Note 15 - Business Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

15. Business Segments

Beginning with fiscal 2014, we have elected to aggregate our six current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes, compared with two reporting segments previously. We believe reporting our results in this manner will provide better visibility and understanding into our business and better reflect our operational structure. Information for prior periods has been shown in the same four segments for comparison purposes.

The primary source of our operating revenue is provided by our Truckload segment through a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada.

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our customer contracts range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States primarily utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers and also our 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.

Our Brokerage segment arranges for smaller third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. Our Brokerage segment also included the revenue of MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry, until we deconsolidated our 45% interest in MWL effective March 28, 2013.

The following table sets forth for the years 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.

(Dollars in thousands)	2014		2013		2012
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	358,458	$	366,798	$	363,645
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		89,815		98,161		100,067
Total Truckload revenue		448,273		464,959		463,712
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		56,609		33,526		14,738
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		13,743		8,794		4,873
Total Dedicated revenue		70,352		42,320		19,611
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		75,447		71,764		55,151
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		21,645		20,749		16,173
Total Intermodal revenue		97,092		92,513		71,324
Brokerage revenue:
Marten Transport		57,212		52,746		53,161
MWL(1)		-		6,676		30,648
Total Brokerage revenue		57,212		59,422		83,809
Total operating revenue	$	672,929	$	659,214	$	638,456
Operating income:
Truckload	$	39,483	$	39,290	$	33,715
Dedicated		7,136		5,575		3,090
Intermodal		1,735		4,014		4,703
Brokerage		2,652		3,116		4,345
Total operating income	$	51,006	$	51,995	$	45,853

(1) Brokerage revenue is net of $2.1 million and $9.7 million of inter-segment revenue in 2013 and 2012, respectively, for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL that have been eliminated in consolidation. The inter-segment revenue in 2013 relates to loads transported prior to the deconsolidation of MWL effective March 28, 2013.

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $53.0 million, $54.6 million and $54.5 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $8.2 million, $4.7 million and $2.2 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $6.0 million, $4.3 million and $3.3 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $993,000, $845,000 and $919,000, in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.