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PAM TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

form10k_2008.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
or
o  
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ________to________

Commission File No. 0-15057


P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
71-0633135
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

297 West Henri De Tonti Blvd, Tontitown, Arkansas 72770
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 
 (479) 361-9111
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value
 
NASDAQ Global Market

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes  o
 
No  þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes  o
 
No  þ

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  þ
 
No  o


 
 

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 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.

Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer þ
 
       
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
 

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

The aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed by reference to the average of the closing bid and asked prices of the common stock as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second quarter was $46,796,134. Solely for the purposes of this response, executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than five percent of the registrant’s common stock are considered the affiliates of the registrant at that date.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, as of March 5, 2009: 9,409,607 shares of $.01 par value common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2009 are incorporated by reference in answer to Part III of this report, with the exception of information regarding executive officers required under Item 10 of Part III, which information is included in Part I, Item 1. Such proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“this Report”) contains forward-looking statements, including statements about our operating and growth strategies, our expected financial position and operating results, industry trends, our capital expenditure and financing plans and similar matters. Such forward-looking statements are found throughout this Report, including under Item 1, Business, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. In those and other portions of this Report, the words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, our management, and our industry are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting our business. Actual results may differ materially. Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions about P.A.M. that may cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are described under the headings “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this Report might not transpire.

 
 

 


P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
FORM 10-K
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS


 
PART I
Page
1
8
11
11
11
11
     
 
PART II
 
 
12
14
 
15
28
29
 
56
56
57
     
 
PART III
 
58
58
 
58
59
59
     
 
PART IV
 
59
     
 
62
     
 
63


 
 

 

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “P.A.M.,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” mean P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

We are a truckload dry van carrier transporting general commodities throughout the continental United States, as well as in certain Canadian provinces. We also provide transportation services in Mexico under agreements with Mexican carriers. Our freight consists primarily of automotive parts, consumer goods, such as general retail store merchandise, and manufactured goods, such as heating and air conditioning units.

P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. is a holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in June 1986 which conducts operations through the following wholly owned subsidiaries: P.A.M. Transport, Inc., T.T.X., Inc., P.A.M. Dedicated Services, Inc., P.A.M. Logistics Services, Inc., Choctaw Express, Inc., Choctaw Brokerage, Inc., Transcend Logistics, Inc., Allen Freight Services, Inc., Decker Transport Co., Inc., East Coast Transport and Logistics, LLC, S & L Logistics, Inc., P.A.M. International, Inc. and P.A.M. Canada, Inc. Our operating authorities are held by P.A.M. Transport, Inc., P.A.M. Dedicated Services, Inc., Choctaw Express, Inc., Choctaw Brokerage, Inc., Allen Freight Services, Inc., T.T.X., Inc., Decker Transport Co., Inc., and East Coast Transport and Logistics, LLC.

We are headquartered and maintain our primary terminal and maintenance facilities and our corporate and administrative offices in Tontitown, Arkansas, which is located in northwest Arkansas, a major center for the trucking industry and where the support services (including warranty repair services) for most major truck and trailer equipment manufacturers are readily available.

Segment Financial Information

The Company's operations are all in the motor carrier segment and are aggregated into a single operating segment in accordance with the aggregation criteria presented in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131.

Operations

Our operations can generally be classified into truckload services or brokerage and logistics services. Truckload services include those transportation services in which we utilize company owned trucks or owner-operator owned trucks for the pickup and delivery of freight. The brokerage and logistics services consists of services such as transportation scheduling, routing, mode selection, transloading and other value added services related to the transportation of freight which may or may not involve the use of company owned or owner-operator owned equipment. Both our truckload operations and our brokerage and logistics operations have similar economic characteristics and are impacted by virtually the same economic factors as discussed elsewhere in this Report. Truckload services operating revenues, before fuel surcharges represented 89.6%, 90.4%, and 87.8% of total operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The remaining operating revenues, before fuel surcharge for the same periods were generated by brokerage and logistics services, representing 10.4%, 9.6%, and 12.2%, respectively. Approximately 99% of the Company's revenues are generated by operations conducted in the United States and all of the Company's assets are located or based in the United States.



Business and Growth Strategy

Our strategy focuses on the following elements:

Maintaining Dedicated Fleets in High Density Lanes. We strive to maximize utilization and increase revenue per truck while minimizing our time and empty miles between loads. In this regard, we seek to provide dedicated equipment to our customers where possible and to concentrate our equipment in defined regions and disciplined traffic lanes. Dedicated fleets in high density lanes enable us to:

 
·
maintain more consistent equipment capacity;

 
·
provide a high level of service to our customers, including time-sensitive delivery schedules;

 
·
attract and retain drivers; and

 
·
maintain a sound safety record as drivers travel familiar routes.

Providing Superior and Flexible Customer Service. Our wide range of services includes dedicated fleet services, logistics services, “just-in-time” delivery, two-man driving teams, cross-docking and consolidation programs, specialized trailers, and Internet-based customer access to delivery status. These services, combined with a decentralized regional operating strategy, allow us to quickly and reliably respond to the diverse needs of our customers, and provide an advantage in securing new business. We also maintain ISO 9002 certification to ensure that we operate in accordance with approved quality assurance standards.

Many of our customers depend on us to make delivery on a “just-in-time” basis, meaning that parts or raw materials are scheduled for delivery as they are needed on the manufacturer’s production line. The need for this service is a product of modern manufacturing and assembly methods that are designed to drastically decrease inventory levels and handling costs. Such requirements place a premium on the freight carrier’s delivery performance and reliability.

Employing Stringent Cost Controls. Throughout our organization, emphasis is placed on gaining efficiency in our processes with the primary goals of decreasing costs and improving customer satisfaction. Maintaining a high level of efficiency and prioritizing our focus on improvements allows us to minimize the number of non-driving personnel we employ and positively influence other overhead costs. Expenses are intensely scrutinized for opportunities for elimination, reduction or to further leverage our purchasing power to achieve more favorable pricing.

Making Strategic Acquisitions. We continually evaluate strategic acquisition opportunities, focusing on those that complement our existing business or that could profitably expand our business or services. Our operational integration strategy is to centralize administrative functions of acquired businesses at our headquarters, while maintaining the localized operations of acquired businesses. We believe that allowing acquired businesses to continue to operate under their pre-acquisition names and in their original regions allows such businesses to maintain driver loyalty and customer relationships.

Industry

According to the American Trucking Association’s “American Trucking Trends 2007-2008” report, the trucking industry transported approximately 70% of the total volume of freight transported in the United States during 2006, which equates to an all-time high carrying load of 10.7 billion tons, and $645.6 billion in revenue, representing 83.8% of the nation’s freight bill. The truckload industry is highly fragmented and is impacted by several economic and business factors, many of which are beyond the control of individual carriers. The state of the economy, coupled with equipment capacity levels, can impact freight rates. Volatility of various operating expenses, such as fuel and insurance, make the predictability of profit levels uncertain. Availability, attraction, retention and compensation for drivers also affect operating costs, as well as equipment utilization. In addition, the


capital requirements for equipment, coupled with potential uncertainty of used equipment values, impact the ability of many carriers to expand their operations. The current operating environment is characterized by the following:

·
Price increases by truck and trailer equipment manufacturers, volatile fuel costs, and intense competition for freight.

·
In recent years, many less profitable or undercapitalized carriers have been forced to consolidate or to exit the industry.

Competition

The trucking industry is highly competitive and includes thousands of carriers, none of which dominates the market in which the Company operates. The Company's market share is less than 1% and we compete primarily with other irregular route medium- to long-haul truckload carriers, with private carriage conducted by our existing and potential customers, and, to a lesser extent, with the railroads. Increased competition has resulted from deregulation of the trucking industry. We compete on the basis of quality of service and delivery performance, as well as price. Many of the other irregular route long-haul truckload carriers have substantially greater financial resources, own more equipment or carry a larger total volume of freight as compared to the Company.

Marketing and Significant Customers

Our marketing emphasis is directed to that portion of the truckload market which is generally service-sensitive, as opposed to being solely price competitive. We seek to become a “core carrier” for our customers in order to maintain high utilization and capitalize on recurring revenue opportunities. Our marketing efforts are diversified and designed to gain access to dedicated fleet services (including those in Mexico and Canada), domestic regional freight traffic, and cross-docking and consolidation programs.

Our marketing efforts are conducted by a sales staff of 10 employees who are located in our major markets and supervised from our headquarters. These individuals work to improve profitability by maintaining an even flow of freight traffic (taking into account the balance between originations and destinations in a given geographical area) and high utilization, and minimizing movement of empty equipment.

Our five largest customers, for which we provide carrier services covering a number of geographic locations, accounted for approximately 49%, 56% and 59% of our total revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. General Motors Corporation accounted for approximately 31%, 38% and 41% of our revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

We also provide transportation services to other manufacturers who are suppliers for automobile manufacturers. Approximately 40%, 49% and 52% of our revenues were derived from transportation services provided to the automobile industry during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Revenue Equipment

At December 31, 2008, we operated a fleet of 1,839 trucks and 4,809 trailers. We operate late-model, well-maintained premium trucks to help attract and retain drivers, promote safe operations, minimize maintenance and repair costs, and improve customer service by minimizing service interruptions caused by breakdowns. We evaluate our equipment purchasing decisions based on factors such as initial cost, useful life, warranty terms, expected maintenance costs, fuel economy, driver comfort, customer needs, manufacturer support, and resale value. Our current policy is to replace most of our trucks at 500,000 miles, which normally occurs 30 to 48 months after purchase.


We have historically contracted with owner-operators to provide transportation services for a small portion of our business. Owner-operators provide their own trucks and are contractually responsible for all associated expenses, including financing costs, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and taxes, among other things. They are also responsible for maintaining compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Administration regulations. We believe that utilizing owner-operators complements our recruiting efforts and offers greater flexibility in responding to fluctuations in customer demand. At December 31, 2008, the Company had 33 owner-operators under contract.

During 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed a three-phase strategy to reduce engine emissions from heavy-duty vehicles through a combination of advanced emissions control technologies and diesel fuel with a reduced sulfur content. Each phase and its effect on the Company’s operations, if known, are described below.

The first phase (Phase I) mandated new engine emission standards for all model year 2004 heavy-duty trucks; however, through agreements with heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers, the effective date was accelerated to October 1, 2002. Therefore, effective October 1, 2002, all newly manufactured truck engines had to comply with the new engine emission standards. All truck engines manufactured prior to October 1, 2002 were not subject to these new standards. As of December 31, 2008, the majority of our Company-owned truck fleet consisted of trucks with engines that comply with these emission standards. The Company has experienced a reduction in fuel efficiency and increased depreciation expense due to the higher cost of trucks with these new engines.

In the second phase (Phase II), effective January 1, 2007, the EPA mandated a new set of more stringent emission standards for vehicles powered by diesel fuel engines manufactured in 2007 through 2009. These new engines have been designed for and require the use of a more costly type of fuel known as ultra-low-sulfur-diesel (“ULSD”) which, according to EPA estimates, cost from $0.04 to $0.05 more per gallon due to increased refining costs. The EPA also mandated that refiners and importers nationwide must ensure that at least 80% of the volume of the highway diesel fuel they produce or import is ULSD-compliant by June 1, 2006. However, the EPA does not require service stations and truck stops to sell ULSD fuel. Therefore, it is possible that ULSD fuel might not be available in a particular area in which the Company operates. A majority of the Company’s current truck fleet can be fueled with either ULSD or low-sulfur diesel (“LSD”), but additional future purchases of trucks which contain 2007 or later diesel engines will require the use of ULSD fuel which may result in lower fuel economy as the process that removes sulfur can also reduce the energy content of the fuel. As of December 31, 2008, 640 trucks in our Company-owned truck fleet consisted of trucks with engines that comply with the Phase II emission standards and require the use of ULSD. During 2009, the Company expects to take delivery of 38 new trucks, all of which will contain engines compliant with the Phase II emission standards requiring the use of ULSD. As compared to our current Company-owned truck fleet which contain primarily Phase I diesel engines, trucks powered by the Phase II compliant diesel engines have a higher purchase price and as a result, we expect that our depreciation expense will increase as we continue to replace older trucks with trucks powered by the Phase II diesel engines. We also expect that these Phase II diesel engines will result in higher maintenance costs. To the extent we are unable to offset these anticipated increased costs with rate increases charged to customers or offsetting cost savings in other areas, our results of operations would be adversely affected.

During the third phase (Phase III), effective in 2010, final emission standards become effective and LSD fuel will no longer be available for highway use. The EPA requires that by June 1, 2010 all diesel fuel imported or produced must be ULSD-compliant as it phases out LSD fuel availability by December 1, 2010 when all highway diesel fuel must be ULSD fuel. We are unable at this time to determine the increase in acquisition and operating costs of trucks powered by the Phase III compliant engines, but we expect that the engines produced under the final standards will be less fuel-efficient and have higher acquisition and maintenance costs than either the Phase I or Phase II compliant engines.



Technology

We have installed Qualcomm Omnitracs™ display units in all of our trucks. The Omnitracs system is a satellite-based global positioning and communications system that allows fleet managers to communicate directly with drivers. Drivers can provide location status and updates directly to our computer system which increases productivity and convenience. The Omnitracs system provides us with accurate estimated time of arrival information, which optimizes load selection and service levels to our customers. In order to optimize our truck-to-trailer ratio, we have also installed Qualcomm TrailerTracs™ tracking units in all of our trailers. The TrailerTracs system is a trailer tracking product that enables us to more efficiently track the location of trailers in our inventory.

Our computer system manages the information provided by the Qualcomm devices to provide us with real-time information regarding the location, status and load assignment of all of our equipment, which permits us to better meet delivery schedules, respond to customer inquiries and match equipment with the next available load. Our system also provides real-time information electronically to our customers regarding the status of freight shipments and anticipated arrival times. This system provides our customers flexibility and convenience by extending supply chain visibility through electronic data interchange, the Internet and e-mail.

Maintenance

We have a strictly enforced comprehensive preventive maintenance program for our trucks and trailers. Inspections and various levels of preventive maintenance are performed at set mileage intervals on both trucks and trailers. A maintenance and safety inspection is performed on all vehicles each time they return to a terminal.

Our trucks carry full warranty coverage for at least three years or 350,000 miles. Extended warranties are negotiated with the truck manufacturer and manufacturers of major components, such as engine, transmission and differential manufacturers, for up to four years or 500,000 miles. Our trailers carry full warranties by the manufacturer and major component manufacturers for up to five years.

Employees

At December 31, 2008, we employed 2,931 persons, of whom 2,493 were drivers, 151 were maintenance personnel, 156 were employed in operations, 12 were employed in marketing, 61 were employed in safety and personnel, and 58 were employed in general administration and accounting. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining unit and we believe that our employee relations are good.

Drivers

At December 31, 2008, we utilized 2,493 company drivers in our operations. We also had 33 owner-operators under contract compensated on a per mile basis. Our drivers are compensated on the basis of miles driven, loading and unloading, extra stops and layovers in transit. Drivers can earn bonuses by recruiting other qualified drivers who become employed by us and both cash and non-cash prizes are awarded for consecutive periods of safe, accident-free driving. All of our drivers are recruited, screened, drug tested and trained and are subject to the control and supervision of our operations and safety departments. Our driver training program stresses the importance of safety and reliable, on-time delivery. Drivers are required to report to their driver managers daily and at the earliest possible moment when any condition en route occurs that might delay their scheduled delivery time.

In addition to strict application screening and drug testing, before being permitted to operate a vehicle our drivers must undergo classroom instruction on our policies and procedures, safety techniques as taught by the Smith System of Defensive Driving, and the proper operation of equipment, and must pass both written and road tests. Instruction in defensive driving and safety techniques continues after hiring, with seminars at several of our terminals. At December 31, 2008, we employed 61 persons on a full-time basis in our driver recruiting, training and safety instruction programs.


Historically, intense competition in the trucking industry for qualified drivers has resulted in additional expense to recruit and retain an adequate supply of drivers, and has had a negative impact on the industry. In prior years, our operations have also been impacted and from time to time we have experienced under-utilization and increased expenses due to a shortage of qualified drivers. During 2008, the general economic downturn reduced the trucking industry’s demand for drivers and we did not experience decreases in utilization resulting from a driver shortage. However, we continue to place a high priority on the recruitment and retention of an adequate supply of qualified drivers.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Our executive officers are as follows:
 
 
Name
 
 
 
Age
 
 
 
Position
 
 
 
Years of service
Robert W. Weaver
 
59
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
26
W. Clif Lawson
 
55
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
 
24
Larry J. Goddard
 
50
 
Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
 
21

Each of our executive officers has held his present position with the Company for at least the last five years. The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Robert W. Weaver that expires on July 10, 2009. The Company has the option to extend the employment agreement for two consecutive years following the July 10, 2009 expiration date for an additional one year at a time. The Company has also entered into employment agreements with both W. Clif Lawson and Larry J. Goddard each of which expire on June 1, 2010. The Company has the option to extend these employment agreements for one additional year following the June 1, 2010 expiration date.

Internet Web Site

The Company maintains a web site where additional information concerning its business can be found. The address of that web site is www.pamt.com. The Company makes available free of charge on its Internet web site its Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files or furnishes such materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Seasonality

Our revenues do not exhibit a significant seasonal pattern due primarily to our varied customer mix. Operating expenses can be somewhat higher in the winter months primarily due to decreased fuel efficiency and increased maintenance costs associated with inclement weather. In addition, the automobile plants for which we transport a large amount of freight typically utilize scheduled shutdowns of two weeks in July and one week in December and the volume of freight we ship is reduced during such scheduled plant shutdowns.

Regulation

We are a common and contract motor carrier regulated by various federal and state agencies. We are subject to safety requirements prescribed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”). Such matters as weight and dimension of equipment are also subject to federal and state regulations. All of our drivers are required to obtain national driver’s licenses pursuant to the regulations promulgated by the DOT. Also, DOT regulations impose mandatory drug and alcohol testing of our drivers. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable regulatory requirements relating to our trucking business and operate with a “satisfactory” rating (the highest of three grading categories) from the DOT.


The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), a separate administration within the DOT charged with regulating motor carrier safety, issued a final rule on April 24, 2003 (“2003 rule”) that made several changes to the regulations that govern truck drivers' hours-of-service (“HOS”). These new federal regulations became effective on January 4, 2004. On July 16, 2004, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (the “Court”) rejected these new hours of service rules for truck drivers that had been in place since January 2004 because it agreed that the FMCSA had failed to address the impact of the rules on the health of drivers as required by Congress. In addition, the Court’s ruling noted other areas of concern including the increase in driving hours from 10 hours to 11 hours, the exception that allows drivers in trucks with sleeper berths to split their required rest periods, the new rule allowing drivers to reset their 70-hour clock to 0 hours after 34 consecutive hours off duty, and the decision by the FMCSA not to require the use of electronic onboard recorders to monitor driver compliance. However, to avoid industry disruption and burden on the state enforcement, Congress enacted section 7(f) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004. This section provided that the 2003 rule would remain in effect until a new rule addressed the Court’s issues or until September 30, 2005, whichever occurred first. On January 24, 2005, the FMCSA re-proposed its April 2003 HOS rules, adding references to how the rules would affect driver health, but made no other changes to the regulations. The FMCSA sought public comments by March 10, 2005 on what changes to the rule, if any, were necessary to respond to the concerns raised by the Court, and to provide data or studies that would support changes to, or continued use of, the 2003 rule. On August 25, 2005, the FMCSA published a final HOS rule (“2005 rule”) that retained most of the provisions of the 2003 rule with the most significant exception being that of requiring drivers that utilize the sleeper berth provision to take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth during their ten hours off-duty. Under the 2003 rule, drivers were allowed to split their ten hour off-duty time in the sleeper berth into two periods, provided neither period was less than two hours.

The 2005 rule was later challenged in court on several grounds and in July 2007 the Court vacated the 11-hour driving time and 34-hour restart provisions, stating that the FMCSA methodologies, used in the studies regarding how the 2003 rules affected driver health, were not disclosed in time for public comment and that the explanation for some of its critical elements were not provided. In an order filed on September 28, 2007, the Court granted a 90-day stay of the mandate and directed that issuance of the mandate be withheld until December 27, 2007. In an effort to prevent disruption to enforcement and compliance with HOS rules when the stay expires, as well as possible effects on timely delivery of essential goods and services, the FMCSA issued an interim final rule (“IFR”) effective December 27, 2007 which allows commercial motor vehicle drivers up to 11 hours of driving time within a 14-hour, non-extendable window from the start of the workday, following 10 consecutive hours off duty (11-hour limit). This IFR also allows motor carriers and drivers to restart calculations of the weekly on-duty time limits after the driver has at least 34 consecutive hours off duty (34-hour restart provision). During November 2008, the FMCSA announced its final HOS rule and the rule remains unchanged from the previous IFR. This final rule became effective on January 19, 2009.

In general, more restrictive sleeper berth provisions may impact multiple-stop shipments and those shipments incurring delays in loading or unloading. Improper planning on such shipments could result in delivery delays and equipment utilization inefficiencies.

Our motor carrier operations are also subject to environmental laws and regulations, including laws and regulations dealing with underground fuel storage tanks, the transportation of hazardous materials and other environmental matters, and our operations involve certain inherent environmental risks. We maintain three bulk fuel storage and fuel islands. Our operations involve the risks of fuel spillage or seepage, environmental damage, and hazardous waste disposal, among others. We have instituted programs to monitor and control environmental risks and assure compliance with applicable environmental laws. As part of our safety and risk management program, we periodically perform internal environmental reviews so that we can achieve environmental compliance and avoid environmental risk. We transport a minimum amount of environmentally hazardous substances and, to date, have experienced no significant claims for hazardous materials shipments. If we should fail to comply with applicable regulations, we could be subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability.


Company operations conducted in industrial areas, where truck terminals and other industrial activities are conducted, and where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination have occurred, potentially expose us to claims that we contributed to the environmental contamination.

We believe we are currently in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations and that the cost of compliance has not materially affected results of operations.

In addition to environmental regulations directly affecting our business, we are also subject to the effects of new truck engine design requirements implemented by the EPA. See "Revenue Equipment" above.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Set forth below and elsewhere in this Report and in other documents we file with the SEC are risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this Report.

Our business is subject to general economic and business factors that are largely beyond our control, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

These factors include significant increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, excess capacity in the trucking industry, surpluses in the market for used equipment, interest rates, fuel taxes, license and registration fees, insurance premiums, self-insurance levels, and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors.

We are also affected by recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries, such as the automotive industry, where we have a significant concentration of customers. Economic conditions may adversely affect our customers and their ability to pay for our services.

We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry, and our business may suffer if we are unable to adequately address downward pricing pressures and other factors that may adversely affect our ability to compete with other carriers.

Numerous competitive factors could impair our ability to operate at an acceptable profit. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

·
we compete with many other truckload carriers of varying sizes and, to a lesser extent, with less-than-truckload carriers and railroads, some of which have more equipment and greater capital resources than we do;

·
some of our competitors periodically reduce their freight rates to gain business, especially during times of reduced growth rates in the economy, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase freight rates, maintain our margins or maintain significant growth in our business;

·
many customers reduce the number of carriers they use by selecting so-called “core carriers” as approved service providers, and in some instances we may not be selected;

·
many customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, and this process may depress freight rates or result in the loss of some of our business to competitors;

·
the trend toward consolidation in the trucking industry may create other large carriers with greater financial resources and other competitive advantages relating to their size and with whom we may have difficulty competing;


·
advances in technology require increased investments to remain competitive, and our customers may not be willing to accept higher freight rates to cover the cost of these investments;

·
competition from Internet-based and other logistics and freight brokerage companies may adversely affect our customer relationships and freight rates; and

·
economies of scale that may be passed on to smaller carriers by procurement aggregation providers may improve their ability to compete with us.

We are highly dependent on our major customers, the loss of one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

A significant portion of our revenue is generated from our major customers. For 2008, our top five customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 49% of our revenue, and our largest customer, General Motors Corporation, accounted for approximately 31% of our revenue. We also provide transportation services to other manufacturers who are suppliers for automobile manufacturers. As a result, the concentration of our business within the automobile industry is greater than the concentration in a single customer. Approximately 40% of our revenues for 2008 were derived from transportation services provided to the automobile industry.

Generally, we do not have long-term contractual relationships with our major customers, and we cannot assure that our customer relationships will continue as presently in effect. A reduction in or termination of our services by our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Ongoing insurance and claims expenses could significantly reduce our earnings.

Our future insurance and claims expenses might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. The Company is self insured for health and workers compensation insurance coverage up to certain limits. If medical costs continue to increase, or if the severity or number of claims increase, and if we are unable to offset the resulting increases in expenses with higher freight rates, our earnings could be materially and adversely affected.

We may be unable to successfully integrate businesses we acquire into our operations.

Integrating businesses we acquire may involve unanticipated delays, costs or other operational or financial problems. Successful integration of the businesses we acquire depends on a number of factors, including our ability to transition acquired companies to our management information systems. In integrating businesses we acquire, we may not achieve expected economies of scale or profitability or realize sufficient revenues to justify our investment. We also face the risk that an unexpected problem at one of the companies we acquire will require substantial time and attention from senior management, diverting management’s attention from other aspects of our business. We cannot be certain that our management and operational controls will be able to support us as we grow.

Difficulty in attracting drivers could affect our profitability and ability to grow.

Periodically, the transportation industry experiences difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers, including independent contractors, resulting in intense competition for drivers. We have from time to time experienced under-utilization and increased expenses due to a shortage of qualified drivers. If we are unable to  attract drivers when needed or contract with independent contractors when needed, we could be required to further adjust our driver compensation packages or let trucks sit idle, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability.



If we are unable to retain our key employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.

We are highly dependent upon the services of the following key employees: Robert W. Weaver, our President and Chief Executive Officer; W. Clif Lawson, our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Larry J. Goddard, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. We do not maintain key-man life insurance on any of these executives. The loss of any of their services could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future profitability. We must continue to develop and retain a core group of managers if we are to realize our goal of expanding our operations and continuing our growth. We cannot assure that we will be able to do so.

We have significant ongoing capital requirements that could affect our profitability if we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations.

The trucking industry is capital intensive. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations in the future, we may have to limit our growth, enter into financing arrangements, or operate our revenue equipment for longer periods, any of which could have a material adverse affect on our profitability.

Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result in substantial fines or penalties.

We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with the handling of hazardous materials, underground fuel storage tanks, and discharge and retention of storm-water. We operate in industrial areas, where truck terminals and other industrial activities are located, and where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination could occur. We also maintain bulk fuel storage and fuel islands at three of our facilities. Our operations involve the risks of fuel spillage or seepage, environmental damage, and hazardous waste disposal, among others. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations, it could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results. If we should fail to comply with applicable environmental regulations, we could be subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability.

We operate in a highly regulated industry and increased costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The DOT and various state agencies exercise broad powers over our business, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety, and financial reporting. We may also become subject to new or more restrictive regulations relating to fuel emissions, drivers’ hours in service, and ergonomics. Compliance with such regulations could substantially impair equipment productivity and increase our operating expenses.

The EPA adopted new emission control regulations, which require progressive reductions in exhaust emissions from diesel engines through 2010. In part to offset the costs of compliance with the new EPA engine design requirements, some manufacturers have increased new equipment prices and eliminated or sharply reduced the price of repurchase or trade-in commitments. If new equipment prices were to increase, or if the price of repurchase commitments by equipment manufacturers were to decrease more than anticipated, we may be required to increase our depreciation and financing costs and/or retain some of our equipment longer, which may result in an increase in maintenance expenses. To the extent we are unable to offset any such increases in expenses with rate increases or cost savings, our results of operations would be adversely affected. If our fuel or maintenance expenses were to increase as a result of our use of the new, EPA-compliant engines, and we are unable to offset such increases with fuel surcharges or higher freight rates, our results of operations would be adversely affected. Further, our business and operations could be adversely impacted if we experience problems with the reliability of the new engines. Although we have not experienced any significant reliability issues with these engines to date, the expenses associated with the trucks containing these engines have been slightly elevated, primarily as a result of lower fuel efficiency and higher depreciation.


Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

Our executive offices and primary terminal facilities, which we own, are located in Tontitown, Arkansas. These facilities are located on approximately 49.3 acres and consist of 114,403 square feet of office space and maintenance and storage facilities.

Our subsidiaries lease facilities in Jacksonville, Florida; Breese and Effingham, Illinois; Paulsboro, New Jersey; North Jackson, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and El Paso, Texas. Our terminal facilities in Columbia, Mississippi; Irving and Laredo, Texas; North Little Rock, Arkansas; and Willard, Ohio are owned. The leased facilities are leased primarily on contractual terms typically ranging from one to five years. As of December 31, 2008, the following provides a summary of the ownership and types of activities conducted at each location:

 
Location
Own/
Lease
Dispatch
Office
Maintenance
Facility
Safety
Training
Tontitown, Arkansas
Own
Yes
Yes
Yes
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Own
No
Yes
No
Jacksonville, Florida
Lease
Yes
Yes
Yes
Breese, Illinois
Lease
Yes
No
No
Effingham, Illinois
Lease
No
Yes
No
Columbia, Mississippi
Own
No
No
No
Paulsboro, New Jersey
Lease
Yes
No
No
North Jackson, Ohio
Lease
Yes
Yes
Yes
Willard, Ohio
Own
Yes
Yes
Yes
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Lease
Yes
Yes
Yes
El Paso, Texas
Lease
No
No
No
Irving, Texas
Own
Yes
Yes
Yes
Laredo, Texas
Own
Yes
Yes
No

We also have access to trailer drop and relay stations in various other locations across the country. We lease certain of these facilities on a month-to-month basis from an affiliate of our largest shareholder.

We believe that all of the properties that we own or lease are suitable for their purposes and adequate to meet our needs.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

The nature of our business routinely results in litigation, primarily involving claims for personal injuries and property damage incurred in the transportation of freight. We believe that all such routine litigation is adequately covered by insurance and that adverse results in one or more of those cases would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

No matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008.



PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol PTSI. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the range of the high and low sales prices per share for our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 16.85     $ 13.82  
Second Quarter
    16.90       9.22  
Third Quarter
    15.82       9.82  
Fourth Quarter
    11.08       3.15  

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 25.19     $ 19.29  
Second Quarter
    22.48       16.98  
Third Quarter
    19.31       17.43  
Fourth Quarter
    18.69       13.80  

As of February 27, 2009, there were approximately 148 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividends

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. The policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings for the expansion and development of our business and the payment of our debt service obligations. Future dividend policy and the payment of dividends, if any, will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of circumstances then existing, including our earnings, financial condition and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.

Repurchases of Common Stock

On April 11, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to repurchase up to 600,000 shares of its common stock during the six month period ending October 11, 2005. These 600,000 shares were all repurchased by September 30, 2005. On September 6, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to extend the stock repurchase program until September 6, 2006 and to include up to an additional 900,000 shares of its common stock. The Company repurchased 458,600 shares of these additional shares prior to the September 6, 2006 program expiration date.

On May 30, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to repurchase up to 600,000 shares of its common stock during the twelve month period following the announcement. Subsequent to the date of the announcement and through the remainder of 2007, the Company repurchased 471,500 shares of its common stock. The remaining 128,500 shares authorized were repurchased during the first three months of 2008.

On June 13, 2008, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the Company to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of its common stock during the twelve month period following the announcement. Subsequent to the date of the announcement and through the remainder of 2008, the Company repurchased 300,000 shares of its common stock, with 254,200 shares being repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2008.


The following table summarizes the Company's common stock repurchases during the fourth quarter of 2008. No shares were purchased during the quarter other than through this program, and all purchases were made by or on behalf of the Company and not by any “affiliated purchaser”.

Period
 
Total number of shares
 purchased
   
Average price paid per share
   
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced
plans or programs
   
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
 
October 1-31, 2008
    49,700     $ 9.78       49,700       204,500  
November 1-30, 2008
    17,300       6.77       17,300       187,200  
December 1-31, 2008
    187,200       4.81       187,200       -  
Total
    254,200     $ 5.91       254,200       -  

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See Part III, Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this Annual Report for a presentation of compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

Performance Graph

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock against the cumulative total return of the CRSP Total Return Index for the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. companies) and the CRSP Total Return Index for the Nasdaq Trucking and Transportation Stocks for the period of five years commencing December 31, 2003 and ending December 31, 2008. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock and in each index was $100 on December 31, 2003 and that all dividends were reinvested.
 
 



Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The following selected financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report.

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
   
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Operating revenues:
                             
   Operating revenues, before fuel surcharge
  $ 323,272     $ 351,701     $ 351,373     $ 326,353     $ 309,475  
   Fuel surcharge
    83,451       57,140       48,896       34,527       15,591  
Total operating revenues
    406,723       408,841       400,269       360,880       325,066  
                                         
Operating expenses:
                                       
   Salaries, wages and benefits
    123,961       135,606       127,539       122,005       119,519  
   Fuel expense
    140,531       114,242       97,286       81,017       55,645  
   Rent and purchased transportation
    39,887       38,718       43,844       39,074       38,938  
   Depreciation and amortization
    37,477       38,759       33,929       31,376       30,016  
   Goodwill impairment charge
    15,413       -       -       -       -  
   Operating supplies
    30,514       30,845       25,682       23,114       21,718  
   Operating taxes and licenses
    15,937       17,520       16,421       15,776       15,488  
   Insurance and claims
    16,018       17,591       16,389       15,992       15,820  
   Communications and utilities
    2,869       3,113       2,642       2,648       2,690  
   Other
    5,119       7,130       5,426       6,205       5,131  
   Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of property
    952       (48 )     47       147       915  
Total operating expenses
    428,678       403,476       369,205       337,354       305,880  
Operating (loss) income
    (21,955 )     5,365       31,064       23,526       19,186  
Non-operating (loss) income
    (4,996 )     1,707       448       477       464  
Interest expense
    (2,429 )     (2,453 )     (1,475 )     (1,881 )     (1,758 )
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (29,380 )     4,619       30,037       22,122       17,892  
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (10,615 )     1,966       12,073       8,983       7,304  
Net (loss) income
  $ (18,765 )   $ 2,653     $ 17,964     $ 13,139     $ 10,588  
(Loss) earnings per common share:
                                       
Basic
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74     $ 1.20     $ 0.94  
Diluted
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74     $ 1.20     $ 0.94  
Average common shares outstanding – Basic
    9,683       10,238       10,296       10,966       11,298  
Average common shares outstanding – Diluted(1)
    9,683       10,239       10,302       10,976       11,324  
__________
(1)  
Diluted income per share for 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 assumes the exercise of stock options to purchase an aggregate of 0, 19,213, 55,738, 22,297 and 62,224 shares of common stock, respectively.



   
At December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
Balance Sheet Data:
 
(in thousands)
 
Total assets
  $ 290,361     $ 319,904     $ 314,246     $ 293,441     $ 285,349  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
    35,492       44,172       21,205       39,693       23,225  
Stockholders' equity
    155,477       179,377       185,028       164,762       168,543  
                                         
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
Operating Data:
                                       
Operating ratio (1)
    106.8 %     98.5 %     91.2 %     92.8 %     93.8 %
Average number of truckloads per week
    7,559       7,849       7,200       6,946       7,278  
Average miles per trip
    598       647       659       680       664  
Total miles traveled (in thousands)
    221,450       246,801       229,810       228,624       235,894  
Average miles per truck
    111,114       118,483       123,156       125,479       127,124  
Average revenue, before fuel surcharge per truck per day
  $ 662     $ 695     $ 778     $ 740     $ 684  
Average revenue, before fuel surcharge per loaded mile
  $ 1.41     $ 1.38     $ 1.43     $ 1.33     $ 1.19  
Empty mile factor
    7.3 %     6.5 %     5.9 %     5.5 %     4.7 %
                                         
At end of period:
                                       
Total company-owned/leased trucks
    1,839 (2)     2,055 (3)     1,998 (4)     1,792 (5)     1,857 (6)
Average age of trucks (in years)
    1.90       1.75       1.55       1.43       1.70  
Total trailers
    4,809       4,882       4,540       4,406       4,257  
Average age of trailers (in years)
    4.43       4.44       4.16       3.92       4.69  
Number of employees
    2,931       3,181       3,062       3,035       2,736  
__________
(1) Total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge as a percentage of operating revenues, before fuel surcharge.
(2) Includes 33 owner operator trucks; (3) Includes 55 owner operator trucks; (4) Includes 49 owner operator trucks.
(5) Includes 50 owner operator trucks; (6) Includes 85 owner operator trucks.

The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends during any of the periods presented above.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Business Overview

The Company's administrative headquarters are in Tontitown, Arkansas. From this location we manage operations conducted through our wholly owned subsidiaries based in various locations around the United States and Canada. The operations of these subsidiaries can generally be classified into either truckload services or brokerage and logistics services. Truckload services include those transportation services in which we utilize company owned trucks or owner-operator owned trucks. Brokerage and logistics services consist of services such as transportation scheduling, routing, mode selection, transloading and other value added services related to the transportation of freight which may or may not involve the usage of company owned or owner-operator owned equipment. Both our truckload operations and our brokerage/logistics operations have similar economic characteristics and are impacted by virtually the same economic factors as discussed elsewhere in this Report. All of the Company's operations are in the motor carrier segment.

For both operations, substantially all of our revenue is generated by transporting freight for customers and is predominantly affected by the rates per mile received from our customers, equipment utilization, and our percentage of non-compensated miles. These aspects of our business are carefully managed and efforts are continuously underway to achieve favorable results. Truckload services revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, represented 89.6%, 90.4%, and 87.8% of total revenues, excluding fuel surcharges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

The main factors that impact our profitability on the expense side are costs incurred in transporting freight for our customers. Currently, our most challenging costs include fuel, driver recruitment, training, wage and benefit costs, independent broker costs (which we record as purchased transportation), insurance, and maintenance and capital equipment costs.



In discussing our results of operations we use revenue, before fuel surcharge, (and fuel expense, net of surcharge), because management believes that eliminating the impact of this sometimes volatile source of revenue allows a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, approximately $83.5 million, $57.1 million and $48.9 million, respectively, of the Company's total revenue was generated from fuel surcharges. We also discuss certain changes in our expenses as a percentage of revenue, before fuel surcharge, rather than absolute dollar changes. We do this because we believe the high variable cost nature of certain expenses makes a comparison of changes in expenses as a percentage of revenue more meaningful than absolute dollar changes.

Results of Operations - Truckload Services
 
The following table sets forth, for truckload services, the percentage relationship of expense items to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, for the periods indicated. Fuel costs are shown net of fuel surcharges.

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Operating revenues, before fuel surcharge
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating expenses:
                       
   Salaries, wages and benefits
    42.1       42.0       40.6  
   Fuel expense, net of fuel surcharge
    19.9       18.2       16.0  
   Rent and purchased transportation
    3.2       2.5       1.7  
   Depreciation and amortization
    12.9       12.2       11.0  
   Goodwill impairment
    2.9       0.0       0.0  
   Operating supplies and expenses
    10.5       9.7       8.3  
   Operating taxes and licenses
    5.5       5.5       5.3  
   Insurance and claims
    5.5       5.5       5.3  
   Communications and utilities
    1.0       0.9       0.8  
   Other
    1.7       2.0       1.6  
   Loss on sale or disposal of property
    0.3       0.0       0.0  
Total operating expenses
    105.5       98.5       90.6  
Operating (loss) income
    (5.5 )     1.5       9.4  
Non-operating (loss) income
    (1.7 )     0.5       0.1  
Interest expense
    (0.8 )     (0.7 )     (0.4 )
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (8.0 )%     1.3 %     9.1 %

2008 Compared to 2007

For the year ended December 31, 2008, truckload services revenue, before fuel surcharges, decreased 8.9% to $289.6 million as compared to $317.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The decrease relates primarily to a decrease in the number of trucks utilized during 2008 as compared to 2007 and to a decrease in equipment utilization for the periods compared. During 2008 the number of trucks utilized decreased to an average count of 1,993 units compared to 2,083 units during 2007 as the Company has reduced its fleet size in response to current freight demand. During 2008, the Company also experienced a decrease in the average number of miles traveled per unit each work day from 488 miles during 2007 to 454 miles during 2008. Partially offsetting these decreases in revenue was an increase in the average rate charged per total mile. During 2008, the average rate charged to customers per total mile increased by $0.02 as compared to the average rate charged during 2007.

Salaries, wages and benefits increased from 42.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2007 to 42.1% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2008, however, based on a dollar comparison, salaries, wages and benefits decreased from $133.5 million during 2007 to $121.9 million during 2008 as the number of driver compensated miles decreased from 246.8 million miles during 2007 to 221.4 million miles during 2008. The increase, as a percentage of revenues, resulted primarily from the fixed cost characteristics of wages which do not fluctuate with changes in revenue, such as general and administrative, maintenance, and operations wages. Partially offsetting the increase was a decrease in driver lease expense and a decrease in amounts recorded for employee health insurance expense. Driver lease expense, which is a component of salaries, wages and benefits,


decreased from $7.8 million in 2007 to $6.2 million in 2008, as the average number of owner operators under contract decreased from 57 during 2007 to 44 during 2008. Employee health insurance expense decreased from $6.3 million in 2007 to $5.0 million in 2008 as a result of a decrease in the total number of covered employees and a decrease in the number and severity of health claims reported during 2008 as compared to 2007.

Fuel expense, net of fuel surcharge, increased from 18.2% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2007 to 19.9% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2008. On a dollar basis, fuel expense decreased from $57.8 million during 2007 to $57.5 million during 2008 as the number of gallons of diesel fuel purchased during 2008 were significantly lower than the number of gallons purchased during 2007 due to the decrease in miles traveled for the periods compared. The increase, as a percentage of revenue, was related to an increase in the average price paid per gallon of diesel fuel from $2.75 during 2007 to an average cost of $3.59 during 2008. Partially offsetting the increase related to the increase in average price paid per gallon of diesel fuel was an increase in amounts collected from customers in the form of fuel surcharges from an average of $1.24 per gallon of diesel fuel during 2007 to $1.98 per gallon during 2008. Fuel surcharge collections vary from period to period as they are generally based on changes in fuel prices from period to period so that during periods of rising fuel prices fuel surcharge collections increase while fuel surcharge collections decrease during periods of declining fuel prices.

Rent and purchased transportation increased from 2.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 to 3.2% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2008. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts paid to third party transportation service providers for intermodal services.

Depreciation and amortization increased from 12.2% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 to 12.9% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2008. The increase, as a percentage of revenue, relates primarily to the effect of lower revenues during 2008 as compared to 2007 and the fixed cost nature of depreciation expense. On a dollar basis, depreciation and amortization expense decreased from $38.7 million during 2007 to $37.5 million during 2008 as the average size of the Company-owned truck fleet decreased from 2,027 trucks during 2007 to 1,949 trucks during 2008.

Goodwill impairment was recorded during the Company’s annual test of goodwill impairment as required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The impairment of our goodwill was triggered by the sustained decline of our market capitalization caused by a decrease in our stock price during 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we determined that our market capitalization compared to the carrying amount of the Company indicated that impairment was probable and that the second step of impairment testing was necessary. The second step of our impairment test required the calculation of the fair value of the Company and the subsequent allocation of the fair value to the assets and liabilities of the Company. The excess fair value after this allocation is performed represents the implied goodwill of the Company, if any, and was zero at December 31, 2008. As a result we incurred an impairment expense of $15.4 million which represented the entire balance of our goodwill.

Operating supplies and expenses increased from 9.7% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2007 to 10.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2008. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts paid for tolls, new tire amortization, driver layovers, and miscellaneous operations expense. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in amounts paid to third party driver training schools which the Company uses to recruit new truck drivers.

Operating taxes and licenses remained constant at 5.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, for both 2007 and 2008. On a dollar basis however, operating taxes and licenses, which consists primarily of fuel taxes, decreased from $17.5 million during 2007 to $15.9 million during 2008. Fuel tax expense is primarily affected by the number of gallons of diesel fuel purchased which is directly related to the number of miles traveled. During 2008, a decrease in the number of miles traveled to 221.4 million in 2008 from 246.8 million miles in 2007, resulted in a decrease in the number of diesel fuel gallons purchased.

Insurance and claims expense remained constant at 5.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, for both 2007 and 2008. On a dollar basis however, insurance and claims expense decreased from $17.6 million during 2007 to $16.0 million during 2008. The decrease relates primarily to a decrease in auto liability insurance premiums which


are determined based on a negotiated rate-per-mile (“NRPM”) with the Company’s insurance carrier. During 2008, the number of miles used to calculate the premiums decreased to 221.4 million miles as compared to 2007 miles of 246.8 million and translated into a decrease in auto liability insurance expense. During October 2008, the Company’s auto liability insurance policy was renewed at a rate which represented a 2.6% reduction in the NRPM and this lower rate-per-mile has also contributed to the dollar-based decrease for the periods compared.

Other expenses decreased from 2.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2007 to 1.7% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2008. The decrease relates primarily to a decrease in various expenses such as advertising, miscellaneous operating supplies, uncollectible revenue, and rents.

The truckload services division operating ratio, which measures the ratio of operating expenses, net of fuel surcharges, to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, increased to 105.5% for 2008 from 98.5% for 2007.

Non-operating income and expenses increased from income of 0.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during  2007 to expense of 1.7% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2008. During 2008, certain of the Company’s investments in marketable equity securities were determined by management to be other-than-temporarily impaired and were therefore written down to fair market value. The amount of the year-to-date write-downs approximated $5.2 million and was determined based on the difference between recorded cost and quoted market prices at the end of the period.

2007 Compared to 2006

For the year ended December 31, 2007, truckload services revenue, before fuel surcharges, increased 3.0% to $317.9 million as compared to $308.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily due to an 11.6% increase in the average size of the Company’s truck fleet from 1,866 units in 2006 to 2,083 units in 2007. However, a 4.1% decrease in the average rate per total mile charged to customers from approximately $1.34 during 2006 to approximately $1.29 during 2007 and a decrease in the average daily miles traveled per unit from 509 miles in 2006 to 488 miles in 2007 partially offset revenue growth attributable to fleet growth.

Salaries, wages and benefits increased from 40.6% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 42.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 which represents an increase from $125.4 million in 2006 to $133.5 million in 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in driver wages as the number of company driver compensated miles increased from 229.8 million miles in 2006 to 246.8 million miles in 2007. Also contributing to the increase was an increase in driver lease expense and amounts recorded for employee health insurance expense. Driver lease expense, which is a component of salaries, wages and benefits, increased from $6.2 million in 2006 to $7.8 million in 2007, as the average number of owner operators under contract increased from 45 during 2006 to 57 during 2007. Employee health insurance expense increased from $4.3 million in 2006 to $6.3 million in 2007 as a result of healthcare cost increases, in general, and to an increase in the number and severity of health claims reported during 2007 as compared to 2006. Partially offsetting the increases discussed above was a decrease in amounts accrued for employee bonus plans during 2007 as compared to 2006.

Fuel expense increased from 16.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 18.2% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 which represents an increase from $49.4 million during 2006 to $57.8 million during 2007. The increase was primarily due to higher fuel prices as the average price paid per gallon of diesel fuel increased from $2.55 per gallon during 2006 to $2.76 per gallon during 2007. During periods of rising fuel prices the Company is often able to partially offset fuel cost increases through the use of fuel surcharges charged to customers. The Company collected fuel surcharges of approximately $47.8 million during 2006 compared to fuel surcharge collections of $56.4 million during 2007.

Rent and purchased transportation increased from 1.7% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 2.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts paid to third party transportation service providers for intermodal services.


Depreciation and amortization increased from 11.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 12.2% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 representing an increase from $33.9 million during 2006 to $38.7 million during 2007. Depreciation expense increased primarily due to an increase in the average size of the Company-owned truck fleet from 1,820 trucks during 2006 to 2,027 trucks during 2007. To a lesser extent, a larger trailer fleet and higher new trailer prices also contributed to the increase.

Operating supplies and expenses increased from 8.3% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 9.7% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts paid to third party driver training schools, driver layover pay, and for truck repairs expense.

Operating taxes and licenses increased from 5.3% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 5.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. Operating taxes and licenses, which consists primarily of fuel taxes, increased from $16.4 million during 2006 to $17.5 million during 2007. Fuel tax expense is primarily affected by the number of gallons of diesel fuel purchased which is primarily a factor of the number of miles traveled and the miles-per-gallon (“mpg”) achieved. During 2007, a decrease in the average mpg to 5.91 from an average mpg of 5.94 during 2006 combined with an increase in the number of miles traveled to 246.8 million in 2007 from 229.8 million miles in 2006, resulted in an increase in the number of diesel fuel gallons purchased.

Insurance and claims expense increased from 5.3% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 5.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase represents an increase from $16.4 million during 2006 to $17.6 million during 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in auto liability insurance premiums which are determined based on a negotiated rate-per-mile (“NRPM”) with the Company’s insurance carrier. During 2007, the number of miles used to calculate the premiums increased to 246.8 million miles from 229.8 million miles which translated into increased auto liability insurance expense. During October 2007 the Company’s auto liability insurance policy was renewed at a rate which represented a 5.5% reduction in the NRPM and since that time this lower rate-per-mile has helped to partially offset the increase in auto liability insurance expense associated with the increase in miles traveled during 2007 as compared to 2006.

Other expenses increased from 1.6% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 2.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts paid for outsourcing shop employees at the Company’s terminals during 2007 as compared to 2006. Also contributing to the increase was a one-time expense accrual of approximately $300,000 during December 2007 to settle a 1986 environmental remediation claim in which the Company was found partly liable for remediation.

The truckload services division operating ratio, which measures the ratio of operating expenses, net of fuel surcharges, to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, increased to 98.6% for 2007 from 90.6% for 2006.



Results of Operations - Logistics and Brokerage Services
 
The following table sets forth, for logistics and brokerage services, the percentage relationship of expense items to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, for the periods indicated. Brokerage service operations occur specifically in certain divisions; however, brokerage operations occur throughout the Company in similar operations having substantially similar economic characteristics. Rent and purchased transportation, which includes costs paid to third party carriers, are shown net of fuel surcharges.

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Operating revenues, before fuel surcharge
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating expenses:
                       
   Salaries, wages and benefits
    6.2       6.3       5.0  
   Fuel expense
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
   Rent and purchased transportation, net of fuel surcharge
    89.5       88.9       88.3  
   Depreciation and amortization
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
   Goodwill impairment
    20.6       0.0       0.0  
   Operating supplies and expenses
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
   Operating taxes and licenses
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
   Insurance and claims
    0.1       0.1       0.0  
   Communications and utilities
    0.3       0.3       0.3  
   Other
    1.0       2.1       1.4  
   Loss on sale or disposal of property
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
Total operating expenses
    117.7       97.7       95.0  
Operating (loss) income
    (17.7 )     2.3       5.0  
Non-operating (loss) income
    0.0       0.0       0.0  
Interest expense
    (0.2 )     (0.4 )     (0.4 )
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (17.9 )%     1.9 %     4.6 %

2008 Compared to 2007

For the year ended December 31, 2008, logistics and brokerage services revenues, before fuel surcharges, decreased 0.2% to $33.7 million as compared to $33.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The decrease was primarily the result of a slight decrease in the number of loads brokered during 2008 as compared to 2007.

Rent and purchased transportation increased from 88.9% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007 to 89.5% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2008. The increase relates to an increase in amounts charged by third party logistics and brokerage service providers primarily as a result of higher fuel costs.

Goodwill impairment was discovered during the Company’s annual test of goodwill impairment as required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The impairment of our goodwill was triggered by the sustained decline of our market capitalization caused by a decrease in our stock price during 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we determined that our market capitalization compared to the carrying amount of the Company indicated that impairment was probable and that the second step of impairment testing was necessary. The second step of our impairment test required the calculation of the fair value of the Company and the subsequent allocation of the fair value to the assets and liabilities of the Company. The excess fair value after this allocation is performed represents the implied goodwill of the Company, if any, and was zero at December 31, 2008. As a result we incurred an impairment expense of $15.4 million which represented the entire balance of our goodwill.

Other expenses decreased from 2.1% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, during 2007 to 1.0% of revenues, before fuel surcharges during 2008. The decrease relates to a decrease in non-compete amortization expense as the non-compete agreement with the former owner of East Coast Transport, LLC expired in January 2008.


The logistics and brokerage services division operating ratio, which measures the ratio of operating expenses, net of fuel surcharges, to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, increased to 117.7% for 2008 from 97.7% for 2007.

2007 Compared to 2006

For the year ended December 31, 2007, logistics and brokerage services revenues, before fuel surcharges, decreased 20.9% to $33.8 million as compared to $42.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease was primarily the result of a 22.2% decrease in the number of loads brokered during 2007 as compared to 2006.

Rent and purchased transportation increased from 88.3% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 88.9% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase relates to an increase in amounts charged by third party logistics and brokerage service providers primarily as a result of higher fuel costs.

Other expenses increased from 1.4% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2006 to 2.1% of revenues, before fuel surcharges, in 2007. The increase relates primarily to an increase in amounts considered as uncollectible revenue during 2007 as compared to 2006.

The logistics and brokerage services division operating ratio, which measures the ratio of operating expenses, net of fuel surcharges, to operating revenues, before fuel surcharges, increased to 97.7% for 2007 from 95.0% for 2006.

Results of Operations - Combined Services
 
2008 Compared to 2007

Income tax benefit was approximately $10.6 million in 2008 resulting in an effective rate of 36.1%, as compared to income tax expense of approximately $2.0 million in 2007 which resulted in an effective rate of 42.6%. The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the existence of partially non-deductible meal and incidental expense per-diem payments to company drivers. These per-diem payments may cause a significant difference in the Company’s effective tax rate from period-to-period as the proportion of non-deductible expenses to pre-tax net income increases or decreases.
 
We have determined, based on significant judgment, that a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets has not been necessary. Management evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets based upon negative and positive evidence available and, based on the evidence available at this time, management concludes that it is "more likely than not" that we will be able to realize the benefit of our deferred tax assets in the near future.
 
As of December 31, 2008, there were no unrecognized tax benefits and an adjustment to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for uncertain tax positions was not required as management believes that the Company’s significant tax positions taken in income tax returns filed or to be filed are supported by clear and unambiguous income tax laws.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal income tax laws as well as the income tax laws of multiple state jurisdictions. The major tax jurisdictions in which we operate generally provide for a deficiency assessment statute of limitation period of three years and as a result, the Company’s tax years 2005 through 2007 remain open to examination in those jurisdictions. During 2008, the Company has not recognized or accrued any interest or penalties related to uncertain income tax positions and does not believe it is reasonably possible that our unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within the next twelve months.



The combined net loss for all divisions was $18.8 million, or 5.8% of revenues, before fuel surcharge, for 2008 as compared to combined net income for all divisions of $2.7 million or 0.8% of revenues, before fuel surcharge, for 2007. The decrease in income combined with the effect of treasury stock repurchases resulted in a decrease in diluted earnings per share from $0.26 for 2007 to a diluted loss per share of $1.94 for 2008.

2007 Compared to 2006

Income tax expense was approximately $2.0 million in 2007 resulting in an effective rate of 42.6% as compared to income tax expense of approximately $12.1 million in 2006 which resulted in an effective rate of 40.2%. The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the existence of partially non-deductible meal and incidental expense per-diem payments to company drivers. These per-diem payments may cause a significant difference in the Company’s effective tax rate from period-to-period as the proportion of non-deductible expenses to pre-tax net income increases or decreases.
 
We have determined, based on significant judgment, that a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets has not been necessary. Management evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets based upon negative and positive evidence available and based on the evidence available at this time, management concludes that it is "more likely than not" that we will be able to realize the benefit of our deferred tax assets in the near future.
 
The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 addressed the determination of how tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under FIN 48, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. Upon adoption and as of December 31, 2007, there were no unrecognized tax benefits and an adjustment to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for uncertain tax positions was not required as management believes that the Company’s significant tax positions taken in income tax returns filed or to be filed are supported by clear and unambiguous income tax laws.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal income tax laws as well as the income tax laws of multiple state jurisdictions. The major tax jurisdictions in which we operate generally provide for a deficiency assessment statute of limitation period of three years and as a result, during 2007, the Company’s tax years 2004 through 2006 remained open to examination in those jurisdictions. During 2007, the Company did not recognize or accrue any interest or penalties related to uncertain income tax positions and did not believe it was reasonably possible that our unrecognized tax benefits would significantly change within the next twelve months.

Net income for all divisions was $2.7 million, or 0.8% of revenues, before fuel surcharge, for 2007 as compared to $18.0 million or 5.1% of revenues, before fuel surcharge, for 2006. The decrease in net income combined with the effect of treasury stock repurchases resulted in a decrease in diluted earnings per share to $0.26 for 2007 compared to $1.74 for 2006.


Quarterly Results of Operations

The following table presents selected consolidated financial information for each of our last eight fiscal quarters through December 31, 2008. The information has been derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements that, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the quarterly information.

   
Quarter Ended
 
   
Mar. 31,
2008
   
June 30,
2008
   
Sept. 30,
2008
   
Dec. 31,
2008
   
Mar. 31,
2007
   
June 30,
2007
   
Sept. 30,
2007
   
Dec. 31,
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
 
   
(in thousands, except earnings per share data)
 
Operating revenues
  $ 105,820     $ 110,930     $ 105,958     $ 84,014     $ 98,809     $ 106,700     $ 101,171     $ 102,162  
Total operating expenses
    109,786       112,460       107,240       99,190       96,475       102,528       100,688       103,785  
Operating (loss) income
    (3,966 )     (1,530 )     (1,282 )     (15,176 )     2,334       4,172       483       (1,623 )
Net (loss) income
    (2,828 )     (1,332 )     (3,181 )     (11,424 )     1,265       2,192       36       (840 )
(Loss) earnings per common share:
                                                               
Basic
  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (1.19 )   $ 0.12     $ 0.21     $ 0.00     $ (0.08 )
Diluted
  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (1.19 )   $ 0.12     $ 0.21     $ 0.00     $ (0.08 )

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The growth of our business has required, and will continue to require, a significant investment in new revenue equipment. Our primary sources of liquidity have been funds provided by operations, proceeds from the sales of revenue equipment, issuances of equity securities, and borrowings under our lines of credit and installment notes.

During 2008, we generated $40.6 million in cash from operating activities compared to $45.2 million and $60.7 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Investing activities used $48.3 million in cash during 2008 compared to $61.7 million and $42.7 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. The cash used in all three years related primarily to the purchase of revenue equipment (trucks and trailers) used in our operations. Financing activities provided $8.1 million in cash during 2008 compared to financing activities in 2007 and 2006 which provided $15.9 million and used $18.1 million, respectively. See the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 8 of this Report.

Our primary use of funds is for the purchase of revenue equipment. We typically use installment notes, our existing lines of credit on an interim basis, proceeds from the sale or trade of equipment, and cash flows from operations, to finance capital expenditures and repay long-term debt. During 2008 and 2007, we utilized cash on hand, installment notes, and our lines of credit to finance revenue equipment purchases of approximately $53.5 million and $72.6 million, respectively.

Occasionally we finance the acquisition of revenue equipment through installment notes with fixed interest rates and terms ranging from 12 to 48 months. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s subsidiaries had combined outstanding indebtedness under such installment notes of $45.7 million. These installment notes are payable in monthly installments ranging from 12 months to 36 months at a weighted average interest rate of 4.80%. At December 31, 2007, no such outstanding indebtedness existed under installment notes.

In order to maintain our truck and trailer fleet count it is often necessary to purchase replacement units and place them in service before trade units are removed from service. The timing of this process often requires the Company to pay for new units without any reduction in price for trade units. In this situation, the Company later receives payment for the trade units as they are delivered to the equipment vendor and have passed vendor inspection. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company received approximately $4.3 million and $5.9 million, respectively, for units delivered for trade.



During the first six months of 2008 we maintained two $30.0 million revolving lines of credit (Line A and Line B, respectively) with separate financial institutions. Amounts outstanding under Line B were paid in full on it’s maturity date of June 30, 2008 and was not renewed by the Company. Amounts outstanding under Line A bear interest at LIBOR (determined as of the first day of each month) plus 1.25% (3.15% at December 31, 2008), are secured by our accounts receivable and mature on May 31, 2009. However the Company has the intent and ability to extend the terms of this line of credit for an additional one year period until May 31, 2010. At December 31, 2008, outstanding advances on Line A were approximately $5.7 million, including $2.0 million in letters of credit, with availability to borrow $24.3 million.

Trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $14.6 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease was related to a general decrease in revenues, which flow through the trade accounts receivable account, during the quarter ending December 31, 2008 as compared to the revenues generated during the quarter ending December 31, 2007.

Accounts receivable-other at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $4.3 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease relates primarily to a decrease in amounts receivable from the Company’s third-party qualified intermediary. During 2007, the Company contracted with a third-party qualified intermediary in order to implement a like-kind exchange tax program. Under the program, dispositions of eligible trucks or trailers and acquisitions of replacement trucks or trailers are made in a form whereby any associated tax gains related to the disposal are deferred. To qualify for like-kind exchange treatment, we exchange, through our qualified intermediary, eligible trucks or trailers being disposed with trucks or trailers being acquired. Amounts held by the Company’s third-party qualified intermediary are dependant on the timing and extent of the Company’s revenue equipment sales and/or purchase activities which can fluctuate significantly from period to period. At December 31, 2008 approximately $31,000 of sales proceeds were being held by the third-party qualified intermediary as compared to $4.1 million held by the third-party qualified intermediary at December 31, 2007. The Company intends to use these sales proceeds during 2009 for the purchase of qualified replacement tractors or trailers.

Prepaid expenses and deposits at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $5.5 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The primary reason for the decrease relates to the amortization of prepaid tractor and trailer license fees and auto liability insurance premiums. In December 2007, approximately $3.0 million of the 2008 license fees and approximately $3.0 million of the 2008 auto liability insurance premiums were paid in advance. There were no corresponding prepayments made during December 2008 for auto liability insurance premiums or license fees related to 2009.

Marketable equity securities available for sale at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $4.7 million as compared to December 31, 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company purchased approximately $4.3 million of equity securities with the remaining increase or decrease attributable to changes in the market value of the investments, net of sales and other-than-temporary write-downs. These securities, combined with equity securities purchased in prior periods, have a combined cost basis of approximately $11.6 million and a combined fair market value of approximately $12.5 million. The Company has developed a strategy to invest in securities from which it expects to receive dividends that qualify for favorable tax treatment, as well as appreciate in value. The Company anticipates that increases in the market value of the investments combined with dividend payments will exceed interest rates paid on borrowings for the same period. During 2008 the Company had net unrealized pre-tax losses of approximately $2.4 million and received dividends of approximately $818,000. The holding term of these securities depends largely on the general economic environment, the equity markets, borrowing rates and the Company's cash requirements.

Land at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $2.2 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to the purchase of terminal facilities in Laredo, Texas which were previously leased by the Company from a related party. The purchase price was based on an appraisal performed by an independent third party.



Structures and improvements at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $3.8 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to the purchase of terminal facilities in Laredo, Texas which were previously leased by the Company from a related party. The purchase price was based on an appraisal performed by an independent third party.

Revenue equipment, which generally consists of trucks, trailers, and revenue equipment accessories such as Qualcomm™ satellite tracking units and auxiliary power units, at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $28.1 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to the net effect of purchasing approximately 490 trucks and 460 trailers during 2008 while only disposing of approximately 320 trucks and 365 trailers during 2008. Also contributing to the increase was an increase in the cost of new truck and trailer units as compared to the units they replaced and to the acquisition of Qualcomm™ satellite tracking units and auxiliary power units. At December 31, 2008, approximately 200 trucks included in revenue equipment had been placed in inactive status as they were prepared for sale or trade. The sale or trade of these trucks in 2009 will reduce the carrying amount of the Company’s revenue equipment and accumulated depreciation at the time of sale or trade.

Goodwill at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $15.4 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease relates to the results of our annual goodwill impairment test in which goodwill was determined to be fully impaired. The impairment was triggered by the sustained decline of our market capitalization caused by a decrease in our stock price during 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we determined that our market capitalization compared to the carrying amount of the Company indicated that impairment was probable and that the second step of impairment testing was necessary. The second step of our impairment test required the calculation of the fair value of the Company and the subsequent allocation of the fair value to the assets and liabilities of the Company. The excess fair value after this allocation is performed represents the implied goodwill of the Company, if any, and was zero at December 31, 2008. As a result we incurred an impairment expense for the entire balance of our goodwill or $15.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Accounts payable at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $5.1 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease is primarily related to a decrease in the amount of bank drafts outstanding in excess of bank balance as compared to bank drafts outstanding at December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2008 bank drafts of approximately $5.3 million were reclassified to accounts payable as compared to approximately $11.1 million reclassified as of December 31, 2007.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $5.4 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to $6.9 million of margin account borrowings secured by the Company’s investments in marketable equity securities. Partially offsetting the increase related to margin account borrowings is a decrease in amounts accrued at the end of the period for employee wages and benefits which can vary significantly throughout the year depending on many factors, including the timing of the actual date employees are paid in relation to the last day of the reporting period.

Current maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $13.9 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to monthly payments due within the next twelve months resulting from installment note borrowings of approximately $51.7 million during 2008 for the purchase of revenue equipment.

Long-term debt at December 31, 2008 decreased approximately $8.7 million as compared to December 31, 2007. The decrease is primarily related to a decrease in amounts payable on the Company’s lines of credit as of December 31, 2008 when compared to amounts payable as of December 31, 2007. During 2008, the Company began to finance revenue equipment purchases primarily with installment notes instead of line of credit borrowings. Also, one of the Company’s credit lines matured in June 2008 and was not renewed by the Company.

Treasury stock at December 31, 2008 increased approximately $3.9 million as the Company purchased 428,500 shares of its common stock at various times throughout 2008 as part of stock repurchase plans approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.


For 2009, we expect to purchase approximately 38 new trucks and approximately 58 trailers while continuing to sell or trade older equipment. During 2008, and continuing through 2009, the Company began purchasing and installing auxiliary power units in order to minimize fuel consumption by trucks that are running at idle. During 2009, we expect to purchase approximately 700 of these auxiliary power units. Management expects that proceeds from the sale or trade of older equipment during 2009 will exceed capital expenditures during 2009 by approximately $1.0 million. Management believes we will be able to finance our near term needs for working capital over the next twelve months, as well as acquisitions of revenue equipment during such period, with cash balances, cash flows from operations, and borrowings believed to be available from financing sources. We will continue to have significant capital requirements over the long-term, which may require us to incur debt or seek additional equity capital. The availability of additional capital will depend upon prevailing market conditions, the market price of our common stock and several other factors over which we have limited control, as well as our financial condition and results of operations. Nevertheless, based on our anticipated future cash flows and sources of financing that we expect will be available to us, we do not expect that we will experience any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table sets forth the Company's contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2008:

   
Payments due by period
(in thousands)
 
   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1 to 3
Years
   
3 to 5
Years
   
More than
5 Years
 
                               
Long-term debt (1)
  $ 55,505     $ 18,079     $ 33,473     $ 3,953     $ -  
Operating leases (2)
    917       256       389       272       -  
Total
  $ 56,422     $ 18,335     $ 33,862     $ 4,225     $ -  
                                         
(1)  
Including interest.
(2)  
Represents building, facilities, and drop yard operating leases.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Regulation S-K 303 (a)(4)(ii) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Insurance

With respect to physical damage for trucks, cargo loss and auto liability, the Company maintains insurance coverage to protect it from certain business risks. These policies are with various carriers and have per occurrence deductibles of $2,500, $10,000 and $2,500 respectively. The Company maintains workers’ compensation coverage in Arkansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Florida with a $500,000 self-insured retention and a $500,000 per occurrence excess policy. The Company has elected to opt out of workers' compensation coverage in Texas and is providing coverage through the P.A.M. Texas Injury Plan. The Company has reserved for estimated losses to pay such claims as well as claims incurred but not yet reported. The Company has not experienced any adverse trends involving differences in claims experienced versus claims estimates for workers’ compensation claims. Letters of credit aggregating $353,000 and certificates of deposit totaling $200,000 are held by banks as security for workers’ compensation claims. The Company self insures for employee health claims with a stop loss of $225,000 per covered employee per year and estimates its liability for claims incurred but not reported.

Inflation

Inflation has an impact on most of our operating costs. Recently, the effect of inflation has been minimal.



Adoption of Accounting Policies

See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements - Recent Accounting Pronouncements.”

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The policies described below represent those that are broadly applicable to the Company's operations and involve additional management judgment due to the sensitivity of the methods, assumptions and estimates necessary in determining the related amounts.

Accounts Receivable. We continuously monitor collections and payments from our customers, third parties and vendors and maintain a provision for estimated credit losses based upon our historical experience and any specific collection issues that we have identified. While such credit losses have historically been within our expectations and the provisions established, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to experience the same credit loss rates that we have in the past.

Property and equipment. Management must use its judgment in the selection of estimated useful lives and salvage values for purposes of depreciating trucks and trailers which in some cases do not have guaranteed residual values. Estimates of salvage value at the expected date of trade-in or sale are based on the expected market values of equipment at the time of disposal which, in many cases include guaranteed residual values by the manufacturers.

Self Insurance. The Company is self-insured for health and workers' compensation benefits up to certain stop-loss limits. Such costs are accrued based on known claims and an estimate of incurred, but not reported (IBNR) claims. IBNR claims are estimated using historical lag information and other data either provided by outside claims administrators or developed internally. This estimation process is subjective, and to the extent that future actual results differ from original estimates, adjustments to recorded accruals may be necessary.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized in full upon completion of delivery to the receiver's location. For freight in transit at the end of a reporting period, the Company recognizes revenue prorata based on relative transit time completed as a portion of the estimated total transit time. Expenses are recognized as incurred.
 
Prepaid Tires. Tires purchased with revenue equipment are capitalized as a cost of the related equipment. Replacement tires are included in prepaid expenses and deposits and are amortized over a 24-month period. Costs related to tire recapping are expensed when incurred.
 
Income Taxes. Significant management judgment is required to determine the provision for income taxes and to determine whether deferred income tax assets will be realized in full or in part. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. When it is more likely that all or some portion of specific deferred income tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of deferred income tax assets that are determined not to be realizable. A valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets has not been deemed to be necessary. Accordingly, if the facts or financial circumstances were to change, thereby impacting the likelihood of realizing the deferred income tax assets, judgment would need to be applied to determine the amount of valuation allowance required in any given period.
 
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating
 
our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.
 
Business Combinations and Goodwill. Upon acquisition of an entity, the cost of the acquired entity must be allocated to assets and liabilities acquired. Identification of intangible assets, if any, that meet certain recognition criteria is necessary. This identification and subsequent valuation requires significant judgments. The carrying value of goodwill is tested annually and as of December 31, 2008 the Company determined that the recorded amount of goodwill was fully impaired. The impairment testing requires an estimate of the value of the Company as a whole, as the Company has determined it only has one reporting unit as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”
 
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Our primary market risk exposures include equity price risk, interest rate risk, and commodity price risk (the price paid to obtain diesel fuel for our trucks). The potential adverse impact of these risks are discussed below.

The following sensitivity analyses do not consider the effects that an adverse change may have on the overall economy nor do they consider additional actions we may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results of changes in prices or rates may differ materially from the hypothetical results described below.

Equity Price Risk

We hold certain actively traded marketable equity securities which subjects the Company to fluctuations in the fair market value of its investment portfolio based on current market price. The recorded value of marketable equity securities decreased to $12.5 million at December 31, 2008 from $17.3 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease includes additional purchases, net of sales or write-downs, of approximately $2.4 million during 2008 and a decrease in the fair market value of approximately $2.4 million during 2008. A 10% decrease in the market price of our marketable equity securities would cause a corresponding 10% decrease in the carrying amounts of these securities, or approximately $1.3 million. For additional information with respect to the marketable equity securities, see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements.

Interest Rate Risk

Our line of credit bears interest at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a fixed percentage. Accordingly, changes in LIBOR, which are effected by changes in interest rates, will affect the interest rate on, and therefore our costs under, the line of credit. Assuming $5.0 million of variable rate debt was outstanding under our line of credit for a full fiscal year, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in LIBOR would result in approximately $50,000 of additional interest expense.

Commodity Price Risk

Prices and availability of all petroleum products are subject to political, economic and market factors that are generally outside of our control. Accordingly, the price and availability of diesel fuel, as well as other petroleum products, can be unpredictable. Because our operations are dependent upon diesel fuel, significant increases in diesel fuel costs could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Based upon our 2008 fuel consumption, a 10% increase in the average annual price per gallon of diesel fuel would increase our annual fuel expenses by $14.1 million.



Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The following statements are filed with this report:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Grant Thornton LLP
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements




REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (collectively the Company) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and other comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 6, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
Tulsa, Oklahoma
March 6, 2009



P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
             
             
ASSETS
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 858     $ 407  
Accounts receivable—net:
               
Trade
    43,815       58,397  
Other
    1,088       5,349  
Inventories
    858       905  
Prepaid expenses and deposits
    9,443       14,978  
Marketable equity securities
    12,540       17,269  
Income taxes refundable
    524       2,199  
                 
Total current assets
    69,126       99,504  
                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
               
Land
    4,916       2,674  
Structures and improvements
    13,596       9,795  
Revenue equipment
    320,188       292,133  
Office furniture and equipment
    7,606       7,482  
                 
Total property and equipment
    346,306       312,084  
                 
Accumulated depreciation
    (125,742 )     (107,841 )
                 
Net property and equipment
    220,564       204,243  
                 
OTHER ASSETS:
               
Goodwill
    -       15,413  
Non-compete agreements, net
    -       17  
Other
    671       727  
                 
Total other assets
    671       16,157  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 290,361     $ 319,904  
                 
                 
           
(Continued)
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

 



 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
             
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
           
Accounts payable
  $ 20,269     $ 25,346  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    15,684       10,323  
Current maturities of long—term debt
    15,928       2,065  
Deferred income taxes—current
    157       5,117  
                 
Total current liabilities
    52,038       42,851  
                 
Long-term debt—less current portion
    35,492       44,172  
Deferred income taxes—less current portion
    47,354       53,504  
                 
Total liabilities
    134,884       140,527  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares
 authorized; none issued
    -       -  
Common stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares
 authorized; 11,368,207 and 11,368,207 shares issued;
 9,409,607 and 9,838,107 shares outstanding at
 December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively
    114       114  
Additional paid-in capital
    77,659       77,557  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    611       1,921  
Treasury stock, at cost; 1,958,600 and 1,530,100
 shares, respectively
    (29,127 )     (25,200 )
Retained earnings
    106,220       124,985  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    155,477       179,377  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 290,361     $ 319,904  
                 
                 
           
(Concluded)
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

 



 
P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                   
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
OPERATING REVENUES:
                 
Revenue, before fuel surcharge
  $ 323,272     $ 351,701     $ 351,373  
Fuel surcharge
    83,451       57,140       48,896  
                         
Total operating revenues
    406,723       408,841       400,269  
                         
OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS:
                       
Salaries, wages and benefits
    123,961       135,606       127,539  
Fuel expense
    140,531       114,242       97,286  
Rents and purchased transportation
    39,887       38,718       43,844  
Depreciation and amortization
    37,477       38,759       33,929  
Goodwill impairment charge
    15,413       -       -  
Operating supplies and expenses
    30,514       30,845       25,682  
Operating taxes and licenses
    15,937       17,520       16,421  
Insurance and claims
    16,018       17,591       16,389  
Communications and utilities
    2,869       3,113       2,642  
Other
    5,119       7,130       5,426  
Loss (gain) on disposition of equipment
    952       (48 )     47  
                         
Total operating expenses and costs
    428,678       403,476       369,205  
                         
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
    (21,955 )     5,365       31,064  
                         
NON-OPERATING (EXPENSE) INCOME
    (4,996 )     1,707       448  
INTEREST EXPENSE
    (2,429 )     (2,453 )     (1,475 )
                         
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    (29,380 )     4,619       30,037  
                         
FEDERAL & STATE INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE:
                       
Current
    314       217       9,768  
Deferred
    (10,929 )     1,749       2,305  
                         
Total federal & state income tax (benefit) expense
    (10,615 )     1,966       12,073  
                         
NET (LOSS) INCOME
  $ (18,765 )   $ 2,653     $ 17,964  
                         
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
                       
Basic
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74  
Diluted
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74  
                         
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
                       
Basic
    9,683       10,238       10,296  
Diluted
    9,683       10,239       10,302  
                         
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

 
P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
(in thousands)
 
   
Common Stock
Shares / Amount
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Treasury Stock
   
Retained Earnings
   
Total
 
                                                 
BALANCE— January 1, 2006
    10,285     $ 113     $ 76,429           $ 1,721     $ (17,869 )   $ 104,368     $ 164,762  
                                                               
Components of comprehensive income:
                                                             
Net earnings
                          $ 17,964                       17,964       17,964  
Other comprehensive gain:
                                                               
Unrealized gain on hedge,
                                                               
net of tax of $13
                            19       19                       19  
Unrealized gain on marketable
                                                               
securities, net of tax of $923
                            1,402       1,402                       1,402  
Total comprehensive income
                          $ 19,385                                  
Exercise of stock options-shares
                                                               
issued including tax benefits
    18       1       369                                       370  
Share-based compensation
                    511                                       511  
BALANCE— December 31, 2006
    10,303       114       77,309               3,142       (17,869 )     122,332       185,028  
                                                                 
Components of comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net earnings
                          $ 2,653                       2,653       2,653  
Other comprehensive gain:
                                                               
Realized gain on marketable
                                                               
securities, net of tax of $241
                            (359 )     (359 )                     (359 )
Unrealized loss on marketable
                                                               
securities, net of tax of $(448)
                            (862 )     (862 )                     (862 )
Total comprehensive income
                          $ 1,432                                  
Treasury stock repurchases
    (471 )                                     (7,331 )             (7,331 )
Exercise of stock options-shares
                                                               
issued including tax benefits
    6               125                                       125  
Share-based compensation
                    123                                       123  
BALANCE— December 31, 2007
    9,838       114       77,557               1,921       (25,200 )     124,985       179,377  
                                                                 
Components of comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net loss
                          $ (18,765 )                     (18,765 )     (18,765 )
Other comprehensive gain:
                                                               
Realized loss on marketable
                                                               
securities, net of tax of $(6)
                            11       11                       11  
Unrealized loss on marketable
                                                               
securities, net of tax of $(1,072)
                            (1,321 )     (1,321 )                     (1,321 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
                          $ (20,075 )                                
Treasury stock repurchases
    (428 )                                     (3,927 )             (3,927 )
Share-based compensation
                    102                                       102  
BALANCE— December 31, 2008
    9,410     $ 114     $ 77,659             $ 611     $ (29,127 )   $ 106,220     $ 155,477  
                                                                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 


P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
(in thousands)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (18,765 )   $ 2,653     $ 17,964  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    37,477       38,759       33,929  
Goodwill impairment charge
    15,413       -       -  
Bad debt expense
    295       573       310  
Stock compensation—net of excess tax benefits
    102       118       441  
Non-compete agreement amortization—net of payments
    (17 )     -       -  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    (10,929 )     1,749       2,305  
Reclassification of unrealized loss on marketable equity securities
    5,227       95       120  
Gain (loss) on sale of marketable equity securities
    656       (1,071 )     (30 )
(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of equipment
    952       (48 )     47  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable
    14,505       2,585       3,685  
Prepaid expenses, inventories, and other assets
    5,639       (113 )     440  
Income taxes refundable (payable)
    2,574       (1,696 )     (202 )
Trade accounts payable
    (11,007 )     1,089       2,219  
Accrued expenses
    (1,477 )     496       (525 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    40,645       45,189       60,703  
                         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                       
Purchases of property and equipment
    (60,218 )     (76,166 )     (53,514 )
Proceeds from disposition of equipment
    11,398       22,273       11,987  
Changes in restricted cash
    4,042       (4,073 )     -  
Sales of marketable equity securities
    611       1,622       85  
Purchases of marketable equity securities
    (4,154 )     (5,389 )     (1,288 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (48,321 )     (61,733 )     (42,730 )
                         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                       
Borrowings under line of credit
    546,144       508,076       446,221  
Repayments under line of credit
    (585,592 )     (484,322 )     (463,967 )
Borrowings of long-term debt
    53,470       2,067       1,996  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (8,839 )     (2,704 )     (2,682 )
Borrowings under margin account
    19,800       -       -  
Repayments under margin account
    (12,929 )     -       -  
Repurchases of common stock
    (3,927 )     (7,331 )     -  
Stock compensation excess tax benefits
    -       5       70  
Exercise of stock options
    -       120       300  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    8,127       15,911       (18,062 )
                         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    451       (633 )     (89 )
                         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year
    407       1,040       1,129  
                         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year
  $ 858     $ 407     $ 1,040  
                         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION—
                       
Cash paid during the period for:
                       
Interest
  $ 2,430     $ 2,410     $ 1,481  
Income taxes
  $ 303     $ 1,976     $ 10,061  
                         
NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES—
                       
Purchases of revenue equipment included in accounts payable
  $ 5,951     $ -     $ 14,276  
                         
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                       


P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007, AND 2006
 

1.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of Business and Principles of Consolidation–P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, operates as a truckload transportation and logistics company.
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned operating subsidiaries: P.A.M. Transport, Inc., P.A.M. Dedicated Services, Inc., Choctaw Express, Inc., Allen Freight Services, Inc., Decker Transport Co., Inc., McNeill Express, Inc., T.T.X., Inc., Transcend Logistics, Inc., and East Coast Transport and Logistics, LLC. The following subsidiaries were inactive during all periods presented: P.A.M. International, Inc., P.A.M. Logistics Services, Inc., Choctaw Brokerage, Inc., P.A.M. Canada, Inc. and S & L Logistics, Inc. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
Use of Estimates–The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statement date and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company periodically reviews these estimates and assumptions. The Company's estimates were based on its historical experience and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents–The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
 
Restricted Cash– Restricted cash consists of cash proceeds from the sale of trucks and trailers under our like-kind exchange (“LKE”) tax program. See Note 11, “Federal and State Income Taxes,” for a discussion of the Company’s LKE tax program. We classify restricted cash as a current asset within “Accounts receivable-other” as the exchange process must be completed within 180 days in order to qualify for income tax deferral treatment. The changes in restricted cash balances are reflected as an investing activity in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as they relate to the sales and purchases of revenue equipment.
 
Bank Overdrafts–The Company classifies bank overdrafts in current liabilities as an accounts payable and does not offset other positive bank account balances located at the same or other financial institutions. Bank overdrafts generally represent checks written that have not yet cleared the Company’s bank accounts. The majority of the Company’s bank accounts are zero balance accounts that are funded at the time items clear against the account by drawings against a line of credit, therefore the outstanding checks represent bank overdrafts. Because the recipients of these checks have generally not yet received payment, the Company continues to classify bank overdrafts as accounts payable. Bank overdrafts are classified as changes in accounts payable in the cash flows from operating activities section of the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Bank overdrafts as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were approximately $5,312,000 and $11,088,000, respectively.
 


Accounts Receivable Other–The components of accounts receivable other consist primarily of amounts held by a third-party qualified intermediary that the Company uses to effectuate deferral of income taxes on gains from sales of trucks and trailers under the Company’s LKE tax program. Also included are amounts representing company driver advances, owner operator advances and equipment manufacturer warranties. Advances receivable from company drivers as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, were approximately $345,000 and $483,000, respectively.
 
Accounts Receivable Allowance–An allowance is provided for accounts receivable based on historical collection experience. Additionally, management considers any accounts individually known to exhibit characteristics indicating a collection problem.
 
Marketable Equity Securities–Marketable equity securities are classified by the Company as either available for sale or trading. Securities classified as available for sale are carried at market value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statements of stockholders’ equity. Securities classified as trading are carried at market value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in the statements of operations. Realized gains and losses are computed utilizing the specific identification method.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets–The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable, and it exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets classified as held and used, if the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the future net cash flows, it is not recoverable. The Company does not separately identify assets by subsidiary, as trucks and trailers are routinely transferred from one division to another. As a result, none of the Company's long-lived assets have identifiable cash flows from use that are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Thus, the asset group used to assess impairment would include all assets and liabilities of the Company.
 
Property and Equipment–Property and equipment is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. For financial reporting purposes, the cost of such property is depreciated principally by the straight-line method. For tax reporting purposes, accelerated depreciation or applicable cost recovery methods are used. Depreciation is recognized over the estimated asset life, considering the estimated salvage value of the asset. Such salvage values are based on estimates using expected market values for used equipment and the estimated time of disposal which, in many cases include guaranteed residual values by the manufacturers. Gains and losses are reflected in the year of disposal. The following is a table reflecting estimated ranges of asset useful lives by major class of depreciable assets:
 
Asset Class
Estimated Asset Life
   
Service vehicles
3-5 years
Office furniture and equipment
3-7 years
Revenue equipment
3-10 years
Structure and improvements
5-40 years

Prepaid Tires–Tires purchased with revenue equipment are capitalized as a cost of the related equipment. Replacement tires are included in prepaid expenses and deposits and are amortized over a 24-month period. Amounts paid for the recapping of tires are expensed when incurred.
 
Advertising Expense–Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $307,000, $605,000 and $550,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
 
Repairs and Maintenance–Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
 


Goodwill–The Company follows the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, (“SFAS No. 142”), which requires the Company to assess acquired goodwill for impairment at least annually in the absence of an indicator of possible impairment, and immediately upon an indicator of possible impairment. The Company has selected December 31 for its annual impairment testing and determined as of December 31, 2008 that there was impairment.
 
Self Insurance Liability—A liability is recognized for known health, workers’ compensation, cargo damage, property damage and auto liability damage. An estimate of the incurred but not reported claims for each type of liability is made based on historical claims made, estimated frequency of occurrence, and considering changing factors that contribute to the overall cost of insurance.
 
Income Taxes–The Company applies the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS No. 109”). Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting basis and the tax reporting basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”), which became effective for the Company on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 addressed the determination of how tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under FIN 48, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The application of income tax law to multi-jurisdictional operations such as those performed by the Company, are inherently complex. Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and often ambiguous. As such, we may be required to make subjective assumptions and judgments regarding our income tax exposures. Interpretations of and guidance surrounding income tax laws and regulations may change over time which could cause changes in our assumptions and judgments that could materially affect amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements.
 
Revenue Recognition–Revenue is recognized in full upon completion of delivery to the receiver’s location. For freight in transit at the end of a reporting period, the Company recognizes revenue pro rata based on relative transit miles completed as a portion of the estimated total transit miles. Expenses are recognized as incurred.
 
Share-Based Compensation–The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payments, effective January 1, 2006, utilizing the “modified prospective” method as described in the standard. Under the “modified prospective” method, compensation cost is recognized for all share-based payments granted after the effective date and for all unvested awards granted prior to the effective date. Prior to adoption, the Company accounted for share-based payments under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. The Company uses historical volatility when estimating the expected volatility of its share price. For additional information with respect to share-based compensation, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Earnings Per Share–The Company computes and presents earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, Earnings per Share (“SFAS No. 128”). The difference between the Company's weighted-average shares outstanding and diluted shares outstanding is due to the dilutive effect of stock options for all periods presented. See Note 13 for computation of diluted EPS.
 
Fair Value Measurements–The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”) effective January 1, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value within the financial statements on a recurring basis. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly
 
transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. For additional information with respect to fair value measurements, see Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Business Segment and Concentrations of Credit Risk–The Company operates in one business segment, motor carrier operations. The Company provides truckload transportation services as well as brokerage and logistics services to customers throughout the United States and portions of Canada and Mexico. Truckload transportation services revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, represented 89.6%, 90.4%, and 87.8% of total revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Remaining revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, for each respective year were generated by brokerage and logistics services. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations and generally does not require collateral from its customers. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses. In view of the concentration of the Company’s revenues and accounts receivable among a limited number of customers within the automobile industry, the financial health of this industry is a factor in the Company’s overall evaluation of accounts receivable.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements–In May 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) (“SFAS No. 162”). SFAS No. 162 provides a consistent framework for determining what accounting principles should be used when preparing U.S. GAAP financial statements. Previous guidance did not properly rank the accounting literature. The new standard is effective 60 days following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The adoption of SFAS No. 162 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment to FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS No. 161”). SFAS No. 161 is intended to improve financial standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, with early adoption encouraged. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 on January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow as the Company presently has no derivative instruments or hedging activities.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 re-characterizes minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries as non-controlling interests and requires the classification of minority interests as a component of equity. Under SFAS No. 160, a change in control will be measured at fair value, with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. The effective date for SFAS No. 160 is for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption and retroactive application of SFAS No. 160 to fiscal years preceding the effective date are not permitted. The adoption of SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). SFAS No. 141(R) expands the definition of transactions and events that qualify as business combinations; requires that the acquired assets and liabilities, including contingencies, be recorded at the fair value determined on the acquisition date and changes thereafter reflected in earnings, not goodwill; changes the recognition timing for restructuring costs; and requires acquisition costs to be
 
expensed as incurred. Adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) is required for combinations occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption and retroactive application of SFAS 141(R) to fiscal years preceding the effective date are not permitted. The adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) on January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.
 
 In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities— Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 permits an entity the option to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on specified election dates. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected will be recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option: (a) may be applied instrument by instrument, with few exceptions, such as investments otherwise accounted for by the equity method; (b) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs); and (c) is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. Most of the provisions in SFAS No. 159 are elective; however, the amendment to FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 and was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2008. Adoption of this statement had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow, as the Company has not elected to apply the fair value option to any of its financial instruments.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. On February 6, 2008, the FASB deferred the effective date of SFAS 157 until January 1, 2009 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.
 
2.
TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
 
The Company's receivables result primarily from the sale of transportation and logistics services. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral for accounts receivable. Accounts receivable which consist of both billed and unbilled receivables are recorded at their invoiced amount and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding longer than contractual payment terms are considered past due and are reviewed individually for collectibility. Accounts receivable balances consist of the following components as of December 31, 2008 and 2007:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Billed
  $ 41,247     $ 53,439  
Unbilled
    4,724       6,849  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (2,156 )     (1,891 )
                 
Total accounts receivable—net
  $ 43,815     $ 58,397  

 


An analysis of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                   
Balance—beginning of year
  $ 1,891     $ 1,457     $ 2,030  
Provision for bad debts
    353       607       354  
Charge-offs
    (104 )     (361 )     (960 )
Recoveries
    16       188       33  
Balance—end of year
  $ 2,156     $ 1,891     $ 1,457  

 
3.
MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES
 
The Company accounts for its marketable securities in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (“SFAS No. 115”). SFAS No. 115 requires companies to classify their investments as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. The Company’s investments in marketable securities are classified as either trading or available-for-sale and consist of equity securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of these securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. During 2008, the Company sold certain securities which were held as available-for-sale and had a cost basis of approximately $718,000. The proceeds on these sales totaled approximately $625,000 which resulted in a realized loss of approximately $93,000. Also during 2008, three securities were transferred from available-for-sale to trading. These securities were transferred because, historically, they have significantly underperformed in relation to their benchmarks. The resulting loss  recognized was $55,000. Also during 2008, two securities were transferred from trading to available-for-sale. These securities were transferred at their market value at the time of transfer. During 2007, the Company sold certain securities which were held as available-for-sale and had a cost basis of approximately $550,000. The proceeds on these sales totaled approximately $1,622,000 which resulted in a realized gain of approximately $1,071,000. Also during 2007, two securities were transferred from available-for-sale to trading. These securities were transferred because, historically, they have significantly underperformed in relation to their benchmarks. The resulting gain recognized was not material.
 
Marketable equity securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses, declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities, and increases or decreases in value on trading securities, if any, are included in the determination of net income. A quarterly evaluation is performed in order to judge whether declines in value below cost should be considered temporary and when losses are deemed to be other-than-temporary. Several factors are considered in this evaluation process including the severity and duration of the decline in value, the financial condition and near-term outlook for the specific issuer and the Company’s ability to hold the securities. There were no securities in a cumulative loss position for twelve months or longer at December 31, 2008. However, based on the severity of declines in certain securities during 2008 and the fact that the Company has no evidence that indicates these securities will regain a value equal to or greater than their cost basis, their declines in value have been determined to be other-than-temporary. As a result of this evaluation, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $5.2 million in its statement of operations for the year ending December 31, 2008. These declines came primarily from our equity securities in the financial and insurance sectors, which have experienced severe declines recently in their respective stock prices. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method and interest and dividends on securities are included in non-operating income.
 


As of December 31, 2008, equity securities classified as available-for-sale and equity securities classified as trading had a cost basis of approximately $11,134,000 and $505,000, respectively and fair market values of approximately $12,090,000 and $450,000, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company had net unrealized losses in market value on securities classified as available-for-sale of approximately $1,310,000, net of deferred income taxes. These securities had gross unrealized gains of approximately $2,193,000 and gross unrealized losses of approximately $1,237,000. As of December 31, 2008, the total unrealized gain, net of deferred income taxes, in accumulated other comprehensive income was approximately $611,000.
 
As of December 31, 2007, equity securities classified as available-for-sale and equity securities classified as trading had a cost basis of approximately $13,272,000 and $661,000, respectively and fair market values of approximately $16,608,000 and $661,000, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company had net unrealized losses in market value on securities classified as available-for-sale of approximately $1,221,000, net of deferred income taxes. These securities had gross unrealized gains of approximately $4,916,000 and gross unrealized losses of approximately $1,572,000. As of December 31, 2007, the total unrealized gain, net of deferred income taxes, in accumulated other comprehensive income was approximately $1,921,000.
 
The following table shows the Company’s investments’ approximate gross unrealized losses and fair value at December 31, 2008 and 2007. These investments consist of equity securities. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007 there were no investments that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer.
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
   
Fair Value
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Losses
 
                         
Equity securities – Available for sale
  $ 4,775     $ 1,237     $ 5,308     $ 1,541  
Equity securities – Trading
    372       67       409       31  
                                 
Totals
  $ 5,147     $ 1,304     $ 5,717     $ 1,572  

 
The market value of the Company’s equity securities are used as collateral against any outstanding margin account borrowings. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had borrowed approximately $6.9 million under its margin account for the purchase of marketable equity securities and as a source of short-term liquidity.
 
4.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The Company has tested goodwill for impairment annually in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, since the adoption of the standard in January of 2002.  In addition to the annual test performed on December 31 of each year, goodwill is monitored for changes in events or circumstances that indicate that impairment might exist in interim periods.  Our test for impairment of goodwill is performed on the Company as a whole, as we determined at adoption of the standard that our reporting units can be aggregated, and facts and circumstances subsequent to adoption have not changed this assessment. The annual assessment of impairment was completed on December 31, 2008 and the Company determined that there was impairment as of that date.
 
The impairment of our goodwill was triggered by the sustained decline of our market capitalization caused by a decrease in our stock price during 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008 we determined that our market capitalization compared to the carrying amount of the Company indicated that impairment was probable and that the second step of impairment testing was necessary. The second step of our impairment test required
 
the calculation of the fair value of the Company and the subsequent allocation of the fair value to the assets and liabilities of the Company. The excess fair value after this allocation is performed represents the implied goodwill of the Company, if any, and was zero at December 31, 2008. As a result we incurred an impairment expense for the entire balance of our goodwill or $15.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.
 
Goodwill at December 31 is summarized as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                   
Goodwill, beginning of year
  $ 15,413     $ 15,413     $ 15,413  
Goodwill acquired
    -       -       -  
Goodwill impairment
    (15,413 )     -       -  
                         
Goodwill—end of year
  $ -     $ 15,413     $ 15,413  

 
Non-compete agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of the related agreement. Amortization expense associated with non-compete agreements was approximately $17,000, $200,000 and $200,000, for the years ending December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. The Company's non-compete agreements at December 31 are summarized as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Non-compete agreements, original cost
  $ 1,000     $ 1,000  
Accumulated amortization
    (1,000 )     (983 )
                 
Non-compete agreements—net
  $ -     $ 17  

5.
ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31 are summarized as follows:

   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Payroll
  $ 1,039     $ 1,818  
Accrued vacation
    1,932       1,966  
Taxes—other than income
    2,174       2,598  
Interest
    122       123  
Driver escrows
    938       1,023  
Margin account borrowings
    6,871       -  
Self-insurance claims reserves
    2,608       2,795  
                 
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities
  $ 15,684     $ 10,323  

 


6.
CLAIMS LIABILITIES
 
With respect to physical damage for trucks, cargo loss and auto liability, the Company maintains insurance coverage to protect it from certain business risks. These policies are with various carriers and have per occurrence deductibles of $2,500, $10,000 and $2,500 respectively. Since 2002, the Company has elected to self insure itself for physical damage to trailers. The Company maintains workers’ compensation coverage in Arkansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Florida with a $500,000 self-insured retention and a $500,000 per occurrence excess policy. The Company has elected to opt out of workers' compensation coverage in Texas and is providing coverage through the P.A.M. Texas Injury Plan. The Company has reserved for estimated losses to pay such claims as well as claims incurred but not yet reported. The Company has not experienced any adverse trends involving differences in claims experienced versus claims estimates for workers’ compensation claims. Letters of credit aggregating $353,000 and certificates of deposit totaling $200,000 are held by banks as security for workers’ compensation claims. The Company self insures for employee health claims with a stop loss of $225,000 per covered employee per year and estimates its liability for claims incurred but not reported.
 
7.
LONG-TERM DEBT
 
Long-term debt at December 31, consists of the following:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Line of credit with a bank—due May 31, 2009, and
           
collateralized by accounts receivable (1)
  $ 3,744     $ 28,192  
Line of credit with a bank—due June 30, 2008, and
               
collateralized by revenue equipment (2)
    -       15,000  
Equipment financing (3)
    45,676       -  
Note payable (4)
    980       1,767  
Other (5)
    1,020       1,124  
Other (6)
    -       154  
Total long-term debt
  $ 51,420     $ 46,237  
Less current maturities
    (15,928 )     (2,065 )
                 
Long-term debt—net of current maturities
  $ 35,492     $ 44,172  

(1)  
Line of credit agreement with a bank provides for maximum borrowings of $30.0 million and contains certain restrictive covenants that must be maintained by the Company on a consolidated basis. Borrowings on the line of credit are at an interest rate of LIBOR as of the first day of the month plus 1.25% (3.15% at December 31, 2008). Monthly payments of interest are required under this agreement. Also, under the terms of the agreement the Company must have (a) a debt to equity ratio of no more than 2:1, and (b) maintain a tangible net worth of at least $125 million. The Company was in compliance with all provisions of the agreement at December 31, 2008.
 
(2)  
Matured line of credit agreement with a bank which provided for maximum borrowings of $30.0 million through the maturity date of June 30, 2008. The Company did not renew the line of credit.
 
(3)  
Equipment financings consist of installment obligations for revenue equipment purchases, payable in various monthly installments with various maturity dates through January 2012, at a weighted average interest rate of 4.80% and collateralized by revenue equipment.
 
(4)  
6.0% note to the former owner of an acquired entity with an original face amount of $4,974,612, payable in monthly installments of $72,672 through March 2010 and secured by a letter of credit held by a bank.
 


(5)  
3.85% note to insurance premium finance company at December 31, 2008 with an original face amount of $1,740,528, payable in monthly installments of $147,615 through August 2009.
 
(6)  
5.23% note to insurance premium finance company at December 31, 2007 with an original face amount of $154,023, payable in monthly installments of $19,547 through August 2008.
 
The Company has provided letters of credit to third parties totaling approximately $1,640,000 at December 31, 2008. The letters are held by these third parties to assist such parties in collection of any amounts due by the Company should the Company default in its commitments to the parties.
 
Scheduled annual maturities on long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2008, are:
 
   
(in thousands)
 
       
2009
  $ 15,928  
2010
    12,688  
2011
    18,868  
2012
    3,936  
2013
    -  
         
Total
  $ 51,420  

 
8.
CAPITAL STOCK
 
The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 40,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. At December 31, 2008, there were 11,368,207 shares of our common stock issued and 9,409,607 shares outstanding. No shares of our preferred stock were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2008.
 
Common Stock
 
The holders of our common stock, subject to such rights as may be granted to any preferred stockholders, elect all directors and are entitled to one vote per share. All shares of common stock participate equally in dividends when and as declared by the Board of Directors and in net assets on liquidation. The shares of common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, preemptive or cumulative voting rights.
 
Preferred Stock
 
Preferred stock may be issued from time to time by our Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, in such series and with such preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or other provisions, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors in the resolution authorizing their issuance. The issuance of preferred stock by the Board of Directors could adversely affect the rights of holders of shares of common stock; for example, the issuance of preferred stock could result in a class of securities outstanding that would have certain preferences with respect to dividends and in liquidation over the common stock, and that could result in a dilution of the voting rights, net income per share and net book value of the common stock. As of December 31, 2008, we have no agreements or understandings for the issuance of any shares of preferred stock.
 


Treasury Stock
 
In April 2005, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 600,000 shares of our common stock during the six month period ending October 11, 2005. These 600,000 shares were all repurchased by September 30, 2005. On September 6, 2005 our Board of Directors authorized an extension of the stock repurchase program until September 2006 and the repurchase of up to an additional 900,000 shares of our common stock. The Company repurchased 458,600 of these additional shares prior to December 31, 2005 and made no additional purchases during 2006.
 
In May 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 600,000 shares of our common stock during the twelve month period following the announcement. Subsequent to the date of the announcement and through the remainder of 2007, the Company repurchased 471,500 shares of its common stock. The remaining 128,500 shares authorized were repurchased during the first three months of 2008.
 
In June 2008, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 300,000 shares of our common stock during the twelve month period following the announcement. Subsequent to the date of the announcement and through the remainder of 2008, the Company repurchased 300,000 shares of its common stock.
 
The Company accounts for Treasury stock using the cost method and as of December 31, 2008, 1,958,600 shares were held in the treasury at an aggregate cost of approximately $29,127,000.
 
9.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
Comprehensive income (loss) was comprised of net income (loss) plus or minus market value adjustments related to fuel hedges, interest rate swap agreements and marketable securities. The components of comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                   
Net (loss) income
  $ (18,765 )   $ 2,653     $ 17,964  
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                       
Reclassification adjustment for realized losses
                       
(gains) on marketable securities, included
                       
in net income, net of income taxes
    11       (359 )     -  
Reclassification adjustment for losses on
                       
derivative instruments included in net income
                       
accounted for as hedges, net of income taxes
    -       -       18  
Reclassification adjustment for unrealized
                       
losses on marketable securities, included in
                       
net income, net of income taxes
    3,214       55       53  
Change in fair value of interest rate
                       
swap agreements, net of income taxes
    -       -       1  
Change in fair value of marketable
                       
securities, net of income taxes
    (4,535 )     (917 )     1,349  
                         
Total comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (20,075 )   $ 1,432     $ 19,385  

 


10.
SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION
 
In 2008, 2007, and 2006, one customer, who is in the automobile manufacturing industry, accounted for 31%, 38% and 41% of revenues, respectively. The Company also provides transportation services to other manufacturers who are suppliers for automobile manufacturers including suppliers for the Company’s largest customer. As a result, concentration of the Company’s business within the automobile industry is significant. Of the Company’s revenues for 2008, 2007, and 2006, 40%, 49%, and 52%, respectively, were derived from transportation services provided to the automobile manufacturing industry. Accounts receivable from the largest customer totaled approximately $17,628,000 and $25,830,000 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
11.
FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES
 
Under SFAS No. 109, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and for income tax reporting purposes.
 
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets at December 31 are as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
   
Current
   
Long-Term
   
Current
   
Long-Term
 
                         
Deferred tax liabilities:
                       
Property and equipment
  $ -     $ 60,011     $ -     $ 52,062  
Unrealized gains on securities
    345       -       1,423       -  
Prepaid expenses and other
    3,584       -       5,650       3,428  
                                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    3,929       60,011       7,073       55,490  
                                 
Deferred tax assets:
                               
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    801       -       718       -  
Alternative minimum tax credit
    -       447       -       481  
Compensated absences
    597       -       630       -  
Self-insurance allowances
    248       -       492       -  
Share-based compensation
    -       328       -       289  
Goodwill
    -       1,161       -       -  
Marketable equity securities
    2,101       -       -       -  
Net operating loss carryover
    -       10,279       -       722  
Non-competition agreement
    -       412       -       494  
Other
    25       30       116       -  
                                 
Total deferred tax assets
    3,772       12,657       1,956       1,986  
                                 
Net deferred tax liability
  $ 157     $ 47,354     $ 5,117     $ 53,504  

 


The reconciliation between the effective income tax rate and the statutory Federal income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 is presented in the following table:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands)
 
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
                                     
Income tax at the
                                   
statutory federal rate
  $ (9,989 )     34.0     $ 1,571       34.0     $ 10,513       35.0  
Nondeductible expense
    923       (3.1 )     381       8.3       378       1.3  
State income taxes—net
                                               
of federal benefit
    (1,549 )     5.2       14       0.3       1,182       3.9  
Total income taxes
  $ (10,615 )     36.1     $ 1,966       42.6     $ 12,073       40.2  

 
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Current:
                 
Federal
  $ (26 )   $ 305     $ 8,397  
State
    340       (88 )     1,371  
      314       217       9,768  
Deferred:
                       
Federal
    (8,865 )     1,295       1,768  
State
    (2,064 )     454       537  
      (10,929 )     1,749       2,305  
                         
Total income tax expense
  $ (10,615 )   $ 1,966     $ 12,073  

 
The Company has alternative minimum tax credits of approximately $450,000 at December 31, 2008, which have no expiration date under the current federal income tax laws. The Company also has a net operating loss carryover for federal income purposes of approximately $10.3 million which will expire after the year 2029.
 
The Company does not have any material accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits. The Company's policy is to account for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, in income tax expense. There was no change in total gross unrecognized tax benefit liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. and Canadian federal income tax laws as well as the income tax laws of multiple state jurisdictions. The major tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates generally provide for a deficiency assessment statute of limitation period of three years and as a result, the Company’s tax years 2005 through 2007 remain open to examination in those jurisdictions.
 
 
During 2007, the Company contracted with a third-party qualified intermediary in order to implement a like-kind exchange tax program. Under the program, dispositions of eligible trucks or trailers and acquisitions of replacement trucks or trailers are made in a form whereby any associated tax gains related to the disposal are deferred. To qualify for like-kind exchange treatment, we exchange, through our qualified intermediary, eligible trucks or trailers being disposed with trucks or trailers being acquired that allows us to generally carryover the tax basis of the trucks or trailers sold. The program is expected to result in a significant deferral of federal and state income taxes. Under the program, the proceeds from the sale of eligible trucks or trailers carry a Company-imposed restriction for the acquisition of replacement trucks or trailers. These
 
proceeds may be disqualified under the program at any time and at the Company’s sole discretion, however income tax deferral would not be available on any sale for which the Company disqualifies the related proceeds. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $31,000 of restricted cash held by the third-party qualified intermediary. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $4.1 million of restricted cash held by the third-party qualified intermediary. There were no cash restrictions for any periods prior to the program implementation occurring during 2007.
 
12.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company maintains a stock option plan under which incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options may be granted. On March 2, 2006, the Company’s Board of Director’s adopted, and shareholders later approved, the 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Plan”). The 2006 Plan replaces the expired 1995 Stock Option Plan which had 263,500 options remaining which were never issued. Under the 2006 Plan 750,000 shares are reserved for the issuance of stock options to directors, officers, key employees and others. The option exercise price under the 2006 Plan is the fair market value of the stock on the date the option is granted. The fair market value is determined by the average of the highest and lowest sales prices for a share of the Company’s common stock, on its primary exchange, on the same date that the option is granted. During 2008, options for 16,000 shares were issued under the 2006 Plan at an option exercise price of $14.98 per share and at December 31, 2008, 702,000 shares were available for granting future options.
 
Outstanding incentive stock options at December 31, 2008, must be exercised within six years from the date of grant and vest in increments of 20% each year. Outstanding nonqualified stock options at December 31, 2008, must be exercised within five to ten years from the date of grant.
 
In August 2002, the Company granted performance-based variable stock options for 300,000 shares to certain key executives. The exercise price for these awards was fixed at the grant date and was equal to the fair market value of the stock on that date. On the date of grant, options for 60,000 shares vested immediately and vesting of the options for the remaining 240,000 shares was scheduled to occur on a straight-line basis each year from March 15, 2003 through March 15, 2008 upon meeting performance criteria. In order to meet the performance criteria, net income for each fiscal year must be at least equal to 1.05 times net income for the preceding fiscal year, unless net income for the preceding fiscal year was zero or negative, in which case net income for the fiscal year must be at least 90% of net income for the most recent year with positive income. As of December 31, 2008, options for 180,000 shares have vested under this 300,000 share option grant (including those options which immediately vested upon grant) while options for 120,000 shares have been forfeited as the performance criteria were not met for the fiscal years 2003, 2004 and 2007.
 
The total fair value of options vested during 2008, 2007, and 2006 was approximately $102,000, $501,000, and $511,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, the Company did not have any stock-based compensation plans with unrecognized stock-based compensation expense. Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, recognized in Salaries, wages and benefits was approximately $102,000 during 2008 and includes approximately $80,000 recognized as a result of the annual grant of 2,000 shares to each non-employee director during the first quarter of 2008. The Company recognized a total income tax benefit of approximately $29,000 related to stock-based compensation expense during 2008. The recognition of stock-based compensation expense decreased diluted and basic earnings per common share by approximately $0.01 during 2008. Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, recognized in Salaries, wages and benefits during 2007 was approximately $123,000 and includes approximately $101,000 recognized as a result of the annual grant of 2,000 shares to each non-employee director during the second quarter of 2007. The Company recognized a total income tax benefit of approximately $43,000 related to stock-based compensation expense during 2007. The recognition of stock-based compensation expense decreased diluted and basic earnings per common share by approximately $0.01 during 2007. Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, recognized in Salaries, wages and benefits during 2006 was approximately $511,000 and includes approximately $111,000 recognized as a result of the annual grant of 2,000 shares to each non-employee director during the second quarter of 2006. The Company recognized a total income tax benefit of approximately $197,000 related to stock-based compensation expense during 2006. The recognition of stock-
 
based compensation expense decreased diluted and basic earnings per common share by approximately $0.03 during 2006.
 
Transactions in stock options under these plans are summarized as follows:
 
   
Shares
Under
Option
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 
             
Outstanding—January 1, 2006:
    286,500     $ 22.22  
Granted
    16,000       26.73  
Exercised
    (18,000 )     16.67  
                 
Outstanding—December 31, 2006:
    284,500     $ 22.83  
Granted
    16,000       22.92  
Exercised
    (6,000 )     19.95  
Canceled
    (46,000 )     23.34  
                 
Outstanding—December 31, 2007:
    248,500     $ 22.81  
Granted
    16,000       14.98  
Canceled
    (10,000 )     22.68  
                 
Outstanding—December 31, 2008:
    254,500     $ 22.32  
                 
Options exercisable—December 31, 2008:
    254,500     $ 22.32  

 
The fair value of the Company’s employee stock options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model using the following assumptions:
 
 
2008
2007
2006
       
Dividend yield
0%
0%
0%
Volatility range
36.67%—38.54%
37.34%—38.54%
33.34%—38.54%
Risk-free rate range
2.50%—4.38%
4.38%—4.48%
4.38%—5.02%
Expected life
4.3 years—5 years
2.5 years—5 years
2.5 years—5 years
Fair value of options (per share)
$4.98—$8.89
$6.32—$9.45
$6.93—$9.45

 
The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its common stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The estimated volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock. The risk free rate for the periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected life of the options was calculated based on the historical exercise behavior. Prior to 2008, the expected life of the options was calculated using temporary guidance provided by the SEC which allowed companies to elect a “simplified method” where the expected life is the average of the vesting period and the original contractual term. This simplified method is generally not available for share option grants after December 31, 2007.
 


Information related to the Company’s option activity as of December 31, 2008, and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
 
   
Shares Under Option
   
Weighted- Average Exercise Price
   
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value*
 
         
(per share)
   
(in years)
       
Outstanding at January 1, 2008
    248,500     $ 22.81              
Granted
    16,000       14.98              
Canceled/forfeited/expired
    (10,000 )     22.68              
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    254,500     $ 22.32      
3.4
    $ -  
                                 
Fully vested and exercisable at December 31, 2008
    254,500     $ 22.32       3.4     $ -  
___________________________
                               
* The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The per share market value of our common stock, as determined by the closing price on December 31, 2008, was $7.00.
 

 
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2008, 2007, and 2006 was $4.98, $6.32, and $6.93 per share, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, was approximately $0, $11,000, and $175,000, respectively.
 
A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested options as of December 31, 2008 and changes during the year ended December 31, 2008, is presented below:
 
   
Number of Options
   
Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
             
Nonvested at January 1, 2008
    -     $ -  
Granted
    16,000       4.98  
Vested
    (16,000 )     4.98  
Nonvested at December 31, 2008
    -     $ -  
                 

The number, weighted average exercise price and weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding as of December 31, 2008 and the number and weighted average exercise price of options exercisable as of December 31, 2008 is as follows:
 
Exercise Price
 
Shares Under Outstanding Options
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
 
Shares Under Exercisable Options
       
(in years)
   
$14.98
 
16,000
 
4.2
 
16,000
$16.99
 
8,000
 
0.2
 
8,000
$18.27
 
10,000
 
1.2
 
10,000
$19.88
 
12,500
 
3.8
 
12,500
$22.92
 
14,000
 
3.2
 
14,000
$23.22
 
180,000
 
3.7
 
180,000
$26.73
 
14,000
 
2.5
 
14,000
   
254,500
 
3.4
 
254,500

 


Cash received from option exercises totaled approximately $0, $120,000, and $300,000 during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The Company issues new shares upon option exercise.
 
13.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The Company applies SFAS No. 128 for computing and presenting earnings per share. Basic earnings per common share were computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share were calculated as follows:
 
   
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                   
Net (loss) income
  $ (18,765 )   $ 2,653     $ 17,964  
                         
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    9,683       10,238       10,296  
Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
    -       1       6  
                         
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    9,683       10,239       10,302  
                         
Basic (loss) earnings per share
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74  
                         
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
  $ (1.94 )   $ 0.26     $ 1.74  

 
Options to purchase 253,484, 234,456, and 229,337 shares of common stock were outstanding as of December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have an anti-dilutive effect.
 
14.
BENEFIT PLAN
 
The Company sponsors a benefit plan for the benefit of all eligible employees. The plan qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code thereby allowing eligible employees to make tax-deductible contributions to the plan. The plan provides for employer matching contributions of 50% of each participant’s voluntary contribution up to 3% of the participant’s compensation and vests at the rate of 20% each year until fully vested after five years. Total employer matching contributions to the plan totaled approximately $305,000, $340,000 and $330,000 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 


15.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceedings which management believes to be material to the financial position or results of operations of the Company. The Company maintains liability insurance against risks arising out of the normal course of its business.
 
The Company leases certain premises under noncancelable operating lease agreements. Future minimum annual lease payments under these leases are as follows:
 
2009
  $ 255,765  
2010
    202,400  
2011
    187,000  
2012
    192,000  
2013
    80,000  
         
Total
  $ 917,165  

 
Total rental expense, net of amounts reimbursed for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $2,243,000, $3,035,000, and $2,369,000, respectively.
 
16.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable equity securities, accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, and borrowings.
 
The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 effective January 1, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
 
Level 1:
 
Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
       
 
Level 2:
 
Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly 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; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable; or other inputs not directly observable, but derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
       
 
Level 3:
 
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity.
 

 
The Company utilizes the market approach to measure fair value for its financial assets and liabilities. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
 


The following items are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and therefore subject to the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 157 at December 31, 2008:
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Marketable equity securities
  $ 12,540     $ 12,540       -       -  

 
The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities.
 
The carrying amount for the line of credit approximates fair value because the line of credit interest rate is adjusted frequently.
 
For long-term debt other than the lines of credit, the fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying values and estimated fair values of this other long-term debt at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Carrying Value
   
Estimated Fair Value
   
Carrying Value
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Long-term debt
  $ 47,676     $ 47,432     $ 3,045     $ 3,032  

 
The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 effective January 1, 2008 and have not elected the fair value option for our financial instruments.
 
17.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
In the normal course of business, the Company provides and receives transportation, repair and other services for and from companies affiliated with a major stockholder, and recognized $114,112, $1,861,773, and $46,576 in operating revenue and $1,749,955, $1,909,585, and $1,558,371 in operating expenses in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.  In addition, also in the normal course of business, the Company purchased a terminal in Laredo, TX from an affiliate of  a major stockholder for $5,920,969, of which $4,500,000 was paid as of December 31, 2008.  The remaining $1,420,969 was paid in February 2009, subsequent to the completion of an independent appraisal, and is included in amounts payable to affiliates described below.
 
The Company purchased physical damage insurance through an unaffiliated insurance broker which was written by an insurance company affiliated with a major stockholder. Annual premiums were $2,232,309, $1,927,964 and $1,816,759 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Amounts owed to the Company by these affiliates were $851,471 and $1,183,266 at December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively. Of the accounts receivable at December 31, 2008, $76,441 represents revenue resulting from maintenance performed in the Company’s maintenance facilities and maintenance charges paid by the Company to third parties on behalf of their affiliate and charged back at the amount paid, $86,358 represents freight transportation and $688,672 represents a prepayment of physical damage insurance premiums. Amounts payable to affiliates at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $1,526,428 and $198,416 respectively.
 


18.
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
The tables below present quarterly financial information for 2008 and 2007:
 
   
2008
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                         
Operating revenues
  $ 105,820     $ 110,930     $ 105,958     $ 84,014  
Operating expenses
    109,786       112,460       107,240       99,190  
                                 
Operating (loss) income
    (3,966 )     (1,530 )     (1,282 )     (15,176 )
Non-operating (expense) income
    (206 )     (14 )     (3,377 )     (1,400 )
Interest expense
    568       532       614       714  
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (1,912 )     (744 )     (2,092 )     (5,866 )
                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (2,828 )   $ (1,332 )   $ (3,181 )   $ (11,424 )
                                 
Net (loss) income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (1.19 )
Diluted
  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (1.19 )
                                 
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    9,795       9,708       9,665       9,564  
Diluted
    9,795       9,708       9,665       9,564  

 
   
2007
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                         
Operating revenues
  $ 98,809     $ 106,700     $ 101,171     $ 102,162  
Operating expenses
    96,475       102,528       100,688       103,785  
                                 
Operating income
    2,334       4,172       483       (1,623 )
Non-operating income
    241       167       199       1,099  
Interest expense
    487       676       620       670  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    823       1,471       26       (354 )
                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,265     $ 2,192     $ 36     $ (840 )
                                 
Net income (loss) per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.12     $ 0.21     $ 0.00     $ (0.08 )
Diluted
  $ 0.12     $ 0.21     $ 0.00     $ (0.08 )
                                 
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    10,305       10,306       10,265       10,077  
Diluted
    10,308       10,307       10,266       10,077  
                                 



Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Based on management’s evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance level and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We regularly review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our processes and systems to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, consolidating activities, and migrating processes.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with our Audit Committee. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included below.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries

We have audited P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and subsidiaries’ (collectively, the Company)  internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
 
Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and other comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated March 6, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma
March 6, 2009

Item 9B. Other Information.

 
None.


PART III

Portions of the information required by Part III of Form 10-K are, pursuant to General Instruction G (3) of Form 10-K, incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 28, 2009. We will, within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A.

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Information concerning our executive officers is set forth in Item 1 of this Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”

The information presented under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance,” “Corporate Governance - Code of Ethics” and “Corporate Governance–Audit Committee,” in the proxy statement is incorporated here by reference.

We have a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The members of the Audit Committee consist of Frank L. Conner, Christopher L. Ellis, and Charles F. Wilkins.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The information presented under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Corporate Governance–Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the proxy statement is incorporated here by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information presented under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the proxy statement is incorporated here by reference.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2008, information about compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance:

 
Plan Category
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
   
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
   
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans
 
Equity Compensation Plans approved by Security Holders
    254,500     $ 22.32       702,000  
                         
Equity Compensation Plans not approved by Security Holders
    -0-       -0-       -0-  
                         
Total
    254,500     $ 22.32       702,000  



Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

The information presented under the captions (i) “Transactions with Related Persons,” including the information referenced there that is set forth under the caption “Corporate Governance – Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and (ii) “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” in the proxy statement is incorporated here by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The information presented under the caption “Independent Public Accountants – Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in the proxy statement is incorporated here by reference.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
 
(a)
Financial Statements and Schedules.

(1)
Financial Statements: See Part II, Item 8 hereof.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Grant Thornton LLP
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Years ended   December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2)
Financial Statement Schedules.

All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are omitted as the requiredinformation is inapplicable, or because the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
 
(3)
Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Report. The exhibits which are denominated by an asterisk (*) were previously filed as a part of, and are hereby incorporated by reference from either (i) the Form S-1 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 1986, Registration No. 33-7618, as amended on August 8, 1986, September 3, 1986 and September 10, 1986 (“1986 S-1”); (ii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1994 (“6/30/94 10-Q”); (iii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (“6/30/95 10-Q”); (iv) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996 (“9/30/96 10-Q”); (v) the Form S-8 Registration Statement filed on June 11, 1999 (“6/11/99 S-8”); (vi) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (“2001 10-K”); (vii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 (“3/31/02 10-Q”); (viii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (“9/30/2004 10-Q”); (ix) Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2005 (“3/07/2005 8-K”); (x) Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2006 (“5/31/2006 8-K”); (xi) Form 8-K filed on July 28, 2006 (“7/28/2006 8-K”); (xii) the Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2007 (“12/11/2007 8-K”); or (xiii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 (“6/30/06 10-Q”); (xiv) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (“2007 10-K”).



Exhibit #
 
Description of Exhibit
*3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Exh. 3.1, 3/31/02 10-Q)
     
*3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (Exh. 3.2, 12/11/07 8-K)
     
*4.1
 
Specimen Stock Certificate (Exh. 4.1, 1986 S-1)
     
*4.2
 
Loan Agreement dated July 26, 1994 among First Tennessee Bank National Association, Registrant and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. together with Promissory Note (Exh. 4.1, 6/30/94 10-Q)
     
*4.2.1
 
Security Agreement dated July 26, 1994 between First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. (Exh. 4.2, 6/30/94 10-Q)
     
*4.3
 
First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated June 27, 1995 by and among P.A.M. Transport, Inc., First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc., together with Promissory Note in the principal amount of $2,500,000 (Exh. 4.1.1, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.1
 
First Amendment to Security Agreement dated June 28, 1995 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.2.2, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.2
 
Security Agreement dated June 27, 1995 by and between Choctaw Express, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.3, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.3
 
Guaranty Agreement of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. dated June 27, 1995 in favor of First Tennessee Bank National Association $10,000,000 line of credit (Exh. 4.1.4, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.4
 
Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by P.A.M. Transport, Inc., First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc., together with Promissory Note in the principal amount of $5,000,000 (Exh. 4.1.1, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.1
 
Second Amendment to Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and First Tennessee National Bank Association (Exh. 4.1.2, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.2
 
First Amendment to Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between Choctaw Express, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.3, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.3
 
Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between Allen Freight Services, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.4, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.5.1
 
Loan Agreement dated as of November 22, 2000 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (Exh. 4.5.1, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.2
 
Revolving Credit Note dated November 22, 2000 (Exh. 4.5.2, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.3
 
Security Agreement by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (Exh. 4.5.3, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.4
 
First Amendment to Loan Agreement, Revolving Credit Note and Security Deposit (Exh. 4.5.4, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.6
 
Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated July 26, 1994 among First Tennessee Bank National Association, Registrant and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. together with Promissory Note (Exh. 4.6, 2007 10-K)
     
*10.1
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Robert W. Weaver, dated July 10, 2006 (Exh. 10.1, 7/28/2006 8-K)
     
*10.2
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and W. Clif Lawson, dated June 1, 2006 (Exh. 10.2, 7/28/2006 8-K)
     
*10.3
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Larry J. Goddard, dated June 1, 2006 (Exh. 10.3, 7/28/2006 8-K)

 
     
*10.4
(1)
1995 Stock Option Plan, as Amended and Restated (Exh. 4.1, 6/11/99 S-8)
     
*10.4.1
(1)
Amendment to 1995 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.1, 3/07/2005 8-K)
     
*10.4.2
(1)
2006 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.1, 5/31/2006 8-K)
     
*10.5
 
Interest rate swap agreement, dated March 1, 2001 (Exh. 10.5, 2001 10-K)
     
*10.6
 
Interest rate swap agreement dated June 1, 2001 (Exh. 10.6, 2001 10-K)
     
*10.7
(1)
Employee Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Exh. 10.1, 9/30/2004 10-Q)
     
*10.8
(1)
Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Exh. 10.2, 9/30/2004 10-Q)
     
*10.8.1
(1)
Form of Non-Qualified Stock option Agreement for Non-Employee Director stock options that are granted under the 2006 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.2, 5/31/2006 8-K)
     
*10.9
(1)
Executive Incentive Plan (Exh. 10.2, 6/30/2006 10-Q)
     
*10.10
(1)
Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Manuel J. Moroun, dated December 6, 2007 (Exh. 10.10, 2007 10-K)
     
  21.1
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
     
  23.1
 
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
     
  31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
     
  31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
     
  32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
     
(1)  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

   
P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Robert W. Weaver
 
   
ROBERT W. WEAVER
 
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
   
(principal executive officer)
 
       
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
       
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Frederick P. Calderone
 
   
FREDERICK P. CALDERONE, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Frank L. Conner
 
   
FRANK L. CONNER, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ W. Scott Davis
 
   
W. SCOTT DAVIS, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Christopher L. Ellis
 
   
CHRISTOPHER L. ELLIS, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Larry J. Goddard
 
   
LARRY J. GODDARD
 
   
Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
 
   
Secretary and Treasurer
 
   
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Manuel J. Moroun
 
   
MANUEL J. MOROUN, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Matthew T. Moroun
 
   
MATTHEW T. MOROUN, Director and Chairman of the Board
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Daniel C. Sullivan
 
   
DANIEL C. SULLIVAN, Director
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Robert W. Weaver
 
   
ROBERT W. WEAVER,
 
   
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
 
   
(principal executive officer)
 
       
Dated: March 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Charles F. Wilkins
 
   
CHARLES F. WILKINS, Director
 



EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Report. The exhibits which are denominated by an asterisk (*) were previously filed as a part of, and are hereby incorporated by reference from either (i) the Form S-1 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 1986, Registration No. 33-7618, as amended on August 8, 1986, September 3, 1986 and September 10, 1986 (“1986 S-1”); (ii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1994 (“6/30/94 10-Q”); (iii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (“6/30/95 10-Q”); (iv) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996 (“9/30/96 10-Q”); (v) the Form S-8 Registration Statement filed on June 11, 1999 (“6/11/99 S-8”); (vi) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (“2001 10-K”); (vii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 (“3/31/02 10-Q”); (viii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (“9/30/2004 10-Q”); (ix) Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2005 (“3/07/2005 8-K”); (x) Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2006 (“5/31/2006 8-K”); (xi) Form 8-K filed on July 28, 2006 (“7/28/2006 8-K”); (xii) the Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2007 (“12/11/2007 8-K”); or (xiii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 (“6/30/06 10-Q”); (xiv) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (“2007 10-K”).


Exhibit #
 
Description of Exhibit
     
*3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Exh. 3.1, 3/31/02 10-Q)
     
*3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (Exh. 3.2, 12/11/07 8-K)
     
*4.1
 
Specimen Stock Certificate (Exh. 4.1, 1986 S-1)
     
*4.2
 
Loan Agreement dated July 26, 1994 among First Tennessee Bank National Association, Registrant and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. together with Promissory Note (Exh. 4.1, 6/30/94 10-Q)
     
*4.2.1
 
Security Agreement dated July 26, 1994 between First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. (Exh. 4.2, 6/30/94 10-Q)
     
*4.3
 
First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated June 27, 1995 by and among P.A.M. Transport, Inc., First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc., together with Promissory Note in the principal amount of $2,500,000 (Exh. 4.1.1, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.1
 
First Amendment to Security Agreement dated June 28, 1995 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.2.2, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.2
 
Security Agreement dated June 27, 1995 by and between Choctaw Express, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.3, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.3.3
 
Guaranty Agreement of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. dated June 27, 1995 in favor of First Tennessee Bank National Association $10,000,000 line of credit (Exh. 4.1.4, 6/30/95 10-Q)
     
*4.4
 
Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by P.A.M. Transport, Inc., First Tennessee Bank National Association and P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc., together with Promissory Note in the principal amount of $5,000,000 (Exh. 4.1.1, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.1
 
Second Amendment to Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and First Tennessee National Bank Association (Exh. 4.1.2, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.2
 
First Amendment to Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between Choctaw Express, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.3, 9/30/96 10-Q)
     
*4.4.3
 
Security Agreement dated July 3, 1996 by and between Allen Freight Services, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association (Exh. 4.1.4, 9/30/96 10-Q)


     
*4.5.1
 
Loan Agreement dated as of November 22, 2000 by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (Exh. 4.5.1, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.2
 
Revolving Credit Note dated November 22, 2000 (Exh. 4.5.2, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.3
 
Security Agreement by and between P.A.M. Transport, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (Exh. 4.5.3, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.5.4
 
First Amendment to Loan Agreement, Revolving Credit Note and Security Deposit (Exh. 4.5.4, 2001 10-K)
     
*4.6
 
Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated July 26, 1994 among First Tennessee Bank National Association, Registrant and P.A.M. Transport, Inc. together with Promissory Note (Exh. 4.6, 2007 10-K)
     
*10.1
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Robert W. Weaver, dated July 10, 2006 (Exh. 10.1, 7/28/2006 8-K)
     
*10.2
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and W. Clif Lawson, dated June 1, 2006 (Exh. 10.2, 7/28/2006 8-K)
     
*10.3
(1)
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Larry J. Goddard, dated June 1, 2006 (Exh. 10.3, 7/28/2006 8-K)
     
*10.4
(1)
1995 Stock Option Plan, as Amended and Restated (Exh. 4.1, 6/11/99 S-8)
     
*10.4.1
(1)
Amendment to 1995 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.1, 3/07/2005 8-K)
     
*10.4.2
(1)
2006 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.1, 5/31/2006 8-K)
     
*10.5
 
Interest rate swap agreement, dated March 1, 2001 (Exh. 10.5, 2001 10-K)
     
*10.6
 
Interest rate swap agreement dated June 1, 2001 (Exh. 10.6, 2001 10-K)
     
*10.7
(1)
Employee Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Exh. 10.1, 9/30/2004 10-Q)
     
*10.8
(1)
Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Exh. 10.2, 9/30/2004 10-Q)
     
*10.8.1
(1)
Form of Non-Qualified Stock option Agreement for Non-Employee Director stock options that are granted under the 2006 Stock Option Plan (Exh. 10.2, 5/31/2006 8-K)
     
*10.9
(1)
Executive Incentive Plan (Exh. 10.2, 6/30/2006 10-Q)
     
*10.10
(1)
Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Manuel J. Moroun, dated December 6, 2007 (Exh. 10.10, 2007 10-K)
     
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
     
  23.1
 
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
     
 
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
     
  31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
     
  32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
     
(1)  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


64