Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business

Nature of Business: Werner Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) is a truckload transportation and logistics company operating under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation, similar governmental transportation agencies in the foreign countries in which we operate and various U.S. state regulatory authorities. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, our ten largest customers comprised 40% of our revenues. No single customer generated more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues in 2012, 2011, and 2010.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and our majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions relating to these majority-owned entities have been eliminated.

Use of Management Estimates

Use of Management Estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the (i) reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and (ii) reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: We consider all highly liquid investments, purchased with a maturity of three months or less, to be cash equivalents. Accounts at banks with an aggregate excess of the amount of checks issued over cash balances are included in current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and changes in such accounts are reported as a financing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade Accounts Receivable: We record trade accounts receivable at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our estimate of the amount of probable credit losses and revenue adjustments in our existing accounts receivable. We review the financial condition of customers for granting credit and determine the allowance based on analysis of individual customers’ financial condition, historical write-off experience and national economic conditions. We evaluate the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances over 90 days and exceeding a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. We do not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to our customers.

Inventories and Supplies

Inventories and Supplies: Inventories and supplies are stated at the lower of average cost or market and consist primarily of revenue equipment parts, tires, fuel and supplies. Tires placed on new revenue equipment are capitalized as a part of the equipment cost. Replacement tires are expensed when placed in service.

Property, Equipment, and Depreciation

Property, Equipment, and Depreciation: Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost, while maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations as incurred. Gains and losses on the sale or exchange of equipment are recorded in other operating expenses.

Depreciation is calculated based on the cost of the asset, reduced by the asset’s estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method. Accelerated depreciation methods are used for income tax purposes. The lives and salvage values assigned to certain assets for financial reporting purposes are different than for income tax purposes. For financial reporting purposes, assets are generally depreciated using the following estimated useful lives and salvage values:

	Lives	Salvage Values
Building and improvements	30 years	0%
Tractors	80 months	0%
Trailers	12 years	$1,000
Service and other equipment	3-10 years	0%

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets: We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable and the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets classified as held and used, the carrying amount is not recoverable when the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the future net cash flows. We do not separately identify assets by operating segment because tractors and trailers are routinely transferred from one operating fleet to another. As a result, none of our long-lived assets have identifiable cash flows from use that are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Thus, the asset group used to assess impairment would include all of our assets.

Insurance And Claims Accruals

Insurance and Claims Accruals: Insurance and claims accruals (both current and non-current) reflect the estimated cost (including estimated loss development and loss adjustment expenses) for (i) cargo loss and damage, (ii) bodily injury and property damage, (iii) group health and (iv) workers’ compensation claims not covered by insurance. The costs for cargo, bodily injury and property damage insurance and claims are included in insurance and claims expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income; the costs of group health and workers’ compensation claims are included in salaries, wages and benefits expense. The insurance and claims accruals are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amounts. Such insurance and claims accruals are based upon individual case estimates (including negative development) and estimates of incurred-but-not-reported losses using loss development factors based upon past experience. Actual costs related to insurance and claims have not differed materially from estimated accrued amounts for all years presented. An actuary reviews our self-insurance reserves for bodily injury and property damage claims and workers’ compensation claims every six months.

For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 our self-insured retention (“SIR”) and deductible amount for liability claims is $2.0 million plus administrative expenses, for each occurrence involving bodily injury or property damage. We are also responsible for varying annual aggregate amounts of liability for claims in excess of the SIR/deductible. Liability claims in excess of these aggregates are covered under premium-based policies (issued by insurance companies) to coverage levels that our management considers adequate. We are also responsible for administrative expenses for each occurrence involving bodily injury or property damage.

Our SIR for workers’ compensation claims is $1.0 million per claim, with premium-based insurance coverage for claims exceeding this amount. We also maintain a $32.2 million bond for the State of Nebraska and a $6.9 million bond for our workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

Under these insurance arrangements, we maintained $33.8 million in letters of credit as of December 31, 2012.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: The Consolidated Statements of Income reflect recognition of operating revenues (including fuel surcharge revenues) and related direct costs when the shipment is delivered. For shipments where a third-party capacity provider (including independent contractors under contract with us) is utilized to provide some or all of the service and we (i) are the primary obligor in regard to the shipment delivery, (ii) establish customer pricing separately from carrier rate negotiations, (iii) generally have discretion in carrier selection and/or (iv) have credit risk on the shipment, we record both revenues for the dollar value of services we bill to the customer and rent and purchased transportation expense for transportation costs we pay to the third-party provider upon the shipment’s delivery. In the absence of the conditions listed above, we record revenues net of those expenses related to third-party providers.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation: Local currencies are generally considered the functional currencies outside the United States. Assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates for operations in local currency environments. Most foreign revenues are denominated in U.S. Dollars. Expense items are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. Foreign currency translation adjustments reflect the changes in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to the net assets of the foreign operations. Foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a separate component of comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: We use the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

In accounting for uncertain tax positions, we recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We recognize interest and penalties directly related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Common Stock And Earnings Per Share

Common Stock and Earnings Per Share: Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards. There are no differences in the numerators of our computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for any periods presented. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts).

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Net income	$	103,034	$	102,757	$	80,039
Weighted average common shares outstanding	72,909		72,787		72,369
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards	544		438		438
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share	73,453		73,225		72,807
Basic earnings per share	$	1.41	$	1.41	$	1.11
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.40	$	1.40	$	1.10

There were no options to purchase shares of common stock that were outstanding during the periods indicated above that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option purchase price was greater than the average market price of the common shares during the period.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation: We have a stock-based compensation plan that provides for grants of non-qualified stock options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights to our associates and directors. We apply the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation awards. Issuances of stock upon an exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock are made from treasury stock; shares reacquired to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock are recorded as treasury stock. Grants of stock options and restricted stock vest in increments, and we recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period of each award.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income: Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are not included in net income, but rather are recorded directly in stockholders’ equity. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Accounting Policies Adopted/Not Adopted

New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted: In May 2011, an update was made to “Fair Value Measurement.” This update represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board on fair value measurement. The amendments in this update result in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.” The amendments in this update are to be applied prospectively. This update became effective for us beginning January 1, 2012 and, upon adoption, had no effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2011, an update was made to “Comprehensive Income.” The amendments in this update address the presentation of comprehensive income in an entity’s financial statements and allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, which is the presentation method we previously used. The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The amendments in this update are to be applied retrospectively. In accordance with this update, we now present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the requirements to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. These updates became effective for us beginning January 1, 2012 and, upon adoption, had no effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In September 2011, an update was made to “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” The amendments in this update address the testing of goodwill for impairment and state that an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. This update became effective for us beginning January 1, 2012 and, upon adoption, had no effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Accounting Standards Updates Not Yet Effective: Accounting Standards Updates not effective until after December 31, 2012 are not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.