Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of business: Marten Transport, Ltd. is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States. We specialize in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment for customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Principles of consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Marten Transport, Ltd., its subsidiaries and, through March 27, 2013, its 45% owned affiliate, MW Logistics, LLC (“MWL”). As of March 28, 2013, Marten Transport deconsolidated MWL (See Note 9).

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash in excess of current operating requirements is invested in short-term, highly liquid investments. We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Changes in accounts at banks with an aggregate excess of the amount of checks issued over cash balances are included as a financing activity in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

Trade accounts receivable: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer and related aging of the past-due balances, including any billing disputes. In order to assess the collectibility of these receivables, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Through these evaluations, we may become aware of a situation where a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration of its financial viability, credit ratings or bankruptcy. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the best information available to us and is reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. We evaluate the allowance based on historical write-off experience, the size of the individual customer balances, past-due amounts and the overall national economy. We review the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Invoice balances over 30 days after the contractual due date are considered past due per our policy and are reviewed individually for collectibility. Initial payments by new customers are monitored for compliance with contractual terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential recovery is considered remote.

Property and equipment: Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations. Gains and losses on disposals of revenue equipment are included in operations as they are a normal, recurring component of our operations.

Depreciation is computed based on the cost of the asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. We begin depreciating assets in the month that each asset is placed in service and, therefore, is ready for its intended use, and depreciate each asset until it is taken out of service and available for sale. Accelerated methods are used for income tax reporting purposes. Following is a summary of estimated useful lives for financial reporting purposes:

	Years
Tractors		5
Trailers		7
Service and other equipment		3-15
Buildings and improvements		20-40

In 2014, we replaced our company-owned tractors within an average of 4.2 years and our trailers within an average of 5.6 years after purchase. Our useful lives for depreciating tractors is five years and for trailers is seven years, with a 25% salvage value for tractors and a 35% salvage value for trailers. These salvage values are based upon the expected market values of the equipment after five years for tractors and seven years for trailers. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner approximates the continuing declining value of the revenue equipment, and continues at a consistent straight-line rate for units held beyond the normal replacement cycle.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less the costs to sell.

Tires in service: The cost of original equipment and replacement tires placed in service is capitalized. Amortization is calculated based on cost, less estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over 24 months. Tire amortization, which is included within supplies and maintenance in our consolidated statements of operations, was $5.7 million in 2014, $5.8 million in 2013 and $5.6 million in 2012. The current portion of capitalized tires in service is included in prepaid expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The long-term portion of capitalized tires in service and the estimated salvage value are included in revenue equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cost of recapping tires is charged to operations as incurred.

Income taxes: Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates 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 tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We have reflected the necessary deferred tax assets and liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We believe the future tax deductions will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income.

In the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. Potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Insurance and claims: We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo, and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance with varying risk retention levels. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims, including legal costs. These reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and an estimate of future claims development based on historical claims development factors. Under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities, we have $9.2 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims.

Revenue recognition: We record revenue and related expenses on the date shipment of freight is completed. Our largest customer accounted for 9% of our revenue in 2014, 8% of our revenue in 2013 and 9% of our revenue in 2012. During 2014, more than 99% of our revenue was generated within the United States.

We account for revenue of our Intermodal and Brokerage segments and revenue on freight transported by independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments on a gross basis because we are the primary obligor in the arrangements, we have the ability to establish prices, we have the risk of loss in the event of cargo claims and we bear credit risk with customer payments. Accordingly, all such revenue billed to customers is classified as operating revenue and all corresponding payments to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment are classified as purchased transportation expense.

Share-based payment arrangement compensation: Under our stock incentive plans, all of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including incentive and non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards. We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of employee stock options and performance unit awards, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values at the date of grant.

Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares related to stock options and performance unit awards had been issued using the treasury stock method.

Segment reporting: We report our operating segments in accordance with accounting standards codified in FASB ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We have six current operating segments that, beginning with fiscal 2014, have been aggregated into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 15 for more information.

Use of estimates: We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are primarily related to insurance and claims accruals and depreciation. Ultimate results could differ from these estimates.

Recent accounting pronouncements: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard, which is effective for the first quarter of 2017, will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Early application is not permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.