UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Quarter ended March 31, 2009

 

Commission File Number 0-15010

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

129 Marten Street, Mondovi, Wisconsin 54755

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

715-926-4216

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 

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 x   No o

 

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 (Section 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 o   No o

 

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

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).  Yes o   No x

 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, was 21,868,260 as of May 6, 2009.

 

 

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

(In thousands, except share information)		March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	2,176		$	2,395
Marketable securities		14,849			2,604
Receivables:
Trade, net		46,433			50,143
Other		5,483			7,385
Prepaid expenses and other		11,583			13,705
Deferred income taxes		7,084			6,140
Total current assets		87,608			82,372
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other		459,589			451,172
Accumulated depreciation		(143,664		)	(136,871		)
Net property and equipment		315,925			314,301
Other assets		664			770
TOTAL ASSETS		$	404,197		$	397,443
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Checks issued in excess of cash balances		$	472		$	1,807
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		33,449			32,894
Insurance and claims accruals		21,720			21,386
Current maturities of long-term debt		1,428			1,428
Total current liabilities		57,069			57,515
Long-term debt, less current maturities		1,429			1,429
Deferred income taxes		83,698			81,048
Total liabilities		142,196			139,992
Stockholders’ equity:
Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		—			—
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 48,000,000 shares authorized; 21,852,228 shares at March 31, 2009, and 21,830,071 shares at December 31, 2008, issued and outstanding		219			218
Additional paid-in capital		75,619			75,305
Retained earnings		184,266			180,213
Total Marten Transport, Ltd. stockholders’ equity		260,104			255,736
Noncontrolling interest		1,897			1,715
Total stockholders’ equity		262,001			257,451
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	404,197		$	397,443

 

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

 

1

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share information)		2009			2008
OPERATING REVENUE		$	121,955		$	143,374
OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
Salaries, wages and benefits		36,102			36,682
Purchased transportation		22,752			28,004
Fuel and fuel taxes		21,866			41,929
Supplies and maintenance		9,818			9,332
Depreciation		13,433			11,962
Operating taxes and licenses		1,676			1,712
Insurance and claims		5,521			5,565
Communications and utilities		1,065			961
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(471		)	(1,059		)
Other		2,942			2,804
Total operating expenses		114,704			137,892
OPERATING INCOME		7,251			5,482
OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME):
Interest expense		64			534
Interest income		(33		)	(77		)
		31			457
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		7,220			5,025
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		116			380
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.		7,104			4,645
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		3,051			1,992
NET INCOME		$	4,053		$	2,653
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE		$	0.19		$	0.12
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE		$	0.18		$	0.12

 

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

 

2

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 (Unaudited)

 

		Marten Transport, Ltd. Stockholders														Total
							Additional						Non-			Stock-
		Common Stock					Paid-In			Retained			controlling			holders’
(In thousands)		Shares		Amount			Capital			Earnings			Interest			Equity
Balance at December 31, 2007		21,812		$	218		$	74,570		$	162,142		$	1,283		$	238,213
Net income		—		—			—			2,653			—			2,653
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(67	)	—			(810		)	—			—			(810		)
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises		17		—			82			—			—			82
Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		—		—			76			—			—			76
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		—		—			101			—			—			101
Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		—		—			—			—			380			380
Noncontrolling interest distributions and other, net		—		—			—			—			(24		)	(24		)
Balance at March 31, 2008		21,762		218			74,019			164,795			1,639			240,671
Net income		—		—			—			15,418			—			15,418
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises		68		—			274			—			—			274
Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		—		—			447			—			—			447
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		—		—			565			—			—			565
Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		—		—			—			—			740			740
Noncontrolling interest distributions and other, net		—		—			—			—			(664		)	(664		)
Balance at December 31, 2008		21,830		218			75,305			180,213			1,715			257,451
Net income		—		—			—			4,053			—			4,053
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises		22		1			87			—			—			88
Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		—		—			109			—			—			109
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		—		—			118			—			—			118
Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		—		—			—			—			116			116
Noncontrolling interest distributions and other, net		—		—			—			—			66			66
Balance at March 31, 2009		21,852		$	219		$	75,619		$	184,266		$	1,897		$	262,001

 

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

 

3

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2009			2008
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Operations:
Net income		$	4,053		$	2,653
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation		13,433			11,962
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		(471		)	(1,059		)
Deferred income taxes		1,706			(444		)
Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		109			76
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		(93		)	(61		)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense		118			101
Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of distributions and other		182			356
Changes in other current operating items:
Receivables		5,612			(3,565		)
Prepaid expenses and other		2,122			1,953
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		311			2,601
Other current liabilities		334			166
Net cash provided by operating activities		27,416			14,739
CASH FLOWS USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities		(34,977		)	—
Sales of marketable securities		22,732			30
Revenue equipment additions		(17,614		)	(8,729		)
Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions		4,775			7,763
Buildings and land, office equipment and other additions		(1,613		)	(437		)
Proceeds from buildings and land, office equipment and other dispositions		110			2
Net change in other assets		106			504
Net cash used for investing activities		(26,481		)	(867		)
CASH FLOWS USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises		88			82
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangement exercises		93			61
Change in net checks issued in excess of cash balances		(1,335		)	—
Borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt		—			37,209
Repayment of borrowings under credit facility and long-term debt		—			(51,466		)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		—			(810		)
Net cash used for financing activities		(1,154		)	(14,924		)
NET CHANGE IN CASH		(219		)	(1,052		)
CASH:
Beginning of period		2,395			3,618
End of period		$	2,176		$	2,566
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for:
Interest		$	64		$	544
Income taxes		$	1,454		$	2,669
Non-cash investing activities:
Change in revenue equipment not yet paid for		$	244		$	(2,412	)

 

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

 

4

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009

(Unaudited)

 

(1)   Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements, and therefore do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly present our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the results for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read with reference to the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of Marten Transport, Ltd., its subsidiaries and its 45% owned affiliate, MW Logistics, LLC (MWL).  MWL is a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry.  We have applied the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” as revised, to our investment in MWL.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  MWL has elected to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.  Consequently, federal income taxes are not payable by MWL.

 

(2)   Earnings Per Common Share

 

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

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2009			2008
Numerator:
Net income		$	4,053		$	2,653
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares		21,839			21,757
Effect of dilutive stock options		121			146
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions		21,960			21,903
Basic earnings per common share		$	0.19		$	0.12
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.18		$	0.12

 

5

 

Options totaling 422,600 and 256,000 shares were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008, respectively, primarily because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares.  The shares above include 99,500 shares for the 2009 period and 78,000 shares for the 2008 period of performance-based option awards for which the performance condition was not considered probable of achievement.

 

(3)  Income Taxes

 

Our reserves for unrecognized tax benefits were $143,000 as of March 31, 2009 and $131,000 as of December 31, 2008.  The $12,000 increase in the amount reserved in the first quarter of 2009 relates to current period tax positions.  If recognized, $93,000 of the unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2009 would impact our effective tax rate.  No potential interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were recognized in our financial statements as of March 31, 2009.  We do not expect the reserves for unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly within the next twelve months.

 

The federal statute of limitations remains open for 2005 and forward.  We file tax returns in numerous state jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations.

 

(4)  Accounting for Share-based Payment Arrangement Compensation

 

We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” as interpreted by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, there were no significant changes to the structure of our share-based payment arrangements.  Total pre-tax share-based compensation expense recorded in the first quarter of 2009 was $118,000 and in the first quarter of 2008 was $101,000.  See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed description of stock-based awards under our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and 1995 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(5)  Fair Value Measurements

 

In September, 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (SFAS 157).  This statement provides a single definition for fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Under SFAS 157, fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date.  SFAS 157 also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available.  Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources.  Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect a company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best information available in the circumstances.

 

6

 

The following table presents information about our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value.  The hierarchy is broken down into three levels.  Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  Level 2 inputs include data points that are observable such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than quoted prices) such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

 

		Asset Balance as			Fair Value Measurements Using:
(In thousands)		of March 31, 2009			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Marketable securities		$	14,849		$	14,849		$	—		$	—

 

Our investment in short-term marketable securities is in a mutual fund which is valued daily based upon quoted prices in an active market.

 

There were no fair value measurements with respect to nonfinancial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in our consolidated condensed financial statements as of March 31, 2009.

 

The carrying amounts of accounts receivable, direct financing leases receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.  The fair value of our total long-term debt is estimated to be $2.9 million at each of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.  The fair value was estimated by discounting future cash flows using a current borrowing rate for similar long-term debt instruments.

 

(6)  Business Segments

 

Our presentation includes two reportable segments — Truckload and Logistics.  The primary source of our operating revenue is truckload revenue, which we generate by transporting freight for our customers and report within our Truckload segment.  Generally, we are paid by the mile for our services.  We also derive truckload revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other ancillary services.

 

Our operating revenue also includes revenue reported within our Logistics segment, which consists of revenue from our internal brokerage and intermodal operations, both launched in 2005, and through our 45% interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry.  Brokerage services involve arranging for another company to transport freight for our customers while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.  Intermodal services involve the transport of our trailers on railroad flatcars for a portion of a trip, with the balance of the trip using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.

 

7

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment.  We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment.

 

		Three Months
		Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2009			2008
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		$	88,535		$	94,631
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		9,837			26,498
Total Truckload revenue		98,372			121,129
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue(1)		22,650			20,745
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		933			1,500
Total Logistics revenue		23,583			22,245
Total operating revenue		$	121,955		$	143,374
Operating income:
Truckload		$	5,833		$	3,727
Logistics		1,418			1,755
Total operating income		$	7,251		$	5,482
Operating ratio(2):
Truckload		94.1		%	96.9		%
Logistics		94.0			92.1
Consolidated operating ratio		94.1		%	96.2		%

 

(1)	Logistics revenue is net of $3.3 million and $4.3 million of inter-segment revenue in the first quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2008, respectively, for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL that have been eliminated in consolidation.
(2)	Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

 

(7)	Adoption of FASB Statement No. 160 – Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51

 

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51,” which requires retrospective application of the required presentation and disclosure resulting in the following reclassifications.  The noncontrolling interest balance of $1.7 million as of December 31, 2008 in our consolidated condensed balance sheets, the income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest balance of $380,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 in our consolidated condensed statements of operations, and the income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest and noncontrolling interest distributions and other, net balances of $356,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and $76,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 in our consolidated condensed statements of stockholders’ equity have been reclassified to be consistent with the current presentation.  These reclassifications do not have a material effect on our consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

8

 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the selected consolidated financial data and our consolidated condensed financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those included in our Form 10-K, Part I, Item 1A for the year ended December 31, 2008.  We do not assume, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this report.

 

Overview

 

The primary source of our operating revenue is truckload revenue, which we generate by transporting long-haul and regional freight for our customers and report within our Truckload segment.  Generally, we are paid by the mile for our services.  We also derive truckload revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other ancillary services.  The main factors that affect our truckload revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated and the number of miles we generate with our equipment.  We monitor our revenue production primarily through average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week.  We also analyze our average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

 

Our operating revenue also includes revenue reported within our Logistics segment, which consists of revenue from our internal brokerage and intermodal operations, both launched in 2005, and through our 45% interest in MWL, a third-party provider of logistics services to the transportation industry.  Brokerage services involve arranging for another company to transport freight for our customers while we retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.  Intermodal services involve the transport of our trailers on railroad flatcars for a portion of a trip, with the balance of the trip using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.  The main factors that affect our logistics revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers and the rates charged by third-party providers.

 

In addition to the factors discussed above, our operating revenue is also affected by, among other things, the United States economy, inventory levels, the level of truck and rail capacity in the transportation market and specific customer demand.

 

Our operating revenue decreased $21.4 million, or 14.9%, in the first quarter of 2009.  This decrease was primarily due to fuel surcharge revenue decreasing by $17.2 million, or 61.5%, caused by significantly lower fuel prices in the first quarter of 2009.  Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $4.2 million, or 3.6%, compared with the first quarter of 2008.  Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 6.4% due to a decrease in our average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week of 6.3% in the first quarter of 2009.  Our average miles per tractor decreased by 10.1% in the first quarter of 2009 due to the difficult freight environment and our reduced length of haul.  This was partially offset by a 3.1% increase in our average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile as a result of an improved freight mix and the reduced length of haul.  The changes in our operating statistics are consistent with the continued growth of our regional temperature-controlled operations.  By focusing on shorter lengths of haul in certain defined areas, we are addressing customer trends toward regional distribution to lower their transportation expense, furthering our own objectives of reducing fuel consumption per load, and matching some of our drivers’ desires to stay closer to home.  The concentration of a portion of our fleet in these markets is evident in a 7.6% reduction from the first quarter of 2008 in average length of haul to 824 miles.  Our average fleet size increased by 23 tractors in the first quarter of 2009 from the same period of 2008.  Logistics segment revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharges, increased 9.2% compared with the first quarter of 2008.  The increase in logistics revenue primarily resulted from continued volume growth in each of our internal brokerage and intermodal services.  Logistics revenue represented 19.3% of our operating revenue in the first quarter of 2009.

 

9

 

Our profitability on the expense side is impacted by variable costs of transporting freight for our customers, fixed costs and expenses containing both fixed and variable components.  The variable costs include fuel expense, driver-related expenses, such as wages, benefits, training, and recruitment, and independent contractor costs, which are recorded under purchased transportation.  Expenses that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our total cost of insurance and claims.  These expenses generally vary with the miles we travel, but also have a controllable component based on safety, fleet age, efficiency and other factors.  Our main fixed costs relate to the acquisition and financing of long-term assets, such as revenue equipment and operating terminals.  We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment.  Although certain factors affecting our expenses are beyond our control, we monitor them closely and attempt to anticipate changes in these factors in managing our business.  For example, fuel prices fluctuated dramatically at various times during the last several years, with the D.O.E. national average cost of fuel decreasing to $2.19 per gallon in the first quarter of 2009 from $3.55 per gallon in the first quarter of 2008.  We manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices primarily through fuel surcharge programs with our customers, as well as through volume fuel purchasing arrangements with national fuel centers and bulk purchases of fuel at our terminals.  To help further reduce fuel expense, we have installed auxiliary power units in our tractors to provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.  For our Logistics segment, our profitability on the expense side is impacted by the percentage of logistics revenue we pay to providers for the transportation services we arrange.

 

Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 94.1% in the first quarter of 2009 compared with 96.2% in the first quarter of 2008.  The increased profitability in the first quarter of 2009 was due to an improvement in our overall cost structure, partially offset by the decrease in revenue per tractor per week in our Truckload segment and decreased margins in the logistics services provided by MWL.  Our earnings per diluted share increased to $0.18 in the first quarter of 2009 from $0.12 in the same period of 2008.

 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. At March 31, 2009, we had approximately $14.8 million of marketable securities, $2.9 million of long-term debt, including current maturities, and $262.0 million in stockholders’ equity.  In the first quarter of 2009, we spent $12.8 million to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions.  These expenditures were funded with cash flows from operations.  We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $45 million to $60 million for the remainder of 2009, which we will adjust throughout the year as we size our fleet to existing customer demand.    We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months.  Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and marketable securities balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes discussions of operating, truckload and logistics revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads).  We provide these additional disclosures because management believes these measures provide a more consistent basis for comparing results of operations from period to period.  These financial measures in this report have not been determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Pursuant to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, we have included the amounts necessary to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, operating revenue and fuel and fuel taxes.

 

10

 

Results of Operations

 

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

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2009			2008
Truckload Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	98,372		$	121,129
Average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile		$	1.525		$	1.479
Average miles per tractor(1)		24,341			27,082
Average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)		$	2,887		$	3,081
Average tractors (1)		2,385			2,362
Average miles per trip		824			892
Total miles – company-employed drivers (in thousands)		52,112			54,310
Total miles – independent contractors (in thousands)		5,943			9,671
Logistics Segment:
Brokerage:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	14,454		$	15,224
Loads		7,606			7,613
Intermodal:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	9,129		$	7,021
Loads		3,653			2,153
Average tractors		55			40

 

(1)	Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 212 and 295 tractors as of March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

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Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 to Three Months Ended March 31, 2008

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

 

								Dollar			Percentage
								Change			Change
		Three Months						Three Months			Three Months
		Ended						Ended			Ended
		March 31,						March 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2009			2008			2009 vs. 2008			2009 vs. 2008
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		$	88,535		$	94,631		$	(6,096	)	(6.4	)%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue		9,837			26,498			(16,661		)	(62.9	)
Total Truckload revenue		98,372			121,129			(22,757		)	(18.8	)
Logistics revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharge revenue(1)		22,650			20,745			1,905			9.2
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue		933			1,500			(567		)	(37.8	)
Total Logistics revenue		23,583			22,245			1,338			6.0
Total operating revenue		$	121,955		$	143,374		$	(21,419	)	(14.9	)%
Operating income:
Truckload		$	5,833		$	3,727		$	2,106		56.5	%
Logistics		1,418			1,755			(337		)	(19.2	)
Total operating income		$	7,251		$	5,482		$	1,769		32.3	%
Operating ratio(2):
Truckload		94.1		%	96.9		%				2.9	%
Logistics		94.0			92.1						(2.1	)
Consolidated operating ratio		94.1		%	96.2		%				2.2	%

 

(1)	Logistics revenue is net of $3.3 million and $4.3 million of inter-segment revenue in the 2009 and 2008 periods, respectively, for loads transported by our tractors and arranged by MWL that have been eliminated in consolidation.
(2)	Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue.

 

Our operating revenue decreased $21.4 million, or 14.9%, to $122.0 million in the 2009 period from $143.4 million in the 2008 period.  This decrease was primarily due to fuel surcharge revenue decreasing to $10.8 million in the 2009 period from $28.0 million in the 2008 period, caused by significantly lower fuel prices in the 2009 period.  Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $4.2 million, or 3.6%, to $111.2 million in the 2009 period from $115.4 million in the 2008 period.  The decrease in operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, was due to a decrease in truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, partially offset by growth in logistics revenue.

 

Truckload segment revenue decreased $22.8 million, or 18.8%, to $98.4 million in the 2009 period from $121.1 million in the 2008 period.  Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 6.4% due to a decrease in our average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week of 6.3% in the 2009 period.  Our average miles per tractor decreased by 10.1% in the 2009 period due to the difficult freight environment and our reduced length of haul.  This was partially offset by a 3.1% increase in our average truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile as a result of an improved freight mix and the reduced length of haul.  The changes in our operating statistics are consistent with the continued growth of our regional temperature-controlled operations.  By focusing on shorter lengths of haul in certain defined areas, we are

 

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addressing customer trends toward regional distribution to lower their transportation expense, furthering our own objectives of reducing fuel consumption per load, and matching some of our drivers’ desires to stay closer to home.  The concentration of a portion of our fleet in these markets is evident in a 7.6% reduction from the 2008 period in average length of haul to 824 miles.  Our average fleet size increased by 23 tractors in the 2009 period from the 2008 period.  The improvement in our overall cost structure, partially offset by the decrease in revenue per tractor per week, resulted in increased profitability from the 2008 period.

 

Logistics segment revenue increased $1.4 million, or 6.0%, to $23.6 million in the 2009 period from $22.2 million in the 2008 period.  Logistics segment revenue, net of intermodal fuel surcharges, increased 9.2%.  The increase in logistics revenue primarily resulted from continued volume growth in each of our internal brokerage and intermodal services.  The increase in the operating ratio for our Logistics segment in the 2009 period was primarily due to decreased margins in the logistics services provided by MWL.

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:

 

		Dollar			Percentage		Percentage of
		Change			Change		Operating Revenue
		Three Months			Three Months		Three Months
		Ended			Ended		Ended
		March 31,			March 31,		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2009 vs. 2008			2009 vs. 2008		2009		2008
Operating revenue		$	(21,419	)	(14.9	)%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits		(580		)	(1.6	)	29.6		25.6
Purchased transportation		(5,252		)	(18.8	)	18.7		19.5
Fuel and fuel taxes		(20,063		)	(47.8	)	17.9		29.2
Supplies and maintenance		486			5.2		8.1		6.5
Depreciation		1,471			12.3		11.0		8.3
Operating taxes and licenses		(36		)	(2.1	)	1.4		1.2
Insurance and claims		(44		)	(0.8	)	4.5		3.9
Communications and utilities		104			10.8		0.9		0.7
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment		588			55.5		(0.4	)	(0.7	)
Other		138			4.9		2.4		2.0
Total operating expenses		(23,188		)	(16.8	)	94.1		96.2
Operating income		1,769			32.3		5.9		3.8
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense		(470		)	(88.0	)	0.1		0.4
Interest income and other		44			57.1		—		(0.1	)
		(426		)	(93.2	)	—		0.3
Income before income taxes		2,195			43.7		5.9		3.5
Less: Income before income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		(264		)	(69.5	)	0.1		0.3
Income before income taxes attributable to Marten Transport, Ltd.		2,459			52.9		5.8		3.2
Provision for income taxes		1,059			53.2		2.5		1.4
Net income		$	1,400		52.8	%	3.3	%	1.9	%

 

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Salaries, wages and benefits consist of compensation for our employees, including both driver and non-driver employees, employees’ health insurance, 401(k) plan contributions and other fringe benefits.  These expenses vary depending upon the ratio of company drivers to independent contractors, our efficiency, our experience with employees’ health insurance claims, changes in health care premiums and other factors. The decrease in salaries, wages and benefits resulted primarily from a 4.0% decrease in the total miles driven by company drivers and a $604,000 decrease in our self-insured medical claims, which decreased our employees’ health insurance expense, which was partially offset by a $379,000 increase in bonus compensation expensed for our non-driver employees.

 

Purchased transportation consists of payments to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment and to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities.  This category will vary depending upon the ratio of company drivers versus independent contractors, the amount of fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors and the amount and rates, including fuel surcharges, we pay to third-party railroad and motor carriers.  Purchased transportation expense decreased $5.3 million in total, or 18.8%, in the 2009 period from the 2008 period.  Payments to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our brokerage and intermodal operations increased $155,000 to $16.9 million in the 2009 period from $16.7 million in the 2008 period.  The portion of purchased transportation expense related to our independent contractors, including fuel surcharges, decreased $5.4 million in the 2009 period, primarily due to a decrease in the number of independent contractor-owned tractors in our fleet and a decrease in the amount of fuel surcharges paid to the independent contractors.  We expect that purchased transportation expense will increase as we grow our Logistics segment.

 

Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) decreased $5.5 million, or 30.4%, to $12.6 million in the 2009 period from $18.0 million in the 2008 period.  Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads were $1.5 million in the 2009 period and $4.1 million in the 2008 period.  Over the past year, we have worked diligently to control fuel costs and usage by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in our trailers’ refrigeration units.  Auxiliary power units, which were installed in 96% of our company-owned tractors as of March 31, 2009, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.  The decrease in net fuel expense was primarily due to a significant decrease in the D.O.E. national average cost of fuel to $2.19 per gallon in the 2009 period from $3.55 per gallon in the 2008 period, a 4.0% decrease in the total miles driven by our company-owned fleet and to the cost control measures stated above.  Net fuel expense represented 13.0% of truckload and intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges, in the 2009 period, compared with 18.0% in the 2008 period.

 

Supplies and maintenance consist of repairs, maintenance, tires, parts, oil and engine fluids, along with load-specific expenses including loading/unloading, tolls, pallets and trailer hostling.  The increase in supplies and maintenance in the 2009 period primarily resulted from a higher percentage of company-owned tractors in our fleet, for which we bear all maintenance expenses.  Our maintenance practices were consistent with the 2008 period.

 

Depreciation relates to owned tractors, trailers, auxiliary power units, communications units, terminal facilities and other assets.  The increase in depreciation was primarily due to an increase in the relative percentage of company-owned tractors to independent contractor-owned tractors in the 2009 period.  We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, which is expected to result in greater depreciation over the useful life.

 

A decrease in the market value for used revenue equipment, which we believe was driven by capacity reductions in the industry, along with a decrease in the planned number of revenue equipment dispositions, caused our gain on disposition of revenue equipment to decrease to $471,000 in the 2009 period from $1.1 million in the 2008 period.  Future gains or losses on disposition of revenue equipment will be impacted by the market for used revenue equipment, which is beyond our control.  We do not expect our gain on disposition to improve in the near future as we believe that there are few buyers with adequate financing in comparison with

 

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available inventory, and the expectation of additional trucking company failures is likely to keep used truck inventories high.

 

As a result of the foregoing factors, our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 94.1% in the 2009 period compared with 96.2% in the 2008 period.

 

Interest expense primarily consists of interest on our senior unsecured notes and unsecured committed credit facility.  The decrease in interest expense of $470,000, or 88.0%, in the 2009 period from the 2008 period was primarily the result of lower average debt balances outstanding.

 

Our effective income tax rate was 42.9% for each of the 2009 and 2008 periods.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income increased to $4.1 million in the 2009 period from $2.7 million in the 2008 period.  Net earnings increased to $0.18 per diluted share in the 2009 period from $0.12 per diluted share in the 2008 period.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our business requires substantial, ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. Our primary sources of liquidity are funds provided by operations, our unsecured senior notes and our revolving credit facility. A portion of our tractor fleet is provided by independent contractors who own and operate their own equipment. We have no capital expenditure requirements relating to those drivers who own their tractors or obtain financing through third parties. However, to the extent we purchase tractors and extend financing to the independent contractors through our tractor purchase program, we have an associated capital expenditure requirement.

 

The table below reflects our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used for investing activities and net cash flows used for financing activities for the periods indicated.

 

		Three Months
		Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2009			2008
Net cash flows provided by operating activities		$	27,416		$	14,739
Net cash flows used for investing activities		26,481			867
Net cash flows used for financing activities		1,154			14,924

 

In December 2007, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program to repurchase up to one million shares of our common stock either through purchases on the open market or through private transactions.  The timing and extent to which we will repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations.  In the first quarter of 2008 we repurchased and retired 67,500 shares of our common stock for $810,000.  We made no purchases in the remainder of 2008 or in the first quarter of 2009.  The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

In the first quarter of 2009, we spent $12.8 million to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions.  These expenditures were funded with cash flows from operations.  We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $45 million to $60 million for the remainder of 2009, which we will adjust throughout the year as we size our fleet to existing customer demand.    We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months.  Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and marketable securities balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 

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We have outstanding senior unsecured notes with an aggregate principal balance of $2.9 million at March 31, 2009. These notes mature in April 2010, require annual principal payments of $1.4 million and bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 8.57%.  We have not prepaid the remaining principal balance of these notes due to substantial prepayment penalties.

 

We maintain a credit agreement that provides for a five-year unsecured committed credit facility maturing in September 2011 in an aggregate principal amount of up to $75 million.  The aggregate principal amount of the credit facility may be increased at our option up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $100 million.  At March 31, 2009, there was no outstanding principal balance on the credit facility.  As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $6.8 million and remaining borrowing availability of $68.2 million.  This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or the agent bank’s Prime Rate, in each case plus/minus applicable margins.

 

Our credit facility prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, dividends in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. The debt agreements discussed above also contain restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain certain financial ratios, including debt-to-equity, cash flow leverage, interest coverage and fixed charge coverage. We were in compliance with all of these covenants at March 31, 2009.

 

We had $591,000 in direct financing receivables from independent contractors under our tractor purchase program as of March 31, 2009, compared with $797,000 in receivables as of December 31, 2008. These receivables, which are collateralized by the financed tractors, are used to attract and retain qualified independent contractors. We deduct payments from the independent contractors’ settlements weekly and, as a result, have experienced minimal collection issues for these receivables.  The decrease in the receivables balance is related to a program to direct the leases to a third-party leasing vendor beginning in 2007.

 

The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2009.

 

		Payments Due by Period
		Remainder			2010
		of			and
(In thousands)		2009			2011			2012			Thereafter			Total
Purchase obligations for revenue equipment		$	6,410		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	6,410
Long-term debt obligations		1,428			1,429			—			—			2,857
Building construction obligations		1,870			—			—			—			1,870
Operating lease obligations		363			460			83			56			962
Total		$	10,071		$	1,889		$	83		$	56		$	12,099

 

Related Parties

 

We purchase fuel and obtain tires and related services from Bauer Built, Inc., or BBI. Jerry M. Bauer, one of our directors, is the president and a stockholder of BBI.  We paid BBI $196,000 in the first quarter of 2009 and $372,000 in the first quarter of 2008 for fuel and tire services. In addition, we paid $388,000 in the first quarter of 2009 and $606,000 in the first quarter of 2008 to tire manufacturers for tires that we purchased from the tire manufacturers but were provided by BBI. BBI received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases.  Other than any benefit received from his ownership interest, Mr. Bauer receives no compensation or other benefits from our business with BBI.

 

We paid Durand Builders Service, Inc. $377,000 in the first quarter of 2009 for various construction projects.  Larry B. Hagness, one of our directors, is the president and owner of Durand Builders Service, Inc.  Other than any benefit received from his ownership interest, Mr. Hagness receives no compensation or other benefits from these transactions.

 

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