WERNER ENTERPRISES INC - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)
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 March 31, 2022
OR
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
Commission File Number: 0-14690
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nebraska | 47-0648386 | |||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
| 14507 Frontier Road | ||||||||||||||
| Post Office Box 45308 | ||||||||||||||
| Omaha | , | Nebraska | 68145-0308 | |||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
(402) 895-6640
(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 | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value | WERN | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||||||||||||
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, a 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 ☒
As of April 29, 2022, 65,057,763 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
INDEX
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| Item 1. | ||||||||
| Item 1A. | ||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||
| Item 6. | ||||||||
2
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains historical information and forward-looking statements based on information currently available to our management. The forward-looking statements in this report, including those made in Item 2 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of Part I, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These safe harbor provisions encourage reporting companies to provide prospective information to investors. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of certain words, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar terms and language. We believe the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information. However, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, whether known or unknown, that could cause our actual results, business, financial condition and cash flows to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. A discussion of important factors relating to forward-looking statements is included in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Form 10-K”). Readers should not unduly rely on the forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q because such statements speak only to the date they were made. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation or duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or the occurrence of unanticipated events.
3
Item 1. Financial Statements.
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 764,605 | $ | 616,446 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 241,996 | 204,853 | |||||||||
| Fuel | 88,421 | 50,838 | |||||||||
| Supplies and maintenance | 57,025 | 46,147 | |||||||||
| Taxes and licenses | 23,833 | 23,233 | |||||||||
| Insurance and claims | 27,492 | 22,056 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,229 | 63,951 | |||||||||
| Rent and purchased transportation | 185,237 | 146,493 | |||||||||
| Communications and utilities | 3,926 | 3,022 | |||||||||
| Other | (14,065) | (6,618) | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 681,094 | 553,975 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 83,511 | 62,471 | |||||||||
| Other expense (income): | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 1,439 | 838 | |||||||||
| Interest income | (275) | (297) | |||||||||
| Loss on investments in equity securities | 9,806 | — | |||||||||
| Other | 73 | 42 | |||||||||
| Total other expense (income) | 11,043 | 583 | |||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 72,468 | 61,888 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 17,433 | 15,396 | |||||||||
| Net income | 55,035 | 46,492 | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1,286) | — | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to Werner | $ | 53,749 | $ | 46,492 | |||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.68 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.68 | |||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 65,543 | 67,932 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 65,878 | 68,223 | |||||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
4
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 55,035 | $ | 46,492 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | 1,153 | (1,568) | |||||||||
| Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax | 3,631 | 1,303 | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 4,784 | (265) | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income | 59,819 | 46,227 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1,286) | — | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Werner | $ | 58,533 | $ | 46,227 | |||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
5
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| (In thousands, except share amounts) | March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 125,949 | $ | 54,196 | |||||||
Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance of $9,539 and $9,169, respectively | 449,602 | 460,518 | |||||||||
| Other receivables | 25,907 | 24,449 | |||||||||
| Inventories and supplies | 12,105 | 11,140 | |||||||||
| Prepaid taxes, licenses and permits | 13,716 | 17,549 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 51,075 | 63,361 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 678,354 | 631,213 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment | 2,600,896 | 2,557,825 | |||||||||
| Less – accumulated depreciation | 991,296 | 944,582 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 1,609,600 | 1,613,243 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 74,404 | 74,618 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 53,956 | 55,315 | |||||||||
| Other non-current assets | 232,712 | 229,324 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,649,026 | $ | 2,603,713 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 113,657 | $ | 93,987 | |||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||
| Insurance and claims accruals | 66,818 | 72,594 | |||||||||
| Accrued payroll | 50,367 | 44,333 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | 30,061 | 28,758 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 24,368 | 24,011 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 290,271 | 268,683 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, net of current portion | 421,250 | 422,500 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 47,757 | 43,314 | |||||||||
| Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion | 241,690 | 237,220 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 269,361 | 268,499 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,270,329 | 1,240,216 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||||||
| Temporary equity - redeemable noncontrolling interest | 37,233 | 35,947 | |||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 80,533,536 shares | |||||||||||
issued; 65,057,763 and 65,790,112 shares outstanding, respectively | 805 | 805 | |||||||||
| Paid-in capital | 121,157 | 121,904 | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 1,713,046 | 1,667,104 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (15,820) | (20,604) | |||||||||
Treasury stock, at cost; 15,475,773 and 14,743,424 shares, respectively | (477,724) | (441,659) | |||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 1,341,464 | 1,327,550 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ equity | $ | 2,649,026 | $ | 2,603,713 | |||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
6
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 55,035 | $ | 46,492 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,229 | 63,951 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (254) | 3,487 | |||||||||
| Gain on disposal of property and equipment | (20,458) | (10,520) | |||||||||
| Non-cash equity compensation | 3,026 | 2,502 | |||||||||
| Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion | 4,470 | 4,212 | |||||||||
| Other | (2,080) | 1,285 | |||||||||
| Loss on investments in equity securities | 9,806 | — | |||||||||
| Changes in certain working capital items: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 11,279 | (6,798) | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 13,152 | 551 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | 12,330 | 18,481 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 1,422 | 12,224 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 154,957 | 135,867 | |||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||
| Additions to property and equipment | (73,629) | (82,555) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of property and equipment | 36,555 | 44,689 | |||||||||
| Net cash invested in acquisition | 705 | — | |||||||||
| Investment in equity securities | — | (5,000) | |||||||||
| Decrease in notes receivable | 1,831 | 1,575 | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (34,538) | (41,291) | |||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Repayments of short-term debt | (1,250) | (25,000) | |||||||||
| Repayments of long-term debt | (100,000) | — | |||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 100,000 | — | |||||||||
| Dividends on common stock | (7,895) | (6,114) | |||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (36,180) | (5,507) | |||||||||
| Tax withholding related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards | (3,658) | (3,740) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (48,983) | (40,361) | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash | 317 | (419) | |||||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 71,753 | 53,796 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 54,196 | 29,334 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 125,949 | $ | 83,130 | |||||||
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | |||||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 1,536 | $ | 878 | |||||||
| Income taxes paid | 837 | 536 | |||||||||
| Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Notes receivable issued upon sale of property and equipment | $ | 1,613 | $ | 988 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of interest rate swaps | 3,631 | 1,303 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment acquired included in accounts payable | 13,671 | 23,570 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment disposed included in other receivables | 154 | 17 | |||||||||
| Dividends accrued but not yet paid at end of period | 7,807 | 6,792 | |||||||||
7
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND
TEMPORARY EQUITY - REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
| (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | Common Stock | Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Total Stockholders’ Equity | Temporary Equity - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, December 31, 2021 | $ | 805 | $ | 121,904 | $ | 1,667,104 | $ | (20,604) | $ | (441,659) | $ | 1,327,550 | $ | 35,947 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Werner | — | — | 53,749 | — | — | 53,749 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,286 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 4,784 | — | 4,784 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of 845,100 shares of common stock | — | — | — | — | (36,180) | (36,180) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($0.12 per share) | — | — | (7,807) | — | — | (7,807) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation activity, 112,751 shares | — | (3,773) | — | — | 115 | (3,658) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash equity compensation expense | — | 3,026 | — | — | — | 3,026 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, March 31, 2022 | $ | 805 | $ | 121,157 | $ | 1,713,046 | $ | (15,820) | $ | (477,724) | $ | 1,341,464 | $ | 37,233 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, December 31, 2020 | $ | 805 | $ | 116,039 | $ | 1,438,916 | $ | (22,833) | $ | (337,887) | $ | 1,195,040 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Werner | — | — | 46,492 | — | — | 46,492 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (265) | — | (265) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of 130,446 shares of common stock | — | — | — | — | (5,507) | (5,507) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($0.10 per share) | — | — | (6,792) | — | — | (6,792) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation activity, 116,868 shares | — | (3,953) | — | — | 213 | (3,740) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash equity compensation expense | — | 2,502 | — | — | — | 2,502 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE, March 31, 2021 | $ | 805 | $ | 114,588 | $ | 1,478,616 | $ | (23,098) | $ | (343,181) | $ | 1,227,730 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
8
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(1) Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Werner”). Noncontrolling interest on the consolidated condensed balance sheets represents the portion of a consolidated entity in which we do not have a direct equity ownership. In these notes, the terms “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions relating to these entities have been eliminated.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instructions to Form 10-Q and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which are all of normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These consolidated financial statements do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements; although in management’s opinion, the disclosures are adequate so that the information presented is not misleading.
Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022. In the opinion of management, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheets from which it has been derived.
These consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in our 2021 Form 10-K.
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
In the first quarter 2022, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform on financial reporting. The provisions of this update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022 and apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
(2) Business Acquisitions
On July 1, 2021, we acquired an 80% ownership interest in ECM Associated, LLC ("ECM”) for a final purchase price of $141.3 million after net working capital changes and net of cash acquired. ECM, through its ECM Transport, LLC (“ECM Transport”) and Motor Carrier Service, LLC (“MCS”) subsidiaries, provides regional truckload carrier services in the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio, and Northeast regions of the United States. The results of operations for ECM are included in our consolidated financial statements beginning July 1, 2021, and the noncontrolling interest is presented as a separate component of the consolidated financial statements.
On November 22, 2021, we acquired 100% of the equity interests in NEHDS Logistics, LLC (“NEHDS”) for a final purchase price of $62.3 million after including the impacts of contingent consideration and net working capital changes. The purchase price allocation for NEHDS is considered final as of March 31, 2022. NEHDS is a final mile residential delivery provider serving customers primarily in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. markets. NEHDS delivers primarily big and bulky products (primarily furniture and appliances) using 2-person delivery teams performing residential and commercial deliveries. The results of operations for NEHDS are included in our consolidated financial statements beginning November 22, 2021.
Amortization expense on intangible assets was $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
9
(3) Revenue
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized over time as control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services.
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by revenue source (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Truckload Transportation Services | $ | 558,417 | $ | 462,949 | |||||||
| Werner Logistics | 189,008 | 137,853 | |||||||||
| Inter-segment eliminations | (722) | (134) | |||||||||
| Transportation services | 746,703 | 600,668 | |||||||||
| Other revenues | 17,902 | 15,778 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 764,605 | $ | 616,446 | |||||||
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geographic areas in which we conduct business (in thousands). Operating revenues for foreign countries include revenues for (i) shipments with an origin or destination in that country and (ii) other services provided in that country. If both the origin and destination are in a foreign country, the revenues are attributed to the country of origin.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 710,904 | $ | 555,239 | |||||||
| Mexico | 43,291 | 38,756 | |||||||||
| Other | 10,410 | 22,451 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 764,605 | $ | 616,446 | |||||||
Contract Balances and Accounts Receivable
A receivable is an unconditional right to consideration and is recognized when shipments have been completed and the related performance obligation has been fully satisfied. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the accounts receivable, trade, net, balance was $449.6 million and $460.5 million, respectively. Contract assets represent a conditional right to consideration in exchange for goods or services and are transferred to receivables when the rights become unconditional. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the balance of contract assets was $10.9 million and $9.0 million, respectively. We have recognized contract assets within the other current assets financial statement caption on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. These contract assets are considered current assets as they will be settled in less than 12 months.
Contract liabilities represent advance consideration received from customers and are recognized as revenues over time as the related performance obligation is satisfied. The balance of contract liabilities was $1.2 million at both March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The amount of revenues recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2022 that was included in the December 31, 2021 contract liability balance was $1.2 million. We have recognized contract liabilities within the accounts payable and other current liabilities financial statement captions on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. These contract liabilities are considered current liabilities as they will be settled in less than 12 months.
Performance Obligations
We have elected to apply the practical expedient in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers, to not disclose the value of remaining performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less. Remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price allocated to future reporting periods for freight shipments started but not completed at the reporting date that we expect to recognize as revenue in the period subsequent to the reporting date; transit times generally average approximately 3 days.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, revenues recognized from performance obligations related to prior periods (for example, due to changes in transaction price) were not material.
10
(4) Leases
We have entered into operating leases primarily for real estate. The leases have terms which range from 1 year to 18 years, and some include options to renew. Renewal terms are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the option to renew.
Operating leases are included in other non-current assets, other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. These assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date, using our incremental borrowing rate because the rate implicit in each lease is not readily determinable. We have certain contracts for real estate that may contain lease and non-lease components which we have elected to treat as a single lease component. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease expense is recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Lease expense is reported in rent and purchased transportation on the consolidated statements of income.
The following table presents balance sheet and other operating lease information (dollars in thousands):
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Classification | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets (recorded in other non-current assets) | $ | 36,649 | $ | 28,458 | |||||||
| Current lease liabilities (recorded in other current liabilities) | $ | 7,231 | $ | 6,380 | |||||||
| Long-term lease liabilities (recorded in other long-term liabilities) | 30,291 | 22,634 | |||||||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 37,522 | $ | 29,014 | |||||||
| Other Information | |||||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term for operating leases | 7.45 years | 7.63 years | |||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate for operating leases | 2.6 | % | 2.7 | % | |||||||
The following table presents the maturities of operating lease liabilities as of March 31, 2022 (in thousands):
| Maturity of Lease Liabilities | |||||
| 2022 (remaining) | $ | 6,074 | |||
| 2023 | 7,055 | ||||
| 2024 | 6,279 | ||||
| 2025 | 5,578 | ||||
| 2026 | 4,485 | ||||
| Thereafter | 11,883 | ||||
| Total undiscounted operating lease payments | $ | 41,354 | |||
| Less: Imputed interest | (3,832) | ||||
| Present value of operating lease liabilities | $ | 37,522 | |||
Cash Flows
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, right-of-use assets of $10.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, were recognized as non-cash asset additions that resulted from new operating lease liabilities. Cash paid for amounts included in the present value of operating lease liabilities was $1.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and are included in operating cash flows.
Operating Lease Expense
Operating lease expense was $5.1 million and $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This expense included $2.1 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, for long-term operating leases, with the remainder for variable and short-term lease expense.
Lessor Operating Leases
We are the lessor of tractors and trailers under operating leases with initial terms of 1 to 10 years. We recognize revenue for such leases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Revenues were $3.2 million and $3.1 million for the three months
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ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The following table presents information about the maturities of these operating leases as of March 31, 2022 (in thousands):
| 2022 (remaining) | $ | 6,124 | |||
| 2023 | 1,637 | ||||
| 2024 | — | ||||
| 2025 | — | ||||
| 2026 | — | ||||
| Thereafter | — | ||||
| Total | $ | 7,761 | |||
(5) Fair Value
Fair Value Measurement — Definition and Hierarchy
ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
ASC 820-10 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels, as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.
Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Such inputs include quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active and inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, where there is little, if any, observable market activity or data for the asset or liability.
In general, and where applicable, we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine fair value. This pricing methodology applies to our Level 1 assets and liabilities. If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities are not available to determine fair value, then we use quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly. This pricing methodology would apply to Level 2 assets and liabilities.
The following table presents the Company's fair value hierarchy for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
| Level in Fair Value Hierarchy | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-current assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities (1) | 1 | $ | 7,360 | $ | 17,166 | |||||||||||||||
(1) Represents our investments in autonomous technology companies. For additional information regarding the valuation of these equity securities, see Note 6 – Investments.
We have no material liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods presented.
Our ownership interest in Mastery Logistics Systems, Inc. (“MLSI”) does not have a readily determinable fair value and is accounted for using the measurement alternative in ASC 321, Investments - Equity Securities. For additional information regarding the valuation of our investment in MLSI, see Note 6 – Investments.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value
Cash, accounts receivable trade, and accounts payable are short-term in nature and accordingly are carried at amounts that approximate fair value. These financial instruments are recorded at or near their respective transaction prices and historically have been settled or converted to cash at approximately that value (categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).
The carrying amounts of our long-term debt approximate fair value due to the duration of our credit arrangements and the variable interest rates (categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).
(6) Investments
Equity Investments without Readily Determinable Fair Values
In 2020, we entered into a strategic partnership with MLSI, a transportation management systems company. We are collaborating with MLSI to develop a cloud-based transportation management system using MLSI's SaaS technology which we have agreed to license. This minority equity investment is being accounted for under ASC 321 using the measurement alternative, and is recorded in other noncurrent assets on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the value of our investment was $38.2 million. We record changes in the value of this investment, based on events that occur that would indicate the value of our investment in MLSI has changed, in gain or loss on investments in equity securities on the consolidated statements of income. No gains or losses were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. At March 31, 2022, cumulative unrealized gains on our investment in MLSI totaled $28.2 million.
Equity Investments with Readily Determinable Fair Values
We own strategic minority equity investments in autonomous technology companies, which are being accounted for under ASC 321 and are recorded in other noncurrent assets on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. We record changes in the value of these investments, based on the share prices reported by Nasdaq, in gain or loss on investments in equity securities on the consolidated statements of income. In the three months ended March 31, 2022, we recognized a $9.8 million unrealized loss on these investments. No gains or losses were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2021. For additional information regarding the fair value of these equity investments, see Note 5 – Fair Value.
(7) Debt and Credit Facilities
On March 25, 2022, we entered into a new credit agreement (the “Wells Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("Wells Fargo"), replacing our previous credit agreement with Wells Fargo dated May 14, 2019, as amended. The Wells Credit Agreement provides for a $300.0 million unsecured revolving line of credit ("Wells Line of Credit"), with a $75.0 million maximum limit for the aggregate amount of letters of credit issued, and expires on May 14, 2024. The Wells Credit Agreement also provides for an unsecured term loan commitment not to exceed a principal amount of $100.0 million ("Wells Term Loan"), with the outstanding principal balance due and payable in full on May 14, 2024. The proceeds of the Wells Line of Credit and Wells Term Loan may be used for the Company's general corporate purposes.
Amounts drawn under the Wells Line of Credit and the outstanding principal balance of the Wells Term Loan bear interest either, at our option, (i) at a variable rate based on the daily Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus 0.10% and a margin ranging between 0.675% and 0.925%, or (ii) at a fixed rate based on the Term SOFR in effect on the first day of an applicable interest period designated by us plus 0.10% in the case of one month Term SOFR, 0.15% in the case of three month Term SOFR, 0.25% in the case of six month Term SOFR, and plus, in each case, a margin ranging between 0.675% and 0.925%, payable monthly. The margin rates are based on our ratio of total funded debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). The Wells Credit Agreement also requires us to pay Wells Fargo (i) an annualized letter of credit fee based on the face amount of each letter of credit outstanding at rates ranging between 0.55% and 0.80% per annum and (ii) a nonrefundable commitment fee on the average daily unused amount of the Wells Line of Credit (after deducting undrawn letters of credit) at rates ranging between 0.11% and 0.15% per annum. The rates for the letter of credit and nonrefundable commitment fees are based on our ratio of total funded debt to EBITDA.
On March 25, 2022, we also entered into a second amendment to our existing unsecured revolving line of credit agreement, dated May 14, 2019, with BMO Harris Bank N.A. (“BMO Harris”), expiring May 14, 2024 (“BMO Line of Credit”). The second amendment increased our BMO Line of Credit from $200.0 million to $300.0 million and changed the variable interest rate calculation by replacing the LIBOR with the SOFR. Amounts drawn under the BMO Line of Credit bear interest, for a selected interest period, at a variable rate based on the SOFR plus 0.10% and a margin ranging between 0.70% and 1.50%, based on our ratio of total funded debt to EBITDA, payable at the end of the applicable interest period. No changes were made to the annualized letter of credit fee, nonrefundable commitment fee, and financial covenants as a result of the second amendment. We also have a $100.0 million unsecured fixed-rate term loan commitment with BMO Harris, with quarterly principal payments of $1.25 million, which began on September 30, 2021, and a final payment of principal and interest due and
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payable on May 14, 2024 ("BMO Term Loan"). The outstanding principal balance of the BMO Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.28%, payable quarterly in arrears.
As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, our outstanding debt totaled $426.3 million and $427.5 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2022, we had a total of $230.0 million outstanding under our revolving lines of credit, including (i) $80.0 million at a weighted average variable interest rate of 1.02%; (ii) $75.0 million at a variable interest rate of 0.99%, which is effectively fixed at 2.32% with an interest rate swap agreement through May 14, 2024; and (iii) $75.0 million at a variable interest rate of 0.93%, which is effectively fixed at 2.36% with an interest rate swap agreement through May 14, 2024. The total borrowing capacity of $600.0 million under our revolving lines of credit at March 31, 2022, is further reduced by $53.9 million in stand-by letters of credit under which we are obligated. In addition, as of March 31, 2022, we had $100.0 million outstanding under the Wells Term Loan at a variable interest rate of 1.05% and $96.3 million outstanding under the BMO Term Loan at a fixed interest rate of 1.28%. Availability of such funds under the debt agreements is conditional upon various customary terms and covenants. Such covenants include, among other things, financial covenants requiring us (i) to exceed a minimum ratio of earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization to interest expense and/or (ii) not to exceed a maximum ratio of total funded debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (as such terms are defined in each credit facility). As of March 31, 2022 we were in compliance with these covenants.
At March 31, 2022, the aggregate future maturities of long-term debt by year are as follows (in thousands):
| 2022 (remaining) | $ | 3,750 | |||
| 2023 | 5,000 | ||||
| 2024 | 417,500 | ||||
| 2025 | — | ||||
| 2026 | — | ||||
| Total | $ | 426,250 | |||
(8) Commitments and Contingencies
We have committed to property and equipment purchases of approximately $182.3 million at March 31, 2022.
We are involved in certain claims and pending litigation, including those described herein, arising in the ordinary course of business. The majority of these claims relate to bodily injury, property damage, cargo and workers’ compensation incurred in the transportation of freight, as well as certain class action litigation related to personnel and employment matters. We accrue for the uninsured portion of contingent losses from these and other pending claims when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Based on the knowledge of the facts, management believes the resolution of claims and pending litigation, taking into account existing reserves, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict, and our view of these matters may change in the future as the litigation and related events unfold.
On May 17, 2018, in Harris County District Court in Houston, Texas, a jury rendered an adverse verdict against the Company in a lawsuit arising from a December 30, 2014 accident between a Werner tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle. On July 30, 2018, the court entered a final judgment against Werner for $92.0 million, including pre-judgment interest.
The Company has premium-based liability insurance to cover the potential outcome from this jury verdict. Under the Company’s insurance policies in effect on the date of this accident, the Company’s maximum liability for this accident is $10.0 million (plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest) with premium-based coverage that exceeds the jury verdict amount. As a result of this jury verdict, the Company had recorded a liability of $30.1 million as of March 31, 2022, and $28.8 million as of December 31, 2021. Under the terms of the Company’s insurance policies, the Company is the primary obligor of the verdict, and as such, the Company has also recorded a $79.2 million receivable from its third-party insurance providers in other non-current assets and a corresponding liability of the same amount in the long-term portion of insurance and claims accruals in the consolidated condensed balance sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
The Company is pursuing an appeal of this verdict. No assurances can be given regarding the outcome of any such appeal.
We have been involved in class action litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, in which the plaintiffs allege that we owe drivers for unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and the Nebraska Wage Payment and Collection Act and that we failed to pay minimum wage per hour for drivers in our Career Track Program, related to short break time and sleeper berth time. The period covered by this class action suit is August 2008 through March 2014. The case was tried to a jury in May 2017, resulting in a verdict of $0.8 million in plaintiffs’ favor on the short break matter and a verdict in our favor on the sleeper berth matter. As a result of various post-trial motions, the court awarded $0.5 million to the plaintiffs
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for attorney fees and costs. Plaintiffs appealed the post-verdict amounts awarded by the trial court for fees, costs and liquidated damages, and the Company filed a cross appeal on the verdict that was in plaintiffs’ favor. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied Plaintiffs’ appeal and granted Werner’s appeal, vacating the judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. The appellate court sent the case back to the trial court for proceedings consistent with the appellate court’s opinion. On June 22, 2020, the trial court denied Plaintiffs’ request for a new trial and entered judgment in favor of the Company, dismissing the case with prejudice. On July 21, 2020, Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a notice of appeal of that dismissal, and that appeal remains pending. As of March 31, 2022, we have an accrual for the jury’s award, attorney fees and costs in the short break matter and had not accrued for the sleeper berth matter.
We are also involved in certain class action litigation in which the plaintiffs allege claims for failure to provide meal and rest breaks, unpaid wages, unauthorized deductions and other items. Based on the knowledge of the facts, management does not currently believe the outcome of these class actions is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. However, the final disposition of these matters and the impact of such final dispositions cannot be determined at this time.
(9) Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Werner by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Werner by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding restricted stock awards. Performance awards are excluded from the calculation of dilutive potential common shares until the threshold performance conditions have been satisfied. There are no differences in the numerators of our computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for any periods presented.
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts).
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Werner | $ | 53,749 | $ | 46,492 | |||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | 65,543 | 67,932 | |||||||||
| Dilutive effect of stock-based awards | 335 | 291 | |||||||||
| Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share | 65,878 | 68,223 | |||||||||
| Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.68 | |||||||
| Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.68 | |||||||
(10) Segment Information
We have two reportable segments – Truckload Transportation Services (“TTS”) and Werner Logistics.
The TTS segment consists of two operating units, Dedicated and One-Way Truckload. These units are aggregated because they have similar economic characteristics and meet the other aggregation criteria described in the accounting guidance for segment reporting. Dedicated provides truckload services dedicated to a specific customer, generally for a retail distribution center or manufacturing facility, utilizing either dry van or specialized trailers. One-Way Truckload is comprised of the following operating fleets: (i) the medium-to-long-haul van (“Van”) fleet transports a variety of consumer nondurable products and other commodities in truckload quantities over irregular routes using dry van trailers, including Mexico cross-border routes; (ii) the expedited (“Expedited”) fleet provides time-sensitive truckload services utilizing driver teams; (iii) the regional short-haul (“Regional”) fleet, including ECM, provides comparable truckload van service within geographic regions across the United States; and (iv) the Temperature Controlled fleet provides truckload services for temperature sensitive products over irregular routes utilizing temperature-controlled trailers. Revenues for the TTS segment include a small amount of non-trucking revenues which consist primarily of the intra-Mexico portion of cross-border shipments delivered to or from Mexico where we utilize a third-party capacity provider.
The Werner Logistics segment generates the majority of our non-trucking revenues through three operating units that provide non-trucking services to our customers. These three Werner Logistics operating units are as follows: (i) Truckload Logistics, which uses contracted carriers to complete shipments for brokerage customers and freight management customers for which we offer a full range of single-source logistics management services and solutions; (ii) the intermodal (“Intermodal”) unit offers rail transportation through alliances with rail and drayage providers as an alternative to truck transportation; and (iii) Werner Final Mile (“Final Mile”), including NEHDS, offers residential and commercial deliveries of large or heavy items using third-party agents, independent contractors, and Company employees with two-person delivery teams operating a liftgate straight truck. In
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first quarter 2021, we completed the sale of the Werner Global Logistics (“WGL”) freight forwarding services for international ocean and air shipments to Scan Global Logistics Group, and we realized a $1.0 million gain when the transaction closed on February 26, 2021. Werner Logistics continues to provide North American truck brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile services.
We generate other revenues from our driver training schools, transportation-related activities such as third-party equipment maintenance and equipment leasing, and other business activities. None of these operations meets the quantitative reporting thresholds. As a result, these operations are grouped in “Other” in the tables below. “Corporate” includes revenues and expenses that are incidental to our activities and are not attributable to any of our operating segments, including gains and losses on sales of assets not attributable to our operating segments.
We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment. Based on our operations, certain revenue-generating assets (primarily tractors and trailers) are interchangeable between segments. Depreciation for these interchangeable assets is allocated to segments based on the actual number of units utilized by the segment during the period. Other depreciation and amortization is allocated to segments based on specific identification or as a percentage of a metric such as average number of tractors. Inter-segment eliminations represent transactions between reporting segments that are eliminated in consolidation.
The following tables summarize our segment information (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues by Segment | |||||||||||
| Truckload Transportation Services | $ | 558,417 | $ | 462,949 | |||||||
| Werner Logistics | 189,008 | 137,853 | |||||||||
| Other | 17,513 | 15,399 | |||||||||
| Corporate | 389 | 379 | |||||||||
| Subtotal | 765,327 | 616,580 | |||||||||
| Inter-segment eliminations | (722) | (134) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 764,605 | $ | 616,446 | |||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Operating Income (loss) by Segment | |||||||||||
| Truckload Transportation Services | $ | 76,093 | $ | 57,628 | |||||||
| Werner Logistics | 8,681 | 4,574 | |||||||||
| Other | 445 | 866 | |||||||||
| Corporate | (1,708) | (597) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 83,511 | $ | 62,471 | |||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization by Segment | |||||||||||
| Truckload Transportation Services | 61,837 | 58,525 | |||||||||
| Werner Logistics | 2,268 | 2,221 | |||||||||
| Other | 2,681 | 2,729 | |||||||||
| Corporate | 443 | 476 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 67,229 | $ | 63,951 | |||||||
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (the “MD&A”) summarizes the financial statements from management’s perspective with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors that may affect actual results. The MD&A is organized in the following sections:
•Overview
•COVID-19
•Results of Operations
•Liquidity and Capital Resources
•Regulations
•Critical Accounting Estimates
The MD&A should be read in conjunction with our 2021 Form 10-K.
Overview:
We have two reportable segments, Truckload Transportation Services (“TTS”) and Werner Logistics, and we operate in the truckload and logistics sectors of the transportation industry. In the truckload sector, we focus on transporting consumer nondurable products that generally ship more consistently throughout the year. In the logistics sector, besides managing transportation requirements for individual customers, we provide additional sources of truck capacity, alternative modes of transportation, a North American delivery network and systems analysis to optimize transportation needs. Our success depends on our ability to efficiently and effectively manage our resources in the delivery of truckload transportation and logistics services to our customers. Resource requirements vary with customer demand, which may be subject to seasonal or general economic conditions. Our ability to adapt to changes in customer transportation requirements is essential to efficiently deploy resources and make capital investments in tractors and trailers (with respect to our TTS segment) or obtain qualified third-party capacity at a reasonable price (with respect to our Werner Logistics segment). We may also be affected by our customers’ financial failures or loss of customer business.
Revenues for our TTS segment operating units (Dedicated and One-Way Truckload) are typically generated on a per-mile basis and also include revenues such as stop charges, loading and unloading charges, equipment detention charges and equipment repositioning charges. To mitigate our risk to fuel price increases, we recover additional fuel surcharge revenues from our customers that generally recoup a majority of the increased fuel costs; however, we cannot assure that current recovery levels will continue in future periods. Because fuel surcharge revenues fluctuate in response to changes in fuel costs, we identify them separately and exclude them from the statistical calculations to provide a more meaningful comparison between periods. The key statistics used to evaluate trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge, are (i) average revenues per tractor per week, (ii) average percentage of empty miles (miles without trailer cargo), (iii) average trip length (in loaded miles) and (iv) average number of tractors in service. General economic conditions, seasonal trucking industry freight patterns and industry capacity are important factors that impact these statistics. Our TTS segment also generates a small amount of revenues categorized as non-trucking revenues, which consist primarily of the intra-Mexico portion of cross-border shipments delivered to or from Mexico where the TTS segment utilizes a third-party capacity provider. We exclude such revenues from the statistical calculations.
Our most significant resource requirements are company drivers, independent contractors, tractors and trailers. Independent contractors supply their own tractors and drivers and are responsible for their operating expenses. Our financial results are affected by company driver and independent contractor availability and the markets for new and used revenue equipment. We are self-insured for a significant portion of bodily injury, property damage and cargo claims; workers’ compensation claims; and associate health claims (supplemented by premium-based insurance coverage above certain dollar levels). For that reason, our financial results may also be affected by driver safety, medical costs, weather, legal and regulatory environments and insurance coverage costs to protect against catastrophic losses.
The operating ratio is a common industry measure used to evaluate our profitability and that of our TTS segment operating fleets. The operating ratio consists of operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues. The most significant variable expenses that impact the TTS segment are driver salaries and benefits, fuel, fuel taxes (included in taxes and licenses expense), payments to independent contractors (included in rent and purchased transportation expense), supplies and maintenance and insurance and claims. As discussed further in the comparison of operating results for first quarter 2022 to first quarter 2021, several industry-wide issues have caused, and could continue to cause, costs to increase in future periods. These issues include shortages of drivers or independent contractors, changing fuel prices, compliance with new or proposed regulations and tightening of the commercial truck liability insurance market. Our main fixed costs include depreciation expense for tractors and trailers and equipment licensing fees (included in taxes and licenses expense). The TTS segment requires substantial cash expenditures for tractor and trailer purchases. We fund these purchases with net cash from operations and financing available under our existing credit facilities, as management deems necessary.
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We provide non-trucking services primarily through the three operating units within our Werner Logistics segment (Truckload Logistics, Intermodal, and Final Mile). In first quarter 2021, we completed the sale of the Werner Global Logistics (“WGL”) freight forwarding services for international ocean and air shipments to Scan Global Logistics Group. WGL had annual revenues of $53 million in 2020, and we realized a $1.0 million gain from the sale in first quarter 2021. At the end of the twelve month period, the full earnout was achieved. Unlike our TTS segment, the Werner Logistics segment is less asset-intensive and is instead dependent upon qualified associates, information systems and qualified third-party capacity providers. The largest expense item related to the Werner Logistics segment is the cost of purchased transportation we pay to third-party capacity providers. This expense item is recorded as rent and purchased transportation expense. Other operating expenses consist primarily of salaries, wages and benefits, as well as depreciation and amortization, supplies and maintenance, and other general expenses. We evaluate the Werner Logistics segment’s financial performance by reviewing operating expenses and operating income expressed as a percentage of revenues. Purchased transportation expenses as a percentage of revenues can be impacted by the rates charged to customers and the costs of securing third-party capacity. We have a mix of contracted long-term rates and variable rates for the cost of third-party capacity, and we cannot assure that our operating results will not be adversely impacted in the future if our ability to obtain qualified third-party capacity providers changes or the rates of such providers increase.
COVID-19:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the U.S. and global economies and has resulted in ongoing supply chain challenges. During the pandemic, the transportation industry has been designated by the U.S. government as an essential industry for keeping the U.S. supply chain moving. We are monitoring and reacting to the evolving nature of the pandemic, governmental responses, and their impacts on our business, including employee availability. We are working hard to stay healthy while safely delivering our customers’ freight on time. Throughout our offices and terminal network, we are closely following the safety guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Over the past several years, we have repositioned Werner to increase our ability to execute through different macroeconomic environments. We believe our freight base, which is heavily weighted toward customers delivering essential products that are continually being restocked in today’s economy, enabled us to more effectively manage through the difficult economic environment created by the pandemic. While there remain significant uncertainties related to COVID-19 and its effect on the economy, we believe that demand for our services will continue to be strong during the remainder of 2022.
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Results of Operations:
The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of income in dollars and as a percentage of total operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items compared to the prior year.
| Three Months Ended (3ME) March 31, | Percentage Change in Dollar Amounts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 3ME | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | $ | % | $ | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 764,605 | 100.0 | $ | 616,446 | 100.0 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 241,996 | 31.6 | 204,853 | 33.2 | 18.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | 88,421 | 11.6 | 50,838 | 8.2 | 73.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Supplies and maintenance | 57,025 | 7.5 | 46,147 | 7.5 | 23.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taxes and licenses | 23,833 | 3.1 | 23,233 | 3.8 | 2.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and claims | 27,492 | 3.6 | 22,056 | 3.6 | 24.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,229 | 8.8 | 63,951 | 10.4 | 5.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rent and purchased transportation | 185,237 | 24.2 | 146,493 | 23.8 | 26.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Communications and utilities | 3,926 | 0.5 | 3,022 | 0.5 | 29.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | (14,065) | (1.8) | (6,618) | (1.1) | 112.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 681,094 | 89.1 | 553,975 | 89.9 | 22.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 83,511 | 10.9 | 62,471 | 10.1 | 33.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expense, net | 11,043 | 1.4 | 583 | 0.1 | 1,794.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 72,468 | 9.5 | 61,888 | 10.0 | 17.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 17,433 | 2.3 | 15,396 | 2.5 | 13.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 55,035 | 7.2 | 46,492 | 7.5 | 18.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1,286) | (0.2) | — | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Werner | $ | 53,749 | 7.0 | $ | 46,492 | 7.5 | 15.6 | ||||||||||||||||
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The following tables set forth the operating revenues, operating expenses and operating income for the TTS segment and certain statistical data regarding our TTS segment operations, as well as statistical data for the One-Way Truckload and Dedicated operating units within TTS.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| TTS segment (in thousands) | $ | % | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge | $ | 472,361 | $ | 410,652 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trucking fuel surcharge revenues | 79,815 | 47,459 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-trucking and other operating revenues | 6,241 | 4,838 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | 558,417 | 100.0 | 462,949 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 482,324 | 86.4 | 405,321 | 87.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 76,093 | 13.6 | $ | 57,628 | 12.4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| TTS segment | 2022 | 2021 | % Change | ||||||||||||||
| Average tractors in service | 8,238 | 7,790 | 5.8 | % | |||||||||||||
Average revenues per tractor per week (1) | $ | 4,411 | $ | 4,055 | 8.8 | % | |||||||||||
| Total tractors (at quarter end) | |||||||||||||||||
| Company | 7,960 | 7,360 | 8.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Independent contractor | 265 | 375 | (29.3) | % | |||||||||||||
| Total tractors | 8,225 | 7,735 | 6.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total trailers (at quarter end) | 26,185 | 22,710 | 15.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| One-Way Truckload | |||||||||||||||||
| Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge (in 000’s) | $ | 186,760 | $ | 156,839 | 19.1 | % | |||||||||||
| Average tractors in service | 3,064 | 2,856 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total tractors (at quarter end) | 3,040 | 2,815 | 8.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average percentage of empty miles | 11.75 | % | 11.35 | % | 3.5 | % | |||||||||||
Average revenues per tractor per week (1) | $ | 4,690 | $ | 4,224 | 11.0 | % | |||||||||||
Average % change in revenues per total mile (1) | 20.8 | % | 9.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average % change in total miles per tractor per week | (8.1) | % | (7.7) | % | |||||||||||||
| Average completed trip length in miles (loaded) | 716 | 853 | (16.1) | % | |||||||||||||
| Dedicated | |||||||||||||||||
| Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge (in 000’s) | $ | 285,601 | $ | 253,813 | 12.5 | % | |||||||||||
| Average tractors in service | 5,174 | 4,934 | 4.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total tractors (at quarter end) | 5,185 | 4,920 | 5.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Average revenues per tractor per week (1) | $ | 4,247 | $ | 3,957 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||||
(1)Net of fuel surcharge revenues.
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The following tables set forth the Werner Logistics segment’s revenues, purchased transportation expense, other operating expenses (primarily salaries, wages and benefits expense), total operating expenses, and operating income, as well as certain statistical data regarding the Werner Logistics segment.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Werner Logistics segment (in thousands) | $ | % | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 189,008 | 100.0 | $ | 137,853 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchased transportation expense | 157,521 | 83.3 | 120,527 | 87.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 22,806 | 12.1 | 12,752 | 9.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 180,327 | 95.4 | 133,279 | 96.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 8,681 | 4.6 | $ | 4,574 | 3.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| Werner Logistics segment | 2022 | 2021 | % Change | ||||||||||||||
| Average tractors in service | 53 | 39 | 35.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total tractors (at quarter end) | 54 | 39 | 38.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total trailers (at quarter end) | 1,605 | 1,440 | 11.5 | % | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased 24.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the same period of the prior year. When comparing first quarter 2022 to first quarter 2021, TTS segment revenues increased $95.5 million, or 20.6%, and Werner Logistics revenues increased $51.2 million, or 37.1%.
Our results in first quarter 2022 reflect strong freight market conditions in a very challenging driver market. Our One-Way Truckload fleet experienced strong freight demand in January and February, which then moderated in March from strong to very good, relative to March freight demand over the last five years. In our Dedicated fleet, freight demand remained strong in first quarter 2022. Strong consumer demand, combined with several factors that are limiting industry capacity, including a very competitive driver market and ongoing new tractor production delays, resulted in a robust first quarter freight market. During April, Dedicated freight demand remained strong and One-Way Truckload demand remained very good.
Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge, increased 15.0% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 due to a 5.8% increase in the average number of tractors in service and an 8.8% increase in average revenues per tractor per week, net of fuel surcharge. The increase in average revenues per tractor was due primarily to improved pricing in both Dedicated and One-Way Truckload, offset by a decline in miles per tractor caused by fleet mix changes, tractors down due to equipment parts shortages, more drivers unavailable to work due to COVID quarantine protocols and other factors. We currently expect average revenues per total mile, net of fuel surcharge, for the One-Way Truckload fleet for the second quarter 2022 to increase in a range of 14% to 17% when compared to second quarter 2021, and we currently expect Dedicated average revenues per tractor per week, net of fuel surcharge, to increase in a range of 4% to 6% in 2022 compared to 2021.
The average number of tractors in service in the TTS segment increased 5.8% to 8,238 in first quarter 2022 from 7,790 in first quarter 2021, primarily resulting from the nearly 500 tractors acquired in the ECM Associated, LLC (“ECM”) acquisition. We ended first quarter 2022 with 8,225 tractors in the TTS segment, a year-over-year increase of 490 tractors compared to the end of first quarter 2021, and a sequential decrease of 115 tractors compared to the end of fourth quarter 2021. Within TTS, our Dedicated unit ended first quarter 2022 with 5,185 tractors (or 63% of our total TTS segment tractors) compared to 4,920 tractors (or 64%) a year ago. We expect our tractor count at the end of 2022 to be in a range of 2% to 5% higher when compared to the fleet size at year end 2021. We cannot predict whether future driver shortages, if any, will adversely affect our ability to grow our fleet size. If such a driver shortage were to occur, it could result in a fleet size reduction, and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Trucking fuel surcharge revenues increased 68.2% to $79.8 million in first quarter 2022 from $47.5 million in first quarter 2021 due primarily to higher average diesel fuel prices in first quarter 2022. These revenues represent collections from customers for the increase in fuel and fuel-related expenses, including the fuel component of our independent contractor cost (recorded as rent and purchased transportation expense) and fuel taxes (recorded in taxes and licenses expense), when diesel fuel prices rise.
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Conversely, when fuel prices decrease, fuel surcharge revenues decrease. To lessen the effect of fluctuating fuel prices on our margins, we collect fuel surcharge revenues from our customers for the cost of diesel fuel and taxes in excess of specified base fuel price levels according to terms in our customer contracts. Fuel surcharge rates generally adjust weekly based on an independent U.S. Department of Energy fuel price survey which is released every Monday. Our fuel surcharge programs are designed to (i) recoup higher fuel costs from customers when fuel prices rise and (ii) provide customers with the benefit of lower fuel costs when fuel prices decline. These programs generally enable us to recover a majority, but not all, of the fuel price increases. The remaining portion is generally not recoverable because it results from empty and out-of-route miles (which are not billable to customers) and tractor idle time. Fuel prices that change rapidly in short time periods also impact our recovery because the surcharge rate in most programs only changes once per week.
Werner Logistics revenues are generated by its three operating units, following the sale of its WGL freight forwarding services for international ocean and air shipments in first quarter 2021. Werner Logistics revenues exclude revenues for full truckload shipments transferred to the TTS segment, which are recorded as trucking revenues by the TTS segment. Werner Logistics also recorded revenue and brokered freight expense of $722 thousand in first quarter 2022 and $134 thousand in first quarter 2021 for Intermodal drayage movements performed by the TTS segment (also recorded as trucking revenue by the TTS segment), and these transactions between reporting segments are eliminated in consolidation. In first quarter 2022, Werner Logistics revenues increased $51.2 million, or 37.1%. Excluding WGL revenues from first quarter 2021, Logistics revenues in first quarter 2022 increased 55%. Truckload Logistics revenues (67% of total Logistics revenues) increased by 46% in first quarter 2022. Truckload Logistics volume increased 19% in first quarter 2022, and revenues per shipment increased 24%. Intermodal revenues (23% of Logistics revenues) increased 29% in first quarter 2022, due to 37% higher revenues per shipment, partially offset by a decrease in volume of 6% due primarily to a decline in rail velocity, chassis shortages and increased dwell throughout the rail and customer networks. Final Mile revenues (10% of total Logistics revenues) increased $18.1 million in first quarter 2022, primarily due to growth from the November 2021 acquisition of NEHDS Logistics, LLC (“NEHDS”). The Werner Logistics operating margin percentage of 4.6% in first quarter 2022 increased from 3.3%, while operating income increased to $8.7 million. We continue to expect our Werner Logistics segment to achieve inflated growth through this capacity-constrained period.
Operating Expenses
Our operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) was 89.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 89.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Expense items that impacted the overall operating ratio are described on the following pages. The tables on pages 19 through 21 show the consolidated statements of income in dollars and as a percentage of total operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items compared to the same quarter of the prior year, as well as the operating ratios, operating margins, and certain statistical information for our two reportable segments, TTS and Werner Logistics.
Salaries, wages and benefits increased $37.1 million or 18.1% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and decreased 1.6% as a percentage of operating revenues to 31.6%. The higher dollar amount of salaries, wages and benefits expense in the first quarter of 2022 was due primarily to increased driver pay, including: (i) driver pay rate increases, (ii) incentive recruiting bonuses, (iii) minimum pay guarantees, and (iv) the impact of 4.0 million more company tractor miles in the first quarter of 2022. In January 2021, we implemented driver pay increases of approximately $10 million annually in our One-Way Truckload fleet, and another pay increase in August 2021 of approximately $11 million annually. We continue to implement driver pay increases as needed. The increase in salaries, wages and benefits was also due to an increase in the number of non-driver employees and higher benefits. Non-driver salaries, wages and benefits in our non-trucking Werner Logistics segment increased 47.3% as a result of increased employees to support the 37% growth of Logistics revenues and higher pay rates per employee.
We renewed our workers’ compensation insurance coverage on April 1, 2022. Our coverage levels are the same as the prior policy year. We continue to maintain a self-insurance retention of $2.0 million per claim. Our workers’ compensation insurance premiums for the policy year beginning April 2022 are $0.4 million higher than the premiums for the previous policy year.
Strong consumer demand combined with a severely constrained driver market is presenting labor challenges for customers and carriers alike and remained challenging in first quarter 2022, as the strong freight market caused increased competition for the finite number of experienced drivers that meet our hiring standards. Several ongoing market factors persisted including a declining number of, and increased competition for, driver training school graduates, aging truck driver demographics and increased truck safety regulations. We continue to take significant actions to strengthen our driver recruiting and retention as we strive to be the truckload employer of choice, including raising driver pay, providing a modern tractor and trailer fleet with the latest safety equipment and technology, investing and expanding our driver training school network and offering a wide variety of driving positions including daily and weekly home time opportunities. We are unable to predict whether we will experience future driver shortages or maintain our current driver retention rates. If such a driver shortage were to occur and additional
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driver pay rate increases became necessary to attract and retain drivers, our results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that we could not obtain corresponding freight rate increases.
Fuel increased $37.6 million or 73.9% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and increased 3.4% as a percentage of operating revenues to 11.6% due to higher average diesel fuel prices and 4.0 million more company tractor miles in first quarter 2022. Average diesel fuel prices were $1.27 per gallon higher in first quarter 2022 than in first quarter 2021 and were 64 cents per gallon higher than in fourth quarter 2021.
We continue to employ measures to improve our fuel mpg such as (i) limiting tractor engine idle time, (ii) optimizing the speed, weight and specifications of our equipment and (iii) implementing mpg-enhancing equipment changes to our fleet including new tractors, more aerodynamic tractor features, idle reduction systems, trailer tire inflation systems, trailer skirts and automated manual transmissions to reduce our fuel gallons purchased. However, fuel savings from mpg improvement is partially offset by higher depreciation expense and the additional cost of diesel exhaust fluid. Although our fuel management programs require significant capital investment and research and development, we intend to continue these and other environmentally conscious initiatives, including our active participation as an EPA SmartWay Transport Partner. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a national voluntary program developed by the EPA and freight industry representatives to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
For April 2022, the average diesel fuel price per gallon was approximately $1.98 higher than the average diesel fuel price per gallon in April 2021 and approximately $1.85 higher than in second quarter 2021.
Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices and petroleum product rationing can have a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability. We are unable to predict whether fuel price levels will increase or decrease in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected from customers. As of March 31, 2022, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
Supplies and maintenance increased $10.9 million or 23.6% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and remained flat as a percentage of operating revenues. Supplies and maintenance expense increased due to increases in tractor and trailer parts and labor, tires, tolls, driving school costs, travel, and driver advertising.
Insurance and claims increased $5.4 million or 24.6% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and remained flat as a percentage of operating revenues due primarily to a higher amount of unfavorable reserve development on small dollar claims, higher liability insurance premiums of $1.9 million, and increased claims. We also incurred insurance and claims expense of $1.3 million in both first quarter 2022 and first quarter 2021 for accrued interest related to a previously-disclosed adverse jury verdict rendered May 17, 2018, which we are appealing (see Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report). Interest is accrued at $0.4 million per month, until such time as the outcome of our appeal is finalized. The majority of our insurance and claims expense results from our claim experience and claim development under our self-insurance program; the remainder results from insurance premiums for claims in excess of our self-insured limits.
We renewed our liability insurance policies on August 1, 2021 and are responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim on all claims with an annual $10.0 million aggregate for claims between $10.0 million and $15.0 million. For the policy year that began August 1, 2020, we were responsible for the first $10.0 million per claim with no aggregates. We maintain liability insurance coverage with insurance carriers in excess of the $10.0 million per claim. Our liability insurance premiums for the policy year that began August 1, 2021 are $7.0 million higher than premiums for the previous policy year.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $3.3 million or 5.1% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and decreased 1.6% as a percentage of operating revenues due primarily to depreciation and amortization on tangible and intangible assets recorded in the ECM and NEHDS acquisitions, partially offset by the impact of a change in accounting estimate effective January 1, 2022, which decreased depreciation expense by $3.1 million in first quarter 2022. During the first quarter of 2022, we increased the estimated salvage value of our trailers by $5,000 per trailer due to the ongoing stronger used trailer market and the increasing cost of new trailers.
The average age of our tractor fleet was 2.3 years as of March 31, 2022, and the average age of our trailers was 4.6 years. We are continuing to invest in new tractors and trailers and our terminals in 2022 to improve our driver experience, increase operational efficiency and more effectively manage our maintenance, safety and fuel costs. During the remainder of 2022, we expect the average age of our tractor and trailer fleet to remain at or near current levels, subject to potential delays in receiving new equipment.
Rent and purchased transportation expense increased $38.7 million or 26.4% in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and increased 0.4% as a percentage of operating revenues. Rent and purchased transportation expense consists mostly of
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payments to third-party capacity providers in the Werner Logistics segment and other non-trucking operations and payments to independent contractors in the TTS segment. The payments to third-party capacity providers generally vary depending on changes in the volume of services generated by the Werner Logistics segment. Werner Logistics rent and purchased transportation expense increased $37.0 million, and as a percentage of Werner Logistics revenues decreased to 83.3% in first quarter 2022 from 87.4% in first quarter 2021.
Rent and purchased transportation expense for the TTS segment increased $1.5 million in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 due primarily to an increase in the per-mile settlement rate for certain independent contractors due to higher average diesel fuel prices. The higher expense was mostly offset by fewer independent contractor miles in first quarter 2022. Independent contractor miles decreased approximately 4.1 million miles in first quarter 2022 and as a percentage of total miles were 4.5% in first quarter 2022 compared to 6.7% in first quarter 2021. Because independent contractors supply their own tractors and drivers and are responsible for their operating expenses, the decrease in independent contractor miles as a percentage of total miles shifted costs from the rent and purchased transportation category to other expense categories, including (i) salaries, wages and benefits, (ii) fuel, (iii) depreciation, (iv) supplies and maintenance and (v) taxes and licenses.
Challenging operating conditions continue to make independent contractor recruitment and retention difficult. Such conditions include inflationary cost increases that are the responsibility of independent contractors and a shortage of financing available to independent contractors for equipment purchases. Historically we have been able to add company tractors and recruit additional company drivers to offset any decrease in the number of independent contractors. If a shortage of independent contractors and company drivers occurs, further increases in per-mile settlement rates (for independent contractors) and driver pay rates (for company drivers) may become necessary to attract and retain these drivers. These rate increases could negatively affect our results of operations to the extent that we would not be able to obtain corresponding freight rate increases.
Other operating expenses decreased $7.4 million in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 and decreased 0.7% as a percentage of operating revenues. Gains on sales of assets (primarily used tractors and trailers) are reflected as a reduction of other operating expenses and are reported net of sales-related expenses (which include costs to prepare the equipment for sale). Gains on sales of assets were $20.5 million in first quarter 2022, compared to $10.5 million in first quarter 2021. We realized substantially higher average gains per tractor and trailer due to significantly improved pricing in the market for our used equipment, which we believe is a temporary result of increased demand for previously used equipment because of production delays limiting availability of new equipment in the industry. We sold fewer tractors and trailers in first quarter 2022 than in first quarter 2021.
Other Expense (Income)
Other net expenses increased $10.5 million in first quarter 2022 compared to first quarter 2021 due primarily to a $9.8 million unrealized loss recognized on our investments in equity securities (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report) and a $0.6 million increase in interest expense. Interest expense increased due to higher average debt outstanding, partially offset by a decrease in the average effective interest rate incurred on our debt.
Income Tax Expense
Our effective income tax rate (income taxes expressed as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 24.1% in first quarter 2022 compared to 24.9% in first quarter 2021. The lower income tax rate in first quarter 2022 was attributed primarily to a higher amount of favorable discrete income tax items in the first quarter 2022 and the income tax effect of the noncontrolling interest.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
We closely manage our liquidity and capital resources. Our liquidity requirements depend on key variables, including the level of investment needed to support business strategies, the performance of the business, capital expenditures, borrowing arrangements, and working capital management. Capital expenditures, stock repurchases, and dividend payments are components of our cash flow and capital management strategy, which to a large extent, can be adjusted in response to economic and other changes in the business environment. Management’s approach to capital allocation focuses on investing in key priorities that support our business and growth strategies and providing shareholder returns, while funding ongoing operations.
Management believes our financial position at March 31, 2022 is strong. As of March 31, 2022, we had $125.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and over $1.3 billion of stockholders’ equity. Cash is invested primarily in government portfolio money market funds. In addition, we have two $300.0 million revolving credit facilities, for which our total available borrowing capacity was $316.1 million as of March 31, 2022 (see Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report for information regarding our credit agreements). We believe our liquid assets, cash generated from operating activities, and borrowing capacity under our existing credit facilities will provide sufficient funds to meet our cash requirements and our planned shareholder returns for the foreseeable future.
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Item 7 of Part II of our 2021 Form 10-K includes our disclosure of material cash requirements as of December 31, 2021. On March 25, 2022, we entered into a new credit agreement, replacing a previous credit agreement, and we amended an existing credit agreement. These changes increased our borrowing capacity by $200.0 million. See Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report for further details regarding our debt and the timing of expected future principal payments. Except for the changes related to our credit agreements, there were no other material changes in the nature of these items during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Cash Flows
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we generated cash flow from operations of $155.0 million, a 14.1% or $19.1 million increase in cash flows compared to the same three-month period a year ago. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was due primarily to increased cash flows from working capital and higher net income. We were able to make net capital expenditures, repay debt, pay dividends and repurchase company stock with the net cash provided by operating activities and existing cash balances.
Net cash used in investing activities was $34.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 compared to $41.3 million during the same period in 2021. Net property additions (primarily revenue equipment) were $37.1 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, compared to $37.9 million during the same period of 2021. We currently estimate net capital expenditures (primarily revenue equipment) in 2022 to be in the range of $250 million to $300 million, compared to net capital expenditures in 2021 of $193.0 million. We intend to fund these net capital expenditures through cash flow from operations and financing available under our existing credit facilities, if necessary. As of March 31, 2022, we were committed to property and equipment purchases of approximately $182.3 million.
Net financing activities used $49.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $40.4 million during the same period in 2021. We had net repayments on our debt of $1.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022, reducing our outstanding debt at March 31, 2022 to $426.3 million, and repaid $25.0 million of debt during the same period in 2021. We paid dividends of $7.9 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 and $6.1 million during the same period in 2021. We currently plan to continue paying our quarterly dividend, which we have paid quarterly since 1987.
Financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022, also included common stock repurchases of 845,100 shares at a cost of $36.2 million. The Company has repurchased, and may continue to repurchase, shares of the Company’s common stock. The timing and amount of such purchases depend upon economic and stock market conditions and other factors. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had purchased 1,822,986 shares pursuant to our current Board of Directors repurchase authorization and had 4,177,014 shares remaining available for repurchase.
Regulations:
Item 1 of Part I of our 2021 Form 10-K includes a discussion of pending proposed regulations that may have an effect on our operations if they become adopted and effective as proposed. There have been no material changes in the status of the proposed regulations previously disclosed in the 2021 Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the (i) reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and (ii) reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis as events and circumstances change, utilizing historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods considered reasonable in the particular circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates and may significantly impact our results of operations from period to period. It is also possible that materially different amounts would be reported if we used different estimates or assumptions.
Information regarding our Critical Accounting Estimates can be found in our 2021 Form 10-K. Estimates of accrued liabilities for insurance and claims for bodily injury, property damage and workers’ compensation is a critical accounting estimate that requires us to make significant judgments and estimates and affects our financial statements.
There have been no material changes to this critical accounting estimate from that discussed in our 2021 Form 10-K.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risk from changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk
The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations attributed to changes in the level of global oil production, refining capacity, regulatory changes, seasonality, weather and other market factors. Historically, we have recovered a majority, but not all, of fuel price increases from customers in the form of fuel surcharges. We implemented customer fuel surcharge programs with most of our customers to offset much of the higher fuel cost per gallon. However, we do not recover all of the fuel cost increase through these surcharge programs. As of March 31, 2022, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We conduct business in foreign countries, primarily in Mexico. To date, most foreign revenues are denominated in U.S. Dollars, and we receive payment for foreign freight services primarily in U.S. Dollars to reduce direct foreign currency risk. Assets and liabilities maintained by a foreign subsidiary company in the local currency are subject to foreign exchange gains or losses. Foreign currency translation gains and losses primarily relate to changes in the value of revenue equipment owned by a subsidiary in Mexico, whose functional currency is the Peso. Foreign currency translation gains were $1.2 million for first quarter 2022 and foreign currency translation losses were $1.6 million for first quarter 2021. These were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity in the consolidated condensed balance sheets.
Interest Rate Risk
We manage interest rate exposure through a mix of variable interest rate debt and interest rate swap agreements. We had $150 million of variable interest rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2022, for which the interest rate is effectively fixed at 2.34% through May 2024 with two interest rate swap agreements to reduce our exposure to interest rate increases. In addition, we had $180 million of variable interest rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2022. Interest rates on the variable rate debt and our unused credit facilities are based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). See Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report for further detail of our debt. Assuming this level of borrowing, a hypothetical one-percentage point increase in the SOFR interest rate would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $1.8 million.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level in enabling us to record, process, summarize and report information required to be included in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within the required time period and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
During the first quarter 2022, we migrated our core finance general ledger function to a new system. As a result of this implementation, there were certain changes to processes and procedures, which resulted in material changes to our internal control over financial reporting since management's last assessment of the our internal control over financial reporting, which was completed as of December 31, 2021.
Management, under the supervision of and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We have confidence in our internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the internal controls or disclosure procedures and controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect that resource constraints exist, and the benefits of controls must be evaluated relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, misstatements and instances of fraud, if any, have been prevented or detected.
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) set forth in Part I of this report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed under Item 1A (Risk Factors) in our 2021 Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, and future results of operations. The risks described in our 2021 Form 10‑K are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our 2021 Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
On November 9, 2021, our Board of Directors approved and announced a new stock repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to 6,000,000 shares of its common stock. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had purchased 1,822,986 shares pursuant to this authorization and had 4,177,014 shares remaining available for repurchase. The Company may purchase shares from time to time depending on market, economic, and other factors. The authorization will continue unless withdrawn by the Board of Directors.
The following table summarizes our stock repurchases during first quarter 2022 made pursuant to this authorization. The Company did not purchase any shares during first quarter 2022 other than pursuant to this authorization. All stock repurchases were made by the Company or on its behalf and not by any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined by Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | ||||||||||
| January 1-31, 2022 | — | $ | — | — | 5,022,114 | |||||||||
| February 1-28, 2022 | 414,522 | $ | 43.27 | 414,522 | 4,607,592 | |||||||||
| March 1-31, 2022 | 430,578 | $ | 42.37 | 430,578 | 4,177,014 | |||||||||
| Total | 845,100 | $ | 42.81 | 845,100 | ||||||||||
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Item 6. Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit | Incorporated by Reference to: | ||||||||||||
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| Exhibit No. | Exhibit | Incorporated by Reference to: | ||||||||||||
| 101 | The following unaudited financial information from Werner Enterprises’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, (iii) Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, (v) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Temporary Equity - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2022. | |||||||||||||
| 104 | The cover page from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101). | |||||||||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. | |||||||||||
Date: May 9, 2022 | By: | /s/ John J. Steele | |||||||||
| John J. Steele | |||||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
Date: May 9, 2022 | By: | /s/ James L. Johnson | |||||||||
| James L. Johnson | |||||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||
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