Note 10 - Business Segments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

(10) Business Segments

We have six operating segments that have been aggregated into two reporting segments (Truckload and Logistics) for financial reporting purposes.  The primary source of our operating revenue is truckload revenue, which we generate by transporting freight for our customers and report within our Truckload segment.  Generally, we are paid by the mile for our services.  We also derive truckload revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other ancillary services.

Our operating revenue also includes revenue reported within our Logistics segment, which consists of revenue from our internal brokerage and intermodal operations, and through our 45% interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry.  Brokerage services involve arranging for another company to transport freight for our customers while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.  Intermodal services involve the transport of our trailers on railroad flatcars for a portion of a trip, with the balance of the trip using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.

              The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue and operating income by segment.  We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	89,198	$	81,973
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		25,253		22,088
Total Truckload revenue		114,451		104,061
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue(1)		33,436		30,518
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		3,587		3,277
Total Logistics revenue		37,023		33,795
Total operating revenue	$	151,474	$	137,856
Operating income:
Truckload	$	7,128	$	5,321
Logistics		2,391		2,288
Total operating income	$	9,519	$	7,609

(1) Logistics revenue is net of $2.5 million and $2.2 million of inter-segment revenue in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively, for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL that have been eliminated in consolidation.

             Truckload segment depreciation expense was $13.6 million and $12.8 million, and Logistics segment depreciation expense was $891,000 and $725,000, in the first three months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.