Note 5 - Fair Value Measurement and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Note 5.   Fair Value Measurement and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.  Accordingly, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.  A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:

● Level 1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

● Level 2. Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

● Level 3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

(in thousands)
Hedge derivative liabilities	September 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
Fair Value of Derivatives	$	(2,435	)	$	-
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		-			-
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	$	(2,435	)	$	-
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		-			-

Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, commodity contracts, accounts payable, and debt. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and current debt approximates their fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.  Interest rates that are currently available to us for issuance of long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate the fair value of our long-term debt, which primarily consists of revenue equipment installment notes.  Borrowings under our revolving Credit Facility approximate fair value due to the variable interest rate on the Facility.  Additionally, commodity contracts, which are accounted for as hedge derivatives, as discussed in Note 6, are valued based on quotes from the counterparty which were verified by comparing them to the forward rate of the specific indices upon which the contract is being settled and adjusted for counterparty credit risk using available market information and valuation methodologies.