ARCBEST CORP /DE/ - Quarter Report: 2015 September (Form 10-Q)

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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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

☐Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 000-19969

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

71-0673405

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3801 Old Greenwood Road

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903

(479) 785-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

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


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

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class		Outstanding at October 30, 2015
Common Stock, $0.01 par value		25,961,991 shares

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

INDEX


		Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements

	Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014	3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations — For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014	4

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014	5

	Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity — For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015	6

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014	7

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	8

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	27

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	46

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	46

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	47

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	47

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	47

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	47

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	47

Item 5.	Other Information	47

Item 6.	Exhibits	48

SIGNATURES		49

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PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	191,646	$	157,042
Short-term investments		69,567		45,909
Restricted cash		1,387		1,386
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2015 – $5,311; 2014 – $5,731)		242,656		228,056
Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2015 – $979; 2014 – $1,701)		7,119		6,582
Prepaid expenses		18,557		20,906
Deferred income taxes		41,349		40,220
Prepaid and refundable income taxes		3,057		9,920
Other		5,144		4,968
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		580,482		514,989
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and structures		269,317		251,836
Revenue equipment		689,786		633,455
Service, office, and other equipment		142,536		136,145
Software		122,874		116,112
Leasehold improvements		24,962		24,377
		1,249,475		1,161,925
Less allowances for depreciation and amortization		790,536		752,075
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net		458,939		409,850
GOODWILL		81,278		77,078
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net		70,410		72,809
OTHER ASSETS		53,177		52,896
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,244,286	$	1,127,622

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	144,401	$	120,325
Income taxes payable		8,489		527
Accrued expenses		193,997		194,674
Current portion of long-term debt		35,050		25,256
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		381,937		340,782
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion		156,553		102,474
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES		49,978		42,418
OTHER LIABILITIES		12,755		16,667
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES		56,268		64,398
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued 2015: 27,932,109 shares; 2014: 27,722,010 shares		279		277
Additional paid-in capital		307,939		303,045
Retained earnings		373,936		338,810
Treasury stock, at cost, 2015: 1,970,118 shares; 2014: 1,677,932 shares		(67,774)		(57,770)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(27,585)		(23,479)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		586,795		560,883
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	1,244,286	$	1,127,622

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except share and per share data)
REVENUES	$	709,380	$	711,295	$	2,018,771	$	1,947,845

OPERATING EXPENSES		675,942		678,354		1,950,588		1,896,655

OPERATING INCOME		33,438		32,941		68,183		51,190

OTHER INCOME (COSTS)
Interest and dividend income		378		215		882		600
Interest and other related financing costs		(1,157)		(834)		(3,183)		(2,367)
Other, net		(613)		234		(15)		1,549
TOTAL OTHER COSTS		(1,392)		(385)		(2,316)		(218)

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		32,046		32,556		65,867		50,972

INCOME TAX PROVISION		12,892		12,938		26,001		19,339

NET INCOME	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic	$	0.73	$	0.72	$	1.52	$	1.16
Diluted	$	0.72	$	0.72	$	1.48	$	1.16

AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		26,009,344		26,054,678		26,033,467		25,979,555
Diluted		26,508,482		26,054,678		26,569,800		25,980,008

CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.06	$	0.03	$	0.18	$	0.09

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
NET INCOME	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax

Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Net actuarial loss, net of tax of: (2015 – Three-month period $4,317, Nine-month period $3,968; 2014 – Three-month period $1,651, Nine-month period $5,139)		(6,780)		(2,595)		(6,232)		(8,072)
Pension settlement expense, net of tax of: (2015 – Three-month period $296, Nine-month period $964; 2014 – Three-month period $313, Nine-month period $2,102)		466		492		1,514		3,303
Amortization of unrecognized net periodic benefit costs, net of tax of: (2015 – Three-month period $330, Nine-month period $1,126; 2014 – Three-month period $244, Nine-month period $711)
Net actuarial loss		545		413		1,854		1,202
Prior service credit		(29)		(29)		(87)		(87)

Interest rate swap and foreign currency translation:
Change in unrealized loss on interest rate swap, net of tax of: (2015 – Three-month period $312, Nine-month period $389)		(483)		—		(603)		—
Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax of: (2015 – Three-month period $225, Nine-month period $351; 2014 – Three-month period $126, Nine-month period $85)		(354)		(198)		(552)		(134)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, net of tax		(6,635)		(1,917)		(4,106)		(3,788)

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	12,519	$	17,701	$	35,760	$	27,845

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY


											Accumulated
				Additional							Other
	Common Stock			Paid-In		Retained		Treasury Stock			Comprehensive		Total
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Earnings		Shares	Amount		Loss		Equity
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014	27,722	$	277	$	303,045	$	338,810	1,678	$	(57,770)	$	(23,479)	$	560,883
Net income							39,866							39,866
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax												(4,106)		(4,106)
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans	210		2		(2)									—
Tax effect of share-based compensation plans					(1,447)									(1,447)
Share-based compensation expense					6,343									6,343
Purchase of treasury stock								292		(10,004)				(10,004)
Dividends declared on common stock							(4,740)							(4,740)
Balance at September 30, 2015	27,932	$	279	$	307,939	$	373,936	1,970	$	(67,774)	$	(27,585)	$	586,795

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30
	2015		2014
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	39,866	$	31,633
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		65,142		60,613
Amortization of intangibles		3,079		3,242
Pension settlement expense		2,478		5,405
Share-based compensation expense		6,343		5,362
Provision for losses on accounts receivable		941		1,647
Deferred income tax benefit		(7,862)		(7,409)
Gain on sale of property and equipment		(1,691)		(597)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(14,881)		(41,180)
Prepaid expenses		2,353		1,477
Other assets		505		(1,081)
Income taxes		14,295		9,981
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities		9,006		49,108
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		119,574		118,201

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of financings		(53,644)		(23,756)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		4,115		2,701
Purchases of short-term investments		(48,868)		(25,347)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments		25,347		17,478
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired		(5,239)		(2,647)
Capitalization of internally developed software		(6,155)		(6,016)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(84,444)		(37,587)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under credit facilities		70,000		—
Borrowings under accounts receivable securitization program		35,000		—
Payments on long-term debt		(92,136)		(28,024)
Net change in book overdrafts		2,179		2,304
Net change in restricted cash		(1)		517
Deferred financing costs		(824)		(61)
Payment of common stock dividends		(4,740)		(2,458)
Purchases of treasury stock		(10,004)		—
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		—		1,136
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(526)		(26,586)

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		34,604		54,028
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		157,042		105,354
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	191,646	$	159,382

NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Equipment financed	$	51,009	$	41,002
Accruals for equipment received	$	7,150	$	9,632

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

NOTE A – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

ArcBest CorporationSM (the “Company”) is the parent holding company of businesses providing freight transportation services and logistics solutions. The Company’s principal operations are conducted through its Freight Transportation (ABF FreightSM) segment, which consists of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries. The Company’s other reportable operating segments are the following asset-light logistics businesses: Premium Logistics (Panther), Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet), Transportation Management (ABF LogisticsSM), and Household Goods Moving Services (ABF MovingSM). References to the Company in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are primarily to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

ABF Freight represented approximately 71% of the Company’s total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. As of September 2015, approximately 79% of ABF Freight’s employees were covered under a collective bargaining agreement, the ABF National Master Freight Agreement (the “ABF NMFA”), with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (the “IBT”), which extends through March 31, 2018. The ABF NMFA included a 7% wage rate reduction effective on the November 3, 2013 implementation date, followed by wage rate increases of 2% on July 1 in each of the next three years, which began in 2014, and a 2.5% increase on July 1, 2017; a one-week reduction in annual compensated vacation effective for employee anniversary dates on or after April 1, 2013; the option to expand the use of purchased transportation; and increased flexibility in labor work rules. The ABF NMFA and the related supplemental agreements provide for continued contributions to various multiemployer health, welfare, and pension plans maintained for the benefit of ABF Freight’s employees who are members of the IBT. The estimated net effect of the November 3, 2013 wage rate reduction and the benefit rate increase which was applied retroactively to August 1, 2013 was an initial reduction of approximately 4% to the combined total contractual wage and benefit rate under the ABF NMFA. Following the initial reduction, the combined contractual wage and benefit contribution rate under the ABF NMFA is estimated to increase approximately 2.5% to 3.0% on a compounded annual basis throughout the contract period which extends through March 31, 2018.

On January 2, 2015, the Company acquired Smart Lines Transportation Group, LLC, a privately-owned truckload brokerage firm, for net cash consideration of $5.2 million. The acquired business is primarily reported in the ABF Logistics operating segment. On April 30, 2014, the Company acquired a privately-owned business which is reported within the FleetNet reporting segment for net cash consideration of $2.6 million. As these acquired businesses are not significant to the Company’s consolidated operating results and financial position, pro forma financial information and the purchase price allocations of acquired assets and liabilities have not been presented. The results of the acquired operations subsequent to the acquisition dates have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pertaining to interim financial information. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all information or footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other current filings with the Commission. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which are of a normal and recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current year presentation. Book overdrafts (which represent checks issued that are later funded when cleared through banks) previously reported in a separate line on the consolidated balance sheets titled “Bank overdraft and drafts payable” have been reclassified to “Accounts payable.” There was no impact on total current liabilities as a result of the reclassification.

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Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosed amounts of contingent liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. If the underlying estimates and assumptions, upon which the financial statements and accompanying notes are based, change in future periods, actual amounts may differ from those included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement related to revenue recognition (FASB ASC Topic 606), which amends the guidance in former ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The new standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and contains principles to apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. In July 2015, the FASB announced its decision to defer the effective date of the new standard for one year, making the standard effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company is evaluating the impact of the new standard on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an accounting pronouncement to amend ASC Topic 205 with the addition of Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40). The Subtopic requires an entity’s management to assess conditions and events to determine the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for each annual and interim reporting period for which financial statements are issued or available to be issued. The Subtopic is effective for the annual period ending December 31, 2016 and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an accounting pronouncement to amend ASC Topic 835 with Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (Subtopic 835-30). The amendment adds the requirement for an entity to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset and to report amortization of the debt issuance costs as interest expense. The Subtopic is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016 and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an accounting pronouncement to amend ASC Topic 350 with the addition of Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement (Subtopic 350-40). The amendment adds guidance on determining whether a cloud computing arrangement contains a software license that should be accounted for as internal-use software. If the cloud computing arrangement does not contain a software license, the agreement should be accounted for as a service contract. The Subtopic is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an accounting pronouncement to amend ASC Topic 805 with the addition of Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. The amendment eliminates the requirement that an acquirer in a business combination account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively and instead recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which it determines the amount of the adjustments, including the effect on earnings of any amounts it would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The amendment is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

Management believes that there is no other new accounting guidance issued but not yet effective that is relevant to the Company’s current financial statements. However, there are new proposals under development by the standard setting bodies which, if and when enacted, may have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements, including accounting for leases. As previously proposed, the lease accounting standard would require many operating leases to be reflected as liabilities with associated right-of-use assets.

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NOTE B – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Financial Instruments

The following table presents the components of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted funds:


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash deposits(1)	$	146,530	$	99,615
Variable rate demand notes(1)(2)		29,714		16,326
Money market funds(3)		15,402		41,101
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	191,646	$	157,042

Short-term investments
Certificates of deposit(1)	$	69,567	$	45,909

Restricted cash(4)
Cash deposits(1)	$	1,387	$	1,386

⁽¹⁾

Recorded at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.

⁽²⁾

Amounts may be redeemed on a daily basis with the original issuer.

⁽³⁾

Recorded at fair value as determined by quoted market prices (see amounts presented in the table of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value within this Note).

⁽⁴⁾

Amounts restricted for use are subject to change based on the requirements of the Company’s collateralized facilities (see Note E).

The Company’s financial instruments in other long-term assets are presented in the table of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value within this Note.

Concentrations of Credit Risk of Financial Instruments

The Company is potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk related to its cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. The Company reduces credit risk by maintaining its cash deposits primarily in FDIC-insured accounts and placing its unrestricted short-term investments primarily in FDIC-insured certificates of deposit. However, certain cash deposits and certificates of deposit may exceed federally insured limits. Cash and cash equivalents totaling $66.3 million and $77.3 million were not FDIC insured at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments

Fair value disclosures are made in accordance with the following hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs of market data and market assumptions used to measure fair value are observable or unobservable:

Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs (Company’s market assumptions) that are significant to the valuation model.

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Fair value and carrying value disclosures of financial instruments are presented in the following table:


	September 30				December 31
	2015				2014
	(in thousands)
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Value		Value		Value		Value
Credit Facility(1)	$	70,000	$	70,000	$	—	$	—
Term loan(2)		—		—		70,000		70,000
Accounts receivable securitization borrowings(3)		35,000		35,000		—		—
Notes payable(4)		85,758		85,822		56,759		56,743
	$	190,758	$	190,822	$	126,759	$	126,743

⁽¹⁾

The revolving credit facility under the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Facility”), which was entered into in January 2015, carries a variable interest rate based on LIBOR, plus a margin, that is considered to be priced at market for debt instruments having similar terms and collateral requirements (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).

⁽²⁾

The Term Loan, which was entered into on June 15, 2012 and converted to borrowings under the Credit Facility on January 2, 2015, carried a variable interest rate based on LIBOR, plus a margin, that was considered to be priced at market for debt instruments having similar terms and collateral requirements (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).

⁽³⁾

Borrowings under the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program, which was entered into in February 2015, carries a variable interest rate based on LIBOR, plus a margin, that is considered to be priced at market for debt instruments having similar terms and collateral requirements (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).

⁽⁴⁾

Fair value of the notes payable was determined using a present value income approach based on quoted interest rates from lending institutions with which the Company would enter into similar transactions (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds(1)(3)	$	15,402	$	41,101
Equity, bond, and money market mutual funds held in trust related to the Voluntary Savings Plan(2)(3)		1,975		2,968
	$	17,377	$	44,069
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap(4)	$	1,568	$	576

⁽¹⁾

Included in cash and cash equivalents.

⁽²⁾

Nonqualified deferred compensation plan investments consist of U.S. and international equity mutual funds, government and corporate bond mutual funds, and money market funds which are held in a trust with a third-party brokerage firm. Quoted market prices are used to determine fair values of the investments which are included in other long-term assets, with a corresponding liability reported within other long-term liabilities.

⁽³⁾

Fair value measured using quoted prices of identical assets in active markets (Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy).

⁽⁴⁾

Included in other long-term liabilities. The interest rate swap fair value was determined by discounting future cash flows and receipts based on expected interest rates observed in market interest rate curves (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy) adjusted for estimated credit valuation considerations reflecting nonperformance risk of the Company and the counterparty (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy). The Company assessed Level 3 inputs as insignificant to the valuation at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and considers the interest rate swap valuation in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

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NOTE C – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill by reportable operating segment consisted of the following:


					ABF		ABF
	Total		Panther		Moving		Logistics		FleetNet
	(in thousands)
Balances at December 31, 2014	$	77,078	$	71,096	$	5,352	$	—	$	630
Goodwill acquired(1)		4,200		—		—		4,200		—
Balances at September 30, 2015	$	81,278	$	71,096	$	5,352	$	4,200	$	630

⁽¹⁾

Goodwill related to the acquisition of Smart Lines Transportation Group, LLC is expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes. The fair value assessment of assets and liabilities acquired with this business was based on preliminary information as of September 30, 2015.

Intangible assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:


		September 30, 2015						December 31, 2014
	Weighted-Average			Accumulated		Net				Accumulated		Net
	Amortization Period	Cost		Amortization		Value			Cost	Amortization		Value
	(in years)	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Finite-lived intangible assets
Customer relationships	14	$	44,921	$	10,446	$	34,475	$	44,242	$	7,971	$	36,271
Driver network	3		3,200		3,200		—		3,200		2,711		489
Other	8		1,032		219		813		1,032		105		927
	13		49,153		13,865		35,288		48,474		10,787		37,687
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Trade name	N/A		32,300		N/A		32,300		32,300		N/A		32,300
Other	N/A		2,822		N/A		2,822		2,822		N/A		2,822
			35,122				35,122		35,122				35,122
Total intangible assets	N/A	$	84,275	$	13,865	$	70,410	$	83,596	$	10,787	$	72,809

Amortization expense on intangible assets totaled $0.9 million and $3.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $1.1 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. As of September 30, 2015, amortization expense on intangible assets (excluding acquired software which is reported within property, plant and equipment) is anticipated to range between $3.0 million and $4.0 million per year for the years ended December 31, 2015 through 2019.

NOTE D – INCOME TAXES

The Company’s statutory federal tax rate is 35%. State tax rates vary among states and average approximately 6.0% to 6.5%, although some state rates are higher and a small number of states do not impose an income tax. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 40.2% and 39.5%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 39.7% and 37.9%, respectively. The tax rates for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 reflect a benefit of 0.3% from reduced state deferred tax liabilities to reflect enactment of lower tax rates in some states. The tax rate for the nine month period ended September 30, 2014 also reflects a 1.4% benefit from the reversal of the valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryovers.

In addition to the adjustment to deferred tax liabilities for state tax rate changes, in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate primarily results from state income taxes, nondeductible expenses, and changes in the cash surrender value of life insurance. For the first nine months of 2014, the effective tax rate was also affected by changes in valuation allowances for deferred tax assets.

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As of September 30, 2015, the Company’s deferred tax liabilities, which will reverse in future years, exceeded the deferred tax assets. The Company evaluated the total deferred tax assets at September 30, 2015 and concluded that, other than for certain deferred tax assets related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards, the assets did not exceed the amount for which realization is more likely than not. In making this determination, the Company considered the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years, future taxable income, and tax planning strategies.

The Company paid federal, state, and foreign income taxes of $17.3 million and $15.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company received refunds of $0.1 million and $2.0 million of federal and state income taxes that were paid in prior years, primarily from loss carryovers, during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

NOTE E – LONG-TERM DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

Long-Term Debt Obligations

Long-term debt consisted of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility and accounts receivable securitization program, both of which are further described in Financing Arrangements within this Note, and notes payable and capital lease obligations related to the financing of revenue equipment (tractors and trailers used primarily in ABF Freight’s operations), real estate, and certain other equipment as follows:


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Credit Facility (interest rate of 1.4% at September 30, 2015)	$	70,000	$	—
Term Loan(1)		—		70,000
Accounts receivable securitization borrowings (interest rate of 1.0% at September 30, 2015)		35,000		—
Notes payable (weighted-average interest rate of 1.9% at September 30, 2015)		85,758		56,759
Capital lease obligations (weighted-average interest rate of 5.8% at September 30, 2015)		845		971
		191,603		127,730
Less current portion		35,050		25,256
Long-term debt, less current portion	$	156,553	$	102,474

⁽¹⁾

The Term Loan was converted to the Credit Facility on January 2, 2015.

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Scheduled maturities of long-term debt obligations as of September 30, 2015 were as follows:


					Accounts
					Receivable
			Credit		Securitization		Notes		Capital Lease
	Total		Facility(1)		Program(1)		Payable		Obligations(2)
	(in thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	38,008	$	1,171	$	434	$	36,192	$	211
Due after one year through two years		36,955		1,513		606		34,619		217
Due after two years through three years		53,947		1,814		35,180		16,729		224
Due after three years through four years		2,643		2,074		—		339		230
Due after four years through five years		70,645		70,567		—		—		78
Total payments		202,198		77,139		36,220		87,879		960
Less amounts representing interest		10,595		7,139		1,220		2,121		115
Long-term debt	$	191,603	$	70,000	$	35,000	$	85,758	$	845

⁽¹⁾

The future interest payments included in the scheduled maturities due are calculated using variable interest rates based on the LIBOR swap curve, plus the anticipated applicable margin.

⁽²⁾

Minimum payments of capital lease obligations include maximum amounts due under rental adjustment clauses contained in the capital lease agreements.

Assets securing notes payable or held under capital leases were included in property, plant and equipment as follows:


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Revenue equipment	$	109,379	$	88,591
Land and structures (terminals)		1,794		1,794
Service, office, and other equipment		255		255
Total assets securing notes payable or held under capital leases		111,428		90,640
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(1)		20,340		26,305
Net assets securing notes payable or held under capital leases	$	91,088	$	64,335

⁽¹⁾

Amortization of assets under capital leases and depreciation of assets securing notes payable are included in depreciation expense.

Financing Arrangements

Credit Facility

On January 2, 2015, the Company and its lenders entered into an agreement to amend and restate the Company’s credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement refinanced the $70.0 million Term Loan, which was outstanding under the credit agreement at December 31, 2014, with a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility has an initial maximum credit amount of $150.0 million, including a swing line facility and a letter of credit sub-facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit up to an aggregate amount of $20.0 million. The Credit Facility allows the Company to request additional revolving commitments or incremental term loans thereunder up to an aggregate additional amount of $75.0 million, subject to certain additional conditions as provided in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Principal payments under the Credit Facility are due upon maturity on January 2, 2020; however, borrowings may be repaid, at the Company’s discretion, in whole or in part at any time, without penalty, subject to required notice periods and compliance with minimum prepayment amounts. Borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement can either be, at the Company’s election: (i) at an alternate base rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) plus a spread; or (ii) at a Eurodollar rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) plus a spread. The applicable spread is dependent upon the Company’s adjusted leverage ratio (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains conditions, representations and warranties,

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events of default, and indemnification provisions that are customary for financings of this type, including, but not limited to, a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum adjusted leverage ratio, and limitations on incurrence of debt, investments, liens on assets, certain sale and leaseback transactions, transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, and purchases and sales of assets. The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement at September 30, 2015.

Interest Rate Swap

In November 2014, in contemplation of the Credit Facility, the Company entered into a five-year forward-starting interest rate swap agreement with a $50.0 million notional amount maturing on January 2, 2020. Effective January 2, 2015, the Company began receiving floating-rate interest amounts based on one-month LIBOR in exchange for fixed-rate interest payments of 1.85% over the life of the interest rate swap agreement. The interest rate swap mitigates interest rate risk by effectively converting $50.0 million of borrowings under the Credit Facility from variable-rate interest to fixed-rate interest with a per annum rate of 3.10% based on the margin of the Credit Facility as of September 30, 2015. The fair value of the interest rate swap of $1.6 million and $0.6 million was recorded in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. At September 30, 2015, the unrealized loss on the interest rate swap instrument was reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity, and the change in the unrealized loss on the interest rate swap for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was reported in other comprehensive loss, net of tax, in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The interest rate swap is subject to certain customary provisions that could allow the counterparty to request immediate payment of the fair value liability upon violation of any or all of the provisions. The Company was in compliance with all provisions of the interest rate swap agreement at September 30, 2015.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Program

On January 2, 2015, the Company entered into an amendment to extend the maturity date of its accounts receivable securitization program with PNC Bank until January 2, 2018. On February 1, 2015, the Company amended and restated the accounts receivable securitization program to increase the amount of cash proceeds provided under the facility from $75.0 million to $100.0 million, with an accordion feature allowing the Company to request additional borrowings up to $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Under this program, certain subsidiaries of the Company continuously sell a designated pool of trade accounts receivables to a wholly owned subsidiary which, in turn, may borrow funds on a revolving basis. This wholly owned consolidated subsidiary is a separate bankruptcy-remote entity, and its assets would be available only to satisfy the claims related to the lender’s interest in the trade accounts receivables. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization program bear interest based upon LIBOR, plus a margin, and an annual facility fee. The securitization agreement contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default that are customary for financings of this type, including a maximum adjusted leverage ratio covenant. As of September 30, 2015, $35.0 million was borrowed under the accounts receivable securitization program. The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the accounts receivable securitization program as of September 30, 2015.

The accounts receivable securitization program includes a provision under which the Company may request and the letter of credit issuer may issue standby letters of credit, primarily in support of workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims liabilities in various states in which the Company is self-insured. The outstanding standby letters of credit reduce the availability of borrowings under the program. As of September 30, 2015, standby letters of credit of $19.4 million have been issued under the program, which reduced the available borrowing capacity to $45.6 million.

Letter of Credit Agreements and Surety Bond Programs

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $21.3 million (including $19.4 million issued under the accounts receivable securitization program), of which $1.4 million were collateralized by restricted cash. The Company has programs in place with multiple surety companies for the issuance of surety bonds in support of its self-insurance program. As of September 30, 2015, surety bonds outstanding related to the self-insurance program totaled $45.0 million.

Notes Payable and Capital Leases

ABF Freight has financed the purchase of certain revenue equipment through promissory note arrangements, including $38.3 million and $51.0 million of revenue equipment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The

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Company has financed revenue equipment, real estate, and certain other equipment through capital lease agreements, but did not enter into such agreements in the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

ABF Freight financed the purchase of an additional $6.2 million of revenue equipment through promissory note arrangements during October 2015.

NOTE F – PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Nonunion Defined Benefit Pension, Supplemental Benefit, and Postretirement Health Benefit Plans

The following is a summary of the components of net periodic benefit cost:


	Three Months Ended September 30
	Nonunion Defined				Supplemental				Postretirement
	Benefit Pension Plan				Benefit Plan				Health Benefit Plan
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	101	$	70
Interest cost		1,356		1,401		31		49		228		197
Expected return on plan assets		(2,297)		(2,544)		—		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service credit		—		—		—		—		(47)		(47)
Pension settlement expense		762		805		—		—		—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		640		595		40		57		213		23
Net periodic benefit cost	$	461	$	257	$	71	$	106	$	495	$	243


	Nine Months Ended September 30
	Nonunion Defined				Supplemental				Postretirement
	Benefit Pension Plan				Benefit Plan				Health Benefit Plan
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	304	$	210
Interest cost		3,899		4,643		92		147		685		591
Expected return on plan assets		(7,058)		(7,980)		—		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service credit		—		—		—		—		(142)		(142)
Pension settlement expense		2,478		5,405		—		—		—		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		2,276		1,729		120		170		639		69
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,595	$	3,797	$	212	$	317	$	1,486	$	728

Nonunion Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The Company’s nonunion defined benefit pension plan covers substantially all noncontractual employees hired before January 1, 2006. In June 2013, the Company amended the nonunion defined benefit pension plan to freeze the participants’ final average compensation and years of credited service as of July 1, 2013. The plan amendment did not impact the vested benefits of retirees or former employees whose benefits have not yet been paid from the plan. Effective July 1, 2013, participants of the nonunion defined benefit pension plan who were active employees of the Company became eligible for the discretionary defined contribution feature of the Company’s nonunion defined contribution plan in which all eligible noncontractual employees hired subsequent to December 31, 2005 also participate.

In consideration of the freeze of the accrual of benefits, the investment strategy has become more focused on reducing investment, interest rate, and longevity risks in the plan. As part of this strategy, in January 2014, the plan purchased a nonparticipating annuity contract from an insurance company to settle the pension obligation related to the vested benefits of 375 plan participants and beneficiaries receiving monthly benefit payments at the time of the contract purchase. The Company recognized pension settlement expense as a component of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 of $0.8 million (pre-tax), or $0.5 million (after-tax), and $5.4 million

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(pre-tax), or $3.3 million (after-tax), respectively, related to the $25.4 million nonparticipating annuity contract purchased in first quarter 2014 and to lump-sum distributions which amounted to $6.3 million and $28.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

The Company recognized total settlement expense as a component of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $0.8 million (pre-tax), or $0.5 million (after-tax), and $2.5 million (pre-tax), or $1.5 million (after-tax), respectively, related to lump-sum distributions which amounted to $4.1 million and $16.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Upon recognition of pension settlement expense, a corresponding reduction in the unrecognized net actuarial loss of the plan is recorded. The remaining pre-tax unrecognized net actuarial loss will continue to be amortized over the average remaining future years of service of the plan participants, which is approximately eight years. The Company will incur additional quarterly settlement expense related to lump-sum distributions from the nonunion defined benefit pension plan during the remainder of 2015.

The following table discloses the changes in the projected benefit obligation (the “PBO”) and plan assets of the nonunion defined benefit pension plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:


	Nonunion Defined
	Benefit Pension Plan
	(in thousands)
Change in benefit obligations
Projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2014	$	174,410
Interest cost		3,899
Actuarial gain(1)		(475)
Benefits paid		(16,756)
Projected benefit obligation at September 30, 2015		161,078
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2014		158,265
Actual loss on plan assets		(3,616)
Employer contributions		50
Benefits paid		(16,756)
Fair value of plan assets at September 30, 2015		137,943
Funded status at September 30, 2015(2)	$	(23,135)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	161,078

⁽¹⁾

Actuarial gain from remeasurement upon settlements was primarily impacted by changes in the discount rate since the previous remeasurement date. The discount rates used to remeasure the PBO upon settlement were 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.0%, and 3.2% at the September 30, 2015, June 30, 2015, March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 measurement dates, respectively.

⁽²⁾

Noncurrent liability recognized within pension and postretirement liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015.

Based upon currently available actuarial information, the Company does not have a required minimum contribution to its nonunion defined benefit pension plan for 2015. The plan’s actuary certified the adjusted funding target attainment percentage (“AFTAP”) to be 107.3% as of the January 1, 2015 valuation date. The AFTAP is determined by measurements prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code, which differ from the funding measurements for financial statement reporting purposes.

Multiemployer Plans

ABF Freight contributes to multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans, which have been established pursuant to the Taft-Hartley Act, to provide benefits for its contractual employees. ABF Freight’s contributions generally are based on the time worked by its contractual employees, in accordance with the ABF NMFA and other related supplemental agreements. ABF Freight recognizes as expense the contractually required contributions for each period and recognizes as a liability any contributions due and unpaid.

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The 25 multiemployer pension plans to which ABF Freight contributes vary greatly in size and in funded status. ABF Freight’s contribution obligations to these plans are specified in the ABF NMFA, which was implemented on November 3, 2013 and will remain in effect through March 31, 2018. The funding obligations to the pension plans are intended to satisfy the requirements imposed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “PPA”), which was permanently extended by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (the “Reform Act”) included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015. Provisions of the Reform Act include, among others, providing qualifying plans the ability to self-correct funding issues, subject to various requirements and restrictions, including applying to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) for the suspension of certain benefits. Any actions taken by trustees of multiemployer pension plans under the Reform Act to improve funding will not reduce benefit rates ABF Freight is obligated to pay under the ABF NMFA. Through the term of its current collective bargaining agreement, ABF Freight’s contribution obligations generally will be satisfied by making the specified contributions when due. However, the Company cannot determine with any certainty the contributions that will be required under future collective bargaining agreements for its contractual employees. If ABF Freight was to completely withdraw from certain multiemployer pension plans, under current law, the Company would have material liabilities for its share of the unfunded vested liabilities of each such plan.

Approximately one half of ABF Freight’s total contributions to multiemployer pension plans are made to the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (the “Central States Pension Plan”). As set forth in information provided by the Central States Pension Plan, the funded percentage of the plan was 47.9% as of January 1, 2015 and the plan was classified in critical and declining status, as defined by the Reform Act. Critical and declining status is applicable to critical status plans that are projected to become insolvent anytime in the current plan year or during the next 14 plan years, or if the plan is projected to become insolvent within the next 19 plan years and either the plan’s ratio of inactive participants to active participants exceeds two to one or the plan’s funded percentage is less than 80%.

In September 2015, the Central States Pension Plan filed an application with the Treasury seeking approval under the Reform Act for a pension rescue plan, which includes benefit reductions for participants of the Central States Pension Plan. The proposed benefit reductions in the pension rescue plan, which are subject to various requirements and restrictions, vary depending on participants’ age, retirement status, years of credited service, and whether the participants’ current or former employer who withdrew from the multiemployer pension plan either failed to pay their full employer withdrawal obligations or paid their full employer withdrawal liability and guaranteed protection of the participants’ benefits. If the Treasury approves the proposed pension rescue plan, participants of the Central States Pension Plan will have an opportunity to vote on whether the plan should be implemented; however, by law, the Treasury can override a negative participant vote and order that the pension rescue plan be implemented or modified. If approved, the pension rescue plan would be implemented in July 2016 based on the application filing date. As previously disclosed, the implementation of the rescue plan sought by the Central States Pension Plan would not reduce the benefit rates ABF Freight is obligated to pay under the ABF NMFA which will remain in effect through March 31, 2018.

The multiemployer plan administrators have provided to the Company no other significant changes in information related to multiemployer plans from the information disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. ABF Freight received a Notice of Insolvency from the Road Carriers Local 707 Pension Fund (the “707 Pension Fund”) for the plan year beginning February 1, 2016. Approximately 1% of ABF Freight’s total multiemployer pension contributions for the year ended December 31, 2014 were made to the 707 Pension Fund. Based on currently available information, the Company does not believe the insolvency of the 707 Pension Fund will increase ABF Freight’s contributions to the fund during the current ABF NMFA contract period, which extends to March 31, 2018; however, there can be no assurances in this regard. ABF Freight has not received any other notification of plan reorganization or plan insolvency.

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NOTE G – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Pre-tax amounts:
Unrecognized net periodic benefit costs	$	(34,969)	$	(30,140)
Interest rate swap		(1,568)		(576)
Foreign currency translation		(2,119)		(1,216)
Total	$	(38,656)	$	(31,932)

After-tax amounts:
Unrecognized net periodic benefit costs	$	(25,338)	$	(22,387)
Interest rate swap		(953)		(350)
Foreign currency translation		(1,294)		(742)
Total	$	(27,585)	$	(23,479)

The following is a summary of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:


			Unrecognized			Interest	Foreign
			Net Periodic			Rate	Currency
	Total		Benefit Costs			Swap	Translation
	(in thousands)
Balances at December 31, 2014	$	(23,479)	$	(22,387)	$	(350)	$	(742)

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(7,387)		(6,232)		(603)		(552)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss		3,281		3,281		—		—
Net current-period other comprehensive loss		(4,106)		(2,951)		(603)		(552)
Balances at September 30, 2015	$	(27,585)	$	(25,338)	$	(953)	$	(1,294)

Balances at December 31, 2013	$	(14,912)	$	(14,386)	$	—	$	(526)

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(8,206)		(8,072)		—		(134)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss		4,418		4,418		—		—
Net current-period other comprehensive loss		(3,788)		(3,654)		—		(134)
Balances at September 30, 2014	$	(18,700)	$	(18,040)	$	—	$	(660)

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The following is a summary of the significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the nine months ended September 30:

Unrecognized Net Periodic Benefit Costs (1)(2)


	Nine Months Ended September 30
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	$	(3,035)	$	(1,968)
Amortization of prior service credit		142		142
Pension settlement expense		(2,478)		(5,405)
Total, pre-tax		(5,371)		(7,231)
Tax benefit		2,090		2,813
Total, net of tax	$	(3,281)	$	(4,418)

⁽¹⁾

Amounts in parentheses indicate increases in expense or loss.

⁽²⁾

These components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note F).

Dividends on Common Stock

The following table is a summary of dividends declared during the applicable quarter:


	2015				2014
	Per Share		Amount		Per Share		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share data)
First quarter	$	0.06	$	1,584	$	0.03	$	819
Second quarter	$	0.06	$	1,578	$	0.03	$	816
Third quarter	$	0.06	$	1,578	$	0.03	$	823

On October 22, 2015 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per share to stockholders of record as of November 5, 2015 payable on November 19, 2015.

Treasury Stock

The Company has a program to repurchase its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The program has no expiration date but may be terminated at any time at the Board of Directors’ discretion. Repurchases may be made using the Company’s cash reserves or other available sources. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had purchased 1,618,150 shares for an aggregate cost of $56.8 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company purchased 292,186 shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $10.0 million. In October 2015, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program, making a total of $50.0 million available for purchases of the Company’s common stock.

NOTE H – SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Awards

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding restricted stock units granted under the 2005 Ownership Incentive Plan (“the 2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan, as amended, provides for the granting of 3.1 million shares, which may be awarded as incentive and nonqualified stock options, Stock Appreciation Rights, restricted stock, or restricted stock units (“RSUs”).

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Restricted Stock Units

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock unit award program is presented below:


		Units

Outstanding – January 1, 2015		1,368,880
Granted		267,510
Vested		(295,668)
Forfeited		(13,322)
Outstanding – September 30, 2015		1,327,400

The RSUs granted during the period had a weighted-average grant date fair value of $35.57 per share.

NOTE I – EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Basic
Numerator:
Net income	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633
Effect of unvested restricted stock awards		(175)		(981)		(418)		(1,591)
Adjusted net income	$	18,979	$	18,637	$	39,448	$	30,042
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares		26,009,344		26,054,678		26,033,467		25,979,555
Earnings per common share	$	0.73	$	0.72	$	1.52	$	1.16
Diluted
Numerator:
Net income	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633
Effect of unvested restricted stock awards		(172)		(981)		(410)		(1,591)
Adjusted net income	$	18,982	$	18,637	$	39,456	$	30,042
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares		26,009,344		26,054,678		26,033,467		25,979,555
Effect of dilutive securities		499,138		—		536,333		453
Adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions		26,508,482		26,054,678		26,569,800		25,980,008
Earnings per common share	$	0.72	$	0.72	$	1.48	$	1.16

Under the two-class method of calculating earnings per share, dividends paid and a portion of undistributed net income, but not losses, are allocated to unvested RSUs that receive dividends, which are considered participating securities. Beginning with 2015 grants, the RSU agreements were modified to remove dividend rights and, therefore, the RSUs granted in 2015 are not participating securities. Outstanding stock awards of 0.4 million and 0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and outstanding stock awards of 0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because their inclusion would have the effect of increasing the earnings per share.

NOTE J – OPERATING SEGMENT DATA

The Company uses the “management approach” to determine its reportable operating segments, as well as to determine the basis of reporting the operating segment information. The management approach focuses on financial information that the Company’s management uses to make operating decisions. Management uses revenues, operating expense

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categories, operating ratios, operating income, and key operating statistics to evaluate performance and allocate resources to the Company’s operations.

The Company’s reportable operating segments are impacted by seasonal fluctuations, as described below; therefore, operating results for the interim periods presented may not necessarily be indicative of the results for the fiscal year.

The Company’s reportable operating segments are as follows:

Freight Transportation (ABF Freight), the Company’s principal operating segment, includes the results of operations of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries. The operations of ABF Freight include national, inter-regional, and regional transportation of general commodities through standard, expedited, and guaranteed LTL services. Revenue and expense for freight transportation related to consumer household goods self-move services provided to ABF Moving by ABF Freight are reported in the ABF Freight operating segment and certain support costs related to these services are allocated to ABF Freight from the ABF Moving operating segment.

ABF Freight is impacted by seasonal fluctuations which affect tonnage and shipment levels and, consequently, revenues and operating results. Earnings of the ABF Freight segment are adversely affected by the impact of inclement weather conditions on freight shipments and operating costs. The second and third calendar quarters of each year usually have the highest tonnage levels while the first quarter generally has the lowest, although other factors, including the state of the U.S. and global economies, may influence quarterly tonnage levels.

Premium Logistics (Panther) provides expedited freight transportation services to commercial and government customers and offers premium logistics services that include the rapid deployment of highly specialized equipment to meet extremely specific linehaul requirements, such as temperature control, hazardous materials, geofencing (routing a shipment across a mandatory, defined route with satellite monitoring and automated alerts concerning any deviation from the route), specialized government cargo, security services, and life sciences. Through its premium logistics and global freight forwarding businesses, Panther offers domestic and international freight transportation with air, ocean, and ground service offerings. The segment provides services to the ABF Freight and ABF Logistics operating segments.

Panther’s operations are influenced by seasonal fluctuations that impact customers’ supply chains and the resulting demand for expedited services. Expedited shipments may decline during winter months because of post-holiday slowdowns but can be subject to short-term increases, depending on the impact of weather disruptions to customers’ supply chains. Plant shutdowns during summer months may affect shipments for automotive and manufacturing customers, but severe weather events can result in higher demand for expedited services.

Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet) includes the results of operations of FleetNet America, Inc., the subsidiary of the Company that provides roadside assistance and equipment services for commercial vehicles through a network of third-party service providers. FleetNet provides services to the ABF Freight and Panther segments.

Emergency roadside services events of the FleetNet segment are favorably impacted by adverse weather conditions that affect commercial vehicle operations and the segment’s results of operations will be influenced by seasonal variations in service event volume.

Transportation Management (ABF Logistics) includes the results of operations of the Company’s businesses which provide freight brokerage and intermodal transportation services, worldwide ocean shipping solutions, and transportation and warehouse management services.

The industries and markets served by ABF Logistics are impacted by seasonal fluctuations which affect tonnage and shipment levels and, consequently, revenues and operating results of the segment. The second and third calendar quarters of each year usually have the highest tonnage levels while the first quarter generally has the

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lowest, although other factors, including the state of the U.S. and global economies, may influence quarterly business levels. However, seasonal fluctuations are less apparent in the operating results of ABF Logistics than in the industry as a whole because of business growth in the segment.

Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving) includes the results of operations of the Company’s subsidiaries that provide transportation, warehousing, and delivery services to the consumer, corporate, and military household goods moving markets. ABF Freight provides transportation services to ABF Moving. Certain costs incurred by ABF Moving in support of consumer self-move services provided by ABF Freight are allocated to the ABF Freight operating segment.

Operating results for ABF Moving are impacted by the state of the national economy, including housing, unemployment, and U.S. mobility, as well as decisions made by the U.S. military which affect personnel moves. Operations of the segment are also impacted by seasonal fluctuations, resulting in higher business levels in the second and third quarters as the demand for moving services is typically higher in the summer months.

The Company’s other business activities and operating segments that are not reportable include ArcBest Corporation and certain other subsidiaries. Certain costs incurred by the parent holding company are allocated to the reporting segments. The Company eliminates intercompany transactions in consolidation. However, the information used by the Company’s management with respect to its reportable segments is before intersegment eliminations of revenues and expenses.

Further classifications of operations or revenues by geographic location are impracticable and, therefore, are not provided. The Company’s foreign operations are not significant.

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The following tables reflect reportable operating segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30:


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
REVENUES
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)	$	511,346	$	523,351	$	1,456,924	$	1,445,079
Premium Logistics (Panther)		73,583		82,784		229,146		236,435
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		45,181		40,117		129,685		120,123
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		49,270		40,672		147,061		105,882
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		43,076		35,338		93,870		72,943
Other and eliminations		(13,076)		(10,967)		(37,915)		(32,617)
Total consolidated revenues	$	709,380	$	711,295	$	2,018,771	$	1,947,845

OPERATING EXPENSES
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)
Salaries, wages, and benefits	$	304,865	$	294,826	$	884,875	$	835,354
Fuel, supplies, and expenses		77,708		91,406		236,381		275,473
Operating taxes and licenses		12,444		11,262		36,762		34,525
Insurance		8,288		6,498		20,340		17,859
Communications and utilities		3,808		3,768		11,559		11,741
Depreciation and amortization		18,841		17,746		54,528		50,925
Rents and purchased transportation		56,920		69,985		151,144		172,954
Gain on sale of property and equipment		(565)		(333)		(1,403)		(576)
Pension settlement expense(1)		572		627		1,860		4,224
Other		1,888		2,829		6,167		7,211
Total Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)		484,769		498,614		1,402,213		1,409,690

Premium Logistics (Panther)
Purchased transportation		54,015		61,298		168,569		176,057
Depreciation and amortization(2)		2,773		2,891		8,636		8,465
Salaries, benefits, insurance, and other		14,062		14,476		43,174		40,072
Total Premium Logistics (Panther)		70,850		78,665		220,379		224,594

Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		44,225		39,378		126,542		117,283
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		47,478		39,612		142,686		103,433
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		40,048		32,029		89,207		69,852
Other and eliminations(1)		(11,428)		(9,944)		(30,439)		(28,197)
Total consolidated operating expenses	$	675,942	$	678,354	$	1,950,588	$	1,896,655

⁽¹⁾

Pension settlement expense totaled $0.8 million (pre-tax) on a consolidated basis for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, of which $0.6 million was reported by ABF Freight, $0.2 million was reported in Other and eliminations, and less than $0.1 million was reported by the asset-light logistics operating segments. Pension settlement expense totaled $2.5 million (pre-tax) and $5.4 million (pre-tax) on a consolidated basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $1.9 million and $4.2 million was reported by ABF Freight, $0.5 million and $1.1 million was reported in Other and eliminations, and $0.1 million was reported by the asset-light logistics operating segments, for the respective periods.

⁽²⁾

Depreciation and amortization consists primarily of amortization of intangibles, including customer relationships and software associated with the June 15, 2012 acquisition of Panther.

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	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
OPERATING INCOME
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)	$	26,577	$	24,737	$	54,711	$	35,389
Premium Logistics (Panther)		2,733		4,119		8,767		11,841
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		956		739		3,143		2,840
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		1,792		1,060		4,375		2,449
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		3,028		3,309		4,663		3,091
Other and eliminations		(1,648)		(1,023)		(7,476)		(4,420)
Total consolidated operating income	$	33,438	$	32,941	$	68,183	$	51,190

OTHER INCOME (COSTS)
Interest and dividend income		378		215		882		600
Interest and other related financing costs		(1,157)		(834)		(3,183)		(2,367)
Other, net		(613)		234		(15)		1,549
Total other costs		(1,392)		(385)		(2,316)		(218)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	$	32,046	$	32,556	$	65,867	$	50,972

The following table presents operating expenses by category on a consolidated basis for the three and nine months ended September 30:


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages, and benefits	$	334,144	$	321,781	$	973,570	$	914,559
Rents, purchased transportation, and other costs of services		209,744		215,719		588,329		564,024
Fuel, supplies, and expenses		77,067		89,337		231,097		269,401
Depreciation and amortization		23,373		22,178		68,221		63,855
Other		31,614		29,339		89,371		84,816
Total consolidated operating expenses	$	675,942	$	678,354	$	1,950,588	$	1,896,655

NOTE K – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS

The Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains liability insurance against certain risks arising out of the normal course of its business, subject to certain self-insured retention limits. The Company routinely establishes and reviews the adequacy of reserves for estimated legal, environmental, and self-insurance exposures. While management believes that amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements are adequate, estimates of these liabilities may change as circumstances develop. Considering amounts recorded, routine legal matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows; however, the Company is currently involved in certain environmental compliance matters and legal proceedings, as further described below, for which the outcome and related financial impact cannot be determined at this time.

Environmental Matters

The Company’s subsidiaries store fuel for use in tractors and trucks in 62 underground tanks located in 18 states. Maintenance of such tanks is regulated at the federal and, in most cases, state levels. The Company believes it is in substantial compliance with all such regulations. The Company’s underground storage tanks are required to have leak detection systems. The Company is not aware of any leaks from such tanks that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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The Company has received notices from the Environmental Protection Agency and others that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, or other federal or state environmental statutes, at several hazardous waste sites. After investigating the Company’s involvement in waste disposal or waste generation at such sites, the Company has either agreed to de minimis settlements or determined that its obligations, other than those specifically accrued with respect to such sites, would involve immaterial monetary liability, although there can be no assurances in this regard.

Certain ABF Freight branch facilities operate with storm water permits under the federal Clean Water Act (the “CWA”). The storm water permits require periodic monitoring and reporting of storm water sampling results and establish maximum levels of certain contaminants that may be contained in such samples. ABF Freight received, in late March 2014, a sixty-day Notice of Intent to Sue under the provisions of the CWA from a citizens group alleging multiple violations since 2009 by ABF Freight of the requirements of a storm water permit in force at the ABF Freight branch located in Kent, Washington. On July 6, 2014, the citizens group filed suit against ABF Freight in the United States District Court in Seattle, Washington seeking to collect fines and obtain injunctive relief for the alleged violations. ABF Freight intends to vigorously defend against the claims in this matter. Due to the nature of the materials in the runoff samples taken at the site by Company representatives, it is unlikely that this matter will result in any requirement for remediation of contaminants. The Company expects to resolve this matter for an amount less than $0.2 million, although there can be no assurances in this regard.

ABF Freight received a similar Notice of Intent to Sue from another citizens group in December 2014 alleging CWA violations at its Brooklyn, New York branch. During the investigation of the allegations contained in the Notice of Intent to Sue, it was determined that the operations at the Brooklyn site were being conducted in a manner protected from storm water and, as a result, the site qualified for exemption from the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act under a procedure known as “no exposure certification” (“NEC”). In December 2014, ABF Freight made an NEC filing with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation covering the Brooklyn facility. During first quarter 2015, the citizens group filed suit against ABF Freight in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York asserting the violations of the CWA that were identified in the Notice of Intent to Sue and contesting the validity of the NEC filing. It is not possible to assess potential damages or make an assessment of the probability of future losses at this time as discovery is in process. Therefore, no liability has been established at September 30, 2015 in connection with this matter.

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s reserve, which was reported in accrued expenses, for estimated environmental cleanup costs of properties currently or previously operated by the Company totaled $0.8 million. Amounts accrued reflect management’s best estimate of the future undiscounted exposure related to identified properties based on current environmental regulations, management’s experience with similar environmental matters, and testing performed at certain sites.

Legal Proceedings

On December 23, 2014, Jaguar Land Rover Limited filed suit against Panther in the Northern District of Ohio under various causes of action, collectively falling under a trademark infringement claim. Panther believes the claim is without merit and will vigorously defend itself against this claim. It is not possible to determine the likelihood of loss or the amount of any damages that could be assessed against Panther in this matter as discovery is in process. Therefore, no liability has been established in connection with this matter as of September 30, 2015.

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ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

ArcBest CorporationSM (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) provides a comprehensive suite of freight transportation services and logistics solutions. Our principal operations are conducted through our Freight Transportation (ABF FreightSM) segment, which consists of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries. Our other reportable operating segments are the following asset-light logistics (formerly referred to as “non-asset-based”) businesses: Premium Logistics (Panther); Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet); Transportation Management (ABF LogisticsSM); and Household Goods Moving Services (ABF MovingSM). (See additional segment description in Note J to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.) References to the Company, including “we,” “us,” and “our,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are primarily to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) describes the principal factors affecting our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources, and critical accounting policies. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes additional information about significant accounting policies, practices, and the transactions that underlie our financial results, as well as a detailed discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties to which our financial and operating results are subject.

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Results of Operations

Consolidated Results


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in thousands, except per share data)
REVENUES
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)	$	511,346	$	523,351	$	1,456,924	$	1,445,079
Premium Logistics (Panther)		73,583		82,784		229,146		236,435
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		45,181		40,117		129,685		120,123
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		49,270		40,672		147,061		105,882
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		43,076		35,338		93,870		72,943
Other and eliminations		(13,076)		(10,967)		(37,915)		(32,617)
Total consolidated operating revenues	$	709,380	$	711,295	$	2,018,771	$	1,947,845

OPERATING INCOME
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)	$	26,577	$	24,737	$	54,711	$	35,389
Premium Logistics (Panther)		2,733		4,119		8,767		11,841
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		956		739		3,143		2,840
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		1,792		1,060		4,375		2,449
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		3,028		3,309		4,663		3,091
Other and eliminations		(1,648)		(1,023)		(7,476)		(4,420)
Total consolidated operating income	$	33,438	$	32,941	$	68,183	$	51,190

NET INCOME	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	0.72	$	0.72	$	1.48	$	1.16

Our consolidated revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 decreased 0.3% and increased 3.6%, respectively, compared to the same prior-year periods. ABF Freight (asset-based business) revenues decreased 2.3% and increased 1.1% on a per day basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014. The decrease in ABF Freight’s revenue for third quarter 2015 was due to a decline in tonnage levels, offset in part by a slight improvement in yield, as measured by billed revenue per hundredweight, while the revenue increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily reflects yield improvement. ABF Freight’s revenues for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, were also negatively impacted by lower fuel surcharges associated with decreased fuel prices in the 2015 periods, as compared to 2014. On a combined basis, revenues of our asset-light logistics operating segments increased 6.1% and 12.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014 on higher business volumes due, in part, to more comprehensive customer services being offered across our consolidated enterprise and to the revenues resulting from the January 2015 acquisition of Smart Lines Transportation Group, LLC. Total asset-light logistics operating segments generated approximately 29% of total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Our consolidated operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was improved versus the comparable prior-year periods, benefiting from improved cost management at ABF Freight through better utilization of owned equipment and driver resources, as well as more effective use of purchased transportation and rented equipment. Higher revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same period of 2014, also influenced the improvement in consolidated operating results. The consolidated operating income, net income, and per share amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 primarily reflect the operating results of ABF Freight which are discussed in further detail within the ABF Freight sections of Results of Operations.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, consolidated operating results were also impacted by an increase in healthcare claims costs. Consolidated nonunion healthcare costs increased $6.1 million for the nine months ended

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September 30, 2015, respectively, over the same period of 2014, primarily due to an increase in severity of claims. These costs were partially offset by a decrease in other nonunion benefit costs including lower pension settlement charges related to our nonunion defined benefit pension plan.

Consolidated pension settlement expense was $0.8 million and $2.5 million (pre-tax), or $0.5 million and $1.5 million (after-tax) and $0.02 and $0.06 per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $0.8 million and $5.4 million (pre-tax), or $0.5 million and $3.3 million (after-tax) and $0.02 and $0.13 per share, for the same respective prior-year periods. We expect to continue to recognize pension settlement expense related to the nonunion defined benefit pension plan estimated to approximate $1.0 million (pre-tax) per quarter; however, the amount of quarterly pension settlement expense will fluctuate based on the amount of lump-sum benefit distributions paid to participants, actual returns on plan assets, and changes in the discount rate used to remeasure the projected benefit obligation of the plan upon settlement.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the “Other and eliminations” line of operating income includes additional investments in enterprise solutions to provide an improved platform for revenue growth and to enhance our ability to offer our comprehensive transportation and logistics services across multiple operating segments. This initiative involves developing and implementing integrated solutions for shippers with wide-ranging transportation needs and facilitating access to our services through a single point of contact. We estimate that quarterly costs associated with this initiative and the related impact on the “Other and eliminations” costs in the fourth quarter of 2015 will be comparable to the third quarter level of approximately $1.0 million.

In addition to the above items, the comparisons of consolidated net income and earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, versus the same periods of 2014, were impacted by lower income from changes in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies and higher effective tax rates in the 2015 periods. A portion of our cash surrender value of variable life insurance policies have investments, through separate accounts, in equity and fixed income securities and, therefore, are subject to market volatility. As a result of changes in cash surrender value of life insurance, diluted earnings per share was lower by $0.03 per share and $0.05 per share in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014. Our effective tax rate was 40.2% and 39.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and 39.7% and 37.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as further described in the Income Taxes section of MD&A.

Consolidated Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	($ thousands)
CONSOLIDATED ADJUSTED EBITDA
Net income	$	19,154	$	19,618	$	39,866	$	31,633
Interest and other related financing costs		1,157		834		3,183		2,367
Income tax provision		12,892		12,938		26,001		19,339
Depreciation and amortization		23,373		22,177		68,221		63,855
Amortization of share-based compensation		2,110		1,694		6,343		5,362
Amortization of net actuarial losses of benefit plans and pension settlement expense		1,655		1,480		5,513		7,373
	$	60,341	$	58,741	$	149,127	$	129,929

Adjusted EBITDA is a primary component of the financial covenants contained in our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (see Financing Arrangements within the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of MD&A). Management believes Adjusted EBITDA to be relevant and useful information, as EBITDA is a standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors, and others to measure financial performance and ability to service debt obligations. However, this financial measure should not be construed as a better measurement than operating income, operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently; therefore, our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

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Freight Transportation (ABF Freight) Operating Segment Overview

ABF Freight’s operations are affected by general economic conditions, as well as a number of other competitive factors that are more fully described in “Business” in Item 1 and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The key indicators necessary to understand ABF Freight’s operating results include:

the overall customer demand for ABF Freight’s freight transportation services;

the volume of transportation services provided by ABF Freight, primarily measured by average daily shipment weight (“tonnage”), which influences operating leverage as tonnage levels vary;

the prices ABF Freight obtains for its services, primarily measured by yield (“revenue per hundredweight”), including fuel surcharges; and

ABF Freight’s ability to manage its cost structure, primarily in the area of salaries, wages, and benefits (“labor”), with the total cost structure measured by the percent of operating expenses to revenue levels (“operating ratio”).

ABF Freight represented approximately 71% of our total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. As of September 2015, approximately 79% of ABF Freight’s employees were covered under a collective bargaining agreement, the ABF National Master Freight Agreement (the “ABF NMFA”), with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (the “IBT”), which extends through March 31, 2018. The ABF NMFA included a 7% wage rate reduction effective on the November 3, 2013 implementation date, followed by wage rate increases of 2% on July 1 in each of the next three years, which began in 2014, and a 2.5% increase on July 1, 2017; a one-week reduction in annual compensated vacation effective for employee anniversary dates on or after April 1, 2013; the option to expand the use of purchased transportation; and increased flexibility in labor work rules. The ABF NMFA and the related supplemental agreements provide for continued contributions to various multiemployer health, welfare, and pension plans maintained for the benefit of ABF Freight’s employees who are members of the IBT. The estimated net effect of the November 3, 2013 wage rate reduction and the benefit rate increase which was applied retroactively to August 1, 2013 was an initial reduction of approximately 4% to the combined total contractual wage and benefit rate under the ABF NMFA. Following the initial reduction, the combined contractual wage and benefit contribution rate under the ABF NMFA is estimated to increase approximately 2.5% to 3.0% on a compounded annual basis throughout the contract period which extends through March 31, 2018.

ABF Freight’s operating performance is generally evaluated by comparison to the same prior-year periods due to seasonal fluctuations which affect tonnage and shipment levels. The following paragraphs discuss ABF Freight’s operating results and key performance factors.

Tonnage

The level of tonnage managed by ABF Freight is directly affected by industrial production and manufacturing, residential and commercial construction, consumer spending, primarily in the North American economy, and capacity in the trucking industry. ABF Freight’s operating results are affected by economic cycles, customers’ business cycles, and changes in customers’ business practices. ABF Freight actively competes for freight business based primarily on price, service, and availability of flexible shipping options to customers. ABF Freight seeks to offer value through identifying specific customer needs, then providing operational flexibility and seamless access to its services and those of our asset-light logistics operating segments in order to respond with customized solutions.

Pricing

Another key to ABF Freight’s operating performance is the industry pricing environment which influences ABF Freight’s ability to obtain appropriate margins and price increases on customer accounts. Externally, ABF Freight’s pricing is typically measured by billed revenue per hundredweight, which is a reasonable, although approximate, measure of price change. Generally, freight is rated by a class system, which is established by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Light, bulky freight typically has a higher class and is priced at a higher revenue per hundredweight than dense, heavy freight. Changes in the rated class and packaging of the freight, along with changes in

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other freight profile factors such as average shipment size, average length of haul, freight density, and customer and geographic mix, can affect the average billed revenue per hundredweight measure.

Approximately 35% of ABF Freight’s business is subject to ABF Freight’s base LTL tariffs, which are affected by general rate increases, combined with individually negotiated discounts. Rates on the other 65% of ABF Freight’s business, including business priced in the spot market, are subject to individual pricing arrangements that are negotiated at various times throughout the year. The majority of the business that is subject to negotiated pricing arrangements is associated with larger customer accounts with annually negotiated pricing arrangements, and the remaining business is priced on an individual shipment basis considering each shipment’s unique profile, value provided by ABF Freight to the customer, and current market conditions. Since pricing is established individually by account, ABF Freight focuses on individual account profitability rather than billed revenue per hundredweight when considering customer account or market evaluations. This is due to the difficulty of quantifying, with sufficient accuracy, the impact of changes in freight profile characteristics, which is necessary in estimating true price changes.

Fuel

The transportation industry is dependent upon the availability of adequate fuel supplies. ABF Freight charges a fuel surcharge based on changes in diesel fuel prices compared to a national index. Although revenues from fuel surcharges generally more than offset direct diesel fuel costs, other operating costs have been, and may continue to be, impacted by fluctuating fuel prices. The total impact of energy prices on other nonfuel-related expenses is difficult to ascertain. ABF Freight cannot predict, with reasonable certainty, future fuel price fluctuations, the impact of energy prices on other cost elements, recoverability of fuel costs through fuel surcharges, and the effect of fuel surcharges on ABF Freight’s overall rate structure or the total price that ABF Freight will receive from its customers. While the fuel surcharge is one of several components in ABF Freight’s overall rate structure, the actual rate paid by customers is governed by market forces and the overall value of services provided to the customer.

During periods of changing diesel fuel prices, the fuel surcharge and associated direct diesel fuel costs also vary by different degrees. Depending upon the rates of these changes and the impact on costs in other fuel- and energy-related areas, operating margins could be impacted. Fuel prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years. Whether fuel prices fluctuate or remain constant, ABF Freight’s operating income may be adversely affected if competitive pressures limit its ability to recover fuel surcharges. Throughout the first nine months of 2015, the fuel surcharge mechanism generally continued to have market acceptance among ABF Freight customers; however, certain nonstandard pricing arrangements have limited the amount of fuel surcharge recovered. The negative impact on operating margins of capped fuel surcharge revenue during periods of increasing fuel costs is more evident when fuel prices remain above the maximum levels recovered through the fuel surcharge mechanism on certain accounts.

In periods of declining fuel prices, which we have experienced since third quarter 2014, ABF Freight’s fuel surcharge percentages also decrease, which negatively impacts the total billed revenue per hundredweight measure and, consequently, revenues, and the revenue decline may be disproportionate to our fuel costs. To better align fuel surcharges to fuel- and energy-related expenses and provide more stability to account profitability as fuel prices change, ABF Freight revised its standard fuel surcharge program effective February 4, 2015. The modified fuel surcharge scale, which was changed to increase the fuel surcharge rate at lower fuel prices, impacts approximately 40% of ABF Freight’s shipments and primarily affects noncontractual customers. Despite the revision to the fuel surcharge program and the transition of certain nonstandard pricing arrangements to base LTL freight rates in recent years, ABF Freight’s year-over-year revenue comparisons for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were negatively impacted by lower fuel surcharge revenue due to a decline in the nominal fuel surcharge rate, while total fuel costs were also lower. ABF Freight’s operating results will continue to be impacted by further changes in fuel prices and the related fuel surcharges.

Labor Costs

ABF Freight is generally effective in managing its costs to business levels. Labor costs, including retirement and healthcare benefits for ABF Freight’s contractual employees that are provided by a number of multiemployer plans (see Note F to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), are impacted by contractual obligations under ABF Freight’s labor agreement primarily with the IBT and other related supplemental agreements. ABF Freight’s ability to effectively manage labor costs has a direct impact on its operating

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performance. ABF Freight’s total salaries, wages, and benefits, amounted to 59.6% and 60.7% of ABF Freight’s revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 56.3% and 57.8% for the same respective periods of 2014. In addition to higher salaries, wages, and benefits expense, the year-over-year increases as a percentage of revenue were influenced by the effect of lower fuel surcharges on ABF Freight’s revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Labor costs are discussed further in the ABF Freight Operating Segment Results section of Results of Operations.

ABF Freight has continued to address with the IBT the effect of ABF Freight’s wage and benefit cost structure on its operating results. We expect the combined effect of cost reductions under the ABF NMFA, lower cost increases throughout the contract period, and increased flexibility in labor work rules to be crucial factors in more closely aligning ABF Freight’s labor cost structure with that of its competitors. However, under its collective bargaining agreement, ABF Freight continues to pay some of the highest benefit contribution rates in the industry. These benefit rates include contributions to multiemployer plans, a portion of which are used to pay benefits to individuals who were never employed by ABF Freight. Information provided by a large multiemployer pension plan to which ABF Freight contributes indicates that approximately 50% of the plan’s benefit payments are made to retirees of companies that are no longer contributing employers. In consideration of the impact of high multiemployer pension contribution rates, certain funds have not increased ABF Freight’s pension contribution rate for the annual contribution periods which began August 1, 2014 and 2015. The rate freezes for the annual contribution period which began August 1, 2014 impacted multiemployer pension plans to which ABF Freight made approximately 80% of its total multiemployer pension contributions for the year ended December 31, 2014. Based on currently available information, we expect rate freezes for the annual contribution period which began August 1, 2015 to impact approximately 70% of our multiemployer pension contributions for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (the “Reform Act”), which was included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 that was signed into law on December 16, 2014, includes new provisions to address the funding of multiemployer pension plans in critical and declining status, including certain of those in which ABF Freight participates. Provisions of the Reform Act include, among others, providing qualifying plans the ability to self-correct funding issues, subject to various requirements and restrictions, including applying to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) for the suspension of certain benefits. Any actions taken by multiemployer pension plan trustees under the Reform Act to improve funding will not reduce benefit rates ABF Freight is obligated to pay under its current contract with the IBT, and we cannot determine with any certainty the contributions that will be required under future collective bargaining agreements for ABF Freight’s contractual employees. However, management believes the Reform Act is a constructive step in addressing the complex funding issue facing multiemployer pension plans and their contributing employers.

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ABF Freight Operating Segment Results

The following table sets forth a summary of operating expenses and operating income as a percentage of revenue for ABF Freight:


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
ABF Freight Operating Expenses
Salaries, wages, and benefits	59.6	%	56.3	%	60.7	%	57.8	%
Fuel, supplies, and expenses	15.2		17.5		16.2		19.1
Operating taxes and licenses	2.4		2.2		2.5		2.4
Insurance	1.6		1.2		1.4		1.2
Communications and utilities	0.8		0.7		0.8		0.8
Depreciation and amortization	3.7		3.4		3.8		3.5
Rents and purchased transportation	11.1		13.4		10.4		12.0
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(0.1)		(0.1)		(0.1)		—
Pension settlement expense	0.1		0.1		0.1		0.3
Other	0.4		0.6		0.4		0.5
	94.8	%	95.3	%	96.2	%	97.6	%

ABF Freight Operating Income	5.2	%	4.7	%	3.8	%	2.4	%

The following table provides a comparison of key operating statistics for ABF Freight:


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30						September 30
	2015		2014		% Change		2015		2014		% Change
Workdays		64.0		64.0				190.0		190.5
Billed revenue(1) per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges	$	29.68	$	29.53	0.5	%	$	28.95	$	28.54	1.4	%
Pounds		1,711,904,743		1,755,062,813	(2.5)	%		5,039,227,064		5,070,469,284	(0.6)	%
Pounds per day		26,748,512		27,422,856	(2.5)	%		26,522,248		26,616,637	(0.4)	%
Shipments per day		21,001		20,783	1.0	%		20,271		19,554	3.7	%
Shipments per DSY(2) hour		0.449		0.457	(1.8)	%		0.453		0.456	(0.7)	%
Pounds per DSY(2) hour		572.47		603.56	(5.2)	%		592.46		621.23	(4.6)	%
Pounds per shipment		1,274		1,320	(3.5)	%		1,308		1,361	(3.9)	%
Pounds per mile(3)		19.28		19.44	(0.8)	%		19.62		20.18	(2.8)	%

⁽¹⁾

Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with ABF Freight’s revenue recognition policy. Billed revenue used for calculating revenue per hundredweight measurements has not been adjusted for the portion of revenue deferred for financial statement purposes. Billed revenue has been adjusted to exclude intercompany revenue that is not related to freight transportation services.

⁽²⁾

Dock, street, and yard (“DSY”) measures are further discussed in ABF Freight’s Operating Expenses within this section of ABF Freight Operating Segment Results. ABF Freight uses shipments per DSY hour to measure labor efficiency in ABF Freight’s local operations, although total pounds per DSY hour is also a relevant measure when the average shipment size is changing.

⁽³⁾

Total pounds per mile is used by ABF Freight to measure labor efficiency of its linehaul operations, although this metric is influenced by other factors including freight density, loading efficiency, average length of haul, and the degree to which purchased transportation, including rail service, is used.

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ABF Freight Revenues

ABF Freight’s revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 totaled $511.3 million and $1,456.9 million, respectively, compared to $523.4 million and $1,445.1 million for the same periods of 2014. On a per-day basis, ABF Freight’s billed revenue (as described in footnote (1) to the key operating statistics table above) decreased 2.0% and increased 1.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same prior-year periods, reflecting decreases in tonnage per day of 2.5% and 0.4% and increases in total billed revenue per hundredweight of 0.5% and 1.4%, respectively. The increases in total billed revenue per hundredweight occurred despite lower fuel surcharge revenues associated with decreased fuel prices.

Current freight market conditions, which are being impacted by higher customer inventory levels and lower industrial-related manufacturing production, have contributed to ABF Freight’s third quarter 2015 tonnage decline. With the softer freight environment, spot truckload capacity has been more available in the market compared to the prior year, which has provided alternative carriers for some of our customers’ large-sized shipments. As a result, ABF Freight’s average weight per shipment declined 3.5% and 3.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same prior-year periods, while shipment counts increased during the 2015 periods.

ABF Freight implemented nominal general rate increases on its LTL base rate tariffs of 5.4% effective November 3, 2014 and March 24, 2014, although the rate changes vary by lane and shipment characteristics. For the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, prices on accounts subject to annually negotiated contracts which were renewed during the period increased 4.9% compared to the same prior-year period. Effective October 5, 2015, ABF Freight implemented a nominal rate increase on LTL base rate tariffs of 4.95%.

The increases in total billed revenue per hundredweight for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, reflect changes in profile and business mix, including, for the nine-month period, a higher proportion of LTL-rated business which generally has a higher revenue per hundredweight than truckload-rated business. The year-over-year increases in the billed revenue per hundredweight measure were influenced by the 2014 general rate increases and improvements in contractual and deferred pricing, offset, in part, by lower fuel surcharge revenue as discussed further in the Fuel section of the ABF Freight Segment Overview. Compared to the same prior-year periods, ABF Freight’s average nominal fuel surcharge rate for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 dropped approximately 700 basis points from 2014 levels. Excluding changes in fuel surcharges and freight profile, average pricing on ABF Freight’s traditional LTL business experienced low-single digit percentage increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014.

ABF Freight Revenues — October 2015

ABF Freight’s billed revenues for the month of October 2015 were approximately 4% lower than October 2014 on a per-day basis, reflecting a decline in average daily total tonnage of approximately 6%, partially offset by an increase in total billed revenue per hundredweight of approximately 2%, which includes the effect of lower fuel surcharges. The October 2015 decline in tonnage reflects comparison to strong tonnage growth experienced in the 2014 period, continued weak freight markets, and the continued shift to fewer spot volume shipments during the 2015 period. The October 2015 increase in billed revenue per hundredweight was positively impacted by business mix and improved pricing in the 2015 period, including the effect of the November 3, 2014 and October 5, 2015 general rate increases. Total billed revenue per hundredweight for October 2015 increased approximately 2% above September 2015 and was flat compared to the third quarter 2015 measure, while the impact of lower fuel surcharges remained consistent between the periods. There can be no assurances that the current pricing trend will continue. The competitive environment could limit ABF Freight from securing adequate increases in base LTL freight rates and could limit the amount of fuel surcharge revenue recovered.

ABF Freight Operating Income

ABF Freight generated operating income of $26.6 million and $54.7 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, compared to operating income of $24.7 million and $35.4 million for the same respective periods of 2014. ABF Freight’s operating ratio for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2015 improved by 0.5 and 1.4 percentage points, respectively. ABF Freight’s ability to further improve its operating ratio is impacted by: managing its cost structure (as discussed in Labor Costs of the ABF Freight Overview section) in line with tonnage levels, securing price increases to cover contractual wage and benefit rate increases, costs of maintaining customer

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service levels, and other inflationary increases in cost elements. ABF Freight’s operating ratio was impacted by changes in operating expenses as discussed in the following paragraphs.

ABF Freight Operating Expenses

Labor costs, which are reported in operating expenses and costs of the ABF Freight operating segment as salaries, wages, and benefits, amounted to 59.6% and 60.7% of ABF Freight’s revenue for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 56.3% and 57.8% for the same respective periods of 2014. Salaries, wages, and benefits costs increased $10.0 million and $49.5 million, or 3.3% and 2.9% as a percentage of revenue, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same prior-year periods. The increase as a percentage of revenue was influenced by the effect on ABF Freight’s revenues of lower fuel surcharges associated with a decline in the nominal fuel surcharge rate due to decreased fuel prices. The increase in labor costs reflects increased utilization in the 2015 periods of ABF Freight road drivers versus purchased transportation, for which expenses declined compared to the prior year periods. In addition, contractual wage and benefit rates paid to these road drivers were at higher levels as the ABF NMFA contractual wage rate increased 2.0% effective July 1, 2014 and again on July 1, 2015, and, including the effect of the multiemployer pension plan rate freezes previously discussed in the ABF Freight Operating Segment Overview section of Results of Operations, the health, welfare, and pension benefit rate increased an average of approximately 3.3% and 3.7% effective primarily on August 1, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Although ABF Freight manages costs with business levels, portions of salaries, wages, and benefits are fixed in nature and the adjustments which would otherwise be necessary to align the labor cost structure throughout the ABF Freight system to corresponding tonnage levels are limited as ABF Freight strives to maintain customer service. Returning productivity to historical levels is an important priority for the management team at ABF Freight in order to reduce costs. Shipments per DSY hour, which decreased 1.8% and 0.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, reflect improvement in dock handling productivity which was more than offset by reduced efficiency in the street operations as ABF Freight focused on improving customer service. Lower weight per shipment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 also contributed to lower pounds per DSY hour and decreases in pounds per mile compared to the same prior-year periods. The lower weight per shipment in the 2015 periods reflects smaller average shipment sizes and, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, a shift in business mix to a higher proportion of LTL-rated shipments than truckload-rated shipments.

Fuel, supplies, and expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased 2.3% and 2.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, primarily due to a decrease in ABF Freight’s average fuel price per gallon (excluding taxes) of approximately 40%.

Rents and purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue decreased 2.3% and 1.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same prior-year periods. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower utilization of other service providers and agents and lower fuel surcharges associated with purchased transportation services. Purchased transportation miles were down approximately 15% for the third quarter and approximately 20% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, due to increased utilization of ABF Freight road drivers. Rental expense for revenue equipment also decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same prior-year periods, reflecting improved equipment management and tractor and trailer purchases made during 2014 and 2015.

Asset-Light Logistics Reportable Operating Segments

The operations of the Company’s asset-light logistics reportable operating segments (formerly referred to as “non-asset-based”) are affected by general economic conditions, as well as a number of other competitive factors that are more fully described in the Business and Risk Factors sections of the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The key indicators necessary to understand the operating results of these reportable segments are primarily customer demand for logistics and premium transportation services combined with economic factors which influence the number of shipments or events used to measure changes in business levels. See descriptions of the asset-light logistics operating segments in Note J to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the combined revenues of our asset-light logistics operating segments totaled $211.1 million and $599.8 million, respectively, accounting for approximately 29% of total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations, compared to combined revenues of $198.9 million and $535.4 million, or approximately 28% and 27% of total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations, for the respective periods of 2014.

During 2015, we have continued to invest in the strategic development of our asset-light logistics operating segments, including the acquisition of Smart Lines Transportation Group, LLC, a privately-owned truckload brokerage firm, in January 2015. The investments we are making to grow our asset-light logistics businesses are part of management’s long-term strategy to ensure we are well equipped to serve our customers within the changing marketplace by providing a comprehensive suite of transportation and logistics services.

Premium Logistics (Panther)

Panther’s revenues totaled $73.6 million and $229.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $82.8 million and $236.4 million for the same periods in 2014. Panther generated record levels of revenue and operating profit in 2014 amid a macroenvironment of limited availability of truckload capacity in the spot market, which contributed to higher demand for expedited freight services. For the 2015 periods, Panther’s revenues reflect an increase in shipment levels which were more than offset by lower revenue per shipment, primarily due to increased truckload capacity in the spot market and changes in account mix which resulted in smaller sized-shipments and a shorter average length of haul.

Panther generated operating income of $2.7 million and $8.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $4.1 million and $11.8 million in the same prior-year periods. The decrease in operating income for the 2015 periods primarily reflects lower revenue levels. The operating income decline for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 was also impacted by unfavorable healthcare and casualty claims, which increased operating expense by a combined $2.1 million over the same period of 2014.

Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)

FleetNet’s revenues totaled $45.2 million and $129.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $40.1 million and $120.1 million for the same prior-year periods. The 12.6% and 8.0% revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, was driven primarily by an increase in service events from new and existing customers.

FleetNet’s operating income improved to $1.0 million and $3.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, from $0.7 million and $2.8 million in the same prior-year periods. The operating income improvement for the 2015 periods is due primarily to higher revenues and improved labor efficiencies and, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, lower bad debt expense compared to the same period of 2014 when FleetNet incurred a write-off of receivables associated with a customer bankruptcy. The impact of these items on operating income improvement in 2015 was offset, in part, by increases in healthcare costs of $0.2 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, versus the comparable prior year periods.

Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)

ABF Logistics reported revenues of $49.3 million and $147.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $40.7 million and $105.9 million for the same prior-year periods. The 21.1% and 38.9% increases in revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, primarily reflect increased truck brokerage business generated from an expanded customer base. The 2015 periods also benefited from revenues contributed by the January 2015 acquisition of Smart Lines Transportation Group, LLC.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, operating income totaled $1.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $2.4 million for the respective prior-year periods, reflecting revenue growth and improved gross margins.

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Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)

ABF Moving revenues totaled $43.1 million and $93.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $35.3 million and $72.9 million in the same periods of 2014. The 21.9% and 28.7% revenue growth during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, was primarily attributable to an increase in government shipments.

ABF Moving’s third quarter 2015 operating income declined to $3.0 million from $3.3 million in third quarter 2014 as the impact of higher revenues related to government business, which earn lower gross margins than corporate and consumer moving services, were more than offset by increased operating expenses, primarily advertising costs and third-party casualty claims. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, operating income improved to $4.7 million from $3.1 million in the same prior-year period, primarily due to increased revenue levels.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“EBITDA”)

As presented in the following table, on a combined basis, the asset-light logistics reportable operating segments generated $12.1 million and $32.2 million of EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $13.0 million and $31.1 million for the same respective periods of 2014.


	Three Months Ended September 30
	2015						2014
	Operating		Depreciation and				Operating		Depreciation and
	Income(1)		Amortization		EBITDA		Income(1)		Amortization		EBITDA
	(in thousands)
Premium Logistics (Panther)	$	2,733	$	2,773	$	5,506	$	4,119	$	2,891	$	7,010
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		956		279		1,235		739		266		1,005
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		1,792		259		2,051		1,060		256		1,316
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		3,028		287		3,315		3,309		349		3,658
Total non-asset-based segments	$	8,509	$	3,598	$	12,107	$	9,227	$	3,762	$	12,989


	Nine Months Ended September 30
	2015						2014
	Operating		Depreciation and				Operating		Depreciation and
	Income(1)		Amortization		EBITDA		Income(1)		Amortization		EBITDA
	(in thousands)
Premium Logistics (Panther)	$	8,767	$	8,636	$	17,403	$	11,841	$	8,465	$	20,306
Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)		3,143		838		3,981		2,840		677		3,517
Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)		4,375		789		5,164		2,449		725		3,174
Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)		4,663		975		5,638		3,091		1,043		4,134
Total non-asset-based segments	$	20,948	$	11,238	$	32,186	$	20,221	$	10,910	$	31,131

⁽¹⁾

The calculation of EBITDA as presented in this table begins with operating income, as other income (costs), income taxes, and net income are reported at the consolidated level and not included in the operating segment financial information evaluated by management to make operating decisions.

Management believes EBITDA to be relevant and useful information, as EBITDA is a standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors, and others to measure financial performance of asset-light logistics businesses and the ability to service debt obligations. The EBITDA measure is particularly meaningful in evaluating the results of the Panther operating segment due to the significant amount of intangible and software amortization impacting the segment’s operating results. However, this financial measure should not be construed as a better measurement than operating income, operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently; therefore, our EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

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Seasonality

Our operations are impacted by seasonal fluctuations. Seasonal fluctuations affect tonnage and shipment levels of the ABF Freight and ABF Logistics operating segments. Earnings are adversely affected by the impact of inclement weather conditions on freight shipments and operating costs. The second and third calendar quarters of each year usually have the highest tonnage levels, while the first quarter generally has the lowest, although other factors, including the state of the economy, may influence quarterly freight tonnage levels. Seasonal fluctuations are less apparent in the operating results of ABF Logistics than in the industry as a whole because of business growth in the operating segment.

Expedited shipments of the Panther operating segment may decline during winter months because of post-holiday slowdowns but can be subject to short-term increases depending on the impact of weather disruptions to customers’ supply chains. Plant shutdowns during summer months may affect shipments for Panther’s automotive and manufacturing customers, but severe weather events can result in higher demand for expedited services.

Emergency roadside service events of the FleetNet operating segment are favorably impacted by adverse weather conditions that affect commercial vehicle operations.

Business levels of the ABF Moving operating segment are generally higher in the second and third quarters as the demand for moving services is typically stronger in the summer months.

Effects of Inflation

Generally, inflationary increases in labor and fuel costs as they relate to ABF Freight’s operations have historically been mostly offset through price increases and fuel surcharges. In periods of increasing fuel prices, the effect of higher associated fuel surcharges on the overall price to the customer influences ABF Freight’s ability to obtain increases in base freight rates. In addition, certain nonstandard arrangements with some of ABF Freight’s customers have limited the amount of fuel surcharge recovered. The timing and extent of base price increases on ABF Freight’s revenues may not correspond with contractual increases in wage and benefit rates and other inflationary increases in cost elements and, as a result, could adversely impact our operating results.

In addition, partly as a result of inflationary pressures, ABF Freight’s revenue equipment (tractors and trailers) will likely be replaced at higher per unit cost, which could result in higher depreciation charges on a per-unit basis. ABF Freight also continues to experience increased costs of operating its revenue equipment, including costs of maintenance and parts. ABF Freight considers these costs in setting its pricing policies, although ABF Freight’s overall freight rate structure is governed by market forces based on value provided to the customer. The pricing environment has been very competitive during recessionary and uncertain economic conditions and, although ABF Freight’s year-over-year base LTL pricing improved during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the lengthy process required to restore profitable pricing levels has limited ABF Freight’s ability to offset inflationary and contractual cost increases.

Generally, inflationary increases in labor and operating costs regarding our asset-light logistics operating segments have historically been offset through price increases. The pricing environment, however, generally becomes more competitive during economic downturns, which may, as it has in the past, affect the ability to obtain price increases from customers.

In addition to general effects of inflation, the motor carrier freight transportation industry faces rising costs related to compliance with government regulations on safety, equipment design and maintenance, driver utilization, and fuel economy.

Current Economic Conditions

Given the economic conditions of recent years and the uncertainties regarding the potential impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions regarding the pricing environment and economic conditions, primarily for the ABF Freight and Panther operating segments, which are made for purposes of impairment tests related to operating assets and deferred tax assets, will prove to be accurate. Panther is evaluated as a separate reporting unit for the impairment assessment of goodwill and intangible assets. If our assumptions regarding forecasted cash flows and

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revenue and operating income growth rates are revised, it is possible that a goodwill impairment test may result in a material non-cash write-off of a significant portion of Panther’s goodwill and intangible assets, which would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Environmental and Legal Matters

We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations relating to, among other things: emissions control, transportation or handling of hazardous materials, underground and aboveground storage tanks, stormwater pollution prevention, contingency planning for spills of petroleum products, and disposal of waste oil. We may transport or arrange for the transportation of hazardous materials and explosives, and we operate in industrial areas where truck terminals and other industrial activities are located and where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination could occur. See Note K to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of the environmental matters to which we are subject and the reserves we currently have recorded in our consolidated financial statements for amounts related to such matters.

We are involved in various legal actions, the majority of which arise in the ordinary course of business. We maintain liability insurance against certain risks arising out of the normal course of our business, subject to certain self-insured retention limits. We routinely establish and review the adequacy of reserves for estimated legal, environmental, and self-insurance exposures. While management believes that amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements are adequate, estimates of these liabilities may change as circumstances develop. Considering amounts recorded, routine legal matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows; however, we are currently involved in certain environmental compliance matters and legal proceedings, as further described in Note K to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for which the outcome and related financial impact cannot be determined at this time.

Information Technology and Cybersecurity

We depend on the proper functioning and availability of our information systems, including communications and data processing systems, in operating our business. These systems include proprietary software programs that are integral to the efficient operation of our business. It is important that the data processed by these systems remain confidential. In addition, cyber incidents that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy, or other proper functioning of these systems could have a significant impact on our operations. Certain of our software applications or underlying data are utilized by third parties who provide certain outsourced administrative functions, which may increase the risk of a cybersecurity incident. Our information systems are protected through physical and software safeguards as well as backup systems considered appropriate by management. However, it is not practicable to protect against the possibility of power loss, telecommunications failures, cybersecurity attacks, and other cyber events in every potential circumstance that may arise. To mitigate the potential for such occurrences at our corporate headquarters, we have implemented various systems, including redundant telecommunication facilities; replication of critical data to an offsite location; a fire suppression system to protect our on-site data center; and electrical power protection and generation facilities. We also have a catastrophic disaster recovery plan and alternate processing capability available for our critical data processes in the event of a catastrophe that renders our corporate headquarters unusable.

Our business interruption insurance, which would offset losses up to certain coverage limits in the event of a catastrophe, would not specifically extend to losses arising from a cyber incident. A significant cyber incident, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware, or other damage, could interrupt or delay our operations, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers, expose us to a risk of loss or litigation, and/or cause us to incur significant time and expense to remedy such event. We have experienced incidents involving attempted denial of service, malware attacks, and other events intended to disrupt information systems, wrongfully obtain valuable information, or cause other types of malicious events that could have resulted in harm to our business. To date, the systems employed have been effective in identifying these types of events at a point when the impact on our business could be minimized. We have made and continue to make significant financial investments in technologies and processes to mitigate these risks. Management is not aware of any cybersecurity incident that has had a material effect on our operations, although there can be no assurances that a cyber incident that could have a material impact to our operations could not occur.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, cash generated by operations, and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility or accounts receivable securitization program.

Cash Flow and Short-Term Investments

Components of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash were as follows:


	September 30		December 31
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents(1)	$	191,646	$	157,042
Short-term investments, primarily FDIC-insured certificates of deposit		69,567		45,909
Total unrestricted		261,213		202,951
Restricted cash(2)		1,387		1,386
Total(3)	$	262,600	$	204,337

⁽¹⁾

Cash equivalents consist of money market funds and variable rate demand notes.

⁽²⁾

Restricted cash represents cash deposits pledged as collateral for outstanding letters of credit in support of workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims liabilities (see the Financing Arrangements in this section of MD&A).

⁽³⁾

Cash, variable rate demand notes, and certificates of deposit are recorded at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Money market funds are recorded at fair value based on quoted prices. Cash and cash equivalents totaling $66.3 million and $77.3 million were not FDIC insured at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments increased $58.3 million from December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015. The increase in unrestricted funds includes $35.0 million borrowed under the accounts receivable securitization program (further described in the following Financing Arrangements section). During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, cash provided by operations of $119.6 million was used to fund $49.5 million of capital expenditures net of proceeds from asset sales (and an additional $51.0 million of certain ABF Freight revenue equipment purchases were financed with notes payable); repay $22.1 million of notes payable and capital leases; purchase $10.0 million of treasury stock; fund the acquisition of a privately-owned business for net cash consideration of $5.2 million; and pay dividends of $4.7 million on common stock. Cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $1.4 million above the same prior-year period, primarily due to improved operating performance.

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments increased $62.0 million from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, cash provided by operations which totaled $118.2 million was used to fund $21.1 million of capital expenditures net of proceeds from asset sales (and an additional $41.0 million of certain revenue equipment purchases were financed with notes payable); repay $28.0 million of long-term debt related to the Term Loan, capital leases, and notes payable; fund the acquisition of a privately-owned business for net cash consideration of $2.7 million; and pay dividends of $2.5 million on common stock.

Financing Arrangements

Our financing arrangements are discussed further in Note E to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Credit Facility

On January 2, 2015, we entered into an agreement with our lenders to amend and restate our credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement refinanced the $70.0 million outstanding Term Loan with a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility, which matures on January 2, 2020, has an initial maximum credit amount of $150.0 million, including a swing line facility and a letter of credit sub-facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit up to an aggregate amount of $20.0 million. The Credit

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Facility allows us to request additional revolving commitments or incremental term loans thereunder up to an aggregate additional amount of $75.0 million, subject to certain additional conditions as provided in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Principal payments under the Credit Facility are due upon maturity on January 2, 2020; however, borrowings may be repaid at our discretion in whole or in part at any time without penalty subject to required notice periods and compliance with minimum prepayment amounts.

Interest Rate Swap

In November 2014, in contemplation of the Credit Facility, we entered into a five-year forward-starting interest rate swap agreement with a $50.0 million notional amount maturing on January 2, 2020. Under the agreement, in January 2015, we began receiving floating-rate interest amounts based on one-month LIBOR in exchange for fixed-rate interest payments of 1.85% over the life of the agreement. The interest rate swap mitigates interest rate risk by effectively converting $50.0 million of borrowings under our Credit Facility from variable-rate interest to fixed-rate interest with a per annum rate of 3.10% based on the margin of the Credit Facility as of September 30, 2015. The fair value of the interest rate swap liability of $1.6 million and $0.6 million was recorded in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Program

On January 2, 2015, we entered into an amendment to extend the maturity date of our accounts receivable securitization program with PNC Bank until January 2, 2018. On February 1, 2015, we amended and restated the accounts receivable securitization program to increase the amount of cash proceeds provided under the facility from $75.0 million to $100.0 million, with an accordion feature allowing us to request additional borrowings up to $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Under this program, certain of our subsidiaries continuously sell a designated pool of trade accounts receivables to a wholly owned subsidiary which, in turn, may borrow funds on a revolving basis. In March 2015, we borrowed $35.0 million under the accounts receivable securitization program to provide additional funds for investing in our subsidiaries’ capital needs and to maintain flexibility for our growth initiatives.

Our accounts receivable securitization program includes a provision under which we may request and the letter of credit issuer may issue standby letters of credit, primarily in support of workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims liabilities in various states in which we are self-insured. The outstanding standby letters of credit reduce the availability of borrowings under the program. As of September 30, 2015, standby letters of credit of $19.4 million have been issued under the program, which reduced the available borrowing capacity to $45.6 million.

Letter of Credit Agreements and Surety Bond Programs

As of September 30, 2015, we had letters of credit outstanding of $21.3 million (including $19.4 million issued under the accounts receivable securitization program), of which $1.4 million were collateralized by restricted cash. We have programs in place with multiple surety companies for the issuance of surety bonds in support of our self-insurance program. As of September 30, 2015, surety bonds outstanding related to our self-insurance program totaled $45.0 million.

Notes Payable and Capital Leases

ABF Freight has financed the purchase of certain revenue equipment through promissory note arrangements, including $51.0 million of revenue equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2015, for which the minimum principal payments are recorded in long-term debt. We have previously financed revenue equipment, real estate, and certain other equipment through capital lease agreements for which the present values of net minimum lease payments are recorded in long-term debt; however, we did not enter into such agreements during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. During October 2015, ABF Freight financed the purchase of an additional $6.2 million of revenue equipment through promissory note arrangements. We intend to utilize promissory note arrangements and will consider utilizing capital lease agreements to finance future purchases of certain revenue equipment, provided such financing is available and the terms are acceptable to us.

Contractual Obligations

We have purchase obligations, consisting of authorizations to purchase and binding agreements with vendors, relating to revenue equipment used in the operations of ABF Freight and Panther, other equipment, certain construction costs

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associated with our new corporate headquarters facility, software, certain service contracts, and other items for which amounts were not accrued in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. These purchase obligations totaled $127.9 million as of September 30, 2015, with $95.0 million estimated to be paid within the next year, and $32.5 million and $0.4 million estimated to be paid in each of the following two-year periods, respectively, provided that vendors complete their commitments to us. Purchase obligations for revenue equipment, other equipment, and costs associated with our new corporate headquarters facility are included in our 2015 capital expenditure plan.

We have a contractual obligation to repay, in January 2018, the $35.0 million we borrowed on our accounts receivable securitization program in March 2015. Our contractual obligations related to our notes payable, which provide financing for revenue equipment purchases, totaled $87.9 million as of September 30, 2015, an increase of $29.7 million from December 31, 2014. The scheduled maturities of our long-term debt obligations as of September 30, 2015 are disclosed in Note E to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We also have a contractual obligation for the fixed-rate interest payments on our interest rate swap agreement which are estimated to exceed the variable-rate interest payments under our Credit Facility by $1.6 million as of September 30, 2015.

There have been no other material changes in the contractual obligations disclosed in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

For 2015, our total net capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $160.0 million, which is $40.0 million lower than our previous estimate for the year which we disclosed in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10‑K. The 2015 estimated net capital expenditures include revenue equipment purchases of $110.0 million, primarily related to road and city tractors and trailers for ABF Freight’s operations to replace both existing equipment and local rentals. Expected real estate expenditures totaling approximately $27.0 million are included in the estimate for our previously announced growth initiatives, including construction of call center facilities and an office building in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a portion of which will replace leased space. The remainder of the 2015 expected capital expenditures includes costs of other terminal capital expenditures (including dock/yard equipment) and technology across our businesses. We have the flexibility to adjust planned 2015 capital expenditures as business levels dictate. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated to be in a range of $90.0 million to $95.0 million in 2015.

Based upon currently available actuarial information, we do not expect to have cash outlays for required minimum contributions to our nonunion defined benefit pension plan for 2015 (see note F to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

ABF Freight contributes to multiemployer health, welfare, and pension plans based generally on the time worked by its contractual employees, as specified in the collective bargaining agreement and other supporting supplemental agreements (see Note F to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

Other Liquidity Information

Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, including amounts restricted, totaled $262.6 million at September 30, 2015. General economic conditions, along with competitive market factors and the related impact on our business, primarily the tonnage and pricing levels that ABF Freight receives for its services, could affect our ability to generate cash from operations and maintain cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments on hand as operating costs increase. The amendments to our credit agreement and our accounts receivable securitization program executed in January and February of 2015 have increased the amount and availability of our liquidity, added flexible borrowing and payment options, and extended the maturity dates of our financing facilities. We believe these agreements provide borrowing capacity options necessary for growth of our businesses. We believe existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, cash generated by operations, and amounts available under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement or accounts receivable securitization program will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. Notes payable, capital leases, and other secured financing may also be used to fund capital expenditures, provided that such arrangements are available and the terms are acceptable to us.

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We expect to continue to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurances in this regard since future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and are dependent upon our future earnings, capital requirements, and financial condition and other factors. On October 22, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per share to stockholders of record as of November 5, 2015 payable on November 19, 2015. This quarterly dividend rate represents a 33% increase from our previous $0.06 per share dividend.

We have a program in place to repurchase our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The program has no expiration date but may be terminated at any time at the Board of Directors’ discretion. Repurchases may be made using cash reserves or other available sources. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we used cash on hand to purchase 292,186 shares of our common stock for an aggregate cost of $10.0 million. In October 2015, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program, making a total of $50.0 million available for purchases of our common stock.

Financial Instruments

We have not historically entered into financial instruments for trading purposes, nor have we historically engaged in a program for fuel price hedging. No such instruments were outstanding as of September 30, 2015. We have an interest rate swap agreement in place which is discussed in the Financing Arrangements section of Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Balance Sheet Changes

Accounts Receivable, less allowances

Accounts receivable, less allowances, increased $14.6 million from December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015, primarily due to increased business levels in September 2015 compared to December 2014.

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable increased $24.1 million from December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015, primarily due to increased business levels in September 2015 compared to December 2014 and the timing of payments.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At September 30, 2015, our off-balance sheet arrangements of $184.8 million included purchase obligations, as previously discussed in the Contractual Obligations section of Liquidity and Capital Resources, and future minimum rental commitments, net of noncancelable subleases, under operating lease agreements primarily for ABF Freight’s terminal facilities. We have no investments, loans, or any other known contractual arrangements with unconsolidated special-purpose entities, variable interest entities, or financial partnerships and have no outstanding loans with executive officers or directors.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 40.2% and 39.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to an effective tax of 39.7% and 37.9%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The effective tax rates for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 reflect a benefit of 0.3% from reduced state deferred tax liabilities to reflect enactment of lower tax rates in some states. The tax rate for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 also reflects a 1.4% benefit from the removal of the valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryovers.

Our U.S. statutory tax rate is 35% and the average state tax rate, net of the associated federal deduction, is approximately 3%. However, various factors may cause the full year 2015 tax rate to vary significantly from the statutory rate.

At September 30, 2015, we had net deferred tax liabilities after valuation allowances of $14.9 million. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets totaled $0.3 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. We evaluated the

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need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets at September 30, 2015 by considering the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income, taxable income in carryback years, and available tax planning strategies. As of September 30, 2015, deferred tax liabilities which will reverse in future years exceeded deferred tax assets. We had taxable income in 2013 and 2014. Furthermore, in the event that we incur a loss for tax purposes, certain expense components that generate deferred tax assets are eligible for a significantly longer carryback period if elected. Because there is sufficient taxable income in the longer carryback period, the assets related to these expense items are expected to be fully realized. The need for additional valuation allowances is continually monitored by management.

Financial reporting income differs significantly from taxable income because of such items as accelerated depreciation for tax purposes, pension accounting rules, and a significant number of liabilities such as vacation pay, workers’ compensation, and other liabilities, which, for tax purposes, are generally deductible only when paid. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, the income determined under income tax law exceeded financial reporting income.

We made $17.3 million of federal, state and foreign tax payments during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and received refunds of $0.1 million of federal income taxes that were paid in prior years. Management does not expect the cash outlays for income taxes will materially exceed reported income tax expense for the foreseeable future.

Critical Accounting Policies

The accounting policies that are “critical,” or the most important, to understand our financial condition and results of operations and that require management to make the most difficult judgments are described in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly impact our reported results and the comparability of financial statements. Accounting pronouncements which have been issued but are not yet effective for our financial statements are disclosed in Note A to our consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement related to revenue recognition (ASC Topic 606), which amends the guidance in former ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The new standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and contains principles to apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. In July 2015, the FASB announced its decision to defer the effective date of the new standard for one year, making the standard effective for us on January 1, 2018. We are evaluating the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Management believes that there is no other new accounting guidance issued but not yet effective that will impact our critical accounting policies. However, there are new proposals under development by the standard setting bodies which, if and when enacted, may have a significant impact on our financial statements, including accounting for leases. As previously proposed, the lease accounting standard would require many operating leases to be reflected as liabilities with associated right-of-use assets.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. Although management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and management’s present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause

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our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: costs of continuing investments in technology, a failure of our information systems and the impact of cyber incidents; disruptions or failures of services essential to the operation of our business or the use of information technology platforms in our business; governmental regulations and policies; litigation or claims asserted against us; union and nonunion employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer pension plans; competitive initiatives, pricing pressures, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries served by our subsidiaries and/or limit our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight’s collective bargaining agreement; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract and retain employees and/or independent owner operators; availability of fuel; default on covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; increased competition from freight transportation service providers outside the motor carrier freight transportation industry; timing and amount of capital expenditures, increased prices for and decreased availability of new revenue equipment and decreases in value of used revenue equipment; future costs of operating expenses such as maintenance and fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; the impact of our brands and corporate reputation; the cost, timing and performance of growth initiatives; the cost, integration and performance of any future acquisitions; weather conditions; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission public filings.

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, refer to “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ARCBEST CORPORATION

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

As disclosed in Part II, Item 7A of the our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are subject to interest rate risk due to variable interest rates on the borrowings under our accounts receivable securitization program, which was amended and restated on February 1, 2015 to provide cash proceeds of up to $100.0 million with an accordion feature allowing us to request additional borrowings up to $25.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Our accounts receivable securitization program is further described in Financing Arrangements of the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In March 2015, we borrowed $35.0 million under our accounts receivable securitization program. Borrowings under the facility bear interest based on LIBOR, plus a margin, and an annual facility fee, and are considered to be priced at market for debt instruments having similar terms and collateral requirements. We are required to make monthly interest payments, with remaining principal outstanding due upon the maturity of the borrowing in January 2018.

The following table reflects the contractual maturity date and projected interest rates (based on a LIBOR curve, provided by a financial institution independent of the facility, plus our margin) for the $35.0 million borrowing outstanding under the accounts receivable securitization as of September 30, 2015:


													September 30
	Contractual Maturity Date												2015
	Year Ended December 31												Carrying		Fair
	2015			2016			2017			2018(1)			Value		Value
	(in thousands, except interest rates)												(in thousands)
Accounts receivable securitization program	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	35,000		$	35,000	$	35,000
Projected interest rate		1.07	%		1.36	%		1.86	%		2.08	%

⁽¹⁾

Represents principal due and projected interest rate at January 2018 maturity date.

Since December 31, 2014, there have been no other significant changes in the Company’s market risks as reported in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was performed with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

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PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

ARCBEST CORPORATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information related to the Company’s legal proceedings, see Note K, Legal Proceedings, Environmental Matters, and Other Events under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The Company’s risk factors are fully described in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. No material changes to the Company’s risk factors have occurred since the Company filed its 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a)Recent sales of unregistered securities.

None.

(b)Use of proceeds from registered securities.

None.

(c)Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had a program to repurchase $75.0 million of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The repurchases may be made either from the Company’s cash reserves or from other available sources. The program has no expiration date but may be terminated at any time at the Board of Directors’ discretion. During the three months ended September 30, 2015, the Company purchased 128,953 shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $4.0 million. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has purchased 1,910,336 shares under the repurchase program for an aggregate cost of $66.8 million.


				Total Number of	Maximum
				Shares Purchased	Approximate Dollar
	Total Number	Average		as Part of Publicly	Value of Shares that
	of Shares	Price Paid		Announced	May Yet Be Purchased
	Purchased	Per Share(1)		Program	Under the Program(2)
	(in thousands, except share and per share data)
7/1/15 – 7/31/15	—	$	—	—	$	12,203
8/1/15 – 8/31/15	128,953		31.20	128,953	$	8,180
9/1/15 – 9/30/15	—		—	—	$	8,180
	128,953	$	31.20	128,953

⁽¹⁾

Represents the weighted average price paid per common share including commission.

⁽²⁾

On January 23, 2003, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had authorized a $25.0 million common stock repurchase program. The Board of Directors authorized an additional $50.0 million to the current program on July 28, 2005, for a total of $75.0 million authorized. In October 2015, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program, making a total of $50.0 million available for purchases.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed or furnished with this report or are incorporated by reference to previously filed material:


Exhibit
No.

3.1		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 17, 1992, Commission File No. 33-46483, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.2		Certificate of Ownership and Merger, effective May 1, 2014, as filed on April 29, 2014 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.3		Certificate of Designations of $2.875 Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the Company (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on May 5, 2009, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.4		Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on April 24, 2009, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.5		Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated as of April 22, 2010 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on August 5, 2010, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.6		First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated as of October 25, 2013 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 31, 2013, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.7		Second Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated as of January 23, 2014 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on January 29, 2014, Commission File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

31.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32**		Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS*		XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

# Designates a compensation plan or arrangement for directors or executive officers.

* Filed herewith.

** Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


	ARCBEST CORPORATION
	(Registrant)

Date: November 6, 2015	/s/ Judy R. McReynolds
	Judy R. McReynolds
	President — Chief Executive Officer
	and Principal Executive Officer


Date: November 6, 2015	/s/ David R. Cobb
	David R. Cobb
	Vice President — Chief Financial Officer
	and Principal Financial Officer