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US XPRESS ENTERPRISES INC - Quarter Report: 2021 June (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021

or

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

For the transition period from                        to

Commission File Number: 001-38528

Graphic

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada

62-1378182

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

or organization)

4080 Jenkins Road

Chattanooga, Tennessee

37421

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(423) 510-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value

USX

The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes

No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes

No

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

Large accelerated filer 

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer   

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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

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

Yes

No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date July 26, 2021.

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value: 34,665,598

Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value: 15,677,089

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page
Number

Item 1.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

3

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

4

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

5

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

6

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

20

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

35

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

35

PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

Page
Number

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

35

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

36

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

36

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

36

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

36

Item 5.

Other Information

36

Item 6.

Exhibits

37

Page 2

Table of Contents

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

June 30, 

December 31, 

(in thousands, except share amounts)

    

2021

    

2020

Assets

 

  

 

  

Current assets

 

  

 

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

5,275

$

5,505

Customer receivables, net of allowance of $150 and $157 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 

220,264

 

189,869

Other receivables

 

17,198

 

19,203

Prepaid insurance and licenses

 

9,685

 

14,265

Operating supplies

 

9,729

 

8,953

Assets held for sale

 

18,188

 

12,382

Other current assets

 

27,379

 

16,263

Total current assets

 

307,718

 

266,440

Property and equipment, at cost

 

863,459

 

896,264

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(391,669)

 

(394,603)

Net property and equipment

 

471,790

 

501,661

Other assets

 

  

 

  

Operating lease right of use assets

 

263,099

 

287,251

Goodwill

 

59,221

 

59,221

Intangible assets, net

 

24,723

 

25,513

Other

 

50,576

 

39,504

Total other assets

 

397,619

 

411,489

Total assets

$

1,177,127

$

1,179,590

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

  

 

  

Current liabilities

 

  

 

  

Accounts payable

$

100,864

$

83,621

Book overdraft

 

5,873

 

Accrued wages and benefits

 

40,866

 

40,095

Claims and insurance accruals, current

 

45,674

 

47,667

Other accrued liabilities

 

5,639

 

5,986

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

 

76,512

 

78,193

Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases

 

76,616

 

103,690

Total current liabilities

 

352,044

 

359,252

Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities

 

257,088

 

255,287

Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

 

(381)

 

(314)

Net long-term debt and finance leases

 

256,707

 

254,973

Deferred income taxes

 

32,786

 

25,162

Other long-term liabilities

 

14,809

 

14,615

Claims and insurance accruals, long-term

 

47,472

 

55,420

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

 

187,576

 

209,311

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

 

 

Stockholders' equity

Common stock Class A, $.01 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, 34,665,598 and 33,981,185 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 

347

 

340

Common stock Class B, $.01 par value, 35,000,000 authorized at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, 15,677,089 and 15,647,095 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 

156

 

157

Additional paid-in capital

 

264,450

 

261,338

Retained earnings (deficit)

 

19,204

 

(2,430)

Stockholders' equity

 

284,157

 

259,405

Noncontrolling interest

 

1,576

 

1,452

Total stockholders' equity

 

285,733

 

260,857

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

1,177,127

$

1,179,590

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Page 3

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U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

Operating revenue

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Revenue, before fuel surcharge

$

437,533

$

393,964

$

855,174

$

786,784

Fuel surcharge

 

37,488

 

28,513

 

70,607

 

68,261

Total operating revenue

 

475,021

 

422,477

 

925,781

 

855,045

Operating expenses

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

 

144,500

139,970

 

286,503

 

275,348

Fuel and fuel taxes

 

43,783

29,850

 

84,187

 

70,057

Vehicle rents

 

21,547

21,335

 

43,010

 

43,212

Depreciation and amortization, net of (gain) loss on sale of property

 

23,205

26,283

 

45,587

 

52,086

Purchased transportation

 

157,489

117,366

 

299,150

 

247,120

Operating expenses and supplies

 

34,443

31,592

 

66,958

 

67,322

Insurance premiums and claims

 

18,933

21,283

 

40,710

 

47,306

Operating taxes and licenses

 

3,247

3,720

 

6,516

 

7,397

Communications and utilities

 

2,964

2,256

 

5,352

 

4,708

General and other operating expenses

 

16,004

12,545

 

30,904

 

27,880

Total operating expenses

 

466,115

 

406,200

 

908,877

 

842,436

Operating income

 

8,906

 

16,277

 

16,904

 

12,609

Other expense (income)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Interest expense, net

 

3,557

4,862

 

7,244

 

10,283

Other, net

 

(20,191)

 

 

(20,191)

 

2,000

 

(16,634)

 

4,862

 

(12,947)

 

12,283

Income before income tax provision

 

25,540

 

11,415

 

29,851

 

326

Income tax provision

 

6,443

 

2,387

 

8,093

 

530

Net total and comprehensive income (loss)

 

19,097

 

9,028

 

21,758

 

(204)

Net total and comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

1

 

(470)

 

124

 

(486)

Net total and comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest

$

19,096

$

9,498

$

21,634

$

282

Earnings per share

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Basic earnings per share

$

0.38

$

0.19

$

0.43

$

0.01

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

50,334

 

49,499

 

50,156

 

49,358

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.37

$

0.18

$

0.42

$

(0.00)

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

51,848

 

50,215

 

51,705

 

49,518

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Page 4

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U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Operating activities

 

  

 

  

Net income (loss)

$

21,758

$

(204)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

  

Deferred income tax provision

 

7,624

 

301

Depreciation and amortization

 

41,036

 

45,683

Losses on sale of equipment

 

4,551

 

6,403

Share based compensation

 

3,791

 

2,000

Other

 

381

 

2,967

Unrealized gain on equity investment

(20,191)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

  

Receivables

 

(27,163)

 

(3,027)

Prepaid insurance and licenses

 

4,580

 

1,933

Operating supplies

 

(724)

 

95

Other assets

 

(1,967)

 

1,085

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 

5,954

 

11,822

Accrued wages and benefits

 

771

 

2,738

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

40,401

 

71,796

Investing activities

 

  

 

  

Payments for purchases of property and equipment

 

(62,851)

 

(87,270)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

47,660

 

24,101

Other

(1,880)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(15,191)

 

(65,049)

Financing activities

 

  

 

  

Borrowings under lines of credit

 

138,812

 

180,254

Payments under lines of credit

 

(123,812)

 

(180,254)

Borrowings under long-term debt

 

38,116

 

183,662

Payments of long-term debt and finance leases

 

(83,961)

 

(196,742)

Payments of financing costs

 

(100)

 

(1,276)

Payments of long-term consideration for business acquisition

 

 

(1,000)

Tax withholding related to net share settlement of restricted stock awards

 

(1,211)

 

(93)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under ESPP

538

420

Proceeds from long-term consideration for sale of subsidiary

 

305

 

290

Book overdraft

 

5,873

 

3,631

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(25,440)

 

(11,108)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(230)

(4,361)

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

  

Beginning of year

 

5,505

 

5,687

End of period

$

5,275

$

1,326

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

  

 

  

Cash paid during the year for interest

$

6,956

$

9,222

Cash paid during the year for income taxes

 

720

 

160

Supplemental disclosure of significant noncash investing and financing activities

 

  

 

  

Subsidiary stock issued in business combination

$

$

7,278

Finance lease additions

5,572

Property and equipment amounts accrued in accounts payable

2,901

1,245

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Page 5

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U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

Additional

Non

Total

Class A

Class B

Paid

Retained

Controlling

Stockholders'

(in thousands, except share amounts)

    

Stock

    

Stock

    

In Capital

    

Earnings (Deficit)

    

Interest

    

Equity

Balances at December 31, 2020

$

340

$

157

$

261,338

$

(2,430)

$

1,452

$

260,857

Share based compensation

 

 

 

2,134

 

 

 

2,134

Vesting of restricted units

 

3

 

1

 

(919)

 

 

 

(915)

Conversion of Class B stock to Class A stock

1

(1)

Issuance of common stock under ESPP

1

537

538

Net income

 

 

 

 

2,538

 

123

 

2,661

Balances at March 31, 2021

345

157

263,090

108

1,575

265,275

Share based compensation

 

 

 

1,657

 

 

 

1,657

Vesting of restricted units

 

1

 

 

(297)

 

 

 

(296)

Conversion of Class B stock to Class A stock

1

(1)

Net income

 

 

 

 

19,096

 

1

 

19,097

Balances at June 30, 2021

$

347

$

156

$

264,450

$

19,204

$

1,576

$

285,733

Additional

Non

Total

Class A

Class B

Paid

Accumulated

Controlling

Stockholders'

(in thousands, except share amounts)

    

Stock

    

Stock

    

In Capital

    

Deficit

    

Interest

    

Equity

Balances at December 31, 2019

$

333

$

157

$

250,700

$

(20,982)

$

628

$

230,836

Share based compensation

 

 

 

836

 

 

 

836

Vesting of restricted units

1

 

1

 

(93)

 

 

(91)

Issuance of common stock under ESPP

1

419

420

Net loss

 

 

 

(9,216)

 

(16)

(9,232)

Balances at March 31, 2020

335

158

251,862

(30,198)

612

222,769

Share based compensation

 

 

 

1,164

 

 

 

1,164

Vesting of restricted units

1

 

 

(3)

 

 

(2)

Issuance of subsidiary shares in business combination

5,534

1,744

7,278

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

9,498

 

(470)

9,028

Balances at June 30, 2020

$

336

$

158

$

258,557

$

(20,700)

$

1,886

$

240,237

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Page 6

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U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2021

1.        Organization and Operations

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”, and similar expressions) provide transportation services throughout the United States, with a focus in the densely populated and economically diverse eastern half of the United States. The Company offers its customers a broad portfolio of services using its own asset-based truckload fleet and third-party carriers through our non-asset-based truck brokerage network. The Company has two reportable segments, Truckload and Brokerage. Our Truckload segment offers asset-based truckload services, including over-the-road (“OTR”) trucking and dedicated contract services. Our Brokerage segment is principally engaged in non-asset-based freight brokerage services, where loads are contracted to third-party carriers.

Under our Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 140,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 35,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 9,333,333 shares of preferred stock, the rights and preferences of which may be designated by the Board of Directors.

2.        Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented, such adjustments being of a normal recurring nature.

Certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2020 balance sheet was derived from our audited balance sheet as of that date. The Company’s operating results are subject to seasonal trends when measured on a quarterly basis; therefore operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current presentation. The reclassification consisted primarily of $3.4 million and $9.3 million of largely driver expenses reclassified from General and other operating expenses to Operating expenses and supplies for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. These reclassifications had no effect on previously issued Total operating expenses, Operating income, or Net total and comprehensive income (loss).

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Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, which modifies Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 to simplify the accounting for income taxes. We adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021 and the application of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

3.        Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is based on the estimated annual effective tax rate, plus discrete items. The following table presents the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

 

Income before income tax provision

$

25,540

$

11,415

$

29,851

$

326

Income tax provision

 

6,443

 

2,387

 

8,093

 

530

Effective tax rate

25.2

%  

20.9

%  

27.1

%  

 

162.6

%  

The difference between the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 and the US statutory rate of 21% primarily relates to nondeductible expenses, federal income tax credits, state income taxes (net of federal benefit), a net increase in valuation allowances, and certain discrete items.

4.        Investments

At March 31, 2021, we held a $5.0 million investment consisting of 353,604 shares in TuSimple, a self-driving technology company. Effective April 15, 2021, TuSimple completed their initial public offering at a closing price of $40.00 per share. As we now have a readily determinable fair value based on quoted market prices, which makes this a Level 1 fair value measurement, we adjusted the fair value to $25.2 million recognizing the change of $20.2 million in other (income) expense within the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The investment is included in other noncurrent assets on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

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5.        Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 consists of the following (in thousands):

    

June 30, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Line of credit, maturing January 2025

$

15,000

$

Revenue equipment installment notes with finance companies, weighted average interest rate of 3.9% and 4.0% at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates through March 2027, secured by related revenue equipment with a net book value of $284.6 million and $317.2 million at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

280,534

315,163

Mortgage note payables, interest rates ranging from 4.17% to 6.99% at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates through September 2031, secured by real estate with a net book value of $31.2 million and $31.8 million at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

 

25,292

 

25,977

Other

 

1,797

 

11,245

 

322,623

 

352,385

Less: Debt issuance costs

 

(381)

 

(314)

Less: Current maturities of long-term debt

 

(72,964)

 

(99,955)

$

249,278

$

252,116

Credit Facility

On January 28, 2020, we entered into a new credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) and contemporaneously with the funding of the Credit Facility paid off obligations under our then existing credit facility and terminated such facility. The Credit Facility is a $250.0 million revolving credit facility, with an uncommitted accordion feature that, so long as no event of default exists, allows the Company to request an increase in the revolving credit facility of up to $75.0 million.

The Credit Facility is a five-year facility scheduled to terminate on January 28, 2025. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are classified as either “base rate loans” or “eurodollar rate loans”. Base rate loans accrue interest at a base rate equal to the highest of (A) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (B) the Agent’s prime rate, and (C) LIBOR plus 1.00% plus an applicable margin that was set at 0.50% through June 30, 2020 and adjusted quarterly thereafter between 0.25% and 0.75% based on the ratio of the daily average availability under the Credit Facility to the daily average of the lesser of the borrowing base or the revolving credit facility. Eurodollar rate loans accrue interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin that was set at 1.50% through June 30, 2020 and adjusted quarterly thereafter between 1.25% and 1.75% based on the ratio of the daily average availability under the Credit Facility to the daily average of the lesser of the borrowing base or the revolving credit facility. The Credit Facility includes, within its $250.0 million revolving credit facility, a letter of credit sub-facility in an aggregate amount of $75.0 million and a swingline sub-facility in an aggregate amount of $25.0 million. An unused line fee of 0.25% is applied to the average daily amount by which the lenders’ aggregate revolving commitments exceed the outstanding principal amount of revolver loans and aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility is secured by a pledge of substantially all of the Company’s assets, excluding, among other things, any real estate or revenue equipment financed outside the Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the new Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base limited to the lesser of (A) $250.0 million; or (B) the sum of (i) 87.5% of eligible billed accounts receivable, plus (ii) 85.0% of eligible unbilled accounts receivable (less than 30 days), plus (iii) 85.0% of the net orderly liquidation value percentage applied to the net book value of eligible revenue equipment, plus (iv) the lesser of (a) 80.0% the fair market value of eligible real estate or (b) $25.0 million. The Credit Facility contains a single springing financial covenant, which requires a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0. The financial covenant is tested only in the event excess availability under the Credit Facility is less than the greater of (A) 10.0% of the lesser of the borrowing base

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or revolving credit facility or (B) $20.0 million. Based on excess availability as of June 30, 2021, there was no fixed charge coverage ratio requirement.

The Credit Facility includes usual and customary events of default for a facility of this nature and provides that, upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default, payment of all amounts payable under the Credit Facility may be accelerated, and the lenders’ commitments may be terminated. The Credit Facility contains certain restrictions and covenants relating to, among other things, dividends, liens, acquisitions and dispositions, affiliate transactions, and other indebtedness.

At June 30, 2021, the Credit Facility had issued collateralized letters of credit in the face amount of $28.1 million, with $15.0 million in borrowings outstanding and $175.6 million available to borrow.

6.        Leases

We have operating and finance leases with terms of 1 year to 16 years for certain revenue and service equipment and office and terminal facilities.

The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet (in thousands):

Leases

    

Classification

    

June 30, 2021

Assets

 

  

 

  

Operating

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

263,099

Finance

 

Property and equipment, net

 

11,352

Total leased assets

 

  

$

274,451

Liabilities

 

  

 

  

Current

 

  

 

  

Operating

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

$

76,512

Finance

 

Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases

 

3,652

Noncurrent

 

  

 

Operating

 

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

 

187,576

Finance

 

Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities

 

7,429

Total lease liabilities

 

  

$

275,169

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The table below presents certain information related to the lease costs for finance and operating leases (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

Lease Cost

    

Classification

    

2021

    

2020

 

2021

    

2020

Operating lease cost

 

Vehicle rents and General and other operating

$

23,172

$

21,628

$

46,263

$

43,543

Finance lease cost:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

Amortization of finance lease assets

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

543

 

442

 

971

 

880

Interest on lease liabilities

 

Interest expense

 

163

 

141

 

271

 

314

Short-term lease cost

 

Vehicle rents and General and other operating

 

1,220

 

1,780

 

2,563

 

3,798

Total lease cost

 

  

$

25,098

$

23,991

$

50,068

$

48,535

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

Cash Flow Information

    

2021

 

2020

Cash paid for operating leases included in operating activities

$

46,263

$

43,543

Cash paid for finance leases included in operating activities

$

271

$

314

Cash paid for finance leases included in financing activities

$

1,082

$

3,236

Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

$

15,148

$

45,474

Noncash lease expense was $46.4 million and $43.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

June 30, 2021

WeightedAverage

Weighted-

 

Remaining Lease

Average

 

Lease Term and Discount Rate

    

Term (years)

    

Discount Rate

 

Operating leases

 

4.9

4.0

%

Finance leases

 

8.2

5.9

%

June 30, 2020

WeightedAverage

Weighted-

 

Remaining Lease

Average

 

Lease Term and Discount Rate

    

Term (years)

    

Discount Rate

 

Operating leases

 

4.9

 

4.2

%

Finance leases

 

3.0

 

5.4

%

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As of June 30, 2021, future maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

June 30, 2021

    

Finance

    

Operating 

2021

$

3,156

$

43,819

2022

 

1,948

 

81,275

2023

 

1,962

 

65,592

2024

 

850

 

36,140

2025

 

568

 

19,161

Thereafter

 

4,619

 

47,848

 

13,103

 

293,835

Less: Amount representing interest

 

(2,022)

 

(29,747)

Total

$

11,081

$

264,088

We lease tractors to independent contractors under operating leases and recognized lease income under these leases of $6.8 million and $9.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively and $14.7 million and $22.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

7.        Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is party to certain legal proceedings incidental to its business. The ultimate disposition of these matters, in the opinion of management, based in part on the advice of legal counsel, is not expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

For the cases described below, management is unable to provide a meaningful estimate of the possible loss or range of loss because, among other reasons, (1) the proceedings are in various stages; (2) damages have not been sought; (3) damages are unsupported and/or exaggerated; (4) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of the proceedings, including pending appeals; and/or (5) there are significant factual issues to be resolved. For these cases, however, management does not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcomes of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, though the outcomes could be material to our operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon the operating results for such period.

California Wage and Hour Class Action Litigation

On December 23, 2015, a former driver filed a class action lawsuit against the Company and its subsidiary U.S. Xpress, Inc. in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. The Company removed the case from state court to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The district court denied plaintiff’s initial motion for class certification of a class comprised of any employee driver who has driven in California at any time since December 23, 2011, without prejudice, under Rule 23 due to lack of commonality amongst the putative class members. The Court granted the plaintiff’s revised Motion for Class Certification, and the certified class now consists of all employee drivers who resided in California and who have driven in the State of California on behalf of U.S. Xpress at any time since December 23, 2011. The case alleges that class members were not paid for off-the-clock work, were not provided duty free meal or rest breaks, and were not paid premium pay in their absence, were not paid the California minimum wage for all hours worked in that state, were not provided accurate and complete itemized wage statements and were not paid all accrued wages at the end of their employment, all in violation of California law. The class seeks a judgment for compensatory damages and penalties, injunctive relief, attorney fees, costs and pre- and post-judgment interest. On May 2, 2019, the district court dismissed on grounds of preemption the claims alleging failure to provide duty free meal and rest breaks or premium pay for failure to provide such breaks under California law. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the administrative ruling that formed the basis for the district court’s ruling. The parties also filed cross-motions for summary judgment on the remaining claims, and the Company filed a motion to decertify the class. The court issued its ruling on the pending cross-motions: (1) the court denied the Company’s motion to decertify the class; (2) the court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff’s minimum wage claim for non-driving duties such as pre-trip and post-trip inspection, fueling, receiving dispatches, waiting to load or unload, and

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handling paperwork for the loads for January 1, 2013 forward (leaving the minimum wage claim only for the approximate one-year time period from December 23, 2011 to December 31, 2012); (3) the court granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment for the time spent taking Department of Transportation-required 10-hour breaks while hauling high value loads in California for solo drivers and for the designated team driver responsible for the load; and (4) the court denied the balance of cross-motions. The plaintiff filed a petition for permission to file an interlocutory appeal of the court’s decision on the minimum wage claim, which the district court and the Ninth Circuit both granted. On June 22, 2021,  the Ninth Circuit issued its memorandum decision upholding the court’s ruling dismissing the plaintiff’s post-2012 minimum wage claim. The district court recently held a status conference on June 15, 2021 and set a trial date for March 1, 2022. Discovery has been completed. We are currently not able to predict the probable outcome or to reasonably estimate a range of potential losses, if any. We intend to vigorously defend the merits of these claims.

Stockholder Claims

As set forth below, between November 2018 and April 2019, eight substantially similar putative securities class action complaints were filed against the Company and certain other defendants: five in the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, Tennessee (“Tennessee State Court Cases”), two in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (“Federal Court Cases”), and one in the Supreme Court of the State of New York (“New York State Court Case”). All of these matters are in preliminary stages of litigation. We are currently not able to predict the probable outcome or to reasonably estimate a range of potential losses, if any. We believe the allegations made in the complaints are without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously in these matters.

As to the Tennessee State Court Cases, two of five complaints were voluntarily dismissed and the remaining three were consolidated with a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint (the “Consolidated State Court Complaint”) filed on May 10, 2019 in the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, Tennessee against the Company, five of our current and former officers or directors, and the seven underwriters who participated in our June 2018 initial public offering (“IPO”), alleging violations of Sections 11, 12(a)(2)  and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). The putative class action lawsuit is based on allegations that the Company made false and/or misleading statements in the registration statement and prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the IPO. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of a putative class of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO, and seeks, among other things, compensatory damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) on behalf of the putative class.

On June 28, 2019, the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the Tennessee State Court Cases for failure to allege facts sufficient to support a violation of Section 11, 12 or 15 of the Securities Act. On November 13, 2020, the court presiding over the Tennessee State Court Cases entered an order, granting in part and denying in part the defendants’ Motions to Dismiss the Consolidated State Court Complaint. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim for violation of the Securities Act with respect to the majority of statements challenged as false or misleading in the Consolidated State Court Complaint. The court, however, held that the Consolidated State Court Complaint sufficiently alleged violations of the Securities Act with respect to one statement from the June 2018 IPO registration statement and prospectus that the plaintiffs alleged to be false or misleading, both on theories of alleged misrepresentations and material omissions. Accordingly, the court allowed this action to proceed beyond the pleading stage, but only with respect to the statement deemed sufficient to support a Securities Act claim when assuming the truth of the plaintiffs’ allegations. The Tennessee State Court Cases are currently in discovery.

As to the Federal Court Cases, the operative amended complaint was filed on October 8, 2019 (“Amended Federal Complaint”), which named the same defendants as the Tennessee State Court Cases. The Amended Federal Complaint is made on behalf of a putative class. In addition to claims for alleged violations of Section 11 and 15 of the Securities Act, the Amended Federal Complaint alleges violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) against the Company, its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer. On December 23, 2019, the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Federal Complaint in its entirety for failure to allege facts sufficient to state a claim under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

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The plaintiffs filed their Opposition to that Motion on March 9, 2020, and the defendants filed their Reply brief on April 23, 2020.

On June 30, 2020, the court presiding over the Federal Court Cases issued its ruling granting in part and denying in part the defendants’ Motions to Dismiss the Amended Federal Complaint. The court dismissed entirely the plaintiffs’ claims for alleged violations of the Exchange Act and further held that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim for violation of the Securities Act with respect to the majority of statements challenged as false or misleading in the Amended Federal Complaint. The court, however, held that the Federal Amended Complaint sufficiently alleged violations of the Securities Act with respect to two statements from the June 2018 IPO registration statement and prospectus that the plaintiffs alleged to be false or misleading, both on theories of alleged misrepresentations and material omissions. Accordingly, the court allowed this action to proceed beyond the pleading stage, but only with respect to the statements deemed sufficient to support a Securities Act claim when assuming the truth of the plaintiffs’ allegations. On February 12, 2021, the Court granted plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification and certified a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired USX stock pursuant to and/or traceable to the IPO and who were damaged thereby. The Federal Court Cases are currently in discovery.

As to the New York State Case, on March 14, 2019, a substantially similar putative class action complaint was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, by a different plaintiff alleging claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act against the same defendants as in the Tennessee State Court Cases. On December 18, 2020, defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss or Stay the New York State Case both on the merits and in deference to the pending actions in Tennessee. On March 5, 2021, the court residing over the New York State Case dismissed the case. Plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal and a motion to vacate the dismissal, which remain pending.

Stockholder Derivative Action

On June 7, 2019, a stockholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the District Court for Clark County, Nevada against five of our executives and all five of our independent board members (collectively, the “Individual Defendants”), and naming the Company as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the Company made false and/or misleading statements in the registration statement and prospectus filed with the SEC in connection with the IPO and that the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by causing or allowing the Company to make such statements. The complaint alleges that the Company has been damaged by the alleged wrongful conduct as a result of, among other things, being subjected to the time and expense of the securities class action lawsuits that have been filed relating to the IPO. In addition to a claim for alleged breach of fiduciary duties, the lawsuit alleges claims against the Individual Defendants for unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, and waste of corporate assets. The parties have stipulated to a stay of this proceeding pending entry of a final judgment in the Tennessee State Court Cases, Federal Court Case, and the New York State Case. This matter is in the preliminary stages of litigation. We are currently not able to predict the probable outcome or to reasonably estimate a range of potential losses, if any. We believe the allegations made in the complaint are without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously in this matter.

Independent Contractor Class Action

On March 26, 2019, a putative class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee against the Company and its subsidiaries U.S. Xpress, Inc. and U.S. Xpress Leasing, Inc. The putative class includes all individuals who performed work for U.S. Xpress, Inc. or U.S. Xpress Leasing, Inc. as lease drivers from March 26, 2016 to present. The complaint alleges that independent contractors are improperly designated as such and should be designated as employees and thus subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The complaint further alleges that U.S. Xpress, Inc.’s pay practices for the putative class members violated the minimum wage provisions of the FLSA for the period from March 26, 2016 to present. The complaint further alleges that the Company violated the requirements of the Truth in Leasing Act with regard to the independent contractor agreements and lease purchase agreements it entered into with the putative class members. The complaint further alleges that the Company failed to comply with the terms of the independent contractor agreements and lease purchase agreements entered into with the putative class members, that it violated the

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provisions of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act in advertising, describing and marketing the lease purchase program to the putative class members, and that it was unjustly enriched as a result of the foregoing allegations. The Company filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration on October 18, 2019. On January 17, 2020, the court granted that motion, in part, compelling arbitration on all of the plaintiff’s claims and denying the plaintiff’s motion for conditional certification of a collective action. The court further stayed the matter pending arbitration, rather than dismissing it entirely. On March 6, 2020, the plaintiff petitioned the court to certify the decision for an interlocutory appeal. The Company filed an opposition to plaintiff’s motion on March 20, 2020, and plaintiff filed her reply on April 3, 2020, purportedly relying, in part, on a recent case from Massachusetts. In response to that newly cited case, the Company was granted leave to file a surreply, which it filed on April 13, 2020. On September 3, 2020, the district court denied Plaintiff’s petition. The plaintiff initiated arbitration on December 16, 2020. On March 25, 2021, the arbitrator issued a scheduling order, setting a final arbitration hearing for June 6, 2022.There has been no discovery in this matter, and we are currently not able to predict the probable outcome or to reasonably estimate a range of potential losses, if any. We believe the allegations made in the complaint and demand are without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously in this matter.

On June 25, 2020, a second putative collective and class action complaint was filed against the Company and its subsidiaries U.S. Xpress, Inc. and U.S. Xpress Leasing, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The putative class and collective action includes all current and former over-the-road truck drivers classified as independent contractors who performed work for the Company during the applicable statute of limitations. The complaint alleges that independent contractors are improperly designated as such and should be designated as employees subject to the FLSA. The complaint alleges that U.S. Xpress, Inc.’s pay practices for the putative collective and class members violated the minimum wage provisions of the FLSA for the period from June 25, 2017 to the present. The complaint further alleges that we failed to pay the plaintiff and members of the class for all miles they drove and breached the contract between the parties and that we were unjustly enriched as a result of the foregoing allegations. The plaintiff agreed to submit his claims to individual arbitration and filed an arbitration demand on July 31, 2020. The parties agreed to settle the matter, for a nominal amount and have finalized the settlement agreement and submitted it to the Court for approval. The parties will also ask the court to dismiss the case, with prejudice. The Company continues to deny the allegations made in the complaint and demand.

Other

The Company had letters of credit of $28.1 million outstanding as of June 30, 2021. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support the Company’s insurance program.

The Company had cancelable commitments outstanding at June 30, 2021 to acquire revenue equipment and other equipment for approximately $131.2 million and $5.1 million outstanding for terminal renovations and software during the remainder of 2021. These purchase commitments are expected to be financed by operating leases, long-term debt and proceeds from sales of existing equipment.

8.        Share-based Compensation

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

In June 2018, the Board approved the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) to become effective in connection with the initial public offering. The Company had reserved an aggregate of 3.2 million shares of its Class A common stock for issuance of awards under the Incentive Plan. In May 2020, the stockholders approved the Amended and Restated Omnibus Plan which, among other things, increased the number of shares remaining to issue to 5.8 million shares. Participants in the Incentive Plan will be selected by the Compensation Committee from the executive officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company. Awards under the Incentive Plan may be made in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, performance units, and any other form established by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the Incentive Plan.

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The following is a summary of the Incentive Plan restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity for the six months ended June 30, 2021:

Weighted

Number of

Average Grant

    

Units

    

Date Fair Value

Unvested at December 31, 2020

 

1,515,876

$

6.50

Granted

 

939,009

9.43

Vested

 

(561,397)

 

7.07

Forfeited

 

(49,945)

 

6.99

Unvested at June 30, 2021

 

1,843,543

$

7.83

Service based restricted stock grants vest over periods of one to five years and account for 1,668,543 of the unvested shares. Performance based awards account for 175,000 of the unvested shares and vest based upon achievement of certain performance goals, as defined by the Company. The Company recognized compensation expense related to performance based awards of $0.2 million and $0.5 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and $0 and $0.1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. The Company recognized compensation expense related to service based awards of $1.2 million and $2.7 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and $0.8 million and $1.4 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. At June 30, 2021, the Company had $11.3 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to the service based restricted stock awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.2 years.

The following is a summary of the Incentive Plan stock option activity from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021:

Weighted

Number of

Average Grant

    

Units

    

Date Fair Value

Unvested at December 31, 2020

 

203,757

$

4.96

Vested

(78,974)

5.12

Unvested at June 30, 2021

 

124,783

$

4.86

The stock options vest over a period of four years and expire ten years from the date of grant. The Company recognized compensation expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and $0.1 million and $0.1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes method as of the grant date.

At June 30, 2021, the Company had $0.4 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to the stock option awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.3 years. As of June 30, 2021, 191,116 options were exercisable with a weighted average exercise price of $12.84 and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.3 years.

Pre-IPO Restricted Stock Units

The following is a summary of the activity related to restricted stock units issued prior to the IPO for six months ended June 30, 2021:

Number of

Weighted

    

Units

    

Average

Unvested at December 31, 2020

 

625,030

$

2.15

Vested

 

(164,990)

2.15

Unvested at June 30, 2021

 

460,040

$

2.15

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The vesting schedule for these restricted unit grants range from 3 to 7 years. The Company recognized compensation expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and $0.1 million and $0.2 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. At June 30, 2021, the Company had approximately $0.9 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.7 years. The fair value of the restricted units and corresponding compensation expense was determined using the income approach.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In June 2018, our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) became effective. The Company has reserved an aggregate of 2.3 million shares of its Class A common stock for issuance under the ESPP. Eligible employees may elect to purchase shares of our Class A common stock through payroll deductions up to 15% of eligible compensation. The purchase price of the shares during each offering period will be 85% of the lower of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the first trading day of each offering period or the last trading day of the offering period. The common stock will be purchased in January and July of each year. The Company recognized compensation expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and $0.0 million and $0.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, associated with the plan.

9.      Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. The Company excluded 302,524 and 500,438 equity awards for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively and 1,627,104 and 2,372,573 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively as inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

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The basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are presented below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

Numerator - Basic

Net income (loss)

$

19,097

$

9,028

$

21,758

$

(204)

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

1

 

(470)

 

124

 

(486)

Net income attributable to common stockholder

$

19,096

$

9,498

$

21,634

$

282

Numerator - Dilutive

Net income (loss)

$

19,097

$

9,028

$

21,758

$

(204)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(18)

 

(20)

 

(35)

 

(36)

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholder

$

19,115

$

9,048

$

21,793

$

(168)

Basic weighted average of outstanding shares of common stock

 

50,334

 

49,499

 

50,156

 

49,358

Dilutive effect of equity awards

 

996

 

396

 

1,031

 

Dilutive effect of assumed subsidiary share conversion

518

320

518

160

Diluted weighted average of outstanding shares of common stock

 

51,848

 

50,215

 

51,705

 

49,518

Basic earnings per share

$

0.38

$

0.19

$

0.43

$

0.01

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.37

$

0.18

$

0.42

$

(0.00)

10.      Segment Information

The Company’s business is organized into two reportable segments, Truckload and Brokerage. The Truckload segment offers asset-based truckload services, including OTR trucking and dedicated contract services. These services are aggregated because they have similar economic characteristics and meet the aggregation criteria described in the accounting guidance for segment reporting. The Company’s OTR service offering provides solo and expedited team services through one-way movements of freight over routes throughout the United States. The Company’s dedicated contract service offering devotes the use of equipment to specific customers and provides services through long-term contracts. The Company’s dedicated contract service offering provides similar freight transportation services, but does so pursuant to agreements where it makes equipment, drivers and on-site personnel available to a specific customer to address needs for committed capacity and service levels.

The Company’s Brokerage segment is principally engaged in non-asset-based freight brokerage services, where it outsources the transportation of loads to third-party carriers. For this segment, the Company relies on brokerage employees to procure third-party carriers, as well as information systems to match loads and carriers.

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The following table summarizes our segment information (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

Revenues

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Truckload

$

378,533

$

376,448

$

747,453

$

758,540

Brokerage

 

96,488

 

46,029

 

178,328

 

96,505

Total Operating Revenue

$

475,021

$

422,477

$

925,781

$

855,045

Operating Income (Loss)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Truckload

$

8,745

$

20,428

$

15,472

$

21,628

Brokerage

 

161

 

(4,151)

 

1,432

 

(9,019)

Total Operating Income

$

8,906

$

16,277

$

16,904

$

12,609

A measure of assets is not applicable, as segment assets are not regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker for evaluating performance or allocating resources.

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ITEM 2.        MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. References in this report to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” and similar expressions refer to U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

This report contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical or current fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including without limitation: any projections of earnings, revenues or other financial items; any statement of plans, strategies, outlook, growth prospects or objectives of management for future operations; our operational and financial targets; general economic trends, performance or conditions and trends in the industry and markets; the competitive environment in which we operate; any statements concerning proposed new services, technologies or developments; and any statement of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this Form 10-Q, statements relating to the impact of new accounting standards, future tax rates, expenses, and deductions, expected freight demand, capacity, and volumes, potential results of a default under our Credit Facility or other debt agreements, expected sources of working capital and liquidity (including our mix of debt, finance leases, and operating leases as means of financing revenue equipment), expected capital expenditures, expected fleet age and mix of owned versus leased equipment, expected impact of technology, our strategic initiatives, our ability to profitably scale and achieve operational efficiencies in Variant, as well as our Brokerage segment, future performance of our Dedicated division, including pricing and margins, future customer relationships, future fluctuations in purchased transportation expense and fuel surcharge reimbursement, future driver market conditions and driver turnover and retention rates, any projections of earnings, revenues, cash flows, dividends, capital expenditures, operating ratio, or other financial items, expected cash flows, expected operating improvements, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statement of plans, strategies, programs and objectives of management for future operations, including the anticipated impact of such plans, strategies, programs and objectives, future rates and prices, future utilization, future depreciation and amortization, future salaries, wages, and related expenses, including driver compensation, future insurance and claims expense, future fluctuations in fuel costs and fuel surcharge revenue, including the future effectiveness of our fuel surcharge program, strategies for managing fuel costs, future fleet size and management, including allocation of trucks among Variant, Dedicated and legacy Over-the-Road, any statements concerning proposed acquisition plans, new services or developments, the anticipated impact of legal proceedings on our financial position and results of operations, and the anticipated effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, are forward-looking statements. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “outlook,” “strategy,” “target,” “optimistic,” “focus,” “continue,” “will” and similar terms and phrases.  Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Readers should review and consider the factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, along with various disclosures in our press releases, stockholder reports, and other filings with the SEC.

All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in the events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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Overview

We are one of the largest asset-based truckload carriers in the United States by revenue, generating over $1.7 billion in total operating revenue in 2020. We provide services primarily throughout the United States, with a focus in the densely populated and economically diverse eastern half of the United States. We offer customers a broad portfolio of services using our own truckload fleet and third-party carriers through our non-asset-based truck brokerage network. As of June 30, 2021, our fleet consisted of approximately 6,100 tractors and approximately 12,600 trailers, including approximately 1,400 tractors provided by independent contractors. Our terminal network is established and capable of handling significantly larger volumes without meaningful additional investment.

Executive Summary

For much of our history, we focused primarily on scaling our fleet and expanding our service offerings to support sustainable, multi-faceted relationships with customers. More recently, we have focused on our core service offerings and refined our network to focus on shorter, more profitable lanes with more density, which we believe are more attractive to drivers. We believe we have the strategy, management team, revenue base, modern fleet, and capital structure that position us very well to execute upon our initiatives, drive further operational gains, and deliver long term value for our stockholders.

We are currently focused on three main priorities. The first is optimizing our Truckload network and resulting average revenue per tractor per week through repositioning equipment and allocating capacity to our Dedicated service offering and Variant, our digital fleet, from certain underperforming portions of our Over-the-Road (“OTR”) service offering. The second is improving the experience of our professional truck drivers, including their safety and security. And, the third is advancing our technology initiatives centered on digitization of our loads and business, automated load acceptance and prioritization, and our goal of achieving a frictionless order. During 2020 and the first half of 2021, we continued to see tangible, financial benefits of our strategic initiatives focused on utilizing technology to improve our processes, accelerate the velocity of our business, reduce the number of our preventable accidents, improve our customers’ and drivers’ satisfaction, and lower our costs.

We intend to continue to further develop these digital initiatives that we believe are re-engineering our Company to be a market leader in growth and profitability over the next decade. We believe the result of these initiatives will provide for a more scalable model with significantly lower costs.

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2021 increased by $52.5 million to $475.0 million as compared to the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily the result of a 109.6% increase in Brokerage revenue to $96.5 million, combined with a increase in fuel surcharge revenue of $9.0 million partially offset by a decrease of $6.9 million in our Truckload revenue. Excluding the impact of fuel surcharge revenue, second quarter revenue increased $43.6 million to $437.5 million, an increase of 11.1% as compared to the prior year quarter.

Operating income for the second quarter of 2021 was $8.9 million compared to $16.3 million in the second quarter of 2020. We delivered a 98.1% operating ratio for the quarter compared to 96.1% in the second quarter of 2020. Our profitability decreased largely as a result of 10.9% fewer available tractors combined with increases in technology and personnel expenses and higher net fuel costs partially offset by an increase in our Brokerage gross margin to 12.0% compared to 8.1% in the prior year quarter on higher Brokerage revenue.

We are continuing to focus on our driver centric initiatives, such as increased miles and modern equipment, to both retain the professional drivers who have chosen to partner with us and attract new professional drivers to our team. During the second quarter of 2020 we launched our digital fleet, Variant, which is largely recruited, planned, dispatched and managed using artificial intelligence and digital platforms. Variant is a completely new paradigm for operating trucks in an OTR environment that is provided to the driver through a proprietary app-based driver experience. We developed the concept as a hypothesis in 2018 based in part on the business models of the digital freight brokerages. As digital brokers began to enter the market utilizing cutting edge technology and a new operating model, we believed there was an opportunity to take this approach and apply it to our asset based business in order to drive improved profitability and

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growth. During 2019, we began building our technology leadership and teams to construct the necessary databases, applications, and processes to launch a pilot fleet with a small number of trucks in the fourth quarter of 2019.  The test proved successful and we expanded the pilot fleet to approximately 100 trucks in the first quarter of 2020. Given the positive results of the first quarter pilot we moved to a full production model, scaling the business to approximately 700 trucks at the end of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, we completed phase one of our plan and converted a total of 951 OTR solo trucks, with the lowest returns, to our Variant platform. Phase two of our plan will be to convert an additional 550 trucks over the balance of 2021. During the second quarter of 2021, we grew Variant by an additional 209 trucks while eliminating approximately 300 trucks in our underperforming legacy OTR fleet. We remain on track to meet or exceed our goal of reaching 1,500 Variant trucks, which would represent an annualized revenue run rate of $300.0 million and approximately 25% of Truckload revenues, by the end of 2021. While the conversion will not be linear, we expect our margins to expand further over time. We believe that we can further scale this platform while maintaining these positive results and continuing to further enhance the capabilities of this new technology. We will continue to focus on implementing and executing our initiatives that we expect will continue to drive sustainable improved performance over time.

While we believe our margins will expand as we continue to convert more of our trucks to our Variant platform, we also see tremendous growth opportunity given the highly fragmented nature of the U.S. trucking market. Our Variant business model directly addresses our drivers’ frustrations as our model delivers higher utilization and pay which has directly contributed to a significant drop in turnover. We expect the growth in Variant, which continues to exceed our expectations, to begin to offset our reduction of underperforming legacy OTR tractors later in the year, with a return to fleet count growth as we exit 2021.

During 2020, we purchased a small business with a technology platform and an experienced and talented team. Their approach to the brokerage business is to utilize a digital framework for handling transactions which we expect to be scalable. Importantly, we believe this platform will enable our team to continue scaling the business and drive a high level of growth in the years to come. Our team processed 75% of our Brokerage transactions digitally in the second quarter of 2021. Our digital platform is enabling our Brokerage segment to profitably scale while offering freight selectivity for Variant. As we drive more volume over our digital platform, we believe our Brokerage segment will become much more scalable and allow us to profitably drive growth as we look to the years ahead.

In our Dedicated division, our team continues to successfully address pricing in certain Dedicated accounts as a result of driver and capacity cost inflation.  We are pleased with our progress to date; however, we have more work to do in the second half of the year. We are optimistic that our Dedicated division is on track to deliver sequential margin improvement in the second half of the year.

We expect freight demand to remain strong throughout 2021 given the broader economic recovery and tailwinds that it is experiencing as a result of the Federal Government’s stimulus package, which had a notable impact on our operations in the first half of this year. On the supply side, the market for experienced drivers remains challenging, which is keeping a lid on supply. Additionally, chip shortages and supply chain constraints are impacting new tractor builds, which is also supportive of a favorable supply-demand balance over the near term. These conditions are expected to continue to support spot market rates in excess of contract rates and a strengthening contract renewal environment through the remainder 2021. As a result, we expect contract rates up for renewal in 2021 in our OTR division to increase on average by 10-15% with the driver shortage likely extending the cycle as we believe there could be up to 200,000 fewer drivers in the market compared to 2019. From a cost perspective, inflationary pressure and higher fixed costs will continue to pressure margins until Variant growth exceeds legacy OTR decline. We believe the overall fleet reached its low point towards the end of second quarter of 2021 and expect total fleet size to begin growing in the third quarter, with Variant becoming an increasing percentage of the fleet.

Investment in TuSimple

On April 15, 2021, TuSimple completed its initial public offering at a price of $40.00 per share. Our $5.0 million investment consisted of 353,604 shares of TuSimple and at June 30, 2021, the fair value of our investment was $25.2 million and we recorded an unrealized gain on investment of $20.2 million in other (income) expense within the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

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Reportable Segments

Our business is organized into two reportable segments, Truckload and Brokerage. Our Truckload segment offers truckload services, including OTR trucking and dedicated contract services. Our OTR service offering transports a full trailer of freight for a single customer from origin to destination, typically without intermediate stops or handling pursuant to short-term contracts and spot moves that include irregular route moves without volume and capacity commitments. Tractors are operated with a solo driver or, when handling more time-sensitive, higher-margin freight, a team of two drivers. Our dedicated contract service offering provides similar freight transportation services, but with contractually assigned equipment, drivers and on-site personnel to address customers’ needs for committed capacity and service levels pursuant to multi-year contracts with guaranteed volumes and pricing. Our Brokerage segment is principally engaged in non-asset-based freight brokerage services, where loads are contracted to third-party carriers.

Truckload Segment

In our Truckload segment, we generate revenue by transporting freight for our customers in our OTR and dedicated contract service offerings. Our OTR service offering provides solo and expedited team services through one way movements of freight over routes throughout the United States. Our Variant fleet is included within our OTR service offering. Our dedicated contract service offering devotes the use of equipment to specific customers and provides services through long term contracts. Our Truckload segment provides services that are geographically diversified but have similar economic and other relevant characteristics, as they all provide truckload carrier services of general commodities and durable goods to similar classes of customers.

We are typically paid a predetermined rate per load or per mile for our Truckload services. We enhance our revenue by charging for tractor and trailer detention, loading and unloading activities and other specialized services. Consistent with industry practice, our typical customer contracts (other than those contracts in which we have agreed to dedicate certain tractor and trailer capacity for use by specific customers) do not guarantee load levels or tractor availability. This gives us and our customers a certain degree of flexibility to negotiate rates up or down in response to changes in freight demand and trucking capacity. In our dedicated contract service offering, which comprised approximately 41.5% of our Truckload operating revenue, and approximately 42.0% of our Truckload revenue, before fuel surcharge, for 2020, we provide service under contracts with fixed terms, volumes and rates. Dedicated contracts are often used by our customers with high service and high priority freight, sometimes to replace private fleets previously operated by them.

Generally, in our Truckload segment, we receive fuel surcharges on the miles for which we are compensated by customers. Fuel surcharge revenue mitigates the effect of price increases over a negotiated base rate per gallon of fuel; however, these revenues may not fully protect us from all fuel price increases. Our fuel surcharges to customers may not fully recover all fuel increases due to engine idle time, out of route miles and non-revenue generating miles that are not generally billable to the customer, as well as to the extent the surcharge paid by the customer is insufficient. The main factors that affect fuel surcharge revenue are the price of diesel fuel and the number of revenue miles we generate. Although our surcharge programs vary by customer, we generally attempt to negotiate an additional penny per mile charge for every five cent increase in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (the “DOE”) national average diesel fuel index over an agreed baseline price. Our fuel surcharges are billed on a lagging basis, meaning we typically bill customers in the current week based on a previous week’s applicable index. Therefore, in times of increasing fuel prices, we do not recover as much as we are currently paying for fuel. In periods of declining prices, the opposite is true. Based on the current status of our empty miles percentage and the fuel efficiency of our tractors, we believe that our fuel surcharge recovery is effective.

The main factors that affect our operating revenue in our Truckload segment are the average revenue per mile or load we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated and the number of shipments and miles we generate. Our primary measures of revenue generation for our Truckload segment are average revenue per loaded mile and average revenue per tractor per period, in each case excluding fuel surcharge revenue.

In our Truckload segment, our most significant operating expenses vary with miles traveled and include (i) fuel, (ii) driver related expenses, such as wages, benefits, training and recruitment and (iii) costs associated with independent

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contractors (which are primarily included in the “Purchased transportation” line item). Expenses that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our total cost of insurance and claims. These expenses generally vary with the miles we travel, but also have a controllable component based on safety, fleet age, efficiency and other factors. Our main fixed costs include vehicle rent and depreciation of long term assets, such as revenue equipment and service center facilities, the compensation of non-driver personnel and other general and administrative expenses.

Our Truckload segment requires substantial capital expenditures for purchase of new revenue equipment. We use a combination of operating leases and secured financing to acquire tractors and trailers, which we refer to as revenue equipment. When we finance revenue equipment acquisitions with operating leases, we record an operating lease right of use asset and an operating lease liability on our condensed consolidated balance sheet, and the lease payments in respect of such equipment are reflected in our condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) in the line item “Vehicle rents.” When we finance revenue equipment acquisitions with secured financing, the asset and liability are recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheet, and we record expense under “Depreciation and amortization” and “Interest expense.” Typically, the aggregate monthly payments are similar under operating lease financing and secured financing. We use a mix of finance leases and operating leases with individual decisions being based on competitive bids, tax projections and contractual restrictions. Because of the inverse relationship between vehicle rents and depreciation and amortization, we review both line items together.

Approximately 21.5% of our total tractor fleet was operated by independent contractors at June 30, 2021. Independent contractors provide a tractor and a driver and are responsible for all of the costs of operating their equipment and drivers, including interest and depreciation, vehicle rents, driver compensation, fuel and other expenses, in exchange for a fixed payment per mile or percentage of revenue per invoice plus a fuel surcharge pass through. Payments to independent contractors are recorded in the “Purchased transportation” line item. When independent contractors increase as a percentage of our total tractor fleet, our “Purchased transportation” line item typically will increase, with offsetting reductions in employee driver wages and related expenses, net of fuel (assuming all other factors remain equal). The reverse is true when the percentage of our total fleet operated by company drivers increases.

Brokerage Segment

In our Brokerage segment, we retain the customer relationship, including billing and collection, and we outsource the transportation of the loads to third-party carriers. For this segment, we rely on brokerage employees to procure third-party carriers, as well as information systems to match loads and carriers.

Our Brokerage segment revenue is mainly affected by the rates we obtain from customers, the freight volumes we ship through our third-party carriers and our ability to secure third-party carriers to transport customer freight. We generally do not have contracted long-term rates for the cost of third-party carriers, and we cannot assure that our results of operations will not be adversely impacted in the future if our ability to obtain third-party carriers changes or the rates of such providers increase.

The most significant expense of our Brokerage segment, which is primarily variable, is the cost of purchased transportation that we pay to third-party carriers, and is included in the “Purchased transportation” line item. This expense generally varies depending upon truckload capacity, availability of third-party carriers, rates charged to customers and current freight demand and customer shipping needs. Other operating expenses are generally fixed and primarily include the compensation and benefits of non-driver personnel (which are recorded in the “Salaries, wages and benefits” line item) and depreciation and amortization expense.

The key performance indicator in our Brokerage segment is gross margin percentage (which is calculated as Brokerage revenue less purchased transportation expense expressed as a percentage of total operating revenue). Gross margin percentage can be impacted by the rates charged to customers and the costs of securing third-party carriers.

Our Brokerage segment does not require significant capital expenditures and is not asset intensive like our Truckload segment.

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Results of Operations

Revenue

We generate revenue from two primary sources: transporting freight for our customers (including related fuel surcharge revenue) and arranging for the transportation of customer freight by third-party carriers. We have two reportable segments: our Truckload segment and our Brokerage segment. Truckload revenue, before fuel surcharge and truckload fuel surcharge are primarily generated through trucking services provided by our two Truckload service offerings (OTR and dedicated contract). Brokerage revenue is primarily generated through brokering freight to third-party carriers.

Our total operating revenue is affected by certain factors that relate to, among other things, the general level of economic activity in the United States, customer inventory levels, specific customer demand, the level of capacity in the truckload and brokerage industry, the success of our marketing and sales efforts and the availability of drivers, independent contractors and third-party carriers.

A summary of our revenue generated for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

(dollars in thousands)

(dollars in thousands)

Revenue, before fuel surcharge

$

437,533

$

393,964

$

855,174

$

786,784

Fuel surcharge

 

37,488

 

28,513

 

70,607

 

68,261

Total operating revenue

$

475,021

$

422,477

$

925,781

$

855,045

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increases in total operating revenue and revenue, before fuel surcharge, were increased volumes and pricing in our Brokerage segment, increased miscellaneous revenues, and increased fuel surcharge revenues offset by 10.9% lower available tractors.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increases in total operating revenue and revenue, before fuel surcharge, were increased volumes and pricing in our Brokerage segment, increased miscellaneous revenues, and increased fuel surcharge revenues offset by 8.8% lower available tractors.

As a result of our customer mix we did not experience a decline in overall freight volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic as the majority of our customers did not shutdown. However, our spot rates did suffer a decline early in the second quarter of 2020 due to capacity from other verticals becoming available as their customer base saw a reduction in volumes.  During the third quarter of 2020, we saw spot market rates exceed contract rates for the first time in seven quarters, and we expect our contract rates up for renewal in our OTR division in 2021 to increase on average 10-15%.

A summary of our revenue generated by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

(dollars in thousands)

(dollars in thousands)

Truckload revenue, before fuel surcharge

$

341,045

$

347,935

$

676,846

$

690,279

Fuel surcharge

 

37,488

 

28,513

 

70,607

 

68,261

Total Truckload operating revenue

 

378,533

 

376,448

 

747,453

 

758,540

Brokerage operating revenue

 

96,488

 

46,029

 

178,328

 

96,505

Total operating revenue

$

475,021

$

422,477

$

925,781

$

855,045

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The following is a summary of our key Truckload segment performance indicators, before fuel surcharge for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

Over the road

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Average revenue per tractor per week

$

3,837

$

3,558

$

3,778

$

3,511

Average revenue per mile

$

2.278

$

1.855

$

2.223

$

1.863

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

 

1,684

 

1,918

 

1,699

 

1,884

Average tractors

 

3,318

 

3,825

 

3,369

 

3,830

Dedicated

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Average revenue per tractor per week

$

4,336

$

4,122

$

4,243

$

4,095

Average revenue per mile

$

2.448

$

2.351

$

2.420

$

2.363

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

 

1,772

 

1,753

 

1,753

 

1,733

Average tractors

 

2,531

 

2,739

 

2,603

 

2,721

Consolidated

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

Average revenue per tractor per week

$

4,053

$

3,793

$

3,981

$

3,753

Average revenue per mile

$

2.354

$

2.051

$

2.311

$

2.061

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

 

1,722

 

1,849

 

1,723

 

1,821

Average tractors

 

5,849

 

6,564

 

5,972

 

6,551

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the decreases in Truckload revenue, were a 10.9% decrease in average available tractors combined with a 6.9% decrease in average revenue miles per tractor per week partially offset by 14.8% increase in average revenue per mile and an increase of $8.6 million in miscellaneous revenue. The increase in fuel surcharge revenue primarily relates to increased fuel prices offset by a decrease in revenue miles compared to the same quarter in 2020. The DOE national weekly average fuel price per gallon averaged approximately $0.76 per gallon higher for the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter of 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the decreases in Truckload revenue, were a 8.8% decrease in average available tractors combined with a 5.4% decrease in average revenue miles per tractor per week partially offset by a 12.1% increase in average revenue per mile and an increase of $9.7 million in miscellaneous revenue. The increase in fuel surcharge revenue primarily relates to increased fuel prices offset by a decrease in revenue miles compared to the same period in 2020. The DOE national weekly average fuel price per gallon averaged approximately $0.37 per gallon higher for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the same period of 2020.

The key performance indicator of our Brokerage segment is gross margin percentage (Brokerage revenue less purchased transportation expense expressed as a percentage of total operating revenue). Gross margin percentage can be impacted by the rates charged to customers and the costs of securing third-party carriers. The following table lists the gross margin percentage for our Brokerage segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

Gross margin percentage

 

12.0

%  

8.1

%

 

12.9

%  

5.8

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increase in Brokerage revenue were a 92.1% increase in average revenue per load combined with a 9.1% increase in load count. The increase in gross margin was due to the increase in revenue per load of 92.1% exceeding the 83.8% increase in cost per load as compared to the same quarter in 2020. During the second quarter of 2021, our Brokerage revenue grew 109.6% compared to the prior year quarter as a result of a better rate environment, higher fuel costs and the conversion of our portfolio from 77.3% contract and 22.7% spot in the second quarter of 2020 to 52.6% and 47.4%, respectively in the second quarter of 2021.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increase in Brokerage revenue were a 79.6% increase in average revenue per load combined with a 2.9% increase in load count. The increase in gross margin

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was due to the increase in revenue per load of 79.6% exceeding the 65.9% increase in cost per load as compared to the same quarter in 2020. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, our Brokerage revenue grew 84.8% compared to the prior year period primarily as a result of a increased revenue per load, higher fuel costs and the conversion of our portfolio from 77.5% contract and 22.5% spot in the first six months of 2020 to 54.4% and 45.6%, respectively in the first six months of 2021.

Operating Expenses

For comparison purposes in the discussion below, we use total operating revenue and revenue, before fuel surcharge when discussing changes as a percentage of revenue. As it relates to the comparison of expenses to revenue, before fuel surcharge, we believe that removing fuel surcharge revenue, which is sometimes a volatile source of revenue affords a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period-to-period.

Individual expense line items as a percentage of total operating revenue also are affected by fluctuations in the percentage of our revenue generated by independent contractor and brokerage loads.

Salaries, Wages and Benefits

Salaries, wages and benefits consist primarily of compensation for all employees. Salaries, wages and benefits are primarily affected by the total number of miles driven by company drivers, the rate per mile we pay our company drivers, employee benefits such as health care and workers’ compensation, and to a lesser extent by the number of, and compensation and benefits paid to, non-driver employees.

The following is a summary of our salaries, wages and benefits for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

$

144,500

 

$

139,970

$

286,503

 

$

275,348

% of total operating revenue

 

30.4

%  

33.1

%

 

30.9

%  

32.2

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

33.0

%  

35.5

%

 

33.5

%  

35.0

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the increase in salaries, wages and benefits in absolute dollar terms was due primarily to $6.0 million in higher office wages due in part to a 14.2% increase in average headcount as we continue to invest in our digital initiatives. We believe our office wages as a percentage of revenue will decrease as we scale our organization. Our driver wages remained constant despite a 11.3% decrease in company driver miles due primarily to the higher driver pay per mile. During the second quarter of 2021, our workers’ compensation expense decreased 32.6% primarily due to 33.3% fewer claims as compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the increase in salaries, wages and benefits in absolute dollar terms was due primarily to $11.0 million in higher office wages due in part to a 11.2% increase in average headcount as we continue to invest in our digital initiatives. We believe our office wages as a percentage of revenue will decrease as we scale our organization. Our driver wages increased $2.0 million despite an 8.5% decrease in company driver miles due primarily to the higher driver pay per mile. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, our workers’ compensation expense decreased 15.7% primarily due to 25.9% fewer claims as compared to the same period in 2020.

In the near term, we believe salaries, wages and benefits will increase as a result of a tight driver market, wage inflation and higher healthcare costs. As a percentage of revenue, we expect salaries, wages and benefits will fluctuate based on our ability to generate offsetting increases in average revenue per total mile and the percentage of revenue generated by independent contractors and brokerage operations, for which payments are reflected in the “Purchased transportation” line item.

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Fuel and Fuel Taxes

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

We believe that the most effective protection against net fuel cost increases in the near term is to maintain an effective fuel surcharge program and to operate a fuel-efficient fleet by incorporating fuel efficiency measures, such as auxiliary heating units, installation of aerodynamic devices on tractors and trailers and low-rolling resistance tires on our tractors, engine idle limitations and computer-optimized fuel-efficient routing of our fleet.

The following is a summary of our fuel and fuel taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Fuel and fuel taxes

$

43,783

$

29,850

$

84,187

$

70,057

% of total operating revenue

 

9.2

%  

7.1

%

 

9.1

%  

8.2

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

10.0

%  

7.6

%

 

9.8

%  

8.9

%

To measure the effectiveness of our fuel surcharge program, we calculate “net fuel expense” by subtracting fuel surcharge revenue (other than the fuel surcharge revenue we reimburse to independent contractors, which is included in purchased transportation) from our fuel expense. Our net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue, before fuel surcharge, is affected by the cost of diesel fuel net of surcharge collection, the percentage of miles driven by company tractors and our percentage of non-revenue generating miles, for which we do not receive fuel surcharge revenues. Net fuel expense as a percentage of revenue, before fuel surcharge, is shown below:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total fuel surcharge revenue

$

37,488

$

28,513

$

70,607

$

68,261

Less: fuel surcharge revenue reimbursed to independent contractors

 

8,422

 

7,311

 

16,082

 

18,522

Company fuel surcharge revenue

 

29,066

 

21,202

 

54,525

 

49,739

Total fuel and fuel taxes

$

43,783

$

29,850

$

84,187

$

70,057

Less: company fuel surcharge revenue

 

29,066

 

21,202

 

54,525

 

49,739

Net fuel expense

$

14,717

$

8,648

$

29,662

$

20,318

% of total operating revenue

 

3.1

%  

2.0

%

 

3.2

%  

2.4

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

3.4

%  

2.2

%

 

3.5

%  

2.6

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the increase in net fuel expenses was primarily the result of a 63.4% increase in the average company fuel price per gallon partially offset by a $7.9 million increase in company fuel surcharge revenue, a 11.3% decrease in company miles and a 1.8% increase in average miles per gallon compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the increase in net fuel expenses was primarily the result of a 32.2% increase in the average company fuel price per gallon partially offset by a $4.8 million increase in company fuel surcharge revenue, an 8.5% decrease in company miles and a 1.8% increase in average miles per gallon compared to the same period in 2020.

In the near term, our net fuel expense is expected to fluctuate as a percentage of total operating revenue and revenue, before fuel surcharge, based on factors such as diesel fuel prices, the percentage recovered from fuel surcharge programs, the percentage of uncompensated miles, the percentage of revenue generated by independent contractors, and

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the percentage of revenue generated by team-driven tractors (which tend to generate higher miles and lower revenue per mile, thus proportionately more fuel cost as a percentage of revenue).

Vehicle Rents and Depreciation and Amortization

Vehicle rents consist primarily of payments for tractors and trailers financed with operating leases. The primary factors affecting this expense item include the size and age of our tractor and trailer fleets, the cost of new equipment and the relative percentage of owned versus leased equipment.

Depreciation and amortization consists primarily of depreciation for owned tractors and trailers. The primary factors affecting these expense items include the size and age of our tractor and trailer fleets, the cost of new equipment and the relative percentage of owned equipment and equipment acquired through debt or finance leases versus equipment leased through operating leases. We use a mix of finance leases and operating leases to finance our revenue equipment with individual decisions being based on competitive bids and tax projections. Gains or losses realized on the sale of owned revenue equipment are included in depreciation and amortization for reporting purposes.

Vehicle rents and depreciation and amortization are closely related because both line items fluctuate depending on the relative percentage of owned equipment and equipment acquired through finance leases versus equipment leased through operating leases. Vehicle rents increase with greater amounts of equipment acquired through operating leases, while depreciation and amortization increases with greater amounts of owned equipment and equipment acquired through finance leases. Because of the inverse relationship between vehicle rents and depreciation and amortization, we review both line items together.

The following is a summary of our vehicle rents and depreciation and amortization for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Vehicle rents

$

21,547

$

21,335

$

43,010

$

43,212

Depreciation and amortization, net of (gains) losses on sale of property

 

23,205

 

26,283

 

45,587

 

52,086

Vehicle rents and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

$

44,752

$

47,618

$

88,597

$

95,298

% of total operating revenue

 

9.4

%  

11.3

%

 

9.6

%  

11.1

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

10.2

%  

12.1

%

 

10.4

%  

12.1

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the increase in vehicle rents was primarily due to increased trailers financed under operating leases partially offset by decreased short term rents compared to the same quarter in 2020. The decrease in depreciation and amortization, net of (gains) losses on sale of property, is primarily due to a decrease in the number of owned tractors compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the increase in vehicle rents was primarily due to increased trailers financed under operating leases partially offset by decreased short term rents compared to the same quarter in 2020. The decrease in depreciation and amortization, net of (gains) losses on sale of property, is primarily due to a decrease in the number of owned tractors combined with a decrease in loss on sale of equipment compared to the same period in 2020.

For calendar year 2021, excluding any change in our percentage allocation of owned versus leased equipment due to available financing terms, we expect to spend approximately $130.0 to $150.0 million in net capital expenditures which will keep the average age of our equipment relatively constant. This amount could expand to fund additional profitable growth opportunities. The balance of our equipment procurement will be funded through operating leases.

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Purchased Transportation

Purchased transportation consists of the payments we make to independent contractors, including fuel surcharge reimbursements paid to independent contractors, in our Truckload segment, and payments to third-party carriers in our Brokerage segment.

The following is a summary of our purchased transportation for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Purchased transportation

$

157,489

$

117,366

$

299,150

$

247,120

% of total operating revenue

 

33.2

%  

27.8

%

 

32.3

%  

28.9

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

36.0

%  

29.8

%

 

35.0

%  

31.4

%

Because we reimburse independent contractors for fuel surcharges we receive, we subtract fuel surcharge revenue reimbursed to them from our purchased transportation. The result, referred to as purchased transportation, net of fuel surcharge reimbursements, is evaluated as a percentage of total operating revenue and as a percentage of revenue, before fuel surcharge, as shown below:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Purchased transportation

$

157,489

$

117,366

$

299,150

$

247,120

Less: fuel surcharge revenue reimbursed to independent contractors

 

8,422

 

7,311

 

16,082

 

18,522

Purchased transportation, net of fuel surcharge reimbursement

$

149,067

$

110,055

$

283,068

$

228,598

% of total operating revenue

 

31.4

%  

 

26.0

%

 

30.6

%  

 

26.7

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

34.1

%  

 

27.9

%

 

33.1

%  

 

29.1

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the increase in purchased transportation, net of fuel surcharge reimbursement reflected a 83.8% increase in cost per Brokerage load, a 9.1% increase in Brokerage load count partially offset by a 32.4% decrease in independent contractor miles as compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the increase in purchased transportation, net of fuel surcharge reimbursement reflected a 65.9% increase in cost per Brokerage load, a 2.9% increase in Brokerage load count partially offset by a 29.1% decrease in independent contractor miles as compared to the same period in 2020. This expense category will fluctuate with the number and percentage of loads hauled by independent contractors and third-party carriers, as well as the amount of fuel surcharge revenue passed through to independent contractors.

If industry-wide trucking capacity continues to tighten in relation to freight demand, we may need to increase the amounts we pay to third-party carriers and independent contractors, which could increase this expense category on an absolute basis and as a percentage of total operating revenue and revenue, before fuel surcharge, absent an offsetting increase in revenue. We continue to actively attempt to expand our Brokerage segment and recruit independent contractors.

Operating Expenses and Supplies

Operating expenses and supplies consist primarily of ordinary vehicle repairs and maintenance costs, driver on-the-road expenses, tolls and driver recruiting and training costs. Operating expenses and supplies are primarily affected by the age of our company-owned and leased fleet of tractors and trailers, the number of miles driven in a period and driver turnover.

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The following is a summary of our operating expenses and supplies expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Operating expenses and supplies

$

34,443

$

31,592

$

66,958

$

67,322

% of total operating revenue

 

7.3

%  

7.5

%

 

7.2

%  

7.9

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

7.9

%  

8.0

%

 

7.8

%  

8.6

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increase in operating expenses and supplies in absolute dollar terms were increased driver hiring costs partially offset by decreased tractor maintenance and lease program expenses as compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the decrease in operating expenses and supplies was decreased tractor and trailer maintenance expenses and lease program expenses as compared to the same period in 2020.

Insurance Premiums and Claims

Insurance premiums and claims consists primarily of retained amounts for liability (personal injury and property damage), physical damage and cargo damage, as well as insurance premiums. The primary factors affecting our insurance premiums and claims are the frequency and severity of accidents, trends in the development factors used in our actuarial accruals and developments in large, prior year claims. The number of accidents tends to increase with the miles we travel. With our significant retained amounts, insurance claims expense may fluctuate significantly and impact the cost of insurance premiums and claims from period-to-period, and any increase in frequency or severity of claims or adverse loss development of prior period claims would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The following is a summary of our insurance premiums and claims expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Insurance premiums and claims

$

18,933

$

21,283

$

40,710

$

47,306

% of total operating revenue

 

4.0

%  

5.0

%

 

4.4

%  

5.5

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

4.3

%  

5.4

%

 

4.8

%  

6.0

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the decrease in insurance premiums and claims were decreased physical damage, cargo and auto liability claims primarily as a result of reduced frequency partially offset by increased auto liability premiums as compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the decrease in insurance premiums and claims were decreased physical damage and auto liability claims primarily as a result of reduced frequency partially offset by increased auto liability premiums as compared to the same period in 2020. We renewed our liability insurance policies effective September 1, 2020 and as a result of the challenging insurance market our premiums increased approximately 30% while our coverage limits decreased to $75.0 million from $300.0 million per occurrence.

We continue to believe we have an opportunity to reduce our claims expense over time as a result the successful launch of Variant, our digital fleet, which is currently experiencing fewer preventable accidents per million miles than our OTR legacy fleet combined with the suspension of our OTR student program. During the first six months of 2021 we experienced approximately 40% fewer preventable accidents than we did in the comparable prior year period which we

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believe contributed greatly to our lower insurance and claims expense despite higher premiums.  Although a decrease in frequency in claims reduced our expense during the year, to the extent we have an increase in severity these savings could be partially or fully offset.

General and Other Operating Expenses

General and other operating expenses consist primarily of legal and professional services fees, general and administrative expenses and other costs.

The following is a summary of our general and other operating expenses for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30, 

 

June 30, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

    

(dollars in thousands)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

General and other operating expenses

$

16,004

$

12,545

$

30,904

$

27,880

% of total operating revenue

 

3.4

%  

3.0

%

 

3.3

%  

3.3

%

% of revenue, before fuel surcharge

 

3.7

%  

3.2

%

 

3.6

%  

3.5

%

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increase in general and other operating expenses were increased other professional and administrative expenses along with increased travel and entertainment expense as compared to the same quarter in 2020.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the primary factors driving the increase in general and other operating expenses were increased other professional and administrative expenses compared to the same period in 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our business requires substantial amounts of cash to cover operating expenses as well as to fund capital expenditures, working capital changes, principal and interest payments on our obligations, lease payments, letters of credit to support insurance requirements and tax payments when we generate taxable income. Recently, we have financed our capital requirements with borrowings under our Credit Facility, cash flows from operating activities, direct equipment financing, finance leases, operating leases and proceeds from equipment sales.

We believe we can fund our expected cash needs, including debt repayment, in the short-term with projected cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our Credit Facility and direct debt and lease financing we believe to be available for at least the next 12 months. Over the long-term, we expect that we will continue to have significant capital requirements, which may require us to seek additional borrowings, lease financing or equity capital. We have obtained a significant portion of our revenue equipment under operating leases, which are not reflected as net capital expenditures. The availability of financing and equity capital will depend upon our financial condition and results of operations as well as prevailing market conditions.

At June 30, 2021, we had approximately $28.1 million of outstanding letters of credit, $15.0 million in outstanding borrowings and $175.6 million of availability under our $250.0 million Credit Facility.

Sources of Liquidity

Credit Facility

On January 28, 2020, we entered into the Credit Facility and contemporaneously with the funding of the Credit Facility paid off obligations under our then existing credit facility and terminated such facility. The Credit Facility is a

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$250.0 million revolving credit facility, with an uncommitted accordion feature that, so long as no event of default exists, allows the Company to request an increase in the revolving credit facility of up to $75.0 million.

The Credit Facility is a five-year facility scheduled to terminate on January 28, 2025.  Borrowings under the Credit Facility are classified as either “base rate loans” or “eurodollar rate loans”.  Base rate loans accrue interest at a base rate equal to the highest of (A) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (B) the Agent’s prime rate, and (C) LIBOR plus 1.00% plus an applicable margin that was set at 0.50% through June 30, 2020 and adjusted quarterly thereafter between 0.25% and 0.75% based on the ratio of the daily average availability under the Credit Facility to the daily average of the lesser of the borrowing base or the revolving credit facility.  Eurodollar rate loans accrue interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin that was set at 1.50% through June 30, 2020 and adjusted quarterly thereafter between 1.25% and 1.75% based on the ratio of the daily average availability under the Credit Facility to the daily average of the lesser of the borrowing base or the revolving credit facility.  The Credit Facility includes, within its $250.0 million revolving credit facility, a letter of credit sub-facility in an aggregate amount of $75.0 million and a swingline sub-facility in an aggregate amount of $25.0 million.  An unused line fee of 0.25% is applied to the average daily amount by which the lenders’ aggregate revolving commitments exceed the outstanding principal amount of revolver loans and aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Facility.  The Credit Facility is secured by a pledge of substantially all of the Company’s assets, excluding, among other things, any real estate or revenue equipment financed outside the Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base limited to the lesser of (A) $250.0 million; or (B) the sum of (i) 87.5% of eligible billed accounts receivable, plus (ii) 85.0% of eligible unbilled accounts receivable (less than 30 days), plus (iii) 85.0% of the net orderly liquidation value percentage applied to the net book value of eligible revenue equipment, plus (iv) the lesser of (a) 80.0% the fair market value of eligible real estate or (b) $25.0 million. The Credit Facility contains a single springing financial covenant, which requires a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0.  The financial covenant is tested only in the event excess availability under the Credit Facility is less than the greater of (A) 10.0% of the lesser of the borrowing base or revolving credit facility or (B) $20.0 million. Based on excess availability as of June 30, 2021, there was no fixed charge coverage ratio requirement.

The Credit Facility includes usual and customary events of default for a facility of this nature and provides that, upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default, payment of all amounts payable under the Credit Facility may be accelerated, and the lenders’ commitments may be terminated.  The Credit Facility contains certain restrictions and covenants relating to, among other things, dividends, liens, acquisitions and dispositions, affiliate transactions, and other indebtedness.

At June 30, 2021, the Credit Facility had issued collateralized letters of credit in the face amount of $28.1 million, with $15.0 million in borrowings outstanding and $175.6 million available to borrow. We do not anticipate material liquidity constraints or any issues with our ongoing ability to remain in compliance with our Credit Facility.

Cash Flows

Our summary statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 are set forth in the table below:

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

    

2021

    

2020

(dollars in thousands)

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

40,401

$

71,796

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(15,191)

$

(65,049)

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(25,440)

$

(11,108)

Operating Activities

The decrease in cash flows from operating activities was due primarily to a $25.4 million increase in our operating assets, including a $24.1 million increase in accounts receivable combined with a $7.8 million decrease in our operating liabilities, partially offset by a $1.8 million increase in net income adjusted for noncash items. Our accounts receivable

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increased primarily as a result of the $52.5 million increase in revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. Our operating liabilities decreased $7.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020, due in part to decreased claims and insurance accruals related to timing of payments. Our increase in net income adjusted for noncash items was due in part to increases in our Brokerage gross margin, increased revenue per mile of 12.1%, decreased insurance premiums and claims along with decreased interest and other expense offset by decreases in our average revenue miles per tractor per week, lower available tractors and higher driver hiring costs.

Investing Activities

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, net cash flows used in investing activities decreased primarily as a result of decreased net capital expenditures of $48.0 million compared to the same period in 2020. We expect our net capital expenditures for calendar year 2021 will approximate $130.0 million to $150.0 million to execute our equipment replacement strategy and will be financed with cash from operations, borrowings on the Credit Facility and secured debt financing. If our growth strategy gains momentum beyond our current expectations, we may need to increase our capital expenditures to fund additional profitable growth opportunities.

Financing Activities

The increase in net cash flows used in financing activities is primarily due to debt repayments in excess of debt borrowings of $17.8 million as compared to the same period in 2020.

Working Capital

As of June 30, 2021, we had a working capital deficit of $44.3 million, representing a $25.6 million increase in our working capital from June 30, 2020. When we analyze our working capital, we typically exclude balloon payments in the current maturities of long-term debt and current portion of operating lease liabilities as these payments are typically either funded with the proceeds from equipment sales or addressed by extending the maturity of such payments. We believe this facilitates a more meaningful analysis of our changes in working capital from period-to-period. Excluding balloon payments included in current maturities of long-term debt and current portion of operating lease liabilities as of June 30, 2021, we had a working capital deficit of $23.1 million, compared with a working capital deficit of $42.7 million at June 30, 2020. The increase in working capital was primarily the result of increased accounts receivable and other current assets partially offset by increased accounts payable and accrued wages and benefits .

Working capital deficits are common to many trucking companies that operate by financing revenue equipment purchases through borrowing, or lease arrangements. When we finance revenue equipment through borrowing or lease arrangements, the principal amortization or, in the case of operating leases, the present value of the lease payments scheduled for the next twelve months, is categorized as a current liability, although the revenue equipment and operating lease right of use assets are classified as long-term assets. Consequently, each acquisition of revenue equipment financed with borrowing, or lease arrangements decreases working capital. We believe a working capital deficit has little impact on our liquidity. Based on our expected financial condition, net capital expenditures, results of operations, related net cash flows, borrowings under our Credit Facility, direct debt and lease financing, and other sources of financing, we believe our working capital and sources of liquidity will be adequate to meet our current and projected needs and we do not expect to experience material liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company had letters of credit of $28.1 million outstanding as of June 30, 2021. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support the Company’s insurance program.

The Company had cancelable commitments outstanding at June 30, 2021 to acquire revenue equipment and other equipment for approximately $131.2 million and $5.1 million outstanding for terminal renovations and software during the remainder of 2021. These purchase commitments are expected to be financed by operating leases, long-term debt and proceeds from sales of existing equipment.

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Seasonality

In the trucking industry, revenue has historically decreased as customers reduce shipments following the winter holiday season and as inclement weather impedes operations. At the same time, operating expenses have generally increased, with fuel efficiency declining because of engine idling and weather, causing more physical damage equipment repairs and insurance claims and costs. For the reasons stated, first quarter results historically have been lower than results in each of the other three quarters of the year. However, cyclical changes in the trucking industry, including imbalances in supply and demand, can override the seasonality faced in the industry. Over the past several years, we have seen increases in demand at varying times, including surges between Thanksgiving and the year-end holiday season.

Contractual Obligations

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, there were no material changes in our commitments or contractual obligations.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have reviewed our critical accounting policies and considered whether any new critical accounting estimates or other significant changes to our accounting policies require any additional disclosures. There have been no significant changes to our accounting policies since the disclosures made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

ITEM 3.           QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our market risks have not changed materially from the market risks reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

ITEM 4.           CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2021. This evaluation is performed to determine if our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s  rules and forms. The CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance as of June 30, 2021.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, there were no material changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II           OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.            LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in various other litigation and claims primarily arising in the normal course of business, which include claims for personal injury or property damage incurred in the transportation of freight. Our insurance program for liability, physical damage and cargo damage involves varying risk retention levels. Claims in excess of these risk retention levels are covered by insurance in amounts that management considers to be adequate. Based on its knowledge of the facts

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and, in certain cases, advice of outside counsel, management believes the resolution of claims and pending litigation, taking into account existing reserves, will not have a materially adverse effect on us. Information relating to legal proceedings is included in Note 7 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A.         RISK FACTORS

While we attempt to identify, manage, and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors," describe some of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, projected results, and future prospects.

ITEM 2.           UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, we did not engage in unregistered sales of securities or any other transactions required to be reported under this Item 2 of Part II on Form 10-Q.

The payment of cash dividends is currently limited by our financing arrangements, including certain covenants under the Credit Facility.

ITEM 3.           DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4.           MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.           OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

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ITEM 6.           EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number

Description

3.1

Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2020).

3.2

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on filed on June 2, 2020).

31.1#

Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Eric Fuller, the Company’s Principal Executive Officer

31.2#

Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Eric Peterson, the Company’s Principal Financial Officer

32.1##

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Eric Fuller, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer

32.2##

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Eric Peterson, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer

101.INS#

XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH#

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL#

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF#

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB#

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE#

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104#

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

#     Filed herewith.

##   Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

U.S. XPRESS ENTERPRISES, INC.

Date: July 30, 2021

By:

/s/ Eric Peterson

Eric Peterson

Chief Financial Officer

Page 37