantees do not exceed 90% of the tractor’s cost, the leases are accounted for as operating leases and rentals are recorded as rent expense over the term of the leases.
    As of December 31, 2004, we had partially guaranteed the residual value of certain leased tractors totaling $9.9 million pursuant to leases with remaining lease terms that range from one month to three years. Our estimates of the fair market values of such tractors exceed the guaranteed values. Consequently, no provision has been made for any losses related to such guarantees. Although such guarantees are fully recoverable from their manufacturer to the extent that additional and replacement tractors are purchased from the same supplier as the related tractors, we have not considered such future recoverability in our evaluation of the market value of the tractors for which we have guaranteed residuals to the lessors involved. Factors which may limit our ability to recover the amount of the residual guaranty from the manufacturer include specifications as to the physical condition of each tractor, their mechanical performance, each vehicles accumulated mileage, and whether or not we order replacement and additional vehicles from the same manufacturer.
    Related parties involve tractors leased from two of our officers under non-cancelable operating leases. Because the terms of our leases with related parties are more flexible than those involving tractors we lease from unaffiliated lessors, we pay the officers a premium over the rentals we pay to unaffiliated lessors. Of the 915 tractors we were leasing as of December 31, 2004, 111 were leased from related parties. The average monthly rent per tractor leased from related parties was 8.5% higher than such rentals for tractors we leased from unrelated parties as of December 31, 2004. For 2004, 2003 and 2002, payments to officers under these leases were $1.8 million, $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively. On average, as of December 31, 2004, the annualized cost of such related party tractor leases was approximately $150 thousand more than it would have been had the assets been leased from unrelated parties.
    For the last three years, we have also rented from the same officers 45 trailers on a month-to-month basis. The annual rentals we paid pursuant to these related-party trailer leases were approximately $400 thousand during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. Per reference to similar rental agreements in effect between ourselves and unrelated party trailer rental companies, as of December 31, 2004, the annual fair rental value of these trailers was approximately $200 thousand. Our audit committee has approved these transactions.
    At December 31, 2004, we had commitments of approximately $12.2 million for the expected purchase of revenue equipment during 2005. We will determine whether or not to lease those assets at the time they are placed into service.

Page 40 of 52


     Included in current and noncurrent accrued claims are estimated costs related to public liability, cargo and work-related injury claims. When an incident occurs we record a reserve for the incident's estimated outcome. As additional information becomes available, adjustments are often made. Accrued claims liabilities include all such reserves and our estimate for incidents which have been incurred but not reported. It is probable that the estimate we have accrued for at any point in time will change. At December 31, 2004, we had established $4.8 million of irrevocable letters of credit in favor of service providers and pursuant to certain insurance and leasing agreements.
    During 2004, we engaged for the first time the services of independent actuaries to help us improve the process by which we estimate the amount of our claims reserves. Such estimates address the amount of the claims’ settlements as well as legal and other fees associated with attaining such settlements. As a result of the actuarial studies during 2004, we increased our reserves for such claims by approximately $1.5 million.
7. Non-cash Financing and Investing Activities
    During 2004, 2003 and 2002, we funded contributions to a SERP and our 401(k) Savings Plan by transferring approximately 102,000, 181,000 and 276,000 shares, respectively, of treasury stock to the Plan trustees. We recorded expense for the fair market value of the shares, which at the time of the contributions, was $454,000 for 2004, $604,000 for 2003 and $641,000 for 2002.
    During 2004, two non-executive officers of our primary operating subsidiary exchanged shares of common stock, which they had owned for more than one year as consideration for the exercise of stock options, as permitted by our stock option plans. The value of the shares exchanged was $108,000.    
    During 2002, we entered into capital lease agreements in connection with some of our trucks valued at $3 million, of which we had paid $0.4 million as of December 31, 2002. The remainder was paid during 2003. Since 2002, we engaged in no capital lease transactions.
    As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, other current assets included $259,000 and $552,000, respectively, from the sale of equipment retired and sold in those years and accounts payable included $1,286,000 and $1,457,000, respectively, related to capital expenditures.
    During 2001, we sold W&B Refrigeration Service Company, the largest component of our non-freight business. In addition to $6.8 million cash the buyer paid us, the buyer executed a note payable to us for $4.1 million and assumed liabilities of the business amounting to $2.8 million. The buyer repaid $1.0 million of the note to us in cash during December 2003. We continue to own a 19.9% share of the business. We account for our investment in the buyer by the equity method. The amount of that investment, which is included in other assets on our balance sheet, was $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2004 and 2003. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, our equity in the earnings of the buyer was $357,000, $288,000 and $221,000, respectively. These amounts are included in miscellaneous non-operating income in our statements of income. Cash distributions to us from the buyer’s earnings were $258,000 for 2004 and $156,000 for 2003. We received no such cash distributions during 2002.
8. Shareholders' Equity
    Since before 2002 there have been authorized 40 million shares of our $1.50 par value common stock.
    Our stock option plans provide that options may be granted to officers and employees at our stock's fair market value on the date of grant and to our non-employee directors at the greater of $1.50 or 50% of the market value at date of grant. Options may be granted for 10 years following plan adoption. Options generally vest after one year and expire 10 years after a grant. During 2002, our shareholders adopted our 2002 Incentive and Non-Statutory Option Plan and reserved 850,000 shares of our common stock for issuances under that plan. During 2004, our shareholders approved a resolution to increase the number of such reserved shares to 1.7 million.

Page 41 of 52


    The following tables summarize information regarding stock options for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in thousands, except price and periodic amounts): 

 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Options outstanding at beginning of year
   
3,038
   
2,873
   
2,416
 
Cancelled
   
(78
)
 
(120
)
 
(391
)
Granted
   
572
   
476
   
848
 
Exercised
   
(502
)
 
(191
)
 
--
 
Options outstanding at end of year
   
3,030
   
3,038
   
2,873
 
 
             
Exercisable options
   
2,342
   
2,151
   
1,262
 
Year-end weighted average remaining life of options (years)
   
6.0
   
6.4
   
7.0
 
Options available for future grants
   
702
   
415
   
871
 
Expense from director stock options
 
$
40
 
$
18
 
$
10
 
Weighted average price of options:
             
    Cancelled during year
 
$
8.24
 
$
7.04
 
$
7.14
 
    Granted during year
 
$
6.62
 
$
2.34
 
$
2.07
 
    Exercised during year
 
$
4.07
 
$
2.51
 
$
--
 
    Outstanding at end of year
 
$
5.12
 
$
4.74
 
$
5.09
 
    Exercisable at end of year
 
$
4.58
 
$
4.51
 
$
4.77
 

    The range of prices and certain other information about our stock options as of December 31, 2004 is presented in the following table:
 
 
 
       Options Priced Between
 
For all options
 
 $1.50-
$5.00
 
 $5.01-
$8.00
 
$8.01-
$12.00
 
 Total
 
Number of options outstanding (in thousands)
   
1,508
   
897
   
625
   
3,030
 
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
   
6.7
   
7.1
   
2.8
   
6.0
 
Weighted average exercise price
 
$
2.48
 
$
6.72
 
$
9.22
 
$
5.12
 
For exercisable options only
                   
Number of exercisable options (in thousands)
   
1,494
   
295
   
553
   
2,342
 
Weighted average exercise price
 
$
2.48
 
$
6.64
 
$
9.14
 
$
4.58
 

    We sponsor a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") for the benefit of certain "highly compensated" personnel (as determined in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974). The SERP's investment income, assets and liabilities which are contained in a rabbi trust, are included in our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2004, there were 130,000 shares remaining in the trust. Consistent with the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issue 97-14, the shares of our common stock held in a rabbi trust are accounted for as treasury stock until SERP participants elect to liquidate the stock. During 2004, SERP participants liquidated 43,000 shares from the rabbi trust.
    We have in place a rights agreement that authorizes a distribution to our shareholders of one common stock purchase right for each outstanding share of our common stock. Rights become exercisable if certain events generally relating to a change of control occur. Rights initially have an exercise price of $11.00. If such events occur, the rights will be exercisable for a number of shares having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the rights. We may redeem the rights for $.001 each. The rights will expire in 2010, but the rights agreement is subject to review every three years by an independent committee of our Board of Directors.
9. Savings Plan
    We sponsor retirement plans for our employees. Our contributions to the plans are determined by reference to voluntary contributions made by each of our employees. Additional contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. During each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, we have made our contributions with shares of our treasury stock. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, we contributed 102,000, 132,000 and 201,000 shares of our treasury stock valued at $454,000, $441,000 and $468,000 to the plans.

Page 42 of 52


10. Net Income Per Share of Common Stock
    Our basic net income per share was computed by dividing our net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. The table below sets forth information regarding weighted average basic and diluted shares for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in thousands):

Weighted average number of
   
2004
   
2003
   
2002
 
Basic shares
   
17,219
   
16,829
   
16,576
 
Common stock equivalents (“CSEs”)
   
905
   
1,010
   
162
 
Diluted shares
   
18,124
   
17,839
   
16,738
 
Antidilutive shares excluded
   
467
   
1,255
   
2,135
 

    All CSEs result from stock options. For each year we excluded antidilutive shares from our calculation of CSEs because their exercise prices exceeded the market price of our stock, which would have caused further anti-dilution.
11. Operating Segments
    We have two reportable operating segments. The larger segment consists of our motor carrier operations, which are conducted in a number of divisions and subsidiaries, and which are similar in nature. We report all motor carrier operations as one segment.
    Our non-freight segment, of which we own 100%, engages in the sale and service of air conditioning and refrigeration components. Presented below is financial information regarding our operating segments for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 (in millions):
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Freight operations
   
         
Total revenue
 
$
464.7
 
$
405.9
 
$
348.7
 
Operating income
   
16.0
   
11.9
   
4.1
 
Total assets
   
173.9
   
157.9
   
136.6
 
Non-freight operations
   
         
Total revenue
 
$
9.7
 
$
16.1
 
$
12.1
 
Operating income (loss)
   
0.8
   
(5.4
)
 
(3.3
)
Total assets
   
11.5
   
12.8
   
18.2
 
Intercompany eliminations
   
         
Revenue
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
Total assets
   
(14.7
)
 
(15.5
)
 
(17.4
)
Consolidated
   
         
Revenue    
 
$
474.4
 
$
422.0
 
$
360.8
 
Operating income
   
16.8
   
6.5
   
0.8
 
Total assets
   
170.7
   
155.2
   
137.4
 
****************************************************

Page 43 of 52


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 21, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting because of the existence of material weaknesses.
 
/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
March 21, 2005
 

 

Page 44 of 52


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.:
 

We have audited Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, appearing under item 9A(b), that Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, because of the effect of the material weaknesses identified in management's assessment based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management's assessment as of December 31, 2004:

a)  
As of December 31, 2004, the Company’s control activity, which intended to reconcile differences between the book and tax bases of each component of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet with amounts recorded as deferred tax assets and liabilities, was not operating effectively. Proper execution of this control activity served to ensure that deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the corresponding income tax expense, are properly recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As a result of this deficiency, errors in accounting for income taxes were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
b)  
Second, management’s review of certain year-end accruals was not effective as of December 31, 2004. Specifically, this review did not identify two accrual accounts that were not adequately supported by sufficient and appropriate documentation. As a result, errors in the accounting for accrued liabilities and operating expenses were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
c)  
Third, the Company’s control to ensure the accurate disclosure of operating lease commitments in the footnotes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements was not operating effectively as of December 31, 2004. As a result, errors in the footnote disclosure of lease commitments were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.

Page 45 of 52



We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. These material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2004 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 21, 2005, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. 
In our opinion, management's assessment that Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

/s/ KPMG LLP


Dallas, Texas
March 21, 2005

Page 46 of 52




Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
 
    Information regarding our quarterly financial performance is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
2004
 
 
Year
 
 
First Quarter
 
 
Second Quarter
 
 
Third Quarter
 
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Revenue
 
$
474,430
 
$
108,931
 
$
118,138
 
$
123,121
 
$
124,240
 
Income from operations
   
16,840
   
3,290
   
5,019
   
4,817
   
3,714
 
Net income
   
10,754
   
1,940
   
3,492
   
3,520
   
1,802
 
Net income per share of common stock
                     
Basic
 
$
.62
 
$
.11
 
$
.20
 
$
.20
 
$
.10
 
Diluted
 
$
.59
 
$
.11
 
$
.19
 
$
.20
 
$
.10
 
2003
   
Year
 
 
First Quarter
 
 
Second Quarter
 
 
Third Quarter
 
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Revenue
 
$
421,974
 
$
94,364
 
$
106,561
 
$
111,962
 
$
109,087
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
6,547
   
(518
)
 
2,363
   
3,516
   
1,186
 
Net income (loss)
   
4,270
   
(668
)
 
2,547
   
1,705
   
686
 
Net income (loss) per share of common stock
         
 
         
Basic
 
$
.25
 
$
(.04
)
$
.15
 
$
.10
 
$
.04
 
Diluted
 
$
.24
 
$
(.04
)
$
.15
 
$
.10
 
$
.04
 
                Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentations.

    Net income (loss) per share of common stock is computed independently for each quarter presented and is based on the average number of common and equivalent shares for the quarter. The computation of common equivalent shares is affected by changes in the market price of the company's stock. The sum of the quarterly net income per share of common stock in a year may not equal the total for the year, primarily due to changes in the price of the company's stock during the year.
During the fourth quarter of 2003, we recorded lower of cost or market write-downs of inventories owned by our non-freight subsidiary of $2.4 million.
ITEM 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
    None.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.
    (a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures: As of the end of the period covered by this report, we evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and the operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2004, because of the material weaknesses discussed below.
    (b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting: Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004.  In making this assessment, our management used criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework
    As a result of this assessment, management identified three deficiencies that individually constitute material weaknesses as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Accounting Standard No. 2. These material weaknesses are as follows:

Page 47 of 52



(i)  
As of December 31, 2004, the Company’s control activity, which intended to reconcile differences between the book and tax bases of each component of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet with amounts recorded as deferred tax assets and liabilities, was not operating effectively. Proper execution of this control activity served to ensure that deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the corresponding income tax expense, are properly recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As a result of this deficiency, errors in accounting for income taxes were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
(ii)  
Second, management’s review of certain year-end accruals was not effective as of December 31, 2004. Specifically, this review did not identify two accrual accounts that were not adequately supported by sufficient and appropriate documentation. As a result, errors in the accounting for accrued liabilities and operating expenses were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
(iii)  
Third, the Company’s control to ensure the accurate disclosure of operating lease commitments in the footnotes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements was not operating effectively as of December 31, 2004. As a result, errors in the footnote disclosure of lease commitments were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
 
    Because of the material weaknesses described above, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2004, our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective. KPMG LLP has issued an attestation report on our management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.
    (c) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting:  As part of our ongoing analysis of internal controls over financial reporting and the issues identified above, management has made and is making changes to our internal controls. These changes include recruiting to increase staffing in certain areas of the financial organization, redeploying key personnel, strengthening of controls over the accounting for certain accounting estimates, formalizing accounting procedures, establishing additional monitoring controls, and the retaining of an independent accounting firm to assist with the income tax preparation and controls. Other than the changes discussed above, there have been no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred since the beginning of the Company’s fourth quarter of 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. Other Information.
    None.
ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
    In accordance with General Instruction G to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference from the portion of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2005, appearing under the captions "Nominees for Directors" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance". We adopted our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which is attached as exhibit 14.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.
    In accordance with General Instruction G to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference from the portions of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2005, appearing under the captions "Executive Compensation" and "Transactions with Management and Directors".

Page 48 of 52

 
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
    The following table provides information concerning all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004. Specifically, the number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding options, warrants and rights and the exercise price thereof, as well as the number (in thousands) of shares of common stock available for issuance under all of our equity compensation plans.


 
 
 
No. of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(a)
 
Weighted average
exercise price
of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b)
 
 
No. of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in Column A)
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
   
2,252
 
$
3.82
   
702
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
   
778
 
$
8.88
   
---
 
Total
   
3,030
 
$
5.12
   
702
 
 
    Pursuant to our Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") we issued non-qualified stock options to substantially all of our employees (except officers) in 1997, 1998 and 1999. All grants under the Plan were at market value on the date of the grant and generally do not vest for five years following the grant at which time they are 60% vested and are 100% vested after seven years. As of December 31, 2004, there were 778,000 options outstanding under the Plan of which 651,000 were exercisable. Because our officers did not participate in the Plan, no shareholder notification of the Plan was required. As of December 31, 2004, the weighted average exercise price of options outstanding under the Plan was $8.88. The Plan terminated on July 1, 2001 and no additional grants are permitted under the Plan.
We have change in control agreements with our executive officers. Pursuant to those agreements, in the event of a change in control (as defined therein), all unvested stock options held by these officers would become immediately and fully vested.
In accordance with General Instruction G to Form 10-K, the remainder of the information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference from the portions of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2005, appearing under the captions "Outstanding Capital Stock; Principal Shareholders" and "Nominees for Directors".
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
    In accordance with General Instruction G to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference from the portions of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2005, appearing under the captions "Nominees for Directors", "Transactions with Management and Directors" and "Executive Compensation".
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
    In accordance with General Instruction G to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference from the portion of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 5, 2005 appearing under the caption "Independent Public Accountants".
ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:
       (1) The financial statements listed in the index to financial statements set forth above in Item 8 are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
       (2) Financial statement schedules are omitted because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Page 49 of 52


       (3) Exhibits

 
3.1
Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant and all amendments to date (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December, 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2
Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended (filed herewith).
4.2
Rights Agreement dated as of June 14, 2000, between the Registrant and Fleet National Bank, which includes as exhibits, the form of the Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Form 8-A Registration Statement filed on June 19, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1*
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant's Registration Statement #033-59465 as filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1(a)*
First Amendment to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (filed herewith).
10.1 (b)*
Second Amendment to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (filed herewith).
10.1 (c)*
Third Amendment to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (filed herewith).
10.1 (d)  Form of Stock Option Agrement for Use in Conncetion with the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (filed herewith).
10.2
Credit Agreement among Comerica Bank-Texas as administrative agent for itself and other banks, LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent and syndication agent for itself and other banks and FFE Transportation Services, Inc. as Borrower and certain of its affiliates as of May 30, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2 (a)
First Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Comerica Bank-Texas as administrative agent for itself and other banks, LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent and syndication agent for itself and other banks and FFE Transportation Services, Inc. as Borrower and certain of its affiliates as of May 30, 2002(filed as exhibit 10.2 (a) to registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2 (b)
Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Comerica Bank-Texas as administrative agent for itself and other banks, LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent and syndication agent for itself and other banks and FFE Transportation Services, Inc. as Borrower and certain of its affiliates as of May 30, 2002 (filed as exhibit 10.1 to registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2 (c)
Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Comerica Bank-Texas as administrative agent for itself and other banks, LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent and syndication agent for itself and other banks and FFE Transportation Services, Inc. as Borrower and certain of its affiliates as of May 30, 2002 (filed as exhibit 10.1 (a) to registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3*
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., 1992 Incentive and Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant's Registration Statement #33-48494 as filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 (a) *
Amendment No. 1 to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1992 Incentive and Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-38133 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 (b)*
Amendment No. 2 to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1992 Incentive and Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-38133 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 (c)*
Amendment No. 3 to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1992 Incentive and Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.6 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-87913 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 (d)*
Form of Stock Option Agreement for use in connection with the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1992 Incentive and Stock Option Plan (filed herewith).
10.4*
FFE Transportation Services, Inc. 1994 Incentive Bonus Plan, as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.5*
FFE Transportation Services, Inc. 1999 Executive Bonus and Phantom Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.6*
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.6 (a)*
First Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

Page 50 of 52

10.6 (b)*
Second Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed herewith).
10.6 (c)*
Third Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed herewith).
10.6 (d)*
Fourth Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed herewith).
10.6 (e)*
Fifth Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (filed herewith).
10.7
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-21831 as filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by reference).
10.7 (a)
Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-52701 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.8*
FFE Transportation Services, Inc. 401(k) Wrap Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant's Registration Statement #333-56248 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.8 (a)*
Amendment No. 1 to FFE Transportation Services, Inc. 401(K) Wrap Plan (filed as exhibit 10.8 (a) to registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.9*
Form of Change in Control Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant's Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 28, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10*
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 2002 Incentive and Non-statutory Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002).
10.10 (a)*
First Amendment to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 2002 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (filed as exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Registration statement #333-06696 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10 (b)*
Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 2002 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (filed herewith).
10.11*
Split Dollar Agreement between Registrant and Stoney Russell Stubbs, as Trustee of the Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (filed herewith).
10.11 (a)*
First Amendment to Split Dollar Agreement between Registrant and Stoney Russell Stubbs, as Trustee of the Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (filed herewith).
10.12*
Split Dollar Agreement between Registrant and Weldon Alva Robertson, as Trustee of the Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (filed herewith).
10.12 (a)*
First Amendment to Split Dollar Agreement between Registrant and Weldon Alva Robertson, as Trustee of the Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (filed herewith).
11.1
Computation of basic and diluted net income or loss per share of common stock (incorporated by reference to Footnote 10 to the financial statements appearing as Item 8 of this Form 10-K).
14.1
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (filed herewith).
23.1
Consent of Independent Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)(17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)) (filed herewith).
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)(17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)) (filed herewith).
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

 
Page 51 of 52


(b)     REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
    On November 3, 2004, we filed a current report on Form 8-K setting forth our results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the same periods of 2003.

    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and President (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
 
 
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and President (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
 
 
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.,
Senior Vice President and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
   
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Charles G. Robertson
 
 
Charles G. Robertson
Executive Vice President and Director
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Jerry T. Armstrong
 
 
Jerry T. Armstrong, Director
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
W. Mike Baggett
 
 
W. Mike Baggett, Director
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Brian R. Blackmarr
 
 
Brian R. Blackmarr, Director
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
Leroy Hallman
 
 
Leroy Hallman, Director
 
 
 
Date: March 23, 2005
/s/
T. Michael O'Connor
 
 
T. Michael O'Connor, Director

Page 52 of 52


 


EX-3.2 2 ex3_2.htm EXHIBIT 3.2 BYLAWS OF THE REGISTRANT Exhibit 3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant
EXHIBIT 3.2

CONTENTS

ITEM
ADOPTED
PAGE
By-Laws
 
1
Amendments:
June 22, 1971
 
Re Shareholders Meetings
December 8, 1971
8
Re Board of Directors
February 12, 1975
8
Re Shareholders Meetings
November 12, 1975
9
Re Board of Directors
February 9, 1977
9
Re Board of Directors
February 10, 1982
10
Re Board of Directors
February 11, 1983
11
Re Board of Directors
February 8, 1984
11
Re Board of Directors
February 8, 1984
12
Re Board of Directors
February 14, 1990
12
Re Shareholders Meetings
February 12, 1997
13
Re Board of Directors
June 14, 2000
13
Re Shareholders Meetings
April 3, 2002
14
Re Board of Directors
March 25, 2003
15
Re Board of Directors
February 18, 2004
15
 
 
 

 

BYLAWS OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENCY. The registered office of the Corporation shall be at 318 Cadiz Street, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. The name of the registered agent at such address is Stoney M. Stubbs
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may have, in addition to its registered office, offices and places of business at such places, both within and without the State of Texas, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Shareholders, commencing with the year 1972 shall be held at 10:00 o'clock A.M. local time in the place where the meeting is to be, on the 1st day of April, if not a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held, and if a legal holiday in such place, then on the next full business day following, at 10:00 o'clock A.M. local time in said place, at which they shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Board of Directors, or the holders of not less than one-tenth in number of all the shares entitled to vote at the meetings.
Section 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at such places, within or without the State of Texas, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors or as shall be specified or fixed in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.
Section 4. VOTING LIST. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the Corporation shall make, at least ten (10) days before each meeting of Shareholders, a complete list of the Shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof arranged in alphabetical order, with the address and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the Corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any Shareholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any Shareholder during the whole time of the meeting.
Section 5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of each meeting of the Shareholders and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, the Secretary, or the body, officer or person calling the meeting, to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States Mail addressed to the Shareholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 6. QUORUM OF SHAREHOLDERS. The holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of Shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy shall be the act of the Shareholders' Meeting, unless the vote of a greater number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, in which case the vote of such greater number shall be requisite to constitute the act of the meeting. The Shareholders present or represented at a duly organized meeting and entitled to vote thereat may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Shareholders to leave less than a quorum.




Section 7. VOTING OF SHARES. Each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of Shareholders, except as and to the extent otherwise provided by statute or the Articles of Incorporation. At any meeting of the Shareholders, every Shareholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by such Shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Each proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation prior to or at the time of the meeting. Any vote may be taken viva voce or by show of hands unless someone entitled to vote objects, in which case written ballots shall be used.
Section 8. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Any action required by statute to be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by al of the Shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof and such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Shareholders. Any such signed consent, or a signed copy thereof, shall be placed in the Minute Book of the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not be statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the Shareholders.
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided, that at no time shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. At each annual meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting. At each election, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the Directors. Each Director elected shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified or until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 4. REMOVAL. Any Director may be removed either for or without cause at any special or annual meeting of Shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority in number of shares of the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director if notice of intention to act upon such matter shall have been given in the notice calling such meeting.
Section 5. VACANCIES. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors (by death, resignation, removal or otherwise) may be filled by an affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A Director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.
Section 6. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the Board of Directors, annual, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State of Texas.
Section 7. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The first meeting of each newly elected Board shall be held for the purpose of organization and the transaction of any other business without notice immediately following the annual meeting of Shareholders, and at the same place, unless by unanimous consent of the Directors then elected and serving such time or place shall be changed.
Section 8. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors, of which no notice shall be necessary, shall be held at such times and places as may be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board and communicated to all Directors. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any and al business may be transacted at any regular meeting.



Section 9. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President on seventy-two (72) hours' notice to each Director, either personally or by mail or by telegram. Special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of any three (3) of the Directors. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 10. QUORUM AND MANNER OF ACTING. At all meetings of the Board of Directors the presence of a majority of the number of Directors fixed by these By-Laws shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless the act of a greater number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, in which case the act of such greater number shall be requisite to constitute the act of the Board. if a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of Directors, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. At any such adjourned meeting any business may be transacted at the meeting as originally convened.
Section 11. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or at a meeting of an Executive Committee designated pursuant to Section 1 of Article V of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all members of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee, as the case may be. Any such signed consent, or a signed copy thereof, shall be placed in the minute book of the Corporation.
Section 12. DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors shall have authority to determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation, if any, which shall be paid to its members for their services as Directors and as members of standing or special committees of the Board. The Board shall also have power in its discretion to provide for and to pay to Directors rendering services to the Corporation not ordinarily rendered by Directors as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services as determined by the Board from time to time. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 13. PROCEDURE. The Board of Directors shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings. The minutes shall be placed in the Minute Book of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
Section 1. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the Articles of incorporation or of these By-Laws, notice is required to be given to any committee member, Director or Shareholder and no provision is made as to how such notice shall be given, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but any such notice may be given in writing by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such member, Director of Shareholder at his address as it appears on the records or (in the case of a Shareholder) the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Any notice required or permitted to be given by mail shall be deemed to be delivered at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mails as aforesaid.
Section 2. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any committee member, Shareholder or Director of the Corporation under the provisions of the statutes or of the Articles of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to giving of such notice.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. CONSTITUTION AND POWERS. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, May designate two or more Directors, one of whom shall be the President of the Corporation, to constitute an Executive committee, which Executive Committee shall have and may exercise, when the Board is not in session, all of the authority and powers of the Board of Directors in the business and affairs of the Corporation, even though such authority and powers be herein provided or directed to be exercised by a designated officer of the Corporation; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed as authorizing action by the Executive Committee with respect to any action which by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws is required to be taken by vote of a specified proportion of the number of Directors fixed by these By-Laws, or any other action required or specified by the Texas Business Corporation Act or other applicable law or by these By-Laws or by the Articles of Incorporation to be taken by the Board of Directors, as such. So far as practicable, members of the Executive



Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of Shareholders and, unless sooner discharged by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, shall hold office until their respective successors are appointed and qualify or until their earlier respective removals, deaths, resignations, retirements, or disqualifications.

Section 2. MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee, or which no notice shall be necessary, shall be held at such times and places as may be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Committee and communicated to all of the members thereof at any time on twenty-four (24) hours' notice to each member, either personally or by mail or telegram. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Executive Committee need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. RECORDS. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings and shall report the same, from time to time, to the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Corporation, or, in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the Executive Committee or the Committee may, in its discretion, appoint its own secretary.
Section 4. VACANCIES. Any vacancy in the Executive committee may be filled by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board.
ARTICLE VI
OTHER COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Section 1. OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors ;may, be resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, designate two or more Directors to constitute another committee or committees for any purpose; provided, that any such other committee or committees shall have and may exercise only the power of recommending action to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and of carrying out and implementing any instructions or any policies, plans and programs theretofore approved, authorized and adopted by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS: POWERS AND
Section 1. ELECTED OFFICERS. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board (if the Board of Directors shall determine the election of such officer to be appropriate), a President, one or more Vice Presidents, as may be determined from time to time by the Board (and, in the case of each such Vice President, with such descriptive title, if any, as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate), a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Chairman of the Board, if any, and the President shall be members of the Board of Directors. No other elected officer of the Corporation need be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. ELECTION. So far as is practicable, all elected officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of Shareholders.
Section 3. APPOINTIVE OFFICERS. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and assistant officers and agents (none of whom need be a member of the Board) as it shall from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 4. TWO OR MORE OFFICES. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person, except that the President and Secretary shall not be the same person.
Section 5. COMPENSATION. The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Executive committee, if the Corporation then has an Executive Committee, otherwise by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee if the Corporation then has an Executive Committee, otherwise the Board of Directors, may, from time to time, delegate to the Chairman of the Board the authority to fix the compensation of any or all of the other officers of the Corporation.
Section 6. TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL; FILLING OF VACANCIES. Each elected officer of the Corporation shall hold office until his successor is chosen and qualified in his stead or until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Each appointive officer shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors without the necessity of periodic reappointment. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be



without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent will not of itself create contract rights. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if one shall be elected and serving, shall preside when present at all meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board of Directors. He shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and, subject to the provisions of these By-Laws, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and shall have general and active control of all its business. He and the President of the Corporation shall have general co-equal authority to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name of the Corporation and to affix the corporate seal thereto, and to sign stock certificates. He shall have general authority to cause the employment or appointment of such employees and agents of the Corporation as the proper conduct of operations may require and to fix their compensation, subject to the provisions of these By-Laws; to remove or suspend any employee or agent who shall have been employed or appointed under his authority or under authority of an officer subordinate to him; to suspend for cause, pending final action by the authority which shall have elected or appointed him, any officer subordinate to the Chairman of the Board; and in general to exercise all of the powers usually appertaining to the Chief Executive Officer of a Corporation, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Articles of incorporation or any amendment thereto, or these By-Laws.
Section 8. PRESIDENT. If no Chairman of the Board is elected or serving, the President shall perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board; furthermore the President shall be the chief administrative officer of the Corporation and, subject to the provisions of these By-Laws, shall have general administrative supervision of the affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if such officer shall not have been elected or be serving, the President shall preside when present at meetings of the Shareholders and the Board of Directors. He shall have general, co-equal authority with the Chairman of the Board to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name of the Corporation and to affix the corporate seal thereto, and to sign stock certificates, and to perform all of the duties and functions and assume all of the responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if such officer shall not have been elected or e serving. In the absence or disability of the President, his duties shall be performed and his powers may be exercised by the Vice Presidents in order of their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Chairman of the Board, the Executive committee, or the Board of Directors.
Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS. Each Vice President shall generally assist the President an shall have such powers and perform such duties and services as shall from time to time be prescribed or delegated to him by the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.
Section 10. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the chief accounting and financial officer of the Corporation and shall have active control of and shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the accounts and finances of the Corporation. He shall audit all payrolls and vouchers of the Corporation and shall direct the manner of certifying the same; shall supervise the manner of keeping all vouchers of the Corporation and shall direct the manner of certifying the same; shall supervise the manner of keeping all vouchers of payments by the Corporation and all other documents relating to such payments; shall receive, audit and consolidate all operating and financial statements of the Corporation and its various departments; shall have supervision of the books of account of the Corporation, their arrangement and classification; shall supervise the accounting and auditing practices of the Corporation and shall have charge of all matters relating to taxation. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies, funds and securities of the Corporation; shall deposit or cause to be deposited all such funds in and with such depositories as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall from time to time direct or as shall be selected in accordance with time to time direct or as shall be selected in accordance with procedure established by the Board of Executive Committee; shall advise upon all terms of credit granted by the Corporation; and shall be responsible for the collection of all its accounts and shall cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements of the Corporation. He shall have the power to endorse for deposit or collection or otherwise all checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange or other commercial papers payable to the Corporation and to give proper receipts or discharges for all payments to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the office of treasurer or a corporation. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer, his duties shall be performed and his powers may be exercised by the Assistant Treasurers in the order or their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Treasurer, the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, he shall give the Corporation a bond in such form, in such sum, and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful performance of the duties of his office.




Section 11. ASSISTANT TREASURERS. Each Assistant Treasurer shall generally assist the Treasurer and shall have such powers and perform such duties and services as shall from time to time be prescribed or delegated to him by the Treasurer, the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.
Section 12. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall see that notice is given of all meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall keep and attest true records of all proceedings at all meetings of the Shareholders and the Board. He shall have charge of the corporate seal and have authority to attest any and all instruments or writings to which the same may be affixed. He shall keep and account for all books, documents, papers and records of the Corporation except those for which some other officer or agent is properly accountable. He shall have authority to sign stock certificates and shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the office of secretary of a corporation. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, his duties shall be performed and his powers may be exercised by the Assistant Secretaries in the order of their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary, the President, the Executive committee or the Board of Directors.
Section 13. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Each Assistant Secretary shall generally assist the Secretary and shall have such powers and perform such duties and services as shall from time to time e prescribed or delegated to him by the Secretary, the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.
Section 14. ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES. In addition to the foregoing especially enumerated duties, services and powers, the several elected and appointive officers of the Corporation shall perform such other duties and services and exercise such further powers as may be provided by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws or as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may from time to time determine or as may be assigned to them by any competent superior officer.
ARTICLE VIII
STOCK AND TRANSFER OF STOCK
Section 1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES. Certificates in such form as may be determined by the Board of Directors and as shall conform to the requirements of the statutes, the Articles of Incorporation and these By-Laws shall be delivered representing all shares to which Shareholders are entitled. Such certificates shall be consecutively numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Each certificate shall state on the face thereof that the Corporation is organized under the laws of Texas, the holder's name, the number and class of shares which such certificate represents, the par value of such shares or a statement that such shares are without par value, and such other matters as may be required by law. Each certificate shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. If any certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar, either of which is other than the Corporation or an employee of the Corporation, the signature of any such officer may be facsimile.
Section 2. LOST CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the President, or such other officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate, in its or his discretion, may direct a new certificate or certificates representing shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the President, or any other officer, in its or his discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it or he shall require and/or give the Corporation a bond in such form, in such sum, and with such surety or sureties as it or he may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate or certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 3. TRANSFERS OF SHARES. Shares of stock shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his duly authorized attorney. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, with all required stock transfer tax stamps affixed thereto and canceled or accompanied by sufficient funds to pay such taxes, it shall be the duty of the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation to issue a new certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
Section 4. REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
Section 5. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. No Shareholder or other person shall have any preemptive rights whatsoever.




ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the outstanding shares of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the statutes and of the Articles of Incorporation, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any annual, regular or special meeting. Dividends may be declared and paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation, or in any combination thereof. The declaration and payment shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. RESERVES. There may be created from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors, out of the earned surplus of the Corporation, such reserve or reserves as the Directors, in their discretion, think proper to provide for contingencies, or to equalize dividends, or to repair or maintain any property of the Corporation, or for such other purposes as the Directors shall think beneficial to the Corporation, and the Directors shall think beneficial to the Corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 3. SIGNATURE OF NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS. All bills, notes, checks or other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed or countersigned by such officer, officers, agent or agents and in such manner as are permitted by these By-Laws or in such manner as, from time to time, may be prescribed by resolution (whether general or special) of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 4. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year, unless and until a different fiscal year is fixed by appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. SEAL. The Corporation's seal shall be in such form as shall be adopted and approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed, affixed, imprinted or in any manner reproduced.
Section 6. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS AND FIXING RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books of the Corporation shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, fifty (50) days. If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed at least ten (10) days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than fifty (50) days and in case of a meeting of Shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of Shareholders is to be taken. If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders, or Shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made through the closing of stock transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired.
Section 7. SURETY BONDS. Such officers and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the President, the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance or their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, is such amounts and by such surety companies as the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive committee may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation, and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted (a) at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, provided notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal or adoption be contained in the notice of such meeting, or (b) where permitted by applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation and any amendments thereto, at any meeting of the Shareholders at which a quorum is present or represented by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat, provided notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal or adoption be contained in the notice of such meeting.





By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
Adopted June 22, 1971

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. of
ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Shareholders, commencing with the year 1972, shall be held in the place designated where the meeting is to be, on the fourth Monday in April, if not a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held; and if a legal holiday in such place, then on the next full business day following at a time designated by the Board of Directors. At that time they shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: December 8, 1971

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of seven (7) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided, that at no time shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. At each annual meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting or until an individual member of the Board of Directors attains the age of seventy (70) years, whichever first occurs, in the case of the Director in question. At each election, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the Directors. Each Director elected shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified or until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 4. REMOVAL. Any Director may be removed either for or without cause at any special or annual meeting of Shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority in number of shares of the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director, if notice if intention to act upon such mat



ter shall have been given in the notice calling such meeting. Upon attaining the age of seventy (70) years, a Director shall resign forthwith from the Board of Directors, or he shall be removed by
the Shareholders if he shall fail to do so.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 12, 1975

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Shareholders, commencing with the year 1976, shall be held in the place designated where the meeting is to be, on the last Thursday in April, if not a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held; and if a legal holiday in such place, then on the next full business day following at a time designated by the Board of Directors. At that time they shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: November 12, 1975

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. the Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of eleven (11) persons, which number may be increased or decreased form time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided that at no time ever shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. At each annual meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting, or until an individual member of the Board of Directors attains the age of seventy (70) years, whichever first occurs, in the case of the Director in question. At each election, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the Directors. Each Director elected shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.




Section 4. REMOVAL. Any Director may be removed either for or without cause at any special or annual meeting of Shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority in number of shares of the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director, if notice of intention to act upon such matter shall have been given in the notice calling such meeting. Upon attaining the age of seventy (70) years, a Director shall resign forthwith from the Board of Directors, or he shall be removed by the Shareholders if he shall fail to do so.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 9, 1977

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of eleven (11) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided that at no time ever shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. At each annual meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting. At each election, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the Directors. Each Director elected shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified or until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 4. REMOVAL. Any Director may be removed either for or without cause at any special or annual meeting of Shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority in number of shares of the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director, if notice of intention to act upon such matter shall have been given in the notice calling such meeting.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 10, 1982




AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of eleven (11) persons. Within the limits above specified, the number of Directors shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, but no decrease in the number of Directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at the annual meeting of Shareholders or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 11, 1983

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE III, SECTION 2
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of eleven (11) persons. Within the limits above specified, the number of Directors shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, but no decrease in the number of Directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 8, 1984




AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE III, SECTION 5

Section 2. VACANCIES; INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. Any vacancy
occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by election at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose or may be filled by the affirmative vote or a majority of the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. A directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the numbers of directors may be filled by election at an annual or special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or may be filled by the Board of Directors for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the shareholders; provided that the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of shareholders.
By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ VOLNEY B. STUBBS
 
Volney B. Stubbs
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 8, 1984

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE III
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors shall
consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of fifteen (15) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided that at no time ever shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.

By:
/S/ EDGAR O. WELLER
 
Edgar O. Weller
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ THOMAS G. YETTER
 
Thomas G. Yetter
 
Assistant Secretary
ADOPTED: February 14, 1990






AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.

SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
ARTICLE II, SECTION 5
Section 5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of each meeting of the Shareholders and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, the Secretary, or the body, officer or person calling the meeting, to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States Mail addressed to the Shareholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ LEONARD W. BARTHOLOMEW
 
Leonard W. Bartholomew
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 12, 1997

AMENDMENT TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
ARTICLE X
The below indicated sections to Article X of the Bylaws are hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS. Effective at the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors shall consist of nine (9) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these Bylaws; provided that at no time ever shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Prior to the 2001 annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of nine (9) persons, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws; provided that at no time ever shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by election at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting of Shareholders called for that purpose. None of the Directors need be Shareholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Texas.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. At each annual meeting of the Shareholders, the Shareholders shall elect Directors to hold office for the terms described herein. At each election, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the directors. The Directors currently in office shall serve until the 2001 annual meeting of the Shareholders. At the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders, nine Directors will be elected, who will be divided into three classes. There will be three Directors in the first class, who will hold office until the first annual meeting of Shareholders after their election and until their successors are elected and qualified; there will be three Directors in the second class, who will hold office until the second annual meeting of Shareholders after their election and until their successors are elected and qualified; there will be three Directors in the third class, who will hold office until the third annual meeting of Shareholders after their election and until their successors are elected and qualified; at each annual meeting of Shareholders thereafter, Directors will be elected for the class whose term of office expires at that meeting, and they will hold office until the third annual meeting of shareholders after their election and until their successors are elected and qualified. If the number of Directors is increased or decreased, each class shall have as



close to the same number of Directors as each other class. At no time shall any class have more than one additional Director than any other class.
Section 4. REMOVAL. Directors may be removed only for cause at any special or annual meeting of Shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority in number of shares of the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director, if notice of intention to act upon such matter shall have been given in the notice calling such meeting.

By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ LEONARD W. BARTHOLOMEW
 
Leonard W. Bartholomew
 
Secretary
June 14, 2000

AMENDMENT TO
SECTION 1 OF ARTICLE II OF THE BY-LAWS
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING

Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Shareholders of the Corporation shall be held each calendar year on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice of such meeting. At such meeting, the Shareholders of the Corporation shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ LEONARD W. BARTHOLOMEW
 
Leonard W. Bartholomew
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: April 3, 2002

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5 OF
ARTICLE III OF THE BY-LAWS
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE III
VACANCIES

Section 5. VACANCIES. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by election at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose or may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A director elected by the shareholders to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. A director appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy may, at the option of the Board, be appointed for (a) a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the shareholders or (b) the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. A directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by election at an annual or



special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or may be filled by the Board of Directors for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the shareholders; provided that the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of shareholders.
By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ LEONARD W. BARTHOLOMEW
 
Leonard W. Bartholomew
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: March 25, 2003

AMENDMENTS TO
B Y - L A W S
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
TO SECTION 1 OF ARTICLE VI AND SECTION 5
OF ARTICLE VII OF THE BYLAWS
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
ARTICLE VI.
OTHER COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Section 1. OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the full Board, may designate from among its members one or more committees, each of which shall be comprised of one or more of its members, and may designate one or more of its members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board, replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. Any such committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board; provided however, that no such committee shall have such power or authority with respect to:
(a) amending the Articles of Incorporation, except that a committee may, to the extent provided in the resolution designating that committee or in the Articles of Incorporation and permitted under applicable law, exercise the authority of the Board vested in it in accordance with Article 2.13 of the Texas Business Corporation Act (relating to the establishment of a series of unissued shares of a class of stock);
(b) proposing a reduction of the stated capital of the Corporation in the manner permitted by Article 4.12 of the Texas Business Corporation Act;
(c) approving a plan of merger, share exchange, or conversion of the Corporation;
(d) recommending to the shareholders the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business;
(e) recommending to the shareholders a voluntary dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation thereof;
(f) amending, altering, or repealing the bylaws of the Corporation or adopting new Bylaws of the Corporation;
(g) filling vacancies in the Board;
(h) filling vacancies in or designating alternate members of any such committee;
(i) filling any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors;
(j) electing or removing officers of the Corporation or members or alternate members of any such committee;
(k) fixing the compensation of any member or alternate members of such committee;
(l) altering or repealing any resolution of the Board that by its terms provides that it shall not be so amendable or repealable; provided, further, that, unless expressly so provided in the resolution of the Board designating such committee or in the Articles of Incorporation, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare or authorize a dividend or other distribution or to authorize issuance of shares of the Corporation; or




(m) any other matter as to which such power or authority may not be delegated to such committee under applicable law.

ARTICLE VII.
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS: POWERS AND DUTIES
Section 5. COMPENSATION. The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time upon recommendation of the compensation committee, if the Corporation then has a compensation committee, otherwise by a majority of independent directors.

By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
President
ATTEST:
By:
/S/ LEONARD W. BARTHOLOMEW
 
Leonard W. Bartholomew
 
Secretary
ADOPTED: February 18, 2004

 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
EX-10.1(A) 3 ex10_1a.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 (A) FIRST AMENDMENT 1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN Exhibit 10.1 (a) First Amendment 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan

Exhibit 10.1 (a)

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
This Amendment (this “Amendment”) to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby adopted by the Board of Directors of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), to be effective as of June 14, 2000.

WHEREAS, the Plan was adopted with the intent to provide automatic annual grants of stock options to non-employee directors of the Company; and

WHEREAS, on June 14, 2000, the Bylaws of the Company were amended to change the terms of members of the Board of Directors of the Company from one-year terms to staggered three-year terms; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan in order to modify the provisions thereof regarding the automatic awards of stock options to non-employee directors of the Company under the Plan to reflect the change in the terms of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and to clarify that grants of stock options under the Plan are to be made annually, as was originally intended; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has the power and authority to so amend the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of June 14, 2000, as follows:

1. Section 4(a) of the Plan is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“(a)  From and after March 4, 1995, each director who is not an employee of the Company at the time of grant of an Option pursuant to subsections (i) and (ii) below (“Non-Employee Director”) shall automatically be granted Options under this Plan, without any further action on the part of the Board or such Director, as follows:
 
(i) On the day of such Director’s initial appointment or election (whichever comes first) to the Board, provided that such Director is not already serving on the Board on March 3, 1995, such Director shall receive an Option to purchase 9,375 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 3(b)); and
 
(ii)  On the day of each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company that occurs after the date of such Director’s initial appointment or election to the Board (each a “Subsequent Eligibility Date”), each Non-Employee Director who is serving in such capacity immediately after such annual meeting shall receive an Option to purchase 1,875 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 3(b)).”
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan on the 12th day of November, 2003, to be effective as of June 14, 2000.


FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By:  /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.    
Name:  Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.     
                        Title:  President and CEO     
EX-10.1B 4 ex10_1b.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 (B) SECOND AMEDNMENT TO 1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN Exhibit 10.1 (b) Second Amednment to 1995 Non-employee Director Stock Plan

Exhibit 10.1 (b)

SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE

FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
This Amendment (this “Amendment”) to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby adopted by the Board of Directors of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), to be effective as of November 18, 2004.

WHEREAS, the Plan was adopted with the intent that options would be nontransferable except in the case of the optionee’s death; and

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to amend the Plan to permit optionees to make gifts of options to certain family members or to certain trusts; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has the power and authority to so amend the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of November 18, 2004, as follows:

1. Section 6(b) of the Plan is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(b) During the lifetime of a Non-Employee Director, Options granted to such Non-Employee Director may be exercised only by such Non-Employee Director and by persons to whom transfers of the Options are expressly permitted by this Section. Except as provided in the following sentence, Options shall not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any attempt to do so in violation of this prohibition, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall immediately void the Option. Any Option granted on or after the effective date of the Plan shall be transferable by the Optionee by (i) a gift to a member of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or (ii) a gift to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family have a beneficial interest of more than 50% and which provides that such Option is to be transferred to the beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of any transfer of an Option permitted by this Plan, the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement (except for those provisions of both that permit transfers by the Optionee) shall apply to any transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.
 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Amendment to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan on the 18th day of Novmber, 2004, to be effective as of November 18, 2004.


FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By:_____/s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.______
 
Name: Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Title: Chairman of the Board
 
EX-10.1 (C) 5 ex10_1c.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 (C) FORM STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT Exhibit 10.1 (c) Form Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit 10.1 [c]
 
FORM OF
 
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
 
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
 

 
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of ____________________ between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) and ______________________, a non-employee director of the Company (the “Optionee”).
 
WITNESSETH:
 
1.  Pursuant to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), the Company hereby grants to the Optionee an option (the Option”) to purchase, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, _____ shares of the Common Stock (herein so called) of the Company at a price of $_____ per share. An adjustment in the number and class of shares issuable hereunder and the price per share payable in connection with such issuance, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, shall be made in the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, subdivision or any other similar change affecting the stock of the Company, provided that any such adjustment in the number of shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share and no fractional shares shall be issued.
 
2.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, the Option is exercisable only during the time periods and for the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below:
 
Number of Shares
May Not Be Exercised Before
May Not Be Exercised After
__________
____________, 200___
____________, 201__

3.  The Option shall expire ten (10) years from the date it was originally granted, which date was ____________________ (the “Expiration Date”), unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement.
 
4.  The option price for shares purchased shall be paid in full at the time the Option is exercised, and no shares shall be delivered until full payment has been made. The Option shall be exercised on the day when written notice of such exercise has been received by the Company at its principal place of business from the person entitled to exercise the Option, accompanied by full payment of the purchase price (i) in cash or by check to the order of the Company, (ii) in the form of shares of Common Stock already owned by the Optionee, duly endorsed to the order of the Company, having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) equal to the purchase price payable in connection with such exercise, or (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii), and such other documents, if any, as the Company shall require. Upon receipt of all such documents and payments, the shares shall be deemed to have been issued or sold and the Optionee shall be entitled to receive such shares and shall then be a shareholder with respect to such shares, and the shares shall be considered fully paid and non-assessable. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of the exercise of the Option and payment for the shares is received by the Company, except as specifically provided in the Plan.
 
5.  During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option may be exercised only by the Optionee and by persons to whom transfers of Options are expressly permitted by this Paragraph. If the Optionee dies while serving on the Board, the Option shall become fully vested as of the date of the Optionee’s death and may exercised by his or her estate or a person who has acquired the right to exercise the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s death; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date. This Option is transferable by the Optionee by (i) a gift to a member of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or (ii) a gift to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family have a beneficial interest of more than 50% and which provides that the Option is to be transferred to the beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of any transfer permitted by this Stock Option Agreement, the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement (except for those provisions of both that permit transfers by the Optionee) shall apply to any transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.
 
6.  If the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason other than death, the Optionee may exercise such portion of his or her Option as had vested prior to his or her ceasing to be a director of the Company at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date the Optionee ceased to be a director of the Company; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date. In the event of the death of the Optionee within six months after his or her ceasing to be a director of the Company, any vested portion of the Option may be exercised by the Optionee’s estate or a person who has acquired the right to exercise the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s death; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date.
 
7.  Except as expressly provided in Paragraph 5 above, the Option shall not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any attempt to do so in violation of this prohibition, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall immediately void the Option and, during the Optionee’s lifetime, is exercisable only by the Optionee.
 
8.  It is not intended that the Option be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a non-qualified stock option, the Option’s exercise by the Optionee or the Optionee’s legal representative may result in taxable income (as it is defined in the Internal Revenue Code) to the Optionee or to the Optionee’s estate. Upon the issuance of Common Stock as a result of the exercise of the Option, the Optionee shall provide the Company with the funds to enable it to pay any tax required by any government to be withheld or paid.
 
9.  Unless the shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option have been effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or in the opinion of counsel for the Company, no such registration is necessary, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue any shares covered by the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, as a condition to the exercise of the Option and provided that the Optionee has not held the Option for a period of six months from the date of grant, the Optionee shall agree not to dispose of the Common Stock obtained upon exercise of the Option until the expiration of six months from the date of grant of the Option unless such disposition is in a transaction which is exempt form the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
10.  The Optionee acknowledges that the Option is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a copy of which has been delivered to him, and in the event of an inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
 
11.  Any notice to the Company shall be addressed to it, in care of its Secretary, at 1145 Empire Central Place, Dallas, Texas 75247, or to such other address as may be designated by the Company. Any communication to the Optionee shall be sent to the address shown below or such other address as may be provided to the Company in writing by the Optionee.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Optionee have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
 

 Attest:  Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.
 By:  Its:  Chairman of the Board 
 Secretary  Optionee
   Address:
 
       
EX-10.1 (D) 6 ex10_1d.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 (D) FORM STOCK OPTION NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN Exhibit 10.1 (d) Form Stock Option Non-Employee Director Stock Plan

Exhibit 10.1 (d)
 
FORM OF
 
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
 
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
 

 
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of ____________________ between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) and ______________________, a non-employee director of the Company (the “Optionee”).
 
WITNESSETH:
 
1.  Pursuant to the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), the Company hereby grants to the Optionee an option (the Option”) to purchase, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, _____ shares of the Common Stock (herein so called) of the Company at a price of $_____ per share. An adjustment in the number and class of shares issuable hereunder and the price per share payable in connection with such issuance, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, shall be made in the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, subdivision or any other similar change affecting the stock of the Company, provided that any such adjustment in the number of shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share and no fractional shares shall be issued.
 
2.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, the Option is exercisable only during the time periods and for the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below:
 
Number of Shares
May Not Be Exercised Before
May Not Be Exercised After
__________
____________, 200___
____________, 201__

3.  The Option shall expire ten (10) years from the date it was originally granted, which date was ____________________ (the “Expiration Date”), unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement.
 
4.  The option price for shares purchased shall be paid in full at the time the Option is exercised, and no shares shall be delivered until full payment has been made. The Option shall be exercised on the day when written notice of such exercise has been received by the Company at its principal place of business from the person entitled to exercise the Option, accompanied by full payment of the purchase price (i) in cash or by check to the order of the Company, (ii) in the form of shares of Common Stock already owned by the Optionee, duly endorsed to the order of the Company, having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) equal to the purchase price payable in connection with such exercise, or (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii), and such other documents, if any, as the Company shall require. Upon receipt of all such documents and payments, the shares shall be deemed to have been issued or sold and the Optionee shall be entitled to receive such shares and shall then be a shareholder with respect to such shares, and the shares shall be considered fully paid and non-assessable. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of the exercise of the Option and payment for the shares is received by the Company, except as specifically provided in the Plan.
 
5.  During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option may be exercised only by the Optionee and by persons to whom transfers of Options are expressly permitted by this Paragraph. If the Optionee dies while serving on the Board, the Option shall become fully vested as of the date of the Optionee’s death and may exercised by his or her estate or a person who has acquired the right to exercise the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s death; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date. This Option is transferable by the Optionee by (i) a gift to a member of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or (ii) a gift to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family have a beneficial interest of more than 50% and which provides that the Option is to be transferred to the beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships. In the event of any transfer permitted by this Stock Option Agreement, the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement (except for those provisions of both that permit transfers by the Optionee) shall apply to any transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee.
 
6.  If the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason other than death, the Optionee may exercise such portion of his or her Option as had vested prior to his or her ceasing to be a director of the Company at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date the Optionee ceased to be a director of the Company; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date. In the event of the death of the Optionee within six months after his or her ceasing to be a director of the Company, any vested portion of the Option may be exercised by the Optionee’s estate or a person who has acquired the right to exercise the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution at any time or times prior to the second anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s death; provided that in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date.
 
7.  Except as expressly provided in Paragraph 5 above, the Option shall not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any attempt to do so in violation of this prohibition, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall immediately void the Option and, during the Optionee’s lifetime, is exercisable only by the Optionee.
 
8.  It is not intended that the Option be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a non-qualified stock option, the Option’s exercise by the Optionee or the Optionee’s legal representative may result in taxable income (as it is defined in the Internal Revenue Code) to the Optionee or to the Optionee’s estate. Upon the issuance of Common Stock as a result of the exercise of the Option, the Optionee shall provide the Company with the funds to enable it to pay any tax required by any government to be withheld or paid.
 
9.  Unless the shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option have been effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or in the opinion of counsel for the Company, no such registration is necessary, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue any shares covered by the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, as a condition to the exercise of the Option and provided that the Optionee has not held the Option for a period of six months from the date of grant, the Optionee shall agree not to dispose of the Common Stock obtained upon exercise of the Option until the expiration of six months from the date of grant of the Option unless such disposition is in a transaction which is exempt form the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
10.  The Optionee acknowledges that the Option is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a copy of which has been delivered to him, and in the event of an inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
 
11.  Any notice to the Company shall be addressed to it, in care of its Secretary, at 1145 Empire Central Place, Dallas, Texas 75247, or to such other address as may be designated by the Company. Any communication to the Optionee shall be sent to the address shown below or such other address as may be provided to the Company in writing by the Optionee.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Optionee have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
 

 
 Attest:   Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.
   By:  Its Chairman of the Board
 by:  Secretary  Optionee:
   Address:
      
EX-10.3 (D) 7 ex10_3d.htm EXHIBIT 10.3 (D) FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT Exhibit 10.3 (d) Form of Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit 10.3 (d)

1992 INCENTIVE AND NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
FORM OF
AWARD AGREEMENT



This Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (“FFE” or the “Corporation”) and       the (“Optionee”), as of     (the “Date of Grant”). If the Optionee is presently or subsequently becomes employed by a subsidiary of the Corporation, the term “Corporation” shall be deemed to refer collectively to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., and the subsidiary or subsidiaries which employ the Optionee.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Corporation has adopted the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., 1992 Incentive and Nonstatutory Option Plan (the “Plan”) to provide an incentive for key employees and certain consultants and advisors of the corporation to remain in the service of the Corporation and to extend them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation so that they will apply their best efforts for the benefit of the Corporation; and

WHEREAS, the committee established pursuant to the Plan (the “Committee”) believes that the granting of the stock option herein described to the Optionee is consistent with the stated purposes for which the Plan was adopted;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth and for good and valuable consideration, the Corporation and the Optionee agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option. Under the terms and conditions of Section 5 of the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, FFE hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase an aggregate of    shares (such number being subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 of the Plan) of the common stock, $1.50 par value (“Common Stock”), of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (“Plan Shares”).

Subject to Paragraph 9 herein, the Option granted hereunder is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and shall be so construed; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as a representation, guarantee, or other undertaking on the part of the Corporation that this Option is or will be determined to be an “incentive stock option” within such section or any other section of the Code.

2. Exercise Price. The price at which the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase the Plan Shares covered by the Option shall be     and 50/100 dollars ($  ) per Plan Share (the “Exercise Price”).

3. Option Period. The Option hereby granted shall be and remain force and effect during the “Option Period”. The Option Period shall begin on    , and end on the normal close of business of the Corporation on the “Expiration Date”. The Expiration Date is the earliest of (i)   , or ii) in the case of the Optionee’s termination of employment, loss of eligibility, death, retirement or disability, the date specified in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, or 7.5 of the Plan.

4. Exercise of Option. The Optionee may exercise the Option at any time during the Option Period, with respect to all or any part of the Plan Shares covered hereby; provided, however, that no Option may be exercised for a fraction of a Plan Share, by delivery to the Committee of written notice of exercise and payment of the purchase price as provided in Paragraphs 5 and 6 herein.

An Option will cease to be exercisable with respect to the Plan Shares when the Optionee purchases the Plan Shares, or when the Option expires or is terminated.

5. Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable only by written notice of exercise (the “Exercise Notice”) delivered to the Corporation during the term of the Option, which notice shall (a) state the number of Plan Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, (b) be signed by the Optionee or, if the Optionee is dead or disabled, by the person authorized to exercise the Option pursuant to Paragraphs 7.3 and 7.5 of the Plan, (c) be accompanied by the Exercise Price for all Plan Shares for which the Option is exercised, and (d) include such other information, instruments, and documents as may be required to satisfy any other condition to exercise contained herein. The Committee may require that the Exercise Notice be provided on a form or forms prescribed by the Committee.

6. Medium and Time of Payment. The Exercise Price shall be payable in full upon the exercise of the Option (a) in cash or by an equivalent means acceptable to the committee, (b) on the Committee’s prior consent, with shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee (including shares received upon exercise of the Option) and having a Fair Market Value at least equal to the aggregate Exercise Price payable in connection with such exercise, or (c) by any combination of clauses (a) and (b).

In addition, at the request of the Optionee and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may approve arrangements with a brokerage firm under which that brokerage firm, on behalf of the Optionee, shall pay to FFE the Exercise Price of the Option being exercised, and FFE shall promptly deliver the exercised shares to the brokerage firm (the “Cashless Exercise”). To accomplish the Cashless Exercise, the Optionee must deliver to FFE an Exercise Notice containing irrevocable instructions from the Optionee to FFE to deliver the stock certificates directly to the broker.

7. Nontransferability. The Option granted by this Agreement shall be exercisable only during the Option Period provided in Paragraph 3 herein and, except as provided in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of the Plan, only by the Optionee during the Optionee’s lifetime and while an employee of the Corporation. No Option granted by this Agreement is transferable by the Optionee other than by will or pursuant to applicable laws of descent and distribution. Except as may be necessary to accomplish the Cashless Exercise, the Option, and any rights and privileges in connection therewith, cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated by the Optionee, or by any other person or persons, in any way, whether by operation of law, or otherwise, and may not be subject to execution, attachment, garnishment or similar process. In the event of any such occurrence, this Agreement will automatically terminate and will thereafter be null and void.

8. Delivery of Plan Shares. No Plan Shares shall be transferred to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option until (i) the purchase price is paid in full in the manner herein provided, (ii) all the applicable taxes required to be withheld have been paid or withheld in full, (iii) the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the Option, or the issuance of Plan Shares there under, has been received by FFE, and (iv) if required by the Committee, the Optionee has delivered to the Committee assurances in form and content satisfactory to FFE as provided in Section 7.10 of the Plan.

9. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition. In order for FFE to avail itself of any income tax deduction to which it may be entitled, the Optionee must notify FFE of his disposal of any Plan Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement within two (2) years from the Date of Grant and one (1) year from the date of exercise of this Option. Said notification shall occur promptly after the disposition and shall include the number of Plan Shares disposed of, the dates of acquisition and disposition of the Plan Shares, and the consideration received for such disposition. If in connection with such disposition FFE becomes liable for withholding taxes and has no amounts owing to the Optionee with which to discharge its withholding obligation, the Optionee shall provide FFE with the amount needed to discharge FFE’s withholding obligation and shall indemnify FFE against any penalties it may incur through its inability to apply amounts owing the Optionee in discharge of its withholding obligations.

10. Information Confidential. As partial consideration for the granting of this Incentive Stock Option, the Optionee agrees that he will keep confidential all information and knowledge that he has relating to the manner and amount of his participation in the Plan; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to the Optionee’s spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to obtain a loan.

11. Definitions; Copy of Plan. To the extent not specifically provided herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. By the execution of this Agreement, the Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

12. Administration. This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Plan will be administered by the Committee in accordance with its terms. The Committee has sole and complete discretion with respect to all matters reserved to it by the Plan and decisions of the Committee with respect to the Plan and to this Agreement shall be final and binding upon the Optionee and the Corporation. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.

13. Continuation of Employment. This Agreement shall not be construed to confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Corporation and shall not limit the right of the Corporation, in its sole discretion, to terminate the employment of the Optionee at any time.

14. Obligation to Exercise. The Optionee shall have no obligation to exercise any Option granted by this Agreement.

15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered under the laws of the State of Texas (excluding its conflict of law rules) except to the extent such law is preempted by federal law.

16. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement executed by the Corporation and the Optionee. Any such amendment shall be made only upon the mutual consent of the parties, which consent (of either party) may be withheld for any reason.

17. Termination. The Corporation may terminate the Plan at any time; however, such termination will not modify the terms and conditions of the Option granted hereunder unless the Optionee’s prior written consent is obtained.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized, and the Optionee has hereunto set his hand as of the day and year first above written.


                        FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS IDUSTRIES, INC.

By:       

Its:  Chairman of the Board  

                        OPTIONEE: _______________________
 


EX-10.6 (B) 8 ex10_6b.htm EXHIBIT 10.6 (B) SECOND AMENDMENT 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN Exhibit 10.6 (b) Second Amendment 401(K) Savings Plan

Exhibit 10.6 (b)
 
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
 
This Amendment is adopted by FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. (the “Company”), a Texas Corporation, having its principal office in Dallas, Texas.
 
R e c i t a l s:
 
WHEREAS, the Company has previously established the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2001 (the “Plan”), for the benefit of those employees who qualify thereunder and for their beneficiaries; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan to provide, effective November 12, 2003, that upon attainment of age fifty-five (55) years and completion of ten (10) Years of Service, a Participant may diversify up to twenty-five percent (25%) of amounts in his ESOP Accounts, reduced by amounts previously diversified; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company desires to further amend the Plan to provide, effective November 12, 2003, that upon attainment of age sixty (60) years and completion of ten (10) Years of Service, a Participant may diversify up to fifty percent (50%) of amounts in his ESOP Accounts, reduced by amounts previously diversified;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 15.1 of the Plan, Section 13.7 of the Plan is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows, effective November 12, 2003:
 
Section 13.7 Partial Diversification of Investment. 
 
Any Employee who has completed at least ten (10) Years of Service and has attained age fifty-five (55) years (a “Qualified Participant”) may elect at any time to direct the Trustee on the investment of: (a) not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the Qualified Participant's ESOP Accounts (excluding accumulated employee contributions) as of the date of election, reduced by amounts previous-ly diversified; and (b) upon attaining age sixty (60) years, not more than fifty percent (50%) of the Qualified Participant's ESOP Accounts (excluding accumulated employee contributions) as of the date of election, reduced by amounts previously diversified.

The Trustee shall complete diversification of a Qualified Participant's investment in accordance with a Qualified Participant's election as soon as practicable following receipt of the election. The Trustee shall satisfy this requirement: (i) by distributing to the Participant an amount equal to the amount for which the Participant elected diversification; or (ii) by substituting for the amount of the Company Stock for which the Participant elected diversification an equivalent amount of participant-directed investments in other Investment Funds offered in the Plan pursuant to Article 7.”

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. has caused this Second Amendment to be executed and effective as of November 12, 2003, by the undersigned duly appointed and authorized officer.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By: /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Name: Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Title: Chairman of the Board

EX-10.6 (C) 9 ex10_6c.htm EXHIBIT 10.6 (C) THIRD AMENDMENT 401 (K) SAVING PLAN Exhibit 10.6 (c) Third Amendment 401 (k) Saving Plan

Exhibit 10.6 (c)
 
THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
 
This Amendment is adopted by FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. (the “Company”), a Texas Corporation, having its principal office in Dallas, Texas.
 
R e c i t a l s:
 
WHEREAS, the Company has previously established the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2001 (the “Plan”), for the benefit of those employees who qualify thereunder and for their beneficiaries; and
 
WHEREAS, in accordance with Revenue Procedure 2002-29, the Company desires to adopt a model amendment as the Third Amendment to the Plan in order to ensure the Plan’s compliance with final regulations adopted with respect to required minimum distributions under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”);
 
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 15.1 of the Plan, the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective January 1 , 2003:
 
“Model Plan Amendment for Final Regulations Relating to
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(9)
 
Section 1. General Rules.
 
 
1.1.
Effective Date. The provisions of this amendment will apply for purposes of determining required minimum distributions for calendar years beginning with the 2003 calendar year.
 
 
1.2.
Precedence. The requirements of this amendment will take precedence over any inconsistent provisions of the plan.
 
 
1.3.
Requirements of Treasury Regulations Incorporated. All distributions required under this amendment will be determined and made in accordance with the Treasury regulations under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
 
1.4.
TEFRA Section 242(b)(2) Elections. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this amendment, distributions may be made under a designation made before January 1, 1984, in accordance with section 242(b)(2) of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) and the provisions of the plan that relate to section 242(b)(2) of TEFRA.
 
 
Section 2. Time and Manner of Distribution.
 
 
2.1.
Required Beginning Date. The participant's entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, to the participant no later than the participant's required beginning date.
 
 
2.2.
Death of Participant Before Distributions Begin. If the participant dies before distributions begin, the participant's entire interest will be distributed, and begin to be distributed, no later than as follows:
 
 
(a)
If the participant's surviving spouse is the participant's sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70½, if later.

 
(b)
If the participant's surviving spouse is not the participant's sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the designated beneficiary will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died.

 
(c)
If there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the participant's death, the participant's entire interest will be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant's death.

 
(d)
If the participant's surviving spouse is the participant's sole designated beneficiary and the surviving spouse dies after the participant but before distributions to the surviving spouse begin, this section 2.2, other than section 2.2(a), will apply as if the surviving spouse were the participant.
 
For purposes of this section 2.2 and section 4, unless section 2.2(d) applies, distributions are considered to begin on the participant's required beginning date. If section 2.2(d) applies, distributions are considered to begin on the date distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under section 2.2(a). If distributions under an annuity purchased from an insurance company irrevocably commence to the participant before the participant's required beginning date (or to the participant's surviving spouse before the date distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under section 2.2(a)), the date distributions are considered to begin is the date distributions actually commence.
 
 
2.3.
Forms of Distribution. Unless the participant's interest is distributed in the form of an annuity purchased from an insurance company or in a single sum on or before the required beginning date, as of the first distribution calendar year distributions will be made in accordance with sections 3 and 4 of this amendment. If the participant's interest is distributed in the form of an annuity purchased from an insurance company, distributions thereunder will be made in accordance with the requirements of section 401(a)(9) of the Code and the Treasury regulations.
 
 
Section 3. Required Minimum Distributions During Participant's Lifetime.
 
 
3.1.
Amount of Required Minimum Distribution For Each Distribution Calendar Year. During the participant's lifetime, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each distribution calendar year is the lesser of:
 
 
(a)
the quotient obtained by dividing the participant's account balance by the distribution period in the Uniform Lifetime Table set forth in section 1.401(a)(9)-9 of the Treasury regulations, using the participant's age as of the participant's birthday in the distribution calendar year; or

 
(b)
if the participant's sole designated beneficiary for the distribution calendar year is the participant's spouse, the quotient obtained by dividing the participant's account balance by the number in the Joint and Last Survivor Table set forth in section 1.401(a)(9)-9 of the Treasury regulations, using the participant's and spouse's attained ages as of the participant's and spouse's birthdays in the distribution calendar year.
 
3.2.
Lifetime Required Minimum Distributions Continue Through Year of Participant's Death. Required minimum distributions will be determined under this section 3 beginning with the first distribution calendar year and up to and including the distribution calendar year that includes the participant's date of death.
 
 
Section 4. Required Minimum Distributions After Participant's Death.
 
 
4.1. Death On or After Date Distributions Begin.
 
 
(a)
Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary. If the participant dies on or after the date distributions begin and there is a designated beneficiary, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each distribution calendar year after the year of the participant's death is the quotient obtained by dividing the participant's account balance by the longer of the remaining life expectancy of the participant or the remaining life expectancy of the participant's designated beneficiary, determined as follows:

 
(1)
The participant's remaining life expectancy is calculated using the age of the participant in the year of death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.

 
(2)
If the participant's surviving spouse is the participant's sole designated beneficiary, the remaining life expectancy of the surviving spouse is calculated for each distribution calendar year after the year of the participant's death using the surviving spouse's age as of the spouse's birthday in that year. For distribution calendar years after the year of the surviving spouse's death, the remaining life expectancy of the surviving spouse is calculated using the age of the surviving spouse as of the spouse's birthday in the calendar year of the spouse's death, reduced by one for each subsequent calendar year.

(3) If the participant's surviving spouse is not the participant's sole designated beneficiary, the designated beneficiary's remaining life expectancy is calculated using the age of the beneficiary in the year following the year of the participant's death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.

 
(b)
No Designated Beneficiary. If the participant dies on or after the date distributions begin and there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year after the year of the participant's death, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each distribution calendar year after the year of the participant's death is the quotient obtained by dividing the participant's account balance by the participant's remaining life expectancy calculated using the age of the participant in the year of death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.
 
4.2. Death Before Date Distributions Begin.
 
 
(a)
Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary. If the participant dies before distributions begin and there is a designated beneficiary, the participant’s entire interest will be distributed, and begin to be distributed, to the designated beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant’s death. If the participant’s surviving spouse is the participant’s sole designated beneficiary and the surviving spouse dies after the participant but before distributions to either the participant or the surviving spouse begin, this paragraph will apply as if the surviving spouse were the participant.

 
(b)
No Designated Beneficiary. If the participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the participant's death, distribution of the participant's entire interest will be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant's death.

 
(c)
Death of Surviving Spouse Before Distributions to Surviving Spouse Are Required to Begin. If the participant dies before the date distributions begin, the participant's surviving spouse is the participant's sole designated beneficiary, and the surviving spouse dies before distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse, this section 4.2 will apply as if the surviving spouse were the participant.
 
Section 5. Definitions.
 
 
5.1.
Designated beneficiary. The individual who is designated as the beneficiary under section 8.1 of the plan and is the designated beneficiary under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and section 1.401(a)(9)-1, Q&A-4, of the Treasury regulations.
 
 
5.2.
Distribution calendar year. A calendar year for which a minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning before the participant's death, the first distribution calendar year is the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year which contains the participant's required beginning date. For distributions beginning after the participant's death, the first distribution calendar year is the calendar year in which distributions are required to begin under section 2.2. The required minimum distribution for the participant's first distribution calendar year will be made on or before the participant's required beginning date. The required minimum distribution for other distribution calendar years, including the required minimum distribution for the distribution calendar year in which the participant's required beginning date occurs, will be made on or before December 31 of that distribution calendar year.
 
 
5.3.
Life expectancy. Life expectancy as computed by use of the Single Life Table in section 1.401(a)(9)-9 of the Treasury regulations.
 
 
5.4.
Participant's account balance. The account balance as of the last valuation date in the calendar year immediately preceding the distribution calendar year (valuation calendar year) increased by the amount of any contributions made and allocated or forfeitures allocated to the account balance as of dates in the valuation calendar year after the valuation date and decreased by distributions made in the valuation calendar year after the valuation date. The account balance for the valuation calendar year includes any amounts rolled over or transferred to the plan either in the valuation calendar year or in the distribution calendar year if distributed or transferred in the valuation calendar year.
 
 
5.5 Required beginning date. The date specified in section 8.3(c) of the plan.”
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. has caused this Third Amendment to be executed on December 30, 2003, by the undersigned duly appointed and authorized officer, effective as of January 1, 2003.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By: /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Name: Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Title: Chairman, President and CEO

EX-10.6 (D) 10 ex10_6d.htm EXHIBIT 10.6 (D) FOURTH AMENDMENT 401 (K) SAVINGS PLAN Exhibit 10.6 (d) Fourth Amendment 401 (k) Savings Plan

Exhibit 10.6 (d)
 
Fourth Amendment to
 
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
 
(As Restated January 1, 2001)
 
This Amendment is adopted by Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (the “Company”), a Texas corporation, having its principal office in Dallas, Texas.
 
R e c i t a l s:
 
WHEREAS, the Company has previously established the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, as restated effective January 1, 2001 (the “Plan”) for the benefit of those employees who qualify thereunder and for their beneficiaries; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted three amendments to the Plan; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company desires to adopt a fourth amendment to the Plan to provide, effective August 1, 2004, that employer matching contributions to the Plan may be made in either Company Stock (as defined in the Plan) or cash;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 15.1 of the Plan, Section 4.2(a) of the Plan is amended as underlined to be and read as follows, effective August 1, 2004:
 
 
 
4.2 (a)
Matching Employer Contributions. In addition to the total amount of Savings Contributions elected for each month pursuant to Section 4.1, but subject to the limits of Section 4.2(c), each Employer shall, as a Matching Employer Contribution to the Plan, pay to the Trustee for each calendar quarter an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of each Participant’s Savings Contributions for each payroll period pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof which does not exceed four percent (4%) of his Compensation for such payroll period. Matching Employer Contributions may be made in either Company Stock in accordance with the closing market price on the business day immediately preceding the day such Contributions are made or in cash. In accordance with Section 7.2(a), such Contributions may be re-invested by the Trustee in accordance with Participant direction.
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. has caused this Fourth Amendment to be executed on this 4th day of August, 2004, effective as of August 1, 2004, by the undersigned duly appointed and authorized officer.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By: /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr
 
Name: Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Title: President and CEO
 


 
EX-10.6 (E) 11 ex10_6e.htm EXHIBIT 10.6 (E) FIFTH AMENDMENT 401 (K) SAVINGS PLAN Exhibit 10.6 (e) Fifth Amendment 401 (k) Savings Plan

Exhibit 10.6 (e)
 

 
FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
 
This Amendment is adopted by FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. (the “Company”), a Texas Corporation, having its principal office in Dallas, Texas.
 
R e c i t a l s:
 
WHEREAS, the Company has previously established the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2001 (the “Plan”), for the benefit of those employees who qualify thereunder and for their beneficiaries; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan to provide, effective March 1, 2005, additional opportunities for Participants who have attained age fifty (50) to diversify the investment of their ESOP Accounts;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 15.1 of the Plan, Section 13.7 of the Plan is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows, effective March 1, 2005:
 
Section 13.7 Diversification of Investment. 
 
Any Employee who has attained age fifty (50) (a “Qualified Participant”) may elect at any time to direct the Trustee on the investment of: (a) not more than fifty percent (50%) of the Qualified Participant's ESOP Accounts (excluding accumulated employee contributions) as of the date of election, reduced by amounts previous-ly diversified; (b) upon attaining age fifty-five (55) years, not more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Qualified Participant's ESOP Accounts (excluding accumulated employee contributions) as of the date of election, reduced by amounts previously diversified; and (c) upon attaining age sixty (60), up to 100% of the Qualified Participant’s ESOP Accounts (excluding accumulated employee contributions) as of the date of election..

The Trustee shall complete diversification of a Qualified Participant's investment in accordance with a Qualified Participant's election as soon as practicable following receipt of the election. The Trustee shall satisfy this requirement: (i) by distributing to the Participant an amount equal to the amount for which the Participant elected diversification; or (ii) by substituting for the amount of the Company Stock for which the Participant elected diversification an equivalent amount of participant-directed investments in other Investment Funds offered in the Plan pursuant to Article 7.”

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. has caused this Fourth Amendment to be executed and effective as of March 1, 2005, by the undersigned duly appointed and authorized officer.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
By: /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Name: Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Title: President and CEO
EX-10.10 (B) 12 ex10_10b.htm EXHIBIT 10.10 (B) FORM STOCK OPTION Exhibit 10.10 (b) Form Stock Option

Exhibit 10.10 (b)

FORM OF 2002 INCENTIVE AND NONSTATUTORY OPTION PLAN
OF
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
INCENTIVE OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
 
This Incentive Option Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (“FFE” or the “Corporation”) and ______________(the “Optionee”), as of February 1, 2005 (the “Date of Grant”). If the Optionee is presently or subsequently becomes employed by a subsidiary of the Corporation, the term “Corporation” shall be deemed to refer collectively to FFE, and the subsidiary or subsidiaries which employ the Optionee.
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
WHEREAS, the Corporation has adopted the Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. 2002 Incentive and Nonstatutory Option Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, to provide an incentive for key employees and certain consultants and advisors of the Corporation to remain in the service of the Corporation and to extend them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation so that they will apply their best efforts for the benefit of the Corporation; and
 
WHEREAS, the committee established pursuant to the Plan (the “Committee”) believes that the granting of the stock option herein described to the Optionee is consistent with the stated purposes for which the Plan was adopted;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the Corporation and the Optionee agree as follows:
 
1.  Grant of Option. Under the terms and conditions of Section 5 of the Plan, FFE hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase an aggregate of xxxxx shares (such number being subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 of the Plan) of the common stock, $1.50 par value (“Common Stock”), of FFE (“Plan Shares.”)
 
Subject to Paragraph 9 herein, the Option granted hereunder is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and shall be construed; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as a representation, guarantee, or other undertaking on the part of the Corporation that this Option is or will be determined to be an “incentive stock option” within such section or any other section of the Code.
 
2.  Exercise Price. The price at which the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase the Plan Shares covered by the Option shall be xyz and ab/100 U.S. dollars ($xx.ab) per Plan Share (the “Exercise Price”).
 
3.  Option Plan. The Option hereby granted shall be and remain in force and effect during the “Option Period.” The Option Period shall begin on February 1, 2006, and end on the normal close of business of the Corporation on the “Expiration Date.” The Expiration Date is the earliest of (i) February 1, 2015, or (ii) in the case of the Optionee’s termination of employment, loss of eligibility, death, retirement or disability, the date specified in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, or 7.4 of the Plan.
 
4.  Exercise of Option. The Optionee may exercise the Option at any time during the Option Period, with respect to all or any part of the Plan Shares covered hereby; provided, however, that no Option may be exercised for a fraction of a Plan Share, by delivery to the Committee of written notice of exercise and payment of the purchase price as provided in Paragraphs 5 and 6 herein.
 




 
An Option will cease to be exercisable with respect to the Plan Shares when the Optionee purchases the Plan Shares, or when the Option expires or is terminated.
 
5.  Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable only by written notice of exercise (the “Exercise Notice”) delivered to the Corporation during the term of the Option, which notice shall (a) state the number of Plan Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, (b) be signed by the Optionee or, if the Optionee is dead or disabled, by the person authorized to exercise the Option pursuant to Paragraphs 7.3 and 7.5 of the Plan, (c) be accompanied by the Exercise Price for all Plan Shares for which the Option is exercised, and (d) include such other information, instruments, and documents as may be required to satisfy any other condition to exercise contained herein. The Committee may require that the Exercise Notice be provided on a form or forms prescribed by the Committee.
 
6.  Medium and Time of Payment. The Exercise Price shall be payable in full upon the exercise of the Option (a) in cash or by an equivalent means acceptable to the Committee, (b)  with shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee for at least six months and having a Fair Market Value at least equal to the aggregate Exercise Price payable in connection with such exercise, or (c) by any combination of clauses (a) and (b). Instead of surrendering shares of Common Stock that the Optionee has owned for at least six months, the Optionee may attest to the ownership of those shares on a form provided by the Committee and have the same number of shares subtracted from the Option shares to be issued to the Optionee. In addition, at the request of the Optionee and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may approve arrangements with a brokerage firm under which that brokerage firm, on behalf of the Optionee, shall pay to FFE the Exercise Price of the Option being exercised, and FFE shall promptly deliver the exercised shares to the brokerage firm (a “Cashless Exercise”). To accomplish the Cashless Exercise, the Optionee must deliver to FFE an Exercise Notice containing irrevocable instructions from the Optionee to FFE to deliver the stock certificates directly to the broker.
 
7.  Nontransferability. The Option granted by this Agreement shall be exercisable only during the Option Period provided in Paragraph 3 herein and, except as provided in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of the Plan, only by the Optionee during the Optionee’s lifetime and while an employee of the Corporation. No Option granted by this Agreement is transferable by the Optionee other than by will or pursuant to applicable laws of descent and distribution. Except as may be necessary to accomplish the Cashless Exercise, the Option, and any rights and privileges in connection therewith, cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated by the Optionee, or by any other person or persons, in any way, whether by operation of law, or otherwise, and may not be subject to execution, attachment, garnishment or similar process. In the event of any such occurrence, this Agreement will automatically terminate and will thereafter be null and void. The Optionee may, however, dispose of this Option in the Optionee’s will or pursuant to a written beneficiary designation executed by the Optionee. Such a designation must be filed with the Corporation on the proper form and will be recognized only if it is received at the Corporation’s headquarters before the Optionee’s death.
 
8.  Delivery of Plan Shares. No Plan Shares shall be transferred to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option until (i) the purchase price is paid in full in the manner herein provided, (ii) all the applicable taxes required to be withheld have been paid or withheld in full, (iii) the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the Option, or the issuance of Plan Shares thereunder, has been received by FFE, and (iv) if required by the Committee, the Optionee has delivered to the Committee assurances in form and content satisfactory to FFE as provided in Section 7.10 of the Plan.
 
9.  Notice of Disqualifying Disposition. In order for FFE to avail itself of any income tax deduction to which it may be entitled, the Optionee must notify FFE of his disposal of any Plan Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement within two (2) years from the Date of Grant and one (1) year from the date of exercise of this Option. Said notification shall occur promptly after the disposition and shall include the number of Plan Shares disposed of, the dates of acquisition and disposition of the Plan Shares, and the consideration received for such disposition. If in connection with such disposition FFE becomes liable for withholding taxes and has no amounts owing to the Optionee with which to discharge its withholding obligation, the Optionee shall provide FFE with the amount needed to discharge FFE’s withholding obligation and shall indemnify FFE against any penalties it may incur through its inability to apply amounts owing the Optionee in discharge of its withholding obligations.
 




 
10.  Information Confidential. As partial consideration for the granting of the Option, the Optionee agrees that he will keep confidential all information and knowledge that he has relating to the manner and amount of his participation in the Plan; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to the Optionee’s spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to obtain a loan.
 
11.  Definitions; Copy of Plan. To the extent not specifically provided herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Plan. By the execution of this Agreement, the Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.
 
12.  Administration. This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Plan will be administered by the Committee in accordance with its terms. The Committee has sole and complete discretion with respect to all matters reserved to it by the Plan and decisions of the Committee with respect to the Plan and to this Agreement shall be final and binding upon the Optionee and the Corporation. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.
 
13.  Continuation of Employment. This Agreement shall not be construed to confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Corporation and shall not limit the right of the Corporation, in its sole discretion, to terminate the employment of the Optionee at any time.
 
14.  Obligation to Exercise. The Optionee shall have no obligation to exercise any Option granted by this Agreement.
 
15.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered under the laws of the State of Texas (excluding its conflict of law rules) except to the extent such law is preempted by federal law.
 
16.  Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement executed by the Corporation and the Optionee. Any such amendment shall be made only upon the mutual consent of the parties, which consent (of either party) may be withheld for any reason.
 
17.  Termination. The Corporation may terminate the Plan at any time; however, such termination will not modify the terms and conditions of the Option granted hereunder unless the Optionee’s prior written consent is obtained.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized, and the Optionee has hereunto set his hand as of the day and year first above written.
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:        
Name:  
Its:

OPTIONEE: ___________________________


EX-10.11 13 ex10_11.htm EXHIBIT 10.11 SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT STUBBS 1995 IRREVOCABLE TRUST Exhibit 10.11 Split Dollar Agreement Stubbs 1995 Irrevocable Trust

 
Exhibit 10.11
 
SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT
 
This Split Dollar Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") is entered into this 2nd day of March, 1995, by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (herein referred to as the "Corporation") and Stoney Russell Stubbs, as Trustee of The Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust, created by Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, as settlors, and dated March 1, 1995 (herein referred to as the "Trustee");
WHEREAS, the Trustee of The Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (herein the "Trust") has insured the joint lives of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, for the benefit and protection of their family, the primary beneficiaries of the Trust, under certain policies of life insurance (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Policy"), which are described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof, and which were issued to the Trustee by Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Insurer");
WHEREAS, the Corporation is willing to pay a portion of the premiums due on the Policy on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trust is the owner of the Policy and, as such, possess all incidents of ownership in and to the Policy;
WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to have the Policy collaterally assigned to it by the Trustee, in order to secure the repayments of (i) the total amount which the Corporation will pay toward the premiums on the Policy and (ii) the total amount which the Corporation has previously paid toward premiums on that certain policy of insurance insuring the joint lives of Stoney Milton
 
Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, bearing policy number 8834031, and issued by Massachusetts Mutual


Life Insurance Company (herein the "Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy") less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy; and
WHEREAS, the parties intend that by such collateral assignment the Corporation shall receive only the right to such repayment, with the Trustee retaining all other ownership rights in the Policy, as specified herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Purchase of Policy. The Trust has contemporaneously purchased the Policy from the Insurer. The parties hereto agree that they will take all necessary action to cause the Insurer to issue the Policy, and shall take any further action which may be necessary to cause the Policy to conform to the provisions of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that the Policy shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the collateral assignment filed with the Insurer relating to the Policy.
2. Ownership of Policy. The Trust is the sole and absolute owner of the Policy, and may exercise all ownership rights granted to the owner thereof by the terms of the Policy, except as may otherwise be provided herein. The number, face amount, and plan of insurance of the Policy is recorded on Schedule "A".
It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement and the collateral assignment executed by the Trust to the Corporation in connection herewith that the Trust shall retain all rights which the Policy grants to the owner thereof; the sole right of the Corporation hereunder shall be to be repaid
the total amount which it has paid toward the premiums on each of the Policy and the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy, less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy. Specifically, but without limitation, the Corporation shall



neither have nor exercise any right as collateral assignee of the Policy which could in any way defeat or impair the Trust's right to receive the cash surrender value or the death proceeds of the Policy in excess of the amount due the Corporation hereunder. All provisions of this Agreement and of such collateral assignment shall be construed so as to carry out such intention.
3. Payment of Premiums. Except as otherwise provided herein, on or before the due date of each Policy premium, or within the grace period provided therein, the Corporation shall pay the Trust an amount equal to the portion of the Policy's premium which exceeds the cost of current life insurance protection on the joint lives of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, measured by the lower of the PS 38 cost or the Insurer's current published premium rate for such annually renewable term insurance for standard risks (as such items are determined in accordance with applicable Treasury Department rulings, regulations and tables, including without way of limitation, Revenue Ruling 55-747, Revenue Ruling 66-110, and Revenue Ruling 67-154). It is the intention under this Section 3 that the Corporation pay only that amount of the insurance premiums that is in excess. Upon receipt of the amount which the Corporation is required to contribute to the Trust under this Section 3, the Trustee shall pay the full amount of the premium to Insurer on or before the date of each Policy premium, or within the grace period provided therein.
4. Obligation of Trust to Corporation. The Trust shall be obligated to repay to the Corporation the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount of the premiums previously paid on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy by the Corporation (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts
 
Life Insurance Policy), as hereinafter provided.
 

5. Collateral Assignment. To secure the repayment to the Corporation of the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount of



the premiums previously paid on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy by the Corporation (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy), the Trust has, contemporaneously herewith, assigned the Policy to the Corporation as collateral, under a form approved by the Insurer for such assignments, which collateral assignment specifically provides that the sole right of the Corporation thereunder is to be repaid the total amount it has paid toward premiums on the Policy hereunder and the total amount that the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Such repayment shall be made from the cash surrender value of the Policy (as defined therein) if this Agreement is terminated or if the Trust surrenders or cancels the Policy, or from the death proceeds of the Policy if Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs should die while the Policy and this Agreement remain in force. In no event shall have the Corporation have any right to borrow against or make. withdrawals from the Policy, to surrender or cancel the Policy, or to take any other action which would impair or defeat the rights of the Trust in and to the Policy. The collateral assignment of the Policy to the Corporation hereunder shall not be terminated, altered or amended by the Trust while this Agreement is in effect without the prior consent of the Corporation. The parties hereto agree to take all action necessary to cause such collateral assignment to conform to the provisions of this Agreement.
 
6. Limitations on Trust's Right in Policy. The Trust shall take no action with respect
to the Policy which would in way compromise or jeopardize the Corporation's right to be repaid the total amount it has paid toward premiums on the Policy and the total amount the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums



previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy) while this Agreement is in effect.
The Trust may pledge or assign the Policy, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in order to secure a loan from the Insurer or from a third party, in an amount which will not exceed the cash surrender value of the Policy (as defined therein) as of the date to which premiums have been paid, less the total amount paid toward the premiums on the Policy by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount that the Corporation has previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Interest charges on such loan shall be the responsibility of and be paid by the Trust. For any Policy year in which the Trust borrows hereunder, the Corporation shall be correspondingly relieved of its obligation to pay any amounts toward premiums hereunder for such Policy year, to the extent of such borrowing.
The Trust shall have the sole right to surrender or cancel. the Policy, and to receive the full cash surrender value of the Policy directly from the Insurer. Upon the surrender or cancellation of the Policy, the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion of the cash surrender value equal to the total amount of the premiums paid by it hereunder. Immediately upon receipt of the cash value of the Policy from the Insurer, the Trust shall remit to the Corporation that portion of the cash surrender value to which it is entitled hereunder and shall retain the balance, if any. Upon such receipt and payment, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
7. Collection of Death Proceeds. Upon the death of the latter to die of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, the Corporation and the Trust shall cooperate to take whatever action is necessary to collect the death benefit provided under the Policy. When such benefit has been



collected and the Corporation is paid as provided herein, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate and the parties shall have no further obligation to each other hereunder.
Upon the death of the latter to die Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs, the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion of such death benefit equal to the total amount of the premiums paid by it hereunder and the total amount of the premiums previously paid by the Corporation toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life insurance Policy). The balance of the death benefit provided under the Policy, if any, shall be paid directly to the Trust. In no event shall the total amount payable to the Corporation hereunder exceed the Policy proceeds payable at the death of the latter to die of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs. No amount shall be paid from such death benefit to the Trust until the full amount due the Corporation hereunder has been paid. The parties hereto agree that the beneficiary designation provision of the Policy shall conform to the provisions hereof.
Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, in the event that, for any reason whatsoever, no death benefit is payable under the Policy upon the death of the latter to die of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs and in lieu thereof the Insurer refunds all or any part of the
premiums paid for the Policy, the Corporation and the Trust shall have the unqualified right to share such premiums based on the respective cumulative contributions by the Corporation (including premiums paid by the Corporation toward the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy, less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy) and the Trust, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate.
 
8. Termination of the Agreement During Lifetime of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. or Julia
 
B. Stubbs. This Agreement shall terminate, during the lifetime of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. or Julia



B. Stubbs, without notice, upon the total cessation of the Corporation's business or the bankruptcy, receivership or dissolution of the Corporation. In addition, the Trust may terminate this Agreement, while no premium under the Policy is overdue, by written notice to the Corporation. Such termination shall be effective as of the date of such notice.
For sixty (60) days after the date of the termination of the Agreement during the lifetime of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. or Julia B. Stubbs, the Trust shall have the option of obtaining the release of the collateral assignment of the Policy given by the Trust to the Corporation pursuant hereto. To obtain such release, the Trust shall repay to the Corporation the total amount of the premium payments made by the Corporation hereunder toward the Policy and the total amount of the premium payments previously made by the Corporation toward the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Upon receipt of such amount, the Corporation shall release the collateral assignment of the Policy by the execution and delivery of an appropriate instrument of release.
If the Trust fails to exercise the option described in the foregoing paragraph within such sixty (60) day period, then, at the written request of the Corporation, the Trust shall execute any document or documents required by the Insurer to transfer the interest of the Trust in the Policy to the Corporation. Alternatively, the Corporation may enforce its right to be repaid the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by it hereunder from the cash surrender value of the Policy under the collateral assignment of the Policy; provided, that in the event the cash surrender value of the Policy exceeds the total amount due to the Corporation, such excess shall be paid to the Trust.
Thereafter, neither the Trust nor its assigns, successors, or beneficiaries shall have any further interest in and to the Policy, either under the terms thereof or under this Agreement. Upon the



Corporation's receipt of the Policy or the cash surrender value as provided in this paragraph, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
9. Additional Policy Benefits and Riders. The Trust may add a rider to the Policy on the joint lives of Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs acquired pursuant to the terms of this Agreement for the benefit of the Trust. Upon written request by the Corporation, the Trust may add a rider to the Policy for the benefit of the Corporation. Any additional premium for any rider which is added to the Policy shall be paid by the party which will be entitled to receive the proceeds of the rider.
10. Insurer Not a Party. Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company shall be fully discharged from any and alll liability under the terms of the Policy upon payment or other performance of its obligations in accordance with the terms of the Policy. No provisions of this Agreement, nor any modification or amendment hereof, shall in any way be construed as enlarging, changing, varying, or in any other way affecting the obligations of the Insurer as expressly provided in the Policy, except insofar as the provisions hereof are made a part for the Policy by the collateral assignment executed by the Trust and filed with the Insurer in connection herewith. Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company is not a party to this Agreement and is in no way responsible for its terms, conditions and provisions.
11. Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended except by a writing signed by the Corporation and the Trust.
12. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and its successors and assigns, and the Trust, and its respective successors, assigns, beneficiaries, and trustees.



13. State Law. This Agreement shall be subject to, governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first stated.
 
     
 ATTEST:   FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 By: /s/ Leonard W. Bartholomew    By: /s/ Burl G. Cott    
 Leonard W. Bartholomew, Secretary  Burl G. Cott, Senior Vice President
 
 

 
THE STUBBS IRREVOCABLE 1995 TRUST
 
By: /s/ Stoney Russell Stubbs    
Stoney ussell Stubbs, Trustee of The Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust



Exhibit “A”
 
The following life insurance policies are subject to the attached Split Dollar Agreement:
 

Insurer: Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company
Insured: Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs
Policy Number:  
Face Amount: 
$   .00
Date of Issuance:  
, 1    ___________,1995
 
Insurer: Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company
Insured: Stoney Milton Stubbs, Jr. and Julia B. Stubbs
Policy Number:  
Face Amount:  
$   .00
Date of Issuance: 
___________ ,1995

EX-10.11 (A) 14 ex10_11a.htm EXHIBIT 10.11 (A) FIRST AMENDMENT SPLIT DOLLAR STUBBS Exhibit 10.11 (a) First Amendment Split Dollar Stubbs

Exhibit 10.11 (a)

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT
STUBBS TRUST
 
Reference is made to that certain Split Dollar Agreement dated as of March 2, 1995 (the "Agreement"), by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Corporation"), and Stoney Russell Stubbs, as Trustee ("Trustee") of The Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust (the "Trust").

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

A. The Agreement may be amended in accordance with Section 11 of the Agreement.

B. Capitalized terms used in this amendment (the "Amendment"), but not otherwise defined, have the meaning for them set forth in the Agreement.

C. The parties desire to amend the Agreement to terminate any obligation of the Corporation to make Premium (as defined below) payments under the Agreement with respect to the Policy.
 
D. The parties also desire to grant the Trust the right to repay the Corporation directly for any Premiums due to be repaid to the Corporation by the Trust under the Agreement without the Trust having to wait to surrender the Policy for its cash value or receipt of death benefits under the Policy.

AMENDMENT

The parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. Termination of Premium Payment Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement (including under Section 3 of the Agreement), the parties hereby agree that the Corporation shall no longer have any obligation to pay Premiums under the Agreement with respect to the Policy and that as of the date hereof the Trust shall be solely obligated to make any and all Premium payments under or with respect to the Policy. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety from the Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect.

2. Repayment of Premiums. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement (including Sections 2 and 5 of the Agreement), the Trust shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to repay Premiums owed to the Corporation under the Agreement (including under Section 2) at any time prior to the Trust surrendering the Policy for its cash value or receipt of death proceeds under the Policy. Nothing in this Amendment, however, shall limit or diminish the Trust's obligation to repay any unpaid Premiums in full no later than as provided in Section 5 of the Agreement. As used herein and in the context of the Agreement,



"Premiums" shall mean the total amount paid toward the premiums on the Policy by the Corporation under the Agreement prior to the date hereof and the total amount that the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy), which Premium amounts currently owing total in the aggregate $1,328,435, as further described on Exhibit A.

3. Ownership Rights. Nothing in this Amendment shall alter the ownership rights in the Policy, which ownership rights shall remain with the Trust, subject only to the Corporation's collateral assignment rights set forth in the Agreement, which collateral assignment rights shall terminate on the earlier of repayment in full of the Premiums or as otherwise provided in the Agreement.

4. Succession. This Amendment shall lie binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Amendment and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

6. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction).

7. Severability. Any term or provision of this Amendment that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

8. Ratification. This Amendment shall not affect any terms or provisions of the Agreement other than those amended hereby and is only intended to amend, alter or modify the Agreement as expressly stated herein. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement remains in effect, enforceable against each of the parties, and is hereby ratified and acknowledged by each of the parties. In the event of a conflict between this Amendment and the Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall control.

9. Further Assurances. While the Corporation and the Trust are the only parties to the Agreement, both parties agree to take such actions as may be required by the Insurer, or which the parties may reasonably request, to modify, amend or alter the collateral assignment documents previously executed by the parties in conjunction with the execution of the Agreement, all in such manner as would be in furtherance with the spirit of this Amendment.

[Reminder of page intentionally left blank]



The parties hereto have executed this Amendment on November 12, 2003.
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: /s/ F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.    
Name: F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
Title: Senior VP and CFO
 
THE STUBBS IRREVOCABLE 1995 TRUST

 
By: /s/ Stoney Russell Stubbs    
Name: Stoney Russell Stubbs
Title: Trustee of The Stubbs Irrevocable 1995 Trust



EXHIBIT A

Outstanding Premiums
as of November 12, 2003
 
Analysis of Split Dollar Premium Payments
 
 
Year
 
Amount
1992
59, 355.00
1993
59,355.00
1994
-
1995
152,000.00
1995
(6,275.73)
1996
152, 000.00
1.997
152,000.00
1998
152,000.00
1999
152,000.00
2000
152,000.00
2001
152,000.00
 2002
 152,000.00
    1,328,434.27
 

   

EX-10.12 15 ex10_12.htm EXHIBIT 10.12 SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT ROBERTSON 1995 IRREVOCABLE TRUST Exhibit 10.12 Split Dollar Agreement Robertson 1995 Irrevocable Trust

Exhibit 10.12

SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT
 
This Split Dollar Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") is entered into this 2nd day of March, 1995, by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (herein referred to as the "Corporation") and Weldon Alvis Robertson, as Trustee of The Robertson Irrevocable 1995 Trust, created by Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson, as settlors, and dated March 1, 1995 (herein referred to as the "Trustee");
WHEREAS, the Trustee of The Robertson Irrevocable 1995 Trust (herein. the "Trust") has insured the joint lives of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson, for the benefit and protection of their family, the primary beneficiaries of the Trust, under certain policies of life insurance (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Policy"), which are described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof, and which were issued to the Trustee by Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Insurer");
WHEREAS, the Corporation is willing to pay a portion of the premiums due on the Policy on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trust is the owner of the Policy and, as such, possess all incidents of ownership in and to the Policy;
WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to have the Policy collaterally assigned to it by the Trustee, in order to secure the repayments of (i) the total amount which the Corporation will pay toward the premiums on the Policy and (ii) the total amount which the Corporation has previously paid toward premiums on that certain policy of insurance insuring the joint lives of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson, bearing policy number 8842951, and issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (herein the "Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy")



less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy; and
WHEREAS, the parties intend that by such collateral assignment the Corporation shall receive only the right to such repayment, with the Trustee retaining all other ownership rights in the Policy, as specified herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Purchase of Policy. The Trust has contemporaneously purchased the Policy from the Insurer. The parties hereto agree that they will take all necessary action to cause the Insurer to issue the Policy, and shall take any further action which may be necessary to cause the Policy to conform to the provisions of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that the Policy shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the collateral assignment filed with the Insurer relating to the Policy.
2. Ownership of Policy. The Trust is the sole and absolute owner of the Policy, and may exercise all ownership rights granted to the owner thereof by the terms of the Policy, except as may otherwise be provided herein. The number, face amount, and plan of insurance of the Policy is recorded on Schedule "A".
It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement and the collateral assignment executed by the Trust to the Corporation in connection herewith that the Trust shall retain all rights which the Policy grants to the owner thereof; the sole right of the Corporation hereunder shall be to be repaid the total amount which it has paid toward the premiums on each of the Policy and the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy, less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy. Specifically, but without limitation, the Corporation shall



neither have nor exercise any right as collateral assignee of the Policy which could in any way defeat or impair the Trust's right to receive the cash surrender value or the death proceeds of the Policy in excess of the amount due the Corporation hereunder. All provisions of this Agreement and of such collateral assignment shall be construed so as to carry out such intention.
3. Payment of Premiums. Except as otherwise provided herein, on or before the due date of each Policy premium, or within the grace period provided therein, the Corporation shall pay the Trust an amount equal to the portion of the Policy's premium which exceeds the cost of current life insurance protection on the joint lives of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor. Elaine Robertson, measured by the lower of the PS 38 cost or the Insurer's current published premium rate for such annually renewable term insurance for standard risks (as such items are determined in accordance with applicable Treasury Department rulings, regulations and tables, including without way of limitation, Revenue Ruling 55-747, Revenue Ruling 66-110, and Revenue Ruling 67-154). It is the intention under this Section 3 that the Corporation pay only that amount of the insurance premiums that is in excess. Upon receipt of the amount which the Corporation is required to contribute to the Trust under this Section 3, the Trustee shall pay the full amount of the premium to Insurer on or before the date of each Policy premium, or within the grace period provided therein.
4.  Oblination of Trust to Corporation. The Trust shall be obligated to repay to the Corporation the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount of the premiums previously paid on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy by the Corporation (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy), as hereinafter provided.
5. Collateral Assignment. To secure the repayment to the Corporation of the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount of the premiums previously paid on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy by the Corporation (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy), the Trust has, contemporaneously herewith, assigned the Policy to the Corporation as collateral, under a form approved by the Insurer for such assignments, which collateral assignment specifically provides that the sole right of the Corporation thereunder is to be repaid the total amount it has paid toward premiums on the Policy hereunder and the total amount that the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Such repayment shall be made from the cash surrender value of the Policy (as defined therein) if this Agreement is terminated or if the Trust surrenders or cancels the Policy, or from the death proceeds of the Policy if Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson should die while the Policy and this Agreement remain in force. In no event shall have the Corporation have any right to borrow against or make withdrawals from the Policy, to surrender or cancel the Policy, or to take any other action which would impair or defeat the rights of the Trust in and to the Policy. The collateral assignment of the Policy to the Corporation hereunder shall not be terminated, altered or amended by the Trust while this Agreement is in effect without the prior consent of the Corporation. The parties hereto agree to take all action necessary to cause such collateral assignment to conform to the provisions of this Agreement.
6. Limitations on Trust's Right in Policy. The Trust shall take no action with respect to the Policy which would in way compromise or jeopardize the Corporation's right to be repaid the total amount it has paid toward premiums on the Policy and the total amount the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy) while this Agreement is in effect.
The Trust may pledge or assign the Policy, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in order to secure a loan from the Insurer or from a third party, in an amount which will not exceed the cash surrender value of the Policy (as defined therein) as of the date to which premiums have been paid, less the total amount paid toward the premiums on the Policy by the Corporation hereunder and the total amount that the Corporation has previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Interest charges on such loan shall be the responsibility of and be paid by the Trust. For any Policy year in which the Trust borrows hereunder, the Corporation shall be correspondingly relieved of its obligation to pay any amounts toward premiums hereunder for such Policy year, to the extent of such borrowing.
The Trust shall have the sole right to surrender or cancel the Policy, and to receive the full cash surrender value of the Policy directly from the Insurer. Upon the surrender or cancellation of the Policy, the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion of the cash surrender value equal to the total amount of the premiums paid by it hereunder. Immediately upon receipt of the cash value of the Policy from the Insurer, the Trust shall remit to the Corporation that portion of the cash surrender value to which it is entitled hereunder and shall retain the balance, if any. Upon such receipt and payment, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
7. Collection of Death Proceeds. Upon the death of the latter to die of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson, the Corporation and the Trust shall cooperate to take whatever action is necessary to collect the death benefit provided under the Policy. When such benefit has been collected and the Corporation is paid as provided herein, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate and the parties shall have no further obligation to each other hereunder.
Upon the death of the latter to die Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson, the Corporation shall have the unqualified right to receive a portion of such death benefit equal to the total amount of the premiums paid by it hereunder and the total amount of the premiums previously paid by the Corporation toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life insurance Policy). The balance of the death benefit provided under the Policy, if any, shall be paid directly to the Trust. In no event shall the total amount payable to the Corporation hereunder exceed the Policy proceeds payable at the death of the latter to die of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson. No amount shall be. paid from such death benefit to the Trust until the full amount due the Corporation hereunder has been. paid. The parties hereto agree that the beneficiary designation provision of the Policy shall conform to the provisions hereof.
Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, in the event that, for any reason whatsoever, no death benefit is payable under the Policy upon the death of the latter to die of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson and in lieu thereof the Insurer refunds all or any part of the premiums paid for the Policy, the Corporation and the Trust shall have the unqualified right to share such premiums based on the respective cumulative contributions by the Corporation (including premiums paid by the Corporation toward the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy, less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy) and the Trust, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate.
8. Termination of the Agreement During Lifetime of Charles Garland Robertson or Eleanor Elaine Robertson. This Agreement shall terminate, during the lifetime of Charles Garland Robertson or Eleanor Elaine Robertson, without notice, upon the total cessation of the Corporation's business or the bankruptcy, receivership or dissolution of the Corporation. In addition, the Trust may terminate this Agreement, while no premium under the Policy is overdue, by written notice to the Corporation. Such termination shall be effective as of the date of such notice.
For sixty (60) days after the date of the termination of the Agreement during the lifetime of Charles Garland Robertson or Eleanor Elaine Robertson, the Trust shall have the option of obtaining the release of the collateral assignment of the Policy given by the Trust to the Corporation pursuant hereto. To obtain such release, the Trust shall repay to the Corporation the total amount of the premium payments made by the Corporation hereunder toward the Policy and the total amount of the premium payments previously made by the Corporation toward the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy). Upon receipt of such amount, the Corporation shall release the collateral assignment of the Policy by the execution and delivery of an appropriate instrument of release.
If the Trust fails to exercise the option described in the foregoing paragraph within such sixty (60) day period, then, at the written request of the Corporation, the Trust shall execute any document or documents required by the Insurer to transfer the interest of the Trust in the Policy to the Corporation. Alternatively, the Corporation may enforce its right to be repaid the total amount of the premiums on the Policy paid by it hereunder from the cash surrender value of the Policy under the collateral assignment of the Policy; provided, that in the event the cash surrender value of the Policy exceeds the total amount due to the Corporation, such excess shall be paid to the Trust. Thereafter, neither the Trust nor its assigns, successors, or beneficiaries shall have any further interest in and to the Policy, either under the terms thereof or under this Agreement. Upon the Corporation's receipt of the Policy or the cash surrender value as provided in this paragraph, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate.
9. Additional Policy Benefits and Riders. The Trust may add a rider to the Policy on the joint lives of Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson acquired pursuant to the terms of this Agreement for the benefit of the Trust. Upon written request by the Corporation, the Trust may add a rider to the Policy for the benefit of the Corporation. Any additional premium for any rider which is added to the Policy shall be paid by the party which will be entitled to receive the proceeds of the rider.
10. Insurer Not a Party. Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company shall be fully discharged from any and all liability under the terms of the Policy upon payment or other performance of its obligations in accordance with the terms of the Policy. No. provisions of this Agreement, nor any modification or amendment hereof, shall in any way be construed as enlarging, changing, varying, or in any other way affecting the obligations of the Insurer as expressly provided in the Policy, except insofar as the provisions hereof are made a part for the Policy by the collateral assignment executed by the Trust and filed with the Insurer in connection herewith. Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company is not a party to this Agreement and is in no way responsible for its terms, conditions and provisions.
11. Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended except by a writing signed by the Corporation and the Trust.
12. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and its successors and assigns, and the Trust, and its respective successors, assigns, beneficiaries, and trustees.
13. State Law. This Agreement shall be subject to, governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first stated.
 
ATTEST: FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
 

By: /s/ Leonard W. Bartholomew              By: /s/ Burl G. Cott   
  Leonard W. Bartholomew, Secretary        Burl G. Cott, Senior Vice President

 
THE ROBERTSON IRREVOCABLE 1995 TRUST
 
                       By: /s/ Weldon Alvis Robertson  
Weldon Alvis Robertson, Trustee of
The Robertson Irrevocable 1995 Trust










Exhibit A

The following life insurance policies are subject to the attached Split Dollar Agreement:

Insurer: Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company
Insured: Charles Garland Robertson and Eleanor Elaine Robertson Policy Number: 92505150
Face Amount: $5,709,710.00
Date of Issuance: March 2, 1995


EX-10.12 (A) 16 ex10_12a.htm EXHIBIT 10.12 (A) FIRST AMENDMENT SPLIT DOLLAR ROBERTSON Exhibit 10.12 (a) First Amendment Split Dollar Robertson

Exhibit 10.12 (a)
AMENDMENT No. 1 TO
SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT
ROBERTSON TRUST
 
Reference is made to that certain Split Dollar Agreement dated as of March 2, 1995 (the "Agreement"), by and between Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Corporation"), and Weldon Avis Robertson as Trustee ("Trustee") of The Robertson Irrevocable 1995 Trust (the "Trust").

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

A. The Agreement may be amended in accordance with Section 11 of the Agreement.

B. Capitalized terms used in this amendment (the "Amendment"), but not otherwise defined, have the meaning for them set forth in the Agreement.

C. The parties desire to amend the Agreement to terminate any obligation of the Corporation to make Premium (as defined below) payments under the Agreement with respect to the Policy.

D. The parties also desire to grant the Trust the right to repay the Corporation directly for any Premiums due to be repaid to the Corporation by the Trust under the Agreement without the Trust having to wait to surrender the Policy for its cash value or receipt of death benefits under the Policy.

AMENDMENT

The parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. Termination of Premium Payment Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement (including under Section 3 of the Agreement), the parties hereby agree that the Corporation shall no longer have any obligation to pay Premiums under the Agreement with respect to the Policy and that as of the date hereof the Trust shall be solely obligated to make any and all Premium payments under or with respect to the Policy. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety from the Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect.

2. Repayment of Premiums. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement (including Sections 2 and 5 of the Agreement), the Trust shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to repay Premiums owed to the Corporation under the Agreement (including under Section 2) at any time prior to the Trust surrendering the Policy for its cash value or receipt of death proceeds under the Policy. Nothing in this Amendment, however, shall limit or diminish the Trust's obligation to repay any unpaid Premiums in full no later than as provided in Section 5 of the Agreement. As used herein and in the context of the Agreement, "Premiums" shall mean the total amount paid toward the premiums on the Policy by the Corporation under the Agreement prior to the date hereof and the total amount that the Corporation previously paid toward premiums on the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy (less any sums previously received by the Corporation with respect to the Massachusetts Life Insurance Policy), which Premium amounts currently owing total in the aggregate $497,806, as further described on Exhibit A.

3. Ownership Rights. Nothing in this Amendment shall alter the ownership rights in the Policy, which ownership rights shall remain with the Trust, subject only to the Corporation's collateral assignment rights set forth in the Agreement, which collateral assignment rights shall terminate on the earlier of repayment in full of the Premiums or as otherwise provided in the Agreement.

4. Succession. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Amendment and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

6. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction).

7. Severability. Any term or provision of this Amendment that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

8. Ratification. This Amendment shall not affect any terms or provisions of the Agreement other than those amended hereby and is only intended to amend, alter or modify the Agreement as expressly stated herein. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement remains in effect, enforceable against each of the parties, and is hereby ratified and acknowledged by each of the parties. In the event of a conflict between this Amendment and the Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall control.

9. Further Assurances. While the Corporation and the Trust are the only parties to the Agreement, both parties agree to take such actions as may be required by the Insurer, or which the parties may reasonably request, to modify, amend or alter the collateral assignment documents previously executed by the parties in conjunction with the execution of the Agreement, all in such manner as would be in furtherance with the spirit of this Amendment.

 


The parties hereto have executed this Amendment on November 12, 2003.
 
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:  /s/ F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.   
Name: F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
Title: Senior Vice President & CFO




THE ROBERTSON IRREVOCABLE 1995 TRUST
 
By: /s/ Weldon Avis Robertson    
Name: Weldon Avis Robertson
Title: Trustee of The Robertson Irrevocable 1995 Trust









EXHIBIT A

Outstanding Premiums 
as of November 12, 2003
 
Analysis of Split Dollar Premium Payments
 
Year
Amount
1992
37,680.00
1993
36, 655.00
1994
-0-
1995
53,000.00
1995
(529.73)
1996
53,000.00
1997
53,000.00
1998
53,000.00
1999
53, 000.00
2000
53,000.00
2001
53,000.00
2002
53, 000.00
 
497,805.27


EX-14.1 17 ex14_1.htm EXHIBIT 14.1 CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS Exhibit 14.1 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

EXHIBIT 14.1

FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

INTRODUCTION
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this "Code") applies to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company").

This Code is intended to meet the requirements for a code of ethics under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Nasdaq Stock Market's ("Nasdaq") Listing Standards, and is specifically applicable to the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer and controller or persons performing similar functions.

We expect the Company's employees and officers ("Employees") and members of its Board of Directors ("Directors") to use sound judgment to help us maintain appropriate compliance procedures and to carry out our business with honesty and in compliance with laws and high ethical standards. Each Employee and Director is expected to read this Code and demonstrate personal commitment to the standards set forth in this Code. Our Directors are expected to abide by the principles of this Code, within the scope of their duties as directors, as if they were Employees of our Company. Employees and Directors who do not comply with the standards set forth in this Code may be subject to discipline in light of the nature of the violation, including termination of employment or appointment.

Any questions about this Code or the appropriate course of conduct in a particular situation should be discussed with that person's immediate manager or supervisor. Persons who do not wish to communicate with a manager or supervisor on the matter should contact any member of management, or personnel in the human resources or risk management departments.

Any waiver of the provisions of this Code for executive officers or Directors must be approved by the Company's Board of Directors or a committee thereof. Any such waivers granted, as well as substantive amendments to this Code, will be publicly disclosed by appropriate means in compliance with applicable listing standards of NASDAQ and rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

This Code is not a contract and is not intended as a detailed guide for all situations Employees and Directors may face. Employees and Directors are also expected to comply with the provisions of employee handbooks and other workplace rules, which the Company may from time to time communicate, all of which supplement this Code.
RESPONSIBILITIES
I. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS
All Employees and Directors must respect and obey all laws and regulations applicable to the Company's business, including federal, state and local laws in the areas in which the Company operates. Any questions as to the applicability of any law or regulation should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
II. INSIDER TRADING
The Company has a securities trading policy and all Employees and Directors must abide by its terms. This policy, among other things, provides that Employees and Directors may not buy or sell shares of the Company's stock when they are in possession of material, non-public information. They also are prohibited from passing on such information to others who might make an investment decision based thereon. Employees and Directors also may not trade in stocks of other companies about which they learn material, non-public information through the course of their employment or service. Any questions as to whether information is material or has been adequately disclosed should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer.



III. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
A conflict of interest occurs when the personal interest of an Employee or Director interferes - or appears to interfere - with the interests of the Company. Conflicts of interest can occur when an Employee or Director takes action or has interests that could reasonably be expected to make it difficult to make objective decisions on behalf of the Company or to perform his or her duties objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when an Employee or Director, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position with the Company.
Except as pre-approved by the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, transactions that involve a conflict of interest are prohibited as a matter of corporate policy. Any Employee or Director who becomes aware of a conflict or potential conflict, or who has a question about whether a conflict exists, should bring such issues to the attention of the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
IV. CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
Employees and Directors are prohibited from (a) taking for themselves personally any opportunities that arise through the use of Company property, information or position, (b) using Company property, information or position for personal gain, and (c) directly or indirectly competing with the Company. Employees and Directors owe a duty to the Company to advance the Company's legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises.
V. CONFIDENTIALITY
Employees and Directors should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or its customers and suppliers that is not known to the general public, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. "Confidential Information" includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its customers, if disclosed. This obligation to protect Confidential Information does not cease when an Employee or Director leaves the Company. Any questions about whether information is confidential should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
VI. FAIR DEALING
Each Employee and Director shall endeavor to deal fairly with the Company's shareholders, competitors, suppliers, customers and employees. No Employee or Director shall take unfair advantage of any other person through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair practice.
VII. PROTECTION AND PROPER USE OF THE COMPANY'S ASSETS
All Employees and Directors have a duty to protect the Company's assets and ensure the assets' efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct adverse impact on the Company. The Company's assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes. Employees and Directors should take measures to ensure against their theft, damage or misuse. These assets include, but are not limited to, intellectual property such as trademarks, business and marketing plans, salary information and any unpublished financial data and reports. Any unauthorized use or distribution of Company assets is a violation of this Code.
VIII. ACCURACY OF RECORDS AND REPORTING
All of the Company's books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the matters to which they relate and must conform to applicable legal and regulatory requirements and accounting principles, and to the Company's system of internal controls. The making of false or misleading records or documentation is strictly prohibited. It is the Company's policy to comply with all laws and regulations regarding the retention and retention and preservation of records. Records should be retained or destroyed only in accordance with the Company's document retention policies. Any questions about these policies should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
IX. DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company is required by SEC rules to maintain effective "disclosure controls and procedures" so that financial and non-financial information which it is required to report to the SEC is timely and accurately reported both to senior management and in the SEC filings made by the Company. All Employees, within the scope of their employment duties, and Directors are expected to support the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. To that end, it is the Company's policy to promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC and otherwise communicated to the public.
X. INTERACTION WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS
When dealing with public officials, Employees and Directors must avoid any activity that is-or appears to be-illegal or unethical. The giving of gifts, including meals, entertainment, transportation or lodging, to government officials in the various branches of the United States government, as well as state and local governments, is restricted by this code and by law. Employees and Directors must obtain pre-approval from the Company's Chief Financial Officer before



providing anything of value to this any government official or employee. The foregoing does not apply to personal lawful political contributions.

In addition, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. Illegal payments to government officials of any country are strictly prohibited.
COMPLIANCE
No code or policy can address every scenario or answer every question. To ensure that all Employees and Directors are able to obtain prompt answers to their questions and inquiries, the following policies and procedures have been implemented.
I. CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER
The Company's Chief Financial Officer has been designated with responsibility for overseeing and monitoring compliance with this Code. This officer makes periodic reports to the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors regarding the implementation and effectiveness of this Code as well as the Company's policies and procedures to ensure compliance with this Code.
II. REPORTING VIOLATIONS
All Employees are encouraged to speak with their supervisors, managers or other appropriate personnel when in doubt about the best course of action in a particular situation. In most instances, Employees and Directors should bring any questions regarding this Code to the attention of the Company's Chief Financial Officer.

The Company encourages all Employees and Directors to promptly report any actual or apparent violations of this Code. The Company does not permit retaliation or discrimination of any kind against anyone who reasonably believes there has been possible illegal or unethical conduct and who, in good faith, reports these concerns. It is, however, a violation of Company policy for any Employee or Director to communicate a report claiming illegal or unethical conduct which the person making such report knows to be false.

The Company's Chief Financial Officer may be reached at (214) 819-7722 or cfo@ffex.net. If persons wish to communicate any matter anonymously, the Company will maintain the confidentiality of the communication to the extent possible under applicable laws. Communications intended to be confidential should be mailed in writing, without indicating a name or address, to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., 1145 Empire Central Place, Dallas, Texas 75247, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

The Company has also contracted with MySafeWorkplace, an independent third party, to operate a confidential reporting service whereby persons may anonymously report violations of this Code to the MySafeWorkplace system by logging-on to WWW.MYSAFEWORKPLACE.COM or by calling 1-800-461-9330.
III. INVESTIGATIONS
Reported violations will be promptly investigated. The person reporting the violation should not conduct an investigation on his or her own. Employees and Directors are, however, expected to cooperate fully with any investigation made by the Company or any of its representatives.
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY
Employees and Directors who violate this Code may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment or appointment. Knowledge of a violation and failure to promptly report or correct the violation may also subject an Employee or Director to disciplinary action. Some violations of this Code are illegal and may subject the Employee or Director to civil and criminal liability.

By:
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Date: MARCH 22, 2004
EX-23.1 18 ex23_1.htm EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Independent Public Accounting Firm

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.:
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements on Form S-8 ( File Nos. 033-48494, 033-59465, 033-59461, 333-21831, 333-38133, 333-52701, 333-87915, 333-87913, 333-56204, 333-56248 and 333-106696) of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) of our reports dated March 21, 2005, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 which reports appear in the December 31, 2004, annual report on Form 10-K of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.
 
Our report dated March 21, 2005, on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, expresses our opinion that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, because of the effect of material weaknesses on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management's assessment as of December 31, 2004:
 
·  
As of December 31, 2004, the Company’s control activity, which intended to reconcile differences between the book and tax bases of each component of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet with amounts recorded as deferred tax assets and liabilities, was not operating effectively. Proper execution of this control activity served to ensure that deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the corresponding income tax expense, are properly recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As a result of this deficiency, errors in accounting for income taxes were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.

·  
Second, management’s review of certain year-end accruals was not effective as of December 31, 2004. Specifically, this review did not identify two accrual accounts that were not adequately supported by sufficient and appropriate documentation. As a result, errors in the accounting for accrued liabilities and operating expenses were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.

·  
Third, the Company’s control to ensure the accurate disclosure of operating lease commitments in the footnotes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements was not operating effectively as of December 31, 2004. As a result, errors in the footnote disclosure of lease commitments were identified and corrected prior to the issuance of the 2004 financial statements.
In light of this information, management is unable to conclude that as of December 31, 2004, its internal controls over financial reporting are effective.
 
/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
March 21, 2005
EX-31.1 19 ex31_1.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 CERTIFICATION OF CEO RULE 13A-14A Exhibit 31.1 Certification of CEO Rule 13a-14a

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REQUIRED BY RULE 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a))

I, Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr., certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting, and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 23, 2005
 
 
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

See also the certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, which is filed as Exhibit 32.1 with this report.

EX-31.2 20 ex31_2.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 CERTFICIATION OF CFO RULE 13A-14A Exhibit 31.2 Certficiation of CFO Rule 13a-14a

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
REQUIRED BY RULE 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a))
 
I, F. Dixon McElwee, Jr., certify that: 
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.; 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 
 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared; 
 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles; 
 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; 
 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting, and 
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 
 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and 
 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: March 23, 2005
 
 
/S/ F. DIXON MCELWEE, JR.
 
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
 
Senior Vice President, Principal
Financial Officer and Accounting Officer

See also the certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, which is filed as Exhibit 32.2 with this report.

 
 
 


EX-32.1 21 ex32_1.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 CERTIFICATION OF CEO 906 SARBANES-OXLEY Exhibit 32.1 Certification of CEO 906 Sarbanes-Oxley

EXHIBIT 32.1

FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-K fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and will be retained by Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Date: March 23, 2005
 
 
/S/ STONEY M. STUBBS, JR
 
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
 
Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2 22 ex32_2.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 CERTIFICATION OF CFO 906 SARBANES-OXLEY Exhibit 32.2 Certification of CFO 906 Sarbanes-Oxley

EXHIBIT 32.2

FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
 
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, F. Dixon McElwee, Jr., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Form 10-K fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and will be retained by Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Date: March 23, 2005
 
 
/S/ F. DIXON MCELWEE, JR.
 
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
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