SHYFT GROUP, INC. - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

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.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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.       

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 definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the last sales price of such stock on NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2007, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $494,743,019.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par value, as of February 29, 2008: 32,411,919 shares

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the registrant's May 21, 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after December 31, 2007, are incorporated by reference in Part III.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-K contains statements that are not historical facts. These statements are called "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve important known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and can be identified by phrases using "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "project," "expect," "intend," "predict," "potential," "future," "may," "will," "should" and similar expressions or words. Our future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from the results, performance or achievements discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Risk Factors") that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

Risk Factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors listed and more fully described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors", as well as risk factors that we have discussed in previous public reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list provides examples of factors that could affect the results described by forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K. However, this list is not intended to be exhaustive; many other factors could impact our business and it is impossible to predict with any accuracy which factors could result in negative impacts. Other Risk Factors exist, and new Risk Factors emerge from time to time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, although we believe that the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K are reasonable, we cannot provide you with any guarantee that the anticipated results will be achieved. All forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date of this letter.

PART I

General

Spartan Motors, Inc. (the "Company") was organized as a Michigan corporation on September 18, 1975, and is headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan. The Company began development of its first product that same year and shipped its first fire truck chassis in October 1975.

The Company is known as a leading, niche market engineer and manufacturer in the heavy-duty, custom vehicles marketplace. The Company has four wholly owned subsidiaries: Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., located at the corporate headquarters in Charlotte, Michigan ("Spartan Chassis"); Crimson Fire, Inc., headquartered in Brandon, South Dakota ("Crimson"); Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc., located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ("Crimson Aerials"); and Road Rescue, Inc., located in Marion, South Carolina ("Road Rescue").

Spartan Chassis is a leading designer, engineer and manufacturer of custom heavy-duty chassis. The chassis consist of a frame assembly, engine, transmission, electrical system, running gear (wheels, tires, axles, suspension and brakes) and, for fire trucks and some specialty chassis applications, a cab. Spartan Chassis customers are original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") who complete their heavy-duty vehicle product by either mounting the body or apparatus on the Company's chassis or integrating the drive train with the armored body. Crimson and Road Rescue engineer and manufacture emergency vehicles built on chassis platforms purchased from either Spartan Chassis or outside sources. Crimson Aerials engineers and manufactures aerial ladder components for fire trucks.

The Company's business strategy is to further diversify product lines and develop innovative design, engineering and manufacturing expertise in order to be the best value producer of custom vehicle products. Spartan Chassis sells its custom chassis to three principal markets: fire truck, motorhome and specialty vehicles. Spartan Chassis focuses on certain custom niches within its three principal markets and believes that opportunities for growth remain strong for custom-built chassis and vehicles in each market.

The Company is an innovative team focused on building lasting relationships with its customers. This is accomplished by striving to deliver premium custom vehicles and services. The Company believes that it can best carry out its long-term business plan and obtain optimal financial flexibility by using a combination of borrowings under the Company's credit facilities, as well as internally or externally generated equity capital, as sources of expansion capital.

In January 1997, the Company acquired a 33 1/3% interest in Carpenter Industries, Inc. ("Carpenter"), a manufacturer of school bus bodies, headquartered in Richmond, Indiana. The Company increased its ownership twice, to 49.9% in October of 1998 and then to 57.6% in November of 1999. On September 28, 2000, the Company's Board of Directors voted to cease funding of Carpenter. The Board of Directors of Carpenter then passed a resolution on September 29, 2000 to begin the wind-down and orderly liquidation of Carpenter which was substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2001.

The Company's Segments

The Company is organized into two reportable segments, Spartan Chassis and the Emergency Vehicle Team ("EVTeam"). For certain financial information related to each segment, see Note 12, Business Segments, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Spartan Chassis

Sales by Spartan Chassis represented 90.3%, 87.9% and 85.8% of the Company's consolidated sales for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Approximately 98% of the components used by Spartan Chassis to manufacture its products are commercially available products purchased from outside suppliers. This strategy allows Spartan Chassis, and its OEM customers and endusers, to service finished products with ease, control production costs and expedite the development of new products. Spartan Chassis manufactures chassis only upon receipt of confirmed purchase orders; thus, it does not have significant amounts of completed product inventory. Spartan Chassis markets its products throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Spartan Chassis has extensive engineering experience in creating chassis for vehicles that perform specialized tasks. Spartan Chassis engineers, manufactures and markets chassis for fire trucks, motorhomes and specialty applications such as military vehicles, trolleys, utility trucks and crash-rescue vehicles. As a specialized chassis producer, Spartan Chassis believes that it holds a unique position for continued growth due to its engineering reaction time, manufacturing expertise and flexibility. This allows Spartan Chassis to profitably manufacture custom chassis with a specialized design that will serve customer needs more efficiently and economically than a standard, commercially-produced chassis. Spartan Chassis employed approximately 1,454 associates in Charlotte, Michigan as of February 29, 2008, of which approximately 1,417 were full-time. Of the full-time associates, 498 were contracted employees.

Fire Truck Chassis

Spartan Chassis custom manufactures fire truck chassis and cabs in response to exact customer specifications. These specifications vary based on such factors as application, terrain, street configuration and the nature of the community, state or country in which the fire truck will be utilized. Spartan Chassis has three fire truck models within this product line: (1) the "Gladiator" chassis; (2) the "Metro Star" chassis; and (3) the "Furion" chassis.

Spartan Chassis strives to develop innovative engineering solutions to meet customer requirements, and designs new products anticipating the future needs of the marketplace. Spartan Chassis monitors the availability of new technology and works closely with its component manufacturers to apply new technology to its products.

Over the past few years, there have been several examples of such innovations. Spartan Chassis helps to introduce to the fire truck market vehicle systems and components that incrementally improve the level of safety for all vehicle occupants. Spartan Chassis was the first to introduce Roll Stability Control, which helps maintain vehicle stability and aids in reducing vehicle rollovers. Other safety systems include side roll protection, a side air bag and seat pretension system; the seatbelt sensor system that indicates unbuckled seatbelts, and the all-belts-to-seat system with shock-absorbent seats and prominent red-colored seatbelts. The newest safety vehicle application, the 4x4 feature, enables a lower center of gravity, improving vehicle control, balance and maneuverability. The 4x4 option is available on the complete fire truck vehicle line up.

Motorhome Chassis

Spartan Chassis custom manufactures chassis to the individual specifications of its motorhome chassis OEM customers. These specifications vary based on specific interior and exterior design specifications, power requirements, horsepower and electrical needs of the motorhome bodies to be attached to the Spartan chassis. Spartan Chassis' motorhome chassis are separated into five models: (1) the "NVS" series chassis; (2) the "Mountain Master" series chassis; (3) the "K2" series chassis; (4) the "K3" series chassis and (5) the "ME2" series chassis. These motorhome chassis are generally distinguished by differences in allowable vehicle weight, length, gross vehicle weight, engines, options and price. The ME2, which is a mid-engine chassis, provides the OEM a significant opportunity in floor plan flexibility and provides enhanced ride and handling for the driver. A version with a rear-lift deck, or traveling garage, provides extra storage space for bicycles, ATVs, canoes and other "toys" that complement the RV lifestyle. The innovative mid-engine design is now available on entry-level diesel motorhome chassis. Versions of these five basic product models are designed and engineered in order to meet customer requirements. This allows the chassis to be adapted to each OEM's specific floor plan and manufacturing process. Spartan Chassis continually seeks to develop innovative engineering solutions to customer requirements and strives to anticipate future market needs and trends by working closely with the OEMs and listening to the end users.

Specialty Vehicle Chassis

Spartan Chassis continues to develop specialized chassis and actively seeks additional applications of its existing products and technology in the specialty vehicle market. In 2005, the Company produced its first specialty chassis for military vehicles. Military vehicle chassis are the primary model of specialty chassis currently produced. With its experience in manufacturing chassis for cement mixers, trolleys, utility trucks, crash and rescue vehicles and other specialty uses, the Company believes it is well positioned to continue to take advantage of opportunities in military vehicles and other specialty vehicle markets. Our sales of specialty chassis for military vehicles depend on U.S. government contracts awarded to our customers. Multi-year U.S. government contracts generally are not fully funded at inception.

EVTeam

The Company's EVTeam consists of its three wholly owned subsidiaries, Crimson, Crimson Aerials and Road Rescue. Crimson and Road Rescue engineer and manufacture emergency vehicles built on chassis platforms purchased from either Spartan Chassis or outside sources. Crimson Aerials engineers and manufactures aerial ladder components for fire trucks. The EVTeam members manufacture products only upon receipt of confirmed purchase orders; thus they do not have significant amounts of completed product inventory. The EVTeam employed approximately 381 associates as of February 29, 2008 of which approximately 378 were full-time.

Crimson Fire, Inc.

Crimson engineers, manufactures and markets its custom and commercial fire apparatus products through a network of dealers throughout North America. Crimson's product lines include pumpers and aerial fire apparatus, heavy- and light-duty rescue units, tankers and quick attack units. Created by the merger on January 1, 2003 of two of the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries - Luverne Fire Apparatus, Ltd. and Quality Manufacturing, Inc. (two of the industry's oldest brands) - the Crimson Fire brand builds on more than 130 years of heritage. Crimson is recognized in the industry for its innovative design and engineering. Crimson's signature features - such as Tubular Stainless Steel body structure, Vibra-Torq^TM mounting system, exclusive Trix-Max^TM body frame and Smart Access pump panels - are designed to offer the safety, reliability and durability that firefighters need to get the job done again and again. As of February 29, 2008 Crimson employed approximately 175 associates of which approximately 173 were full-time.

Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc.

Crimson Aerials engineers, manufactures and markets aerial ladder components for fire trucks at its headquarters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and employed approximately 44 associates as of February 29, 2008 of which 43 were full-time. The Company began operations in the later half of 2003 and has developed a full line of aerial products. Crimson Aerials introduced its first models in 2004 and is poised to produce the next generation of aerial devices in terms of technology, operation and serviceability. Crimson Aerials currently sells its products to only Crimson Fire, Inc.

Road Rescue, Inc.

Road Rescue engineers, manufactures and markets a complete line of premium, custom advanced-care ambulances and rescue vehicles at its headquarters in Marion, South Carolina. Road Rescue is a market leader in the design of Type I and Type III high-performance, modular ambulances that fit all emergency transport requirements and offer the latest in technology. These vehicles are built with safety, performance and ease-of-maintenance in mind. Vehicles such as the UltraMedic Type III offer a glimpse at the ambulance of the future - complete with smart displays, smart glass and a variety of other high-tech features. Road Rescue markets its products through a dealer network throughout the United States and Canada. Road Rescue employed 162 associates as of February 29, 2008 of which all were full-time.

Marketing

Spartan Chassis markets its custom manufactured chassis throughout the U.S. and Canada, primarily through the direct contact of its sales department with OEMs, dealers and endusers. The EVTeam maintains dealer organizations that establish close working relationships through their sales departments with endusers. These personal contacts focus on the quality of the group's custom products and allow the Company to keep customers updated on new and improved product lines and endusers' needs.

In 2007 and consistent with prior years, representatives from the Company attended trade shows, rallies and expositions throughout North America as well as Europe and Asia to promote its products. Trade shows provide the opportunity to display products and to meet directly with OEMs who purchase chassis, dealers who sell finished vehicles and consumers who buy the finished products. Participation in these events also allows the Company to better identify what customers and endusers are looking for in the future. The Company uses these events to create a competitive advantage by relaying this information back to its research and development engineering groups for future development projects.

The Company's sales and marketing team is responsible for marketing its manufactured goods and producing product literature. The sales group consists of 45 salespeople based in Company locations in Charlotte, Michigan; Brandon, South Dakota; Marion, South Carolina; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and 13 additional salespeople located throughout North America.

Competition

The principal methods of building competitive advantages utilized by the Company include short engineering reaction time, custom design capability, high product quality, superior customer service and quick delivery. The Company competes with companies that manufacture for similar markets, including some divisions of large diversified organizations that have total sales and financial resources exceeding those of the Company. Certain competitors are vertically integrated and manufacture their own chassis and/or apparatuses, although they generally do not sell their chassis to outside customers (other OEMs). The Company's direct competitors in the emergency vehicle apparatus market are principally smaller manufacturers.

Because of the lack of reliable published statistics, the Company is unable to state with certainty its position in its markets compared to its competitors. The emergency vehicle market and, to a lesser degree, the custom chassis market are fragmented. The Company believes that no one company has a dominant position in either market.

Manufacturing

Spartan Chassis currently has six principal assembly facilities in Charlotte, Michigan for its custom chassis products. In 2007, the Company's Board of Directors approved the purchase of three manufacturing facilities, one of which was previously leased in part as a warehousing facility. In addition, the Company built a new manufacturing facility, approved in 2006 by the Company's Board of Directors, and this facility began production in the second quarter of 2007. This newly constructed plant replaced outdated facilities and also added manufacturing capacity. Due to the custom nature of its business, the Company's chassis cannot be manufactured efficiently on automated assembly lines. Generally, Spartan Chassis designs, engineers and assembles its specialized heavy-duty truck chassis using commercially available components purchased from outside suppliers rather than producing components internally. This approach facilitates prompt serviceability of finished products, reduces production costs, expedites the development of new products and reduces the potential of costly down time for the enduser.

The EVTeam products are manufactured and assembled in each of the subsidiaries' respective manufacturing facilities, represented by four plants in total. The chassis for the products are purchased from Spartan Chassis and from outside commercial chassis manufacturers. The EVTeam facilities do not use automated assembly lines since each vehicle is manufactured to meet specifications of an enduser customized order. The chassis is rolled down the assembly line as other components are added and connected. The body is manufactured at the facility with components such as pumps, tanks, aerial ladders and electrical control units purchased from outside suppliers.

Suppliers

The Company is dedicated to establishing long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with its suppliers. Through these relationships, the Company benefits from new innovations, higher quality, reduced lead times, smoother/faster manufacturing ramp-up of new vehicle introductions and lower total costs of doing business. The combined buying power of the Company's subsidiaries and a corporate supply chain management initiative allow the Company to benefit from economies of scale and to focus on a common vision.

Components for the Company's products are generally available from a number of suppliers. The Company maintains an extensive qualification, on-site inspection, assistance, and performance measurement system to control risks associated with reliance on suppliers. The Company has not experienced any significant shortages of raw materials and normally does not carry inventories of such raw materials or components in excess of those reasonably required to meet production and shipping schedules. The Company purchases steel and aluminum under sales agreements. Material cost increases are passed onto the Company's customers whenever possible. However, there can be no assurance that there will be no steel, aluminum or other cost or supply issues over the long-term.

Research and Development

The Company's success depends on its ability to respond quickly to changing market demands and new regulatory requirements. Thus, it emphasizes research and development and commits significant resources to develop and adapt new products and production techniques. The Company devotes a portion of its facilities to research and development projects and focuses on implementing the latest technology from component manufacturers into existing products and manufacturing prototypes of new product lines. The Company spent $15.9 million, $12.6 million and $9.4 million on research and development in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Product Warranties

The Company's subsidiaries all provide limited warranties against assembly/construction defects. These warranties generally provide for the replacement or repair of defective parts or workmanship for a specified period following the date of sale. The endusers also may receive limited warranties from suppliers of components that are incorporated into the Company's chassis and vehicles. For more information concerning the Company's product warranties, see Note 10, Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in this Form 10-K.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

The Company has five United States patents which include rights to the design and structure of chassis and certain peripheral equipment, and has two pending patent applications. Spartan Chassis and Crimson Fire Aerials each have one pending patent application. The existing patents will expire on various dates from 2016 through 2024 and all are subject to payments of required maintenance fees. The Company and its subsidiaries also own six United States trademark registrations and one United States service mark registrations, as well as two trademark registrations in each of New Zealand and Peru, and one trademark registration in each of Mexico and Papua New Guinea. The trademark and service mark registrations are generally renewable under applicable laws, subject to payment of required fees and the filing of affidavits of use. In addition, the Company has two pending U.S. trademark applications and three pending Canadian trademark applications.

The Company believes its products are identified by the Company's trademarks and that its trademarks are valuable assets to both of its business segments. The Company is not aware of any infringing uses or any prior claims of ownership of its trademarks that could materially affect its business. It is the policy of the Company to pursue registration of its primary marks whenever possible and to vigorously defend its patents, trademarks and other proprietary marks against infringement or other threats to the greatest extent practicable under applicable laws.

Environmental Matters

Compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations has not had, nor is it expected to have, a material effect on the Company's capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

Associates

The Company and its subsidiaries employed approximately 1,855 associates as of February 29, 2008, of which approximately 1,812 were full-time. Included in the full-time counts are 498 contracted associates. Management presently considers its relations with associates to be positive.

Customer Base

In 2007, the Company's customer base included four major customers, all of which were customers of Spartan Chassis. Sales in 2007 to Force Protection Industries, Inc. ("Force Protection") were $131.5 million, to Newmar Corp. ("Newmar") were $85.6 million, to General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. ("General Dynamics") were $79.1 million and to Fleetwood Motor Homes of Indiana, Inc. ("Fleetwood") were $74.4 million. These numbers compare to 2006 sales of $45.2 million to Force Protection, $92.4 million to Newmar and $56.9 million to Fleetwood. In 2005, sales included $11.4 million to Force Protection, $83.4 million to Newmar and $75.5 million to Fleetwood. There were no sales to General Dynamics in 2006 or 2005. Sales to customers classified as major amounted to 54.3%, 33.5% and 46.3% of total revenues in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Although the loss of a major customer could have a material adverse effect on Spartan Chassis and its future operating results, the Company believes that it has developed strong relationships with its customers.

Sales made to external customers outside the United States were $8.2 million, $7.1 million and $6.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, or 1.2%, 1.6% and 2.0%, respectively, of sales for those years. All of the Company's long-lived assets are located in the United States.

Backlog Orders

At December 31, 2007, the Company had backlog orders for Spartan Chassis of approximately $287.0 million, compared with a backlog of $162.4 million at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2007, the Company had backlog orders for the EVTeam of $51.4 million, compared with a backlog of $69.7 million at December 31, 2006. The Company expects to fill all of the backlog orders at December 31, 2007 during 2008.

Although the backlog of unfilled orders is one of many indicators of market demand, several factors, such as changes in production rates, available capacity, new product introductions and competitive pricing actions, may affect actual sales. Accordingly, a comparison of backlog from period to period is not necessarily indicative of eventual actual shipments.

Available Information

The address of the Company's web site is www.spartanmotors.com. The Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports (and amendments thereto) filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act are available on its web site as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files or furnishes such materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, paper copies of these materials are available without charge upon written request to James W. Knapp, Spartan Motors, Inc., 1000 Reynolds Road, Charlotte, Michigan 48813.

Any negative change in the Company's relationship with its major customers could have significant negative effects on revenues and profits.

The Company's financial success is directly related to the willingness of its customers to continue to purchase its products. Failure to fill customers' orders in a timely manner could harm the Company's relationships with its customers. Furthermore, if any of the Company's major customers experience a significant downturn in its business, or fails to remain committed to the Company's products or brands, then these customers may reduce or discontinue purchases from the Company, which could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company has four customers that accounted for 54.3% of its total annual sales in 2007 - any negative change in the Company's relationship with any one of them or the orders placed by any one of them could significantly affect the Company's revenues and profits.

Fuel shortages, or higher prices for fuel, could have a negative effect on sales.

Gasoline or diesel fuel is required for the operation of motorhomes, fire trucks, aerial ladders and ambulances. Particularly in view of increased international tensions and increased global demand for oil, there can be no assurance that the supply of these petroleum products will continue uninterrupted, that rationing will not be imposed or that the price of or tax on these petroleum products will not significantly increase in the future. Increases in gasoline and diesel prices and speculation about potential fuel shortages have had an unfavorable effect on consumer demand for motorhomes from time to time in the past, which then had a material adverse effect on sales volume, and may do so in the future. Increases in the price of oil also can result in significant increases in the price of many of the components in our products, which may have a negative impact on margins or sales volumes.

When we introduce new products we may incur expenses that we did not anticipate, such as recall expenses, resulting in reduced earnings.

The introduction of new products is critical to our future success. We have additional costs when we introduce new products, such as initial labor or purchasing inefficiencies, but we may also incur unexpected expenses. For example, we may experience unexpected engineering or design flaws that will force a recall of a new product. In addition, we may make business decisions that include offering incentives to stimulate the sales of products not adequately accepted by the market, or to stimulate sales of older or obsolete products. The costs resulting from these types of problems could be substantial and have a significant adverse effect on our earnings.

If there is a rise in the frequency and size of product liability, warranty and other claims against us, including wrongful death claims, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be harmed.

We are frequently subject, in the ordinary course of business, to litigation involving product liability and other claims, including wrongful death claims, related to personal injury and warranties. We partially self-insure our product liability claims and purchase excess product liability insurance in the commercial insurance market. We cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover all future claims against us. Any increase in the frequency and size of these claims, as compared to our experience in prior years, may cause the premiums that we are required to pay for such insurance to rise significantly. It may also increase the amounts we pay in punitive damages, which may not be covered by our insurance.

Increased costs, including costs of component parts and labor costs, potentially impacted by changes in labor rates and practices, could reduce our operating income.

Our results of operations may be significantly affected by the availability and pricing of manufacturing components and labor, as well as changes in labor rates and practices. Increases in raw materials used in our products could affect the cost of our supply materials and components, as the rising steel and aluminum prices have impacted the cost of certain of the Company's manufacturing

components. Although we attempt to mitigate the effect of any escalation in components and labor costs by negotiating with current or new suppliers and by increasing productivity or, where necessary, by increasing the sales prices of our products, we cannot be certain that we will be able to do so without it having an adverse impact on the competitiveness of our products and, therefore, our sales volume. If we cannot successfully offset increases in our manufacturing costs, this could have a material adverse impact on our margins, operating income and cash flows. Our profit margins may decrease if prices of purchased component parts or labor rates increase and we are unable to pass on those increases to our customers. Even if we were able to offset higher manufacturing costs by increasing the sales prices of our products, the realization of any such increases often lags behind the rise in manufacturing costs, especially in our operations, due in part to our commitment to give our customers and dealers price protection with respect to previously placed customer orders.

Our sales of specialty chassis for military vehicles depend on U.S. government contracts awarded to our customers. Multi-year U.S. government contracts generally are not fully funded at inception and are subject to termination.

Currently, we derive a portion of our revenue, 36.1% in 2007, from the sale of specialty chassis for military vehicles. Our customers for these specialty chassis have prime contracts with military agencies of the U.S. government. There are unique risks associated with U.S. government contracts, and by extension, subcontracts. Changes in the congressional appropriations process, program funding levels, and unforeseen world events can interrupt, delay, or terminate the funding for any program or contract.

Other risks particular to government contracts and subcontracts include:

We depend on a small group of suppliers for some of our components, and the loss of any of these suppliers could affect our ability to obtain components at competitive prices, which would decrease our sales or earnings.

Most chassis, fire truck, aerial ladder and ambulance commodity components are readily available from a variety of sources. However, a few proprietary or specialty components are produced by a small group of quality suppliers that have the capacity to support our requirements. Changes in our relationships with these suppliers, shortages, production delays or work stoppages by the employees of such suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our ability to timely manufacture our products and secure sales. If we cannot obtain an adequate supply of components, this could result in a decrease in our sales and earnings.

Amendments of the regulations governing our businesses could have a material impact on our operations.

Our manufactured products are subject to extensive federal and state regulations. Amendments to any of these regulations and the implementation of new regulations could significantly increase the costs of manufacturing, purchasing, operating or selling our products and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in fines, potential civil and criminal liability, suspension of sales or production, or cessation of operations. In addition, a major product recall could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Certain U.S. tax laws currently afford favorable tax treatment for the purchase and sale of recreational vehicles that are used as the equivalent of second homes. These laws and regulations have historically been amended frequently, and it is likely that further amendments and additional regulations will be applicable to us and our products in the future. Amendments to these laws and regulations and the implementation of new regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our operations are subject to a variety of federal and state environmental regulations relating to noise pollution and the use, generation, storage, treatment, emission and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Although we believe that we are currently in material compliance with applicable environmental regulations, our failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in fines, potential civil and criminal liability, suspension of production or operations, alterations to the manufacturing process, costly cleanup or capital expenditures. For example, laws mandating greater fuel efficiency and the heightened emission standards that took effect in 2007 have increased our research and development costs and the cost of components necessary for production. Additionally, this event could lead to the temporary unavailability of engines. The next change to emission standards that impacts the Company's products will occur in 2010.

Failure to maintain effective internal control in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have an adverse effect on our business and stock price.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to evaluate annually the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of each fiscal year and to include a management report assessing the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007. Section 404 also requires our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, and report on, the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we cannot assure you that we will be able to conclude in the future that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. If we fail to maintain a system of effective internal control, it could have an adverse effect on our business and stock price. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, has been audited by BDO Seidman LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its attestation report, which is included in Item 8.

Businesses are cyclical and this can lead to fluctuations in operating results.

The industries in which we operate are highly cyclical and there can be substantial fluctuations in our manufacturing shipments and operating results, and the results for any prior period may not be indicative of results for any future period. Companies within these industries are subject to volatility in operating results due to external factors such as economic, demographic and political changes. Factors affecting the manufacture of chassis, fire trucks, aerial ladders and ambulances include:

General economic conditions.

The effect of new or amended laws or regulations on the Company, our industry or the economy as a whole could have a detrimental effect on our operations. Such laws and regulations could cause an industry-wide market decline or affect the Company due to our inability to compete with other companies that are unaffected by these laws, regulations or policies.

Concerns regarding acts of terrorism, the war in Iraq and subsequent events have created significant global economic and political uncertainties that may have material and adverse effects on consumer demand (particularly the specialty and motorhome markets), shipping and transportation and the availability of manufacturing components.

Changes in economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, strength of the United States dollar, financial market performance and industry-specific factors could impact the economy in general, resulting in a downward trend that impacts not only our business, but all companies with which we compete; or, the changes could impact only those parts of the economy upon which we rely in a unique fashion, including, for example, the introduction of trade barriers that impact our attempts to expand in North America.

          None.

The following table sets forth information concerning the properties owned or leased by the Company. The Company believes that its facilities are suitable for their intended purposes and adequate to meet its requirements for the foreseeable future.

At December 31, 2007, the Company and its subsidiaries were parties, both as plaintiff or defendant, to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the normal conduct of their businesses. In the opinion of management, the Company's financial position, future operating results and cash flows will not be materially affected by the final outcome of these legal proceedings.

During the fourth quarter of 2007, no matters were submitted to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

PART II

The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SPAR."

On May 23, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors announced a 3-for-2 stock split which was issued on June 28, 2007 to shareholders of record on June 14, 2007. Prior to the stock split there were 21,568,499 shares of common stock outstanding. After the split and the related retirement of fractional shares, there were 32,341,312 shares outstanding.

On November 2, 2006, the Company's Board of Directors announced a 3-for-2 stock split which was issued on December 15, 2006 to shareholders of record on November 15, 2006. Prior to the stock split there were 14,032,986 shares of common stock outstanding. After the split and the related retirement of fractional shares, there were 21,048,753 shares outstanding.

The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for the Company's common stock for the periods indicated, all as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market:

In 2007, the Company's Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.05 per outstanding share on April 26, 2007 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2007 and $0.05 per outstanding share to shareholders of record on November 14, 2007. On October 23, 2007, a special $0.03 dividend was announced for shareholders of record on November 14, 2007. In 2006, the Company's Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.05 per outstanding share on April 27, 2006 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2006 and $0.05 per outstanding share on October 26, 2006 to shareholders of record on November 15, 2006. On October 26, 2006, a special $0.02 dividend was announced for shareholders of record on November 15, 2006.

The number of shareholders of record (excluding participants in security position listings) of the Company's common stock on February 29, 2008 was 577. See Item 12 below for information concerning the Company's equity compensation plans.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

A summary of the Company's purchases of its common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 is as follows:

The selected financial data shown below for the Company for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2007 has been derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. The following data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in this Form 10-K.

Five-Year Operating and Financial Summary
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

OVERVIEW

Spartan Motors, Inc. was organized as a Michigan corporation on September 18, 1975, and is headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan. The Company began development of its first product that same year and shipped its first fire truck chassis in October 1975.

The Company is known as a leading niche market engineer and manufacturer in the heavy-duty, custom vehicles marketplace. The Company has four wholly owned subsidiaries: Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., located at the corporate headquarters in Charlotte, Michigan ("Spartan Chassis"); Crimson Fire, Inc., headquartered in Brandon, South Dakota ("Crimson"); Crimson Fire Aerials, Inc., located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ("Crimson Aerials"); and Road Rescue, Inc., located in Marion, South Carolina ("Road Rescue"). Crimson, Crimson Aerials and Road Rescue make up the Company's EVTeam. The Company's brand names, Spartan™, Crimson Fire™ and Road Rescue™, are known for quality, value, service and innovation.

Spartan Chassis is a leading designer, engineer and manufacturer of custom heavy-duty chassis. The chassis consist of a frame assembly, engine, transmission, electrical system, running gear (wheels, tires, axles, suspension and brakes) and, for fire trucks and some specialty chassis applications, a cab. Spartan Chassis customers are original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") who manufacture the body or apparatus of the vehicle which is mounted on the Company's chassis. Crimson and Road Rescue engineer and manufacture emergency vehicles built on chassis platforms purchased from either Spartan Chassis or outside sources. Crimson Aerials engineers and manufactures aerial ladder components for fire trucks.

The Company's business strategy is to further diversify product lines and develop innovative design, engineering and manufacturing expertise in order to be the best value producer of custom vehicle products in the North American marketplace. Spartan Chassis sells its custom diesel chassis to three principal markets: fire truck, motorhome and specialty vehicles. Spartan Chassis believes that opportunities for growth remain strong for custom-built chassis and vehicles in each market.

The Company is an innovative team focused on building lasting relationships with its customers. This is accomplished by striving to deliver premium custom vehicles and services that inspire customer loyalty. The Company believes that it can best carry out its long-term business plan and obtain optimal financial flexibility by using a combination of borrowings under the Company's credit facilities, as well as equity capital, as sources of expansion capital. A key metric in measuring the Company's success is the Company's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). The Company defines ROIC as operating income, less taxes, on an annualized basis, divided by total shareholders' equity.

The Company recognizes that motorhome chassis sales are more sensitive to economic swings than that of the Company's other two principal chassis markets. Thus, in the past few years, management has placed special emphasis on further market penetration in the fire truck market and continued diversification into the specialty chassis market.

The Company expects future growth and earnings to come from:

The following section provides a narrative discussion about the Company's financial condition and results of operations. The comments that follow should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere within this Report.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the components of the Company's consolidated statements of income, on an actual basis, as a percentage of revenues:

Year Ended December 31, 2007 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006

Continuing Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2007, consolidated sales increased $236.5 million (53.1%) over sales for the same period in 2006. The increase was due to a $223.9 million (57.2%) increase in Spartan Chassis sales coupled with a $12.1 million (15.6%) increase in EVTeam sales. Intercompany sales from Spartan Chassis to the EVTeam decreased $0.5 million (-2.5%) over the prior year. Intercompany sales are eliminated from the consolidated sales totals.

Within Spartan Chassis, the motorhome chassis line experienced a sales increase of $13.1 million (6.4%) over 2006 sales. This increase was due to higher unit sales due to additional models of existing customers offering Spartan Chassis.

Fire truck chassis, another major product line for Spartan Chassis, experienced an increase of $7.9 million (7.3%) in sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 over the year ended December 31, 2006. Fire truck units sold were flat in 2007 compared to 2006, however the Company's average selling price per fire truck grew as the market continues to demand more complex product options.

Other Spartan Chassis sales were $282.0 million compared to $79.2 million in 2006.  This increase primarily is due to higher sales of military chassis for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) military subcontracts. Increased service part sales also contributed to the increase over the prior year. The increase in service parts sales corresponds to increased military vehicles in the field. The Company's current backlog for these specialty vehicles will support production through most of 2008, considering that orders are not canceled.  See Item 1A "Risk Factors" relating to government contracts for more details.

The increase in EVTeam sales for 2007 was a result of increases at Crimson Fire of $8.7 million and at Road Rescue of $2.6 million, while Crimson Fire Aerials remained fairly flat with a $0.8 million increase in sales. The Crimson Fire sales increase was driven by higher average unit prices. Road Rescue experienced improved sales due to an increase in the number of units sold as well as a higher average unit sell price.

Gross profit increased from $73.4 million in 2006 to $96.5 million in 2007 due to higher sales volumes. However, gross margin decreased from 16.5% in 2006 to 14.2% in 2007, due primarily to a change in the product sales mix. In the prior year, the specialty chassis in production were a part of lower volume military programs while the primary specialty chassis product in production in 2007 is part of the MRAP program. The MRAP program is a highly competitive program with many OEM's bidding to secure orders resulting in lower margins for these specialty chassis.

Operating expenses increased by $11.2 million (24.3%) from 2006 levels. The main factors in the increase were staff additions and overtime paid to support the increase in sales discussed above. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales decreased from 10.4% for the year ended December 31, 2006 to 8.4% for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The increase in the Company's income taxes from $11.1 million in 2006 to $13.7 million in 2007 is primarily due to increased earnings before taxes in 2007 when compared to 2006. The effective tax rate was 35.9% in 2007 as compared to 39.8% in 2006. The reason for the decrease in the effective tax rate was twofold. The 2006 effective tax rate was negatively impacted by a non-deductible goodwill charge. Additionally, 2007 experienced an increase in the Section 199 production deduction. See Note 5, Taxes on Income, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding income taxes.

Net earnings increased $7.7 million ($0.20 per diluted share, post-split) from $16.8 million ($0.55 per diluted share, post-split) in 2006 to $24.5 million ($0.75 per diluted share, post-split) in 2007 as a result of the factors discussed above.

Year Ended December 31, 2006 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005

For the year ended December 31, 2006, consolidated sales increased $102.4 million (29.8%) over sales for the same period in 2005. The increase was due to a $97.5 million (33.1%) increase in Spartan Chassis sales coupled with a $12.6 million (19.4%) increase in EVTeam sales. Increased sales from Spartan Chassis to the EVTeam caused intercompany sales to increase $7.7 million (48.2%) over the prior year. Intercompany sales are eliminated from the consolidated sales totals.

Within Spartan Chassis, the motorhome chassis line experienced a sales increase of $15.0 million (7.9%) over 2005 sales. While 2006 motorhome unit sales were down compared to 2005, 2005 lower end units were replaced with higher end chassis sales and increased sales to a new customer added during 2005.

Fire truck chassis, another major product line for Spartan Chassis, experienced an increase of $22.8 million (26.7%) in sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 over the year ended December 31, 2005. As the increase in sales indicates, the fire truck market continued to be strong in 2006. An increase in market share resulted in the increase in fire truck chassis sales.

Other Spartan Chassis sales were $79.2 million compared to $19.5 million in 2005.  This increase is due to higher sales of military chassis for the Joint Explosive Rapid Response Vehicle (JERRV) and Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) military subcontracts. Sales of military vehicle chassis began in the first quarter of 2005.

The increase in EVTeam sales for 2006 was a result of increases at Crimson Fire of $16.0 million and at Crimson Fire Aerials of $2.7 million, partially offset by a sales decrease at Road Rescue of $6.1 million. The increases were driven by higher average unit prices for fire trucks coupled with higher unit sales of fire trucks.

Gross margin increased from 14.2% in 2005 to 16.5% in 2006. Primary drivers for the gross margin increase were changes in product mix with increased fire truck chassis sales, increased military chassis sales and increased sales volumes for the EVTeam. Partially offsetting these improvements were increased expenses due to Road Rescue production issues and increased warranty expense at Spartan Chassis. Also contributing to the increase in gross margin in 2006 were improved production efficiencies at Spartan Chassis and Crimson Fire.

Operating expenses increased by $9.9 million (27.5%) from 2005 levels. Expenses for 2006 include a $2.1 million goodwill impairment charge related to Road Rescue. The Company completes its required annual impairment test as of October 1 each year. Based upon the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units using a discounted cash flow valuation, the goodwill at Road Rescue subsidiary was evaluated as impaired and goodwill totaling $2.1 million was recognized as a charge against operating income. The remaining balance of the goodwill of the Company relates to its Crimson Fire subsidiary and was not impaired. Other factors causing the increase were staff additions to support the increase in sales discussed above and increased payroll costs due to higher incentive plan payments generated by the improvement in results. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales decreased from 10.5% for the year ended December 31, 2005 to 10.4% for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The increase in the Company's income taxes from $5.1 million in 2005 to $11.1 million in 2006 is primarily due to increased earnings before taxes in 2006 when compared to 2005. The effective tax rate was 39.8% in 2006 as compared to 38.0% in 2005. The increase in the effective tax rate was due to the non-deductible goodwill charge and higher state taxes in 2006 versus 2005. See Note 5, Taxes on Income, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding income taxes.

Net earnings increased $8.5 million from $8.3 million ($0.29 per diluted share, post-split) in 2005 to $16.8 million ($0.55 per diluted share, post-split) in 2006 as a result of the factors discussed above.

Quarterly Results

The Company's rate of sales growth has varied historically from quarter to quarter. For a description of quarterly financial data, see Note 13, Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited), of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in this Form 10-K.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company generated an ROIC of 27.4% in the fourth quarter of 2007, a 122.8% increase compared to the ROIC of 12.3% for the same period in 2006. The Company defines return on invested capital as operating income, less taxes, on an annualized basis, divided by total shareholders' equity. ROIC for the year ended December 31 2007 was 19.8% compared to ROIC of 15.7% in 2006.

Cash on hand remained relatively flat from $13.8 million at December 31, 2006 to $13.5 million at December 31, 2007. During 2007, proceeds from the Company's net increase in notes payable and use of its line of credit amounted to $37.5 million while $7.2 million was provided from the exercise of stock options and the related tax benefit. Of these funds, $6.7 million was used to fund operating activities. Accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable increased primarily as a result of increased sales levels at Spartan Chassis. Other uses of the funds were $31.2 million for property, plant and equipment, $4.3 million to pay dividends and $2.8 million for the repurchase of Company stock. The Company's working capital increased by $36.6 million from $96.1 million in 2006 to $132.7 million in 2007. See the "Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows" appearing in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, for further information regarding the components of the decrease in cash and cash equivalents, from $13.8 million as of December 31, 2006, to $13.5 million as of December 31, 2007. See the "Five-Year Operating and Financial Summary" table appearing in Item 6 of this Form 10-K for a five-year comparison of net working capital.

Shareholders' equity increased $26.0 million, from $103.2 million as of December 31, 2006 to $129.2 million as of December 31, 2007. The increase was driven by $24.5 million in net income of the Company, $1.7 million from compensation related to stock appreciation rights and restricted stock and $7.2 million from the exercise of stock options including the corresponding tax benefit. These increases were partially offset by $4.3 million in dividends paid, $2.8 million for the repurchase of Company stock and a $0.3 million adjustment due to the adoption of FIN 48 "Accounting for Uncertain Income Tax Provisions", as of January 1, 2007. See "Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity" appearing in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information regarding the changes in shareholders' equity.

On July 24, 2007, the Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase, over the course of the subsequent 12-month period, up to a total of 1,000,000 shares of its common stock in open market transactions. That authorization will expire on July 24, 2008. During the 2007, 300,000 shares were repurchased in open market transactions. Repurchase of common stock is contingent upon market conditions. If the Company were to repurchase the remaining 700,000 shares of stock under the repurchase program, they would cost the Company approximately $5.7 million based on the sales price of the Company's stock on February 29, 2007. The Company believes that it has sufficient cash reserves to fund this potential stock buyback.

During its March 12, 2007, August 6, 2007 and October 23, 2007 meetings, the Board of Directors approved a $40 million increase in the Company's primary revolving note payable with JP Morgan Chase Bank, increasing the total unsecured borrowings available to $65 million. The Company had borrowings of $35.5 million under this debt agreement in the form of a line of credit as of December 31, 2007. The Company also had a $10.0 million term note as of December 31, 2007 under the same debt agreement. The line of credit includes three one-year automatic extensions unless the bank provides notice of non-renewal 14 months in advance of the expiration date. Working capital and capital expenditures created the need for the additional borrowings. Under the terms of the line

of credit and term note agreement, the Company is required to maintain certain financial ratios and other financial conditions. The agreement also prohibits the Company from incurring additional indebtedness, limits certain acquisitions, investments, advances or loans and restricts substantial asset sales. At December 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company has an unsecured fixed rate long term note which bears interest at 4.99%. The loan is repayable in equal monthly installments and matures in October of 2011. At December 31, 2007, the total outstanding amount on this note was $6.5 million of which $466,667 is payable in 2008.

The Company has a secured line of credit for $0.2 million, which has an expiration date of July 5, 2008. This line of credit is secured by accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. There were no borrowings under this line at December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company has secured mortgage notes of which $1.1 million and $0.1 million are outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The mortgage notes carry an interest rate of 3.00% payable in monthly installments (for principal and interest) of $6,933 and $834, respectively, with balances due July 1, 2010 and March 1, 2009, respectively. These mortgage notes are secured by real estate and buildings.

On November 30, 2007, the Company entered into a private shelf agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. This agreement allows the Company to borrow up to an additional $40,000,000 to be issued in $5,000,000 minimum increments. The interest rate is determined based on applicable rates at time of issuance. The Company had a $10 million term note issued under this shelf agreement as of December 31, 2007, which carried an interest rate of 4.93%.

The Company had construction in process as of December 31, 2007 for the site development and building construction for a new office building and renovations to manufacturing facilities. Total estimated construction costs for these projects were $13.9 million of which $2.0 million has been spent as of December 31, 2007. All construction projects are expected to be completed by August of 2008.

On April 26, 2007, the Board of Directors approved regular dividends of $0.10 per share payable in the amount of $0.05 per share on June 15, 2007 and $0.05 per share on December 14, 2007 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2007 and November 14, 2007 respectively. On October 23, 2007, the Board of Directors approved a special dividend of $0.03 per share payable on December 14, 2007 to shareholders of record on November 14, 2007.

The Company believes it has sufficient resources from cash flows from operating activities and, if necessary, from additional borrowings under its lines of credit to satisfy ongoing cash requirements for the next 12 months. Proceeds from existing credit facilities and anticipated renewals, along with cash flows from operations, are expected to be sufficient to meet capital needs in the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The Company's future contractual obligations for agreements, including agreements to purchase materials in the normal course of business, are summarized below. The weighted average interest rate for long term debt as of December 31, 2007 was 5.21%. The Company is in the process of constructing new office space and the renovation of manufacturing facilities for which there were no outstanding purchase commitments as of December 31, 2007. The estimated cost to complete the construction is $11.9 million.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The following discussion of accounting policies is intended to supplement Note 1, General and Summary of Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. These policies were selected because they are broadly applicable within the Company's operating units and they involve additional management judgment due to the sensitivity of the methods, assumptions and estimates necessary in determining the related statement of operations, asset and/or liability amounts.

Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, Revenue Recognition. Accordingly, revenue is recognized when title to the product and risk of ownership passes to the buyer. In certain instances, risk of ownership and title passes when the unit has been completed in accordance with purchase order specifications and has been tendered for delivery to the customer. Sales are shown net of returns, discounts and sales incentives, which historically have not been significant. The collectability of any related receivable is reasonably assured before revenue is recognized.

Accounts Receivable - The Company maintains an allowance for customer accounts that reduces receivables to amounts that are expected to be collected. In estimating the allowance, management considers factors such as current overall economic conditions, industry-specific economic conditions, historical and anticipated customer performance, historical experience with write-offs and the level of past-due amounts. Changes in these conditions may result in additional allowances.

Inventory - Estimated inventory allowances for slow-moving and obsolete inventory are based upon current assessments about future demands, market conditions and related management initiatives. If market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory allowances may be required.

Impairment of Goodwill - Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the related underlying tangible and identifiable intangible net asset values resulting from business acquisitions. Annually, or if conditions indicate an earlier review is necessary, the carrying value of the reporting unit is compared to an estimate of its fair value. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, goodwill is impaired and will be written down to its estimated fair value. Goodwill is allocated to the reporting unit from which it was created.

Based upon the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units using a discounted cash flow valuation, the goodwill at its Road Rescue subsidiary which is included in the Company's EVTeam reportable segment was evaluated as impaired and goodwill totaling $2,086,394 was recognized as a charge against operating income during 2006. The remaining balance of the goodwill of the Company relates to its Crimson Fire subsidiary and was not impaired as of December 31, 2007.

Warranties - The Company's policy is to record a provision for the estimated cost of warranty-related claims at the time of the sale, and periodically adjust the provision to reflect actual experience. The amount of warranty liability accrued reflects management's best estimate of the expected future cost of honoring the Company's obligations under the warranty agreements. The Company's estimates are based on historical experience, the number of units involved and the extent of features and components included in product models. For military vehicles with limited historical data, estimates were based upon historical experience of commercial vehicles. See also Note 10, Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this 10-K for further information regarding warranties.

Equity Compensation - SFAS 123(R), "Share-Based Payment", addresses the accounting for share-based employee compensation and was adopted by Spartan Motors, Inc. on January 1, 2006 utilizing the modified prospective approach. The effect of applying SFAS 123(R) and further information on Spartan Motors, Inc. equity compensation plans, including inputs used to determine fair value of options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) is disclosed in Note 9 to the financial statements. SFAS 123(R) requires that share options and SARs awarded to employees are recognized as compensation expense based on their fair value at grant date. The fair market value of options and SARs granted under the Company's stock option plans was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using assumptions for inputs such as interest rates, expected dividends, volatility measures and specific employee exercise behavior patterns based on statistical data. Some of the inputs we use are not market-observable and have to be estimated or derived from available data. Use of different estimates would produce different values, which in turn would result in higher or lower compensation expense recognized. We have not run the model with alternative inputs to quantify their effects on the fair value of the options or SARs.

To value options and SARs, several recognized valuation models exist. None of these models can be singled out as being the best or most correct one. The model we apply is able to handle some of the specific features included in the awards we grant, which is the reason for its use. If we were to use a different model, the values would differ despite using the same inputs. Accordingly, using different assumptions coupled with using a different valuation model could have a significant impact on the fair value of employee stock options and SARs. Fair value could be either higher or lower than the ones produced by the model we apply and the inputs we used.

New and Pending Accounting Policies

See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Effect of Inflation

Inflation affects the Company in two principal ways. First, the Company's revolving notes payable is generally tied to the prime and LIBOR interest rates so that increases in those interest rates would be translated into additional interest expense. Second, general inflation impacts prices paid for labor, parts and supplies. Whenever possible, the Company attempts to cover increased costs of production and capital by adjusting the prices of its products. However, the Company generally does not attempt to negotiate inflation-based price adjustment provisions into its contracts. Since order lead times can be as much as six months, the Company has limited ability to pass on cost increases to its customers on a short-term basis. In addition, the markets served by the Company are competitive in nature, and competition limits the Company's ability to pass through cost increases in many cases. The Company strives to minimize the effect of inflation through cost reductions and improved productivity.

The Company's primary market risk exposure is a change in interest rates and the effect of such a change on outstanding variable rate short-term and long-term debt. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $35.5 million of debt outstanding under its variable rate short-term and long-term debt agreements. An increase of 1% in interest rates would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position. The Company does not enter into market risk sensitive instruments for trading or other purposes.

The Company does not believe that there has been a material change in the nature or categories of the primary market risk exposures or the particular markets that present the primary risk of loss to the Company. As of the date of this report, the Company does not know of or expect any material changes in the general nature of its primary market risk exposure in the near term. In this discussion, "near term" means a period of one year following the date of the most recent balance sheet contained in this report.

Prevailing interest rates and interest rate relationships are primarily determined by market factors that are beyond the Company's control. All information provided in response to this item consists of forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the section captioned "Forward-Looking Statements" before Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the limitations on the Company's responsibility for such statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005