Note 7 - Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

7.           DEBT

Current and long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31, 2012 and 2011:

(in thousands)	December 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Current		Long-Term		Current		Long-Term
Borrowings under Credit Facility	$	-	$	5	$	15,890	$	-
Revenue equipment installment notes; weighted average interest rate of 5.2% at December 31, 2012, and 5.7% December 31, 2011, due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates ranging from January 2013 to January 2018, secured by related revenue equipment		61,200		94,920		80,003		125,666
Real estate note; interest rate of 2.7% and 2.8% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, due in monthly installments with fixed maturity at October 2013, secured  by related real-estate		2,328		-		365		2,258
Other note payable, interest rate of 3.0% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, with fixed maturity at November 2016		108		289		-		243
Total debt		63,636		95,214		96,258		128,167
Principal portion of capital lease obligations, secured by related revenue  equipment		2,091		14,003		1,957		16,129
Total debt and capital lease obligations	$	65,727	$	109,217	$	98,215	$	144,296

In September 2008, we and substantially all of our subsidiaries (collectively, the "Borrowers") entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility") with Bank of America, N.A., as agent (the "Agent") and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPM," and together with the Agent, the "Lenders").

The Credit Facility was originally structured as an $85.0 million revolving credit facility, with an accordion feature that, so long as no event of default exists, allows us to request an increase in the revolving credit facility of up to $50.0 million.  The Credit Facility included, within our $85.0 million revolving credit facility, a letter of credit sub facility in an aggregate amount of $85.0 million and a swing line sub facility in an aggregate amount equal to the greater of $10.0 million or 10% of the Lenders' aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility from time-to-time.

On January 29, 2013, we entered into an eighth amendment, which was effective December 31, 2012, to the Credit Facility which, among other things, (i) increased the revolver commitment to $95.0 million, (ii) extended the maturity date from September 2014 to September 2017, (iii) eliminated the availability block of $15.0 million, (iv) improved pricing for revolving borrowings by amending the applicable margin as set forth below (beginning January 1, 2013), (v) improved the unused line fee pricing to 0.375% per annum when availability is less than $50.0 million and 0.5% per annum when availability is at or over such amount (beginning January 1, 2013), (vi) provided that the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant will be tested only during periods that commence when availability is less than or equal to the greater of 12.5% of the revolver commitment or $11.9 million, (vii) eliminated the consolidated leverage ratio covenant, (viii) reduced the level of availability below which cash dominion applies to the greater of 15% of the revolver commitment or $14.3 million (previously this level was $75.0 million), (ix) added deemed amortization of real estate and eligible revenue equipment included in the borrowing base to the calculation of fixed charge coverage ratio, (x) amended certain types of permitted debt to afford additional flexibility, and (xi) allowed for stock repurchases in an aggregate amount not exceeding $5.0 million and the purchase of up to the remaining 51% equity interest in Transport Enterprise Leasing, provided that certain conditions are met. 

In exchange for these amendments, the Borrowers agreed to pay fees of $0.3 million. Based on availability as of December 31, 2012, there was no fixed charge coverage requirement.  Following the effectiveness of the eighth amendment, the applicable margin was changed as follows:

New Pricing

Level	Average Pricing Availability					Base Rate Loans	LIBOR Loans	L/C Fee
I				>	$75,000,000	.50%	1.50%	1.50%
II	≤	$75,000,000	but	>	$50,000,000	.75%	1.75%	1.75%
III	≤	$50,000,000	but	>	$25,000,000	1.00%	2.00%	2.00%
IV	≤	$25,000,000				1.25%	2.25%	2.25%

Prior Pricing

Level	Average Excess Availability					Base Rate Loans	LIBOR Loans
I				>	$70,000,000	1.25%	2.25%
II	≤	$70,000,000	but	>	$35,000,000	1.50%	2.50%
III	≤	$35,000,000	but	>	$20,000,000	1.75%	2.75%
IV	≤	$20,000,000	but	>	$10,000,000	2.00%	3.00%
V	≤	$10,000,000				2.25%	3.25%

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are classified as either "base rate loans" or "LIBOR loans."  Base rate loans accrue interest at a base rate equal to the greater of the Agent's prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, or LIBOR plus 1.0%, plus an applicable margin; while LIBOR loans accrue interest at LIBOR, plus an applicable margin.  The applicable rates are adjusted quarterly based on average pricing availability.  The unused line fee is also adjusted quarterly based on the average daily amount by which the Lenders' aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility exceed the outstanding principal amount of revolver loans and the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Facility.  The obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by us and secured by a pledge of substantially all of our assets, with the notable exclusion of any real estate or revenue equipment pledged under other financing agreements, including revenue equipment installment notes and capital leases.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base limited to the lesser of (A) $95.0 million, minus the sum of the stated amount of all outstanding letters of credit; or (B) the sum of (i) 85% of eligible accounts receivable, plus (ii) the lesser of (a) 85% of the appraised net orderly liquidation value of eligible revenue equipment, (b) 95% of the net book value of eligible revenue equipment, or (c) 35% of the Lenders' aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility, plus (iii) the lesser of (a) $25.0 million or (b) 65% of the appraised fair market value of eligible real estate.  We had a de minimis amount of borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2012, undrawn letters of credit outstanding of approximately $39.6 million, and available borrowing capacity of $52.7 million.  The interest rate on outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2012 was 5.0% and all loans were base rate loans.

The Credit Facility includes usual and customary events of default for a facility of this nature and provides that, upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default, payment of all amounts payable under the Credit Facility may be accelerated, and the Lenders' commitments may be terminated.  If an event of default occurs under the Credit Facility and the Lenders cause all of the outstanding debt obligations under the Credit Facility to become due and payable, this could result in a default under other debt instruments that contain acceleration or cross-default provisions. The Credit Facility contains certain restrictions and covenants relating to, among other things, debt, dividends, liens, acquisitions and dispositions outside of the ordinary course of business, and affiliate transactions. 

Capital lease obligations are utilized to finance a portion of our revenue equipment and are entered into with certain finance companies who are not parties to our Credit Facility.  The leases in effect at December 31, 2012 terminate in September 2014 through September 2016 and contain guarantees of the residual value of the related equipment by us. As such, the residual guarantees are included in the related debt balance as a balloon payment at the end of the related term as well as included in the future minimum capital lease payments. These lease agreements require us to pay personal property taxes, maintenance, and operating expenses.

Pricing for the revenue equipment installment notes are quoted by the respective financial affiliates of our primary revenue equipment suppliers and other lenders at the funding of each group of equipment acquired and include fixed annual rates for new equipment under retail installment contracts. The notes included in the funding are due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates ranging from January 2013 to January 2018. The notes contain certain requirements regarding payment, insuring of collateral, and other matters, but do not have any financial or other material covenants or events of default except certain notes totaling $126.5 million are cross-defaulted with the Credit Facility. Additional borrowings from the financial affiliates of our primary revenue equipment suppliers and other lenders are available to fund most new tractors expected to be delivered in 2013, while any other property and equipment purchases, including trailers, will be funded with a combination of notes, operating leases, capital leases, and/or from the Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2012, the scheduled principal payments of debt, excluding capital leases for which future payments are discussed in Note 8 are as follows:

	(in thousands)
2013	$	63,636
2014	$	25,520
2015	$	33,132
2016	$	27,657
2017	$	6,793
Thereafter	$	2,112