Daseke, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018


☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________ to _________

DASEKE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	001-37509 (Commission File Number)	47-3913221 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

15455 Dallas Parkway, Suite 550 Addison, Texas		75001
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (972) 248-0412 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, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


☐ Large accelerated filer				☒ Accelerated filer
☐ Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
☐ Smaller reporting company				☒ Emerging growth company

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

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

Common shares of the registrant outstanding at May 8, 2018 were 57,169,408.

Table of Contents

DASEKE, INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2018

INDEX


		Page No.
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)		1
Consolidated Balance Sheets		1
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss		2
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity		3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		6
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		28
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		43
Item 4. Controls and Procedures		43
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings		44
Item 1A. Risk Factors		44
Item 6. Exhibits Index		45
Signatures		46

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this Report) of Daseke, Inc. (Daseke or the Company) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except as otherwise indicated by the context, references in this Report to “we,” “us” and “our” are to the consolidated business of the Company. All statements in this Report, including those made by the management of the Company, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s estimates, projections and assumptions as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “forecast,” “seek,” “target,” “predict,” and “potential,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include statements about the Company’s goals; the Company’s financial strategy, liquidity and capital required for its business strategy and plans; the Company’s competition and government regulations; general economic conditions; and the Company’s future operating results.

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Report (or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated herein by reference, as of the date of the applicable filed document), and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. While 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 the Company anticipates. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic and business risks, driver shortages and increases in driver compensation or owner-operator contracted rates, loss of senior management or key operating personnel, our ability to identify and execute future acquisitions successfully, seasonality and the impact of weather and other catastrophic events, fluctuations in the price or availability of diesel fuel, increased prices for, or decreases in the availability of, new revenue equipment and decreases in the value of used revenue equipment, our ability to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, restrictions in our existing and future debt agreements, increases in interest rates, changes in existing laws or regulations, including environmental and worker health safety laws and regulations and those relating to tax rates or taxes in general, the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions related to the Company and its operations, litigation and governmental proceedings, and insurance and claims expenses. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), particularly the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2018.

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Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	182,698	$	90,679
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $183 and $212 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively		143,402		127,368
Drivers’ advances and other receivables		5,188		4,792
Current portion of net investment in sales-type leases		11,158		10,979
Parts supplies		4,873		4,653
Income tax receivable		83		91
Prepaid and other current assets		31,309		28,149
Total current assets		378,711		266,711

Property and equipment, net		406,997		429,639
Intangible assets, net		91,110		93,120
Goodwill		302,539		302,702
Other long-term assets		31,037		33,496
Total assets		1,210,394		1,125,668

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		14,316		12,488
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		29,963		25,876
Accrued payroll, benefits and related taxes		13,865		14,004
Accrued insurance and claims		12,732		12,644
Current portion of long-term debt		43,625		43,056
Total current liabilities		114,501		108,068

Line of credit		7,220		4,561
Long-term debt, net of current portion		563,183		569,740
Deferred tax liabilities		89,702		90,434
Other long-term liabilities		1,407		1,632
Total liabilities		776,013		774,435

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

Stockholders’ equity:
Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 650,000 shares issued with liquidation preference of $65,000 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017		65,000		65,000
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 57,262,288 and 48,712,288 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively		6		5
Additional paid-in-capital		363,434		277,931
Retained earnings		5,302		7,338
Accumulated other comprehensive income		639		959
Total stockholders’ equity		434,381		351,233
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,210,394	$	1,125,668

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

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Revenues:
Freight	$	240,071	$	125,555
Brokerage		46,139		20,869
Logistics		10,717		—
Fuel surcharge		30,654		14,010
Total revenue		327,581		160,434

Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		82,344		50,121
Fuel		33,376		19,223
Operations and maintenance		34,563		23,224
Communications		699		404
Purchased freight		117,724		37,586
Administrative expenses		12,137		7,378
Sales and marketing		636		383
Taxes and licenses		3,694		2,281
Insurance and claims		9,184		4,123
Acquisition-related transaction expenses		440		445
Depreciation and amortization		25,182		16,315
Gain on disposition of revenue property and equipment		(155)		(200)
Total operating expenses		319,824		161,283
Income (loss) from operations		7,757		(849)

Other expense (income):
Interest income		(442)		(4)
Interest expense		10,337		5,896
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees		—		3,883
Other		(959)		(108)
Total other expense		8,936		9,667

Loss before benefit for income taxes		(1,179)		(10,516)
Benefit for income taxes		(382)		(2,770)
Net loss		(797)		(7,746)

Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized income on interest rate swaps		—		52
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $173 tax expense		(320)		—
Comprehensive loss		(1,117)		(7,694)

Net loss		(797)		(7,746)
Less dividends to Series A convertible preferred stockholders		(1,239)		—
Less dividends to Series B convertible preferred stockholders		—		(806)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(2,036)	$	(8,552)

Net loss per common share:
Basic and Diluted	$	(0.04)	$	(0.32)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic and Diluted		54,315,736		26,931,186

Dividends declared per Series A convertible preferred share	$	1.91	$	—
Dividends declared per Series B convertible preferred share	$	—	$	12.50

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

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)


	Series A Convertible										Accumulated
	Preferred Stock			Common Stock							Other
					Par		Additional		Retained		Comprehensive
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Value		Paid- In Capital		Earnings		Income (Loss)		Total
Balance, January 1, 2018	650,000	$	65,000	48,712,288	$	5	$	277,931	$	7,338	$	959	$	351,233
Exercise of options	—		—	5,000		—		49		—		—		49
Series A convertible preferred stock dividend	—		—	—		—		—		(1,239)		—		(1,239)
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—	—		—		886		—		—		886
Issuance of common stock	—		—	8,545,000		1		84,568		—		—		84,569
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—		—	—		—		—		—		(320)		(320)
Net loss	—		—	—		—		—		(797)		—		(797)
Balance at March 31, 2018	650,000	$	65,000	57,262,288	$	6	$	363,434	$	5,302	$	639	$	434,381

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

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)


	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(797)	$	(7,746)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation		23,287		14,873
Amortization of intangible assets		1,895		1,442
Amortization of deferred financing fees		723		311
Write-off of deferred financing fees		—		3,883
Stock-based compensation expense		886		—
Deferred taxes		(486)		(3,071)
Bad debt expense (recovery)		(35)		45
Non-cash interest expense		—		92
Gain on disposition of property and equipment		(991)		(185)
Deferred gain recognized on sales-type leases		(535)		(156)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable		(16,137)		(13,211)
Drivers’ advances and other receivables		9		221
Payments received on sales-type leases		3,045		899
Prepaid and other current assets		(2,290)		140
Accounts payable		1,746		2,716
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		3,869		1,454
Net cash provided by operating activities		14,189		1,707

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment		(7,580)		(1,494)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		5,868		1,455
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,712)		(39)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Advances on line of credit		212,634		164,233
Repayments on line of credit		(209,975)		(171,091)
Advances on long-term debt		5,901		—
Principal payments on and payoff of long-term debt		(12,393)		(220,406)
Proceeds from Term Loan Facility		—		250,000
Deferred financing fees		(18)		(14,229)
Pay off of subordinated debt		—		(66,715)
Issuance of common stock		84,569		64,577
Repurchase of common stock		—		(36,168)
Issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock		—		65,000
Exercise of options		49		—
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends		(1,239)		—
Series B convertible preferred stock dividends		—		(2,015)
Net cash provided by financing activities		79,528		33,186

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		14		—

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		92,019		34,854
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period		90,679		3,695
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period	$	182,698	$	38,549

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

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)


	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	$	9,635	$	6,870
Cash paid for income taxes	$	97	$	223

Noncash investing and financing activities
Property and equipment sold for notes receivable	$	332	$	35
Property and equipment transferred to sales-type lease	$	1,304	$	1,699
Sales-type lease returns to property and equipment	$	—	$	645
Sales-type lease assets sold for notes receivable	$	9,162	$	6,071
Sales-type lease returns to sales-type lease assets	$	8,811	$	3,491

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

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

The registrant was originally formed in April 2015 as a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) under the name Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. II (Hennessy). As a SPAC, Hennessy had no operations and its purpose was to go public with the intention of merging with or acquiring an operating company with the proceeds of the SPAC’s initial public offering (the IPO).

On February 27, 2017, Hennessy consummated the Business Combination (as defined and described in Note 3) with Daseke, Inc. Upon consummation of the Business Combination, Daseke, Inc. changed its name to Daseke Companies, Inc. and Hennessy changed its name to Daseke, Inc.

Daseke, Inc. was formed in December 2008 and began operations on January 1, 2009. Daseke is engaged in full service open-deck trucking that specializes primarily in flatbed truckload and heavy haul transportation of specialized items throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Company also provides logistical planning and warehousing services to customers. The Company is subject to regulation by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and various state regulatory authorities.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, references to the Company or Daseke refers to Daseke, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Hennessy refers to the registrant prior to the closing of the Business Combination, and Private Daseke refers to Daseke, Inc. and its subsidiaries prior to the closing of the Business Combination.

Basis of Presentation

These interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2018.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. For additional information, including the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2017 as set forth in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2018.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Daseke, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Deferred Financing Fees

In conjunction with obtaining long-term debt, the Company incurred financing costs which are being amortized using the straight line method, which approximates the effective interest rate method, over the terms of the obligations. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance of deferred finance charges was $16.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively, which is included as a reduction of long-term debt, net of current portion in the consolidated balance sheets. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 totaled $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which is included in interest expense. In February 2017, in conjunction with new term loan financing, as amended, discussed in Note 10, the Company incurred deferred financing costs of $14.2 million and an additional $4.8 million in November 2017 related to the tack-on loan. Unamortized deferred financing fees totaling $3.9 million were expensed as a result of the new term loan financing.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows the accounting guidance for fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities and for fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. Fair value guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It also establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The three levels of the fair value framework are as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions or external inputs from inactive markets.

A financial asset or liability’s classification within the framework is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps is determined using cash flow computer models with unobservable inputs, therefore the liability for interest rate swaps is classified within Level 3 of the fair value framework. In conjunction with the Business Combination discussed in Note 3, the Company’s lone interest rate swap was terminated. The table below is a summary of the changes in the fair value of this liability for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	2017
Balance at January 1, 2017	$	(52)
Change in fair value		52
Balance at March 31, 2017	$	—

Stock-Based Compensation

Awards of equity instruments issued to employees and directors are accounted for under the fair value method of accounting and recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Compensation cost is measured for all stock-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognized using the straight-line method over the service period over which the awards are expected to vest.

Fair value of all time-vested options as of the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Since the Company does not have a sufficient history of exercise behavior, expected term is calculated using the assumption that the options will be exercised ratably from the date of vesting to the end of the contractual term for each vesting tranche of awards. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve for the period of the expected term of the stock option. Expected volatility is calculated using an index of publicly traded peer companies.

Fair values of nonvested stock awards (restricted stock units) are equal to the market value of the common stock on the date of the award with compensation costs amortized over the vesting period of the award.

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Segment Reporting

The Company determines its operating segments based on the information utilized by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Based on this information, the Company has determined it has 15 operating segments as of March 31, 2018 and eight operating segments as of March 31, 2017 that are aggregated into two reportable segments: Flatbed Solutions, which delivers its services using primarily flatbed transportation equipment to meet the needs of high-volume, time-sensitive shippers, and Specialized Solutions, which delivers transportation and logistics solutions for super heavy haul, high-value customized and over-dimensional loads, many of which require engineering and customized equipment.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of earnings per share that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the Company’s earnings (loss).

For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, shares of the Company’s 7.625% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock) were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share as their effects were anti-dilutive. Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there was no dilutive effect from the Merger Agreement earn-out provision (see Note 3) or the outstanding warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the common stock purchase warrants). For the three months ended March 31, 2017, shares of Private Daseke’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B Preferred Stock) were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share as their effects were anti-dilutive.

Common Stock Purchase Warrants

The Company accounts for the issuance of common stock purchase warrants in connection with equity offerings in accordance with the provisions of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). The Company classifies as equity any contracts that (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) gives the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net-cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the control of the Company) or (ii) gives the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). See Note 12 for additional details on the common stock purchase warrants.

The Company assessed the classification of its common stock purchase warrants and determined that such instruments meet the criteria for equity classification at the time of issuance.

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

The local currency is the functional currency for the Company’s operations in Canada. For these operations, assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange on the consolidated balance sheet date, while income and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange during the period. The resulting gains or losses arising from the translation of accounts from the functional currency into United States dollars are included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive loss until a partial or complete liquidation of the Company’s net investment in the foreign operation.

From time to time, the Company’s foreign operations may enter into transactions that are denominated in a currency other than their functional currency (United States dollars). These transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency of the operating company based on the applicable exchange rate in effect on the date of the transaction. Monthly, these transactions are remeasured to an equivalent amount of the functional currency based on the applicable exchange rate in effect on the remeasurement date. Any adjustment required to remeasure a transaction to the equivalent amount of functional currency is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations of the foreign operating company as a component of foreign exchange gain or loss.

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale is comprised of revenue equipment in the Company’s lease purchase program and is recorded as a component of prepaid and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Assets held for sale at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, totaled $12.2 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Assets held for sale totaled $8.0 million and $7.0 million for the Flatbed Solutions segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Assets held for sale totaled $4.2 million and $2.9 million for the Specialized Solutions segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Assets held for sale are not subject to depreciation, and are recorded at the lower of depreciated carrying value or fair market value less selling costs. The Company expects to sell these assets in its lease purchase program within twelve months of being classified as assets held for sale. Any gains from the sale of these assets are recognized as a deferred gain in the consolidated balance sheets in current portion of net investment in sales-type leases and other long-term assets.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740). ASU 2018-05 provides amendments to SEC paragraphs pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 118 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that became effective January 2018. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of SAB 118 as of December 31, 2017 which were included in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2018 and as described in SAB 118 carried forward through March 31, 2018.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). ASU 2017-11 provides guidance on accounting for financial instruments with down round features and clarifies the deferral of certain provisions in Topic 480. ASU 2017-11 will become effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award requires the application of modification accounting. Modification accounting will apply unless the fair value of the modified award is the same as the original award, the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the original award and the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or liability instrument is the same as the original award. ASU 2017-09 will become effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this pronouncement on January 1, 2018 which did not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, or financial statement disclosures as there were no changes to the terms or conditions of the Company’s share-based payment awards during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). ASU 2016-15 provides new guidance intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and payments are classified in the statement of cash flows, including debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, and distributions from certain equity method investees. ASU 2016-05 became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within fiscal years. The Company adopted this pronouncement on January 1, 2018 which did not impact its consolidated statement of cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Accounting for Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 requires the use of an “expected loss” model on certain types of financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 amends various aspects of existing guidance for leases. ASU 2016-02 requires an entity to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases, along with additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. The main difference between previous GAAP and the amended standard is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities of lessees on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this ASU will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

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NOTE 2 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

Adoption of New Accounting Standard

The Company has evaluated its current accounting practices to the requirements of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and related amendments. This evaluation included an assessment of representative contracts from each of the Company’s revenue streams. The Company was recognizing revenue upon completion of transportation or other services. By nature, Daseke’s services are short in duration, typically representing less than one week to completion, therefore the Company has determined that the difference between recognizing revenue upon completion and over time is minimal to its business.

The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows, however, there have been additions and modifications to its existing financial disclosures. While the overall revenue, systems and controls were minimally impacted by the new standard, the underlying recognition methodology has changed. Under the new standard, the Company now recognizes revenue over time as its customers are simultaneously receiving and consuming the benefits of its services, primarily based upon the output method of miles driven. The primary difference for the Company’s business, although currently immaterial, is the recognition of revenue for in-transit services at the end of each reporting period.

The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2018, utilizing the modified retrospective method and the practical expedient that applies to all contracts that were not completed at the date of adoption. The Company determined the differences between recognition methods was minimal, thus no opening adjustment was deemed necessary to retained earnings. The comparative information was not restated and continues to be presented under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to the costs of obtaining or fulfilling a contract, or corporate taxes.

Accounting Policies

The vast majority of Daseke’s revenue is recognized over time as its customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits. While there may be master service agreements with Daseke customers, a contract is not established until the customer specifically requests Daseke’s services and Daseke accepts.

Daseke evaluates each contract for distinct performance obligations. In Daseke’s business, a typical performance obligation is the transportation of a load including any highly interrelated ancillary services.

Daseke predominantly estimates the standalone selling price of its services based upon observable evidence, market conditions and other relevant inputs. Daseke allocates the total transaction price to each distinct performance obligation based upon the relative standalone selling prices.

Daseke’s customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of Daseke’s contracts, therefore revenue is recognized over time. This is a faithful depiction of the satisfaction of the performance obligation, as the customer does not need to re-perform the transportation services Daseke has provided to date.

Brokerage Revenue

Daseke regularly engages third-party capacity providers to haul loads brokered to them when it needs additional capacity. Daseke is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide load transportation services, has discretion in setting prices, along with the risk to fulfill the contract to the customer. Based upon this evaluation, Daseke has determined that it is the principal and therefore, records gross revenues for brokerage services.

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Disclosure Designations

The Company has designated the following preference and practical expedients:

Not disclose remaining performance obligations when the expected performance obligation duration is one year or less. The vast majority of the Company’s services transfer control within a month of the inception of the contract with select specialized loads taking several months to allow for increased planning and permitting.

Recognize the incremental costs of obtaining or fulfilling a contract as an expense when incurred, as the amortization period of a potential asset would be recognized in one year or less.

Exclude taxes collected on behalf of government authorities from the Company’s measurement of transaction prices. Tax amounts are not included within net income or cost of sales.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company’s income and segment disclosures have been reviewed to ensure revenues are properly disaggregated in accordance with the new guidance as displayed in the table below:


	Flatbed		Specialized
	Solutions		Solutions		Corporate/		Consolidated
	Segment		Segment		Eliminations		Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Freight	$	104,513	$	137,509	$	(1,951)	$	240,071
Brokerage		22,998		23,191		(50)		46,139
Logistics		713		10,036		(32)		10,717
Fuel surcharge		16,784		14,152		(282)		30,654
Total revenue	$	145,008	$	184,888	$	(2,315)	$	327,581

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Freight	$	63,975	$	62,974	$	(1,394)	$	125,555
Brokerage		9,098		11,771		—		20,869
Logistics		—		—		—		—
Fuel surcharge		8,231		5,928		(149)		14,010
Total revenue	$	81,304	$	80,673	$	(1,543)	$	160,434

Significant Judgements

Under the new revenue standard, significant judgements are required in order to identify contracts with customers and estimate transaction prices. Additional judgments are required for the identification of distinct performance obligations, the estimation of standalone selling prices and the allocation of the transaction price by relative standalone selling prices. Assumptions regarding the timing of when control transfers to the customer requires significant judgement in order to recognize revenue.

NOTE 3 – BUSINESS COMBINATION

On February 27, 2017, Hennessy consummated the merger of Hennessy’s wholly-owned subsidiary with and into Daseke, Inc., with Daseke, Inc. surviving as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Hennessy (the Business Combination) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 22, 2016 (the Merger Agreement). The aggregate consideration received by Private Daseke stockholders upon closing was $266.7 million, consisting of newly issued shares of common stock at a value of $10.00 per share. The Merger Agreement contains an earn-out provision through which Private Daseke stockholders could receive up to 15 million additional shares of common stock (with up to 5 million shares payable annually with respect to 2017, 2018 and 2019 performance). The full 15 million shares are only payable if (i) the annualized Adjusted EBITDA (giving effect to acquisitions and as defined in the Merger Agreement) for 2017, 2018 and 2019 is at least $140.0 million, $170.0 million and $200.0 million, respectively, and (ii) the closing share price of the Company’s common stock is at least

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$12.00, $14.00 and $16.00 for any 20 trading days in a consecutive 30 trading day period in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. For each year, the 5 million earn-out shares will be prorated to the extent the annualized Adjusted EBITDA (giving effect to acquisitions and as defined in the Merger Agreement) exceeds 90% but represents less than 100%, of the applicable earn-out target. The Company met the earn-out provisions for 2017 and 5 million shares are expected to be issued to the Private Daseke stockholders in the second quarter of 2018.

Following the consummation of the Business Combination on February 27, 2017 (the Closing), there were 37,715,960 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of (i) 26,665,330 shares issued to Private Daseke stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (ii) 419,669 shares issued in a private placement that closed in conjunction with the Business Combination, (iii) 2,288,043 shares originally issued to Hennessy Capital Partners II LLC (the Sponsor) in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, and (iv) 8,342,918 shares, following redemptions, which shares were originally issued in the IPO. In connection with the Business Combination, $65.0 million of Series A Preferred Stock (650,000 shares) were issued in a private placement.

In conjunction with the Closing, the Company entered into (i) a $350.0 million term loan credit facility (the Term Loan Facility), which consists of a $250.0 million term loan funded on the closing date of the Term Loan Facility and up to $100.0 million of term loans to be funded from time to time under a delayed draw term loan facility, and (ii) an asset-based revolving credit facility (the ABL Facility), in an aggregate maximum credit amount equal to $70.0 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base). See Note 10 for more information regarding the Term Loan Facility and the ABL Facility. Prior to the Closing, the Company had a credit facility consisting of a term loan (Senior Term Loan) and a revolving line of credit (Line of Credit).

The following table is a summary of cash proceeds and utilization of proceeds in the Business Combination (in thousands):


Proceeds

Public share proceeds(1)	$	83,429
Issuance of Series A Preferred Stock		65,000
Term Loan Facility		250,000
Cash(2)		3,209
Total proceeds		401,638

Use of Proceeds

Repayment of Line of Credit(3)		16,717
Repayment of Senior Term Loan(4)		122,724
Repayment of equipment loans(5)		89,488
Repayment of subordinated debt(6)		67,460
Payment of deferred financing fees(7)		14,148
Repurchase Main Street and Prudential shares(8)		36,168
Hennessy transaction costs		19,063
Daseke transaction costs(9)		1,204
Total use of proceeds		366,972

Net cash received	$	34,666

(1) 8,342,918 public shares outstanding valued at $10.00 per share

(2) Daseke cash utilized for payment of deferred financing fees and transaction costs

(3) includes payment of $59 accrued interest recognized in interest expense

(4) includes payment of $422 accrued interest recognized in interest expense

(5) includes payment of $731 accrued interest recognized in interest expense

(6) includes payment of $745 accrued interest recognized in interest expense

(7) excludes $81 paid subsequent to the Closing

(8) Hennessy repurchased Private Daseke shares held by Main Street Capital II, LP, Main Street Mezzanine Fund, LP, Main Street Capital Corporation, Prudential Capital Partners IV, L.P., Prudential Capital Partners (Parallel Fund) IV, L.P. and Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV, L.P.

(9) $0.8 million and $0.4 million expensed in fourth quarter 2016 and first quarter 2017, respectively

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The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse merger in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Hennessy is treated as the “acquired” company. This determination was primarily based on Private Daseke comprising the ongoing operations of the combined company, Private Daseke’s senior management comprising the senior management of the combined company, and Private Daseke stockholders having a majority of the voting power of the combined company. For accounting purposes, Private Daseke is deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction is treated as a recapitalization of Private Daseke (i.e., a capital transaction involving the issuance of stock by Hennessy for the stock of Private Daseke). Accordingly, the consolidated assets, liabilities and results of operations of Private Daseke are the historical financial statements of the combined company, and Hennessy’s assets, liabilities and results of operations are consolidated with Private Daseke beginning on the acquisition date.

In connection with the Closing, Daseke, Inc. changed its name to Daseke Companies, Inc. and Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. II changed its name to Daseke, Inc. Daseke, Inc.’s common stock and warrants began trading under the ticker symbols DSKE and DSKEW, respectively, on February 28, 2017.

NOTE 4 – ACQUISITIONS

The Company is a leading consolidator of the open-deck freight market in North America. From its inception in late 2008, the Company has successfully acquired more than 16 open-deck trucking companies. Negotiations and discussions with potential targets are an integral part of the Company’s operations, and the Company may be in varying stages of the acquisition process, from infancy to very mature, at any point in time. To date, the primary reason for each acquisition was to add resources and services in geographic areas, customers and markets that the Company wants to serve, resulting in recognized goodwill.

2017 Acquisitions

The following is a summary of the preliminary allocation of the purchase price paid to the fair values of the net assets, net of cash acquired, of the Company’s recent acquisitions (in thousands):


(all amounts in United States dollars)							Tennessee
			Moore		Roadmaster		Steel
	Belmont		Freight		Group		Haulers		R&R		Steelman		Schilli		Big Freight
Accounts receivable	$	240	$	4,458	$	9,806	$	20,207	$	5,129	$	4,383	$	8,616	$	4,914
Parts supplies		—		312		231		—		149		90		1,681		212
Prepaid and other current assets		107		301		1,097		5,870		1,515		2,294		3,786		287
Property and equipment		1,548		21,978		36,854		8,705		16,887		11,100		41,423		11,492
Goodwill & Intangibles		3,527		36,477		75,203		59,206		26,686		14,708		14,992		10,925
Other long-term assets		—		114		670		19,049		156		5,013		915		121
Deferred tax liabilities		(645)		(2,646)		(10,666)		(7,496)		(8,922)		(3,151)		(16,157)		(3,868)
Accounts payable and other liabilities		(243)		(1,997)		(26,764)		(13,894)		(3,362)		(15,612)		(27,896)		(6,294)
Total	$	4,534	$	58,997	$	86,431	$	91,647	$	38,238	$	18,825	$	27,360	$	17,789

The aggregate purchase price noted above was allocated to the major categories of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, which were based, in part, upon outside preliminary appraisals for certain assets and subject to change when additional information concerning final asset and liability values is obtained.

The Company has not completed its assessments of the fair value of purchased intangible assets for the Belmont, Moore Freight Service, Roadmaster Group and Tennessee Steel Haulers acquisitions, and no value has been allocated to them at this time. The final purchase price allocations may result in adjustments to certain assets and liabilities, including the residual amount allocated to goodwill, however none of purchase price allocations for the above acquisitions are considered final as of March 31, 2018.

Belmont

On December 29, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Belmont Enterprises, Inc. (Belmont) based in Olympia, Washington. Total consideration paid was $4.6 million in cash funded through the Company’s line of credit under the ABL Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Transaction expenses incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes, were immaterial.

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Moore Freight Services

On December 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of: (1) Moore Freight Service, Inc., (2) RT & L, LLC, (3) JD and Partners, LLC, (4) TM Transport and Leasing, LLC, and (5) Rand, LLC collectively (Moore Freight Services) based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Total consideration paid was $59.1 million, consisting of $35.1 million in cash and 145,129 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $1.8 million and $22.2 million of long-term debt repaid by the Company. The cash consideration was funded with cash on hand and the Term Loan Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.6 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

Roadmaster Group

On December 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Roadmaster Group, Inc. and subsidiaries, and Roadmaster Equipment Leasing, Inc. and all subsidiaries collectively the (Roadmaster Group) based in Phoenix, Arizona. Total consideration paid was $86.9 million, consisting of $37.5 million in cash and 3,114,247 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $39.1 million and $10.3 million of long-term debt repaid by the Company. The cash consideration was funded with cash on hand and the Term Loan Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.6 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

Tennessee Steel Haulers & Co.

On December 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of: (1) Tennessee Steel Haulers, Inc., (2) Alabama Carriers, Inc., and (3) Fleet Movers Inc. collectively (TSH & Co.) based in Nashville, Tennessee. Total consideration paid was $91.9 million, consisting of $74.9 million in cash and 972,680 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $12.0 million and $5.0 million of long-term debt repaid by the Company. The cash consideration was funded with cash on hand and the Term Loan Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.5 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

R&R Trucking Holdings, LLC

On September 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of R&R Trucking Holdings, LLC (R&R), based in Duenweg, Missouri. Total consideration paid was $38.4 million, consisting of $24.6 million in cash and the Company assumed and repaid of $13.8 million of long-term debt. The cash consideration was funded through a delayed draw on September 1, 2017 under the Term Loan Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.6 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

The Steelman Companies

On July 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of The Steelman Companies (Steelman), based in Springfield, Missouri, for consideration of $18.8 million, consisting of $11.2 million in cash and 746,170 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $7.6 million. The fair value of the 746,170 shares issued was determined based on the closing price of the stock on the acquisition close date. The cash consideration was funded through cash on hand. The acquisition was a stock purchase under GAAP. A Section 338(h)(10) election is being filed for certain of the entities acquired which will deem those acquisitions as an asset purchase for tax purposes, therefore approximately $14.9 million of the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.3 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

Schilli Transportation Services, Inc.

On May 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Schilli Transportation Services, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (Schilli), based in Remington, Indiana. Total consideration paid was $27.4 million, consisting of $21.0 million in cash, 232,885 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $2.3 million and $4.0 million of long-term debt refinanced by the Company. The fair value of the 232,885 shares issued was determined based on the closing price of the stock on the acquisition close date. The cash consideration was funded through a delayed draw on May 1, 2017 under the Term Loan Facility. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the

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intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.4 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

Big Freight Systems, Inc.

On May 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Big Freight Systems, Inc. (Big Freight), based in Steinbach, Manitoba. Total consideration paid was $16.7 million consisting of $12.4 million in cash, 109,248 shares of Daseke common stock valued at $1.1 million and, the Company assumed approximately $3.2 million of outstanding debt. The fair value of the 109,248 shares issued was determined based on the closing price of the stock on the acquisition close date. Big Freight’s purchase agreement also contains an earn-out for additional cash consideration to be paid on the excess of each of 2017, 2018 and 2019’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA Amount) over 2016’s EBITDA Amount (as defined in the purchase agreement), multiplied by 0.4. A contingent liability of $1.1 million was included in the allocation of the purchase price for this earn-out. The cash consideration was funded through a delayed draw on May 1, 2017 under the Term Loan Facility and cash on hand. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $0.6 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, which are not deductible for tax purposes.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2018, revenue and net income of the acquired companies was $151.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively. There were no acquisitions during the three month period ended March 31, 2017.

NOTE 5 – PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

The components of prepaid expenses and other current assets are as follows as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands).


	2018		2017
Assets held for sale	$	12,194	$	9,907
Insurance		8,899		7,642
Other prepaids		4,532		2,948
Licensing, permits and tolls		3,484		4,096
Highway and fuel taxes		819		1,238
Other assets		1,381		2,318
	$	31,309	$	28,149

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NOTE 6 – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of all acquisitions over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired. The Company performs an impairment test of goodwill annually as of October 1 or when impairment indicators arise. There was no goodwill impairment identified for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The summary of changes in goodwill follows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands).


	Flatbed		Specialized		Total
Goodwill balance at December 31, 2017	$	105,866	$	196,836	$	302,702
Goodwill acquired and adjustments to previously recorded goodwill		—		12		12
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		(175)		(175)
Goodwill balance at March 31, 2018	$	105,866	$	196,673	$	302,539

Intangible assets consisted of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	As of March 31, 2018						As of December 31, 2017
	Intangible		Accumulated		Intangible		Intangible		Accumulated		Intangible
	Assets		Amortization		Assets, net		Assets		Amortization		Assets, net
Non-competition agreements	$	12,230	$	(6,304)	$	5,926	$	12,230	$	(5,765)	$	6,465
Customer relationships		69,090		(25,271)		43,819		69,090		(23,921)		45,169
Trade names		41,180		—		41,180		41,180		—		41,180
Foreign currency translation adjustment		185		—		185		306		—		306
Total intangible assets	$	122,685	$	(31,575)	$	91,110	$	122,806	$	(29,686)	$	93,120

As of March 31, 2018, non-competition agreements and customer relationships had weighted average remaining useful lives of 2.42 and 8.22 years, respectively.

Amortization expense for intangible assets with definite lives was $1.9 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Projected amortization expense for the next five fiscal years ending December 31, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be $5.7 million, $7.4 million, $6.6 million, $6.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

NOTE 7 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The components of property and equipment are as follows at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	2018		2017
Revenue equipment	$	541,223	$	544,876
Buildings and improvements		51,062		53,366
Furniture and fixtures, office and computer equipment and vehicles		21,582		20,805
		613,867		619,047
Accumulated depreciation		(206,870)		(189,408)
	$	406,997	$	429,639

Depreciation expense on property and equipment was $23.3 million and $14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 8 – SALES-TYPE LEASES

The Company leases revenue equipment to certain of its owner-operators and accounts for these transactions as sales-type leases. These leases have terms of 30 to 72 months and are collateralized by a security interest in the related revenue equipment. A minimum lease receivable is recorded, net of unearned interest income and deferred gain on sale of the equipment. The gain is recognized as payments are collected, rather than in the period the lease is recorded due to the uncertainty of collection.

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The components of the net investment in sales-type leases are as follows at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	2018		2017
Minimum lease receivable	$	57,219	$	62,587
Deferred gain		(8,889)		(9,352)
Net minimum lease receivable		48,330		53,235
Unearned interest income		(7,666)		(10,432)

Net investment in sales-type leases		40,664		42,803
Current portion		(11,158)		(10,979)
	$	29,506	$	31,824

The long-term portion of sales-type leases is classified in other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Gain or loss on disposition of revenue equipment leased to owner-operators is included as a component of purchased freight in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The gains totaled approximately $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 9 – ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

The components of accrued expenses and other liabilities are as follows at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	2018		2017
Brokerage and escorts	$	7,161	$	6,264
Unvouchered payables		4,338		4,156
Other accrued expenses		6,929		4,977
Owner-operator deposits		8,438		8,431
Interest		520		540
Fuel		1,319		1,130
Fuel taxes		1,258		378
	$	29,963	$	25,876

NOTE 10 – LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


	2018		2017
Line of credit	$	7,220	$	4,561
Term loan facility		497,216		498,462
Equipment term loans		121,443		126,227
Capital leases		5,094		5,757
		630,973		635,007
Less current portion		(43,625)		(43,056)
Less unamortized debt issuance costs		(16,945)		(17,650)
Total long-term debt	$	570,403	$	574,301

Term Loan Facility

In conjunction with the close of the Business Combination on February 27, 2017, the Company entered into the $350.0 million Term Loan Facility under a loan agreement with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. The Term Loan Facility consists of (i) a $250.0 million term loan funded on the closing date of the Term Loan Facility (the Closing Date Term

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Loan); and (ii) up to $100.0 million of term loans to be funded from time to time under a delayed draw feature available until February 27, 2018.

The size of the Term Loan Facility could increase from time to time pursuant to an uncommitted incremental facility in an aggregate amount for all such incremental loans and commitments up to the sum of (a) $65.0 million and (b) an uncapped amount based on the maximum first lien, secured and total leverage ratio-based formulas depending upon the security and ranking of the relevant incremental facility. The proceeds from the Closing Date Term Loan were used to partially refinance certain of the Company’s capital leases, purchase money debt, equipment and real estate financings and to pay transaction costs associated with the Business Combination and refinance the Line of Credit and the Senior Term Loan.

The Term Loan Facility has a scheduled maturity date of February 27, 2024. Term loans under the Term Loan Facility are, at the Company’s election from time to time, comprised of alternate base rate loans (an ABR Borrowing) or adjusted LIBOR loans (a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing), with the applicable margins of interest being an alternate base rate (subject to a 2.00% floor) plus 4.50% per annum through November 28, 2017, amended to 4.00% on that date for ABR Borrowings and LIBOR (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 5.50% per annum through November 28, 2017, amended to 5.00% on that date for Eurodollar Rate Borrowings. At March 31, 2018, the average interest rate on the Term Loan Facility was 6.6%.

On August 16, 2017, the Company obtained an amendment of the Term Loan facility that increased the delayed draw incurrence condition relating to pro forma total leverage ratio to 4.25x from 3.5x, effective August 15, 2017 through the maturity of the delayed draw Term Loan Facility in February 2018, which enabled the Company to access $60.5 million from the delayed draw Term Loan Facility.

On November 28, 2017, the Term Loan Facility was amended to provide for a $150.0 million tack-on to the existing Term Loan Facility.

The Term Loan Facility is secured by all assets of the Company, except those assets collateralizing equipment and certain real estate lenders debt and subject to certain customary exceptions.

As amended, on August 16, 2017, the Term Loan Facility contains a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain a consolidated total leverage ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 on March 31, 2018, stepping down to 4.00 to 1.00 on March 31, 2019 and stepping down to 3.75 to 1.00 on March 31, 2021. Additionally, as amended, the Term Loan Facility contains a pro forma total leverage ratio of less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 for term loans funded from the delayed draw feature. The consolidated total leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of (i) consolidated total debt minus unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and cash and cash equivalents restricted in favor of the administrative agent and the lenders, to (ii) consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the trailing 12 month period (with customary add-backs permitted to consolidated adjusted EBITDA, including in respect of synergies and cost-savings reasonably identifiable and factually supportable that are anticipated to be realized in an aggregate amount not to exceed 25% of consolidated adjusted EBITDA and subject to other customary limitations).

The Term Loan Facility permits voluntarily prepayments of borrowings. In certain circumstances (subject to exceptions, exclusions and, in the case of excess cash flow, step-downs described below), the Company may also be required to make an offer to prepay the Term Loan Facility if it receives proceeds as a result of certain asset sales, debt issuances, casualty or similar events of loss, or if it has excess cash flow (defined as an annual amount calculated using a customary formula based on consolidated adjusted EBITDA, including, among other things, deductions for (i) the amount of certain voluntary prepayments of the Term Loan Facility and (ii) the amount of certain capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments and restricted payments). The percentage of excess cash flow that must be applied as a mandatory prepayment is 50% with respect to the initial excess cash flow period (the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2018) and will be 50%, 25% or 0% for future excess cash flow periods depending upon the first lien leverage ratio.

The Term Loan Facility contains (i) certain customary affirmative covenants that, among other things, require compliance with applicable laws, periodic financial reporting and notices of material events, payment of taxes and other obligations, maintenance of property and insurance, and provision of additional guarantees and collateral, and (ii) certain customary negative covenants that, among other things, restrict the incurrence of additional indebtedness, liens on property, sale and leaseback transactions, investments, mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions, asset sales, acquisitions, the payment of distributions, dividends, redemptions and repurchases of equity interests, transactions with affiliates, prepayments and redemptions of certain other indebtedness, burdensome agreements, holding company limitations, changes in fiscal year and modifications of organizational documents.

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ABL Facility

Also, in conjunction with the Closing on February 27, 2017, the Company entered into a five-year, senior secured asset-based revolving line of credit with an aggregate maximum credit amount equal to $70.0 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base equal to 85% of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, 80% of the Company’s eligible unbilled accounts receivable and 50% of parts supplies) under a credit agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto. The size of the ABL Facility could increase from time to time pursuant to an uncommitted accordion by an aggregate amount for all such increases of up to $30 million. The ABL Facility matures on February 27, 2022. The ABL Facility also provides for the issuance of letters of credit subject to certain restrictions and a sublimit of $20 million, as defined in the credit agreement. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had borrowings of $7.2 million and $8.7 million in letters of credit outstanding under the ABL Facility and could incur approximately $63.3 million of additional indebtedness under the ABL Facility.

Borrowings under the ABL Facility bear interest at rates based upon the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio and, at the Company’s election from time to time, either a base rate plus an applicable margin or an adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin. Margins on the ABL Facility are adjusted, if necessary to the applicable rates set forth in the following table corresponding to the fixed charge coverage ratio for the trailing 12 month period on the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.


Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	Base Rate Margins		LIBOR Rate Margins
Less than 1.25 to 1.00	2.25	%	3.25	%
Greater than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00, but less than 1.50 to 1.00	1.75	%	2.75	%
Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, but less than 1.75	1.25	%	2.25	%
Greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00	0.75	%	1.75	%

The ABL Facility is secured by all of the Company’s United States based accounts receivable, parts supplies, cash and cash equivalents excluding proceeds of Term Loan Facility, securities and deposit accounts and other general assets not included in the Term Loan Facility collateral.

The ABL Facility contains (i) a financial covenant similar to the consolidated total leverage ratio required under the Term Loan Facility (but, as amended on August 31, 2017, in any event requiring a leverage ratio of less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018, stepping down to 3.75 to 1.00 on March 31, 2021, in the same increments as the Term Loan Facility noted above) and (ii) during any period after a default or event of default or after excess availability falling below the greater of (x) $15.0 million and (y) 20% of the maximum credit amount, continuing until such time as no default or event of default has existed and excess availability has exceeded such amounts for a period of 60 consecutive days, a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00x, tested on a quarterly basis. The Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of (1) consolidated adjusted EBITDA minus unfinanced capital expenditures, cash taxes and cash dividends or distributions, to (2) the sum of all funded debt payments for the four quarter period then ending (with customary add-backs permitted to consolidated adjusted EBITDA).

The ABL Facility contains affirmative and negative covenants similar to those in the Term Loan Facility, together with such additional terms as are customary for a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in the Term Loan and ABL Facilities.

Equipment Term Loans and Mortgages

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had term loans collateralized by equipment in the aggregate amount of $117.2 million with thirty-seven (37) lenders (Equipment Term Loans). The Equipment Term Loans bear interest at rates ranging from 1.4% to 10.8%, require monthly payments of principal and interest and mature at various dates through January 2028. Certain of the Equipment Term Loans contain conditions, covenants, representations and warranties, events of default, and indemnification provisions applicable to the Company and certain of its subsidiaries that are customary for equipment financings, including, but not limited to, limitations on the incurrence of additional debt and the prepayment of existing indebtedness, certain payments (including dividends and other distributions to persons not party to its credit facility) and transfers of assets.

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As of March 31, 2018, the Company has a bank mortgage loan with a balance of $3.6 million incurred to finance the construction of the headquarters and terminal in Redmond, Oregon. The mortgage loan is collateralized by such property and buildings. The mortgage is payable in monthly installments of $15,776, including interest at 3.7% through November 2020.

The interest rate and monthly payments will be adjusted on November 1, 2020 to a rate of 2.5%, plus the three-year advance rate published by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle in effect 45 days prior to November 1, 2020 (which will not be less than 3.7%). The bank mortgage loan matures November 1, 2023.

Real Estate Term Loan

In April 2016, the Company refinanced $14.2 million of its Line of Credit with bank debt (Real Estate Term Loan) utilizing nine wholly-owned real estate assets which previously served as collateral on the PNC Term Loan. The Real Estate Term Loan was subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement and Equipment Term Loans and was due in monthly installments of $59,109 (based on 20 year amortization schedule), plus applicable interest at either (a) the Libor Rate (as defined in the loan agreement), plus a margin of 2.75%, or (b) the Default Rate (as defined in the loan agreement). The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $0.4 million, which were being amortized to interest expense over five years using the straight-line method. In conjunction with the Business Combination, the Real Estate Term Loan was repaid and all unamortized debt issuance costs written off to interest expense. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

Capital Leases

The Company leases certain equipment under long-term capital lease agreements that expire on various dates through July 2024. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the book value of the property and equipment recorded under capital leases was $6.2 million and $7.0 million, net of accumulated depreciation of $6.4 million and $5.8 million, respectively. Depreciation expense related to lease equipment was $0.7 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Main Street Capital Corporation

In 2013, Main Street Capital Corporation (Main Street) loaned the Company $20.0 million under a senior subordinated secured term loan (the Main Street Loan). The Main Street Loan was subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement and Equipment Term Loans. Interest payments were due monthly through maturity at the rate of 12% per annum. Paid-in kind (PIK) interest, at a rate of 2.5% per annum, could have been paid monthly or accrued and added to the principal balance quarterly, at the option of the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, $0.1 million of accrued PIK interest was added to the principal balance. In conjunction with Business Combination, the Main Street Loan was repaid in February 2017. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

Prudential Capital Partners

In 2013, the Company issued senior secured subordinated promissory notes in the initial aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million (PCP Subordinated Notes) to Prudential Capital Partners IV, L.P., Prudential Capital Partners (Parallel Fund) IV, L.P. and Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV, L.P. (collectively, the PCP Investors) pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2013, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the PCP Investors. The PCP Subordinated Notes were subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement and Equipment Term Loans. Interest payments were due monthly through maturity at the rate of 12% per annum. PIK interest, at a rate of 2.5% per annum, could have been paid monthly or accrued and added to the principal balance quarterly, at the option of the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, $0.1 million of accrued PIK interest was added to the principal balance. In conjunction with Business Combination, the PCP Subordinated Notes were repaid in February 2017. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

The Main Street Loan and the PCP Subordinated Notes (Subordinated Debt) were collateralized by all assets of the Company, except those assets collateralizing the Equipment Term Loans. The Main Street Loan and the PCP Subordinated Notes contained certain financial covenants, including a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a senior secured debt to consolidated EBITDA ratio and a funded debt to consolidated EBITDA ratio. Additionally, they contained negative covenants limiting, among other things, additional indebtedness, capital expenditures, transactions with affiliates, additional liens, sales of assets, dividends, investments and advances, prepayments of debt, mergers and acquisitions, and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements. The Main Street Loan and the PCP Subordinated Notes were subject to a make-whole payment of 5.0% of the prepayment amount if such prepayment was made before the third anniversary of the agreements.

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LST Seller

As part of the consideration paid to the seller of Lone Star Transportation, LLC and affiliates (LST), Daseke Lone Star, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Company) issued $22.0 million of subordinated notes (the LST Seller Notes). The LST Seller Notes bore interest at 10% payable monthly and were subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement, Main Street Loan and PCP Subordinated Notes. In conjunction with the Business Combination, the LST Seller Notes were repaid in February 2017. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

DTR Sellers

As part of the consideration paid to the sellers of Davenport Transport & Rigging, LLC, LST issued $1.0 million of subordinated notes (the DTR Seller Notes). The DTR Seller Notes bore interest at 5% payable monthly and were subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement, Main Street Loan and PCP Subordinated Notes. In conjunction with Business Combination, the DTR Seller Notes were repaid in February 2017. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

BHE Sellers

As part of the consideration paid to the sellers of Bulldog Hiway Express (BHE), the Company issued $2.0 million of subordinated notes (the BHE Seller Notes). The BHE Seller Notes bore interest at 7% payable monthly. On December 19, 2016, a portion of the outstanding principal amount under the BHE Seller Notes was forgiven in exchange for the payment by the Company of certain pension liabilities of BHE. The BHE Seller Notes were subordinate to the PNC Credit Agreement and the Main Street Loan and the PCP Subordinated Notes. In conjunction with Business Combination, the BHE Seller Notes were repaid in February 2017. See Note 3 for additional details on the Business Combination.

Future Payments

Future principal payments on long-term debt as of March 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):


	Line Of Credit		Term Loan Facility		Equipment Term Loans		Capital Leases		Total

2018	$	—	$	4,985	$	36,626	$	2,286	$	43,897
2019		—		2,500		35,545		1,523		39,568
2020		—		2,500		22,941		994		26,435
2021		—		2,500		13,045		648		16,193
2022		7,220		2,500		7,277		166		17,163
Thereafter		—		482,231		6,009		225		488,465

Total minimum lease payments								5,842
Loan amount attributable to interest								(748)		(748)

Total (Present value of minimum lease payments on capital leases)	$	7,220	$	497,216	$	121,443		5,094	$	630,973
Less current portion								(2,014)
Long-term capital leases							$	3,080

NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were 32.4% and 26.3%, respectively. The difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate primarily results from state income taxes and nondeductible expenses, including the effect of the per diem pay structure for drivers and transaction expenses. The difference in the effective tax rate in 2018 compared to 2017 is the result of the change in the Federal tax rate from 35% to 21% applied to pre-tax book income and increased by permanent items in 2018 compared to a pre-tax book loss offset by permanent items in 2017.

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On December 22, 2017, the United States government enacted the TCJA comprehensive tax reform legislation. Effective January 2018, the TCJA, among other things, reduces the marginal United States corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, limits the deductibility of interest expenses, limits the deduction for net operating losses, eliminates net operating loss carrybacks and modifies or eliminates many business deductions and credits. The TCJA also includes international provisions, which generally establish a territorial-style system for taxing foreign source income of domestic multinational corporations and imposes a mandatory one-time transition tax on undistributed international earnings.

For year-end 2017, the Company recorded provisional amounts for the impacts of the new tax law including: the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, estimated stock compensation and 162(m) limitations and unremitted foreign earnings. The Company considers it likely that further technical guidance regarding certain components of the new provisions included in the TCJA, as well as clarity regarding state income tax conformity to current federal tax code, may be issued. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 there have been no changes to the Company’s provisional amounts.

There were no changes in uncertain tax positions during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

NOTE 12 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock

Common stock has voting rights – one vote for each share of common stock.

On September 19, 2017, the Company and certain stockholders of the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Cowen and Company, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, in connection with an underwritten public offering of 5,292,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price to the public of $12.00 per share. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 793,800 shares of common stock, which was exercised in full on September 20, 2017 and closed simultaneously with the Offering on September 22, 2017. Net proceeds received by the Company were approximately $63.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment or refinancing or the financing of possible future acquisitions.

On February 14, 2018, the Company and one of the Company’s stockholders entered into an underwriting agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, in connection with an underwritten public offering of 7,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price to the public of $10.60 per share. Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 shares of common stock, which was exercised in full on February 16, 2018 and closed simultaneously with the offering on February 20, 2018. Net proceeds received by the Company were approximately $84.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment or refinancing or the financing of possible future acquisitions.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company has approximately 1.8 million shares of common stock reserved for future issuances of stock options and restricted stock units under the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. See Note 13 for additional details about the Company’s stock-based compensation plan.

Preferred Stock

At the Closing, the Company issued 650,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for cash of $65.0 million. Proceeds from the sales were part of the consideration received as part of a recapitalization and reverse acquisition completed in the Business Combination. See Note 3 for additional details about the Business Combination. The par value of Series A Preferred Stock is $0.0001 per share. Additional features of this preferred stock are as follows:

Under the Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock (the Certificate of Designations), each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be convertible, at the holder’s option at any time, initially into approximately 8.6957 shares of

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the Company’s common stock (assuming a conversion price of approximately $11.50 per share), subject to specified adjustments as set forth in the Certificate of Designations. If any holder elects to convert its Series A Preferred Stock after the seven-year anniversary of the issue date, if the then-current Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) exceeds the Weighted Average Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) for the common stock during any ten consecutive Trading Days (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), at its option by delivery of a Notice of Conversion in accordance with Section 8(b) of the Certificate of Designations no later than five business days following such tenth consecutive Trading Day, to convert any or all of such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock into, at the Company’s sole discretion, either common stock, cash or a combination of common stock and cash; provided, that the Company shall provide such converting holder notice of its election within two Trading Days of receipt of the Notice of Conversion; provided further, that in the event the Company elects to issue common stock for all or a portion of such conversion, the Conversion Rate for such conversion (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11 of the Certificate of Designations) shall mean the quotient of the Liquidation Preference (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) divided by the average Weighted Average Price for the common stock during the 20 consecutive Trading Days commencing on the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which the Company provided such notice. If the Company does not elect a settlement method prior to the deadline set forth in the Certificate of Designations, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to settle the conversion entirely in common stock. Based on the assumed conversion rate, a total of 5,652,173 shares of Common Stock would be issuable upon conversion of all of the currently outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

On or after the third anniversary of the initial issuance date but prior to the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance date, the Company will have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at the then-effective conversion rate, if the Weighted Average Price of Company’s common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the then-current conversion price for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive trading days. On or after the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance date but prior to the seventh anniversary of the initial issuance date, the Company will have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into shares of Company’s common stock at the then-effective conversion rate, if the Weighted Average Price of Company’s common stock equals or exceeds 115% of the then-current conversion price for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive trading days. On or after the seventh anniversary of the initial issuance date, the Company will have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into shares of Company’s common stock at the then-effective conversion rate, if the Weighted Average Price of Company’s common stock equals or exceeds the then-current conversion price for at least 10 consecutive trading days. If the Company undergoes certain fundamental changes (as more fully described in the Certificate of Designations but including, among other things, certain change-in-control transactions, recapitalizations, asset sales and liquidation events), each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock may, within 15 days following the effective date of such fundamental change and at the election of the holder, be converted into Company’s common stock at a conversion rate (subject to certain adjustments) equal to (i) the greater of (A) the sum of the conversion rate on the effective date of such fundamental change plus the additional shares received by holders of Series A Preferred Stock following such fundamental change (as set forth in the Certificate of Designations) and (B) the quotient of (x) $100.00, divided by (y) the greater of (1) the applicable holder stock price and (2) 66 2/3% of the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on the issue date plus (ii) the number of shares of Company’s common stock that would be issued if any and all accumulated and unpaid dividends were paid in shares of Company’s common stock.

The Series A Preferred Stock contains limitations that prevent the holders thereof from acquiring shares of the Company’s common stock upon conversion that would result in (i) the number of shares beneficially owned by such holder and its affiliates exceeding 9.99% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock then outstanding or (ii) the Series A Preferred Stock being converted into more than 19.99% of the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the initial issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other similar recapitalization) without, in the latter instance, stockholder approval of such issuance.

Additional features of the Series A Preferred Stock are as follows:

Liquidation – In the event of liquidation, holders of Series A Preferred Stock have preferential rights to liquidation payments over holders of common stock. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be paid out of the assets of the Company at an amount equal to $100 per share plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends.

Dividends – Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are cumulative at the Dividend Rate. The “Dividend Rate” is the rate per annum of 7.625% per share of Series A Preferred Stock on the liquidation preference ($100 per share). Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears in cash or, at the Company’s election and subject to the receipt of the necessary shareholder approval (to the

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extent necessary), in shares of the Company’s common stock. On February 27, 2018 the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $1.91 per share, which was paid on March 15, 2018. There were no dividends declared for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Voting rights – Except as required by Delaware law, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will have no voting rights except with respect to the approval of any material and adverse amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation, and certain significant holders of Series A Preferred Stock may have approval rights with respect to certain key economic terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

In February 2017, in connection with, and immediately prior to, the Closing, 64,500 shares of issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 9,301,150 shares of Private Daseke’s common stock. Private Daseke’s board of directors had declared a quarterly dividend on the Series B Preferred Stock of $12.50 per share on February 21, 2017, which was paid on February 27, 2017.

Warrants

At March 31, 2018, there were a total of 35,040,658 warrants outstanding to purchase 17,520,329 shares of the Company’s common stock.

Hennessy has issued warrants to purchase its common stock which were originally issued as part of units in the IPO (the Public Warrants). There are 19,959,902 Public Warrants outstanding. Hennessy has also issued 15,080,756 warrants (the Private Placement Warrants) to Sponsor in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO.

Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one-half of one share of the Company’s common stock at a price of $5.75 per one-half of one share ($11.50 per whole share), subject to adjustment. The warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of shares of the Company’s common stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. The warrants will expire on February 27, 2022, five years after the completion of the Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Warrants are listed on the NASDAQ market under the symbol DSKEW.

The Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $24.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders.

NOTE 13 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On February 27, 2017, the Company and Hennessy’s common stockholders approved the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan), whereby the Company may grant awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock-based awards and performance awards. Under the Plan, the Company is authorized to issue up to 4.5 million shares of common stock. All awards granted were authorized under the Plan.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes stock option grants under the Plan from February 27, 2017 through the first quarter ended March 31, 2018:


Grantee Type	# of Options Granted	Issued and Outstanding	Vesting Period	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

Director Group	150,000	145,000	5 years	$	9.98	$	632,200
Employee Group	1,594,245	1,581,745	5 years	$	10.59	$	7,307,662
Total		1,726,745

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The Company’s calculations of the fair value of stock options granted through March 31, 2018 were made using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the Company’s stock option grants was estimated utilizing the following assumptions as of March 31, 2018:


Weighted average expected life		6.5 years
Risk-free interest rate		1.95% to 2.28%
Expected volatility		39.9% to 40.6%
Expected dividend yield		0.00%

Since the Company does not have a sufficient history of exercise behavior, expected term is calculated using the assumption that the options will be exercised ratably from the date of vesting to the end of the contractual term for each vesting tranche of awards. Risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve for the period of the expected term of the stock option. Expected volatility is calculated using an index of publicly traded peer companies.

A summary of option activity under the Plan as of March 31, 2018 and changes during the three months then ended are as follows:


	Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Terms (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2018	1,655,995	$	10.36	9.3	$	6,505
Granted	79,250		14.29	10.0		—
Exercised	(5,000)		9.98	—		—
Forfeited or expired	(3,500)		11.41	—		—
Outstanding as of March 31, 2018	1,726,745		10.54	9.0		7

Exercisable as of March 31, 2018	277,194	$	9.98	8.9	$	—

The stock options’ maximum contract term is ten years.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units are nontransferable until vested and the holders are entitled to receive dividends with respect to the non-vested units. Prior to vesting, the grantees of restricted stock units are not entitled to vote the shares. Restricted stock unit awards vest in equal annual increments over the vesting period.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit grants under the Plan from June 1, 2017 through the first quarter ended March 31, 2018:


Grantee Type	# of Restricted Stock Units Granted	Issued and Outstanding	Vesting Period	Grant Date Fair Value

Employee Group	1,241,800	919,351	5 years	$	13,411,440

All stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized on a straight-line basis as expense over the employees’ requisite service period. Forfeitures will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment to stock-based compensation expense in the period forfeitures are incurred.

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

A summary of restricted stock unit awards activity under the Plan as of March 31, 2018 and changes during the three months then ended are as follows:


	Units	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (Per Unit)

Outstanding as of January 1, 2018	763,591	$	9.98
Granted	232,932		14.29
Forfeited	(77,172)		12.19
Outstanding as of March 31, 2018	919,351	$	10.82

Aggregate stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures, were $0.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and are included as a component of salaries, wages and employee benefits on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of March 31, 2018, there was $6.5 million and $8.8 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock units, respectively. This expense will be recognized over the weighted average periods of 4.1 years for stock options and 4.4 years for restricted stock units.

NOTE 14 – DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

On January 1, 2015, the Company established the Daseke, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan (the Retirement Plan). The Retirement Plan is a defined contribution plan and intended to qualify under The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) provisions of 401(k). Under the safe harbor matching requirements, the Company had expenses of $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company sponsors defined contribution profit-sharing plans, including 401(k) provisions for substantially all employees of acquired companies whose plans have not been merged into the Retirement Plan at March 31, 2018. Matching contributions for 401(k) defined contribution plans not yet merged into the Retirement Plan totaled approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, with no such contributions for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

NOTE 15 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Leases

The Company leases certain office building facilities, terminal locations and revenue equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Certain of the Company’s operating lease agreements contain provisions for future rent increases, free rent periods or periods in which rent payments are reduced (abated). The total amount of rent payments due over the lease terms are charged to rent expense on the straight-line, undiscounted method over the lease terms. Building and terminal rent expense under operating leases was $2.7 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Tractor, trailer and other revenue equipment rent expense under operating leases was $4.4 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Letters of Credit

The Company had outstanding letters of credit at March 31, 2018 totaling approximately $10.6 million, including those disclosed in Note 10. These letters of credit cover liability insurance claims.

Contingencies

The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising in the normal course of business. These proceedings primarily involve claims for personal injury or property damage incurred in the transportation of freight or for personnel matters. The Company maintains liability insurance to cover liabilities arising from these matters but is responsible to pay self-insurance and deductibles on such matters up to a certain threshold before the insurance is applied.

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DASEKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 16 – REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

The Company evaluates the performance of the segments primarily based on their respective revenues and operating income. Accordingly, interest expense and other non-operating items are not reported in segment results. In addition, the Company has disclosed a corporate segment, which is not an operating segment and includes acquisition transaction expenses, corporate salaries, interest expense and other corporate administrative expenses and intersegment eliminations.

The Company’s operating segments also provide transportation and related services for one another. Such services are generally billed at cost, and no profit is earned. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated results. Intersegment revenues and expenses for the Flatbed Solutions segment totaled $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Intersegment revenues and expenses for the Specialized Solutions segment totaled $1.5 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The following tables reflect certain financial data of the Company’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):


	Flatbed		Specialized
	Solutions		Solutions		Corporate/		Consolidated
	Segment		Segment		Eliminations		Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Total revenue	$	145,008	$	184,888	$	(2,315)	$	327,581
Operating income (loss)		6,963		5,145		(4,351)		7,757
Depreciation		6,943		16,313		31		23,287
Amortization of intangible assets		437		1,458		—		1,895
Interest expense		1,848		2,505		5,984		10,337
Income (loss) before income tax		5,196		3,625		(10,000)		(1,179)
Total assets		378,554		672,480		159,360		1,210,394
Capital expenditures		531		6,858		191		7,580

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Total revenue	$	81,304	$	80,673	$	(1,543)	$	160,434
Operating income (loss)		3,879		1,007		(5,735)		(849)
Depreciation		7,083		7,751		39		14,873
Amortization of intangible assets		437		1,005		—		1,442
Interest expense		1,764		1,856		2,276		5,896
Income (loss) before income tax		2,105		(909)		(11,712)		(10,516)
Total assets		281,800		281,666		37,584		601,050
Capital expenditures		86		1,384		24		1,494

NOTE 17 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 13, 2018, the Company entered into an Arrangement Agreement (the Agreement) with Aveda Transportation and Energy Services Inc., a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada (Aveda). Pursuant to the Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, among other things, the Company has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Aveda, and each of the holders of Aveda common shares (other than those who have properly exercised their rights of dissent) will receive, at the holder’s election, C$0.90 in cash, 0.0751 shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof in exchange for each Aveda common share. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay to the holders of Aveda common shares (other than those who have properly exercised their rights of dissent) up to C$0.45 in cash per Aveda common share, which amount is contingent on and based upon Aveda’s Company EBITDA (as defined in the Agreement) meeting certain thresholds set forth in the Agreement during the period specified in the Agreement. Consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement is subject to certain closing conditions, including, among others, approval by Aveda’s shareholders, approval by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and certain third party consents.

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

Overview

Daseke, Inc. is a leading provider and consolidator of transportation and logistics solutions focused exclusively on flatbed and specialized freight in North America. The transportation and logistics market is one of the largest industries in the United States. The flatbed and specialized freight market represented an approximately $133 billion subset of the broader transportation and logistics market in 2016. The United States flatbed and specialized freight market is expected to grow to approximately $150 billion in 2017‑2018 and to approximately $174 billion in 2019.

The Company believes it provides one of the most comprehensive transportation and logistics solution offerings in the open deck industry. The Company delivers a diverse offering of transportation and logistics solutions to approximately 5,400 customers across the continental United States, Canada and Mexico through two reportable segments: Flatbed Solutions and Specialized Solutions. The Flatbed Solutions segment focuses on delivering transportation and logistics solutions that principally require the use of flatbed and retractable-sided transportation equipment, and the Specialized Solutions segment focuses on delivering transportation and logistics solutions that principally include super heavy haul, high-value customized, over-dimensional, commercial glass and high security cargo solutions.

Both of the Company’s reportable segments operate highly flexible business models comprised of company-owned tractors and asset-light operations (which consist of owner-operator transportation, freight brokerage and logistic). The Company’s asset-based operations have the benefit of providing shippers with certainty of delivery and continuity of operations. Alternatively, the Company’s asset-light operations offer flexibility and scalability to meet customers’ dynamic needs and have lower capital expenditure requirements and fixed costs. Approximately 49% of freight, logistics and brokerage revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was derived from company-owned equipment and approximately 51% was derived from asset-light services.

Business Combination and Other Recent Developments

On February 27, 2017, Hennessy consummated the merger of Hennessy’s wholly-owned subsidiary with and into Private Daseke, with Private Daseke surviving as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Hennessy. The aggregate consideration received by Private Daseke stockholders upon closing was $266.7 million, consisting of newly issued shares of common stock at a value of $10.00 per share. The Merger Agreement contains an earn-out provision through which Private Daseke stockholders could receive up to 15 million additional shares of common stock (with up to 5 million shares payable annually with respect to 2017, 2018 and 2019 performance). For the year ended December 31, 2017, Daseke met the earn-out provision and it is expected 5 million shares will be issued to the Private Daseke stockholders in the second quarter of 2018. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Business Combination.

How The Company Evaluates Its Operations

The Company uses a number of primary indicators to monitor its revenue and expense performance and efficiency, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, free cash flow and adjusted operating ratio, and its key drivers of revenue quality, growth, expense control and operating efficiency. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, free cash flow and Adjusted operating ratio are not recognized measures under GAAP and should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, operating income, operating ratio, operating margin or any other measure derived in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information on the Company’s use of these non-GAAP measures, as well as a description of the computation and reconciliation of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR and free cash flow to net income (loss) and adjusted operating ratio to operating ratio.

Revenue

The Company records four types of revenue: freight, brokerage, logistics and fuel surcharge. Freight revenue is generated by hauling freight for the Company’s customers using its trucks or its owner-operators’ equipment. Generally, the Company’s customers pay for its services based on the number of miles in the most direct route between pick-up and delivery locations and other ancillary services the Company provides. Freight revenue is the product of the number of revenue-generating miles driven and the rate per mile the Company receives from customers plus accessorial charges, such as loading and unloading freight for its customers, cargo protection, fees for detaining its equipment or fees for route planning and supervision. Freight revenue is affected by fluctuations in North American economic activity as well as changes in specific customer demand, the level of capacity in the industry and driver availability.

The Company’s brokerage revenue is generated primarily by its use of third-party carriers when it needs capacity to move its customers’ loads. The main factor that affects brokerage revenue is the availability of the Company’s drivers and owner-operators (and hence the need for third-party carriers) and the rate for the load. Brokerage revenue is also affected by fluctuations in North American economic activity as well as changes in the level of capacity in the industry and driver availability.

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Logistics revenue is generated from a range of services, including vehicle maintenance and repair, fuel management services, value-added warehousing and packaging, and other fleet management solutions. Logistics revenue is primarily driven by specific customer requirements for additional services and may fluctuate depending on customers’ utilization of these services due to changes in cargo specifications, delivery staging and fluctuations in the North American economic activity.

Fuel surcharges are designed to compensate the Company for fuel costs above a certain cost per gallon base. Generally, the Company receives fuel surcharges on the miles for which it is compensated by customers. However, the Company continues to have exposure to increasing fuel costs related to empty miles, fuel efficiency due to engine idle time and other factors and to the extent the surcharge paid by the customer is insufficient. The main factors that affect fuel surcharge revenue are the price of diesel fuel and the number of loaded miles. In general, a declining energy and fuel price environment, such as in 2015 and most of 2016, negatively affects the Company’s fuel surcharge revenues, and conversely, an environment with rising fuel and energy prices benefits its fuel surcharge revenues. Although the Company’s surcharge programs vary by customer, they typically involve a computation based on the change in national or regional fuel prices. The Company’s fuel surcharges are billed on a lagging basis, meaning it typically bills customers in the current week based on a previous week’s applicable index. Therefore, in times of increasing fuel prices, the Company does not recover as much as it is currently paying for fuel. In periods of declining prices, the opposite is true. Also, its fuel surcharge programs typically require a specified minimum change in fuel cost to prompt a change in fuel surcharge revenue. Therefore, many of these programs have a time lag between when fuel costs change and when the change is reflected in fuel surcharge revenue.

Expenses

The Company’s most significant expenses vary with miles traveled and include driver wages, services purchased from owner-operators and other transportation providers (which are recorded on the “Purchased freight” line of the Company’s consolidated statements of operations) and fuel. Although driver-related expenses vary with miles traveled, the Company currently expects that its expenses relating to driver wages, as a percentage of operating revenues, will increase in the near-term, with or without changes in total miles, due to expected increases in average driver wages paid per mile in the general trucking industry. The expected increases in driver wages per mile are due to current market conditions caused by a lack of qualified drivers in the industry.

Maintenance and tire expenses and cost of insurance and claims generally vary with the miles the Company travels but also have a controllable component based on safety improvements, fleet age, efficiency and other factors. The Company’s primary fixed costs are depreciation of long-term assets (such as tractors, trailers and terminals), interest expense, rent and non-driver compensation.

The Company’s fuel surcharge programs help to offset increases in fuel prices but typically do not offset empty miles, idle time and out of route miles driven. As discussed above under “Revenue,” its fuel surcharge programs have a time lag between when fuel costs change and when the change is reflected in fuel surcharge revenue. Due to this time lag, the Company’s fuel expense, net of fuel surcharge, negatively impacts its operating income during periods of sharply rising fuel costs and positively impacts its operating income during periods of falling fuel costs. In general, due to the fuel surcharge programs, its operating income is less negatively affected by an environment with higher, stable fuel prices than an environment with lower fuel prices. In addition to its fuel surcharge programs, the Company believes the most effective protection against fuel cost increases is to maintain a fuel-efficient fleet by incorporating fuel efficiency measures. Also, the Company has arrangements with some of its significant fuel suppliers to buy the majority of its fuel at contracted pricing schedules that fluctuate with the market price of diesel fuel. The Company has not used derivatives as a hedge against higher fuel costs in the past but continues to evaluate this possibility.

Factors Affecting the Comparability of the Company’s Financial Results

Acquisitions

The comparability of the Company’s results of operations among the periods presented is impacted by the acquisitions listed below. Also, as a result of the below acquisitions, the Company’s historical results of operations may not be comparable or indicative of future results.

Belmont Acquisition – Effective December 29, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Belmont, based in Olympia, Washington as a dedicated glass hauler that will complement the Company’s existing glass hauling capabilities. Belmont was consolidated under the Company’s subsidiary, Smokey Point Distributing, which is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

Moore Freight Services Acquisition – Effective December 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Moore Freight Services to expand its capabilities as a commercial sheet glass carrier. Moore Freight Services is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

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Roadmaster Group Acquisition – Effective December 1, 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Roadmaster Group to expand its capabilities as a market leader in high security cargo. Roadmaster Group is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

R&R Acquisition – Effective September 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of R&R, based in Duenweg, Missouri to expand its capabilities to include government and commercial arms, ammunitions and explosives. R&R is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

Steelman Acquisition – Effective July 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Steelman, based in Springfield, Missouri to expand its presence in the Midwestern United States and in both the power sports and heavy haul industries. Steelman is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

Schilli Acquisition – Effective May 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Schilli, based in Remington, Indiana to expand its presence in the Midwestern United States. Schilli is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

Big Freight Acquisition - Effective May 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Big Freight, based in Steinbach, Manitoba to expand its presence into Canada and the power sports industry. Big Fright is part of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

The Company refers to these acquisitions collectively as the “Specialized Solutions Acquisitions.”

Tennessee Steel Haulers Acquisition – Effective December 1, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of TSH & Co. to expand its presence on the East Coast and in the Southeastern United States in both the steel and building materials industries. TSH & Co. is part of the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment.

The Company refers to all 2017 acquisitions collectively as the “Recent Acquisitions.”

The Company did not complete any acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Business Combination

The Company’s historical results of operations may not be comparable or indicative of results after the consummation of the Business Combination as a result of the following:

Transaction Costs. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company expensed $1.6 million of transaction costs related to the Business Combination. There were no such expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Deferred Financing Fees. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company expensed $3.9 million of unamortized deferred financing fees associated with debt refinanced in conjunction with the Business Combination. There were no such expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth items derived from the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 in dollars and as a percentage of total revenue and the increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items.


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017			Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in thousands)	$		%	$		%	$		%

REVENUE:
Freight	$	240,071	73.3	$	125,555	78.3	$	114,516	91.2
Brokerage		46,139	14.1		20,869	13.0		25,270	121.1
Logistics		10,717	3.3		—	*		10,717	*
Fuel surcharge		30,654	9.4		14,010	8.7		16,644	118.8
Total revenue		327,581	100.0		160,434	100.0		167,147	104.2

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		82,344	25.1		50,121	31.2		32,223	64.3
Fuel		33,376	10.2		19,223	12.0		14,153	73.6
Operations and maintenance		34,563	10.6		23,224	14.5		11,339	48.8
Communications		699	0.2		404	0.3		295	73.0
Purchased freight		117,724	35.9		37,586	23.4		80,138	213.2
Administrative expenses		12,137	3.7		7,378	4.6		4,759	64.5
Sales and marketing		636	0.2		383	0.2		253	66.1
Taxes and licenses		3,694	1.1		2,281	1.4		1,413	61.9
Insurance and claims		9,184	2.8		4,123	2.6		5,061	122.8
Acquisition-related transaction expenses		440	0.1		445	0.3		(5)	(1.1)
Depreciation and amortization		25,182	7.7		16,315	10.2		8,867	54.3
Gain on disposition of revenue property and equipment		(155)	*		(200)	(0.1)		45	(22.5)
Total operating expenses		319,824	97.6		161,283	100.5		158,541	98.3
Operating ratio		97.6%			100.5%
Adjusted operating ratio(1)		95.8%			98.1%
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS		7,757	2.4		(849)	(0.5)		8,606	(1,013.7)

Other expense (income):
Interest income		(442)	(0.1)		(4)	*		(438)	10,950.0
Interest expense		10,337	3.2		5,896	3.7		4,441	75.3
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees		—	*		3,883	2.4		(3,883)	*
Other		(959)	(0.3)		(108)	(0.1)		(851)	788.0
Total other expense		8,936	2.7		9,667	6.0		(731)	(7.6)

Loss before benefit for income taxes		(1,179)	(0.4)		(10,516)	(6.6)		9,337	(88.8)
Benefit for income taxes		(382)	(0.1)		(2,770)	(1.7)		2,388	(86.2)
Net loss	$	(797)	(0.2)	$	(7,746)	(4.8)	$	6,949	(89.7)

*indicates not meaningful.

(1)

Adjusted operating ratio is not a recognized measure under GAAP. For a definition of adjusted operating ratio and reconciliation of adjusted operating ratio to operating ratio, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

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The following table sets forth the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s revenue, operating expenses, operating ratio, adjusted operating ratio and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 in dollars and as a percentage of its Flatbed Solutions segment’s total revenue and the increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items. The following table also sets forth certain operating statistics for the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

FLATBED SOLUTIONS


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017			Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in thousands)	$		%	$		%	$		%

REVENUE(1):
Freight	$	104,513	72.1	$	63,975	78.7	$	40,538	63.4
Brokerage		22,998	15.9		9,098	11.2		13,900	152.8
Logistics		713	0.5		—	*		713	*
Fuel surcharge		16,784	11.6		8,231	10.1		8,553	103.9
Total revenue		145,008	100.0		81,304	100.0		63,704	78.4

OPERATING EXPENSES(1):
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		26,811	18.5		23,829	29.3		2,982	12.5
Fuel		11,833	8.2		10,421	12.8		1,412	13.5
Operations and maintenance		10,839	7.5		8,917	11.0		1,922	21.6
Purchased freight		72,342	49.9		21,450	26.4		50,892	237.3
Depreciation and amortization		7,380	5.1		7,520	9.2		(140)	(1.9)
Other operating expenses		8,840	6.1		5,288	6.5		3,552	67.2
Total operating expenses		138,045	95.2		77,425	95.2		60,620	78.3
Operating ratio		95.2%			95.2%
Adjusted operating ratio(2)		94.2%			92.9%
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	$	6,963	4.8	$	3,879	4.8	$	3,084	79.5

OPERATING STATISTICS:
Total miles		57,858,785			37,440,887			20,417,898	54.5
Company-operated tractors, at quarter-end		1,128			1,177			(49)	(4.2)
Owner-operated tractors, at quarter-end		1,510			445			1,065	239.3
Number of trailers, at quarter-end		4,536			2,936			1,600	54.5

Company-operated tractors, average for the quarter		1,147			1,187			(40)	(3.4)
Owner-operated tractors, average for the quarter		1,430			432			998	231.0

*indicates not meaningful.

(1)

Includes intersegment revenues and expenses, as applicable, which are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated results.

(2)

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The following table sets forth the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s revenue, operating expenses, operating ratio, adjusted operating ratio and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 in dollars and as a percentage of its Specialized Solutions segment’s total revenue and the increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items. The following table also sets forth certain operating statistics for the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

SPECIALIZED SOLUTIONS


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017			Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in thousands)	$		%	$		%	$		%

REVENUE(1):
Freight	$	137,509	74.4	$	62,974	78.1	$	74,535	118.4
Brokerage		23,191	12.5		11,771	14.6		11,420	97.0
Logistics		10,036	5.4		—	*		10,036	*
Fuel surcharge		14,152	7.7		5,928	7.3		8,224	138.7
Total revenue		184,888	100.0		80,673	100.0		104,215	129.2

OPERATING EXPENSES(1):
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		55,973	30.3		25,394	31.5		30,579	120.4
Fuel		21,543	11.7		8,802	10.9		12,741	144.8
Operations and maintenance		23,575	12.8		14,047	17.4		9,528	67.8
Purchased freight		47,661	25.8		17,679	21.9		29,982	169.6
Depreciation and amortization		17,771	9.6		8,756	10.9		9,015	103.0
Other operating expenses		13,220	7.2		4,988	6.2		8,232	165.0
Total operating expenses		179,743	97.2		79,666	98.8		100,077	125.6
Operating ratio		97.2%			98.8%
Adjusted operating ratio(2)		94.8%			98.2%
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	$	5,145	2.8	$	1,007	1.2	$	4,138	410.9

OPERATING STATISTICS:
Total miles		51,473,154			24,639,862			26,833,292	108.9
Company-operated tractors, at quarter-end		2,021			1,091			930	85.2
Owner-operated tractors, at quarter-end		552			215			337	156.7
Number of trailers, at quarter-end		7,147			3,387			3,760	111.0

Company-operated tractors, average for the quarter		2,032			1,095			937	85.6
Owner-operated tractors, average for the quarter		553			214			339	158.4

*indicates not meaningful.

(1)

Includes intersegment revenues and expenses, as applicable, which are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated results.

(2)

Revenue. Total revenue increased 104.2% to $327.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $160.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the Recent Acquisitions. The increase in total revenue, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, was an increase of $15.3 million, or 9.5%, due to increases in freight revenue, fuel surcharge and brokerage revenue. Freight revenue, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, increased $8.0 million, or 6.4%, from $125.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $133.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Brokerage revenue, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, increased $2.2 million, or 10.3%, from $20.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $23.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increases in freight and brokerage revenue were primarily as a result of increases in rates, slightly offset by 1.4 million fewer miles driven when compared to the same period in 2017, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions. Fuel surcharges, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, increased $4.7 million, or 33.6%, from $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $18.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s revenue was $145.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $81.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 78.4%, which was primarily the result of the TSH & Co. Acquisition. The increase in revenue, excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition was 9.0%, or $7.3 million, due to increases in freight revenue, fuel surcharge and brokerage revenue. Freight revenue, excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, increased to $68.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $64.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 6.5%. Brokerage revenue, excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, increased to $9.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $9.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 4.3%. The increases in freight and brokerage revenue were primarily as a result of increases in rates, slightly offset by 1.2 million fewer miles driven when compared to the same period in 2017, excluding the effect of the

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TSH & Co. Acquisition. Fuel surcharges, excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, increased to $11.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 33.5%.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s revenue was $184.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $80.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 129.2%, which was primarily due to the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. The increase in revenue, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, was an increase of $8.8 million, or 10.9%, primarily due to increases in freight revenue, fuel surcharge and brokerage revenues. Freight revenue, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, increased to $67.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $63.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 7.0%. Brokerage revenue, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, increased to $13.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $11.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 15.3%. The increases in freight and brokerage revenue were primarily as a result of increases in rates, while miles driven were relatively flat when compared to the same period in 2017, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. Fuel surcharges, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, increased to $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 35.0%.

In both segments, the increase in fuel surcharge revenue was the result of increases in fuel prices. Fuel prices have steadily increased each quarter from the first quarter of 2017 through the first quarter of 2018 with only a less than 1% decrease in fuel prices in the second quarter of 2017.

Salaries, Wages and Employee Benefits. Salaries, wages and employee benefits expense, which consists of compensation for all employees, is primarily affected by the number of miles driven by company drivers, the rate per mile paid to company drivers, employee benefits including, but not limited to, health care and workers’ compensation, and to a lesser extent, the number of, and compensation and benefits paid to, non-driver employees. In general, the Specialized Solutions segment drivers receive a higher driver pay per total mile than Flatbed Solutions segment drivers due to the former requiring a higher level of training and expertise.

Salaries, wages and employee benefits expense increased 64.3% to $82.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $50.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the Recent Acquisitions. The increase in salaries, wages and employee benefits expense, excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, was 2.2%, or $1.1 million, and was primarily due to increased driver compensation, stock-based compensation and workers’ compensation premiums, offset by a decrease in employee benefits.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment had a $3.0 million, or 12.5%, increase in salaries, wages and employee benefits expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, which resulted in a $2.7 million increase. Excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, salaries, wages and employee benefit expense was relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment had a $30.6 million, or 120.4%, increase in salaries, wages and employee benefits expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. This increase, excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, was 8.3%, or $2.1 million, and was primarily due to increased driver compensation, stock-based compensation, workers’ compensation premiums and employee benefits.

Fuel. Fuel expense consists primarily of diesel fuel expense for company-owned tractors and fuel taxes. The primary factors affecting fuel expense are the cost of diesel fuel, the miles per gallon realized with company equipment and the number of miles driven by company drivers.

Total fuel expense increased $14.2 million, or 73.6%, to $33.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $19.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. This increase was primarily a result of the Recent Acquisitions and higher fuel prices. Excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, fuel expense increased 18.0%, or $3.5 million. The U.S. national average diesel fuel price, as published by the U.S. Department of Energy, was $3.017 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $2.568 for the same period in 2017, a 17.5% increase. The higher fuel prices were slightly offset by total miles driven. Total miles driven, excluding the Recent Acquisitions, decreased 2.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s fuel expense increased 13.5% to $11.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of higher fuel prices. The TSH & Co. Acquisition did not materially impact fuel expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The higher fuel prices were slightly offset by total miles driven. Total miles driven for the Flatbed segment, excluding the TSH & Co. Acquisition, decreased 3.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s fuel expense increased 144.8% to $21.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $8.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as the result of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions and higher fuel prices. Excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, fuel expense in the Specialized Solutions segment increased

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23.7% to $10.9 million as a result of higher fuel prices. Total miles driven for the Specialized Solutions segment, excluding the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, were relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Operations and Maintenance. Operations and maintenance expense consists primarily of ordinary vehicle repairs and maintenance, costs associated with preparing tractors and trailers for sale or trade-in, driver recruiting, training and safety costs, permitting and pilot car fees and other general operations expenses. Operations and maintenance expense is primarily affected by the age of company-owned tractors and trailers, the number of miles driven in a period and driver turnover.

Operations and maintenance expense increased 48.8% to $34.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $23.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the Recent Acquisitions. Operating and maintenance expense increased 5.7%, after adjusting for the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, primarily as a result of an increase in maintenance expense, related to normal replacement cycles of our tractors and trailers, and additional pilot cars expense.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s operations and maintenance expense increased $1.9 million, or 21.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the TSH & Co. Acquisition. Excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, operations and maintenance expense increased $0.6 million, or 7.2%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of an increase in maintenance expense, due to normal replacement cycles of our tractors and trailers, partially offset by decreased tractor lease costs as the Flatbed Solutions segment’s utilization of operating leases to finance tractor purchases decreased in 2018.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s operations and maintenance expense increased $9.6 million, or 67.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. Excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, operations and maintenance expense increased $0.8 million, or 5.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to higher pilot car expenses for alternative energy projects and other over-dimension loads, increased maintenance expense, due to normal replacement cycles of our tractors and trailers, and increased tractor lease costs as the Specialized Solutions segment’s utilization of operating leases to finance tractor purchases increased in 2018. These increases were partially offset by reduced shop supplies costs.

Purchased Freight. Purchased freight expense consists of the payments to owner-operators, including fuel surcharge reimbursements, and payments to third-party capacity providers that haul loads brokered to them. Purchased freight expense generally takes into account changes in diesel fuel prices, resulting in lower payments during periods of declining fuel prices.

Total purchased freight expense increased 213.2% from $37.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $117.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily as a result of the Recent Acquisitions. Excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions on purchased freight expense, total purchased freight expense increased 14.9% to $43.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Purchased freight expense from owner-operators, excluding the Recent Acquisitions, increased 16.0% from $22.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $26.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily as a result of increases in fuel surcharge reimbursements made to owner-operators as a result of higher fuel prices. Purchased freight expense from third-party capacity providers, excluding the Recent Acquisitions, increased 17.5% from $14.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $16.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily as a result of the increase in rates on brokered loads.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s purchased freight expense increased 237.3% to $72.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $21.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, which resulted in a $46.4 million increase to purchased freight expense. Excluding the effect of the TSH & Co. Acquisition, the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s purchased freight expense increased 20.7% to $25.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to increases in total loads requiring higher utilization of owner-operators and third party capacity providers in the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment. Purchased freight expense from owner-operators, excluding the TSH & Co. Acquisition, increased 24.6% to $18.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Purchased freight expense from third-party capacity providers, excluding the TSH & Co. Acquisition, increased 13.8% to $6.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $5.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the increase in rates on brokered loads in the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s purchased freight expense increased 169.6% to $47.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $17.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. Excluding the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions on purchased freight expense, total purchased freight expense increased 10.8% to $19.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Purchased freight expense from owner-operators, excluding the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, was relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2018 when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. Purchased freight expense from third-party capacity providers, excluding the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions,

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increased 19.6% to $10.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $8.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the increase in rates on brokered loads in the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense consists primarily of depreciation for company-owned tractors and trailers or amortization of those financed with capital leases. The primary factors affecting these expense items include the size and age of company-owned tractors and trailers and the cost of new equipment.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 54.3% to $25.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $16.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as a result of the Recent Acquisitions. After adjusting for the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, depreciation and amortization expense decreased 3.4%, primarily as a result of an increasing shift in utilization of operating leases to finance capital expenditures.

The Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment had a 1.9% decrease in depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. Excluding the TSH & Co. Acquisition, depreciation and amortization expense during the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased 5.4% primarily as a result of a 4.5% reduction in company-owned tractors and a 6.2% reduction in trailers, respectively, as compared to the same period in 2017.

The Company’s Specialized Solutions segment had a 103.0% increase in depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017 as a result of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions. After adjusting for the effect of the Specialized Solutions Acquisitions, depreciation and amortization expense decreased 1.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of an increasing shift in utilization of operating leases to finance capital expenditures.

Taxes and Licenses. Operating taxes and licenses expense primarily represents the costs of taxes and licenses associated with the Company’s fleet of equipment and will vary according to the size of its equipment fleet. Taxes and license expense increased from $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, operating taxes and license expense, as a percentage of revenue, was 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Insurance and Claims. Insurance and claims expense consists of insurance premiums and the accruals the Company makes for estimated payments and expenses for claims for bodily injury, property damage, cargo damage and other casualty events. The primary factors affecting the Company’s insurance and claims expense are seasonality (the Company typically experiences higher accident frequency in winter months), the frequency and severity of accidents, trends in the development factors used in its accruals and developments in large, prior-year claims. The frequency of accidents tends to increase with the miles the Company travels. Insurance and claims expense increased 122.8% to $9.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $4.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the Recent Acquisitions. Excluding the effect of the Recent Acquisitions, insurance and claims, as a percentage of revenue, increased from 2.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 3.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to increases in claim accruals and liability premiums.

Interest Expense. Interest expense consists of cash interest, non-cash paid-in-kind interest, amortization of related issuance costs and fees and prepayment penalties. Interest expense increased 5.1% to $10.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $9.8 million (including $3.9 million of unamortized deferred financing fees written off) during the three months ended March 31, 2017. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in amortization of debt issuance costs and higher interest rates on the Term Loan Facility as compared to debt outstanding in 2017 under the Senior Term Loan and Equipment Term Loans.

Income Tax. Benefit for income taxes decreased from a benefit of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to a benefit of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease is primarily the result of the decrease in loss before benefit for income tax of $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The effective tax rate was 32.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 26.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The effective income tax rate varies from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes and the impact of nondeductible permanent differences, including driver per diems and transaction expenses.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR and Free Cash Flow

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR and free cash flow are not recognized measures under GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP measures as supplements to its GAAP results in evaluating certain aspects of its business, as described below.

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The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) interest expense, including other fees and charges associated with indebtedness, net of interest income, (iii) income taxes, (iv) acquisition-related transaction expenses (including due diligence costs, legal, accounting and other advisory fees and costs, retention and severance payments and financing fees and expenses), (v) non-cash impairment, (vi) expenses related to the Business Combination and related transactions, (vii) non-cash stock and equity-compensation expense, and (viii) accounting charges resulting from accounting for the possible earn-out pursuant to the Business Combination. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDAR as Adjusted EBITDA plus tractor operating lease charges.

The Company’s board of directors and executive management team use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR as key measures of its performance and for business planning. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR assist them in comparing its operating performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis because they remove from the Company’s operating results the impact of items that, in their opinion, do not reflect the Company’s core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR also allow the Company to more effectively evaluate its operating performance by allowing it to compare the results of operations against its peers without regard to its or its peers’ financing method or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDAR is used to view operating results before lease charges as these charges can vary widely among trucking companies due to differences in the way that trucking companies finance their fleet acquisitions. The Company’s method of computing Adjusted EBITDA is substantially consistent with that used in its debt covenants and also is routinely reviewed by its management for that purpose.

The Company believes its presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR is useful because they provide investors and industry analysts the same information that the Company uses internally for purposes of assessing its core operating performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are not substitutes for, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, operating income or any other measure prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital, tax structure and the historic costs of depreciable assets. Also, other companies in its industry may define Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR differently than the Company does, and as a result, it may be difficult to use Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR or similarly named non-GAAP measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to its performance. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR should not be considered measures of the income generated by the Company’s business or discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of its business. The Company’s management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on the Company’s GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR supplementally.

The Company defines free cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA less net capital expenditures (capital expenditures less proceeds from equipment sales). Its board of directors and executive management team use free cash flow to assess its performance and ability to fund operations and make additional investments. Free cash flow represents the cash that its business generates from operations, before taking into account cash movements that are non-operational. The Company believes its presentation of free cash flow is useful because it is one of several indicators of its ability to service debt, make investments and/or return capital to its stockholders. The Company also believes that free cash flow is one of several benchmarks used by investors and industry analysts for comparison of performance in its industry, although its measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Furthermore, free cash flow is not a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, operating income or any other measure prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow. Accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered a measure of the income generated by its business or discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of its business. The Company’s management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on the Company’s GAAP results and using free cash flow supplementally.

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A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR and free cash flow to net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017

Net loss	$	(797)	$	(7,746)
Depreciation and amortization		25,182		16,315
Interest income		(442)		(4)
Interest expense		10,337		5,896
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees		—		3,883
Income tax benefit		(382)		(2,770)
Acquisition-related transaction expenses		440		445
Stock based compensation		886		—
Expenses related to the Business Combination and related transactions		—		1,553
Tractor operating lease charges		4,543		3,812
Adjusted EBITDAR	$	39,767	$	21,384
Less tractor operating lease charges		(4,543)		(3,812)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	35,224	$	17,572
Net capital expenditures		(1,712)		(39)
Free cash flow	$	33,512	$	17,533

Adjusted Operating Ratio

Adjusted operating ratio is not a recognized measure under GAAP. The Company uses adjusted operating ratio as a supplement to its GAAP results in evaluating certain aspects of its business, as described below. The Company defines adjusted operating ratio as (a) total operating expenses (i) less fuel surcharges, acquisition-related transaction expenses, non-cash impairment charges and initial public offering-related expenses (which offering Private Daseke withdrew at the end of 2015) and (ii) further adjusted for the net impact of the step-up in basis resulting from acquisitions (such as increased depreciation and amortization expense), as a percentage of (b) total revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue.

The Company’s board of directors and executive management team view adjusted operating ratio, and its key drivers of revenue quality, growth, expense control and operating efficiency, as a very important measure of the Company’s performance. The Company believes fuel surcharge is often volatile and eliminating the impact of this source of revenue (by eliminating fuel surcharge from revenue and by netting fuel surcharge against fuel expense) affords a more consistent basis for comparing its results of operations between periods. The Company also believes excluding acquisition-related transaction expenses, additional depreciation and amortization expenses as a result of acquisitions, non-cash impairment and withdrawn initial public offering-related expenses enhances the comparability of its performance between periods.

The Company believes its presentation of adjusted operating ratio is useful because it provides investors and industry analysts the same information that it uses internally for purposes of assessing its core operating profitability. However, adjusted operating ratio is not a substitute for, or more meaningful than, operating ratio, operating margin or any other measure derived solely from GAAP measures, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as adjusted operating ratio. Although the Company believes that adjusted operating ratio can make an evaluation of its operating performance more consistent because it removes items that, in its opinion, do not reflect its core operations, other companies in its industry may define adjusted operating ratio differently than it does. As a result, it may be difficult to use adjusted operating ratio or similarly named non-GAAP measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to the Company’s performance. The Company’s management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using adjusted operating ratio supplementally.

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A reconciliation of adjusted operating ratio to operating ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017

Total revenue	$	327,581	$	160,434
Fuel surcharge		30,654		14,010
Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge	$	296,927	$	146,424

Total operating expenses	$	319,824	$	161,283
Fuel surcharge		30,654		14,010
Acquisition-related transaction expenses		440		445
Expenses related to the Business Combination and related transactions		—		1,553
Net impact of step-up in basis of acquired assets		4,131		1,702
Adjusted operating expenses	$	284,599	$	143,573

Operating ratio		97.6%		100.5%
Adjusted operating ratio		95.8%		98.1%

A reconciliation of the Company’s Flatbed Solutions segment’s adjusted operating ratio to operating ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017

Total revenue(1)	$	145,008	$	81,304
Fuel surcharge		16,784		8,231
Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge	$	128,224	$	73,073

Total operating expenses	$	138,045	$	77,425
Fuel surcharge		16,784		8,231
Net impact of step-up in basis of acquired assets		451		1,332
Adjusted operating expenses	$	120,810	$	67,862

Operating ratio		95.2%		95.2%
Adjusted operating ratio		94.2%		92.9%

(1)

Includes intersegment revenues and expenses, as applicable, which are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated results.

A reconciliation of the Company’s Specialized Solutions segment’s adjusted operating ratio to Operating Ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017

Total revenue(1)	$	184,888	$	80,673
Fuel surcharge		14,152		5,928
Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge	$	170,736	$	74,745

Total operating expenses	$	179,743	$	79,666
Fuel surcharge		14,152		5,928
Net impact of step-up in basis of acquired assets		3,680		370
Adjusted operating expenses	$	161,911	$	73,368

Operating ratio		97.2%		98.8%
Adjusted operating ratio		94.8%		98.2%

(1)

Includes intersegment revenues and expenses, as applicable, which are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated results.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources and Capital Requirements

Overview

The Company’s business requires substantial amounts of cash to cover operating expenses as well as to fund items such as cash capital expenditures on its fleet and other assets, working capital changes, principal and interest payments on debt obligations, letters of credit to support insurance requirements, tax payments and acquisitions. The Company expects net capital expenditures to range from $85 million to $105 million for 2018.

The Company’s primary sources of liquidity have been provided by operations, issuances of capital stock and borrowings under its credit facility. In February 2018, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for its own account. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company, the Company received approximately $84.6 million of net proceeds from the offering, which the Company intends to use for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment or refinancing, and the financing of the previously disclosed acquisition of Aveda and other possible future acquisitions.

The Company has from time to time considered the possibility of a private offering of debt securities, which may be secured or unsecured, which would not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and which would be offered only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The proceeds of such an offering may be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of all or a portion of the Company’s term loan credit facility and to finance possible future acquisitions. Also, in connection with such offering, the Company’s credit facilities may be amended or refinanced. There can be no assurance that the Company will conduct or complete such a debt offering.

The Company had the following sources of liquidity available at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.


(In thousands)	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017

Cash	$	182,698	$	90,679
Availability under line of credit		63,300		55,500
Total	$	245,998	$	146,179

Cash increased by $92.0 million from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018. This increase primarily resulted from proceeds of equities issued. On February 20, 2018, the Company raised $84.6 million from an offering of 8,625,000 shares of its common stock. See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company has (i) a $500.0 million senior secured term loan credit facility, consisting of a $250.0 million term loan, a $150 million tack-on loan and $100.0 million of term loans funded under a delayed draw term loan facility, and (ii) an asset-based senior secured revolving credit facility with an aggregate maximum credit amount equal to $70.0 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base). The delayed draw term loans were used to support the Company’s acquisition activities. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility, the Senior Term Loan and the Line of Credit.

The Company believes it can finance its expected cash needs, including debt repayment, in the short-term with cash flows from operations and borrowings available under the ABL Facility. The Company expects that the Term Loan Facility and ABL Facility will provide sufficient credit availability to support its ongoing operations, fund its new debt service requirements, capital expenditures, and working capital needs. Over the long-term, the Company will continue to have significant capital requirements, and expects to devote substantial financial resources to grow its operations and fund its acquisition activities. As a result of these funding requirements, the Company likely will need to sell additional equity or debt securities or seek additional financing through additional borrowings, lease financing or equity capital. The availability of financing or equity capital will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations as well as prevailing market conditions. If such additional borrowings, lease financing or equity capital is not available at the time it needs to incur such expenditures, then the Company may be required to extend the maturity of then outstanding indebtedness, rely on alternative financing arrangements or engage in asset sales.

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Cash Flows

The Company’s summary statements of cash flows information for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is set forth in the table below:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	14,189	$	1,707
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(1,712)	$	(39)
Net cash provided by financing activities	$	79,528	$	33,186

Operating Activities. Cash provided by the Company’s operating activities consists of net income or loss adjusted for certain non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, deferred interest, gain/loss on disposal of property and equipment, deferred income taxes, deferred gain and interest recognized on sales-type leases, stock-based compensation, bad debt expense and the effect of changes in working capital and other activities.

Cash provided by operating activities was $14.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and consisted of $0.8 million of net loss plus $24.8 million of non-cash items, consisting primarily of depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation, less $9.8 million of net cash used for working capital and other activities. Cash used for working capital and other activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily reflect a $16.1 million increase in accounts receivable, a $2.3 million increase in prepaid and other current assets, offset by a $5.6 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and $3.0 million in payments received on sales-type leases. Cash provided by operating activities was $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and consisted of $7.7 million of net loss plus $17.2 million of non-cash items, consisting primarily of depreciation and amortization partially offset by increases in deferred taxes, less $7.8 million of net cash used for working capital and other activities. Cash used for working capital and other activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily reflect a $13.2 million increase in accounts receivable, $0.9 million in payments received on sales-type leases, and a $4.2 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

The $12.5 million increase in cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, was primarily the result of a $6.9 million decrease in net loss, a $2.6 million decrease in deferred tax liabilities, and a $8.4 million increase in depreciation. These amounts were offset by $3.9 million for the write-off of deferred financing fees during the three months ended March 31, 2017 which did not occur during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and a $2.0 million decrease in net cash used for working capital and other activities.

Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities increased from $39 thousand used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $1.7 million used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due to an increase in net purchases of revenue equipment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

Total net capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are shown below:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017

Revenue equipment (tractors, trailers and trailer accessories)	$	5,404	$	1,104
Buildings and building improvements		928		57
Other		1,248		333
Total cash capital expenditures	$	7,580	$	1,494
Less: Proceeds from sales of property and equipment		5,868		1,455
Net cash capital (proceeds) expenditures(1)	$	1,712	$	39

(1) The Company may acquire property and revenue equipment with debt and capital lease obligations, however no debt or capital lease obligations were utilized for property or revenue equipment acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.

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The following tables provide details on the cash and noncash components of gross capital expenditures for the Company’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):


	Flatbed		Specialized
	Solutions		Solutions		Corporate/		Consolidated
	Segment		Segment		Eliminations		Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment	$	531	$	6,858	$	191	$	7,580
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		(584)		(5,284)		—		(5,868)
Gross capital expenditures	$	(53)	$	1,574	$	191	$	1,712

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment	$	86	$	1,384	$	24	$	1,494
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		(458)		(997)		—		(1,455)
Gross capital expenditures	$	(372)	$	387	$	24	$	39

Financing Activities. Cash flows from financing activities increased from $33.2 million provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $79.5 million provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018. This increase was primarily a result of $84.6 million of proceeds from the February 2018 offering of common stock. Cash flows from financing activities also included $2.7 million net borrowings on the line of credit, offset by net repayments of $6.5 million of long-term debt and $1.2 million paid for Series A Preferred Stock dividends.

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Material Debt

Overview

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had the following material debt:

the Term Loan Facility and the ABL Facility;

secured equipment loans and capital lease agreements; and

bank mortgage secured by real estate

The amounts outstanding under such agreements were as follows as of March 31, 2018 (in thousands):


Line of credit	$	7,220
Term Loan Facility		497,216
Mortgages		3,609
Equipment term loans and capital leases		122,928
Total long-term debt and capital leases		630,973
Less: current portion		(43,625)
Long-term debt and capital leases, less current portion	$	587,348

See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Company’s material debt.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures and capital resources are not materially affected by off-balance sheet transactions. The Company had stand-by letters of credit in the amount of $10.6 million at March 31, 2018. The letters of credit provide collateral primarily for liability insurance claims. Also, the Company leases certain revenue equipment, terminals and office building facilities under non-cancelable operating leases. The Company’s rent expense under these leases for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was approximately $7.1 million.

At March 31, 2018, there were 17,520,329 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2018. The Company considers certain of these accounting policies to be “critical” to the portrayal of the Company’s financial position and results of operations, as they require the application of significant judgment by management. As a result, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. The Company identifies and discusses these “critical” accounting policies in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company’s Current report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2018. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those considered “critical.” Management has discussed the development, selection and evaluation of accounting estimates, including those deemed “critical,” and the associated disclosures in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Audit Committee of the Company’s board of directors.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk since December 31, 2017. For further information on the Company’s market risk, refer to “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2018.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported

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within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed, without limitation, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, the Company’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2018.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in litigation and claims primarily arising in the normal course of business, which include claims for personal injury or property damage incurred in the transportation of freight. Based on its knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, advice of outside counsel, the Company believes the resolution of claims and pending litigation, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risks facing the Company as described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2018.

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Item 6. Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

Exhibit

3.1	Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant on March 3, 2017).

3.2	Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-205152) filed by the registrant on June 22, 2015).

31.1*	Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*	Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1**	Chief Executive Officer certification under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2**	Chief Financial Officer certification under Section 906 of 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 Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

_____________________________

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, thereunto duly authorized.


Date: May 10, 2018	DASEKE, INC.

	By:	/s/ R. Scott Wheeler
	Name:	R. Scott Wheeler
	Title:	Director, President and Chief Financial Officer
		(On behalf of the Registrant and as the Registrant’s Principal Financial
		Officer)