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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

or

   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Quarter ended June 30, 2020

 

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 55,108,605 as of July 27, 2020.

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

  

June 30,

  

December 31,

 

(In thousands, except share information)

 

2020

  

2019

 
  

(Unaudited)

     

ASSETS

        

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $75,323  $31,461 

Receivables:

        

Trade, net

  83,854   90,712 

Other

  12,639   11,055 

Prepaid expenses and other

  22,906   20,938 

Total current assets

  194,722   154,166 
         

Property and equipment:

        

Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other

  920,608   904,237 

Accumulated depreciation

  (276,412

)

  (263,843

)

Net property and equipment

  644,196   640,394 

Other noncurrent assets

  1,916   2,026 

Total assets

 $840,834  $796,586 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $26,176  $22,917 

Insurance and claims accruals

  35,834   31,729 

Accrued and other current liabilities

  25,569   21,680 

Total current liabilities

  87,579   76,326 

Deferred income taxes

  123,285   122,022 

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

  572   649 

Total liabilities

  211,436   198,997 
         

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; 55,107,805 shares at June 30, 2020, and 54,703,466 shares at December 31, 2019, issued and outstanding

  551   547 

Additional paid-in capital

  83,816   79,465 

Retained earnings

  545,031   517,577 

Total stockholders’ equity

  629,398   597,589 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $840,834  $796,586 

 

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

 

1

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

  

Three Months

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands, except per share information)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Operating revenue

 $212,384  $212,090  $431,030  $411,113 
                 

Operating expenses (income):

                

Salaries, wages and benefits

  73,476   68,613   146,237   132,137 

Purchased transportation

  36,165   38,668   76,610   76,917 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  20,868   30,952   49,165   58,629 

Supplies and maintenance

  11,833   11,502   24,061   22,623 

Depreciation

  25,972   23,462   51,399   46,005 

Operating taxes and licenses

  2,615   2,438   5,254   4,771 

Insurance and claims

  11,633   9,862   23,917   19,737 

Communications and utilities

  1,977   1,950   3,962   3,900 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (2,216

)

  (1,230

)

  (3,771

)

  (2,778

)

Other

  4,805   5,929   10,908   11,495 
                 

Total operating expenses

  187,128   192,146   387,742   373,436 
                 

Operating income

  25,256   19,944   43,288   37,677 
                 

Other

  (13

)

  (395

)

  (110

)

  (673

)

                 

Income before income taxes

  25,269   20,339   43,398   38,350 
                 

Income taxes expense

  7,135   5,149   11,546   9,614 
                 

Net income

 $18,134  $15,190  $31,852  $28,736 
                 

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.33  $0.28  $0.58  $0.53 
                 

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.33  $0.28  $0.58  $0.52 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.04  $0.03  $0.08  $0.06 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

Pro forma post-stock split basis (see Note 16):

                
                 

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.22  $0.19  $0.39  $0.35 
                 

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.22  $0.18  $0.38  $0.35 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.027  $0.02  $0.053  $0.04 

 

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

 

2

 

 

 

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, 2019

  54,703  $547  $79,465  $517,577  $597,589 

Net income

  -   -   -   13,718   13,718 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (35

)

  (1

)

  (596

)

  -   (597

)

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards

  173   2   1,052   -   1,054 

Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld

  -   -   (437

)

  -   (437

)

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  -   -   246   -   246 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (2,193

)

  (2,193

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

  54,841   548   79,730   529,102   609,380 

Net income

  -   -   -   18,134   18,134 

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards

  267   3   3,360   -   3,363 

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  -   -   726   -   726 

Dividends on common stock

  -   -   -   (2,205

)

  (2,205

)

Balance at June 30, 2020

  55,108  $551  $83,816  $545,031  $629,398 

 

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

 

3

 

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 

 

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

 

4

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

        

Operations:

        

Net income

 $31,852  $28,736 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation

  51,399   46,005 

Tires in service amortization

  3,328   3,346 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

  (3,771

)

  (2,778

)

Deferred income taxes

  1,263   2,601 

Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense

  972   1,002 

Equity in loss from affiliate

  -   68 

Changes in other current operating items:

        

Receivables

  14,764   (2,798

)

Prepaid expenses and other

  (3,798

)

  (1,767

)

Accounts payable

  951   87 

Insurance and claims accruals

  4,105   2,804 

Accrued and other current liabilities

  3,002   (2,205

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  104,067   75,101 
         

Cash flows used for investing activities:

        

Revenue equipment additions

  (75,463

)

  (60,784

)

Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions

  19,788   17,287 

Buildings and land, office equipment and other additions

  (3,476

)

  (2,248

)

Other

  (39

)

  (25

)

Net cash used for investing activities

  (59,190

)

  (45,770

)

         

Cash flows used for financing activities:

        

Dividends on common stock

  (4,398

)

  (3,276

)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (597

)

  - 

Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises

  4,417   758 

Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld

  (437

)

  (784

)

Net cash used for financing activities

  (1,015

)

  (3,302

)

         

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

  43,862   26,029 
         

Cash and cash equivalents:

        

Beginning of period

  31,461   56,763 

End of period

 $75,323  $82,792 
         

Supplemental non-cash disclosure:

        

Change in property and equipment not yet paid

 $(5,985

)

 $11,418 

Operating lease assets and liabilities acquired

 $88  $1,217 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash paid for:

        

Income taxes

 $987  $4,143 

Interest

 $-  $23 

   

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

  

5

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2020

(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 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

(2) Earnings per Common Share

 

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

 

  

Three Months

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Numerator:

                

Net income

 $18,134  $15,190  $31,852  $28,736 

Denominator:

                

Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares

  55,018   54,616   54,914   54,585 

Effect of dilutive stock options

  404   465   431   470 

Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions

  55,422   55,081   55,345   55,055 
                 

Basic earnings per common share

 $0.33  $0.28  $0.58  $0.53 

Diluted earnings per common share

 $0.33  $0.28  $0.58  $0.52 

 

Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per common share to show the effect of the three-for-two stock split payable on August 13, 2020 (see Note 16) is computed as follows:

 

  

Three Months

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Numerator:

                

Net income

 $18,134  $15,190  $31,852  $28,736 

Denominator:

                

Pro forma basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares

  82,527   81,924   82,371   81,877 

Pro forma effect of dilutive stock options

  606   697   647   705 

Pro forma diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions

  83,133   82,621   83,018   82,582 
                 

Pro forma basic earnings per common share

 $0.22  $0.19  $0.39  $0.35 

Pro forma diluted earnings per common share

 $0.22  $0.18  $0.38  $0.35 

 

6

 

Options totaling 187,300 and 200,900 equivalent shares for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020, respectively, and 317,800 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2019, 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 66,658 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020, and 72,796 equivalent shares for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2019, 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.

 

 

(3) 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 June 30, 2020, 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 $16.3 million and remaining borrowing availability of $13.7 million. At December 31, 2019, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $15.7 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 0.8% at June 30, 2020.

 

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 June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

 

(4) 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 $124,000 in the first six months of 2020 and $201,000 in the first six months of 2019 for fuel, tires and related services. In addition, we paid $1.2 million in the first six months of 2020 and $571,000 in the first six months of 2019 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases.

 

We provided transportation services to MW Logistics, LLC, or MWL, a 45% owned affiliate through October 31, 2019, as described in Note 9.

 

 

(5) 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 from current availability 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 35,376 shares of common stock for $597,000 in the first quarter of 2020. We did not repurchase any shares in the second quarter of 2020 or in 2019. As of June 30, 2020, future repurchases of up to $33.4 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

 

7

 

 

(6) Dividends

 

In 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first two quarters of 2020 which totaled $4.4 million. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first two quarters of 2019 which totaled $3.3 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.

 

 

(7) Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

 

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. During the first six months of 2020, 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 six months of 2020 and 2019 was $972,000 and $1.0 million, respectively.

  

 

(8) Termination of Deferred Compensation Plan

 

On May 5, 2020, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the termination of our Deferred Compensation Plan. The plan is an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan designed to allow board elected officers and other select members of our management designated by our Compensation Committee to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. The termination is effective May 5, 2021.

 

 

(9) Equity Investment

 

We owned a 45% equity interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry, until October 31, 2019, at which time we sold our entire membership interest for approximately $1.3 million. Prior to the sale of our interest, a non-related party owned the other 55% equity interest in MWL. We accounted for our ownership interest in MWL under the equity method of accounting. We received $1.2 million of our revenue for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL in the first six months of 2019.

 

 

(10) 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.  

 

 

(11) Commitments and Contingencies

 

We are committed to new revenue equipment purchases of $69.0 million through the remainder of 2020. Operating lease obligation expenditures through 2025 total $1.1 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.

 

8

 

 

(12) Revenue and Business Segments

 

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. 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.

 

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 and, beginning in September 2019, our refrigerated containers, each 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 which are classified within prepaid expenses and other within our consolidated condensed balance sheet were $2.1 million and $1.7 million as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. We had no impairment losses on contract assets in the first six months of 2020 or in 2019. We bill our customers for loads after delivery is complete with standard payment terms of 30 days.

 

9

 

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

  

Six Months

 
  

Ended June 30,

  

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Operating revenue:

                

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

 $85,966  $83,215  $169,823  $163,382 

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

  8,234   12,807   19,509   24,362 

Total Truckload revenue

  94,200   96,022   189,332   187,744 
                 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  67,076   56,160   131,235   105,084 

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

  8,351   10,850   19,229   19,651 

Total Dedicated revenue

  75,427   67,010   150,464   124,735 
                 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  18,542   17,527   39,136   37,282 

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

  1,759   3,076   4,845   6,292 

Total Intermodal revenue

  20,301   20,603   43,981   43,574 
                 

Brokerage revenue

  22,456   28,455   47,253   55,060 

Total operating revenue

 $212,384  $212,090  $431,030  $411,113 
                 

Operating income:

                

Truckload

 $11,036  $8,045  $17,821  $15,600 

Dedicated

  11,452   7,700   19,985   13,215 

Intermodal

  954   1,536   2,260   3,930 

Brokerage

  1,814   2,663   3,222   4,932 

Total operating income

 $25,256  $19,944  $43,288  $37,677 

 

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $14.0 million and $13.4 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $10.3 million and $8.6 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $1.3 million and $1.2 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $306,000 and $376,000 in the three-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $27.8 million and $26.5 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $20.2 million and $16.3 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $2.7 million and $2.4 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $667,000 and $740,000 in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

 

(13) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

 

We adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard was not material to our consolidated condensed balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

 

10

 

 

(14) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Reclassifications

 

Tires in service amortization and operating leases in our consolidated condensed statements of cash flows have been reclassified to be consistent with the current presentation, resulting in a $1.6 million reclassification from investing to operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

 

(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.

 

 

(16) Stock Split Subsequent Event

 

On July 16, 2020, our Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split of our common stock, $.01 par value. The stock split will be effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend payable on August 13, 2020 to stockholders of record as of July 30, 2020. Holders of our common stock will receive an additional one-half share for each outstanding share of common stock held as of July 30, 2020. The stock split will increase the number of outstanding shares of common stock from approximately 55.1 million to approximately 82.7 million shares.

 

To show the effect of the stock split, pro forma basic and diluted earnings per common share and dividends declared per common share amounts are disclosed in the consolidated condensed statements of operations, and basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are disclosed in Note 2.

 

 

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 I, Item 1A for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in our Form 10-Q, Part II, Item 1A for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. 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.

 

11

 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our temperature-controlled trailers and, beginning in September 2019, our refrigerated containers, each 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.

 

Our operating revenue increased $19.9 million, or 4.8%, in the first six months of 2020 from the first six months of 2019. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $26.6 million, or 7.4%, compared with the first six months of 2019. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 3.9% from the first six months of 2019 primarily due to an increase in our average number of tractors. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 24.9% from the first six months of 2019 primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 5.0% primarily due to increased load volume. Brokerage segment revenue decreased 14.2% primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load in the first six months of 2020. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $43.6 million in the first six months of 2020 from $50.3 million in the first six months of 2019 due to significantly lower fuel prices.

 

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 14.9% to $43.3 million in the first six months of 2020 from $37.7 million in the first six months of 2019. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” improved to 90.0% in the first six months of 2020 from 90.8% in the first six months of 2019. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 88.8% in the first six months of 2020 from 89.6% in the first six months of 2019. Our net income improved 10.8% to $31.9 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2020 from $28.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2019.

 

12

 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. At June 30, 2020, we had $75.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, $629.4 million in stockholders’ equity and no long-term debt outstanding. In the first six months of 2020, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $104.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $55.7 million, to pay cash dividends of $4.4 million, and to upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.2 million, resulting in a $43.9 million increase in cash and cash equivalents. We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $71 million for the remainder of 2020. 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.

  

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 the end of 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.

 

COVID-19 Update

 

The North American trucking industry, which provides an essential service, is facing a challenging period as the decrease in manufacturing and retail activity within the managed economic slowdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has lowered overall freight volumes. The demand that our customers have from their customers for the food, beverages and other consumer goods that we transport and distribute varies significantly for each customer across their individual products, by region and in total – with the level of demand by freight lane also subject to significant fluctuations. Our continual redeployment of our drivers to match the changing freight demand by lane while minimizing empty miles has been and will continue to be essential to the utilization of our revenue equipment and our operating revenue through this environment. While our overall level of customer demand is negatively impacted by the economic slowdown, and may be increasingly impacted in the near-term depending on the extent of the slowdown, our execution of our unique multifaceted business model across our diverse customer base, including our ability to quickly make data-driven decisions and adjustments utilizing our in-house operating technology, has and will continue to be one of our key strengths as we proactively navigate through this fast-changing landscape.

 

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 believe we are well-positioned for the sustainability of our business from a balance sheet perspective.

 

13

 

We fully embrace our responsibility to keep our valued employees safe, healthy and informed and have implemented measures including the following:

 

 

-

Throughout our headquarters and regional operating facilities, we are applying the social distancing guidelines by having up to 70% of our office employees work from their homes and by staggering shift and break times for our maintenance personnel.

 

 

-

We have increased the frequency and extent of disinfecting and cleaning of each of our facilities and thoroughly disinfect all tractors prior to assignment to our drivers.

 

 

-

We provide hand sanitizer and masks to all of our employees. When hand sanitizer was not available in March, we purchased the components and prepared and distributed over 6,000 bottles.

 

 

-

We provide clear communication to our employees promoting essential healthy hygiene habits and assist in responsibly responding to potential symptoms including self-quarantining and testing.

 

Results of Operations

 

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

 

   

Three Months

   

Six Months

 
   

Ended June 30,

   

Ended June 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 

Truckload Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 94,200     $ 96,022     $ 189,332     $ 187,744  

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)

  $ 3,829     $ 3,876     $ 3,821     $ 3,867  

Average tractors(1)

    1,727       1,652       1,710       1,634  

Average miles per trip

    557       532       558       546  

Total miles (in thousands)

    42,833       39,077       83,872       76,313  
                                 

Dedicated Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 75,427     $ 67,010     $ 150,464     $ 124,735  

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)

  $ 3,314     $ 3,460     $ 3,309     $ 3,424  

Average tractors(1)

    1,557       1,248       1,525       1,187  

Average miles per trip

    307       314       306       318  

Total miles (in thousands)

    33,174       27,198       64,710       50,841  
                                 

Intermodal Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 20,301     $ 20,603     $ 43,981     $ 43,574  

Loads

    8,693       8,430       18,430       17,681  

Average tractors

    98       81       99       84  
                                 

Brokerage Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 22,456     $ 28,455     $ 47,253     $ 55,060  

Loads

    15,280       16,185       31,388       31,451  

 

(1)

Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 124 and 55 tractors as of June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

14

 

Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 to Three Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

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

 
   

June 30,

   

June 30,

   

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

 

Operating revenue:

                               

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  $ 85,966     $ 83,215     $ 2,751       3.3

%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

    8,234       12,807       (4,573

)

    (35.7

)

Total Truckload revenue

    94,200       96,022       (1,822

)

    (1.9

)

                                 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    67,076       56,160       10,916       19.4  

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

    8,351       10,850       (2,499

)

    (23.0

)

Total Dedicated revenue

    75,427       67,010       8,417       12.6  
                                 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    18,542       17,527       1,015       5.8  

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

    1,759       3,076       (1,317

)

    (42.8

)

Total Intermodal revenue

    20,301       20,603       (302

)

    (1.5

)

                                 

Brokerage revenue

    22,456       28,455       (5,999

)

    (21.1

)

                                 

Total operating revenue

  $ 212,384     $ 212,090     $ 294       0.1

%

                                 

Operating income:

                               

Truckload

  $ 11,036     $ 8,045     $ 2,991       37.2

%

Dedicated

    11,452       7,700       3,752       48.7  

Intermodal

    954       1,536       (582

)

    (37.9

)

Brokerage

    1,814       2,663       (849

)

    (31.9

)

Total operating income

  $ 25,256     $ 19,944     $ 5,312       26.6

%

                                 

Operating ratio(1):

                               

Truckload

    88.3

%

    91.6

%

               

Dedicated

    84.8       88.5                  

Intermodal

    95.3       92.5                  

Brokerage

    91.9       90.6                  

Consolidated operating ratio

    88.1

%

    90.6

%

               

 

 

(1)

Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

 

Our operating revenue increased $294,000, or 0.1%, to $212.4 million in the 2020 period from $212.1 million in the 2019 period. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $8.7 million, or 4.7%, to $194.0 million in the 2020 period from $185.4 million in the 2019 period. This increase was due to a $10.9 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $2.8 million increase in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and a $1.0 million increase in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by a $6.0 million decrease in Brokerage revenue. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $18.3 million in the 2020 period from $26.7 million in the 2019 period due to significantly lower fuel prices.

 

Truckload segment revenue decreased $1.8 million, or 1.9%, to $94.2 million in the 2020 period from $96.0 million in the 2019 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $2.8 million, or 3.3%, to $86.0 million in the 2020 period from $83.2 million in the 2019 period, primarily due to an increase in our average number of tractors. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to a decrease in net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue along with multiple cost control measures.

 

15

 

Dedicated segment revenue increased $8.4 million, or 12.6%, to $75.4 million in the 2020 period from $67.0 million in the 2019 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 19.4% primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to a decrease in net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue along with multiple cost control measures.

 

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $302,000, or 1.5%, to $20.3 million in the 2020 period from $20.6 million in the 2019 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 5.8% from the 2019 period primarily due to an increase in load volume. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to an increase in salaries and wages as a percentage of revenue.

 

Brokerage segment revenue decreased $6.0 million, or 21.1%, to $22.5 million in the 2020 period from $28.5 million in the 2019 period primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load and in load volume. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to an increase in the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage of our Brokerage revenue.

 

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

June 30,

   

Three Months

Ended

June 30,

   

Three Months

Ended

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020

   

2019

 
                                 

Operating revenue

  $ 294       0.1

%

    100.0

%

    100.0

%

Operating expenses (income):

                               

Salaries, wages and benefits

    4,863       7.1       34.6       32.4  

Purchased transportation

    (2,503

)

    (6.5

)

    17.0       18.2  

Fuel and fuel taxes

    (10,084

)

    (32.6

)

    9.8       14.6  

Supplies and maintenance

    331       2.9       5.6       5.4  

Depreciation

    2,510       10.7       12.2       11.1  

Operating taxes and licenses

    177       7.3       1.2       1.1  

Insurance and claims

    1,771       18.0       5.5       4.6  

Communications and utilities

    27       1.4       0.9       0.9  

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

    (986

)

    (80.2

)

    (1.0

)

    (0.6

)

Other

    (1,124

)

    (19.0

)

    2.3       2.8  

Total operating expenses

    (5,018

)

    (2.6

)

    88.1       90.6  

Operating income

    5,312       26.6       11.9       9.4  

Other

    382       96.7       -       (0.2

)

Income before income taxes

    4,930       24.2       11.9       9.6  

Income taxes expense

    1,986       38.6       3.4       2.4  

Net income

  $ 2,944       19.4

%

    8.5

%

    7.2

%

   

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 $4.9 million, or 7.1%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 period. This increase resulted primarily from additional company driver compensation expense of $4.3 million and an increase in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees of $1.1 million, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in employees’ health insurance expense, due to a decrease in our self-insured medical claims.

 

16

 

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 decreased $2.5 million in total, or 6.5%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 period. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased to $13.3 million in the 2020 period from $13.4 million in the 2019 period. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment decreased $4.7 million to $18.7 million in the 2020 period from $23.4 million in the 2019 period, primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load and in load volume. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $2.3 million in the 2020 period as the number of independent contractors rose. We expect our purchased transportation expense to increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

 

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $10.1 million, or 32.6%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 period due to significantly lower fuel prices. 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 $2.3 million, or 33.3%, to $4.7 million in the 2020 period from $7.0 million in the 2019 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $2.2 million from $2.8 million in the 2019 period. The United States Department of Energy, or DOE, national average cost of fuel decreased to $2.43 per gallon from $3.12 per gallon in the 2019 period. Net fuel expense decreased to 2.7% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 4.5% in the 2019 period. This decrease in the percentage of revenue from the 2019 period reduced our net fuel expense by $3.0 million in the 2020 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.

 

Depreciation relates to owned tractors, trailers, containers, auxiliary power units, communication units, terminal facilities and other assets. The $2.5 million, or 10.7%, increase in depreciation in the 2020 period was primarily due to an increase in the size of our fleet of tractors. 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 $1.8 million increase in insurance and claims in the 2020 period was primarily due to increases in the cost of physical damage claims related to our tractors and trailers and our self-insured workers’ compensation claims, along with an increase in our insurance premiums. 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 $2.2 million in the 2020 period from $1.2 million in the 2019 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.

 

The $1.1 million decrease in other operating expenses in the 2020 period was primarily due to decreased costs associated with travel and entertainment and with recruiting and retaining drivers.

 

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating income improved 26.6% to $25.3 million in the 2020 period from $19.9 million in the 2019 period. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” improved to 88.1% in the 2020 period from 90.6% in the 2019 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 88.3% in the 2020 period and 91.6% in the 2019 period, for our Dedicated segment was 84.8% in the 2020 period and 88.5% in the 2019 period, for our Intermodal segment was 95.3% in the 2020 period and 92.5% in the 2019 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 91.9% in the 2020 period and 90.6% in the 2019 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, were 87.0% in the 2020 period and 89.2% in the 2019 period.

 

Our effective income tax rate increased to 28.2% in the 2020 period from 25.3% in the 2019 period. The 2020 period includes additional income tax expense of $1.1 million to adjust for certain discrete tax benefit reserves, which we evaluate based on the current facts, circumstances and information available.

 

17

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income improved 19.4% to $18.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the 2020 period from $15.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the 2019 period.

 

Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 to Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

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

 
   

Six Months

Ended

   

Six Months

Ended

   

Six Months

Ended

 
   

June 30,

   

June 30,

   

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

 

Operating revenue:

                               

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  $ 169,823     $ 163,382     $ 6,441       3.9

%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

    19,509       24,362       (4,853

)

    (19.9

)

Total Truckload revenue

    189,332       187,744       1,588       0.8  
                                 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    131,235       105,084       26,151       24.9  

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

    19,229       19,651       (422

)

    (2.1

)

Total Dedicated revenue

    150,464       124,735       25,729       20.6  
                                 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    39,136       37,282       1,854       5.0  

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

    4,845       6,292       (1,447

)

    (23.0

)

Total Intermodal revenue

    43,981       43,574       407       0.9  
                                 

Brokerage revenue

    47,253       55,060       (7,807

)

    (14.2

)

                                 

Total operating revenue

  $ 431,030     $ 411,113     $ 19,917       4.8

%

                                 

Operating income:

                               

Truckload

  $ 17,821     $ 15,600     $ 2,221       14.2

%

Dedicated

    19,985       13,215       6,770       51.2  

Intermodal

    2,260       3,930       (1,670

)

    (42.5

)

Brokerage

    3,222       4,932       (1,710

)

    (34.7

)

Total operating income

  $ 43,288     $ 37,677     $ 5,611       14.9

%

                                 

Operating ratio(1):

                               

Truckload

    90.6

%

    91.7

%

               

Dedicated

    86.7       89.4                  

Intermodal

    94.9       91.0                  

Brokerage

    93.2       91.0                  

Consolidated operating ratio

    90.0

%

    90.8

%

               

 

 (1)

 Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

 

Our operating revenue increased $19.9 million, or 4.8%, to $431.0 million in the 2020 period from $411.1 million in the 2019 period. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $26.6 million, or 7.4%, to $387.4 million in the 2020 period from $360.8 million in the 2019 period. This increase was due to a $26.2 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $6.4 million increase in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and a $1.9 million increase in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease in Brokerage revenue. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $43.6 million in the 2020 period from $50.3 million in the 2019 period.

 

18

 

Truckload segment revenue increased $1.6 million, or 0.8%, to $189.3 million in the 2020 period from $187.7 million in the 2019 period. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $6.4 million, or 3.9%, to $169.8 million in the 2020 period from $163.4 million in the 2019 period, primarily due to an increase in our average number of tractors. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to a decrease in net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue along with multiple cost control measures.

 

Dedicated segment revenue increased $25.7 million, or 20.6%, to $150.5 million in the 2020 period from $124.7 million in the 2019 period. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 24.9% primarily due to fleet growth driven by an increase in the number of Dedicated contracts we have with our customers. The improvement in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to a decrease in net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue along with multiple cost control measures.

 

Intermodal segment revenue increased $407,000, or 0.9%, to $44.0 million in the 2020 period from $43.6 million in the 2019 period. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 5.0% from the 2019 period primarily due to an increase in load volume. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to increases in salaries and wages and purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue.

 

Brokerage segment revenue decreased $7.8 million, or 14.2%, to $47.3 million in the 2020 period from $55.1 million in the 2019 period primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load. The increase in the operating ratio in the 2020 period was primarily due to an increase in the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage of our Brokerage revenue.

 

             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

 
   

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months

Ended

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020 vs. 2019

   

2020

   

2019

 
                                 

Operating revenue

  $ 19,917       4.8

%

    100.0

%

    100.0

%

Operating expenses (income):

                               

Salaries, wages and benefits

    14,100       10.7       33.9       32.1  

Purchased transportation

    (307

)

    (0.4

)

    17.8       18.7  

Fuel and fuel taxes

    (9,464

)

    (16.1

)

    11.4       14.3  

Supplies and maintenance

    1,438       6.4       5.6       5.5  

Depreciation

    5,394       11.7       11.9       11.2  

Operating taxes and licenses

    483       10.1       1.2       1.2  

Insurance and claims

    4,180       21.2       5.5       4.8  

Communications and utilities

    62       1.6       0.9       0.9  

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

    (993

)

    (35.7

)

    (0.9

)

    (0.7

)

Other

    (587

)

    (5.1

)

    2.5       2.8  

Total operating expenses

    14,306       3.8       90.0       90.8  

Operating income

    5,611       14.9       10.0       9.2  

Other

    563       83.7       -       (0.2

)

Income before income taxes

    5,048       13.2       10.1       9.3  

Income taxes expense

    1,932       20.1       2.7       2.3  

Net income

  $ 3,116       10.8

%

    7.4

%

    7.0

%

   

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $14.1 million, or 10.7%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 period. This increase resulted primarily from additional company driver compensation expense of $10.9 million.

 

19

 

Purchased transportation expense decreased $307,000 in total, or 0.4%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 period. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment increased $1.0 million to $29.1 million in the 2020 period from $28.1 million in the 2019 period, primarily due to increased load volume. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment decreased $5.7 million to $39.9 million in the 2020 period from $45.5 million in the 2019 period, primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $4.3 million in the 2020 period as the number of independent contractors rose. We expect our purchased transportation expense to increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

 

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $9.5 million, or 16.1%, in the 2020 period from the 2019 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 $3.0 million, or 21.4%, to $11.0 million in the 2020 period from $14.0 million in the 2019 period. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $5.4 million from $5.6 million in the 2019 period. The United States Department of Energy, or DOE, national average cost of fuel decreased to $2.66 per gallon from $3.07 per gallon in the 2019 period. Net fuel expense decreased to 3.2% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, from 4.6% in the 2019 period. This decrease in the percentage of revenue from the 2019 period reduced our net fuel expense by $4.6 million in the 2020 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.

 

The $5.4 million, or 11.7%, increase in depreciation in the 2020 period was primarily due to an increase in the size of our fleet of tractors.

 

The $4.2 million, or 21.2%, increase in insurance and claims in the 2020 period was primarily due to increases in the cost of our self-insured auto liability and workers’ compensation claims, along with an increase in our insurance premiums.

 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment increased to $3.8 million in the 2020 period from $2.8 million in the 2019 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.

 

The $587,000 decrease in other operating expenses in the 2020 period was primarily due to decreased costs associated with travel and entertainment and with recruiting and retaining drivers.

 

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating income improved 14.9% to $43.3 million in the 2020 period from $37.7 million in the 2019 period. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” improved to 90.0% in the 2020 period from 90.8% in the 2019 period. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 90.6% in the 2020 period and 91.7% in the 2019 period, for our Dedicated segment was 86.7% in the 2020 period and 89.4% in the 2019 period, for our Intermodal segment was 94.9% in the 2020 period and 91.0% in the 2019 period, and for our Brokerage segment was 93.2% in the 2020 period and 91.0% in the 2019 period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, were 88.8% in the 2020 period and 89.6% in the 2019 period.

 

Our effective income tax rate increased to 26.6% in the 2020 period from 25.1% in the 2019 period. The 2020 period includes additional income tax expense of $1.1 million to adjust for certain discrete tax benefit reserves, which we evaluate based on the current facts, circumstances and information available.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income improved 10.8% to $31.9 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the 2020 period from $28.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the 2019 period.

 

20

 

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.

 

   

Six Months

Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

  $ 104,067     $ 75,101  

Net cash flows used for investing activities

    (59,190

)

    (45,770

)

Net cash flows used for financing activities

    (1,015

)

    (3,302

)

 

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 from current availability 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 35,376 shares of common stock for $597,000 in the first quarter of 2020. We did not repurchase any shares in the second quarter of 2020 or in 2019. As of June 30, 2020, future repurchases of up to $33.4 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

 

              In the first six months of 2020, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $104.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $55.7 million, to pay cash dividends of $4.4 million, and to upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $2.2 million, resulting in a $43.9 million increase in cash and cash equivalents. In the first six months of 2019, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $75.1 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $43.5 million, to upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $1.4 million, and to pay cash dividends of $3.3 million, resulting in a $26.0 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 $71 million for the remainder of 2020. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first two quarters of 2020 which totaled $4.4 million. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share of common stock was declared in each of the first two quarters of 2019 which totaled $3.3 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 June 30, 2020, 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 $16.3 million and remaining borrowing availability of $13.7 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.

 

21

 

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 June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of June 30, 2020.

 

   

Payments Due by Period

 

(In thousands)

 

Remainder of 2020

   

2021

And

2022

   

2023

And

2024

   

Thereafter

   

Total

 

Purchase obligations for revenue equipment

  $ 69,022     $     $     $     $ 69,022  

Operating lease obligations

    239       566       245       3       1,053  

Total

  $ 69,261     $ 566     $ 245     $ 3     $ 70,075  

 

Due to uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows, the obligation under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan at June 30, 2020 of 235,022 shares of Company common stock with a value of $5.9 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 $16.3 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 June 30, 2020.

 

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.

 

22

 

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 current 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 credit losses. Our allowance for credit losses was $348,000 as of June 30, 2020 and $382,000 as of December 31, 2019. 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 credit losses 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 credit losses monthly.

 

Property and Equipment. The transportation industry requires significant capital investments. Our net property and equipment was $644.2 million as of June 30, 2020 and $640.4 million as of December 31, 2019. Our depreciation expense was $51.4 million for the first six months of 2020 and $46.0 million for the first six months of 2019. 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 June 30, 2020 by approximately $14.5 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 $16.3 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 $35.8 million as of June 30, 2020 and $31.7 million as of December 31, 2019. 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.

 

23

 

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 six months of 2020, a 5% increase in the average cost of diesel fuel would have increased our fuel expense by $2.4 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 June 30, 2020. 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.

 

24

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no material changes in the risk factors disclosed by us under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, or under Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

 

Item No.

Item

  

Method of Filing

10.26

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

  

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2020.

       

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 June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2020, 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 June 30, 2020, formatted in iXBRL, included in Exhibit 101

 

Filed with this Report.

  

25

 

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: August 7, 2020

By:

/s/ Randolph L. Marten

  

  

Randolph L. Marten

  

  

Chief Executive Officer

  

  

(Principal Executive Officer)

  

  

  

  

  

  

Dated: August 7, 2020

By:

/s/ James J. Hinnendael

  

  

James J. Hinnendael

  

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  

  

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

26