Note 11 - Business Segments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

(11) Business Segments

We have six current 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, until we deconsolidated MWL effective March 28, 2013. 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 temperature-controlled trailers and dry containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips 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				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	105,271	$	103,145	$	304,962	$	298,106
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		25,816		27,135		79,294		80,760
Total Truckload revenue		131,087		130,280		384,256		378,866
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue(1)		34,670		31,397		98,197		98,878
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		5,793		5,426		16,929		15,246
Total Logistics revenue		40,463		36,823		115,126		114,124
Total operating revenue	$	171,550	$	167,103	$	499,382	$	492,990
Operating income:
Truckload	$	12,501	$	12,267	$	31,844	$	33,643
Logistics		541		1,386		2,770		5,669
Total operating income	$	13,042	$	13,653	$	34,614	$	39,312

(1) Logistics revenue is net of $2.1 million of inter-segment revenue in the three-month period ended March 31, 2013 for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL prior to the deconsolidation of MWL effective March 28, 2013. Such revenue has been eliminated in consolidation.

             Truckload segment depreciation expense was $15.5 million and $15.0 million, and Logistics segment depreciation expense was $1.8 million and $1.3 million, in the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively. Truckload segment depreciation expense was $45.3 million and $44.5 million, and Logistics segment depreciation expense was $5.2 million and $3.7 million, in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.