SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). Redeemable noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheets represents the portion of a consolidated entity in which we do not have a direct equity ownership. In these notes, the terms “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions relating to these 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. The most significant estimates that affect our financial statements include the accrued liabilities for insurance and claims and useful lives and salvage values of property and equipment. 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 for potentially uncollectible receivables. 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 and net realizable value 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 property and 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 - $10,000
Trailers	12 years	$6,000
Service and other equipment	3-10 years	0%

Depreciation expense was $289.2 million, $273.8 million, and $265.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively, and is reported in depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of income.

Due to the stronger used trailer market and the increased cost of new trailers, a change in accounting estimate was made during the first quarter of 2022, which decreased depreciation expense by $12.7 million in 2022.

Goodwill and Amortization of Intangible Assets

Goodwill: Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired in business combinations and is allocated to reporting units that are expected to benefit from the combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if indicators of a potential impairment exist. Impairment exists when the carrying amount of a reporting unit that includes goodwill exceeds its fair value, resulting in an impairment charge for the excess up to the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. To test goodwill for impairment, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. If a qualitative test indicates a potential for impairment, a quantitative impairment test must be performed. Alternatively, we may bypass the qualitative assessment and perform a quantitative impairment test. A qualitative assessment considers relevant events and circumstances such as macroeconomic, industry, and market conditions; legal, regulatory, and competitive environments; and overall financial performance. For a quantitative impairment test, we estimate the fair values of the goodwill reporting units and compare it to their carrying values. The estimated fair values of the reporting units are established using a combination of the income and market approaches. No impairment charges have resulted from the annual impairment tests.

Amortization of Intangible Assets: Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 10 to 12 years.

Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets: We review our long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If based on that review, changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable, we evaluate recoverability by comparing the undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset to the asset's carrying amount. We also evaluate the remaining useful lives of intangible assets to determine if events or trends warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or intangible 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. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

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, incurred-but-not-reported losses 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. The accruals for bodily injury, property damage and workers’ compensation are based upon individual case estimates and actuarial estimates of loss development for reported losses and incurred-but-not-reported losses using loss development factors based upon past experience. In order to determine the loss development factors, we make judgments relating to the comparability of historical claims to current claims. These judgments consider the nature, frequency, severity, and age of claims, and industry, regulatory, and company-specific trends impacting the development of claims. An independent actuary reviews our calculation of the undiscounted self-insurance reserves for bodily injury and property damage claims and workers’ compensation claims at year-end.

We renewed our liability insurance policies on August 1, 2023 and are responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim on all claims with an annual $12.5 million aggregate for claims between $10.0 million and $20.0 million. For the policy year that began August 1, 2022, we were responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim on all claims with an annual $10.0 million aggregate for claims between $10.0 million and $20.0 million. For the policy year that began August 1, 2021, we were responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim on all claims with an annual $10.0 million aggregate for claims between $10.0 million and $15.0 million. For the policy year that began on August 1, 2020, we were responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim with no aggregates. We maintain liability insurance coverage with insurance carriers in excess of the $10.0 million per claim. We are also responsible for administrative expenses for each occurrence involving bodily injury or property damage.

Our self-insured retention (“SIR”) for workers’ compensation claims is $2.0 million per claim, with premium-based coverage (issued by insurance companies) for claims exceeding this amount. Our SIR for workers’ compensation claims increased from $1.0 million to $2.0 million per claim on April 1, 2020. We also maintain a $24.9 million bond for the State of Nebraska and a $15.1 million bond for our workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

Under these insurance arrangements, we maintained $49.4 million in letters of credit as of December 31, 2023.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: The consolidated statements of income reflect recognition of operating revenues (including fuel surcharge revenues) and related direct costs over time as control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. 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, we evaluate whether we are the principal (i.e., report revenues on a gross basis) or agent (i.e., report revenues on a net basis).

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. Foreign revenues and expense items denominated in the functional currency 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: Deferred income 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 income 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. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

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 attributable to Werner by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Werner 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 restricted stock awards. Performance awards are excluded from the calculation of dilutive potential common shares until the threshold performance conditions have been satisfied. 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,
	2023		2022		2021
Net income attributable to Werner	$	112,382	$	241,256	$	259,052
Weighted average common shares outstanding	63,374		64,125		67,434
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards	344		454		421
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share	63,718		64,579		67,855
Basic earnings per share	$	1.77	$	3.76	$	3.84
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.76	$	3.74	$	3.82

Equity Compensation

Equity Compensation: We have an equity compensation plan that provides for grants of stock options, restricted stock and units (“restricted awards”), unrestricted stock awards, performance awards and stock appreciation rights to our employees, directors, and consultants. We apply the fair value method of accounting for equity 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, restricted stock, and performance awards vest in increments, and we recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period of each award. We accrue compensation expense for performance awards for the estimated number of shares expected to be issued using the most current information available at the date of the financial statements. If the performance objectives are not met, no compensation expense will be recognized, and any previously recognized compensation expense will be reversed. We account for forfeitures in the period in which they occur.

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, 2023, 2022, and 2021, comprehensive income consists of net income, foreign currency translation adjustments and change in fair value of interest rate swaps. The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss reported in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, consisted of foreign currency translation adjustment losses of $10.0 million and $16.2 million, respectively, and gains of $0.3 million and $4.9 million related to changes in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Effective

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Effective: In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, with the objective of improving financial reporting, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The provisions of this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, using a retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-07, and we expect this ASU to only impact our disclosures with no impacts to our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.

In December 2023, FASB issued ASU 2023-09 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, with the objective of enhancing the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax information through income tax disclosure improvements, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The provisions of this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, using a prospective approach. Early adoption and retrospective application are permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09, and we expect this ASU to only impact our disclosures with no impacts to our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.