Werner Enterprises Reports Fourth Quarter and Annual 2012 Revenues and Earnings

Werner Enterprises Reports Fourth Quarter and Annual 2012 Revenues and Earnings

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NAS: WERN) , one of the nation's largest transportation and logistics companies, reported revenues and earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.

Summarized financial results for fourth quarter and year 2012 compared to fourth quarter and year 2011 are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Werner Enterprises achieved annual earnings of $103 million in 2012. We sincerely value and appreciate the support of our customers and the dedication, commitment, creativity and work ethic of our Werner associates who enabled us to achieve these results.

Freight demand in the first three weeks of fourth quarter 2012 was steady but did not show typical seasonal improvement, and was consistent with the sluggish freight trend experienced in the latter half of third quarter 2012. Freight demand began to show seasonal improvement in the latter part of October 2012. This seasonal demand trend continued into early December, before the typical seasonal decline in the last few weeks of December. Freight demand was softer in fourth quarter 2012 compared to relatively strong demand experienced in fourth quarter 2011. In fourth quarter 2012, customers were generally more cautious with their shipping volumes and tightly managed inventories during this period of economic and fiscal policy uncertainty. Freight trends thus far in 2013 have followed typical seasonal patterns. The pre-booked percentage of loads to trucks for the One-Way Truckload fleets to date in 2013 is similar to the same period in 2012.

Average revenues per total mile, net of fuel surcharge, rose 1.0% in fourth quarter 2012 compared to fourth quarter 2011 and rose 0.8% sequentially from third quarter 2012. Fourth quarter 2011 rates were aided by several larger sized seasonal projects and higher surge pricing, compared to fourth quarter 2012. We believe there are several truckload capacity constraints including an older industry truck fleet, the higher cost of new trucks and trailers, significant safety regulatory changes and a challenging driver market. We continue to work jointly with our customers to secure sustainable transportation solutions across all modes and to offset increased rates through enhanced optimization and transportation solutions whenever possible.

Several initiatives designed to improve truck and driver productivity were successful in fourth quarter 2012. Average monthly miles per truck declined only slightly by 0.2% in fourth quarter 2012 compared to fourth quarter 2011, compared to year-over-year declines of 3.4% in second quarter 2012 and 3.1% in third quarter 2012. Average monthly miles per truck improved 1.3% sequentially from third quarter 2012 to fourth quarter 2012.

In fourth quarter 2012, we averaged 7,156 trucks in service and we ended the quarter with 7,150 trucks. This is a 40 truck increase from the end of third quarter 2012, which followed a 215 truck decline during third quarter 2012 due primarily to our decision to exit certain less profitable customer business. Through new business awards, our truck count continues to increase in 2013, further narrowing the gap to meet our 7,300 truck goal. For 2012, our truckload operating margin percentage was 9.0%. We do not intend to consider growing our truck fleet beyond 7,300 trucks until our truckload operating margin percentage has reached 11% on an annualized basis.

Our primary objectives continue to be improving our operating margin percentage and our returns on assets, equity and invested capital, while staying true to our broad transportation services portfolio. Only through enhanced returns can we continue our commitment to reinvest in our fleet and our expanded portfolio of services.

We continue to diversify our business model with the goal of achieving a balanced portfolio of revenues comprised of One-Way Truckload (which includes the short-haul Regional, medium-to-long-haul Van and Expedited fleets), Specialized Services and VAS. Our Specialized Services unit, primarily Dedicated, ended the quarter with 3,295 trucks (or 46% of our total fleet).

Diesel fuel prices were 13 cents per gallon higher in fourth quarter 2012 than in fourth quarter 2011 and were 4 cents per gallon higher than in third quarter 2012. For the first 28 days of January 2013, the average diesel fuel price per gallon was 2 cents higher than the average diesel fuel price per gallon in the same period of 2012 and 14 cents lower than in first quarter 2012. The components of the Company's total fuel cost consist of and are recorded in our income statement as follows: (i) Fuel (fuel expense for company trucks excluding federal and state fuel taxes); (ii) Taxes and Licenses (federal and state fuel taxes); and (iii) Rent and Purchased Transportation (fuel component of our independent contractor costs, including the base cost of fuel and additional fuel surcharge reimbursement for costs exceeding the fuel base).

Capacity in our industry remains constrained by economic, safety and regulatory factors. From 2007 to 2010, the number of new class 8 trucks built was well below historical replacement levels for our industry. This led to the oldest average industry truck age in 40 years. Carriers were compelled to begin upgrading their aging truck fleets, which led to increased replacement purchases of new and later-model used trucks during 2011. Orders for new class 8 trucks slowed during 2012. We believe these orders slowed as current freight rate relief is not keeping pace with the increased costs and capital requirements for new and much more expensive EPA-compliant trucks. The significantly higher costs of new equipment and related diesel exhaust fluid will not be recovered through a single year rate review cycle; however, we remain committed to investing in a best in class fleet for the benefit of our customers, our drivers and the Werner brand.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") published final driver hours of service rules in December 2011, to be effective July 1, 2013. Among the changes are more restrictive requirements covering driver use of the 34-hour restart rule and a new mandatory 30-minute rest period after 8 hours on duty. The trucking industry association and consumer advocate groups have both appealed these changes for varying reasons. The court is expected to rule on these appeals in the spring of 2013. Assuming the rules are adopted without change, we currently believe the new rules will result in a modest decrease in truck productivity.

In July, Congress passed the federal transportation bill which requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to promulgate rules and regulations mandating the use of electronic on-board recorders ("EOBRs") by July 2013 with full adoption for all trucking companies by no later than July 2015. We are the recognized industry leader for electronic logging of driver hours as we proactively adopted a paperless log system in 1996 that was subsequently approved for our use by the FMCSA in 1998. We believe that as EOBRs become the industry standard and industry requirement, EOBR use will help to level the competitive field for transit times, driver recruiting, driver retention and rates.

The driver recruiting and retention market remained challenging in fourth quarter 2012. Driver pay increases by our competitors, a slightly lower number of and increased competition for truck driving school graduates in the industry and an improved housing construction market were all factors. During fourth quarter 2012, driver retention improved as several initiatives were successful in lowering driver turnover. While we are not immune to fluctuations in the driver market, we continue to believe we are in a better position in the current market than many competitors because approximately 70% of our driving jobs are in more attractive, shorter-haul Regional and Dedicated fleet operations that enable us to return these drivers to their homes on a more frequent and consistent basis.

Gains on sales of assets were $4.7 million in fourth quarter 2012 compared to $4.8 million in fourth quarter 2011 and $5.4 million in third quarter 2012. We sold fewer trucks and trailers in fourth quarter 2012 which resulted in slightly lower gains. We expect to sell fewer trucks and trailers in 2013 compared to 2012. Gains on sales are reflected as a reduction of Other Operating Expenses in our income statement.

The higher cost of new equipment results in higher depreciation expense. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 57% of our company tractors consisted of environmentally friendly but higher cost trucks with engines that comply with the 2010 emissions standards. We continue to invest in equipment solutions such as more aerodynamic truck features, idle reduction systems, tire inflation systems and trailer skirts which improve the mile per gallon efficiency of our fleet. Our net capital expenditures in fourth quarter 2012 were $45 million, resulting in full year 2012 net capital expenditures of $225 million. We expect our net capital expenditures for 2013 to be lower, in a range of $100 million to $150 million. Capital expenditures in first quarter 2013 will likely be low, with the majority of 2013 capital expenditures expected to occur in the last three calendar quarters of the year. The average age our truck fleet as of December 31, 2012 was 2.3 years, and we expect to maintain our average truck age at approximately this level during 2013.

To provide shippers with additional sources of managed capacity and network analysis, we continue to develop our non-asset-based VAS segment. VAS includes Brokerage, Freight Management, Intermodal and Werner Global Logistics (International).

The following table shows the change in shipment volume and average revenue (excluding logistics fee revenue) per shipment for all VAS shipments.

In fourth quarter 2012, VAS revenues decreased $2.0 million or 3%, gross margin dollars decreased $1.0 million or 7% and operating income dollars decreased $1.9 million or 33%, compared to fourth quarter 2011. A softer freight market, less project business and lower than planned new customer business caused the revenues, gross margin and operating income declines. VAS received a new customer award involving all four VAS operating units and began managing shipments in January 2013. We continue to focus on expanding this area of our business.

Brokerage revenues in fourth quarter 2012 decreased 5% compared to fourth quarter 2011 due to an 8% decrease in shipment volume, partially offset by an increase in average revenue per shipment. Brokerage gross margin percentage decreased 100 basis points due to lower special project business, and Brokerage operating income in fourth quarter 2012 was lower than in fourth quarter 2011. Intermodal revenues decreased 1%, and Intermodal operating income was lower comparing fourth quarter 2012 to fourth quarter 2011. Werner Global Logistics revenues increased in fourth quarter 2012 compared to fourth quarter 2011 while operating income declined.

Comparisons of the operating ratios (net of fuel surcharge revenues) for the Truckload segment and VAS segment for fourth quarters 2012 and 2011 and the full year 2012 and 2011 are shown below.

Fluctuating fuel prices and fuel surcharge collections impact the total company operating ratio and the Truckload segment's operating ratio when fuel surcharges are reported on a gross basis as revenues versus netting against fuel expenses. Eliminating fuel surcharge revenues, which are generally a more volatile source of revenue, provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period. The Truckload segment's operating ratios for fourth quarter 2012 and fourth quarter 2011 are 90.7% and 89.9%, respectively, and for 2012 and 2011 are 91.0% and 90.7%, respectively, when fuel surcharge revenues are reported as revenues instead of a reduction of operating expenses.

Our financial position remains strong. As of December 31, 2012, we had $90.0 million of debt outstanding and $714.9 million of stockholders' equity. We paid a $109.8 million special dividend to shareholders in December 2012. After reducing our $250.0 million of available credit by the $90.0 million of outstanding debt and the $33.8 million in stand-by letters of credit, we had $126.2 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2012. In January 2013, we repaid $20.0 million of debt.