10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarter ended September 30, 2019

Commission File Number 0-15010

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	39-1140809
(State of incorporation)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
129 Marten Street
Mondovi, Wisconsin 54755	715-926-4216
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Registrant’s telephone number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:	Trading symbol:	Name of each exchange on which registered:
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE	MRTN	THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET LLC
$.01 PER SHARE		(NASDAQ GLOBAL SELECT MARKET)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒	Accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☐
Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ☐   No ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, was 54,688,632 as of October 28, 2019.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

	September 30,			December 31,
(In thousands, except share information)	2019			2018
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	40,480		$	56,763
Receivables:
Trade, net		85,149			83,033
Other		3,694			3,808
Prepaid expenses and other		18,576			19,924
Total current assets		147,899			163,528
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other		891,326			816,430
Accumulated depreciation		(261,474	)		(228,200	)
Net property and equipment		629,852			588,230
Other noncurrent assets		3,204			2,146
Total assets	$	780,955		$	753,904
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	27,777		$	15,704
Insurance and claims accruals		30,647			28,103
Accrued and other current liabilities		26,506			28,166
Total current liabilities		84,930			71,973
Deferred income taxes		112,454			105,977
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		714			-
Total liabilities		198,098			177,950
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; 192,000,000 shares authorized; 54,687,065 shares at September 30, 2019, and 54,466,691 shares at December 31, 2018, issued and outstanding		547			545
Additional paid-in capital		78,840			76,814
Retained earnings		503,470			498,595
Total stockholders’ equity		582,857			575,954
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	780,955		$	753,904

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

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MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share information)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Operating revenue	$	214,973		$	199,649		$	626,086		$	583,633
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits		69,312			64,051			201,449			186,123
Purchased transportation		40,435			35,867			117,352			105,941
Fuel and fuel taxes		31,275			31,658			89,904			92,444
Supplies and maintenance		12,116			10,574			34,739			31,261
Depreciation		24,290			22,272			70,295			66,280
Operating taxes and licenses		2,651			2,404			7,422			7,055
Insurance and claims		9,618			8,567			29,355			27,798
Communications and utilities		1,901			1,663			5,801			4,993
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(2,559	)		(1,835	)		(5,337	)		(5,206	)
Other		5,900			5,435			17,395			16,134
Total operating expenses		194,939			180,656			568,375			532,823
Operating income		20,034			18,993			57,711			50,810
Other		(255	)		(120	)		(928	)		(447	)
Income before income taxes		20,289			19,113			58,639			51,257
Income taxes expense		3,702			3,856			13,316			11,967
Net income	$	16,587		$	15,257		$	45,323		$	39,290
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.30		$	0.28		$	0.83		$	0.72
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.30		$	0.28		$	0.82		$	0.71
Dividends declared per common share	$	0.68		$	0.025		$	0.74		$	0.075

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

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MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 (Unaudited)

	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In			Retained			Total Stock- holders’
(In thousands)	Shares		Amount		Capital			Earnings			Equity
Balance at December 31, 2018		54,467	$	545	$	76,814		$	498,595		$	575,954
Net income		-		-		-			13,546			13,546
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		105		1		291			-			292
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld		-		-		(784	)		-			(784	)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		366			-			366
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(1,637	)		(1,637	)
Balance at March 31, 2019		54,572		546		76,687			510,504			587,737
Net income		-		-		-			15,190			15,190
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		61		-		466			-			466
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		636			-			636
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(1,639	)		(1,639	)
Balance at June 30, 2019		54,633		546		77,789			524,055			602,390
Net income		-		-		-			16,587			16,587
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		54		1		658			-			659
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		393			-			393
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(37,172	)		(37,172	)
Balance at September 30, 2019		54,687	$	547	$	78,840		$	503,470		$	582,857

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.  

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MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 (Unaudited)

	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In			Retained			Total Stock- holders’
(In thousands)	Shares		Amount		Capital			Earnings			Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017		54,533	$	545	$	76,413		$	448,542		$	525,500
Adoption of accounting standard		-		-		-			485			485
Net income		-		-		-			10,331			10,331
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		57		1		285			-			286
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld		-		-		(104	)		-			(104	)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		321			-			321
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(1,365	)		(1,365	)
Balance at March 31, 2018		54,590		546		76,915			457,993			535,454
Net income		-		-		-			13,702			13,702
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		69		1		562			-			563
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		889			-			889
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(1,366	)		(1,366	)
Balance at June 30, 2018		54,659		547		78,366			470,329			549,242
Net income		-		-		-			15,257			15,257
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		4		-		46			-			46
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		-		-		892			-			892
Dividends on common stock		-		-		-			(1,367	)		(1,367	)
Balance at September 30, 2018		54,663	$	547	$	79,304		$	484,219		$	564,070

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.  

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MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	Nine Months
	Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2019			2018
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Operations:
Net income	$	45,323		$	39,290
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		70,295			66,280
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(5,337	)		(5,206	)
Deferred income taxes		6,477			7,070
Net noncurrent operating lease assets and liabilities		(463	)		-
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		1,395			2,102
Distribution from affiliate		-			45
Equity in loss (earnings) from affiliate		144			(433	)
Adoption of accounting standard		-			485
Changes in other current operating items:
Receivables		(1,418	)		(8,103	)
Prepaid expenses and other		1,348			994
Accounts payable		1,769			2,160
Insurance and claims accruals		2,544			(882	)
Accrued and other current liabilities		(2,467	)		8,295
Net cash provided by operating activities		119,610			112,097
Cash flows used for investing activities:
Revenue equipment additions		(127,156	)		(130,856	)
Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions		34,525			48,440
Buildings and land, office equipment and other additions		(3,422	)		(6,398	)
Other		(25	)		(28	)
Net cash used for investing activities		(96,078	)		(88,842	)
Cash flows used for financing activities:
Dividends on common stock		(40,448	)		(4,098	)
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises		1,417			895
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld		(784	)		(104	)
Net cash used for financing activities		(39,815	)		(3,307	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(16,283	)		19,948
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period		56,763			15,791
End of period	$	40,480		$	35,739
Supplemental non-cash disclosure:
Change in property and equipment not yet paid	$	10,527		$	(2,224	)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for:
Income taxes	$	4,447		$	2,805
Interest	$	39		$	36

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

5

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

(Unaudited)

(1) Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements, and therefore do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly present our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the results for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements should be read with reference to the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(2) Adoption of New Accounting Standard

We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 842), as of January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach. In addition, we elected the practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease classification.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of additional operating lease assets and lease liabilities of approximately $1.1 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The standard did not impact our consolidated net earnings and had no impact on cash flows.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated condensed balance sheet on January 1, 2019 for the adoption of the new leasing standard was as follows:

(In thousands)	Balance at December 31, 2018		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			Balance at January 1, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,146	$	1,135	(a)	$	3,281
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		28,166		540			28,706
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		595			595

(a) Operating lease assets balance at January 1, 2019.

              The impact of the adoption of the new leasing standard on our consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 was as follows:

	Balance at September 30, 2019
(In thousands)	Prior to Adoption of ASC 842		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			As Reported
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,027	$	1,177	(a)	$	3,204
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		26,043		463			26,506
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		714			714

(a) Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

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(3) Earnings per Common Share

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows:  

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Numerator:
Net income	$	16,587	$	15,257	$	45,323	$	39,290
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares		54,655		54,661		54,608		54,615
Effect of dilutive stock options		479		533		470		536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions		55,134		55,194		55,078		55,151
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.83	$	0.72
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.82	$	0.71

Options totaling 209,300 and 318,600 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and 119,500 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares, due to their exercise prices exceeding the average market price of the common shares, or because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the options to be antidilutive.

Unvested performance unit awards totaling 67,516 and 68,516 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and 22,646 and 74,987 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September, 30, 2018, respectively, were considered outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the performance units to be antidilutive.

(4) Long-Term Debt

In August 2018, we entered into an amendment to our unsecured committed credit facility which reduces the aggregate principal amount of the facility from $40.0 million to $30.0 million and extends the term of the facility to August 2023. At September 30, 2019, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $15.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $14.3 million. At December 31, 2018, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $14.6 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the lender’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins. The interest rate for the facility that would apply to outstanding principal balances was 2.7% at September 30, 2019.

Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in a total amount of up to $65 million in 2019 was obtained from the lender in August 2019. This facility also contains restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

(5) Related Party Transactions

We purchase fuel and tires and obtain related services from Bauer Built, Inc., or BBI. Jerry M. Bauer, the chairman of the board, chief executive officer and the principal stockholder of BBI, is one of our directors. We paid BBI $311,000 in the first nine months of 2019 and $233,000 in the first nine months of 2018 for fuel, tires and related services. In addition, we paid $1.2 million in the first nine months of 2019 and $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2018 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases.

We provide transportation services to MW Logistics, LLC (MWL) as described in Note 11.

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(6) Leases

We lease facilities, drop yards, office space, land, chassis and equipment. All leases are classified as operating leases. We do not have any financing leases. Payments for operating leases that extend beyond 12 months are fixed.

Some leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from six months to three years or more. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and is considered in the determination of the operating lease assets and lease liabilities once reasonably certain of exercise.

Management has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and these leases are not capitalized. This primarily affects drop yards and chassis, for which we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The classification of operating leases in our consolidated condensed balance sheet was as follows:

(In thousands)	Balance at September 30, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	1,177	(a)
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		463
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		714
Total liabilities	$	1,177

(a) Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

The maturity of the operating lease liabilities is as follows:

	Amount
Maturities:
Remainder of 2019	$	145
2020		431
2021		325
2022 - 2024		343
Total lease payments		1,244
Adjust to present value		(67	)
Total operating lease liabilities	$	1,177

The weighted-average remaining lease term at September 30, 2019 was 39 months and at January 1, 2019 was 29 months. The weighted-average discount rate was 2.5% at September 30, 2019 and 2.1% at January 1, 2019. The operating leases identified do not contain implicit rates, accordingly, we use our incremental borrowing rate at the time of lease inception to determine the present value of lease payments.

Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled $529,000. Cash paid for capitalized operating leases during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $459,000.

Total operating lease expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $1.3 million and is reported within other operating expenses in our consolidated condensed statements of operations. This amount includes $846,000 of short-term lease expense with an initial term of 12 months or less.

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(7) Share Repurchase Program

In 2007, our Board of Directors approved, and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. In 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately two million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 3.3 million shares in August 2017 to reflect the five-for-three stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on July 7, 2017. In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

We repurchased and retired 200,000 shares of common stock for $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. We did not repurchase any shares in the first nine months of 2019 or in the rest of 2018. As of September 30, 2019, future repurchases of up to $34 million, or 1.8 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

(8) Dividends

In 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. We paid cash dividends totaling $40.4 million in the first three quarters of 2019 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.65 per share of common stock in September, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.03 per share of common stock in each of the first three quarters of 2019. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first three quarters of 2018 and totaled $4.1 million.

Our ability to pay cash dividends is currently limited by restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility, which prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in a total amount of up to $65 million in 2019 was obtained from the lender in August 2019.

(9) Amendment of Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

At our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 7, 2019, our stockholders approved an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, which was previously approved and adopted by our Board of Directors, subject to approval by our stockholders. The amendment increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan by 1.3 million shares and the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance pursuant to full-value awards by 558,334 shares. The amendment also adjusted certain numbers to reflect the stock split that occurred in July 2017.

(10) Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. During the first nine months of 2019, there were no significant changes to the structure of our stock-based award plans. Pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and performance unit awards recorded in the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

(11) Equity Investment

We own a 45% equity interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry. A non-related party owns the other 55% equity interest in MWL. We account for our ownership interest in MWL under the equity method of accounting. We received $2.0 million and $4.6 million of our revenue for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL in the first nine months of 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, we also had a trade receivable in the amount of $413,000 from MWL and an accrued liability of $1.9 million to MWL for the excess of payments by MWL’s customers into our lockbox account over the amounts drawn on the account by MWL.

(12) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.  

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(13) Commitments and Contingencies

We are committed to new revenue equipment purchases of $41.3 million through the remainder of 2019 and of $1.6 million in 2020. Operating lease obligations through 2024 total $1.2 million.

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, and reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims.

We are also involved in other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based upon present knowledge of the facts, it is remote that the ultimate outcome of any such legal actions will have a material adverse effect upon our long-term financial position or results of operations.

(14) Revenue and Business Segments

We combine our five current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. These four reporting segments are also the appropriate categories for the disaggregation of our revenue under FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of refrigerated and dry truck-based transportation capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.

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, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

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 agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for 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 through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

10

Our customer agreements are typically for one-year terms except for our Dedicated agreements which range from three to five years with annual rate reviews. Under FASB ASC 606, the contract date for each individual load within each of our four reporting segments is generally the date that each load is tendered to and accepted by us. For each load transported within each of our four reporting segments, the entire amount of revenue to be recognized is a single performance obligation and our agreements with our customers detail the per-mile charges for line haul and fuel surcharges, along with the rates for loading and unloading, stop offs and drops, equipment detention and other accessorial services, which is the transaction price. There are no discounts that would be a material right or consideration payable to a customer. We are required to recognize revenue and related expenses over time, from load pickup to delivery, for each load within each of our four reporting segments. We base our calculation of the amount of revenue to record in each period for individual loads picking up in one period and delivering in the following period using the number of hours estimated to be incurred within each period applied to each estimated transaction price. Contract assets for this estimated revenue are classified within prepaid expenses and other within our consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. We had no impairment losses on contract assets in the first nine months of 2019 or in 2018. We bill our customers for loads after delivery is complete with standard payment terms of 30 days.

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 principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. 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 within our consolidated condensed statements of operations.

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)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	82,931	$	80,563	$	246,313	$	241,304
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		12,056		13,357		36,418		40,037
Total Truckload revenue		94,987		93,920		282,731		281,341
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		59,281		48,500		164,365		138,096
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		11,053		10,291		30,704		26,499
Total Dedicated revenue		70,334		58,791		195,069		164,595
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		19,336		21,735		56,618		63,834
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		2,961		4,204		9,253		12,227
Total Intermodal revenue		22,297		25,939		65,871		76,061
Brokerage revenue		27,355		20,999		82,415		61,636
Total operating revenue	$	214,973	$	199,649	$	626,086	$	583,633
Operating income:
Truckload	$	6,956	$	10,026	$	22,556	$	25,530
Dedicated		9,920		5,249		23,135		13,321
Intermodal		1,210		2,507		5,140		7,997
Brokerage		1,948		1,211		6,880		3,962
Total operating income	$	20,034	$	18,993	$	57,711	$	50,810

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Truckload segment depreciation expense was $13.7 million and $12.8 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $9.0 million and $7.8 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $382,000 and $337,000 in the three-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $40.1 million and $39.4 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $25.4 million and $21.9 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $3.7 million and $4.1 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $1.1 million and $960,000 in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

(15) Use of Estimates

We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated condensed 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 condensed 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.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

              The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the selected consolidated financial data and our consolidated condensed financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those included in our Form 10-K, Part 1, Item 1A for the year ended December 31, 2018. We do not assume, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this report.

Overview

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of refrigerated and dry truck-based transportation capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.

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, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

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 agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for 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 through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

In addition to the factors discussed above, our operating revenue is also affected by, among other things, the United States economy, inventory levels, the level of truck and rail capacity in the transportation market, a contracting driver market, severe weather conditions and specific customer demand.

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Our operating revenue increased $42.5 million, or 7.3%, in the first nine months of 2019 from the first nine months of 2018. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $44.8 million, or 8.9%, compared with the first nine months of 2018. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 2.1% from the first nine months of 2018 primarily due to increases in our average number of tractors and in our average revenue per tractor. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 19.0% from the first nine months of 2018, primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers and an increase in our average revenue per tractor. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 11.3% due to a reduced load volume. Brokerage segment revenue increased 33.7% due to increases in both volume and rates in the first nine months of 2019. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $76.4 million in the first nine months of 2019 from $78.8 million in the first nine months of 2018. A shift of a portion of line haul revenue to fuel surcharge revenue, which began in mid-first quarter of 2018 as a result of changes in a number of customer agreements, reduced our revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $12.8 million in the first nine months of 2019 and by $9.3 million in the first nine months of 2018, while increasing our fuel surcharge revenue by the same amounts.

Our profitability is impacted by the variable costs of transporting freight for our customers, fixed costs, and expenses containing both fixed and variable components. The variable costs include fuel expense, driver-related expenses, such as wages, benefits, training, and recruitment, and independent contractor costs, which are recorded under purchased transportation. Expenses that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our cost of insurance and claims. These expenses generally vary with the miles we travel, but also have a controllable component based on safety, fleet age, efficiency and other factors. Our main fixed costs relate to the acquisition and subsequent depreciation of long-term assets, such as revenue equipment and operating terminals. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, along with any increases in fleet size. Although certain factors affecting our expenses are beyond our control, we monitor them closely and attempt to anticipate changes in these factors in managing our business. For example, fuel prices have significantly fluctuated over the past several years. We manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices primarily through fuel surcharge programs with our customers, as well as through volume fuel purchasing arrangements with national fuel centers and bulk purchases of fuel at our terminals. To help further reduce fuel expense, we have installed and tightly manage the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine, and also have improved the fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. For our Intermodal and Brokerage segments, our profitability is impacted by the percentage of revenue which is payable to the providers of the transportation services we arrange. This expense is included within purchased transportation in our consolidated condensed statements of operations.

Our operating income improved 13.6% to $57.7 million in the first nine months of 2019 from $50.8 million in the first nine months of 2018. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” improved to 90.8% in the first nine months of 2019 from 91.3% in the first nine months of 2018. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 89.5% in the first nine months of 2019 from 89.9% in the first nine months of 2018. Our net income improved 15.4% to $45.3 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2019 from $39.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2018.

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. At September 30, 2019, we had $40.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, $582.9 million in stockholders’ equity and no long-term debt outstanding. In the first nine months of 2019, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $119.6 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $92.6 million, to pay cash dividends of $40.4 million, and to upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.1 million, resulting in a $16.3 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents. We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $44 million in the remainder of 2019. We paid cash dividends totaling $40.4 million in the first three quarters of 2019 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.65 per share of common stock in September, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.03 per share of common stock in each of the first three quarters of 2019. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

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We continue to invest considerable time and capital resources to actively implement and promote long-term environmentally sustainable solutions that drive reductions in our fuel and electricity consumption and decrease our carbon footprint. These initiatives include (i) reducing idle time for our tractors by installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units, which are powered by solar panels and provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine, (ii) improving the energy efficiency of our newer, more aerodynamic and well-maintained tractor and trailer fleets by optimizing the equipment’s specifications, weight and tractor speed, equipping our tractors with automatic transmissions, converting the refrigeration units in our refrigerated trailers to the new, more-efficient CARB refrigeration units along with increasing the insulation in the trailer walls and installing trailer skirts, and using ultra-fuel efficient and wide-based tires, and (iii) upgrading all of our facilities to indoor and outdoor LED lighting along with converting all of our facilities to solar power by 2020. Additionally, we are an active participant in the United States EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership, in which freight shippers, carriers, logistics companies and other voluntary stakeholders partner with the EPA to measure, benchmark and improve logistics operations to reduce their environmental footprint.                            

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes discussions of operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, each net of fuel surcharge revenue; and net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads). We provide these additional disclosures because management believes these measures provide a more consistent basis for comparing results of operations from period to period. These financial measures in this report have not been determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Pursuant to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, we have included the amounts necessary to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures of operating revenue, operating expenses divided by operating revenue, and fuel and fuel taxes.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain operating statistics regarding our revenue and operations:

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Truckload Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	94,987	$	93,920	$	282,731	$	281,341
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)	$	3,723	$	3,925	$	3,818	$	3,797
Average tractors(1)		1,695		1,561		1,654		1,629
Average miles per trip		545		564		545		578
Total miles (in thousands)		39,326		37,259		115,639		117,343
Dedicated Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	70,334	$	58,791	$	195,069	$	164,595
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)	$	3,392	$	3,287	$	3,412	$	3,279
Average tractors(1)		1,329		1,123		1,235		1,080
Average miles per trip		312		317		316		305
Total miles (in thousands)		28,859		24,362		79,700		69,244
Intermodal Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	22,297	$	25,939	$	65,871	$	76,061
Loads		8,897		10,573		26,578		31,932
Average tractors		87		89		85		87
Brokerage Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)	$	27,355	$	20,999	$	82,415	$	61,636
Loads		16,059		12,781		47,510		36,790

(1) Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 75 and 50 tractors as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 to Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

							Dollar			Percentage
							Change			Change
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,			September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2019 vs. 2018			2019 vs. 2018
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	82,931		$	80,563		$	2,368			2.9	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		12,056			13,357			(1,301	)		(9.7	)
Total Truckload revenue		94,987			93,920			1,067			1.1
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		59,281			48,500			10,781			22.2
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		11,053			10,291			762			7.4
Total Dedicated revenue		70,334			58,791			11,543			19.6
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		19,336			21,735			(2,399	)		(11.0	)
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		2,961			4,204			(1,243	)		(29.6	)
Total Intermodal revenue		22,297			25,939			(3,642	)		(14.0	)
Brokerage revenue		27,355			20,999			6,356			30.3
Total operating revenue	$	214,973		$	199,649		$	15,324			7.7	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	6,956		$	10,026		$	(3,070	)		(30.6	)%
Dedicated		9,920			5,249			4,671			89.0
Intermodal		1,210			2,507			(1,297	)		(51.7	)
Brokerage		1,948			1,211			737			60.9
Total operating income	$	20,034		$	18,993		$	1,041			5.5	%
Operating ratio(1):
Truckload		92.7	%		89.3	%
Dedicated		85.9			91.1
Intermodal		94.6			90.3
Brokerage		92.9			94.2
Consolidated operating ratio		90.7	%		90.5	%

(1) Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

Our operating revenue increased $15.3 million, or 7.7%, to $215.0 million in the 2019 period from $199.6 million in the 2018 period. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $17.1 million, or 10.0%, to $188.9 million in the 2019 period from $171.8 million in the 2018 period. This increase was due to a $10.8 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $6.4 million increase in Brokerage revenue, and a $2.4 million increase in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by a $2.4 million decrease in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $26.1 million in the 2019 period from $27.9 million in the 2018 period.

Truckload segment revenue increased $1.1 million, or 1.1%, to $95.0 million in the 2019 period from $93.9 million in the 2018 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $2.4 million, or 2.9%, to $82.9 million in the 2019 period from $80.6 million in the 2018 period due to an increase in our average number of tractors partially offset by a decrease in our average revenue per tractor in the 2019 period. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to an increase in salaries and wages as a percentage of revenue.

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Dedicated segment revenue increased $11.5 million, or 19.6%, to $70.3 million in the 2019 period from $58.8 million in the 2018 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 22.2% primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers and an increase in our average revenue per tractor. The improvement in the operating ratio for our Dedicated segment was primarily due to an increase in our average revenue per tractor along with multiple cost control measures.

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $3.6 million, or 14.0%, to $22.3 million in the 2019 period from $25.9 million in the 2018 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 11.0% from the 2018 period due to a decrease in load volume. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to increases in purchased transportation, net fuel expense and salaries and wages as a percentage of revenue.

Brokerage segment revenue increased $6.4 million, or 30.3%, to $27.4 million in the 2019 period from $21.0 million in the 2018 period due to increases in both volume and rates with our customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to multiple cost control measures.

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:

	Dollar Change			Percentage Change			Percentage of Operating Revenue
	Three Months Ended September 30,			Three Months Ended September 30,			Three Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019 vs. 2018			2019 vs. 2018			2019			2018
Operating revenue	$	15,324			7.7	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits		5,261			8.2			32.2			32.1
Purchased transportation		4,568			12.7			18.8			18.0
Fuel and fuel taxes		(383	)		(1.2	)		14.5			15.9
Supplies and maintenance		1,542			14.6			5.6			5.3
Depreciation		2,018			9.1			11.3			11.2
Operating taxes and licenses		247			10.3			1.2			1.2
Insurance and claims		1,051			12.3			4.5			4.3
Communications and utilities		238			14.3			0.9			0.8
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(724	)		(39.5	)		(1.2	)		(0.9	)
Other		465			8.6			2.7			2.7
Total operating expenses		14,283			7.9			90.7			90.5
Operating income		1,041			5.5			9.3			9.5
Other		(135	)		(112.5	)		(0.1	)		(0.1	)
Income before income taxes		1,176			6.2			9.4			9.6
Income taxes expense		(154	)		(4.0	)		1.7			1.9
Net income	$	1,330			8.7	%		7.7	%		7.6	%

Salaries, wages and benefits consist of compensation for our employees, including both driver and non-driver employees, employees’ health insurance, 401(k) plan contributions and other fringe benefits. These expenses vary depending upon the size of our Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal tractor fleets, the ratio of company drivers to independent contractors, our efficiency, our experience with employees’ health insurance claims, changes in health care premiums and other factors. Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $5.3 million, or 8.2%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. This increase resulted primarily from additional company driver compensation expense of $5.7 million, partially offset by a decrease in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees.

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Purchased transportation consists of amounts payable to railroads and carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with Brokerage and Intermodal operations and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment. This category will vary depending upon the amount and rates, including fuel surcharges, we pay to third-party railroad and motor carriers, the ratio of company drivers versus independent contractors and the amount of fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors. Purchased transportation expense increased $4.6 million in total, or 12.7%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment increased $5.4 million to $23.1 million in the 2019 period from $17.7 million in the 2018 period, primarily due to an increase in brokerage revenue. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased $1.6 million to $14.8 million in the 2019 period from $16.4 million in the 2018 period. This decrease was due to decreased intermodal revenue. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $720,000 in the 2019 period. We expect our purchased transportation expense to increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $383,000, or 1.2%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) increased $867,000, or 11.8%, to $8.2 million in the 2019 period from $7.3 million in the 2018 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $3.0 million from $3.5 million in the 2018 period. Net fuel expense increased slightly to 5.1% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 4.9% in the 2018 period. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. Auxiliary power units, which we have installed in our company-owned tractors, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.

Supplies and maintenance consist of repairs, maintenance, tires, parts, oil and engine fluids, along with load-specific expenses including loading/unloading, tolls, pallets and trailer hostling. Our supplies and maintenance expense increased $1.5 million, or 14.6%, from the 2018 period primarily due to higher outside repair and parts costs.

Depreciation relates to owned tractors, trailers, auxiliary power units, communication units, terminal facilities and other assets. The $2.0 million increase in depreciation was primarily due to an increase in the size of our fleet. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, which will result in greater depreciation over the useful life.

Insurance and claims consist of the costs of insurance premiums and accruals we make for claims within our self-insured retention amounts, primarily for personal injury, property damage, physical damage to our equipment, cargo claims and workers’ compensation claims. These expenses will vary primarily based upon the frequency and severity of our accident experience, our self-insured retention levels and the market for insurance. The $1.1 million increase in insurance and claims in the 2019 period was primarily due to an increase in the cost of physical damage claims related to our tractors and trailers. Our significant self-insured retention exposes us to the possibility of significant fluctuations in claims expense between periods which could materially impact our financial results depending on the frequency, severity and timing of claims.

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment increased to $2.6 million in the 2019 period from $1.8 million in the 2018 period primarily due to an increase in the number of tractors sold. Future gains or losses on dispositions of revenue equipment will be impacted by the market for used revenue equipment, which is beyond our control.

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating income improved 5.5% to $20.0 million in the 2019 period from $19.0 million in the 2018 period. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 90.7% in the 2019 period and 90.5% in the 2018 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 92.7% in the 2019 period and 89.3% in the 2018 period, for our Dedicated segment was 85.9% in the 2019 period and 91.1% in the 2018 period, for our Intermodal segment was 94.6% in the 2019 period and 90.3% in the 2018 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 92.9% in the 2019 period and 94.2% in the 2018 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, increased to 89.4% in the 2019 period from 88.9% in the 2018 period.

The increase in our other non-operating income was primarily due to additional interest income earned in the 2019 period, partially offset by an operating loss in the 2019 period for MWL, a 45% owned affiliate.

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Our effective income tax rate was 18.2% in the 2019 period and 20.2% in the 2018 period. The 2019 and 2018 periods included additional income tax benefits of $1.4 million and $630,000, respectively, resulting from certain discrete tax benefits included in our tax filings in the periods which were not previously recognized. These estimated benefits are net of reserves which are based on our evaluation of the current facts, circumstances and information available.

As a result of the factors described above, net income improved 8.7% to $16.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the 2019 period from $15.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the 2018 period.

Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

							Dollar			Percentage
							Change			Change
	Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,			September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2019 vs. 2018			2019 vs. 2018
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	246,313		$	241,304		$	5,009			2.1	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		36,418			40,037			(3,619	)		(9.0	)
Total Truckload revenue		282,731			281,341			1,390			0.5
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		164,365			138,096			26,269			19.0
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		30,704			26,499			4,205			15.9
Total Dedicated revenue		195,069			164,595			30,474			18.5
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		56,618			63,834			(7,216	)		(11.3	)
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		9,253			12,227			(2,974	)		(24.3	)
Total Intermodal revenue		65,871			76,061			(10,190	)		(13.4	)
Brokerage revenue		82,415			61,636			20,779			33.7
Total operating revenue	$	626,086		$	583,633		$	42,453			7.3	%
Operating income:
Truckload	$	22,556		$	25,530		$	(2,974	)		(11.6	)%
Dedicated		23,135			13,321			9,814			73.7
Intermodal		5,140			7,997			(2,857	)		(35.7	)
Brokerage		6,880			3,962			2,918			73.6
Total operating income	$	57,711		$	50,810		$	6,901			13.6	%
Operating ratio(1):
Truckload		92.0	%		90.9	%
Dedicated		88.1			91.9
Intermodal		92.2			89.5
Brokerage		91.7			93.6
Consolidated operating ratio		90.8	%		91.3	%

(1) Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

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Our operating revenue increased $42.5 million, or 7.3%, to $626.1 million in the 2019 period from $583.6 million in the 2018 period. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $44.8 million, or 8.9%, to $549.7 million in the 2019 period from $504.9 million in the 2018 period. This increase was due to a $26.3 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $20.8 million increase in Brokerage revenue, and a $5.0 million increase in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by a $7.2 million decrease in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $76.4 million in the 2019 period from $78.8 million in the 2018 period. A shift of a portion of line haul revenue to fuel surcharge revenue, which began in mid-first quarter of 2018 as a result of changes in a number of customer agreements, reduced our revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $12.8 million in the 2019 period and by $9.3 million in the 2018 period, while increasing our fuel surcharge revenue by the same amounts.

Truckload segment revenue increased $1.4 million, or 0.5%, to $282.7 million in the 2019 period from $281.3 million in the 2018 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $5.0 million, or 2.1%, to $246.3 million in the 2019 period from $241.3 million in the 2018 period primarily due to increases in our average number of tractors and in our average revenue per tractor in the 2019 period. The shift from line haul revenue to fuel surcharge revenue as a result of changes in a number of customer agreements decreased our Truckload revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $2.7 million in the 2019 period and by $2.1 million in the 2018 period, while increasing our fuel surcharge revenue by the same amounts. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to an increase in salaries and wages as a percentage of revenue.

Dedicated segment revenue increased $30.5 million, or 18.5%, to $195.1 million in the 2019 period from $164.6 million in the 2018 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 19.0% primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers and an increase in our average revenue per tractor. The shift from line haul revenue to fuel surcharge revenue as a result of changes in a number of customer agreements decreased our Dedicated revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $10.1 million in the 2019 period and by $7.2 million in the 2018 period, while increasing our fuel surcharge revenue by the same amounts. The improvement in the operating ratio for our Dedicated segment was primarily due to an increase in our average revenue per tractor, startup costs associated with new business that began in the 2018 period and multiple cost control measures.

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $10.2 million, or 13.4%, to $65.9 million in the 2019 period from $76.1 million in the 2018 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 11.3% from the 2018 period due to a decrease in load volume. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to increases in both salaries and wages and net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue.

Brokerage segment revenue increased $20.8 million, or 33.7%, to $82.4 million in the 2019 period from $61.6 million in the 2018 period due to increases in both volume and rates with our customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2019 period was primarily due to a decrease in the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage of our Brokerage revenue along with multiple cost control measures.

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The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:

	Dollar Change			Percentage Change			Percentage of Operating Revenue
	Nine Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019 vs. 2018			2019 vs. 2018			2019			2018
Operating revenue	$	42,453			7.3	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits		15,326			8.2			32.2			31.9
Purchased transportation		11,411			10.8			18.7			18.2
Fuel and fuel taxes		(2,540	)		(2.7	)		14.4			15.8
Supplies and maintenance		3,478			11.1			5.5			5.4
Depreciation		4,015			6.1			11.2			11.4
Operating taxes and licenses		367			5.2			1.2			1.2
Insurance and claims		1,557			5.6			4.7			4.8
Communications and utilities		808			16.2			0.9			0.9
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(131	)		(2.5	)		(0.9	)		(0.9	)
Other		1,261			7.8			2.8			2.8
Total operating expenses		35,552			6.7			90.8			91.3
Operating income		6,901			13.6			9.2			8.7
Other		(481	)		(107.6	)		(0.1	)		(0.1	)
Income before income taxes		7,382			14.4			9.4			8.8
Income taxes expense		1,349			11.3			2.1			2.1
Net income	$	6,033			15.4	%		7.2	%		6.7	%

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $15.3 million, or 8.2%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. This increase resulted primarily from additional company driver compensation expense of $14.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees.

Purchased transportation expense increased $11.4 million in total, or 10.8%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment increased $16.8 million to $68.6 million in the 2019 period from $51.7 million in the 2018 period, primarily due to an increase in brokerage revenue. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased $5.7 million to $42.9 million in the 2019 period from $48.7 million in the 2018 period. This decrease was due to decreased intermodal revenue. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $310,000 in the 2019 period. We expect our purchased transportation expense to increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $2.5 million, or 2.7%, in the 2019 period from the 2018 period. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) decreased $1.8 million, or 7.6%, to $22.2 million in the 2019 period from $24.0 million in the 2018 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $8.7 million from $10.3 million in the 2018 period. Net fuel expense decreased to 4.7% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 5.4% in the 2018 period. The net fuel expense to revenue improved primarily due to a $12.8 million shift during the 2019 period of a portion of line haul revenue to fuel surcharge revenue as a result of changes in a number of customer agreements, compared with a $9.3 million shift to fuel surcharge revenue in the 2018 period. An increase in our revenue rate per mile in the 2019 period, along with a decrease in the United States Department of Energy national average cost of fuel to $3.06 per gallon from $3.15 per gallon in the 2018 period, further improved this ratio. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. Auxiliary power units, which we have installed in our company-owned tractors, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.

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Our supplies and maintenance expense increased $3.5 million, or 11.1%, from the 2018 period primarily due to higher outside repair and parts costs.

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating income improved 13.6% to $57.7 million in the 2019 period from $50.8 million in the 2018 period. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” improved to 90.8% in the 2019 period from 91.3% in the 2018 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 92.0% in the 2019 period and 90.9% in the 2018 period, for our Dedicated segment was 88.1% in the 2019 period and 91.9% in the 2018 period, for our Intermodal segment was 92.2% in the 2019 period and 89.5% in the 2018 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 91.7% in the 2019 period and 93.6% in the 2018 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 89.5% in the 2019 period from 89.9% in the 2018 period.

The increase in our other non-operating income was primarily due to additional interest income earned in the 2019 period, partially offset by an operating loss in the 2019 period for MWL, a 45% owned affiliate.

Our effective income tax rate decreased slightly to 22.7% in the 2019 period from 23.3% in the 2018 period.

As a result of the factors described above, net income improved 15.4% to $45.3 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the 2019 period from $39.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the 2018 period.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. Our primary sources of liquidity are funds provided by operations and our revolving credit facility. A portion of our tractor fleet is provided by independent contractors who own and operate their own equipment. We have no capital expenditure requirements relating to those drivers who own their tractors or obtain financing through third parties.

The table below reflects our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used for investing activities and net cash flows used for financing activities for the periods indicated.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2019			2018
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	$	119,610		$	112,097
Net cash flows used for investing activities		(96,078	)		(88,842	)
Net cash flows used for financing activities		(39,815	)		(3,307	)

In 2007, our Board of Directors approved, and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. In 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately two million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 3.3 million shares in August 2017 to reflect the five-for-three stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on July 7, 2017. In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

We repurchased and retired 200,000 shares of common stock for $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. We did not repurchase any shares in the first nine months of 2019 or in the rest of 2018. As of September 30, 2019, future repurchases of up to $34 million, or 1.8 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

              In the first nine months of 2019, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $119.6 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $92.6 million, to pay cash dividends of $40.4 million, and to upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.1 million, resulting in a $16.3 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents. In the first nine months of 2018, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $112.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $82.4 million, to acquire and upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $5.4 million, and to pay cash dividends of $4.1 million, resulting in a $19.9 million increase in cash and cash equivalents. Beginning in 2018, our net cash flows have been increased by the new tax laws established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduces the federal corporate statutory income tax rate and establishes bonus depreciation that allows for full expensing of qualified assets.

We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $44 million for the remainder of 2019. We paid cash dividends totaling $40.4 million in the first three quarters of 2019 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.65 per share of common stock in September, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.03 per share of common stock in each of the first three quarters of 2019. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first three quarters of 2018 and totaled $4.1 million. We currently expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. The payment of cash dividends in the future, and the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, and certain corporate law requirements, as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

In August 2018, we entered into an amendment to our unsecured committed credit facility which reduces the aggregate principal amount of the facility from $40.0 million to $30.0 million and extends the term of the facility to August 2023. At September 30, 2019, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $15.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $14.3 million. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the lender’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins.

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Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in a total amount of up to $65 million in 2019 was obtained from the lender in August 2019. This facility also contains restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2019.

	Payments Due by Period
(In thousands)	Remainder of 2019		2020 And 2021		2022 And 2023		Thereafter		Total
Purchase obligations for revenue equipment	$	41,335	$	1,574	$	—	$	—	$	42,909
Operating lease obligations		145		756		281		62		1,244
Total	$	41,480	$	2,330	$	281	$	62	$	44,153

Due to uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows, the obligation under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan at September 30, 2019 of 250,078 shares of Company common stock with a value of $5.2 million has been excluded from the above table.

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than standby letters of credit maintained in connection with our self-insurance programs in the amount of $15.7 million along with purchase obligations and operating leases summarized above in our summary of contractual obligations, we did not have any other material off-balance sheet arrangements at September 30, 2019.

Inflation and Fuel Costs

Most of our operating expenses are inflation-sensitive, with inflation generally producing increased costs of operations. During the last two years, the most significant effects of inflation have been on revenue equipment prices, accident claims, health insurance and employee compensation. We attempt to limit the effects of inflation through increases in freight rates and cost control efforts.

In addition to inflation, fluctuations in fuel prices can affect our profitability. We require substantial amounts of fuel to operate our tractors and power the temperature-control units on our trailers. Substantially all of our contracts with customers contain fuel surcharge provisions. Although we historically have been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges and higher rates, such increases usually are not fully recovered. These fuel surcharge provisions are not effective in mitigating the fuel price increases related to non-revenue miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling.

Seasonality

Our tractor productivity generally decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations and some shippers reduce their shipments. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased claims, lower fuel efficiency and more equipment repairs.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses in our consolidated condensed financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates, assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated condensed financial statements.

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Revenue Recognition. We account for our revenue in accordance with FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which we adopted on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The new revenue standard requires us to recognize revenue and related expenses within each of our four reporting segments over time, compared with our former policy in which we recorded revenue and related expenses on the date shipment of freight was completed.

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 principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. 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 within our consolidated condensed statements of operations.

Accounts Receivable. We are dependent upon a limited number of customers, and, as a result, our trade accounts receivable are highly concentrated. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $382,000 as of September 30, 2019 and $348,000 as of December 31, 2018. 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.

Property and Equipment. The transportation industry requires significant capital investments. Our net property and equipment was $629.9 million as of September 30, 2019 and $588.2 million as of December 31, 2018. Our depreciation expense was $70.3 million for the first nine months of 2019 and $66.3 million for the first nine months of 2018. We compute depreciation of our property and equipment for financial reporting purposes based on the cost of each asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life. We determine and periodically evaluate our estimate of the projected salvage values and useful lives primarily by considering the market for used equipment, prior useful lives and changes in technology. We have not changed our policy regarding salvage values as a percentage of initial cost or useful lives of tractors and trailers within the last ten years. We believe that our policies and past estimates have been reasonable. Actual results could differ from these estimates. A 5% decrease in estimated salvage values would have decreased our net property and equipment as of September 30, 2019 by approximately $13.6 million, or 2.2%.

Impairment of Assets. 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 were considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized would be 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.

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. However, we could suffer a series of losses within our self-insured retention limits or losses over our policy limits, which could negatively affect our financial condition and operating results. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim and for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. We have $15.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities. The insurance and claims accruals in our consolidated condensed balance sheets were $30.6 million as of September 30, 2019 and $28.1 million as of December 31, 2018. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims. We periodically evaluate and adjust these reserves based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and our estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Actual results could differ from these current estimates. In addition, to the extent that claims are litigated and not settled, jury awards are difficult to predict.

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Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation. We have granted stock options to certain employees and non-employee directors. We recognize compensation expense for all stock options net of an estimated forfeiture rate and only record compensation expense for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (normally the vesting period). Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock options require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock options and stock price volatility. We use the Black-Scholes model to value our stock option awards. We believe that future volatility will not materially differ from our historical volatility. Thus, we use the historical volatility of our common stock over the expected life of the award. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and we use different assumptions, stock option compensation expense could be materially different in the future.

We have also granted performance unit awards to certain employees which are subject to vesting requirements over a five-year period, primarily based on our earnings growth. The fair value of each performance unit is based on the closing market price on the date of grant. We recognize compensation expense for these awards based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the performance and service vesting requirements of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. 

We are exposed to a variety of market risks, most importantly the effects of the price and availability of diesel fuel. We require substantial amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors and power the temperature-control units on our trailers. The price and availability of diesel fuel can vary, and are subject to political, economic and market factors that are beyond our control. Significant increases in diesel fuel costs could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Based upon our fuel consumption in the first nine months of 2019, a 5% increase in the average cost of diesel fuel would have increased our fuel expense by $4.4 million.

We have historically been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in diesel fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge programs are widely accepted among our customers, though they can vary somewhat from customer-to-customer. These fuel surcharges, which adjust weekly with the cost of fuel, enable us to recover a substantial portion of the higher cost of fuel as prices increase. These fuel surcharge provisions are not effective in mitigating the fuel price increases related to non-revenue miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling. In addition, we have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in our trailers’ refrigeration units.

While we do not currently have any outstanding hedging instruments to mitigate this market risk, we may enter into derivatives or other financial instruments to hedge a portion of our fuel costs in the future.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2019. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We intend to periodically evaluate our disclosure controls and procedures as required by the Exchange Act Rules.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.     Risk Factors.

We do not believe there are any material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A to Part 1 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Item 6.           Exhibits.

Item No.	Item	Method of Filing
10.26	Ninth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2019, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 14, 2019.
31.1	Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Randolph L. Marten, the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	Filed with this Report.
31.2	Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by James J. Hinnendael, the Registrant’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	Filed with this Report.
32.1	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	Filed with this Report.
101	The following financial information from Marten Transport, Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2019, formatted in iXBRL, or Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language: (i) Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (iv)  Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.	Filed with this Report.
104	The cover page from Marten Transport, Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, formatted in iXBRL, included in Exhibit 101	Filed with this Report.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
Dated: November 8, 2019	By:	/s/ Randolph L. Marten
		Randolph L. Marten
		Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: November 8, 2019	By:	/s/ James J. Hinnendael
		James J. Hinnendael
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Randolph L. Marten, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Marten Transport, Ltd.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:      November 8, 2019
	/s/ Randolph L. Marten
	Randolph L. Marten Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, James J. Hinnendael, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Marten Transport, Ltd.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:      November 8, 2019
	/s/ James J. Hinnendael
	James J. Hinnendael Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. §1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Marten Transport, Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best knowledge of the undersigned:

(1)     The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)     The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 8, 2019	/s/ Randolph L. Marten
	Randolph L. Marten
	Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ James J. Hinnendael
	James J. Hinnendael
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	192,000,000	192,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	54,687,065	54,466,691
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	54,687,065	54,466,691

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Note 1 - Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

(1) Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements, and therefore do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly present our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the results for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements should be read with reference to the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Note 11 - Equity Investment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

(11) Equity Investment

We own a 45% equity interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry. A non-related party owns the other 55% equity interest in MWL. We account for our ownership interest in MWL under the equity method of accounting. We received $2.0 million and $4.6 million of our revenue for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL in the first nine months of 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, we also had a trade receivable in the amount of $413,000 from MWL and an accrued liability of $1.9 million to MWL for the excess of payments by MWL’s customers into our lockbox account over the amounts drawn on the account by MWL.

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Note 7 - Share Repurchase Program

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Treasury Stock [Text Block]

(7) Share Repurchase Program

In 2007, our Board of Directors approved, and we announced a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions and in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. In 2015, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in the share repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of up to $40 million, or approximately two million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 3.3 million shares in August 2017 to reflect the five-for-three stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on July 7, 2017. In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

We repurchased and retired 200,000 shares of common stock for $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. We did not repurchase any shares in the first nine months of 2019 or in the rest of 2018. As of September 30, 2019, future repurchases of up to $34 million, or 1.8 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

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Note 10 - Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Stock or Unit Option Plan Expense	$ 1.4	$ 2.1

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 30,000	$ 40,000
Long-term Line of Credit, Total	$ 0		$ 0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	15,700		$ 14,600
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 14,300
Line Of Credit Facility Dividend Restrictions Percentage Of Net Income Limit		25.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Waiver to Pay Dividends, Maximum		$ 65,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate, at Point in Time	2.70%

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Note 6 - Leases - Maturity of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Remainder of 2019	$ 145
2020	431
2021	325
2022 - 2024	343
Total lease payments	1,244
Adjust to present value	(67)
Total operating lease liabilities	$ 1,177

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Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes Tables

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	82,931	$	80,563	$	246,313	$	241,304
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		12,056		13,357		36,418		40,037
Total Truckload revenue		94,987		93,920		282,731		281,341
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		59,281		48,500		164,365		138,096
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		11,053		10,291		30,704		26,499
Total Dedicated revenue		70,334		58,791		195,069		164,595
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		19,336		21,735		56,618		63,834
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		2,961		4,204		9,253		12,227
Total Intermodal revenue		22,297		25,939		65,871		76,061
Brokerage revenue		27,355		20,999		82,415		61,636
Total operating revenue	$	214,973	$	199,649	$	626,086	$	583,633
Operating income:
Truckload	$	6,956	$	10,026	$	22,556	$	25,530
Dedicated		9,920		5,249		23,135		13,321
Intermodal		1,210		2,507		5,140		7,997
Brokerage		1,948		1,211		6,880		3,962
Total operating income	$	20,034	$	18,993	$	57,711	$	50,810

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Note 15 - Use of Estimates

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

(15) Use of Estimates

We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated condensed 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 condensed 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.

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Note 3 - Earnings Per Common Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Numerator:
Net income	$ 16,587	$ 15,190	$ 13,546	$ 15,257	$ 13,702	$ 10,331	$ 45,323	$ 39,290
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares (in shares)	54,655			54,661			54,608	54,615
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	479			533			470	536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	55,134			55,194			55,078	55,151
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30			$ 0.28			$ 0.83	$ 0.72
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30			$ 0.28			$ 0.82	$ 0.71

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Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total	$ 1.2
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] | Revenue Equipment [Member]
Purchase Obligation, Future Minimum Payments, Remainder of Fiscal Year	41.3
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	$ 1.6

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Note 3 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details Textual) - shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	209,300	119,500	318,600	119,500
Unvested Performance Unit Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	67,516	22,646	68,516	74,987

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Note 6 - Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes Tables

Lease, Balance Sheet Classification [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)	Balance at September 30, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	1,177	(a)
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		463
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		714
Total liabilities	$	1,177

Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]

	Amount
Maturities:
Remainder of 2019	$	145
2020		431
2021		325
2022 - 2024		343
Total lease payments		1,244
Adjust to present value		(67	)
Total operating lease liabilities	$	1,177

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Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

(14) Revenue and Business Segments

We combine our five current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. These four reporting segments are also the appropriate categories for the disaggregation of our revenue under FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of refrigerated and dry truck-based transportation capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.

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, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

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 agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for 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 through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

Our customer agreements are typically for one-year terms except for our Dedicated agreements which range from three to five years with annual rate reviews. Under FASB ASC 606, the contract date for each individual load within each of our four reporting segments is generally the date that each load is tendered to and accepted by us. For each load transported within each of our four reporting segments, the entire amount of revenue to be recognized is a single performance obligation and our agreements with our customers detail the per-mile charges for line haul and fuel surcharges, along with the rates for loading and unloading, stop offs and drops, equipment detention and other accessorial services, which is the transaction price. There are no discounts that would be a material right or consideration payable to a customer. We are required to recognize revenue and related expenses over time, from load pickup to delivery, for each load within each of our four reporting segments. We base our calculation of the amount of revenue to record in each period for individual loads picking up in one period and delivering in the following period using the number of hours estimated to be incurred within each period applied to each estimated transaction price. Contract assets for this estimated revenue are classified within prepaid expenses and other within our consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. We had no impairment losses on contract assets in the first nine months of 2019 or in 2018. We bill our customers for loads after delivery is complete with standard payment terms of 30 days.

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 principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. 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 within our consolidated condensed statements of operations.

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)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue	$	82,931	$	80,563	$	246,313	$	241,304
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		12,056		13,357		36,418		40,037
Total Truckload revenue		94,987		93,920		282,731		281,341
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		59,281		48,500		164,365		138,096
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue		11,053		10,291		30,704		26,499
Total Dedicated revenue		70,334		58,791		195,069		164,595
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		19,336		21,735		56,618		63,834
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		2,961		4,204		9,253		12,227
Total Intermodal revenue		22,297		25,939		65,871		76,061
Brokerage revenue		27,355		20,999		82,415		61,636
Total operating revenue	$	214,973	$	199,649	$	626,086	$	583,633
Operating income:
Truckload	$	6,956	$	10,026	$	22,556	$	25,530
Dedicated		9,920		5,249		23,135		13,321
Intermodal		1,210		2,507		5,140		7,997
Brokerage		1,948		1,211		6,880		3,962
Total operating income	$	20,034	$	18,993	$	57,711	$	50,810

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $13.7 million and $12.8 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $9.0 million and $7.8 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $382,000 and $337,000 in the three-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $40.1 million and $39.4 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $25.4 million and $21.9 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $3.7 million and $4.1 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $1.1 million and $960,000 in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Number of Operating Segments			5
Number of Reportable Segments			4
Customer Contract Term			1 year
Capitalized Contract Cost, Impairment Loss			$ 0	$ 0
Dedicated [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	$ 9,000,000.0	$ 7,800,000	$ 25,400,000	21,900,000
Dedicated [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Customer Contract Term			3 years
Dedicated [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Customer Contract Term			5 years
Truckload [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	13,700,000	12,800,000	$ 40,100,000	39,400,000
Intermodal [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	1,200,000	1,400,000	3,700,000	4,100,000
Brokerage [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	$ 382,000	$ 337,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 960,000

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Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 40,480	$ 56,763
Receivables:
Trade, net	85,149	83,033
Other	3,694	3,808
Prepaid expenses and other	18,576	19,924
Total current assets	147,899	163,528
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other	891,326	816,430
Accumulated depreciation	(261,474)	(228,200)
Net property and equipment	629,852	588,230
Other noncurrent assets	3,204	2,146
Total assets	780,955	753,904
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	27,777	15,704
Insurance and claims accruals	30,647	28,103
Accrued and other current liabilities	26,506	28,166
Total current liabilities	84,930	71,973
Deferred income taxes	112,454	105,977
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	714	0
Total liabilities	198,098	177,950
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 192,000,000 shares authorized; 54,687,065 shares at September 30, 2019, and 54,466,691 shares at December 31, 2018, issued and outstanding	547	545
Additional paid-in capital	78,840	76,814
Retained earnings	503,470	498,595
Total stockholders’ equity	582,857	575,954
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 780,955	$ 753,904

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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 45,323	$ 39,290
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	70,295	66,280
Gain on disposition of assets	(5,337)	(5,206)
Deferred income taxes	6,477	7,070
Net noncurrent operating lease assets and liabilities	(463)	0
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense	1,395	2,102
Distribution from affiliate	0	45
Equity in loss (earnings) from affiliate	144	(433)
Adoption of accounting standard	0	485
Changes in other current operating items:
Receivables	(1,418)	(8,103)
Prepaid expenses and other	1,348	994
Accounts payable	1,769	2,160
Insurance and claims accruals	2,544	(882)
Accrued and other current liabilities	(2,467)	8,295
Net cash provided by operating activities	119,610	112,097
Cash flows used for investing activities:
Other	(25)	(28)
Net cash used for investing activities	(96,078)	(88,842)
Cash flows used for financing activities:
Dividends on common stock	(40,448)	(4,098)
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises	1,417	895
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld	(784)	(104)
Net cash used for financing activities	(39,815)	(3,307)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(16,283)	19,948
Beginning of period	56,763	15,791
End of period	40,480	35,739
Supplemental non-cash disclosure:
Change in property and equipment not yet paid	10,527	(2,224)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes	4,447	2,805
Interest	39	36
Revenue Equipment [Member]
Cash flows used for investing activities:
Revenue equipment additions	(127,156)	(130,856)
Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions	34,525	48,440
Buildings And Land Office Equipment And Other [Member]
Cash flows used for investing activities:
Revenue equipment additions	$ (3,422)	$ (6,398)

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Note 10 - Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

(10) Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. During the first nine months of 2019, there were no significant changes to the structure of our stock-based award plans. Pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and performance unit awards recorded in the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

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Note 6 - Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block]

(6) Leases

We lease facilities, drop yards, office space, land, chassis and equipment. All leases are classified as operating leases. We do not have any financing leases. Payments for operating leases that extend beyond 12 months are fixed.

Some leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from six months to three years or more. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and is considered in the determination of the operating lease assets and lease liabilities once reasonably certain of exercise.

Management has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and these leases are not capitalized. This primarily affects drop yards and chassis, for which we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The classification of operating leases in our consolidated condensed balance sheet was as follows:

(In thousands)	Balance at September 30, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	1,177	(a)
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		463
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		714
Total liabilities	$	1,177

(a) Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

The maturity of the operating lease liabilities is as follows:

	Amount
Maturities:
Remainder of 2019	$	145
2020		431
2021		325
2022 - 2024		343
Total lease payments		1,244
Adjust to present value		(67	)
Total operating lease liabilities	$	1,177

The weighted-average remaining lease term at September 30, 2019 was 39 months and at January 1, 2019 was 29 months. The weighted-average discount rate was 2.5% at September 30, 2019 and 2.1% at January 1, 2019. The operating leases identified do not contain implicit rates, accordingly, we use our incremental borrowing rate at the time of lease inception to determine the present value of lease payments.

Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled $529,000. Cash paid for capitalized operating leases during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $459,000.

Total operating lease expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $1.3 million and is reported within other operating expenses in our consolidated condensed statements of operations. This amount includes $846,000 of short-term lease expense with an initial term of 12 months or less.

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Note 5 - Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Purchase of Fuel, Tires and Related Services [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 311,000	$ 233,000
Tire Purchases [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 1,200,000	$ 2,000,000.0

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Note 7 - Share Repurchase Program (Details Textual) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 07, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2018 shares	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares	Aug. 15, 2017 shares	Nov. 04, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2007 shares
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased | shares			1,800,000		1,800,000	3,300,000	2,000,000	1,000,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount | $			$ 34.0		$ 34.0		$ 40.0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares | shares		200,000	0	0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value | $		$ 3.8
Stock Split from [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	5
Stock Split To [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	3

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Note 11 - Equity Investment (Details Textual) - M W L [Member] - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	45.00%
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage by Non-related Party	55.00%
Revenue from Related Parties	$ 2,000,000.0	$ 4,600,000
Due from Affiliates	413,000
Due to Affiliate	$ 1,900,000

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Note 2 - Adoption of New Accounting Standard (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	[1]	$ 1,177
Operating Lease, Liability, Total		$ 1,177
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset			$ 1,100
Operating Lease, Liability, Total			$ 1,100

[1] Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

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Note 2 - Adoption of New Accounting Standard (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes Tables

Cumulative Effect of Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements on Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)	Balance at December 31, 2018		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			Balance at January 1, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,146	$	1,135	(a)	$	3,281
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		28,166		540			28,706
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		595			595

	Balance at September 30, 2019
(In thousands)	Prior to Adoption of ASC 842		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			As Reported
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,027	$	1,177	(a)	$	3,204
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		26,043		463			26,506
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		714			714

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Note 2 - Adoption of New Accounting Standard

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

(2) Adoption of New Accounting Standard

We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 842), as of January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach. In addition, we elected the practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease classification.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of additional operating lease assets and lease liabilities of approximately $1.1 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The standard did not impact our consolidated net earnings and had no impact on cash flows.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated condensed balance sheet on January 1, 2019 for the adoption of the new leasing standard was as follows:

(In thousands)	Balance at December 31, 2018		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			Balance at January 1, 2019
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,146	$	1,135	(a)	$	3,281
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		28,166		540			28,706
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		595			595

(a) Operating lease assets balance at January 1, 2019.

              The impact of the adoption of the new leasing standard on our consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 was as follows:

	Balance at September 30, 2019
(In thousands)	Prior to Adoption of ASC 842		Adjustments Due to ASC 842			As Reported
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets	$	2,027	$	1,177	(a)	$	3,204
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities		26,043		463			26,506
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		-		714			714

(a) Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating revenue	$ 214,973	$ 199,649	$ 626,086	$ 583,633
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits	69,312	64,051	201,449	186,123
Purchased transportation	40,435	35,867	117,352	105,941
Fuel and fuel taxes	31,275	31,658	89,904	92,444
Supplies and maintenance	12,116	10,574	34,739	31,261
Depreciation	24,290	22,272	70,295	66,280
Operating taxes and licenses	2,651	2,404	7,422	7,055
Insurance and claims	9,618	8,567	29,355	27,798
Communications and utilities	1,901	1,663	5,801	4,993
Gain on disposition of assets	(2,559)	(1,835)	(5,337)	(5,206)
Other	5,900	5,435	17,395	16,134
Total operating expenses	194,939	180,656	568,375	532,823
Operating income	20,034	18,993	57,711	50,810
Other	(255)	(120)	(928)	(447)
Income before income taxes	20,289	19,113	58,639	51,257
Income taxes expense	3,702	3,856	13,316	11,967
Net income	$ 16,587	$ 15,257	$ 45,323	$ 39,290
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.28	$ 0.83	$ 0.72
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	0.30	0.28	0.82	0.71
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.025	$ 0.74	$ 0.075

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Note 6 - Leases - Operating Leases Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Other noncurrent assets	[1]	$ 1,177
Accrued and other current liabilities		463
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		714	$ 595	$ 0
Total liabilities		$ 1,177

[1] Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

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Note 9 - Amendment of Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (Details Textual) - 2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	May 07, 2019 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized	1,300,000
Full Value Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized	558,334

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Note 8 - Dividends

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Dividends [Text Block]

(8) Dividends

In 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. We paid cash dividends totaling $40.4 million in the first three quarters of 2019 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.65 per share of common stock in September, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.03 per share of common stock in each of the first three quarters of 2019. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first three quarters of 2018 and totaled $4.1 million.

Our ability to pay cash dividends is currently limited by restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility, which prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in a total amount of up to $65 million in 2019 was obtained from the lender in August 2019.

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Note 4 - Long-term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

(4) Long-Term Debt

In August 2018, we entered into an amendment to our unsecured committed credit facility which reduces the aggregate principal amount of the facility from $40.0 million to $30.0 million and extends the term of the facility to August 2023. At September 30, 2019, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $15.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $14.3 million. At December 31, 2018, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $14.6 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the lender’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins. The interest rate for the facility that would apply to outstanding principal balances was 2.7% at September 30, 2019.

Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. A waiver allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in a total amount of up to $65 million in 2019 was obtained from the lender in August 2019. This facility also contains restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

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Note 12 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

(12) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.  

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Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 28, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0000799167
Entity Registrant Name	MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Entity File Number	0-15010
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-1140809
Entity Address, Address Line One	129 Marten Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Mondovi
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	54755
City Area Code	715
Local Phone Number	926-4216
Title of 12(b) Security	COMMON STOCK
Trading Symbol	MRTN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		54,688,632

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Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	54,533
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 545	$ 76,413	$ 448,542	$ 525,500
Net income			10,331	10,331
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	57
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 1	285		286
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld		(104)		(104)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		321		321
Dividends on common stock			(1,365)	(1,365)
Adoption of accounting standard at Dec. 31, 2017			485	485
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018	54,590
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 546	76,915	457,993	535,454
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	54,533
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 545	76,413	448,542	525,500
Net income				39,290
Adoption of accounting standard at Dec. 31, 2017			485	485
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018	54,663
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 547	79,304	484,219	564,070
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018	54,590
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 546	76,915	457,993	535,454
Net income			13,702	13,702
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	69
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 1	562		563
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		889		889
Dividends on common stock			(1,366)	(1,366)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018	54,659
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 547	78,366	470,329	549,242
Net income			15,257	15,257
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	4
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		46		46
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		892		892
Dividends on common stock			(1,367)	(1,367)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018	54,663
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 547	79,304	484,219	564,070
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	54,467
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 545	76,814	498,595	575,954
Net income			13,546	13,546
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	105
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 1	291		292
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld		(784)		(784)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		366		366
Dividends on common stock			(1,637)	(1,637)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019	54,572
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 546	76,687	510,504	587,737
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	54,467
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 545	76,814	498,595	575,954
Net income				45,323
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	54,687
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 547	78,840	503,470	582,857
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019	54,572
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 546	76,687	510,504	587,737
Net income			15,190	15,190
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	61
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards		466		466
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		636		636
Dividends on common stock			(1,639)	(1,639)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019	54,633
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 546	77,789	524,055	602,390
Net income			16,587	16,587
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	54
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 1	658		659
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		393		393
Dividends on common stock			(37,172)	(37,172)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	54,687
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 547	$ 78,840	$ 503,470	$ 582,857

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Note 3 - Earnings Per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

(3) Earnings per Common Share

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows:  

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Numerator:
Net income	$	16,587	$	15,257	$	45,323	$	39,290
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares		54,655		54,661		54,608		54,615
Effect of dilutive stock options		479		533		470		536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions		55,134		55,194		55,078		55,151
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.83	$	0.72
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.82	$	0.71

Options totaling 209,300 and 318,600 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and 119,500 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares, due to their exercise prices exceeding the average market price of the common shares, or because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the options to be antidilutive.

Unvested performance unit awards totaling 67,516 and 68,516 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and 22,646 and 74,987 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September, 30, 2018, respectively, were considered outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the performance units to be antidilutive.

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Note 6 - Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term	39 months	29 months
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	2.50%	2.10%
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability	$ 529,000
Operating Lease, Payments	459,000
Other Operating Income (Expense) [Member]
Operating Lease, Cost	1,300,000
Short-term Lease, Cost	$ 846,000
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Renewal Term	6 months
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Renewal Term	3 years

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Note 8 - Dividends (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2019
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock							$ 40,448	$ 4,098
Line Of Credit Facility Dividend Restrictions Percentage Of Net Income Limit									25.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Waiver to Pay Dividends, Maximum									$ 65,000
Special Dividend [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared							$ 0.65
Paid Quarterly [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.025	$ 0.025	$ 0.025

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Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

(13) Commitments and Contingencies

We are committed to new revenue equipment purchases of $41.3 million through the remainder of 2019 and of $1.6 million in 2020. Operating lease obligations through 2024 total $1.2 million.

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, and reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims.

We are also involved in other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based upon present knowledge of the facts, it is remote that the ultimate outcome of any such legal actions will have a material adverse effect upon our long-term financial position or results of operations.

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Note 9 - Amendment of Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

(10) Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. During the first nine months of 2019, there were no significant changes to the structure of our stock-based award plans. Pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and performance unit awards recorded in the first nine months of 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

(9) Amendment of Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

At our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 7, 2019, our stockholders approved an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, which was previously approved and adopted by our Board of Directors, subject to approval by our stockholders. The amendment increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan by 1.3 million shares and the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance pursuant to full-value awards by 558,334 shares. The amendment also adjusted certain numbers to reflect the stock split that occurred in July 2017.

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Note 5 - Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

(5) Related Party Transactions

We purchase fuel and tires and obtain related services from Bauer Built, Inc., or BBI. Jerry M. Bauer, the chairman of the board, chief executive officer and the principal stockholder of BBI, is one of our directors. We paid BBI $311,000 in the first nine months of 2019 and $233,000 in the first nine months of 2018 for fuel, tires and related services. In addition, we paid $1.2 million in the first nine months of 2019 and $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2018 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases.

We provide transportation services to MW Logistics, LLC (MWL) as described in Note 11.

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Note 2 - Adoption of New Accounting Standard - Cumulative Effect of Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements on Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019		Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Other noncurrent assets	$ 3,204		$ 3,281	$ 2,146
Accrued and other current liabilities	26,506		28,706
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	714		595	0
Previous Accounting Guidance [Member]
Other noncurrent assets	2,027			2,146
Accrued and other current liabilities	26,043			28,166
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	0			$ 0
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Other noncurrent assets	1,177	[1]	1,135
Accrued and other current liabilities	463		540
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	$ 714		$ 595

[1] Operating lease assets balance at September 30, 2019.

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Note 3 - Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes Tables

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended September 30,				Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Numerator:
Net income	$	16,587	$	15,257	$	45,323	$	39,290
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares		54,655		54,661		54,608		54,615
Effect of dilutive stock options		479		533		470		536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions		55,134		55,194		55,078		55,151
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.83	$	0.72
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.30	$	0.28	$	0.82	$	0.71

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Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments - Operating Revenue and Operating Income by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating revenue	$ 214,973	$ 199,649	$ 626,086	$ 583,633
Operating Income	20,034	18,993	57,711	50,810
Truckload [Member]
Operating revenue	94,987	93,920	282,731	281,341
Operating Income	6,956	10,026	22,556	25,530
Truckload [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	82,931	80,563	246,313	241,304
Truckload [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	12,056	13,357	36,418	40,037
Dedicated [Member]
Operating revenue	70,334	58,791	195,069	164,595
Operating Income	9,920	5,249	23,135	13,321
Dedicated [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	59,281	48,500	164,365	138,096
Dedicated [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	11,053	10,291	30,704	26,499
Intermodal [Member]
Operating revenue	22,297	25,939	65,871	76,061
Operating Income	1,210	2,507	5,140	7,997
Intermodal [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	19,336	21,735	56,618	63,834
Intermodal [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	2,961	4,204	9,253	12,227
Brokerage [Member]
Operating revenue	27,355	20,999	82,415	61,636
Operating Income	$ 1,948	$ 1,211	$ 6,880	$ 3,962