OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC. - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________________________

FORM 10-Q

_________________________________



ý	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 ________ .

Commission File Number: 0-19582

_________________________________

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_________________________________



VIRGINIA		56-0751714
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



500 Old Dominion Way Thomasville, North Carolina		27360
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(336) 889-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

_________________________________

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 ý 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 ý No ¨

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



Large accelerated filer	ý	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 ý

As of May 3, 2018 there were 82,199,387 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock ($0.10 par value) outstanding.

INDEX



Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1	Financial Statements	1
	Condensed Balance Sheets – March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017	1
	Condensed Statements of Operations – For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	3
	Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	4
	Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements	5
Item 2	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	9
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	17
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	17

Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1	Legal Proceedings	18
Item 1A	Risk Factors	18
Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	18
Item 6	Exhibits	19

Exhibit Index		20
Signatures		21

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS



	March 31,
	2018			December 31,
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	(Unaudited)			2017
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	159,937		$	127,462
Customer receivables, less allowances of $9,743 and $9,465, respectively	412,932			394,169
Other receivables	5,542			21,612
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	37,039			41,410
Total current assets	615,450			584,653

Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment	1,634,854			1,591,036
Land and structures	1,588,132			1,548,079
Other fixed assets	441,957			432,146
Leasehold improvements	8,705			8,668
Total property and equipment	3,673,648			3,579,929
Accumulated depreciation	(1,222,814		)	(1,175,470		)
Net property and equipment	2,450,834			2,404,459

Goodwill	19,463			19,463
Other assets	58,257			59,849
Total assets	$	3,144,004		$	3,068,424

Note: The Condensed Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

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

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(CONTINUED)



	March 31,
	2018		December 31,
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	(Unaudited)		2017
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	78,498	$	73,729
Compensation and benefits	157,818		152,566
Claims and insurance accruals	51,792		49,949
Other accrued liabilities	25,872		24,805
Income taxes payable	31,305		—
Current maturities of long-term debt	—		50,000
Total current liabilities	345,285		351,049

Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	45,000		45,000
Other non-current liabilities	215,614		205,561
Deferred income taxes	179,354		189,960
Total long-term liabilities	439,968		440,521
Total liabilities	785,253		791,570

Commitments and contingent liabilities

Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock - $0.10 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized, 82,284,180 and 82,375,945 shares outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	8,229		8,238
Capital in excess of par value	138,921		138,359
Retained earnings	2,211,601		2,130,257
Total shareholders’ equity	2,358,751		2,276,854
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	3,144,004	$	3,068,424

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

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	2018			2017
Revenue from operations	$	925,020		$	754,096

Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	501,311			416,504
Operating supplies and expenses	114,061			90,987
General supplies and expenses	29,976			22,872
Operating taxes and licenses	26,788			24,022
Insurance and claims	11,099			8,790
Communications and utilities	7,046			7,433
Depreciation and amortization	53,481			50,287
Purchased transportation	21,740			17,997
Building and office equipment rents	1,875			2,114
Miscellaneous expenses, net	8,303			4,968
Total operating expenses	775,680			645,974

Operating income	149,340			108,122

Non-operating expense (income):
Interest expense	11			595
Interest income	(456		)	(35		)
Other expense, net	2,299			409
Total non-operating expense	1,854			969

Income before income taxes	147,486			107,153

Provision for income taxes	38,153			41,361

Net income	$	109,333		$	65,792

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.33		$	0.80
Diluted	$	1.33		$	0.80

Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	82,253,470			82,349,024
Diluted	82,356,048			82,444,458

Dividends declared per share	$	0.13		$	0.10

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

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	109,333		$	65,792
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	53,481			50,287
Loss on sale of property and equipment	364			77
Share-based compensation	1,132			710
Other operating activities, net	46,937			(6,057		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	211,247			110,809

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(100,558		)	(56,997		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	347			1,828
Net cash used in investing activities	(100,211		)	(55,169		)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments under long-term debt agreements	(50,000		)	—
Net payments on revolving line of credit	—			(9,975		)
Payments for share repurchases	(17,299		)	(50		)
Dividends paid	(10,695		)	(8,235		)
Other financing activities, net	(567		)	—
Net cash used in financing activities	(78,561		)	(18,260		)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents	32,475			37,380
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	127,462			10,171
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	159,937		$	47,551

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

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies

Business

We are a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional and national LTL services, which include ground and air expedited transportation and consumer household pickup and delivery, through a single integrated organization. In addition to our core LTL services, we offer a range of value-added services including container drayage, truckload brokerage, supply chain consulting and warehousing. We have one operating segment and the composition of our revenue is summarized below:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
LTL services	$	911,054	$	740,186
Other services	13,966		13,910
Total revenue from operations	$	925,020	$	754,096

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and, in management’s opinion, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation, in all material respects, of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

The preparation of condensed financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our operating results are subject to seasonal trends; therefore, the results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the subsequent quarterly period or the year ending December 31, 2018.

The condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes, which appear in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in the accounting principles and policies, long-term contracts or estimates inherent in the preparation of the condensed financial statements of Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. as previously described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, other than those disclosed in this Form 10-Q.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in these Notes to “Old Dominion,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of financial instruments in current assets and current liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments. The carrying value of our total long-term debt, including current maturities, was $45.0 million and $95.0 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The estimated fair value of our total long-term debt, including current maturities, was $46.4 million and $97.1 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The fair value measurement of our senior notes was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis that factors in current market yields for comparable borrowing arrangements under our credit profile. Since this methodology is based upon market yields for comparable arrangements, the measurement is categorized as Level 2 under the three-level fair value hierarchy as established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”).

Stock Repurchase Program

On May 23, 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a two-year stock repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase up to an aggregate of $250.0 million of our outstanding common stock (the “2016 Repurchase Program”). Under the 2016 Repurchase Program, we may repurchase shares from time to time in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions. Shares of our common stock repurchased under our 2016 Repurchase Program are canceled at the time of repurchase and are classified as authorized but unissued shares of our common stock.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repurchased 121,987 shares of our common stock for $17.3 million under our 2016 Repurchase Program. As of March 31, 2018, we had $174.7 million remaining authorized under the 2016 Repurchase Program.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). This ASU supersedes the previous revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605-Revenue Recognition. The guidance provides a five-step analysis to determine when and how revenue is recognized and further enhances disclosure requirements. Transition methods under ASU 2014-09 must be through (i) retrospective application to each prior reporting period presented, or (ii) modified retrospective application with a cumulative effect adjustment at the date of initial application.

Our revenue is generated from providing transportation and related services to customers in accordance with the bill of lading ("BOL") contract, our general tariff provisions and contractual agreements. Generally, our performance obligations begin when we receive a BOL from a customer and are satisfied when we complete the delivery of a shipment and related services. We recognize revenue for our performance obligations under our customer contracts over time, as our customers receive the benefits of our services in accordance with ASU 2014-09. With respect to services not completed at the end of a reporting period, we use a percentage of completion method to allocate the appropriate revenue to each separate reporting period. Under this method, we develop a factor for each uncompleted shipment by dividing the actual number of days in transit at the end of a reporting period by that shipment’s standard delivery time schedule. This factor is applied to the total revenue for that shipment and revenue is allocated between reporting periods accordingly. Payment terms vary by customer and are short-term in nature.

We adopted ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective application. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on how we recognize revenue or to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842). This ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability under most operating leases in its balance sheet. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are continuing to evaluate the impact of adoption but expect the ASU to have a material impact on our Condensed Balance Sheet as a result of the requirement to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)

Note 2. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the daily weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding for the period, excluding unvested restricted stock. Unvested restricted stock is included in common shares outstanding on our Condensed Balance Sheets. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the treasury stock method and includes the impact of shares of unvested restricted stock.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the number of common shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018	2017
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	82,253,470	82,349,024
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	102,578	95,434
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	82,356,048	82,444,458

Note 3. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:



(In thousands)	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Senior notes	$	45,000	$	95,000
Revolving credit facility	—		—
Total long-term debt	45,000		95,000
Less: Current maturities	—		(50,000		)
Total maturities due after one year	$	45,000	$	45,000

We had one unsecured senior note agreement with an amount outstanding of $45.0 million and $95.0 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Our unsecured senior note agreement calls for a scheduled principal payment of $50.0 million, which was paid on January 3, 2018, and a scheduled principal payment of $45.0 million, which is due on January 3, 2021. Interest rates on the January 3, 2018 and January 3, 2021 scheduled principal payments were 4.00% and 4.79%, respectively. The effective average interest rate on our outstanding senior note agreement was 4.79% and 4.37% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

On December 15, 2015, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("Wells Fargo") serving as administrative agent for the lenders (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement originally provided for a five-year, $250.0 million senior unsecured revolving line of credit and a $100.0 million accordion feature, which if fully exercised and approved, would expand the total borrowing capacity up to an aggregate of $350.0 million.

On September 9, 2016, we exercised a portion of the accordion feature and entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to increase the aggregate commitments from existing lenders by $50.0 million to an aggregate of $300.0 million. Of the $300.0 million line of credit commitments under the Credit Agreement, as amended, up to $100.0 million may be used for letters of credit and $30.0 million may be used for borrowings under the Wells Fargo Sweep Plus Loan Program (the "Sweep Program"). We utilize the Sweep Program to manage our daily cash needs, as it automatically initiates borrowings to cover overnight cash requirements primarily for working capital needs.

At our option, borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either: (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin (based on our ratio of net debt-to-total capitalization) that ranges from 1.0% to 1.50%; or (ii) a Base Rate

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)

plus an applicable margin (based on our ratio of net debt-to-total capitalization) that ranges from 0.0% to 0.5%. Loans under the Sweep Program bear interest at the LIBOR plus applicable margin rate. Letter of credit fees equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR loans are charged quarterly in arrears on the daily average aggregate stated amount of all letters of credit outstanding during the quarter. Commitment fees ranging from 0.125% to 0.2% (based upon the ratio of net debt-to-total capitalization) are charged quarterly in arrears on the aggregate unutilized portion of the Credit Agreement. Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, also receives an annual fee for providing administrative services.

For periods covered under the Credit Agreement, the applicable margin on LIBOR loans and letter of credit fees were 1.0% and commitment fees were 0.125%. There were $68.2 million and $71.4 million of outstanding letters of credit at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in or addressing various legal proceedings and claims, governmental inquiries, notices and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and have not been fully adjudicated, some of which may be covered in whole or in part by insurance. Certain of these matters include class-action allegations. We do not believe that the resolution of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect upon our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 5. Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted tax reform legislation as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act") that reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and included a broad range of complex provisions affecting the taxation of businesses. Generally, financial statement recognition of the new legislation would be required to be completed in the period of enactment; however, in response to the complexities of this new legislation, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 to provide companies with transitional relief. Specifically, when the initial accounting for items under the new legislation is incomplete, the guidance allows the recognition of provisional amounts when reasonable estimates can be made or the continued application of the prior tax law if a reasonable estimate of the effect cannot be made. The SEC staff has provided up to one year from the date of enactment for companies to finalize the accounting for the effects of this new legislation. Although no changes were made to provisional amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2018, we will continue to refine our estimates related to the new legislation as clarifying guidance and interpretations are issued and our 2017 tax returns are completed.

The Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 25.9% for the first quarter of 2018 from 38.6% for the same quarter last year. The decrease in the tax rate was primarily due to the tax reform legislation discussed above. The Company’s effective tax rate generally exceeds the federal statutory rate due to the impact of state taxes and, to a lesser extent, certain other non-deductible items.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

We are a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional and national LTL services, which include ground and air expedited transportation and consumer household pickup and delivery ("P&D"), through a single integrated organization. In addition to our core LTL services, we offer a range of value-added services including container drayage, truckload brokerage, supply chain consulting and warehousing. More than 97% of our revenue has historically been derived from transporting LTL shipments for our customers, whose demand for our services is generally tied to industrial production and the overall health of the U.S. domestic economy.

In analyzing the components of our revenue, we monitor changes and trends in our LTL services using the following key metrics, which exclude certain transportation and logistics services where pricing is generally not determined by weight, commodity or distance:

•

LTL Revenue Per Hundredweight - This measurement reflects the application of our pricing policies to the services we provide, which are influenced by competitive market conditions and our growth objectives. Generally, freight is rated by a class system, which is established by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Light, bulky freight typically has a higher class and is priced at higher revenue per hundredweight than dense, heavy freight. Fuel surcharges, accessorial charges, revenue adjustments and revenue for undelivered freight are included in this measurement. Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with our revenue recognition policy; however, we believe including it in our revenue per hundredweight metrics results in a better indicator of changes in this metric by matching total billed revenue with the corresponding weight of those shipments.

Revenue per hundredweight is a commonly-used indicator of pricing trends, but this metric can be influenced by many other factors, such as changes in fuel surcharges, weight per shipment, length of haul and the class, or mix, of our freight. As a result, changes in revenue per hundredweight do not necessarily indicate actual changes in underlying base rates.

•

LTL Weight Per Shipment - Fluctuations in weight per shipment can indicate changes in the mix of freight we receive from our customers, as well as changes in the number of units included in a shipment. Generally, increases in weight per shipment indicate higher demand for our customers' products and overall increased economic activity. Changes in weight per shipment can also be influenced by shifts between LTL and other modes of transportation, such as truckload and intermodal, in response to capacity, service and pricing issues. Fluctuations in weight per shipment generally have an inverse effect on our revenue per hundredweight, as a decrease in weight per shipment will typically cause an increase in revenue per hundredweight.

•

Average Length of Haul - We consider lengths of haul less than 500 miles to be regional traffic, lengths of haul between 500 miles and 1,000 miles to be inter-regional traffic, and lengths of haul in excess of 1,000 miles to be national traffic. This metric is used to analyze our tonnage and pricing trends for shipments with similar characteristics, and also allows for comparison with other transportation providers serving specific markets. By analyzing this metric, we can determine the success and growth potential of our service products in these markets. Changes in length of haul generally have a direct effect on our revenue per hundredweight, as an increase in length of haul will typically cause an increase in revenue per hundredweight.

Our primary revenue focus is to increase density, which is shipment and tonnage growth within our existing infrastructure. Increases in density allow us to maximize our asset utilization and labor productivity, which we measure over many different functional areas of our operations including linehaul load factor, P&D stops per hour, P&D shipments per hour, platform pounds handled per hour and platform shipments per hour. In addition to our focus on density and operating efficiencies, it is critical for us to obtain an appropriate yield, which is measured as revenue per hundredweight, on the shipments we handle. We are committed to a disciplined yield management process that focuses on individual account profitability. We believe yield management and improvements in efficiency are key components in our ability to produce profitable growth.

Our primary cost elements are direct salaries, wages and benefits associated with the movement of freight, operating supplies and expenses, which include diesel fuel, and depreciation of our equipment fleet and service center facilities. We gauge our overall success in managing costs by monitoring our operating ratio, a measure of profitability calculated by dividing total operating expenses by revenue, which also allows for industry-wide comparisons with our competition.

We continually upgrade our technological capabilities to improve our customer service and lower our operating costs. Our technology provides our customers with visibility of their shipments throughout our network, increases the productivity of our workforce and provides key metrics that we use to monitor and enhance our processes.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, expenses and other items as a percentage of revenue from operations:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Revenue from operations	100.0	%	100.0	%

Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	54.2		55.2
Operating supplies and expenses	12.3		12.1
General supplies and expenses	3.2		3.0
Operating taxes and licenses	2.9		3.2
Insurance and claims	1.2		1.2
Communications and utilities	0.8		1.0
Depreciation and amortization	5.8		6.7
Purchased transportation	2.4		2.4
Building and office equipment rents	0.2		0.3
Miscellaneous expenses, net	0.9		0.6
Total operating expenses	83.9		85.7

Operating income	16.1		14.3

Interest (income) expense, net	(0.0	)	0.1
Other expense, net	0.2		0.0

Income before income taxes	15.9		14.2

Provision for income taxes	4.1		5.5

Net income	11.8	%	8.7	%

Results of Operations

Key financial and operating metrics for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are presented below:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018			2017			% Change
Work days	64			64			—	%
Revenue (in thousands)	$	925,020		$	754,096		22.7	%
Operating ratio	83.9		%	85.7		%
Net income (in thousands)	$	109,333		$	65,792		66.2	%
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.33		$	0.80		66.3	%
LTL tons (in thousands)	2,274			1,970			15.4	%
LTL shipments (in thousands)	2,788			2,523			10.5	%
LTL weight per shipment (lbs.)	1,631			1,561			4.5	%
LTL revenue per hundredweight	$	20.16		$	19.03		5.9	%
LTL revenue per shipment	$	328.78		$	297.11		10.7	%
Average length of haul (miles)	914			920			(0.7	)%

Our financial results for the first quarter of 2018 reflect new Company records for revenue and net income. Revenue increased 22.7% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period last year, which was the fourth consecutive quarter with a double-digit percentage increase. The increase in revenue was driven by increased LTL tonnage and yield. The increased density across our network and improvements in our yield led to a 180 basis point improvement in our operating ratio for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter last year. These factors, combined with the substantial reduction in our income tax rate primarily due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act"), drove an increase of over 66% in net income and earnings per diluted share for the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year.

Revenue

Revenue increased $170.9 million, or 22.7%, in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017, due primarily to increases in LTL tons and LTL revenue per hundredweight. The increase in LTL tons during the first quarter of 2018 was due to higher LTL shipments and LTL weight per shipment as compared to the same quarter last year. We believe these increases were driven by the continued strength of the U.S. domestic economy and growth in our market share resulting from increased demand for the consistent levels of superior service that we provide to our customers.

LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 5.9% to $20.16 in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year, despite the downward pressure on this metric created by the increase in our LTL weight per shipment and the decline in our average length of haul. We believe the increase in our revenue per hundredweight reflects our consistent yield management process and a favorable pricing environment that has resulted from general capacity constraints in the transportation industry. Excluding fuel surcharges, LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 3.7% in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year.

Most of our tariffs and contracts provide for a fuel surcharge that is generally indexed to the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") published diesel fuel prices that reset each week. Our fuel surcharges are designed to offset fluctuations in the cost of petroleum-based products and are one of the many components included in the overall negotiated price we charge for our services. As a percent of revenue, fuel surcharges increased to 12.8% in the first quarter of 2018 from 10.9% in the same quarter last year. This increase was due primarily to an increase in the average price per gallon for diesel fuel for those comparative quarters. We regularly monitor the components of our pricing, including base freight rates and fuel surcharges. We also address any individual account profitability issues with our customers as part of our effort to minimize the negative impact on our profitability that would likely result from a rapid and significant change in any of our operating expenses.

Second Quarter 2018 Update

LTL tons per day increased 15.8% in April 2018, due primarily to a 12.1% increase in LTL shipments per day and a 3.3% increase in LTL weight per shipment as compared to April 2017. For April 2018, LTL revenue per hundredweight increased approximately 6.4% as compared to the same month last year.

Operating Costs and Other Expenses

Salaries, wages and benefits increased $84.8 million, or 20.4%, for the first quarter of 2018, due to a $58.2 million increase in the costs attributable to salaries and wages and a $26.6 million increase in benefit costs. The increase in salaries and wages, excluding benefits, was due to the 11.9% increase in the average number of full-time employees over the prior-year quarter, which was the result of our shipment growth. Our employees’ wages also increased as a result of an annual wage increase provided to our employees in September 2017 and higher performance-based compensation. Productive labor costs improved as a percent of revenue to 27.8% in the first quarter of 2018 from 28.7% of revenue for the same quarter last year. This improvement occurred despite productivity declines in our P&D and platform operations, which were due to our increased headcount and associated employee training costs.

The $26.6 million increase in employee benefit costs for the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year was due to the increase in our average number of full-time employees and an increase in the costs of certain retirement benefits directly linked to the market price of our common stock and net income. In addition, our costs increased as a result of enhancements to our employees' paid time off benefits implemented in the first quarter of 2018. As a result, our employee benefit costs increased to 35.6% of salaries and wages in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to 33.7% for the same quarter last year.

Operating supplies and expenses increased $23.1 million, or 25.4%, in the first quarter of 2018, due primarily to the increase in diesel fuel costs. The cost of diesel fuel, excluding fuel taxes, represents the largest component of operating supplies and expenses, and can vary based on both average price per gallon and consumption. The increase in diesel fuel costs, excluding fuel taxes, was due primarily to a 22.6% increase in our average cost per gallon of diesel fuel in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, our gallons consumed increased 14.6% for the same comparable quarters due to an increase in miles driven. We do not use diesel fuel hedging instruments and our costs are therefore subject to market price fluctuations. Other operating supplies and expenses decreased slightly as a percent of revenue between the quarters compared.

General supplies and expenses increased $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. This increase was due primarily to an increase in our advertising and marketing costs as well as higher employee training related expenses.

Depreciation and amortization increased $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year. The increase in depreciation and amortization was due primarily to the assets acquired as part of our 2017 capital expenditure program. We believe depreciation will continue to increase based on our 2018 capital expenditure plan. While our investments in real estate, equipment and technology can increase our costs in the short-term, we believe these investments are necessary to support our continued growth and strategic initiatives.

Our effective tax rate decreased to 25.9% for the first quarter of 2018 from 38.6% for the same quarter last year. The decrease in our tax rate was primarily due to the Act, which permanently reduced the corporate federal income tax rate for 2018 and future years from 35% to 21%. Our effective tax rate generally exceeds the federal statutory rate due to the impact of state taxes and, to a lesser extent, certain other non-deductible items.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

A summary of our cash flows is presented below:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	$	127,462		$	10,171
Cash flows provided by (used in):
Operating activities	211,247			110,809
Investing activities	(100,211		)	(55,169		)
Financing activities	(78,561		)	(18,260		)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	32,475			37,380
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	159,937		$	47,551

The change in our cash flows provided by operating activities during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year was impacted by an increase in net income of $43.5 million as well as fluctuations in accounts payable and other working capital accounts.

The change in our cash flows used in investing activities during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year was due to the timing of equipment purchases under our capital expenditure plans. Changes in our capital expenditures are more fully described below in “Capital Expenditures.”

The change in our cash flows used in financing activities during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same quarter last year was due primarily to fluctuations in capital returned to shareholders and fluctuations in our long-term debt, which includes our senior unsecured revolving line of credit. Our financing arrangements are more fully described below under "Financing Agreements." Our return of capital to shareholders is more fully described below under "Stock Repurchase Program" and "Dividends to Shareholders," respectively.

We have three primary sources of available liquidity: cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations and available borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, which are described below. We believe we also have sufficient access to debt and equity markets to provide other sources of liquidity, if needed.

Capital Expenditures

The table below sets forth our net capital expenditures for property and equipment, including capital assets obtained through capital leases, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:



	March 31,			December 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016			2015
Land and structures	$	40,176		$	179,150		$	161,646		$	153,460
Tractors	21,602			123,152			114,166			128,911
Trailers	27,821			37,424			94,040			114,209
Technology	3,768			19,329			18,428			32,044
Other equipment and assets	7,191			23,070			29,661			36,987
Proceeds from sales	(347		)	(12,240		)	(10,541		)	(24,442		)
Total	$	100,211		$	369,885		$	407,400		$	441,169

Our capital expenditures varied based upon the projected increase in the number and size of our service center facilities necessary to support our plan for long-term growth, our planned tractor and trailer replacement cycle and forecasted tonnage and shipment growth. Expenditures for land and structures can be dependent upon the availability of land in the geographic areas where we are looking to expand. We expect to continue to maintain a high level of capital expenditures in order to support our long-term plan for market share growth.

We currently estimate capital expenditures will be approximately $555 million for the year ending December 31, 2018. Approximately $200 million is allocated for the purchase of service center facilities, construction of new service center facilities or expansion of existing service center facilities, subject to the availability of suitable real estate and the timing of construction projects; approximately $310 million is allocated for the purchase of tractors and trailers; and approximately $45 million is allocated for investments in technology and other assets. We expect to fund these capital expenditures primarily through cash flows from operations and our existing cash and cash equivalents. We believe our current sources of liquidity will be sufficient to satisfy our expected capital expenditures.

Stock Repurchase Program

Dividends to Shareholders

Our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.13 per share for the first quarter of 2018, and declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share in each quarter of fiscal year 2017.

Although we intend to pay a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock for the foreseeable future, the declaration of any future dividend is subject to approval by our Board of Directors, and is restricted by applicable state law limitations on distributions to shareholders, as well as certain covenants under our revolving credit facility. We anticipate that any future quarterly cash dividends will be funded through cash flows from operations and, if needed, borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Financing Agreements

The amounts outstanding and available borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement are presented below:



(In thousands)	March 31,			December 31,
	2018			2017
Facility limit	$	300,000		$	300,000
Line of credit borrowings	—			—
Outstanding letters of credit	(68,162		)	(71,368		)
Available borrowing capacity	$	231,838		$	228,632

With the exception of borrowings pursuant to the Credit Agreement, interest rates are fixed on all of our debt instruments. Therefore, short-term exposure to fluctuations in interest rates is limited to our line of credit facility. We do not currently use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.

Our senior note agreement and Credit Agreement contain customary covenants, including financial covenants that require us to observe a maximum ratio of debt to total capital and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Any future wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries of the Company would be required to guarantee payment of all of our obligations under these agreements. The Credit Agreement also includes a provision limiting our ability to make restricted payments, including dividends and payments for share repurchases, unless, among other conditions, no defaults or events of default are ongoing (or would be caused by such restricted payment).

A significant decrease in demand for our services could limit our ability to generate cash flow and affect our profitability. Most of our debt agreements have covenants that require stated levels of financial performance, which if not achieved could cause acceleration of the payment schedules. As of March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with these covenants. We do not anticipate a significant decline in business levels or financial performance that would cause us to violate any such covenants in the future, and we believe the combination of our existing Credit Agreement along with our additional borrowing capacity will be sufficient to meet foreseeable seasonal and long-term capital needs.

Critical Accounting Policies

In preparing our condensed financial statements, we applied the same critical accounting policies as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 that affect judgments and estimates of amounts recorded for certain assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses.

Seasonality

Our tonnage levels and revenue mix are subject to seasonal trends common in our industry, although other factors, such as macroeconomic changes, could cause variation in these trends. Our revenue and operating margins in the first and fourth quarters are typically lower than those during the second and third quarters due to reduced shipments during the winter months. Harsh winter weather or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, can also adversely impact our performance by reducing demand and increasing operating expenses. We believe seasonal trends will continue to impact our business.

Environmental Regulation

We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that focus on, among other things: the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the environment or their presence at our properties or in our vehicles; fuel storage tanks; transportation of certain materials; and the discharge or retention of storm water. Under specific environmental laws, we could also be held responsible for any costs relating to contamination at our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites, as well as costs associated with clean-up of accidents involving our vehicles. We do not believe that the cost of future compliance with current environmental laws or regulations will have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, competitive position or capital expenditures for the remainder of 2018 or fiscal year 2019. However, future changes to laws or regulations may adversely affect our operations and could result in unforeseen costs to our business.

Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking statements appear in this report, including, but not limited to, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in other written and oral statements made by or on behalf of us. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our goals, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation, availability of resources, future events and future financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements typically can be identified by such words as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar words or expressions. We caution readers that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and in other reports and statements that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein, including, but not limited to, the following:


•	the competitive environment with respect to industry capacity and pricing, including the use of fuel surcharges, which could negatively impact our total overall pricing strategy and our ability to cover our operating expenses;


•	our ability to collect fuel surcharges and the effectiveness of those fuel surcharges in mitigating the impact of fluctuating prices for diesel fuel and other petroleum-based products;


•	the negative impact of any unionization, or the passage of legislation or regulations that could facilitate unionization, of our employees;


•	the challenges associated with executing our growth strategy, including our ability to successfully consummate and integrate any acquisitions;


•	changes in our goals and strategies, which are subject to change at any time at our discretion;


•	various economic factors such as recessions, downturns in the economy, global uncertainty and instability, changes in U.S. social, political, and regulatory conditions or a disruption of financial markets, which may decrease demand for our services;


•	the impact of changes in tax laws, rates, guidance and interpretations, including those related to certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act;


•	increases in driver and maintenance technician compensation or difficulties attracting and retaining qualified drivers and maintenance technicians to meet freight demand;


•	our exposure to claims related to cargo loss and damage, property damage, personal injury, workers' compensation, group health and group dental, including increased premiums, adverse loss development, increased self-insured retention levels and claims in excess of insured coverage levels;


•	cost increases associated with employee benefits, including costs associated with employee healthcare plans;


•	the availability and cost of capital for our significant ongoing cash requirements;


•	the availability and cost of new equipment and replacement parts, including regulatory changes and supply constraints that could impact the cost of these assets;


•	decreases in demand for, and the value of, used equipment;


•	the availability and cost of diesel fuel;


•	the costs and potential liabilities related to compliance with, or violations of, existing or future governmental laws and regulations, including environmental laws, engine emissions standards, hours-of-service for our drivers, driver fitness requirements and new safety standards for drivers and equipment;


•	the costs and potential liabilities related to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business, some of which include class-action allegations;


•	the costs and potential liabilities related to governmental proceedings, inquiries, notices or investigations;


•	the costs and potential liabilities related to our international business relationships;


•	the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance with, or violations of, current and future rules issued by the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the "FMCSA") and other regulatory agencies,


•	the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance associated with addressing interoperability between legacy electronic automatic on-board recording devices and electronic logging devices (“ELDs”) that comply with FMCSA’s ELD regulations and guidance;


•	seasonal trends in the less-than-truckload industry, including harsh weather conditions and disasters;


•	our dependence on key employees;


•	the concentration of our stock ownership with the Congdon family;


•	the costs and potential adverse impact associated with future changes in accounting standards or practices;


•	potential costs associated with cyber incidents and other risks, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware or other damage;


•	failure to keep pace with developments in technology, any disruption to our technology infrastructure, or failures of essential services upon which our technology platforms rely, which could cause us to incur costs or result in a loss of business;


•	the costs and potential adverse impact associated with transitional challenges in upgrading or enhancing our technology systems;


•	damage to our reputation through unfavorable publicity;


•	the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance with anti-terrorism measures on our business;


•	dilution to existing shareholders caused by any issuance of additional equity;


•	the impact of a quarterly cash dividend or the failure to declare future cash dividends;


•	fluctuations in the market value of our common stock;


•	the impact of certain provisions in our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and Virginia law that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of us or a change in our management; and


•	other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC.

Our forward-looking statements are based upon our beliefs and assumptions using information available at the time the statements are made. We caution the reader not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as (i) these statements are neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and (ii) the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and projections about future events may differ materially from actual results. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made, except as otherwise required by law.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to our market risk exposures since our most recent fiscal year end. For a discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures


a)	Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (b) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.


b)	Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in or addressing various legal proceedings and claims, governmental inquiries, notices and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and have not been fully adjudicated, some of which may be covered in whole or in part by insurance. Certain of these matters include class-action allegations. We do not believe that the resolution of any of these matters, including the matter described below, will have a material adverse effect upon our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On March 29, 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a Finding and Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to us, alleging violations of the Truck and Bus Regulation and the Drayage Truck Regulation as promulgated by the California Air Resources Board. The NOV alleges, among other things, that we failed to (i) timely install diesel particulate filters on certain diesel-fueled vehicles that we owned and operated in California; and (ii) verify the installation of diesel particulate filters on certain diesel-fueled vehicles that we caused to be operated in California. We expect that this matter will result in monetary sanctions to us that exceed $100,000; however, we do not believe it is reasonably possible that this matter would result in a loss that would have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report and in our other reports and statements that we file with the SEC, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, careful consideration should be given to the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

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

The following table provides information regarding our repurchases of our common stock during the first quarter of 2018:



ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Programs
	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share
January 1-31, 2018	—	$	—	—	$	191,959,458
February 1-28, 2018	62,399 (1)	$	137.28	58,043	$	183,959,798
March 1-31, 2018	63,944	$	145.43	63,944	$	174,660,648
Total	126,343	$	141.41	121,987

(1) This amount includes 4,356 shares of our common stock surrendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of employee restricted stock awards granted under our 2016 Stock Incentive Plan.

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed as a part of this report.

EXHIBIT INDEX

TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q



Exhibit No.	Description

31.1	Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2	Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101	The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed on , May 7, 2018, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Condensed Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, (ii) the Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iii) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and (iv) the Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

Our SEC file number reference for documents filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is 0-19582.

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.




		OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

DATE:	May 7, 2018	/s/ ADAM N. SATTERFIELD
		Adam N. Satterfield
		Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

DATE:	May 7, 2018	/s/ KIMBERLY S. MAREADY
		Kimberly S. Maready
		Vice President - Accounting and Finance (Principal Accounting Officer)