Exhibit 99.1

MARTEN TRANSPORT ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

Marten Transport, Ltd. (Nasdaq/GS:MRTN) today reported an increase in net income to $7.7 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013, from $7.6 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2012. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, net income increased 14.1% to $14.9 million, or 45 cents per diluted share, from $13.0 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 six-month period.

Operating revenue, consisting of revenue from truckload and logistics operations, increased to $161.4 million in the second quarter of 2013 from $157.0 million in the second quarter of 2012, and increased to $325.9 million in the 2013 six-month period from $308.4 million in the 2012 six-month period. Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges and MW Logistics, LLC (MWL) revenue, increased 8.9% to $129.7 million in the 2013 quarter from $119.1 million in the 2012 quarter, and increased 9.5% to $255.8 million in the 2013 six-month period from $233.5 million in the 2012 six-month period. Fuel surcharge revenue increased to $31.7 million for the second quarter of 2013 from $29.8 million in the 2012 quarter, and increased to $63.4 million for the 2013 six-month period from $58.6 million for the 2012 six-month period. With the March 2013 deconsolidation of MWL, no MWL revenue was included in the second quarter of 2013 compared with $8.1 million in the 2012 quarter. MWL revenue included in the first six months of 2013 decreased by $9.7 million from the first six months of last year with the deconsolidation.

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharge revenue, was 89.9% for the second quarter of 2013, second only over the past 27 quarters to the 89.6% ratio achieved in the second quarter of 2012. The ratio improved to 90.2% for the 2013 six-month period from 90.9% for the 2012 six-month period.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randolph L. Marten said, “We continue to grow and expand our business despite continued slow economic growth and a challenging rate environment. Our total truckload, intermodal and broker loads were up 13.2% in the second quarter of 2013 over the prior year’s quarter. We believe the strong positioning of our truckload operations has continued to pay benefits, including a 2.8% increase in miles per tractor and a 2.6% increase in revenue per tractor over the second quarter of 2012. These increases were on top of the 6.0% and 5.4% improvements in these measurements in the second quarter of 2012 over the second quarter of 2011. This continued improvement in efficiency helped us achieve our thirteenth consecutive year-over-year increase in quarterly net income.”

On May 13, 2013, Marten Transport announced that its Board of Directors had declared a three-for-two stock split of the company’s common stock. The stock split was effected in the form of a stock dividend payable on June 14, 2013, to stockholders of record as of
May 28, 2013. Holders of the company’s common stock received an additional one-half share for each outstanding share of common stock held as of the record date.

Marten Transport, with headquarters in Mondovi, Wis., is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States. Marten specializes in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. Marten offers service in the United States, Canada and Mexico, concentrating on expedited movements for high-volume customers. Marten’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN.

Since 2004, Marten Transport’s results and consolidated financial statements have included the accounts of MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry. On March 28, 2013, a member of MWL made a capital contribution to MWL. Accordingly, effective as of that date, Marten was no longer the primary beneficiary, deconsolidated MWL and started accounting for its ownership interest in MWL under the equity method of accounting.

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACTS: Tim Kohl, President, and Jim Hinnendael, Chief Financial Officer, of Marten Transport, Ltd., 715-926-4216.

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share information)	June 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	635		$	3,473
Receivables:
Trade, net		68,588			66,239
Other		2,863			7,177
Prepaid expenses and other		13,836			15,490
Deferred income taxes		3,364			3,155
Total current assets		89,286			95,534
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other		588,038			551,136
Accumulated depreciation		(160,153	)		(156,660	)
Net property and equipment		427,885			394,476
Other assets		3,359			613
TOTAL ASSETS	$	520,530		$	490,623
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	42,606		$	33,062
Insurance and claims accruals		14,029			13,838
Total current liabilities		56,635			46,900
Long-term debt, less current maturities		7,387			2,726
Deferred income taxes		112,413			109,074
Total liabilities		176,435			158,700
Stockholders’ equity:
Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		-			-
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 48,000,000 shares authorized; 33,220,969 shares at June 30, 2013, and 33,164,428 shares at December 31, 2012, issued and outstanding		332			332
Additional paid-in capital		83,652			82,679
Retained earnings		260,111			246,349
Total Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders’ equity		344,095			329,360
Noncontrolling interest		-			2,563
Total stockholders’ equity		344,095			331,923
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	520,530		$	490,623

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

                    

	Three Months						Six Months
	Ended June 30,						Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share information)	2013			2012			2013			2012
OPERATING REVENUE	$	161,413		$	156,964		$	325,887		$	308,438
OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
Salaries, wages and benefits		42,345			39,398			84,470			77,669
Purchased transportation		28,129			29,734			62,313			59,593
Fuel and fuel taxes		40,596			39,515			80,919			78,639
Supplies and maintenance		9,998			9,841			19,531			19,377
Depreciation		16,219			15,042			31,907			29,577
Operating taxes and licenses		1,825			1,617			3,595			3,199
Insurance and claims		5,808			5,185			11,619			11,007
Communications and utilities		1,262			1,161			2,545			2,372
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(1,237	)		(1,179	)		(3,652	)		(2,704	)
Other		3,347			3,367			6,981			6,907
Total operating expenses		148,292			143,681			300,228			285,636
OPERATING INCOME		13,121			13,283			25,659			22,802
OTHER		(153	)		(13	)		(168	)		(34	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		13,274			13,296			25,827			22,836
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		-			245			84			406
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.		13,274			13,051			25,743			22,430
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		5,607			5,467			10,874			9,400
NET INCOME	$	7,667		$	7,584		$	14,869		$	13,030
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.23		$	0.23		$	0.45		$	0.39
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.23		$	0.23		$	0.45		$	0.39
DIVIDENDS PAID PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.017		$	0.017		$	0.033		$	0.03

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(Unaudited)

 

							Dollar			Percentage
							Change			Change
	Three Months						Three Months			Three Months
	Ended						Ended			Ended
	June 30,						June 30,			June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012			2013 vs. 2012			2013 vs. 2012
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	99,996		$	94,148		$	5,848			6.2	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		26,856			26,121			735			2.8
Total Truckload revenue		126,852			120,269			6,583			5.5
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		29,721			33,045			(3,324	)		(10.1	)
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		4,840			3,650			1,190			32.6
Total Logistics revenue		34,561			36,695			(2,134	)		(5.8	)
Total operating revenue	$	161,413		$	156,964		$	4,449			2.8	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	11,376		$	10,973		$	403			3.7	%
Logistics		1,745			2,310			(565	)		(24.5	)
Total operating income	$	13,121		$	13,283		$	(162	)		(1.2	)%
Operating ratio:
Truckload		91.0	%		90.9	%
Logistics		95.0			93.7
Consolidated operating ratio		91.9	%		91.5	%

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(Unaudited)

							Dollar			Percentage
							Change			Change
	Six Months						Six Months			Six Months
	Ended						Ended			Ended
	June 30,						June 30,			June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2013			2012			2013 vs. 2012			2013 vs. 2012
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	194,961		$	183,346		$	11,615			6.3	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		53,625			51,374			2,251			4.4
Total Truckload revenue		248,586			234,720			13,866			5.9
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		67,481			66,481			1,000			1.5
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		9,820			7,237			2,583			35.7
Total Logistics revenue		77,301			73,718			3,583			4.9
Total operating revenue	$	325,887		$	308,438		$	17,449			5.7	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	21,376		$	18,101		$	3,275			18.1	%
Logistics		4,283			4,701			(418	)		(8.9	)
Total operating income	$	25,659		$	22,802		$	2,857			12.5	%
Operating ratio:
Truckload		91.4	%		92.3	%
Logistics		94.5			93.6
Consolidated operating ratio		92.1	%		92.6	%

 

 MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

OPERATING STATISTICS

(Unaudited)

 

	Three Months						Six Months
	Ended June 30,						Ended June 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Truckload Segment:
Total Truckload revenue (in thousands)	$	126,852		$	120,269		$	248,586		$	234,720
Average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)	$	3,459		$	3,371		$	3,414		$	3,284
Average tractors(1)		2,224			2,149			2,209			2,148
Average miles per trip		598			625			612			621
Non-revenue miles percentage(2)		10.5	%		11.3	%		10.6	%		11.2	%
Total miles – company-employed drivers (in thousands)		57,031			53,516			111,926			104,797
Total miles – independent contractors (in thousands)		1,373			1,355			2,314			2,619
Logistics Segment:
Total Logistics revenue (in thousands)	$	34,561		$	36,695		$	77,301		$	73,718
Brokerage:
Marten Transport
Revenue (in thousands)	$	12,813		$	12,958		$	27,282		$	26,664
Loads		8,602			7,872			18,032			15,958
MWL
Revenue (in thousands)	$	-		$	8,085		$	6,676		$	16,330
Loads		-			4,537			3,758			8,219
Intermodal:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	21,748		$	15,652		$	43,343		$	30,724
Loads		8,916			6,043			17,506			11,885
Average tractors		85			54			81			55
At June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012:
Total tractors(1)		2,317			2,201
Average age of company tractors (in years)		1.9			2.0
Total trailers		4,111			4,155
Average age of company trailers (in years)		2.4			2.2
Ratio of trailers to tractors(1)		1.8			1.9

	Three Months				Six Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
(In thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	25,816	$	20,233	$	47,810	$	40,012
Net cash used for investing activities		41,331		40,131		54,416		55,304
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		33,210		33,099		33,196		33,075
Diluted		33,378		33,250		33,344		33,231

(1) Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 53 and 51 tractors as of June 30, 2013, and 2012, respectively.          

(2) Represents the percentage of miles for which the company is not compensated.