UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

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

For the fiscal year ended

December 31, 2019 

 

or

For

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition Period from __________to__________fiscal year ended

Commission file number

0-11757

 December 31, 20170-11757

     

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Arkansas71-0335111
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)Identification No.)
615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive72745-0130
Lowell, Arkansas(ZIP Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)(ZIP Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

      

Registrant’sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code: 479-820-0000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

JBHT

NASDAQ

 

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

Yes X��  No

 

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

Yes No X

 

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 X  No 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).

Yes X  No

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer X      Accelerated filer      Non-accelerated filer        Smaller reporting company        Emerging growth company 

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 X

 

The aggregate market value of 85,349,24084,485,328 shares of the registrant’s $0.01 par value common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2017,2019, was $7.8$7.7 billion (based upon $91.38$91.41 per share).

 

As of February 13, 2018,18, 2020, the number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock was 109,754,492.106,258,961.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain portions of the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held April 19, 2018,23, 2020, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 


 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

Form 10-K

 

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20179

 

Table of Contents

 

  Page

PART I
Item 1.Business2
Item 1A.Risk Factors6
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments9
Item 2.Properties9
Item 3.Legal Proceedings10
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures10
   

Item 1.

Business

2

Item 1A.

Risk Factors  

6

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

9

Item 2.

Properties

9

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

10

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

10

PART II
Item 5.

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

11

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

13

Item 7.

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

14

Item 7A.7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

23

24

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

24

25

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

24

25

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

24

25

Item 9B.

Other Information

25

26

   

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

25

26

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

25

26

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

25

26

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

26

27

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

26

27

   

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

26

28

Signatures

27

30

Index to Consolidated Financial Information28

 


 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report, including documents which are incorporated by reference and other documents which we file periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), contains statements that may be considered to be “forward-looking statements.” Such statements relate to our predictions concerning future events or operations and are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, subject to risks, and should be viewed with caution. These statements are based on our belief or interpretation of information currently available. Stockholders and prospective investors are cautioned that actual results and future events may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Some of the factors and events that are not within our control and that could have a material impact on future operating results include: include the following: general economic and business conditions; competition and competitive rate fluctuations cost and availability of diesel fuel, ability to attract and retain qualified drivers; and delivery personnel, excess capacity in the intermodal or trucking industries; a loss of one or more major customers; cost and availability of diesel fuel; interference with or termination of our relationships with certain railroads;rail service delays; disruptions to U.S. port-of-call activity; ability to attract and retain qualified drivers, delivery personnel, independent contractors, and third-party carriers; retention of key employees; insurance costs and availability;litigation and claims expense retention of key employees, terrorist attacks or actions, acts of war, adverse weather conditions, disruption or failure of information systems,; determination that independent contractors are employees; new or different environmental or other laws and regulations; volatile financial credit markets or interest rates; terrorist attacks or actions; acts of war; adverse weather conditions; disruption or failure of information systems; operational disruption or adverse effects of business acquisitions,acquisitions; increased costs for new revenue equipment; increased tariffs assessed on or disruptions in the procurement of imported revenue equipment; decreases in the value of used equipment,; and the ability of revenue equipment manufacturers to perform in accordance with agreements for guaranteedguaranteed equipment trade-in values.values.

 

You should understand that many important factors, in addition to those listed above, could impact us financially. Our operating results may fluctuate as a result of these and other risk factors or events as described in our filings with the SEC. Some important factors that could cause our actual results to differ from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements are described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to the extent we become aware that it will not be achieved for any reason.

 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

 

   We are one of the largest surface transportation, delivery, and logistics companies in North America. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is a publicly held holding company that, together with our wholly owned subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable transportation and delivery services to a diverse group of customers and consumers throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico. Unless otherwise indicated by the context, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company”, and “JBHT” refer to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. We were incorporated in Arkansas on August 10, 1961, and have been a publicly held company since our initial public offering in 1983. Our service offerings include transportation of full-truckload containerized freight, which we directly transport utilizing our company-controlled revenue equipment and company drivers or independent contractors. We have arrangements with most of the major North American rail carriers to transport freight in containers or trailers. We also provide customized freight movement, revenue equipment, labor, systems, and delivery services that are tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements and typically involve long-term contracts. These arrangements are generally referred to as dedicated services and may include multiple pickups and drops, local and home deliveries, freight handling, specialized equipment, and freight network design. Our local and home delivery services typically are provided through a network of cross-dock service centers throughout the continental United States. UtilizingWe also provide comprehensive transportation and logistics services with a network of thousands of reliable third-party carriers, we also provide comprehensive transportation and logistics services.carriers. In addition to full-load, dry-van operations, these unrelated outside carriers also provide flatbed, refrigerated, less-than-truckload (LTL), and other specialized equipment, drivers, and services. Our customers’ business activities arecustomers, who include many Fortune 500 companies, have extremely diverse businesses. Many of them are served by J.B. Hunt 360®, an online platform that offers shippers and our customer base includes a large numbercarriers greater access, visibility and transparency of Fortune 500 companies.the supply chain.

 


2

 

We believe our ability to offer multiple services, utilizing our four business segments and a full complement of logistics services through third parties, represents a competitive advantage. These segments include Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services® (DCS), Integrated Capacity SolutionsSolutions™ (ICS), and Truckload (JBT). Our business is somewhat seasonal, withusually involves slightly higher freight volumes typically experienced duringin August through early November. OurMeanwhile, DCS segment is subject to somewhat less seasonal variation than our other segments. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2017, our consolidated revenue totaled $7.19 billion, after the elimination of intersegment business. Of this total, 57% was generated by our JBI business segment, 24% by DCS, 14% by ICS, and 5% by JBT. For the year ended December 31, 2016, JBI represented 58%, DCS 23%, ICS 13%, and JBT 6% of our consolidated revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2015, JBI represented 59%, DCS 24%, ICS 11%, and JBT 6% of our consolidated revenue.

 

Additional general information about us is available at jbhunt.com. We make a number of reports and other information available free of charge on our website, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our website also contains corporate governance guidelines, our code of ethics, our whistleblower policy, Board committee charters, and other corporate policies. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this annual report on Form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.

 

Our Mission and Strategy

 

We forge long-term partnershipsrelationships with key customers that include supply-chain management as an integral part of their strategies. Working in concert, we strive to drive out excess cost, add value and function as an extension of their enterprises. Our strategy is based on utilizing an integrated, multimodal approach to provide capacity-oriented solutions centered on delivering customer value and industry-leading service. We believe our unique operating strategy can add value to customers and increase our profits and returns to stockholders.

 

We continually analyze where we believeopportunities for additional capital should be investedinvestment and where management’s resources should be focused to provide addedmore benefits to our customers. These actions should, in turn, yield increasing returns to our stockholders.

 

Increasingly, our customers are seeking energy-efficient transportation solutions to reduce both cost and greenhouse-gas emissions. Our Company’s mission, to create the most efficient transportation network in North America, focuses on delivering both for our customers across all of our business segments. We seek to accomplish this by maintaining a modern fleet to maximize fuel efficiency, converting loads from truck to rail with our intermodal service, addresses both demands. Further,and introducing technologies to optimize freight flows in the supply chain by eliminating waste. Additionally, we are customizing dedicated solutions aimed at minimizing transportation-related carbon emissions.continue to test and explore the usage of alternative fuel vehicles. Efforts to improve fleet fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are ongoing, and weongoing. We are an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWaySM® Transport Partner.Partner, and proud to have been awarded the EPA’s SmartWay® Excellence Award each of the last twelve years.

 

As always, we continue to ingrain safety into our corporate culture and strive to conduct all of our operations as safely as possible.

 

operating segments

 

Segment information is also included in Note 1314 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

JBI Segment

 

The transportation service offerings of our JBI segment utilize arrangements with most major North American rail carriers to provide intermodal freight solutions for our customers throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our JBI segment began operations in 1989, forming a unique partnership with what is now the BNSF Railway Company;Company (BNSF); this was a watershed event in the industry and the first agreement that linked major rail and truckload carriers in a joint service environment. JBI draws on the intermodal services of rail carriers for the underlying linehaul movement of its equipment between rail ramps. The origin and destination pickup and delivery services (drayage) are handled by our company-owned tractors for the majority of our intermodal loads, while third-party dray carriers are used where economical. By performing our own drayage services, we are able to provide a cost-competitive, seamless coordination of the combined rail and dray movements for our customers.

 


3

 

JBI operates 88,61096,743 pieces of company-owned trailing equipment systemwide. The fleet primarily consists of 53-foot, high-cube containers and is designed to take advantage of intermodal double-stack economics and superior ride quality. We own and maintain our own chassis fleet, consisting of 77,94682,731 units. The containers and chassis are uniquely designed so that they may only be paired together, which we feel creates an operational competitive advantage. JBI also manages a fleet of 4,7764,989 company-owned tractors, 764570 independent contractor trucks, and 5,7826,376 company drivers. At December 31, 2017,2019, the total JBI employee count was 6,555.7,281. Revenue for the JBI segment in 20172019 was $4.08$4.74 billion.

 

DCS Segment

 

DCS focuses on private fleet conversion and creation in replenishment, specialized equipment, and final-mile delivery services. We specialize in the design, development, and execution of supply-chain solutions that support a variety of transportation networks. Our final-mile delivery services are supported with a network of approximately 102120 cross-dock and other delivery system network locations nationwide, with 98% of the continental U.S. population living within 150 miles of a network location. Contracts with our customers are long-term, ranging from three to 10 years, with the average being approximately five years. Pricing of our contracts typically involves cost-plus arrangements, with our fixed costs being recovered regardless of equipment utilization, but is customized based on invested capital and duration.

 

At December 31, 2017,2019, this segment operated 8,12410,542 company-owned trucks, 544505 customer-owned trucks, and 5940 independent contractor trucks. DCS also operates 18,57920,860 owned pieces of trailing equipment and 7,2327,258 customer-owned trailers. The DCS segment employed 12,09915,019 people, including 10,00712,181 drivers, at December 31, 2017.2019. DCS revenue for 20172019 was $1.72$2.69 billion.

 

ICS Segment

 

ICS provides traditional freight brokerage and transportation logistics solutions to customers through relationships with thousands of third-party carriers and integration with our owned equipment. By leveraging the J.B. Hunt brand, systems, and network, we provide a broader service offering to customers by providing flatbed, refrigerated, expedited, and LTL, as well as a variety of dry-van and intermodal solutions. Furthermore, we offer an online multimodal marketplace via J.B. Hunt 360 that matches the right load with the right carrier and the best mode. ICS also provides single-source logistics management for customers desiring to outsource their transportation functions and utilize our proven supply-chain technology and design expertise to improve efficiency. ICS operates 4437 remote sales offices or branches, as well as on-site logistics personnel working in direct contact with customers.

 

At December 31, 2017,2019, the ICS segment employed 9541,213 people, with a carrier base of approximately 56,700.84,400. ICS revenue for 20172019 was $1.02$1.35 billion.

 

JBT Segment

 

The service offering in this segment is full-load, dry-van freight, utilizing tractors operating over roads and highways. We typically pick up freight at the dock or specified location of the shipper and transport the load directly to the location of the consignee. We use our company-owned tractors and employee drivers or independent contractors who agree to transport freight in our trailers.

 

At DecemberDecember 31, 2017,2019, the JBT segment operated 1,291845 company-owned tractors and employed 1,4921,102 people, 1,255868 of whom were drivers. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had 741986 independent contractors operating in the JBT segment. JBT revenue for 20172019 was $378$389 million.

 

Marketing and Operations

 

We transport, or arrange for the transportation of, a wide range of freight, including general merchandise, specialty consumer items, appliances, forest and paper products, food and beverages, building materials, soaps and cosmetics, automotive parts, agricultural products, electronics, and chemicals. Our customers’ business activities are extremely diverse, and our customer base includes a large number of Fortune 500 companies. We provide a broad range ofmany transportation services to shippers seeking to use a variety of transportation options to optimize theirthat meet the supply-chain logistics needs.needs of shippers.

 


4

 

We generally market all of our service offerings through a nationwide sales and marketing network. We use a specific sales force in DCS due to the length, complexity, and specialization of the sales cycle. In addition ICS utilizes its own local branch salespeople.to our sales teams, J.B. Hunt 360 offers instant access to a wide array of technology-driven solutions for customers and carriers. Through the platform, businesses of all sizes can quote and book shipments, view analytics, and gain visibility into freight movement. In accordance with our typical arrangements, we bill the customer for all services, and we, in turn, pay all third parties for their portion of transportation services provided.

 

People

 

We believe that one of the factors differentiating us from our competitors is our service-oriented people. As of December 31, 2017,2019, we had 24,68129,056 employees, which consisted of 17,04419,425 company drivers, 6,4548,292 office personnel, 1,137 maintenance technicians, and 1,183 maintenance technicians.202 delivery and material assistants. We also had arrangements with approximately 1,5641,596 independent contractors to transport freight in our trailing equipment. None of our employees are represented by unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements.

 

Revenue Equipment

 

Our JBI segment utilizes uniquely designed high-cube containers and chassis, which can only be paired with each other and can be separated to allow the containers to be double-stacked on rail cars. The composition of our DCS trailing fleet varies with specific customer requirements and may include dry-vans, flatbeds, temperature-controlled, curtain-side vans, straight trucks,, and dump trailers. We primarily utilize third-party carriers’ tractor and trailing equipment for our ICS segment. Our JBT segment operates primarily 53-foot dry-van trailers.

 

As of December 31, 2017,2019, our company-owned tractor and truck fleet consisted of 14,19116,376 units. In addition, we had 1,5641,596 independent contractors who operate their own tractors but transport freight in our trailing equipment. We operate with standardized tractors in as many fleets as possible, particularly in our JBI and JBT fleets. Due to our customers’ preferences and the actual business application, our DCS fleet is extremely diversified. We believe operating with relatively newer revenue equipment provides better customer service, attracts quality drivers, and lowers maintenance expense. At December 31, 2017,2019, the average age of our combined tractor fleet was 2.92.3 years, while our containers averaged 6.27.0 years of age and our trailers averaged 7.16.5 years. We perform routine servicing and preventive maintenance on our equipment at our regional terminal facilities.

 

Competition and the Industry

 

The freight transportation markets in which we operate are frequently referred to as highly fragmented and competitive. Our JBI segment competes with other intermodal marketing companies; other full-load carriers that utilize railroads for a portion of the transportation service; and, to a certain extent, some railroads directly. The diversified nature of the services provided by our DCS segment attracts competition from customers’ private fleets, other private fleet outsourcing companies, equipment leasing companies, local and regional delivery service providers, and some truckload carriers. Our ICS segment utilizes the fragmented nature of the truck industry and competes with other non-asset-based logistics companies and freight brokers, as well as full-load carriers. The full-load freight competition of our JBT segment includes thousands of carriers, many of which are very small. While we compete with a number of smaller carriers on a regional basis, only a limited number of companies represent competition in all markets across the country.

 

We compete with other transportation service companies primarily in terms of price, on-time pickup and delivery service, availability and type of equipment capacity, and availability of carriers for logistics services.

 

5

Regulation

 

Our operations as a for-hire motor carrier are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and certain business is also subject to state rules and regulations. The DOT periodically conducts reviews and audits to ensure our compliance with federal safety requirements, and we report certain accident and other information to the DOT. Our operations into and out of Canada and Mexico are subject to regulation by those countries.


In 2013, We are also subject to a variety of requirements of national, state, and local governments, including the remaining provisions ofU.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the FMCSA’s amendment to the hours-of-service (HOS) safety requirements for commercial truck drivers became effective,Occupational Safety and we experienced some negative impact on our productivity as a result. However, in December 2014, as a result of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, the FMCSA was required to rescind the 34-hour restart provision of the amended HOS rules to the pre-July 1, 2013 requirements. Furthermore, the FMCSA was required to conduct a field study measuring the safety benefit of the amended HOS rules before and after this rule change. This rule rescission is considered temporary pending the outcome of the study, which remains uncompleted. We continue to evaluate and adjust the various segments of our operations toward the ultimate impact of these changes in HOS safety requirements.

In December 2015, the FMCSA published a Final Rule requiring use of an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) by December 2017, for nearly all carriers. We have successfully implemented ELD’s within our fleets.Health Administration.

 

We continue to monitor the actions of the FMCSA and other regulatory agencies, and evaluate all proposed rules to determine their impact on our operations.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the forward-looking statementsfactors outlined previously in this Form 10-K regarding forward-looking statements and other comments regarding risks and uncertainties, the following risk factors should be carefully considered when evaluating our business. Our business, financial condition or financial results could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks.

 

Our business is significantly impacted by economic conditions, customer business cycles and seasonal factors.

Our business is dependent upon a number of factors that may have a material adverse effect on the resultsfreight shipping needs of our operations, many ofcustomers, which are beyond our control. In addition to general U.S.can be heavily impacted by economic trends,conditions and to a lesser extent global economic trends, theseother factors include interference with or termination of our relationships with certain railroads; rail service delays; disruptions to U.S. port-of-call activity; significant increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, fuel taxes, interest rates, insurance premiums, self-insurance levels, excess capacity in the intermodal or trucking industries, or license and registration fees; terrorist attacks or actions; acts of war; adverse weather conditions; disruption or failure of information technology systems; increased costs for new revenue equipment or decreases in the value of used equipment; increased tariffs assessed on or disruptions in the procurement of imported revenue equipment; volatile financial credit markets; operational disruption or adverse effects of business acquisitions; and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers, independent contractors, and third-party carriers.

We are also affected by recessionaryaffecting their businesses. Recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries where we have a significant concentration of customers. Economiccustomers, may substantially reduce freight volumes for which our customers need transportation services and lead to excess capacity in the industry and resulting pressure on the rates we are able to obtain for our services. Adverse economic conditions represent a greater potential for loss, and we may be requiredalso require us to increase our reserve for bad debt losses. In addition, our results of operations may be affected by seasonal factors. Customers tend to reduce shipments after the winter holiday season, and our operating expenses tend to be higher in the winter months, primarily due to colder weather, which causes higher fuel consumption from increased idle time and higher maintenance costs. Any of these factors could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We depend on third parties in the operation of our business.

 

Our JBI business segment utilizes railroads in the performance of its transportation services. The majority of these services are provided pursuant to contractual relationships with the railroads. While we have agreements with a number of Class I railroads, the majority of our business travels on the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) and the Norfolk Southern railways. A material change in the relationship with, the ability to utilize one or more of these railroads or the overall service levels provided by these railroads could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. In addition, a portion of the freight we deliver is imported to the United States through ports of call that are subject to labor union contracts. Work stoppages or other disruptions at any of these ports could have a material adverse effect on our business.

In January 2017, we exercised our right to utilize the arbitration process to review the division of revenue collected beginning May 1, 2016, as well as to clarify other issues, under our Joint Service Agreement with BNSF. BNSF has requested the same, and the arbitration process has commenced. BNSF provides a significant amount of rail transportation services to our JBI business segment. At this time, we are unable to reasonably predict the outcome of the arbitration, and, as such, no gain or loss contingency can be determined or recorded. Normal commercial business activity between the parties, including load tendering, load tracing, billing and payments, has continued and is expected to continue on a timely basis.


 

We also utilize independent contractors and third-party carriers to complete our services. These third parties are subject to similar regulation requirements, which may have a more significant impact on their operations, causing them to exit the transportation industry. Aside from when these third parties may use our trailing equipment to fulfill loads, we do not own the revenue equipment or control the drivers delivering these loads. The inability to obtain reliable third-party carriers and independent contractors could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and business growth.

 

Rapid changes in fuel costs could impact our periodic financial results.

 

Fuel costs can be very volatile. We have a fuel surcharge revenue program in place with the majority of our customers, which has historically enabled us to recover the majority of higher fuel costs. Most of these programs automatically adjust weekly depending on the cost of fuel. However, there can be timing differences between a change in our fuel cost and the timing of the fuel surcharges billed to our customers. In addition, we incur additional costs when fuel price increases cannot be fully recovered due to our engines being idled during cold or warm weather and empty or out-of-route miles that cannot be billed to customers. Rapid increases in fuel costs or shortages of fuel could have a material adverse effect on our operations or future profitability. As of December 31, 2017,2019, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel-price fluctuations.

 

6

Insurance and claims expenses could significantly reduce our earnings.

 

Our future insurance and claims expenses might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. If the number or severity of claims for which we are self-insured increases, our operating results could be adversely affected. We have policies in place for 20182020 with substantially the same terms as our 20172019 policies for personal injury, property damage, workers’ compensation, and cargo loss or damage. We purchase insurance coverage for the amounts above which we are self-insured. If these expenses increase and we are unable to offset the increase with higher freight rates, our earnings could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from a few major customers, the loss of one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2017,2019, our top 10 customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 29%32% of our revenue. Our JBI, ICS, and JBT segments typically do not have long-term contracts with their customers. While our DCS segment business may involve long-term written contracts, those contracts may contain cancellation clauses, and there is no assurance that our current customers will continue to utilize our services or continue at the same levels. A reduction in or termination of our services by one or more of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

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

 

The DOT, FMCSA, and various state agencies exercise broad powers over our business, generally governing matters including authorization to engage in motor carrier service, equipment operation, safety, and financial reporting. We are audited periodically by the DOT to ensure that we are in compliance with various safety, hours-of-service, and other rules and regulations. If we were found to be out of compliance, the DOT could restrict or otherwise impact our operations. Our failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules or regulations to which we are subject, whether actual or alleged, could expose us to fines, penalties or potential litigation liabilities, including costs, settlements and judgments. Further, these agencies could institute new laws, rules or regulations or issue interpretation changes to existing regulations at any time. Compliance with new laws, rules or regulations could substantially impair labor and equipment productivity, increase our costs or impact our ability to offer certain services.


 

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

 

If we are unable to attract and retain the necessary quality and number of employees, we could be required to significantly increase our employee compensation package, let revenue equipment sit idle, dispose of the equipment altogether, or rely more on higher-cost third-party carriers, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability. In addition, our growth could be limited by an inability to attract third-party carriers upon whom we rely to provide transportation services.

 

7

A determination that independent contractors are employees could expose us to various liabilities and additional costs.

Federal and state legislation as well as tax and other regulatory authorities have sought to assert that independent contractors in the transportation service industry are employees rather than independent contractors. An example of such legislation recently enacted in California is currently under a judicial stay with respect to trucking companies while a legal challenge to the law is pending. There can be no assurance that interpretations that support the independent contractor status will not change, that other federal or state legislation will not be enacted or that various authorities will not successfully assert a position that re-classifies independent contractors to be employees. If our independent contractors are determined to be our employees, that determination could materially increase our exposure under a variety of federal and state tax, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, labor, employment and tort laws, as well as our potential liability for employee benefits. In addition, such changes may be applied retroactively, and if so, we may be required to pay additional amounts to compensate for prior periods. Any of the above increased costs would adversely affect our business and operating results.

We may be subject to litigation claims that could result in significant expenditures.

 

We by the nature of our operations are exposed to the potential for a variety of litigation, including personal injury claims, vehicular collisions and accidents, alleged violations of federal and state labor and employment laws, such as class-action lawsuits alleging wage and hour violations and improper pay, commercial and contract disputes, cargo loss and property damage claims. While we purchase insurance coverage at levels we deem adequate, future litigation may exceed our insurance coverage or may not be covered by insurance. We accrue a provision for a litigation matter according to applicable accounting standards based on the ongoing assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the litigation, its likelihood of success, and an evaluation of the possible range of loss. Our inability to defend ourselves against a significant litigation claim, could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

 

We rely significantly on our information technology systems, a disruption, failure or security breach of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

We rely on information technology throughout all areas of our business to initiate, track, and complete customer orders; process financial and nonfinancial data; compile results of operations for internal and external reporting; and achieve operating efficiencies and growth. OurWe have also invested significantly in the development of our Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 online freight matching platform, through which we are generating an increasing amount of revenue. Each of our information technology systems may be susceptible to various interruptions, including equipment or network failures, failed upgrades or replacement of software, user error, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, hackers, or other security breaches. We have mitigated our exposure to these risks through the establishment and maintenance of technology security programs and disaster recovery plans, but these mitigating activities may not be sufficient. A significant disruption, failure or security breach in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, which could include operational disruptions, loss of confidential information, external reporting delays or errors, legal claims, or damage to our business reputation.

 

We operate in a competitive and highly fragmented industry. Numerous factors could impair our ability to maintain our current profitability and to compete with other carriers and private fleets.

 

We compete with many other transportation service providers of varying sizes and, to a lesser extent, with LTL carriers and railroads, some of which have more equipment and greater capital resources than we do. Additionally, some of our competitors periodically reduce their freight rates to gain business, especially during times of reduced growth rates in the economy, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase freight rates or to maintain our profit margins.

 

In an effort to reduce the number of carriers it uses, a customer often selects so-called “core carriers” as approved transportation service providers, and in some instances, we may not be selected. Many customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, and this process may depress freight rates or result in the loss of some business to competitors. Also, certain customers that operate private fleets to transport their own freight could decide to expand their operations, thereby reducing their need for our services.

8

 

Extreme or unusual weather conditions can disrupt our operations, impact freight volumes, and increase our costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business results.

 

Certain weather conditions such as ice and snow can disrupt our operations. Increases in the cost of our operations, such as towing and other maintenance activities, frequently occur during the winter months. Natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding can also impact freight volumes and increase our costs.

 


Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, including legislative and regulatory responses to climate change. Compliance with environmental requirements could result in significant expenditures and the violation of which these regulations could result in substantial fines or penalties.

 

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

 

We are also subject to existing and potential future laws and regulations with regards to public policy on climate change. If current regulatory requirements become more stringent or new environmental laws and regulations regarding climate change are introduced, we could be required to make significant expenditures or abandon certain activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Acquisitions or business combinations may disrupt or have a material adverse effect on our operations or earnings.

 

We could have difficulty integrating acquired companies’ assets, personnel and operations with our own.  Regardless of whether we are successful in making an acquisition or completing a business combination, the negotiations could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and employees, and increase our operating costs.  Acquisitions and business combinations are accompanied by a number of inherent risks, including, without limitation, the difficulty of integrating acquired companies and operations; potential disruption of our ongoing businesses and distraction of our management or the management of acquired companies; difficulties in maintaining controls, procedures and policies; potential impairment of relationships with employees and partners as a result of any integration of new management personnel; potential inability to manage an increased number of locations and employees; failure to realize expected efficiencies, synergies and cost savings; or the effect of any government regulations which relate to the businesses acquired.

 

Our business could be materially impacted if and to the extent that we are unable to succeed in addressing any of these risks or other problems encountered in connection with an acquisition or business combination, many of which cannot be presently identified.

 

ITEMITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

 

We own our corporate headquarters in Lowell, Arkansas. In addition, we own or lease a number of buildings in Lowell that we utilize for administrative support customer service, freight dispatch, data processing and warehousing, and data backup and disaster recovery.warehousing. We also own or lease 4046 other significant facilities across the United States where we perform maintenance on our equipment, provide bulk fuel, and employ personnel to support operations. These facilities vary in size from 2 to 39 acres. Each of our business segments utilizes these facilities. In addition, we have 97117 leased or owned facilities in our DCS cross-dock and other delivery system networks, with the remaining fivethree locations outsourced, and 4437 leased or owned remote sales offices or branches in our ICS segment. We also own or lease multiple small facilities, offices, and parking yards throughout the country that support our customers’ business needs.

 

9

A summary of our principal facilities in locations throughout the U.S. follows:

 

Type

 

Acreage

  

Maintenance Shop/

Cross-dock Facility

(square feet)

  

Office Space

(square feet)

 

Maintenance and support facilities

  418   1,015,000   203,000 

Cross-dock and delivery system facilities

  37   2,191,000   168,000 

Corporate headquarters, Lowell, Arkansas

  99   -   404,000 

Offices and data center, Lowell, Arkansas

  8   -   60,000 

Branch sales offices

  -   -   77,000 

Other facilities, offices, and parking yards

  308   39,000   107,000 


Type

 

Acreage

  

Maintenance Shop/

Cross-dock Facility

(square feet)

  

Office Space

(square feet)

 

Maintenance and support facilities

  488    1,065,000   196,000 

Cross-dock and delivery system facilities

  20    3,348,000   125,000 

Corporate headquarters campus, Lowell, Arkansas

  119    -   600,000 

Branch sales offices

  -    -   91,000 

Other facilities, offices, and parking yards

  335    129,000   253,000 

 

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a defendant in certain class-action lawsuits in which the plaintiffs are current and former California-based drivers who allege claims for unpaid wages, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and other items.  During the first half of 2014, the District Court in the lead class-action granted judgment in our favor with regard to all claims.  The plaintiffs appealed the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  In July 2017, the Ninth Circuit issued a Memorandum decision vacating the judgment in our favor and remanding the case to the District Court for further proceedings. The Ninth Circuit denied our Petition for Rehearing En Banc in November 2017, and the case has been reassigned to the United States District Court for the Central District of California for further proceedings according to the schedule entered by the Court. In February 2018, we filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States seeking review of the Ninth Circuit’s decision. The overlapping claims in the other lawsuits remain stayed pending final resolution of the appellate process or a final decision in the lead class-action case.  We cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from these lawsuits, however, as of December 31, 2017, we have recorded a $10 million reserve representing an amount we deem acceptable for the settlement of these claims.

 

In January 2017 we exercised our right to utilize the arbitration process to review the division of revenue collected beginning May 1, 2016, as well as to clarify other issues, under our Joint Service Agreement with BNSF. BNSF has requested the same, andsame. In October 2018 we received the arbitration process has commenced. BNSF provides a significant amount of rail transportation services to our JBI business segment. At this time, we are unable to reasonably predictarbitrators’ Interim Award. For the outcomedetermined components of the arbitration,Interim Award, we recorded an $18.3 million pre-tax charge in the third quarter 2018 related to certain charges claimed by BNSF for specific services requested for customers from April 2014 through May 2018. In January 2019 the Panel issued its Second Interim Award ordering that $89.4 million is due from the Company to BNSF resulting from the adjusted revenue divisions relating to the 2016 period at issue ($52.1 million) and as such,for calendar year 2017 ($37.3 million). We recorded pretax charges for contingent liabilities in the fourth quarter 2018 of $89.4 million claimed by the BNSF for the period May 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017 and $44.6 million for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, for a total of $134 million. In October 2019 the arbitrators issued a Final Award. As a result, we recorded pre-tax charges in the third quarter 2019 of $26.8 million related to certain charges claimed by BNSF for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 and no gain or loss contingency can be determined or recorded. Normal commercial business activity betweenmaterial adjustments for the parties, including load tendering, load tracing, billingperiod January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019. In addition, we recorded a $17.4 million charge in the third quarter 2019 for legal fees, costs and payments,interest claimed by BNSF, for a total of $44.2 million.

On January 17, 2020, we filed under seal in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas a motion to confirm and enforce the Final Award, seeking the Court’s specific enforcement of certain confidential contractual rights the arbitrators decided in our favor. BNSF has continued and is expectedmoved to continue on a timely basis.confirm the Final Award in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

 

We are involved in certain other claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Based on present knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, we believe the resolution of these claims and pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, resultsresults of operations or liquidity.

 

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 


10

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ) under the symbol “JBHT.” At December 31, 2017,2019, we were authorized to issue up to 1 billion shares of our common stock, and 167.1 million shares were issued. We had 109.8106.2 million and 111.3108.7 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively. The high and low sales pricesOn February 18, 2020, we had 1,011 stockholders of record of our common stock as reported by NASDAQ and the quarterly dividends paid per share on our common shares were:

2017

 

Dividends Paid

  

High

  

Low

 
             

First Quarter

 $0.23  $101.23  $88.70 

Second Quarter

  0.23   94.08   83.35 

Third Quarter

  0.23   111.60   88.83 

Fourth Quarter

  0.23   116.84   100.25 

2016

 

Dividends Paid

  

High

  

Low

 
             

First Quarter

 $0.22  $86.94  $63.58 

Second Quarter

  0.22   89.43   75.71 

Third Quarter

  0.22   86.59   77.52 

Fourth Quarter

  0.22   102.38   76.20 

On February 13, 2018, the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported by NASDAQ were $119.30 and $114.63, respectively, and we had 1,013 stockholders of record.stock.

 

Dividend Policy

 

Our dividend policy is subject to review and revision by the Board of Directors,, and payments are dependent upon our financial condition, liquidity, earnings, capital requirements, and any other factors the Board of Directors may deem relevant. On January 24, 2018,22, 2020, we announced an increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $0.23$0.26 to $0.24$0.27 per share, which will be paid February 23, 2018,21, 2020, to stockholders of record on February 9, 2018.7, 2020. We currently intend to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, no assurance can be given that future dividends will be paid.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The following table summarizes purchases of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2019:

Period

 

Number of

Common

Shares

Purchased

  

Average Price

Paid Per

Common

Share

Purchased

  

Total Number of Shares

Purchased as

Part of a Publicly Announced Plan

(1)

  

Maximum

Dollar Amount

of Shares That

May Yet Be Purchased

Under the Plan

(in millions) (1)

 

October 1 through October 31, 2019

  -  $-   -  $145 

November 1 through November 30, 2019

  -   -   -   145 

December 1 through December 31, 2019

  441,097   113.30   441,097   95 

Total

  441,097  $113.30   441,097  $95 

(1)     On October 22, 2015,April 20, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $500 million of our common stock. On April 20, 2017,January 22, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized an additional purchase of up to $500 million of our common stock. At December 31, 2017, $521 million of the combined authorization was remaining. We did not purchase any shares under our repurchase authorization during the three months ended December 31, 2017.

 


11

 

Stock Performance Graph

 

The following graph compares the cumulative 5-year total return of stockholders of our common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 index and twoa customized peer groups.group. The peer group labeled “2016 Peer Group” consists of 11 companies: Avis Budget Group Inc., C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CSX Corp, Expeditors International Of Washington Inc., Hertz Global Holdings Inc., Hub Group Inc., Kansas City Southern, Landstar System Inc., Norfolk Southern Corp, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. and Ryder System Inc. The peer group labeled “2017 Peer Group” consists of 1314 companies: C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CSX Corp,Corporation, Expeditors International Ofof Washington Inc., Hub Group Inc., Kansas City Southern, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., Norfolk Southern Corp,Corporation, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Republic Services Inc., Ryder System Inc., Schneider National Inc., Stericycle Inc., Waste Management Inc., and XPO Logistics Inc. The graph assumes the value of the investment in our common stock, in the index, and in each of the peer groupsgroup (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on December 31, 2012,2014 and tracks it through December 31, 2017.2019. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

  

Years Ended December 31,

 
 

2012

  

2013

  

2014

  

2015

  

2016

  

2017

  

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

2019

 
                         

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

 $100.00  $130.25  $143.44  $126.19  $168.83  $201.91  $100.00  $87.97  $117.70  $140.76  $114.85  $145.58 

S&P 500

  100.00   132.39   150.51   152.59   170.84   208.14  100.00  101.38  113.51  138.29  132.23  173.86 

2016 Peer Group

  100.00   142.64   169.18   125.47   156.70   216.09 

2017 Peer Group

  100.00   135.54   162.87   138.24   177.17   238.62 

Peer Group

 100.00  84.66  108.63  146.15  145.42  186.63 

 


12

 

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and other financial data included elsewhere in this annual report.

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Earnings data for the years ended December 31,

 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2014

  

2013

  

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

Operating revenues

 $7,190  $6,555  $6,188  $6,165  $5,585  $9,165  $8,615  $7,190  $6,555  $6,188 

Operating income

  624   721   716   632   577  734  681  624  721  716 

Net earnings

  686   432   427   375   342  516  490  686  432  427 

Basic earnings per share

  6.24   3.84   3.69   3.20   2.92  4.81  4.48  6.24  3.84  3.69 

Diluted earnings per share

  6.18   3.81   3.66   3.16   2.87  4.77  4.43  6.18  3.81  3.66 

Cash dividends per share

  0.92   0.88   0.84   0.80   0.45  1.04  0.96  0.92  0.88  0.84 

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues:

                               

Rents and purchased transportation

  50.8

%

  49.7

%

  48.4

%

  50.0

%

  50.2

%

 49.4

%

 51.5

%

 50.8

%

 49.7

%

 48.4

%

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

  22.4   22.4   22.5   20.9   20.4  23.7  22.4  22.4  22.4  22.5 

Depreciation and amortization

  5.3   5.5   5.5   4.8   4.5  5.4  5.1  5.3  5.5  5.5 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  4.8   4.3   5.1   7.4   8.2  5.1  5.3  4.8  4.3  5.1 

Operating supplies and expenses

  3.6   3.6   3.6   3.5   3.6  3.6  3.5  3.6  3.6  3.6 

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

  1.8   1.3   1.1   0.8   0.8  2.1  1.8  1.8  1.3  1.1 

Insurance and claims

  1.7   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.0  1.7  1.5  1.7  1.2  1.2 

Operating taxes and licenses

  0.6   0.7   0.7   0.7   0.7  0.6  0.6  0.6  0.7  0.7 

Communication and utilities

  0.3   0.3   0.3   0.4   0.3   0.4   0.4   0.3   0.3   0.3 

Total operating expenses

  91.3   89.0   88.4   89.8   89.7   92.0   92.1   91.3   89.0   88.4 

Operating income

  8.7   11.0   11.6   10.2   10.3  8.0  7.9  8.7  11.0  11.6 

Net interest expense

  0.4   0.4   0.4   0.4   0.4   0.6   0.5   0.4   0.4   0.4 

Earnings before income taxes

  8.3   10.6   11.2   9.8   9.9  7.4  7.4  8.3  10.6  11.2 

Income taxes

  (1.2

)

  4.0   4.3   3.7   3.8   1.8   1.7   (1.2

)

  4.0   4.3 

Net earnings

  9.5

%

  6.6

%

  6.9

%

  6.1

%

  6.1

%

  5.6

%

  5.7

%

  9.5

%

  6.6

%

  6.9

%

 

Balance sheet data as of December 31,

 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2014

  

2013

  

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

Working capital ratio

  1.52   1.65   1.61   1.11   0.96  1.43  1.11  1.45  1.65  1.61 

Total assets (millions)

 $4,465  $3,951  $3,630  $3,374  $2,818  $5,471  $5,092  $4,465  $3,951  $3,630 

Stockholders’ equity (millions)

 $1,839  $1,414  $1,300  $1,205  $1,012 

Stockholders’ equity (millions)

 $2,267  $2,101  $1,839  $1,414  $1,300 

Current portion of long-term debt (millions)

  -   -   -  $250  $250   -  $251  -  -  - 

Total debt (millions)

 $1,086  $986  $998  $929  $707  $1,296  $1,149  $1,086  $986  $998 

Total debt to equity

  0.59   0.70   0.77   0.77   0.70  0.57  0.55  0.59  0.70  0.77 

Total debt as a percentage of total capital

  37

%

  41

%

  43

%

  44

%

  41

%

 36

%

 35

%

 37

%

 41

%

 43

%

 


13

 

ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’SMANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes in Item 8. This discussion contains forward-looking statements. Please see “Forward-looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for a discussion of items, uncertainties, assumptions and risks associated with these statements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Therefore, the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and associated disclosures of contingent liabilities are affected by these estimates. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, utilizing historical experience, consultation with third parties and other methods considered reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from our estimates. Any effects on our business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recognized in the accounting period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. We consider our critical accounting policies and estimates to be those that require us to make more significant judgments and estimates when we prepare our financial statements and include the following:

 

WorkersWorkers’ Compensation and Accident Costs

 

We purchase insurance coverage for a portion of expenses related to employee injuries, vehicular collisions, accidents, and cargo damage. Certain insurance arrangements include a level of self-insurance (deductible) coverage applicable to each claim. We have umbrella policies to limit our exposure to catastrophic claim costs. We are substantially self-insured for loss of and damage to our owned and leased revenue equipment.

 

The amounts of self-insurance change from time to time based on measurement dates, policy expiration dates, and claim type. For 2017 and 2018, we were self-insured for $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury and property damage and self-insured for $100,000 per workers’ compensation claim. For 2019, we were self-insured for $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury and property damage and fully insured for workers’ compensation claims for nearly all states. We have policies in place for 20182020 with substantially the same terms as our 20172019 policies for personal injury, property damage, workers’ compensation, and cargo loss or damage.

 

Our claims accrual policy for all self-insured claims is to recognize a liability at the time of the incident based on our analysis of the nature and severity of the claims and analyses provided by third-party claims administrators, as well as legal, economic, and regulatory factors. Our safety and claims personnel work directly with representatives from the insurance companies to continually update the estimated cost of each claim. The ultimate cost of a claim develops over time as additional information regarding the nature, timing, and extent of damages claimed becomes available. Accordingly, we use an actuarial method to develop current claim information to derive an estimate of our ultimate claim liability. This process involves the use of loss-development factors based on our historical claims experience and includes a contractual premium adjustment factor, if applicable. In doing so, the recorded liability considers future claims growth and provides a reserve for incurred-but-not-reported claims. We do not discount our estimated losses. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had an accrual of approximately $238$263 million for estimated claims. In addition, we record receivables for amounts expected to be reimbursed for payments made in excess of self-insurance levels on covered claims.  At December 31, 2017,2019, we have recorded $256$281 million of expected reimbursement for covered excess claims, insurance premiums and other insurance deposits.deposits, and prepaid insurance premiums.

 

Revenue Equipment

 

We operate a significant number of tractors, trucks, containers, chassis, and trailers in connection with our business. This equipment may be purchased or acquired under lease agreements. In addition, we may rent revenue equipment from various third parties under short-term rental arrangements. Purchased revenue equipment is depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life to an estimated salvage or trade-in value. We periodically review the useful lives and salvage values of our revenue equipment and evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment. We have not identified any impairment to our assets at December 31, 2017.2019.

 


14

 

We have agreements with our primary tractor suppliers for residual or trade-in values for certain new equipment. We have utilized these trade-in values, as well as other operational information such as anticipated annual miles, in accounting for depreciation expense. If our suppliers were unable to perform under the terms of our agreements for trade-in values, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

 

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue based on the relative transit time of the freight transported and as other services are provided. Accordingly, a portion of the total revenue that will be billed to the customer once a load is delivered is recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of the freight pickup and delivery service that has been completed at the end of the reporting period.

 

We record revenues on the gross basis at amounts charged to our customers because we control and are primarily responsible for the primary obligor,fulfillment of promised services. Accordingly, we areserve as a principal in the transaction, wetransaction. We invoice our customers, and retain all credit risks, and we maintain discretion over pricing. Additionally, we are responsible for the selection of third-party transportation providers.providers to the extent used to satisfy customer freight requirements.

We recognize revenue from customer contracts based on relative transit time in each reporting period and as other performance obligations are provided, with related expenses recognized as incurred. Accordingly, a portion of the total revenue that will be billed to the customer is recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of the freight pickup and delivery performance obligation that has been completed at the end of the reporting period.

 

Our trade accounts receivable includes amounts due from customers that have been reduced by an allowance for uncollectible accounts and revenue adjustments.  The allowance for uncollectible accounts and revenue adjustments is based on historical experience, as well as any known trends or uncertainties related to customer billing and account collectability. The adequacy of our allowance is reviewed quarterly.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxestaxes under the liability method. Our deferred tax assets and liabilities represent items that will result in a tax deduction or taxable income in future years for which we have already recorded the related tax expense or benefit in our statement of earnings. Deferred tax accounts arise as a result of timing differences between when items are recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements and when they are recognized in our tax returns. We assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income or the reversal of temporary timing differences. To the extent we believe recovery does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, a valuation allowance is established. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance, we include an expense as part of our income tax provision.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was enacted in December 2017. Beginning in 2018, the Act reducesreduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. At December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act. However, we have made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they arewere expected to reverse in the future, which iswas generally 21%. The provisional amount recorded resulting from the remeasurement of our deferred tax balance was $309.2 million, which iswas included as a component of 2017 income tax from continuing operations. We are still refiningDuring 2018, we finalized our calculations for our 2017 federal income tax return, which will bewas filed based on the law prior to the Act, and could potentially affectresulting in no significant change to the initial measurement of these balances. Remaining aspects of the Act arewere not relevant to our operations.

 

Significant judgment is required in determining and assessing the impact of complex tax laws and certain tax-related contingencies on our provision for income taxes. As part of our calculation of the provision for income taxes, we assess whether the benefits of our tax positions are at least more likely than not to be sustained upon audit based on the technical merits of the tax position. For tax positions that are not more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, we accrue the largest amount of the benefit that is not more likely than not to be sustained in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Such accruals require us to make estimates and judgments, whereby actual results could vary materially from these estimates. Further, a number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have established an accrual is audited and resolved. See Note 7, Income Taxes, in our Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our current tax contingencies.

 


15

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth items in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings as a percentage of operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease of those items compared with the prior year.

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenues

  

Percentage Change

Between Years

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2017 vs.

2016

  

2016 vs.

2015

 

Operating revenues

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  9.7

%

  5.9

%

                     

Operating expenses:

                    

Rents and purchased transportation

  50.8   49.7   48.4   12.1   8.7 

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

  22.4   22.4   22.5   9.5   5.4 

Depreciation and amortization

  5.3   5.5   5.5   6.1   6.4 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  4.8   4.3   5.1   22.6   (9.5

)

Operating supplies and expenses

  3.6   3.6   3.6   10.3   5.7 

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

  1.8   1.3   1.1   44.6   20.0 

Insurance and claims

  1.7   1.2   1.2   57.6   6.4 

Operating taxes and licenses

  0.6   0.7   0.7   (2.5

)

  6.7 

Communication and utilities

  0.3   0.3   0.3   20.1   (3.0

)

Total operating expenses

  91.3   89.0   88.4   12.5   6.6 

Operating income

  8.7   11.0   11.6   (13.5

)

  0.7 

Net interest expense

  0.4   0.4   0.4   13.2   (1.1

)

Earnings before income taxes

  8.3   10.6   11.2   (14.5

)

  0.8 

Income taxes

  (1.2

)

  4.0   4.3   (134.5

)

  0.3 

Net earnings

  9.5

%

  6.6

%

  6.9

%

  58.8

%

  1.1

%

  

Percentage of

Operating Revenues

  

Percentage Change

Between Years

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

  

2019 vs.

2018

  

2018 vs.

2017

 

Operating revenues

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  6.4

%

  19.8

%

                     

Operating expenses:

                    

Rents and purchased transportation

  49.4   51.5   50.8   2.1   21.5 

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

  23.7   22.4   22.4   12.5   19.8 

Depreciation and amortization

  5.4   5.1   5.3   14.5   13.7 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  5.1   5.3   4.8   0.9   32.1 

Operating supplies and expenses

  3.6   3.5   3.6   9.7   18.0 

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

  2.1   1.8   1.8   17.6   29.7 

Insurance and claims

  1.7   1.5   1.7   21.5   4.7 

Operating taxes and licenses

  0.6   0.6   0.6   8.3   14.0 

Communication and utilities

  0.4   0.4   0.3   12.6   28.9 

Total operating expenses

  92.0   92.1   91.3   6.3   20.8 

Operating income

  8.0   7.9   8.7   7.8   9.2 

Net interest expense

  0.6   0.5   0.4   31.7   40.8 

Earnings before income taxes

  7.4   7.4   8.3   6.3   7.7 

Income taxes

  1.8   1.7   (1.2

)

  8.8   266.1 

Net earnings

  5.6

%

  5.7

%

  9.5

%

  5.5

%

  (28.7

%)

 

20179 Compared With 20168

 

Consolidated Operating Revenues

 

Our total consolidated operating revenues increased 9.7%6.4% to $7.19$9.17 billion in 2017,2019, compared to $6.56$8.61 billion in 2016,2018, primarily due to overallincreased revenue in DCS related to an increase in revenue producing trucks, higher truck productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, and an acquisition in the first quarter 2019. The increase in revenue was further attributable to increased load volumevolumes in ICS and higher revenue per load in our JBI, DCS,partially offset by a decrease in JBI load volumes and ICS segments.a reduction in rates per loaded mile and the number of operating tractors in JBT. Fuel surcharge revenues increased 37.5%decreased 1.4% to $754 million$1.04 billion in 2017,2019, compared to $548 million$1.06 billion in 2016.2018. If fuel surcharge revenues were excluded from both years, our 20172019 revenue increased 7.1%7.5% over 2016.2018.

 

Consolidated Operating Expenses

 

Our 20172019 consolidated operating expenses increased 12.5%6.3% from 2016,2018, while year-over-year revenue increased 9.7%6.4%, resulting in a 20172019 operating ratio of 91.3%92.0% compared to 89.0%92.1% in 2016. 2018.

Rents and purchased transportation costs increased 12.1%2.1% in 2017,2019, primarily due to increased rail and truck purchased transportation rates and the increase in load volume, which increased services provided by third-party rail and truck carriers within JBI and ICS segments.segments and JBI rail purchased transportation costs, including a $26.8 million charge in 2019, resulting from the issuance of an award regarding our arbitration with BNSF. The current year increase in rents and purchased transportation costs was partially offset by a $152.3 million BNSF arbitration related charge recorded by JBI in 2018. Salaries, wages and employee benefit costs increase 9.5%increased 12.5% in 20172019 from 2016.2018. This increase was primarily related to increases in driver pay and office personnel compensation due to an increase in the number of employees and a tighter supply of qualified drivers. In addition, 2016 included a $15.2 million benefit recorded to reflect a change in our employee paid time off policy.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 6.1%14.5% in 2017,2019, primarily due to additions to our JBI segment tractor, container and chassis fleets to support additional business demand and equipment purchased related to new DCS long-term customer contracts.

16

 

Fuel and fuel taxestaxes expense increased 22.6%0.9% in 20172019 compared with 2016,2018, due primarily to increasesan increase in road miles, partially offset by a decrease in the price of fuel during 2017.2019. We have fuel surcharge programs in place with the majority of our customers. These programs typically involve a specified computation based on the change in national, regional, or local fuel prices. While these programs may address fuel cost changes as frequently as weekly, most also reflect a specified miles-per-gallon factor and require a certain minimum change in fuel costs to trigger a change in fuel surcharge revenue. As a result, some of these programs have a time lag between when fuel costs change and when this change is reflected in revenues. Due to these programs, this lag negatively impacts operating income in times of rapidly increasing fuel costs and positively impacts operating income when fuel costs decrease rapidly.


It is not meaningful to compare the amount of fuel surcharge revenue or the change in fuel surcharge revenue between reporting periods to fuel and fuel taxes expense, or the change of fuel expense between periods, as a significant portion of fuel cost is included in our payments to railroads, dray carriers and other third parties. These payments are classified as purchased transportation expense.

 

Operating supplies and expenses increased 10.3%9.7%, driven primarily by increased mileage activityhigher equipment maintenance and tire expense.expenses due to increased equipment counts, increased toll costs, higher travel costs, and higher facility maintenance expenses. General and administrative expenses increased 44.6%17.6% from 2016,2018, primarily due to a $20.2 million expense forincreased technology spend on the reserve of a cash advance for the purchases of new trailing equipment from a manufacturer that will not meet delivery, but also due to increased building rental expense,J.B. Hunt 360 platform and legacy system upgrades, higher professional fee expenses, higher computer software subscriptionFinal Mile Services® (FMS) network facility costs, and increased advertising expenses. Additionally, net losses from asset sales and disposals in 2017. Net losses from sale or disposal of assets were $7.4$13.1 million in 2017,2019, compared to net losses of $5.5$12.1 million in 2016.2018. Insurance and claims expense increased 57.6%21.5% in 2017,2019, primarily due to higher incident volume2019 including a $17.4 million reserve charge for arbitration related legal fees, costs and accident severityinterest claimed by BNSF and an $18.6the inclusion of a $20.0 million increase in reservesFMS claim charge within DCS, partially offset by 2018 including specific reserve charges for certain claims not covered by insurance.the settlement of lawsuits with current and former drivers.

 

Net interest expense for 20172019 increased by 13.2%31.7% compared with 2016,2018, due to an increase in average debt levels and higher effective interest rates on our debt during 2017.debt.

 

Our effective income tax rate was (15.29)%24.2% in 20172019 and 37.90%23.6% in 2016.2018. The decreaseincrease in 20172019 was primarily due to a $309.2 million decreasereduction in discreet tax benefits recognized related to share-based compensation vesting, partially offset by favorable settlements of state income tax expense resulting from adjustments to our deferred tax balances at December 31, 2017, for the change in future tax rates prescribed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.audits during 2019.

17

 

Segments

 

We operated four business segments during calendar year 2017.2019. The operation of each of these businesses is described in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The following tables summarize financial and operating data by segment:

 

  

Operating Revenue by Segment

 
  

Years Ended December 31, (in millions)

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2015

 

JBI

 $4,084  $3,796  $3,665 

DCS

  1,719   1,533   1,451 

ICS

  1,025   852   699 

JBT

  378   388   386 

Total segment revenues

  7,206   6,569   6,201 

Intersegment eliminations

  (16

)

  (14

)

  (13

)

Total

 $7,190  $6,555  $6,188 

 

 

Operating Income by Segment

  

Operating Revenue by Segment

 
 

Years Ended December 31, (in millions)

  

Years Ended December 31, (in millions)

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

 $407  $450  $477  $4,745  $4,717  $4,084 

DCS

  171   205   163  2,695  2,163  1,719 

ICS

  23   36   36  1,348  1,335  1,025 

JBT

  23   30   40   389   417   378 

Total segment revenues

 9,177  8,632  7,206 

Intersegment eliminations

  (12

)

  (17

)

  (16

)

Total

 $624  $721  $716  $9,165  $8,615  $7,190 

  

Operating Income by Segment

 
  

Years Ended December 31, (in millions)

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

 $447  $401  $407 

DCS

  269   193   171 

ICS

  (11

)

  50   23 

JBT

  29   37   23 

Total

 $734  $681  $624 

 


18

 

Operating Data by Segment

 

Years Ended December 31,

  

Years Ended December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

                  

Loads

  1,999,807   1,916,303   1,772,808  1,979,169  2,049,014  1,999,807 

Average length of haul (miles)

  1,681   1,657   1,652  1,679  1,648  1,681 

Revenue per load

 $2,042  $1,981  $2,067  $2,397  $2,302  $2,042 

Average tractors during the period(1)

  5,362   5,222   4,949  5,635  5,551  5,362 

Tractors (end of period)

             

Company-owned

  4,776   4,581   4,276  4,989  5,017  4,776 

Independent contractor

  764   695   805   570   633   764 

Total tractors

  5,540   5,276   5,081  5,559  5,650  5,540 

Net change in trailing equipment during the period

 1,841  6,262  4,016 

Trailing equipment (end of period)

  88,610   84,594   78,957  96,743  94,902  88,610 

Average effective trailing equipment usage

  82,969   77,179   72,622  86,836  88,739  82,969 
             

DCS

                  

Loads

  2,575,245   2,401,332   2,250,099  3,615,580  2,981,344  2,575,245 

Average length of haul (miles)

  178   177   175  169  177  178 

Revenue per truck per week(2)

 $4,226  $4,077  $4,028  $4,895  $4,534  $4,226 

Average trucks during the period(3)

  7,946   7,307   7,012  10,725  9,264  7,946 

Trucks (end of period)

             

Company-owned

  8,124   6,976   6,762  10,542  9,652  8,124 

Independent contractor

  59   15   10  40  51  59 

Customer-owned (Dedicated-operated)

  544   410   436 

Customer-owned (DCS-operated)

  505   412   544 

Total trucks

  8,727   7,401   7,208  11,087  10,115  8,727 

Trailing equipment (end of period)

  25,811   22,688   21,672  28,118  26,710  25,811 

Average effective trailing equipment usage

  24,550   22,827   22,391  28,147  26,806  24,550 
             

ICS

                  

Loads

  992,834   852,179   542,947  1,243,992  1,234,632  992,834 

Revenue per load

 $1,032  $999  $1,288  $1,084  $1,081  $1,032 

Gross profit margin

  13.3

%

  14.3

%

  15.3

%

 13.1

%

 15.4

%

 13.3

%

Employee count (end of period)

  954   824   670  1,213  1,142  954 

Approximate number of third-party carriers (end of period)

  56,700   50,900   45,700  84,400  73,100  56,700 

Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360:

 

Approximate carrier tractor count (end of period)

 682,000  529,000  312,000 

Revenue (millions)

 $839.8  $557.8  $125.8 
             

JBT

                  

Loads

  370,591   385,298   366,297  346,459  355,038  370,591 

Average length of haul (miles)

  435   455   448  415  427  435 

Loaded miles (000)

  160,932   175,038   163,115  143,511  151,322  160,932 

Total miles (000)

  192,433   207,998   193,856  177,035  181,718  192,433 

Average nonpaid empty miles per load

  85.1   85.6   83.9  96.9  85.5  85.1 

Revenue per tractor per week(2)

 $3,556  $3,458  $3,698  $3,917  $4,148  $3,556 

Average tractors during the period(1)

  2,098   2,191   2,051  1,958  1,990  2,098 

Tractors (end of period)

             

Company-owned

  1,291   1,376   1,462  845  1,139  1,291 

Independent contractor

  741   752   687   986   973   741 

Total tractors

  2,032   2,128   2,149  1,831  2,112  2,032 

Trailing equipment (end of period)

  7,120   7,642   7,604  6,975  6,800  7,120 

Average effective trailing equipment usage

  7,066   6,956   6,460  6,497  6,513  7,066 

 

(1)

Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors

(2)

Using weighted workdays

(3)

Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks

 


19

 

JBI Segment

 

JBI segment revenue increased 7.6%1% to $4.08$4.74 billion in 2017,2019, from $3.80$4.72 billion in 2016.2018. This increase in revenue was primarily a result of an 4.4% increase in load volume and a 3.1%4% increase in revenue per load, which is the combination of changes in freight mix, customer rates, and fuel surcharge revenue. Load volumerevenue, partially offset by a 3% decrease in ourload volume. Eastern network load volumes decreased 9% and transcontinental loads grew 7.2% while our eastern network was relatively flatincreased 1% compared to 2016.2018. Average length of haul increased 1.4%2% in 20172019 when compared to 2016.2018. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge was flat in 2017 whensurcharges increased approximately 6% compared to 2016.2018.

 

Operating income of the JBI segment decreasedincreased to $407$447 million in 2017,2019, from $450$401 million in 2016.2018. Benefits from volume growthcustomer rate increases and increased revenue per loadfreight mix were partially offset by increases indecreased volumes, which includes volume lost to rail rationalization, increased rail purchased transportation costs, rail inefficiencies, higher equipment ownership and maintenance costs, increased technology modernization expenses, lower box turns, higher box repositioning costs and increased driver wages and recruiting costs, higher equipment ownership costs, increasedcosts. Current year operating income was further impacted by a $26.8 million charge to rail purchase transportation expense resulting from the issuance of an award regarding our arbitration with BNSF and a $17.4 million charge to insurance and claims expense, for arbitration related legal fees, costs which included an $8.5and interest claimed by BNSF. JBI recorded $152.3 million increaseof additional BNSF arbitration related charges in reserves for certain insurance and claims,2018. Excluding these 2018 charges and the $20.22019 arbitration related charges of $44.2 million, expenseoperating income for the reserve of a cash advance for the purchases of new trailing equipment from a manufacturer that will not meet delivery. In addition, 2016 included a $5.7 million, one-time benefit from the change in paid time off policy.2019, decreased 11% when compared to 2018.

 

DCS Segment

 

DCS segment revenue increased 12.1%25% to $1.72$2.69 billion in 2017,2019, from $1.53$2.16 billion in 2016.2018. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, increased 3.7%8% when compared to 2016. Revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 10.0% in 2017 compared to 2016, and productivity2018. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 1.6%9% from 2016.2018. The increase in revenue in 2017productivity was primarily a result of the acquisition of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery (Cory), better integration of assets amongbetween customer accounts, and customer rate increases, partially offset by lower productivity under newand increased customer contracts,supply chain fluidity during 2019 compared to 2016.2018. In addition, the growth in DCS revenue includes an increase of $187 million in FMS revenue, the majority of which was derived from the first quarter 2019 Cory acquisition. DCS ended 20172019 with a net additional 1,326972 revenue-producing trucks when compared to 2016.2018. Approximately 58% of these additions represent private fleet conversions and 15% represent FMS versus traditional dedicated capacity fleets. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

 

Operating income of our DCS segment decreasedincreased to $171$269 million in 2017,2019, from $205$193 million in 2016.2018. The increase in revenueis primarily due to increased productivity and improved asset utilization wereadditional trucks under contract, partially offset by higher insurance and claims costs, which included a $20.0 million FMS claim charge in the second quarter 2019, higher costs from the expanded FMS network, increased driver wages and recruiting costs, increased insurance and claims cost, which included a $7.6additional non-cash amortization expense of $3.8 million increase in reserves for certain insurance and claims, increased start up expenditures for new customer contracts, higher equipment ownership costs, and the addition of acquisition costs and intangible asset amortization associated with the purchase of Special Logistics Dedicated, LLC (SLD) when compared to 2016. In addition, 2016 included a $7.3 million, one-time benefit from the change in paid time off policy.2018.

 

ICS Segment

 

ICS segment revenue increased 20.3%1% to $1.02$1.35 billion in 2017,2019, from $852 million$1.33 billion in 2016.2018. Overall volumes increased 16.5%1%. Revenue per load increased 3.3%remained flat when compared to 2018 primarily due to freightcustomer mix changes, driven by customer demand.a lower spot pricing market and a competitive pricing environment for contractual truckload business, when compared to 2018. Contractual business was approximately 71% of the total load volume and 59% of the total revenue in the 2019, compared to 70% of the total load volume and 53%48% of the total revenue in the 2017,2018.

ICS segment incurred an operating loss of $11 million in 2019, compared to 74%operating income of the total load volume and 64% of the total revenue in 2016.

Operating income decreased to $23$50 million in 2017, from $36 million2018. The decrease in 2016,operating income was primarily due to lower gross profit margins, increased insuranceexpenses to expand capacity and claims cost, which included a $1.8 million increase in reservesfunctionality of the Marketplace for certain insuranceJ.B. Hunt 360, higher personnel costs, and claims, increased number of branches less than two years old, and higher technology development costs. ICS grossdigital marketing expenses. Gross profit margin decreased to 13.3%13.1% in the current year versus 15.4% last year primarily due to weaker spot market activity and lower contractual rates on committed business compared to 2018. Approximately $840 million of ICS revenue for 2017 from 14.3%2019 was executed through the Marketplace for 2016.J.B. Hunt 360 compared to $558 million in 2018. ICS’s carrier base increased 11.4%15%, and the employee count increased 15.8%6% when compared to 2016. In addition, 2016 included a $1.0 million, one-time benefit from the change in paid time off policy.2018.

20

 

JBT Segment

 

JBT segment revenue decreased 2.4%7% to $378$389 million in 2017,2019, from $388$417 million in 2016, primarily from a 3.8% decrease in load count partially offset by a 1.4% increase in revenue per load.2018. Excluding fuel surcharges, revenue for 20172019 decreased 4.5%6% compared to 2016,2018, primarily due to the reductiona 1% decrease in load volume andrates per loaded mile, a 4.4%3% decrease in length of haul.haul and a 2% decrease in load volumes, compared to 2018. At the end of 2019, JBT operated 1,831 tractors compared to 2,112 at the end of 2018.

 

JBT segment had operating income of $23$29 million in 20172019 compared with $30$37 million in 2016.2018. The decrease in operating income was driven primarily by lower revenue,spot market activity, higher empty miles per load, increased driver wages and recruiting costs, higher independent contractor cost per mile, increased insurance and claims cost, which included an $0.7 million increasethe reduction in reserves for certain insurance and claims, and increased tractor maintenance costs compared to 2016. In addition, 2016 included a $1.2 million, one-time benefit from the change in paid time off policy.overall load volumes.


 

20168 Compared With 20157

 

Consolidated Operating Revenues

 

Our total consolidated operating revenues increased 5.9%19.8% to $6.56$8.61 billion in 2016,2018, compared to $6.19$7.19 billion in 2015,2017, primarily due to overall increased load volume partially offset by lowerand higher revenue per load in all four of our JBI, ICS, and JBT segments. Fuel surcharge revenues decreased 18.4%increased 40.2% to $548$1.1 billion in 2018, compared to $754 million in 2016, compared to $671 million in 2015.2017. If fuel surcharge revenues were excluded from both years, our 20162018 revenue increased 8.9%17.4% over 2015.2017.

 

Consolidated Operating Expenses

 

Our 20162018 consolidated operating expenses increased 6.6%20.8% from 2015,2017, while year-over-year revenue increased 5.9%19.8%, resulting in a 20162018 operating ratio of 89.0%92.1% compared to 88.4%91.3% in 2015. 2017.

Rents and purchased transportation costs increased 8.7%21.5% in 2016,2018, primarily the result ofdue to increased rail and truck purchased transportation rates and the increase in load volume, which increased services provided by third-party rail and truck carriers within JBI and ICS segments. In addition, our JBI segment incurred charges of $152.3 million to rail purchase transportation expense related to the arbitration with BNSF. Salaries, wages and employee benefit costs increased 5.4%19.8% in 20162018 from 2015.2017. This increase was primarily related to increases in driver pay and office personnel compensation due to an increase in the number of employees and a tighter supply of qualified drivers, partially offset by a $15.2 million, one-time benefit recorded to reflect a change in our employee paid time off policy.

drivers. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 6.4%13.7% in 2016,2018, primarily due to additions to our JBI segment tractor, container and chassis fleets to support additional business demand and equipment purchased related to new DCS long-term customer contracts, and new replacement equipment in JBT.contracts.

 

Fuel and fuel taxes expense decreased 9.5%increased 32.1% in 20162018 compared with 2015,2017, due primarily to decreasesan increase in road miles and increases in the price of fuel during 2016, partially offset by increased road miles. We have fuel surcharge programs in place with the majority of our customers. These programs typically involve a specified computation based on the change in national, regional, or local fuel prices. While these programs may address fuel cost changes as frequently as weekly, most also reflect a specified miles-per-gallon factor and require a certain minimum change in fuel costs to trigger a change in fuel surcharge revenue. As a result, some of these programs have a time lag between when fuel costs change and when this change is reflected in revenues. Due to these programs, this lag negatively impacts operating income in times of rapidly increasing fuel costs and positively impacts operating income when fuel costs decrease rapidly.

It is not meaningful to compare the amount of fuel surcharge revenue or the change in fuel surcharge revenue between reporting periods to fuel and fuel taxes expense, or the change of fuel expense between periods, as a significant portion of fuel cost is included in our payments to railroads, dray carriers and other third parties. These payments are classified as purchased transportation expense.

2018. Operating supplies and expenses increased 5.7%18.0%, driven primarily by higher equipment maintenance and tire expenses due to increased equipment counts, higher travel costs, increased toll activitycosts, and tire expense.higher building maintenance expenses. General and administrative expenses increased 20.0%29.7% from 2015,2017, primarily due to increased charitable contributionsbuilding and the absence ofcomputer rentals, higher professional fees, higher advertising costs, higher bad debt expense driven by a customer bankruptcy, and increased net gainslosses from asset sales and disposals, in 2016. Netpartially offset by the 2017 inclusion of a $20.2 million reserve of a cash advance for the purchases of new trailing equipment from a manufacturer that did not meet delivery. Additionally, net losses from sale or disposal of assets were $5$12.1 million in 2016,2018, compared to net gainslosses of $1$7.4 million in 2015.2017. Insurance and claims expense increased 6.4%4.7% in 2016,2018, primarily due to higher incident volume.

 

Net interest expense for 2016 decreased2018 increased by 1.1%40.8% compared with 2015,2017, due primarily to loweran increase in average debt levels, higher effective interest rates.rates on our debt, and expenses incurred to refinance our revolving line of credit compared to 2017.


 

Our effective income tax rate was 37.90%23.6% in 20162018 and 38.10%(15.29%) in 2015.2017. The decreaseincrease in 20162018 was primarily due to a reduction$309.2 million decrease in permanent differences relatedincome tax expense in 2017 resulting from adjustments to executive compensationour deferred tax balances at December 31, 2017, for the change in future tax rates prescribed by the Tax Cuts and lower state tax rates.Jobs Act. 

 

21

JBI Segment

 

JBI segment revenue increased 3.6%15% to $3.80$4.72 billion in 2016,2018, from $3.66$4.08 billion in 2015.2017. This increase in revenue was primarily a result of an 8.1%a 2% increase in load volume offset byand a 4.2% decrease13% increase in revenue per load, which is the combination of changes in freight mix, customer rates, and fuel surcharge revenue. Load volume in our easternEastern network increased 6.7%,loads grew at 10% and transcontinental loads grew 9.0%decreased 2% compared to 2015. Excluding fuel surcharge, revenues increased 7.1% and revenue per load decreased 1.0% in 2016 over the prior year.2017. Average length of haul remained relatively flatdecreased 2% in 20162018 when compared to 2015.2017. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharges increased approximately 10% compared to 2017.

 

Operating income of the JBI segment decreased to $450$401 million in 2016,2018, from $477$407 million in 2015.2017. Benefits from volume growth improved network efficiency, improved rail service, and approximately $5.7 million from the change in paid time off policyincreased revenue per load were offset by increasedincreases in rail purchased transportation costs, higher equipment ownership costs, increased insurance and cargo claimwhich included $152.3 million of additional expense andrelated to the arbitration with BNSF. Benefits were further offset by higher driver wage and retention costs.costs, higher driver recruiting expenses, higher outsourced dray costs, increased costs for onboarding and integration of container tracking technologies, higher equipment ownership costs, and costs of reduced efficiency and disruptions within the rail network. In addition, 2017 included a $20.2 million expense for the reserve of a cash advance for the purchases of new trailing equipment from a manufacturer that did not meet delivery.

 

DCS Segment

 

DCS segment revenue increased 5.6%26% to $1.53$2.16 billion in 2016,2018, from $1.45$1.72 billion in 2015.2017. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, increased 1.2%7% when compared to 2015. Revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 7.3% in 2016 compared to 2015, and productivity2017. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 2.8%5% from 2015,2017. The increase in productivity was primarily from improved overall operational efficiencies, includinga result of better integration of assets between customer accounts, fewer unseated trucks,customer rate increases, and increased customer supply-chainsupply chain fluidity load counts and customer rate increases.during 2018 compared to 2017. In addition, the growth in DCS revenue includes an increase of $113 million in FMS revenue, approximately $66 million of which was derived from the 2017 acquisition of Special Logistics Dedicated, LLC. DCS ended 20162018 with a net additional 1931,388 revenue-producing trucks when compared to 2015.2017.

 

Operating income of our DCS segment increased to $205$193 million in 2016,2018, from $163$171 million in 2015. The increase is primarily due to increased2017. Increased revenue and improved asset utilization, and approximately $7.3 million from the change in paid time off policy, partiallyintegration was offset by higher costs from the expanded FMS network, increased driver wagewages and recruiting costs, increasedhigher non-driver salaries, wages and benefits, expenses,increased maintenance costs on equipment scheduled to be traded in the current year, higher overall insurance and higher equipment ownership costs.claims costs, implementation costs for new customer contracts and approximately $4.4 million in additional non-cash amortization expense compared to 2017.

 

ICS Segment

 

ICS segment revenue increased 21.7%30% to $852 million$1.33 billion in 2016,2018, from $699 million$1.02 billion in 2015.2017. Overall volumes increased 57.0%24%. Revenue per load decreased 22.5%increased 5% primarily due to freight mix changes driven by customer demand.increased contractual and spot rates. Contractual business was approximately 74%70% of the total load volume and 64%48% of the total revenue in the 2016,2018, compared to 71%70% of the total load volume and 63%53% of the total revenue in 2015.2017.

 

Operating income remained flat at $36increased to $50 million for both 2016 and 2015,in 2018, from $23 million in 2017. Gross profit margin improved to 15.4% in the current year compared to 13.3% in 2017 primarily due to improved contractual margins and increased revenue and approximately $1.0 million from the change in paid time off policy, being offset by a 6.3% decreasespot market activity. This increase in gross profit margin increased claimwas partially offset by higher personnel costs, higher technology development costs, and increased personnel costs, asincrease bad debt expense due to a customer bankruptcy. Approximately $558 million of ICS revenue for 2018 was executed through the total branch count increased to 42 from 34 at the end of 2015. ICS gross profit margin decreased to 14.3%Marketplace for 2016 from 15.3% for 2015.J.B. Hunt 360. ICS’s carrier base increased 11.4%29%, and the employee count increased 23.0%20% when compared to 2015.2017.

 

JBT Segment

 

JBT segment revenue increased 0.6%10% to $388$417 million in 2016,2018, from $386$378 million in 2015.2017. Excluding fuel surcharges, revenue for 20162018 increased 3.8%9% compared to 2015,2017, primarily due to increased average truck count,from a 16% increase in rates per loaded mile, partially offset by core customer rate decreases and freight mix changes.an 4% decrease in load count.

22

 

JBT segment had operating income of $30$37 million in 20162018 compared with $40$23 million in 2015. Benefits from an increased average truck count,2017. The increase in operating income was driven primarily by higher load volume,rates per loaded mile and approximately $1.2 million from the change in paid time off policy, were more thanlower equipment ownership costs, partially offset by increased driver wage and retention costs, higher driver and independent contractor recruiting costs,expenses, and higher independent contractor costcosts per mile, higher safety and insurance costs, and increased tractor maintenance costs.mile.


 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Net cash provided by operating activities remained relatively flat at $855 milliontotaled $1.10 billion in 20172019, compared to $854 million$1.09 billion in 2016,2018. This increase was primarily due to the reduction in pre-tax earnings and an increase in cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds,earnings, partially offset by the timing of general working capital activities.

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $651$804 million in 2017,2019, compared with $485$887 million in 2016.2018. The increasedecrease resulted primarily from the purchase of SLD and an increasea decrease in equipment purchases, net of proceeds from the sale of equipment in 2017.2019, partially offset by the purchases of Cory and RDI Last Mile Co. (RDI), which closed during the first and fourth quarters of 2019, respectively.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $196$267 million in 2017,2019, compared with $368$208 million in 2016.2018. This decreaseincrease resulted primarily from a decreasean increase in treasury stock purchased andin 2019, partially offset by higher proceeds from long-term debt issuances, net of long-term debt repayments, in 2017. These net proceeds from long-term debt were used primarily for the purchase of SLD.repayments.

 

Our dividend policy is subject to review and revision by the Board of Directors,, and payments are dependent upon our financial condition, liquidity, earnings, capital requirements, and other factors the Board of Directors may deem relevant. We paid a $0.21 per share quarterly dividend in 2015, a $0.22 per share quarterly dividend in 2016, and a $0.23 per share quarterly dividend in 2017.2017, a $0.24 per share quarterly dividend in 2018, and a $0.26 per share quarterly dividend in 2019. On January 24, 2018,22, 2020, we announced an increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $0.23$0.26 to $0.24$0.27 per share, which will be paid February 23, 2018,21, 2020, to stockholders of record on February 9, 2018.7, 2020. We currently intend to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, no assurance can be given that future dividends will be paid.

 

Liquidity

 

Our need for capital has typically resulted from the acquisition of containers, chassis, trucks, tractors, and trailers required to support our growth and the replacement of older equipment. We are frequently able to accelerate or postpone a portion of equipment replacements depending on market conditions. We obtain capital through cash generated from operations, revolving lines of credit, and long-term debt issuances. We have also periodically utilized capital and operating leases for revenue equipment. During the third quarterfirst and fourth quarters of 2017,2019, we completed our acquisition of SLD and its affiliated entities.two separate business acquisitions. See Note 11,12, Acquisition, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. We used our existing revolving credit facility and cash to finance this transactionthese transactions and to provide any necessary liquidity for current and future operations. This acquisitionThese acquisitions did not have a material impact on our interest expense.

 

At December 31, 2017,2019, we were authorized to borrow up to $500$750 million under a senior revolving line of credit, which is supported by a credit agreement with a group of banks and expires in September 2020.2023. This senior credit facility allows us to request an increase in the total commitment by up to $250 million and to request a one-year extension of the maturity date. The applicable interest rate under this agreement is based on either the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR, depending upon the specific type of borrowing, plus an applicable margin based on our credit rating and other fees. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had $242 millionno outstanding at an average interest rate of 2.52%borrowings under this agreement.

 

Our senior notes consist of three separate issuances. The first and second issuances are $250 million of 2.40% senior notes due March 2019 andis $250 million of 3.85% senior notes due March 2024, respectively, both of which werewas issued in March 2014. Interest payments under both notesthis note are due semiannually in March and September of each year.year, beginning September 2014. The third issuancesecond is $350 million of 3.30% senior notes due August 2022, issued in August 2015. Interest payments under this note are due semiannually in February and August of each year.year, beginning February 2016. The third is $700 million of 3.875% senior notes due March 2026, issued in March 2019. Interest payments under this note are due semiannually in March and September of each year, beginning September 2019. We may redeem for cash some or all of thesethe notes based on a redemption price set forth in the note indenture. We currently have an interest rate swap agreementsagreement which effectively convert our $250 million of 2.40% fixed-rate senior notes due March 2019 and our $350 million of 3.30% fixed-rate senior notes due August 2022 to a variable rates,rate, resulting in an interest rates of 2.43% and 2.77%, respectively,3.27% at December 31, 2017.2019. The applicable interest ratesrate under thesethis swap agreements areagreement is based on LIBOR plus an established margin. In addition, we previously had $250 million of 2.40% senior notes which matured in March 2019. The entire outstanding balance was paid in full at maturity.

23

 

Our financing arrangements require us to maintain certain covenants and financial ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants and financial ratios at December 31, 2017.


As previously mentioned above, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted in December 2017. Beginning in 2018, the Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, which will have a positive effect on our overall liquidity.2019.

 

We believe our liquid assets, cash generated from operations,, and various financing arrangements will provide sufficient funds for our operating and capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

We are currently committedcommitted to spend approximately $797.6$938 million, net of proceeds from sales or trade-ins, during 2018 and 2019,2020 through 2021, which is primarily related to the acquisition of tractors, containers, chassis, and tractors.other trailing equipment.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

In addition to ourWe had no off-balance sheet arrangements, other than our net purchase commitments of $797.6$938 million, our only other off-balance sheet arrangements are related to operating leases. Asas of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $74.2 million of obligations, primarily related to facility leases.2019.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following table summarizes our expected obligations and commitments (in millions)millions) as of December 31, 2017:2019:

 

 

Total

  

2018

   2019-2020   2021-2022  

2023 and thereafter

  

Total

  

2020

   2021-2022   2023-2024  

2025 and thereafter

 

Operating leases

 $74.2  $24.5  $33.6  $13.0  $3.1  $133.7  $44.9  $59.0  $19.8  $10.0 

Long-term debt obligations

  1,092.2   -   492.2   350.0   250.0  1,300.0  -  350.0  250.0  700.0 

Interest payments on debt (1)

  129.8   31.5   50.9   35.4   12.0  238.7  48.2  92.6  66.3  31.6 

Commitments to acquire revenue equipment and facilities

  797.6   414.9   382.7   -   -   938.0   376.5   561.5   -   - 

Total

 $2,093.8  $470.9  $959.4  $398.4  $265.1  $2,610.4  $469.6  $1,063.1  $336.1  $741.6 

 

(1) Interest payments on debt are based on the debt balance and applicable rate at December 31, 2017.2019.

 

We had standby letters of credit outstanding of approximately $4.4$2.7 million at December 31, 2017,2019, that expire at various dates in 2018,2020, which are related to certain operating agreements and our self-insured retention levels for casualty and workers’ compensation claims. We plan to renew these letters of credit in accordance with our third-party agreements. The table above excludes $48.9$55.4 million of liabilities related to uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties, as we are unable to reasonably estimate the ultimate timing of settlement. See Note 7, Income Taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

ITEM 7A.7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest rate risk can be quantified by measuring the financial impact of a near-term adverse increase in short-term interest rates on variable-rate debt outstanding. Our total long-term debt consists of both fixed and variable interest rate facilities. Our senior notes have fixed interest rates ranging from 2.40%3.30% to 3.85%3.875%. These fixed-rate facilities reduce the impact of changes to market interest rates on future interest expense. Our senior revolving line of credit has variable interest rates, which are based on the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or LIBOR, depending upon the specific type of borrowing, plus any applicable margins. We currently have an interest rate swap agreementsagreement which effectively convert our $250 million of 2.40% fixed-rate senior notes due March 2019 andconverts our $350 million of 3.30% fixed-rate senior notes due August 2022 to a variable rates.rate. The applicable interest ratesrate under thesethis swap agreements areagreement is based on LIBOR plus an established margin. Our earnings would be affected by changes in these short-term variable interest rates. At our current level of borrowing, a one-percentage-point increase in our applicable rate would reduce annual pretax earnings by $8.4$3.5 million.

 


24

 

Although we conduct business in foreign countries, international operations are not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations,, or cash flows. Additionally, foreign currency transaction gains and losses were not material to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.2019. Accordingly, we are not currently subject to material foreign currency exchange rate risks from the effects that exchange rate movements of foreign currencies would have on our future costs or on future cash flows we would receive from our foreign investment. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative financial instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations due to changes in the level of global oil production, seasonality, weather,, and other market factors. Historically, we have been able to recover a majority of fuel-price increases from our customers in the form of fuel surcharges. We cannot predict the extent to which volatile fluctuations in fuel prices will continue in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges could be collected to offset fuel-price increases. As of December 31, 2017,2019, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel-price fluctuations.

 

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

Our Consolidated Financial Statements, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and reports thereon of our independent registered public accounting firm as specified by this Item are presented following Item 15 of this report and include:

 

ReportsReports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 20152017

Consolidated Statements of StockholdersStockholders’ Equity for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 20152017

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 20152017

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC rules, 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. 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 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017.2019.

 

The certifications of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have been filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this report.

 


25

 

Management’sManagement’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitation, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.2019. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on our assessment, we believe that as of December 31, 2017,2019, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

 

The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2019, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that also audited our Consolidated Financial Statements. Ernst & Young LLP’s report on internal control over financial reporting is included herein.herein (following Item 15).

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017,2019, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS,, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The information required for Item 10 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 19, 2018.23, 2020.

 

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required for Item 11 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 19, 2018.23, 2020.

 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Except as set forth below, thethe information required for Item 12 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 19, 2018.23, 2020.

 


26

 

SecuritiesSecurities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

Plan Category(1)

 

Number of

Securities To Be

Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options, Warrants,

and Rights

  

Weighted-

average Exercise

Price of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants, and

Rights

  

Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under

Equity Compensation

Plans (Excluding

Securities Reflected in

Column (A))

 
  

(A)

  

(B)

  

(C)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  1,570,715  $- (2)  6,752,540 

The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2019, information about compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

Plan Category(1)

 

Number of

Securities To Be

Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options, Warrants,

and Rights

  

Weighted-

average Exercise

Price of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants, and

Rights

  

Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under

Equity Compensation

Plans (Excluding

Securities Reflected in

Column (A))

 
  

(A)

  

(B)

  

(C)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  1,688,946  $-(2)   5,710,001 

 

(1)

We have no equity compensation plans that are not approved by security holders.

 

(2)

Currently, only restricted share units remain outstanding under our equity compensation plan. Upon vesting, restricted share units remain outstanding under our equity compensation plan. Upon vesting, restricted share units are settled with shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis and, accordingly, do not include an exercise price.

 

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS,, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The information required for Item 13 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 19, 2018.23, 2020.

 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTINGACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required for Item 14 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Notice and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 19, 2018.23, 2020.

27

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS,, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(A)     Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and Exhibits:

 

(1)     Financial Statements

The financial statements included in Item 8 above are filed as part of this annual report.

 

(2)     Financial Statement Schedules

 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in millions)

 

Allowance for Doubtful

Accounts, Revenue

Adjustments and Other for

the Years Ended:

 

Balance at Beginning of

Year

  

Charged to

Expense/

Against

Revenue

  

Write-Offs,

Net of

Recoveries

  

Balance at

End of Year

 

Allowance for Doubtful

Accounts, Revenue

Adjustments and Other for

the Years Ended:

 

Balance at

Beginning of

Year

 

Charged to

Expense/
Against

Revenue

 

Write-Offs,

Net of

Recoveries

 

Balance at

End of Year

 
                         

December 31, 2015

 $9.5  $9.5  $(9.1) $9.9 

December 31, 2016

  9.9   19.5   (16.0)  13.4 

December 31, 2017

  13.4   29.3   (18.7)  24.0 

December 31, 2017

 13.4  29.3  (18.7) 24.0 

December 31, 2018

 24.0  35.7  (23.9) 35.8 

December 31, 2019

 35.8  34.2  (47.5) 22.5 

The above schedule reports allowances related to trade accounts receivable and other receivables.

 

All other schedules have been omitted either because they are not applicable or because the required information is included in our Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.

 

 

(3)     Exhibits

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section

28

Exhibit

Number

Description

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. dated May 19, 1988 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, filed April 29, 2005)

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. dated April 23, 2015 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed April 27, 2015)

4.1

Description of Capital Stock of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

4.2

Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-169365), filed September 14, 2010)

 4.3

Third Supplemental Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 6, 2014)

 4.4

Fourth Supplemental Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed August 6, 2015)

 4.5

Base Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 1, 2019)

 4.6

First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 1, 2019)

 10.1

Third Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Appendix A of the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed March 9, 2017)

 10.2

Amendment to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Third Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed April 22, 2019)

 10.3

Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Named Executive Officers for 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed January 25, 2019)

 10.4

Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Named Executive Officers for 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K/A, filed February 3, 2020)

 10.5*

Executive Retirement Agreement with David G. Mee, dated February 6, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed February 10, 2020)

 10.6*

Executive Retirement Agreement with Terrance D. Matthews, dated February 6, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed February 10, 2020)

10.7Credit Agreement and related documents (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed September 28, 2018)
10.8First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 1, 2019)

21.1

Subsidiaries of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

23.1

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

32.1

Section 1350 Certification

99.1

Equity Interests Purchase Agreement dated July 20, 2017 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed July 25, 2017)

99.2

Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 7, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed January 10, 2019)

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document)

* Portions of this report on Form 10-K (Exhibit Index).exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.

 


29

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lowell, Arkansas, on the 23rd2nd day of February, 2018.March 2020.

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

(Registrant)

    

By:  

(Registrant)

By:

/s/ John N. Roberts, III         

John N. Roberts, III

President and Chief Executive Officer

              

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on the 23rd2nd day of February, 2018,March 2020, on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 

/s/ John N. Roberts,, III President and Chief Executive Officer, Member
 John N. Roberts,, III of the Board of Directors
  (Principal Executive Officer)
   
/s/   David G. MeeExecutive Vice President, Finance and
David G. MeeAdministration, Chief Financial Officer and
Corporate Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ John Kuhlow Senior Vice President Finance, Controller,
 John Kuhlow Chief Accounting Officer, and Interim
 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

   
/s/ Kirk Thompson Chairman of the Board of Directors
 Kirk Thompson  
   
/s/ James L. Robo Member of the Board of Directors
 James L. Robo (Lead Director)
   
/s/ Douglas G. Duncan Member of the Board of Directors
 Douglas G. Duncan  
   
/s/ Francesca M. Edwardson Member of the Board of Directors
 Francesca M. Edwardson  
   
/s/ Wayne Garrison Member of the Board of Directors
 Wayne Garrison  
   
/s/ Sharilyn S. Gasaway Member of the Board of Directors
 Sharilyn S. Gasaway  
   
/s/ Gary C. George Member of the Board of Directors
 Gary C. George  
   
/s/ J. Bryan Hunt, Jr. Member of the Board of Directors
 J. Bryan Hunt, Jr.  
   
/s/ Coleman H. Peterson Member of the Board of Directors
 Coleman H. Peterson  

 


30

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

Number

Description
 3.1Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. dated May 19, 1988 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, filed April 29, 2005)
 3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. dated April 23, 2015 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed April 27, 2015)
10.1Amended and Restated Employee Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 033-57127), filed December 30, 1994)
10.2Third Amended and Restated Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Appendix A of the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed March 9, 2017)
10.3Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Named Executive Officers for 2017 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed October 24, 2016)
10.4Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Named Executive Officers for 2018 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed January 25, 2018)
10.5Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-169365), filed September 14, 2010)

10.6

Second Supplemental Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 6, 2014)

10.7

Third Supplemental Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed March 6, 2014)

10.8Fourth Supplemental Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed August 6, 2015)
10.9Credit Agreement and related documents (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed October 2, 2015)
21.1Subsidiaries of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
23.1Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
31.1Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification
31.2Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification
32.1Section 1350 Certification
99.1Equity Interests Purchase Agreement dated July 20, 2017 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed July 25, 2017)
101.INSXBRL Instance Document
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document



 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 PAGE
  
Management’sManagement’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting3032
  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements3133
  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting3235
  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20172019 and 201620183336
  
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 201520173437
  
Consolidated Statements of StockholdersStockholders’ Equity for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 201520173538
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2019, 2018, and 2015

2017
3639
  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements3740

 


31

 

Management’sManagement’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

We are responsible for the preparation, integrity,, and fair presentation of our Consolidated Financial Statements and related information appearing in this report. We take these responsibilities very seriously and are committed to maintaining controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that we collect the information we are required to disclose in our reports to the SEC and to process, summarize, and disclose this information within the time periods specified by the SEC.

 

Based on an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, conducted by our management and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,, we believe our controls and procedures are effective to ensure that we are able to collect, process, and disclose the information we are required to disclose in our reports filed with the SEC within the required time periods.

 

We are responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. Because of its inherent limitation, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.2019. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on our assessment, we believe that as of December 31, 2017,2019, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

 

The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2019, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that also audited our Consolidated Financial Statements. Ernst & Young LLP’s report on internal control over financial reporting is included herein.

 

 

 

/s/ John N. Roberts, III

 

/s/ David G. Mee                                   John Kuhlow

 

John N. Roberts, III

 

David G. Mee

John Kuhlow

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

ExecutiveSenior Vice President Finance, and

Controller,

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Administration, Chief FinancialAccounting Officer,

and Interim

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 


32

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the StockholdersStockholders and the Board of Directors of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial“consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 23, 2018,March 2, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’sCompany’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Claims Accruals

Description of the Matter

At December 31, 2019, the Company’s aggregate claims accrual was $263 million, which is primarily related to casualty and workers’ compensation claims, inclusive of amounts expected to be paid by the Company’s insurers above its self-insured retention limits. As explained in Note 2 of the financial statements, the Company recognizes a liability at the time of the incident based upon the nature and severity of the claim and analyses provided by third-party claims administrators. The Company uses an actuarial method to develop currently known claim information to derive an estimate of the ultimate claim liability to account for estimated incurred but not reported losses (“IBNR”).

Auditing the Company's claims accruals is complex and involves significant measurement uncertainty associated with the estimate, the application of significant management judgment, and the use of various actuarial methods. In addition, the estimate for claims accruals is sensitive to significant management assumptions, including the frequency and severity assumptions used to derive the computation of the IBNR, and the case reserves and loss development factors for reported claims.

33

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of internal controls over the claims accrual process, including management’s assessment of the assumptions and data underlying the IBNR reserve.

To evaluate the claims accruals, our audit procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying claims by performing a test of details over a representative sample. Furthermore, we involved our actuarial specialist to assist in our evaluation of the methodologies applied by management in determining the calculated reserve. We compared the Company’s reserved amount to a range which our actuarial specialist developed based on independently selected assumptions.

Accounting for Acquisition of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery

Description of the Matter

During 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery (“Cory”) for net consideration of $100 million, as disclosed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination. 

Auditing the Company's accounting for its acquisition of Cory was complex due to the significant estimation required by management to determine the fair value of acquired customer-related intangible assets and goodwill of $45.8 million and $48.2 million, respectively. The significant estimation was primarily due to the complexity of the valuation methods used by management to measure the fair value of the intangible assets and the sensitivity of the respective fair values to the significant underlying assumptions. The significant assumptions used in the valuation included volatility, discount rate, and revenue projections. The Company used the multi-period excess earnings, relief from royalty, and with-and-without methods to measure the intangible assets. The significant assumptions used to estimate the value of the intangible assets included discount rates and certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results (e.g., revenue growth rates, attrition rate and market participant synergies). These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions.

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company's controls over its accounting for acquisitions. Our tests included controls over the estimation process supporting the recognition and measurement of consideration transferred, and the intangible assets. We also tested management’s review of assumptions used in the valuation models.

To test the estimated fair value of the intangible assets, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, evaluating the Company's selection of the valuation methodology, evaluating the methods and significant assumptions used in the Company’s valuation models, and evaluating the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data supporting the significant assumptions and estimates. We involved our valuation specialists to assist with our evaluation of the methodology used by the Company and significant assumptions included in the fair value estimates. For example, we compared the significant assumptions to current industry, market and economic trends, to the assumptions used to value similar assets in other acquisitions, to the historical results of the acquired business and to other guidelines used by companies within the same industry. We involved our valuation specialists to assist in our evaluation of the significant assumptions, including revenue growth rates and discount rate, and to assist with reconciling the prospective financial information with other prospective financial information prepared by the Company.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

We have served as the Company’sCompany’s auditor since 2005.

 

Rogers, Arkansas

February 23, 2018March 2, 2020

 


34

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the StockholdersStockholders and the Board of Directors of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2019, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders'stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”) of the Company and our report dated February 23, 2018,March 2, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company’sCompany’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

 

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

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

 

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

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

Rogers, Arkansas

February 23, 2018March 2, 2020

 


35

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.INC.

Consolidated Balance SheetsSheets

December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

(in thousands, except share data)data)

 

 

2017

  

2016

  

2019

  

2018

 
Assets     

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $14,612  $6,377 

Trade accounts receivable, net

  920,767   745,288 

Other receivables, net

  283,499   189,665 

Inventories

  20,688   18,577 

Prepaid expenses

  99,162   107,513 

Total current assets

  1,338,728   1,067,420 

Property and equipment, at cost:

        

Revenue and service equipment

  4,158,878   3,820,439 

Land

  47,231   46,827 

Structures and improvements

  202,730   175,900 

Furniture and office equipment

  261,625   215,749 

Total property and equipment

  4,670,464   4,258,915 

Less accumulated depreciation

  1,687,133   1,440,124 

Net property and equipment

  2,983,331   2,818,791 

Goodwill

  39,764   - 

Other intangible assets, net

  73,691   2,356 
Assets     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

 $35,000  $7,600 

Trade accounts receivable, net

 1,011,829  1,051,698 

Other receivables, net

 230,331  274,511 

Inventories

 21,106  21,977 

Prepaid expenses

  183,033   147,195 

Total current assets

  1,481,299   1,502,981 

Property and equipment, at cost:

     

Revenue and service equipment

 4,837,747  4,716,860 

Land

 58,692  49,486 

Structures and improvements

 302,184  238,202 

Furniture and office equipment

  442,183   324,695 

Total property and equipment

 5,640,806  5,329,243 

Less accumulated depreciation

  2,019,940   1,884,132 

Net property and equipment

  3,620,866   3,445,111 

Goodwill

 96,326  40,087 

Other intangible assets, net

 106,506  65,070 

Other assets

  29,835   62,160   165,857   38,398 

Total assets

 $4,465,349  $3,950,727 

Total assets

 $5,470,854  $5,091,647 
         

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

        

Current liabilities:

        

Trade accounts payable

 $598,594  $384,308 

Claims accruals

  251,980   231,484 

Accrued payroll

  42,382   51,929 

Other accrued expenses

  28,888   27,152 

Total current liabilities

  921,844   694,873 

Long-term debt

  1,085,649   986,278 

Other long-term liabilities

  76,661   64,881 

Deferred income taxes

  541,870   790,634 

Total liabilities

  2,626,024   2,536,666 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

        

Stockholders’ equity:

        

Preferred stock, $100 par value. 10 million shares authorized; none outstanding

  -   - 

Common stock, $.01 par value. 1 billion shares authorized; (167,099,432 shares issued at December 31, 2017 and 2016, of which 109,753,008 shares and 111,305,021 shares were outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)

  1,671   1,671 

Additional paid-in capital

  310,811   293,087 

Retained earnings

  3,803,844   3,218,943 

Treasury stock, at cost (57,346,424 shares at December 31, 2017, and 55,794,411 shares at December 31, 2016)

  (2,277,001)  (2,099,640)

Total stockholders’ equity

  1,839,325   1,414,061 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

        

Current liabilities:

     

Current portion of long-term debt

 $-  $250,706 

Trade accounts payable

 602,601  709,736 

Claims accruals

 279,590  275,139 

Accrued payroll

 68,220  80,922 

Other accrued expenses

  85,355   35,845 

Total current liabilities

  1,035,766   1,352,348 

Long-term debt

 1,295,740  898,398 

Other long-term liabilities

 173,241  96,056 

Deferred income taxes

  699,078   643,461 

Total liabilities

  3,203,825   2,990,263 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

   

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock, $100 par value. 10 million shares authorized; none outstanding

 -  - 

Common stock, $.01 par value. 1 billion shares authorized; (167,099,432 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and 2018, of which 106,212,908 and 108,710,825 shares were outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)

 1,671  1,671 

Additional paid-in capital

 374,049  340,457 

Retained earnings

 4,592,938  4,188,435 

Treasury stock, at cost (60,886,524 shares at December 31, 2019, and 58,388,607 shares at December 31, 2018)

  (2,701,629)  (2,429,179)

Total stockholders’ equity

 2,267,029  2,101,384 
             

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $4,465,349  $3,950,727 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $5,470,854  $5,091,647 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

 


36

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.INC.

Consolidated Statements of EarningsEarnings

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 20162019, 2018 and 20152017

(in thousands, except per share amounts)amounts)

 

 2017  2016  2015  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues $6,435,858  $6,007,347  $5,516,282 
Fuel surcharge revenues  753,710   548,112   671,364 

Total operating revenues

  7,189,568   6,555,459   6,187,646 

Operating expenses:

            

Rents and purchased transportation

  3,650,806   3,255,692   2,994,586 
 

Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues

 $8,122,600  $7,557,648  $6,435,858 

Fuel surcharge revenues

  1,042,658   1,057,226   753,710 

Total operating revenues

  9,165,258   8,614,874   7,189,568 

Operating expenses:

       

Rents and purchased transportation

 4,528,812  4,434,540  3,650,806 

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

  1,608,378   1,469,187   1,394,239  2,167,851  1,926,213  1,608,378 

Depreciation and amortization

  383,518   361,510   339,613 

Depreciation and amortization

 499,145  435,893  383,518 

Fuel and fuel taxes

  347,573   283,437   313,034  463,195  459,011  347,573 

Operating supplies and expenses

  257,239   233,223   220,597 

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

  125,878   87,053   72,522 

Insurance and claims

  123,579   78,410   73,689 

Operating taxes and licenses

  44,825   45,954   43,084 

Communication and utilities

  23,983   19,973   20,588 

Total operating expenses

  6,565,779   5,834,439   5,471,952 

Operating income

  623,789   721,020   715,694 

Operating supplies and expenses

 333,113  303,529  257,239 

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

 191,933  163,270  125,878 

Insurance and claims

 157,251  129,406  123,579 

Operating taxes and licenses

 55,336  51,080  44,825 

Communication and utilities

  34,797   30,911   23,983 

Total operating expenses

  8,431,433   7,933,853   6,565,779 

Operating income

 733,825  681,021  623,789 

Interest income

  235   71   86  1,754  224  235 

Interest expense

  28,785   25,294   25,577   54,684   40,427   28,785 

Earnings before income taxes

  595,239   695,797   690,203 

Income taxes

  (91,024)  263,707   262,968 

Net earnings

 $686,263  $432,090  $427,235 
            

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

  109,987   112,474   115,677 

Basic earnings per share

 $6.24  $3.84  $3.69 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

  111,049   113,361   116,728 

Diluted earnings per share

 $6.18  $3.81  $3.66 

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.92  $0.88  $0.84 

Earnings before income taxes

 680,895  640,818  595,239 

Income taxes

  164,575   151,233   (91,024)

Net earnings

 $516,320  $489,585  $686,263 

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

  107,329   109,375   109,987 

Basic earnings per share

 $4.81  $4.48  $6.24 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

  108,307   110,428   111,049 

Diluted earnings per share

 $4.77  $4.43  $6.18 

Dividends declared per common share

 $1.04  $0.96  $0.92 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

 


37

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' EquityEquity

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 20162019, 2018 and 20152017

(in thousands, except per share amounts)amounts)

 

     

Additional

                  

Additional

            
 

Common

  

Paid-in

  

Retained

  

Treasury

  

Stockholders

  

Common

 

Paid-in

 

Retained

 

Treasury

 

Stockholders’

 
 

Stock

  

Capital

  

Earnings

  

Stock

  

Equity

  

Stock

  

Capital

  

Earnings

  

Stock

  

Equity

 

Balances at December 31, 2014

 $1,671  $247,641  $2,555,972  $(1,600,761) $1,204,523 

Comprehensive income:

                    

Net earnings

  -   -   427,235   -   427,235 

Cash dividend declared and paid ($0.84 per share)

  -   -   (97,364)  -   (97,364)

Tax benefit of stock options exercised and restricted shares issued

  -   12,877   -   -   12,877 

Purchase of treasury shares

  -   -   -   (262,275)  (262,275)

Share-based compensation

  -   37,228   -   -   37,228 

Stock option exercises and restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes

  -   (29,018)  -   7,146   (21,872)
                    

Balances at December 31, 2015

 $1,671  $268,728  $2,885,843  $(1,855,890) $1,300,352 

Comprehensive income:

                    

Net earnings

  -   -   432,090   -   432,090 

Cash dividend declared and paid ($0.88 per share)

  -   -   (98,990)  -   (98,990)

Tax benefit of stock options exercised and restricted shares issued

  -   7,044   -   -   7,044 

Purchase of treasury shares

  -   -   -   (249,760)  (249,760)

Share-based compensation

  -   40,625   -   -   40,625 

Stock option exercises and restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes

  -   (23,310)  -   6,010   (17,300)
                    

Balances at December 31, 2016

 $1,671  $293,087  $3,218,943  $(2,099,640) $1,414,061 

Balances at December 31, 2016

 $1,671  $293,087  $3,218,943  $(2,099,640) $1,414,061 

Comprehensive income:

                               

Net earnings

  -   -   686,263   -   686,263  -  -  686,263  -  686,263 

Cash dividend declared and paid ($0.92 per share)

  -   -   (101,362)  -   (101,362) -  -  (101,362) -  (101,362)

Purchase of treasury shares

  -   -   -   (179,813)  (179,813) -  -  -  (179,813) (179,813)

Share-based compensation

  -   38,291   -   -   38,291  -  38,291  -  -  38,291 

Restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes

  -   (20,567)  -   2,452   (18,115)

Restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes and other

 -  (20,567) -  2,452  (18,115)
                               

Balances at December 31, 2017

 $1,671  $310,811  $3,803,844  $(2,277,001) $1,839,325 

Balances at December 31, 2017

 $1,671  $310,811  $3,803,844  $(2,277,001) $1,839,325 

Comprehensive income:

           

Net earnings

 -  -  489,585  -  489,585 

Cash dividend declared and paid ($0.96 per share)

 -  -  (104,994) -  (104,994)

Purchase of treasury shares

 -  -  -  (150,338) (150,338)

Share-based compensation

 -  47,369  -  -  47,369 

Restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes and other

 -  (17,723) -  (1,840) (19,563)
           

Balances at December 31, 2018

 $1,671  $340,457  $4,188,435  $(2,429,179) $2,101,384 

Comprehensive income:

           

Net earnings

 -  -  516,320  -  516,320 

Cash dividend declared and paid ($1.04 per share)

 -  -  (111,817) -  (111,817)

Purchase of treasury shares

 -  -  -  (275,657) (275,657)

Share-based compensation

 -  53,324  -  -  53,324 

Restricted share issuances, net of stock repurchased for payroll taxes and other

 -  (19,732) -  3,207  (16,525)
           

Balances at December 31, 2019

 $1,671  $374,049  $4,592,938  $(2,701,629) $2,267,029 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

 


38

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash FlowsFlows

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 20162019, 2018 and 20152017

(in thousands)thousands)

 

 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

            

Cash flows from operating activities:

       

Net earnings

 $686,263  $432,090  $427,235  $516,320  $489,585  $686,263 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

            

Depreciation and amortization

  383,518   361,510   339,613 

Share-based compensation

  38,291   40,625   37,228 

(Gain)/loss on sale of revenue equipment and other

  7,370   5,490   (1,281)

Advance deposit impairment

  20,240   -   - 

Deferred income taxes

  (248,764)  50,414   80,427 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

            

Trade accounts receivable

  (166,111)  (120,994)  8,011 

Income taxes receivable or payable

  (45,542)  60,956   3,055 

Other current assets

  69,462   (37,101)  (26,493)

Trade accounts payable

  85,237   60,818   8,600 

Claims accruals

  25,021   5,524   7,502 

Accrued payroll and other accrued expenses

  168   (5,189)  (10,589)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  855,153   854,143   873,308 

Cash flows from investing activities:

            

Additions to property and equipment

  (526,928)  (638,430)  (725,122)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

  16,413   153,174   168,686 

Business acquisition

  (136,879)  -   - 

Change in other assets

  (3,888)  (132)  (20,096)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (651,282)  (485,388)  (576,532)

Cash flows from financing activities:

            

Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt

  -   -   349,129 

Payments on long-term debt

  -   -   (250,000)

Proceeds from revolving lines of credit and other

  2,716,155   1,715,427   2,110,800 

Payments on revolving lines of credit and other

  (2,612,501)  (1,724,365)  (2,138,466)

Purchase of treasury stock

  (179,813)  (249,760)  (262,275)

Stock option exercises and other

  1,100   1,341   2,978 

Stock repurchased for payroll taxes

  (19,215)  (18,641)  (24,850)

Tax benefit of stock options exercised and restricted shares issued

  -   7,044   12,877 

Dividends paid

  (101,362)  (98,990)  (97,364)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (195,636)  (367,944)  (297,171)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  8,235   811   (395)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

  6,377   5,566   5,961 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 $14,612  $6,377  $5,566 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

            

Cash paid during the year for:

            

Interest

 $28,785  $24,800  $27,245 

Income taxes

 $190,783  $143,634  $163,304 

Noncash investing activities

            

Accruals for equipment received

 $53,026  $13,522  $32,038 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

       

Depreciation and amortization

 499,145  435,893  383,518 

Noncash lease expense

 39,517  -  - 

Share-based compensation

 53,324  47,369  38,291 

Loss on sale of revenue equipment and other

 13,057  12,107  7,370 

Advance deposit impairment

 -  -  20,240 

Deferred income taxes

 55,617  101,591  (248,764)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

       

Trade accounts receivable

 50,310  (130,931) (166,111)

Income taxes receivable or payable

 41,447  (41,071) (45,542)

Other current assets

 (4,975) (6,133) 69,462 

Trade accounts payable

 (85,327) 98,037  85,237 

Claims accruals

 (20,727) 21,580  25,021 

Accrued payroll and other accrued expenses

  (59,361)  59,814   168 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  1,098,347   1,087,841   855,153 

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

Additions to property and equipment

 (854,115) (995,650) (526,928)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

 165,918  110,165  16,413 

Business acquisition

 (115,654) -  (136,879)

Change in other assets

  (111)  (1,288)  (3,888)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (803,962)  (886,773)  (651,282)

Cash flows from financing activities:

       

Proceeds from long-term debt

 700,000  -  - 

Payments on long-term debt

 (250,000) -  - 

Proceeds from revolving lines of credit and other

 1,591,014  3,204,715  2,716,155 

Payments on revolving lines of credit and other

 (1,904,000) (3,137,900) (2,612,501)

Purchase of treasury stock

 (275,657) (150,338) (179,813)

Stock repurchased for payroll taxes and other

 (16,525) (19,563) (18,115)

Dividends paid

  (111,817)  (104,994)  (101,362)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (266,985)  (208,080)  (195,636)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 27,400  (7,012) 8,235 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

  7,600   14,612   6,377 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 $35,000  $7,600  $14,612 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

       

Cash paid during the year for:

       

Interest

 $46,721  $39,901  $28,785 

Income taxes

 $71,681  $83,822  $190,783 

Noncash investing activities

       

Accruals for equipment received

 $25,505  $49,390  $53,026 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

 


39

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.

Business

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is one of the largest surface transportation and delivery service companies in North America. We operate four distinct, but complementary, business segments and provide a wide range of general and specifically tailored freight and logistics services to our customers. We generate revenues from the actual movement of freight from shippers to consignees, customized labor and delivery services, and serving as a logistics provider by offering or arranging for others to provide the transportation service. Unless otherwise indicated by the context, “we,” “us,” “our” and “JBHT” refer to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Consolidation

 

Our ConsolidatedConsolidated Financial Statements include all of our wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is a parent-level holding company with no significant assets or operations. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and is the primary operating subsidiary. All other subsidiaries of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. are minor.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that directly affect the amounts reported in such statements and accompanying notes. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis utilizing historical experience, consulting with experts and using other methods we consider reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, our actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.

 

We believe certain accounting policies and estimates are of more significance in our financial statement preparation process than others. We believe the most critical accounting policies and estimates include the economic useful lives and salvage values of our assets, provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable, estimates of exposures under our insurance and claims policies,policies, and estimates for taxes. To the extent that actual, final outcomes are different from our estimates, or that additional facts and circumstances cause us to revise our estimates, our earnings during that accounting period will be affected.

 

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation format. Insurance receivables for claims in excess of self-insurance levels, which were previously offset against our claims accruals, have been reclassed to other receivables, resulting in a $121.7 million increase in other receivables and a corresponding increase in claims accruals in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2016.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash in excess of current operating requirements is invested in short-term, highly liquid investments. We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance

 

Our trade accounts receivable includes accounts receivable reduced by an allowance for uncollectible accounts and revenue adjustments. Receivables are recorded at amounts billed to customers when loads are delivered or services are performed. The allowance for uncollectible accounts and revenue adjustments is based on historical experience, as well as any known trends or uncertainties related to customer billing and account collectability. The adequacy of our allowance is reviewed quarterly. Balances are charged against the allowance when it is determined the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for uncollectible accounts and revenue adjustments for our trade accounts receivable was $15.4$22.5 million and $13.4$23.6 million at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively. The allowance for uncollectible accounts for our other receivables was $8.6$12.2 million at December 31, 2017.2018, with 0 allowance present at December 31, 2019.

 


40

 

Inventory

 

Our inventories consist primarily of revenue equipment parts, tires, supplies, and fuel, and are valued using the lower of average cost or market.

 

Investments

Investments in Marketable Equity Securities

 

Our investments consist of marketable equity securities stated at fair value and are designated as either trading securities or available-for-sale securities at the time of purchase based upon the intended holding period. Changes in the fair value of our trading securities are recognized currently in “general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions” in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Changes in the fair value of our available-for-sale securities are recognized in “accumulated other comprehensive income” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, unless we determine that an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary. If we determine that an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, we recognize the loss in earnings. Cost basis is determined using average cost.

 

At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, we had no0 available-for-sale securities. See Note 8, Employee Benefit Plans, for a discussion of our trading securities.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 4 to 10 years for tractors, 7 to 20 years for trailing equipment, 10 to 40 years for structures and improvements, 3 to 7 years for computer hardware and software, and 3 to 10 years for furniture and office equipment. Salvage values are typically 10% to 30% of original cost for tractors and trailing equipment and reflect any agreements with tractor suppliers for residual or trade-in values for certain new equipment. We periodically review these useful lives and salvage values. We capitalize tires placed in service on new revenue equipment as a part of the equipment cost. Replacement tires and costs for recapping tires are expensed at the time the tires are placed in service. Gains and losses on the sale or other disposition of equipment are recognized at the time of the disposition and are classified in general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

 

We continually evaluate the carrying value of our assets for events or changes in circumstances that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Leases

We recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the effective date of a lease agreement. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset over the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments resulting from the lease agreement. We initially record these assets and liabilities based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term calculated using our incremental borrowing rate applicable to the leased asset or the implicit rate within the agreement if it is readily determinable. Lease agreements with lease and non-lease components are combined as a single lease component. Right-of-use assets additionally include net prepaid lease expenses. Options to extend or terminate an agreement are included in the lease term when it becomes reasonably certain the option will be exercised. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, short-term leases, are not recorded on the balance sheet. Lease expense for short-term and long-term operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, while variable lease payments are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue based on relative transit time in each reporting period and as other services are provided, with expenses recognized as incurred. Accordingly, a portion of the total revenue that will be billed to the customer once a load is delivered is recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of the freight pickup and delivery service that has been completed at the end of the reporting period.

We record revenues on the gross basis at amounts charged to our customers because we control and are primarily responsible for the primary obligor,fulfillment of promised services. Accordingly, we areserve as a principal in the transaction, wetransaction. We invoice our customers, and retain all credit risks, and we maintain discretion over pricing. Additionally, we are responsible for selection of third-party transportation providers to the extent used to satisfy customer freight requirements.

 


41

 

Our revenue is earned through the service offerings of our four reportable business segments. See Note 14, Business Segments, for revenue reported by segment. All revenue transactions between reporting segments are eliminated in consolidation.

Intermodal (JBI) - JBI segment includes freight that is transported by rail over at least some portion of the movement and also includes certain repositioning truck freight moved by JBI equipment or third-party carriers, when such highway movement is intended to direct JBI equipment back toward intermodal operations. JBI performs these services primarily through contractual rate quotes with customers that are held static for a period of time, usually one year.

Dedicated Contract Services® (DCS) - DCS segment business includes company-owned and customer-owned, DCS-operated revenue equipment and employee drivers assigned to a specific customer, traffic lane, or service. DCS operations usually include formal, written longer-term customer contracts that govern services performed and applicable rates.

Integrated Capacity Solutions™ (ICS) - ICS provides non-asset and asset-light transportation solutions to customers through relationships with third-party carriers and integration with company-owned equipment. ICS services include flatbed, refrigerated, and less-than-truckload (LTL), as well as a variety of dry-van and intermodal solutions. ICS performs these services through customer contractual rate quotes as well as spot quotes that are one-time rate quotes issued for a single transaction or group of transactions.

Truckload (JBT) - JBT business includes full-load, dry-van freight that is typically transported utilizing company-owned or company-controlled revenue equipment. This freight is typically transported over roads and highways and does not move by rail. JBT utilizes both contractual rate quotes and spot rate quotes with customers.

We recognize revenue from customer contracts based on relative transit time in each reporting period and as other performance obligations are provided, with related expenses recognized as incurred. Accordingly, a portion of the total revenue that will be billed to the customer is recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of the freight pickup and delivery performance obligation that has been completed at the end of the reporting period.

Derivative Instruments

 

We periodically utilize derivative instruments to manage exposure to changes in interest rates. At inception of a derivative contract, we document relationships between derivative instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various derivative transactions, and assess hedge effectiveness. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, or if a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method.method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date. We record valuation allowances for deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets are not more likely than not to be realized through the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, or tax-planning strategies. We record a liability for unrecognized tax benefits when the benefits of tax positions taken on a tax return are not more likely than not to be sustained upon audit. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are classified as interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

 

42

Earnings Per Share

 

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net earnings available to common stockholdersstockholders by the actual weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if holders of unvested restricted and performance share units or options exercised or converted their holdings into common stock. Outstanding unvested restricted share units and stock options represent the dilutive effects on weighted average shares. A reconciliation of the number of shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share is shown below (in thousands):

 

  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

  107,329   109,375   109,987 

Effect of common stock equivalents

  978   1,053   1,062 

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

  108,307   110,428   111,049 

Years ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

109,987112,474115,677

Effect of common stock equivalents

1,0628871,051

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

111,049113,361116,728

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk, include trade receivables. For each of the years ended December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, our top 10 customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 32%, 30%, and 29% of our total revenue. Our top 10 customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 31%34% and 28%32% of our total trade accounts receivable at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively. We had no individual customers with revenues greater than 10% of total revenues.

 

Share-based

Share-based Compensation

 

We havehave a share-based compensation plan covering certain employees, including officers and directors. We account for share-based compensation utilizing the fair value recognition provisions of current accounting standards for share-based payments. We currently utilize restricted share units and performance share units and in the past have also utilized nonstatutory stock options.units. Issuances of our stock upon restricted share unit and performance share unit vesting or share option exercise are made from treasury stock. Our restricted share unit and performance share unit awards may include both graded-vesting and cliff-vesting awards and therefore vest in increments during the requisite service period or at the end of the requisite service period, as appropriate for each type of vesting. We recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods within each award. The benefit for the forfeiture of an award is recorded in the period in which it occurs.

 


Claims Accruals

 

We purchase insurance coverage for a portion of expenses related to employee injuries, vehicular collisions, accidents,, and cargo damage. We are substantially self-insured for loss of and damage to our owned and leased revenue equipment. Certain insurance arrangements include a level of self-insurance (deductible) coverage applicable to each claim. We have umbrella policies to limit our exposure to catastrophic claim costs.

 

The amounts of self-insurance change from time to time based on measurement dates, policy expiration dates, and claim type. For 20152017 throughand 2017,2018, we were self-insured for $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury and property damage and self-insured for $100,000 per workers’ compensation claim. For 2019, we were self-insured for $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury and property damage and fully insured for workers’ compensation claims for nearly all states. We have policies in place for 20182020 with substantially the same terms as our 20172019 policies for personal injury, property damage, workers’ compensation, and cargo and propertyloss or damage.

 

43

Our claims accrual policy for all self-insured claims is to recognize a liability at the time of the incident based on our analysis of the nature and severity of the claims and analyses provided by third-party claims administrators, as well as legal, economic, and regulatory factors. Our safety and claims personnel work directly with representatives from the insurance companies to continually update the estimated cost of each claim. The ultimate cost of a claim develops over time as additional information regarding the nature, timing, and extent of damages claimed becomes available. Accordingly, we use an actuarial method to develop current claim information to derive an estimate of our ultimate claim liability. This process involves the use of loss-development factors based on our historical claims experience and includes a contractual premium adjustment factor, if applicable. In doing so, the recorded liability considers future claims growth and provides an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. We do not discount our estimated losses. At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, we had an accrual of approximately $238$263 million and $220$260 million, respectively, for estimated claims.claims, which are recorded in claims accruals in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, we record receivables for amounts expected to be reimbursed for payments made in excess of self-insurance levels on covered claims.  At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, we have recorded $256$281 million and $254$261 million, respectively, of expected reimbursement for covered excess claims, insurance premiums and other insurance deposits.deposits, and prepaid insurance premiums. Of these total asset balances, $157 million and $158 million have been included in other receivables, with the remaining balance included in prepaid expenses in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Business Combinations

The purchase price of our acquisitions is the aggregate of the consideration transferred, including liabilities incurred, measured at the acquisition date. We allocate the purchase price of acquisitions to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. This assignment of fair values to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires the use of estimates, judgments, inputs, and assumptions. The excess of the purchase price over those estimated fair values is recorded as goodwill. Changes to the acquisition date provisional fair values prior to the end of the measurement period are recorded as adjustments to the associated goodwill. Acquisition-related expenses and restructuring costs, if any, are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Goodwill is reviewed, using a market based approach, for potential impairment as of October 1st on an annual basis or, more frequently, if circumstances indicate a potential impairment is present. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 52 to 1015 years.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014,June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No.20142016-09,13, Revenue from ContractsFinancial Instruments – Credit Losses, which will replace the current incurred loss methodology used for establishing a provision against financial assets, including accounts receivable, with Customers, which supersedes virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchangea forward-looking expected loss methodology for those goods or services. This update also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing,accounts receivable, loans and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract.


In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09,one year to interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption was permitted after the original effective date of December 15, 2016.

Our implementation team has completed the process of contract review and documentation in accordance with the standard.other financial instruments. We will adopt thisthe new standard in theon firstJanuary 1, 2020, quarter 2018,using the modified retrospective transition approach. We documulative-effect method. The adoption of the new guidance is not expect the standardexpected to have a material impact on our financial statements, although additional disclosures will be required.statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2019

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for most leases inon the balance sheet as well as other qualitative and quantitative disclosures. ASU 2016-02 is to be applied using a modified retrospective method and iswas effective for interim and annual periods beginning afterus on December 15, 2018,January 1, 2019. but early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential effects of the adoption of this update on our financial statements. See Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, in our Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of our remaining obligations under operating lease arrangements.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2017

In March 2016,July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 20162018-09,11, Compensation – Stock Compensation: ImprovementsLeases, which provides an optional transition method allowing entities to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of stockholders’ equity in the period of adoption, with no restatement of comparative prior periods required. We adopted the standard using this optional transition method.

The FASB has provided certain practical expedients in applying the standard. Of the allowed practical expedients within the standard applicable to our operations, we elected the package of practical expedients which, amended and simplified certain aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions, includingamong other things, allowed us to carry forward the income tax consequences,historical lease classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments were effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The application methods used inupon adoption varied with each component of the standard. We prospectively adopted ASUdid 2016-09not duringelect the hindsight practical expedient when determining the lease term for existing leases. In addition, we did firstnot quarterseparate non-lease components from lease components by class of underlying assets where appropriate and we did 2017,not which, upon vesting of share-based awards, resulted inapply the recognition of excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies from share-based compensation as a discrete item in our income tax expense. Historically, these amounts were recorded as additional paid-in capital. Effectively all of our outstanding share-based awards as of December 31, 2017 vest within the third quarterrequirements of the vesting year,standard to short-term leases, as allowed by the standard.

Upon adoption of the standard, we recorded offsetting lease assets and accordingly, we recognized an excess tax benefit of $4.9lease liabilities resulting in a $102.4 million during the third quarter 2017. In addition, cash flows from excess tax benefits from share-based compensation, which historically have been reported as cash flows from financing activities, are now reported, onincrease in other assets, a prospective basis, as cash flows from operating activities$32.3 million increase in other accrued expenses and a $70.1 million increase in other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated StatementBalance Sheet, as of Cash Flows. The remaining amendments within the standard had no impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017,1, 2019. the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removes the requirement to compare the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount as part of step twoThe adoption of the goodwill impairment test. Instead, this update requires an entity to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for impairment measurement tests occurring after January 1, 2017, and accordingly, we early adopted ASU 2017-04 in 2017, whichstandard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows or debt covenant compliance.

44

 

 

3.

Financing Arrangements

 

Outstanding borrowings,, net of unamortized discount, unamortized debt issuance cost, and fair value swap, under our current financing arrangements consist of the following (in millions):

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Senior revolving line of credit

 $241.4  $139.0 

Senior notes

  844.2   847.3 

Total long-term debt

 $1,085.6  $986.3 


  

December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

 

Senior revolving line of credit

 $-  $307.1 

Senior notes

  1,295.7   842.0 

Less current portion of long-term debt

  -   (250.7)

Total long-term debt

 $1,295.7  $898.4 

 

Aggregate maturities of long-term debt subsequent to December 31, 2017,2019, are as follows: $249.9$353.1 million in 2019,2022, $241.4 million$248.6 in 2020,2024, and $594.3$694.0 million thereafter.

 

Senior Revolving Line of Credit

 

At December 31, 2017,2019, we were authorized to borrow up to $500$750 million under a senior revolving line of credit, which is supported by a credit agreement with a group of banks and expires in September 2020.2023. This senior credit facility allows us to request an increase in the total commitment by up to $250$250 million and to request a one-year extension of the maturity date. The applicable interest rate under this agreement is based on either the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR, depending upon the specific type of borrowing, plus an applicable margin based on our credit rating and other fees. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had $242.2 million0 outstanding at an average interest rate of 2.52%borrowings under this agreement.

 

Senior Notes

 

Our senior notes consist of three separate issuances. The first and second issuances are $250is $250 million of 2.40% senior notes due March 2019 and $250 million of 3.85% senior notes due March 2024, respectively, both of which werewas issued in March 2014. Interest payments under both notesthis note are due semiannually in March and September of each year. year, beginning September 2014. The thirdsecond issuance is $350$350 million of 3.30% senior notes due August 2022, issued in August 2015. Interest payments under this note are due semiannually in February and August of each year, beginning February 2016.The third is $700 million of 3.875% senior notes due March 2026, issued in March 2019. Interest payments under this note are due semiannually in March and September of each year, beginning September 2019. All three senior notes were issued by J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a parent-level holding company with no significant assets or operations. The notes are guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by a wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary. All other subsidiaries of the parent are minor. We registered these offerings and the sale of the notes under the Securities Act of 1933, pursuant to a shelf registration statementstatements filed in February 2014.2014 and January 2019. All notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with our existing and future senior unsecured debt. We may redeem for cash some or all of the notes based on a redemption price set forth in the note indenture. See Note 4, Derivative Financial Instruments, for terms of an interest rate swapsswap entered into on the $250 million of 2.40% senior notes due March 2019 and the $350 million of 3.30% senior notes due August 2022.Our $250 million of 2.40% senior notes matured in March 2019. The entire outstanding balance was paid in full at maturity.

 

Our financing arrangements require us to maintain certain covenants and financial ratios.  We were in compliance with all covenants and financial ratios at December 31, 2019.2017.

 

 

4.

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We periodically utilize derivative instruments for hedging and non-trading purposes to manage exposure to changes in interest rates and to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed and variable-rate debt. At inception of a derivative contract, we document relationships between derivative instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various derivative transactions, and assess hedge effectiveness. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, or if a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively.

45

 

We entered into a receive fixed-rate and pay variable-rate interest rate swap agreementsagreement simultaneously with the issuance of our $250$350 million of 2.40% senior notes due March 2019 and $350 million of 3.30% senior notes due August 2022, to effectively convert this fixed-rate debt to variable-rate. The notional amountsamount of thesethis interest rate swap agreements equal thoseagreement equals that of the corresponding fixed-rate debt. The applicable interest ratesrate under these agreementsthis agreement is based on LIBOR plus an established margin, resultingresulting in an interest rate of 2.43% for our $250 million of 2.40% senior notes and 2.77%3.27% for our $350 million of 3.30% senior notes at December 31, 2017.2019. The swaps expireswap expires when the corresponding senior notes are due. The fair valuesvalue of these swaps arethis swap is recorded in other assets and other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017.2019. See Note 9, Fair Value Measurements, for disclosure of fair value. These derivatives meetThis derivative meets the required criteria to be designated as a fair value hedgeshedge, and as the specific terms and notional amountsamount of thesethis derivative instrumentsinstrument match those of the fixed-rate debt being hedged, thesethis derivative instruments areinstrument is assumed to perfectly hedge the related debt against changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate. Accordingly, any change in the fair value of thesethis interest rate swapsswap recorded in earnings is offset by a corresponding change in the fair value of the related debt.

 


55..

Capital Stock

 

We have one class of preferred stock and one class of common stock. We had no outstanding shares of preferred stock at December 31, 20172019 or 2016.2018. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Directors and are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. On January 24, 2018,22, 2020, we announced an increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $0.23$0.26 to $0.24$0.27 per share, which will be paid February 23, 2018,21, 2020, to stockholders of record on February 9, 2018.7, 2020. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had 1.61.7 million shares of common stock to be issued upon the vesting of equity awards and 6.85.7 million shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to share-based payment plans. During calendar year 2017,2019, we purchased approximately 1.92.8 million shares, or $179.8$275.7 million, of our common stock in accordance with plans authorized by our Board. At December 31, 2017,2019, we had $521.4$95 million available under an authorized plan to purchase our common stock. On January 22, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized an additional purchase of up to $500 million of our common stock.

 

 

66..

Share-based Compensation

 

We maintain a Management Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) that provides variousvarious share-based financial methods to compensate our key employees with shares of our common stock or common stock equivalents. Under the Plan, as amended, we have, from time to time, utilized restricted share units, performance share units, restricted shares, and nonstatutorynon-statutory stock options to compensate our employees and directors. We currently are utilizing restricted and performance share units.

 

Our restricted share units have various vesting schedules generally ranging from 3 to 10 years when awarded. These restricted share units do not contain rights to vote or receive dividends until the vesting date. Unvested restricted share units are forfeited if the employee terminates for any reason other than death, disability, or special circumstances as determined by the Compensation Committee. Restricted share units are valued based on the fair value of the award on the grant date, adjusted for dividend estimates based on grant date dividend rates.

 

Our performance share units vest based on the passage of time (generally 23 to 10 years) and achievement of performance criteria. Performance share units do not contain rights to vote or receive dividends until the vesting date. Unvested performance share units are forfeited if the employee terminates for any reason other than death, disability, or special circumstances as determined by the Compensation Committee. Performance shares are valued based on the fair value of the award on the grant date, adjusted for dividend estimates based on grant date dividend rates.

 

In the past, nonstatutory stock options have been granted to key employees for the purchase of our common stock for

100%46 of the fair market value of the common stock at the grant date as awarded by the Compensation Committee. These options generally vested over a 10-year period and were forfeited immediately if the employee terminated for any reason other than death, disability or retirement after age 55. We did not grant any stock options during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.


 

An employee is allowed to surrender shares of common stock received upon vesting to satisfy tax withholding obligations incident to the vesting of restricted share units and performance share units.


 

We account for our restricted share units, and performance share units and stock options in accordance with current accounting standards for share-based payments. These standards require that the cost of all share-based payments to employees including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements based on the grant date fair value of those awards. This cost is recognized over the period for which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, subject to the attainment of performance metrics established for performance share units. Share-based compensation expense is recorded in salaries, wages, and employee benefits in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings, along with other compensation expenses to employees. The following table summarizes the components of our share-based compensation program expense (in thousands):

 

 

Years ended December 31,

  

Years ended December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Restricted share units

             

Pretax compensation expense

 $28,679  $29,938  $27,898  $38,632  $32,797  $28,679 

Tax benefit

  (4,385)  11,347   10,629   9,337   7,740   (4,385)

Restricted share units, net of tax

 $33,064  $18,591  $17,269  $29,295  $25,057  $33,064 

Performance share units

             

Pretax compensation expense

 $9,612  $10,687  $9,330  $14,692  $14,572  $9,612 

Tax benefit

  (1,470)  4,050   3,555   3,551   3,439   (1,470)

Performance share awards, net of tax

 $11,082  $6,637  $5,775  $11,141  $11,133  $11,082 

 

A summary of our restricted share units and performance share units and nonstatutory stock options is as follows:

 

Restricted Share Units

 

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average Grant

Date Fair Value

  

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average Grant

Date Fair Value

 

Unvested at December 31, 2014

  1,940,998  $51.74 

Unvested at December 31, 2016

 1,502,656  $71.16 

Granted

  390,143   74.86  158,319  90.06 

Vested

  (783,483

)

  39.45  (380,702) 67.29 

Forfeited

  (30,908

)

  54.89   (37,745)  75.13 

Unvested at December 31, 2015

  1,516,750  $63.96 

Unvested at December 31, 2017

 1,242,528  $74.71 

Granted

  540,746   75.03  370,669  119.82 

Vested

  (520,619)  54.78  (337,512) 79.02 

Forfeited

  (34,221)  69.14   (29,850)  83.69 

Unvested at December 31, 2016

  1,502,656  $71.16 

Unvested at December 31, 2018

 1,245,835  $86.80 

Granted

  158,319   90.06  440,255  99.60 

Vested

  (380,702)  67.29  (341,218) 85.61 

Forfeited

  (37,745)  75.13   (31,454)  93.91 

Unvested at December 31, 2017

  1,242,528  $74.71 

Unvested at December 31, 2019

  1,313,418  $91.22 

 

Performance Share Units

 

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average Grant

Date Fair Value

  

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average Grant

Date Fair Value

 

Unvested at December 31, 2014

  433,895  $62.23 

Unvested at December 31, 2016

 484,054  $70.58 

Granted

  160,574   74.37  -  - 

Vested

  (103,796

)

  58.28  (155,867) 68.27 

Forfeited

  -   -   -   - 

Unvested at December 31, 2015

  490,673  $67.04 

Unvested at December 31, 2017

 328,187  $71.68 

Granted

  142,114   74.71  150,763  122.57 

Vested

  (148,733)  62.84  (118,438) 69.29 

Forfeited

  -   -   -   - 

Unvested at December 31, 2016

  484,054  $70.58 

Unvested at December 31, 2018

 360,512  $93.74 

Granted

  -   -  142,156  98.58 

Vested

  (155,867)  68.27  (127,140) 93.46 

Forfeited

  -   -   -   - 

Unvested at December 31, 2017

  328,187  $71.68 

Unvested at December 31, 2019

  375,528  $95.67 

 


47

 

Stock Options

 

Number of

Shares

(in thousands)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Weighted Average Remaining

Contractual Term

(in years)

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

(in millions)

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

  98  $20.40   0.86  $6.3 

Exercised

  (95

)

  20.35   -   5.8 

Forfeited

  (1

)

  24.27   -   - 

Outstanding at December 31, 2015

  2  $20.76   0.05  $0.1 

Exercised

  (2

)

  20.76   -   - 

Forfeited

  -   -   -   - 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

  -   -   -   - 

At December 31, 2017,2019, we had $49.8$61.3 million and $9.7$13.0 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted share units and performance share units, respectively, that is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining weighted average vesting period of approximately 3.63.2 years for restricted share units and 2.2 years for performance share units.

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of restricted and performance share units vested and options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, was $49.3$47.0 million, $56.7$55.1 million, and $80.8$49.3 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of unvested restricted and performance share units was $180.6$197.2 million at December 31, 2017.2019. The total fair value of shares vested for restricted share,and performance share and stock option awardsunits during the years ended December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, was $36.4$41.1 million, $38.1$35.0 million, and $37.3$36.4 million, respectively.

 

 

77..

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense attributable to earnings before income taxes consists of (in thousands):

 

 

Years ended December 31,

  

Years ended December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Current:

                   

Federal

 $134,284  $191,422  $160,235  $87,977  $22,904  $134,284 

State and local

  23,456   21,871   22,306   20,981   26,738   23,456 
  157,740   213,293   182,541   108,958   49,642   157,740 

Deferred:

                   

Federal

  (261,592

)

  45,846   71,292  51,229  97,670  (261,592)

State and local

  12,828   4,568   9,135   4,388   3,921   12,828 
  (248,764

)

  50,414   80,427   55,617   101,591   (248,764)

Total tax expense/(benefit)

 $(91,024

)

 $263,707  $262,968 

Total tax expense/(benefit)

 $164,575  $151,233  $(91,024)

 

Income tax expense attributable to earnings before income taxes differed from the amounts computed using the statutory federal income tax rate of 35%21% as follows (in thousands):

 

  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2015

 

Income tax at federal statutory rate

 $208,334  $243,529  $241,571 

State tax, net of federal effect

  18,334   19,165   18,671 

Federal tax reform

  (309,223

)

  -   - 

Benefit of stock compensation

  (4,907

)

  -   - 

199/R&D credit

  (7,056

)

  -   - 

Nondeductible meals and entertainment

  1,374   1,419   1,420 

Change in effective state tax rate, net of federal benefit

  3,403   (1,055

)

  1,761 

Other, net

  (1,283

)

  649   (455

)

Total tax expense

 $(91,024

)

 $263,707  $262,968 


  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Income tax at federal statutory rate

 $142,988  $134,572  $208,334 

State tax, net of federal effect

  19,293   24,627   18,334 

Federal tax reform

  -   (3,219

)

  (309,223

)

Benefit of stock compensation

  (1,238

)

  (4,919

)

  (4,907

)

199/R&D credit

  (200

)

  1,000   (7,056

)

Nondeductible meals and entertainment

  1,688   1,071   1,374 

Change in effective state tax rate, net of federal benefit

  1,562   (1,469

)

  3,403 

Other, net

  482   (430

)

  (1,283

)

Total tax expense

 $164,575  $151,233  $(91,024

)

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was enacted in December 2017. Beginning in 2018, the Act reducesreduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. At December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act. However, we have made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they arewere expected to reverse in the future, which iswas generally 21%. The provisional amount recorded resulting from the remeasurement of our deferred tax balance was $309.2$309.2 million, which iswas included as a component of 2017income tax from continuing operations. We are still refiningDuring 2018, we finalized our calculations for our 2017 federal income tax return, which will bewas filed based on the law prior to the Act, and could potentially affectresulting in no significant change to the initial measurement of these balances. Remaining aspects of the Act arewere not relevant to our operations.

48

 

Income taxes receivable was $61.3$60.9 million and $15.7$102.4 million at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively. These amounts have been included in other receivables in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, are presented below (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2019

  

2018

 

Deferred tax assets:

             

Insurance accruals

 $27,700  $34,788  $27,180  $34,889 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  6,605   2,347  8,052  7,649 

Compensation accrual

  3,661   10,443  4,925  10,461 

Deferred compensation accrual

  17,620   26,062  24,521  20,396 

Federal benefit of state uncertain tax positions

  8,681   14,085  9,867  10,364 

Lease liabilities

 30,251  - 

State NOL carry-forward

  4,944   3,444  7,495  6,041 

Other

  3,134   3,853   6,357   4,626 

Total gross deferred tax assets

  72,345   95,022  118,648  94,426 

Valuation allowance

  (4,944

)

  (3,444)  (7,495

)

  (6,041

)

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

  67,401   91,578  111,153  88,385 

Deferred tax liabilities:

             

Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation

  566,396   831,555  729,016  696,913 

Prepaid permits and insurance, principally due to expensing for income tax purposes

  28,089   37,119  39,285  33,594 

Lease right-of-use assets

 30,014  - 

Other

  14,786   13,538   11,916   1,339 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

  609,271   882,212   810,231   731,846 

Net deferred tax liability

 $541,870  $790,634  $699,078  $643,461 

 

Guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes prescribes recognition and measurement criteria and requires that we assess whether the benefits of our tax positions taken are more likely than not of being sustained under tax audits.  We have made adjustments to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits, a component of other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, as follows (in millions):

 

 

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

Beginning balance

 $35.4  $32.0  $31.6  $52.2  $45.3  $35.4 

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

  11.6   10.3   9.4  11.0  13.9  11.6 

Additions/(reductions) based on tax positions taken in prior years

  5.4   (3.2

)

  (2.5

)

 (6.5

)

 (2.4

)

 5.4 

Reductions due to settlements

  (2.4

)

  (0.4

)

  (3.0

)

 -  -  (2.4

)

Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations

  (4.7

)

  (3.3

)

  (3.5

)

  (6.1

)

  (4.6

)

  (4.7

)

Ending balance

 $45.3  $35.4  $32.0  $50.6  $52.2  $45.3 

 

At December 31, 2019 2017and 2016,2018, we had a total of $45.3$50.6 million and $35.4$52.2 million, respectively, in gross unrecognized tax benefits.  Of these amounts, $37.5$41.8 million and $23.0$43.1 million represent the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact our effective tax rate in 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.  Interest and penalties related to income taxes are classified as interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.  The amount of accrued interest and penalties recognized during the years ended December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, was $2.1$3.2 million, $1.9$2.4 million, and $1.9$2.1 million, respectively. Future changes to unrecognized tax benefits will be recognized as income tax expense and interest expense, as appropriate.  The total amount of accrued interest and penalties for such unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, was $3.6$4.8 million and $4.4$4.6 million, respectively.


 

Tax years 20142016 and forward remain subject to examination by federal tax jurisdictions, while tax years 20072009 and forward remain open for state jurisdictions.

49

 

 

8

8..    Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

 

We maintain a defined contribution employee retirement plan, which includes a 401(k) option, under which all employees are eligible to participate. We match a specified percentage of employee contributions, subject to certain limitations. For the years ended December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, our matching contributions to the plan were $16.7$20.8 million, $15.6$19.7 million, and $14.7$16.7 million, respectively.

 

We have a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation. The compensation deferred under this plan is credited with earnings or losses onon investments elected by plan participants. Each participant is fully vested in all deferred compensation and earnings; however, these amounts are subject to general creditor claims until actually distributed to the employee. A participant may elect to receive deferred amounts in one payment or in quarterly installments payable over a period of 2 to 25 years upon reaching age 55, having 15 years of service, or becoming disabled. Our total liability under this plan was $16.4$20.4 million as of December 31, 2017,2019, and $14.9$15.7 million as of December 31, 2016.2018. These amounts are included in other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Participant withholdings are held by a trustee and invested in equity securities as directed by participants. These investments are classified as trading securities and recorded at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are recognized currently in earnings. The investments are included in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $16.4$20.4 million as of December 31, 2017,2019, and $14.9$15.7 million as of December 31, 2016.2018.

 

 

9.

Fair Value Measurements

9.    Fair Value Measurements

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on valuation techniques which consider prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. These valuation methods are based on either quoted market prices (Level 1) or inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). The following are assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):

 

 

Asset/(Liability)

Balance

      

Asset/(Liability)

Balance

    
 

December 31,

      

December 31,

    
 

2017

  

2016

  

Input Level

  

2019

  

2018

  

Input Level

 

Trading investments

 $16.4  $14.9   1  $20.4  $15.7  1 

Interest rate swaps

 $(1.4) $2.9   2  $4.8  $(4.8) 2 

Senior notes, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

 $(595.6) $(599.0)  2  $(353.1) $(591.3) 2 

 

The fair value of trading investments has been measured using the market approach (Level 1) and reflect quoted market prices. The fair values of interest rate swaps and corresponding senior notes have been measured using the income approach (Level 2), which include relevant interest rate curve inputs. Trading investments are classified in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depending on their period end fair value, interest rate swaps are classified in other assets or other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The senior notes are classified in long-term debt in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.


 

Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amount of our senior revolving line of credit and remaining senior notes not measured at fair value on a recurring basis was $490.0$942.6 million and $387.3$555.9 million at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively. The estimated fair value of these liabilities using the income approach (Level 2), based on their net present value, discounted at our current borrowing rate, was $506.3 million$1.03 billion and $402.3$564.9 million at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.

 

In 2017, we remeasured anan advance deposit previously made for the purchase of new trailing equipment from a carrying amount of $20.2$20.2 million to a fair value of zero, due the manufacturer not being able to meet delivery. The resulting charge iswas included in general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The carrying amounts of all other instruments at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, approximate their fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

50

 

 

1010..

Commitments and Contingencies

 

As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $74.2 million of obligations remaining under operating lease arrangements related primarily to terminal and support facilities. Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2017, are approximately $74.2 million, with payment streams as follows (in millions): 2018 - $24.5;2019 - $18.6;2020 - $15.0;2021 - $8.8;2022 - $4.2; and thereafter - $3.1.

Total rent expense was $64.3 million in 2017,$44.1 million in 2016, and $39.5 million in 2015.At December 31, 2017,2019, we had outstanding commitments of approximately $797.6$938 million, net of proceeds from sales or trade-ins during 20182020 andthrough 2019,2022, which is primarily related to the acquisition of tractors, containers, chassis, and tractors.other trailing equipment.

 

During 2017,2019, we issued financial standby letters of credit as a guaranty of our performance under certain operating agreements and self-insurance arrangements. If we default on our commitments under the agreements or other arrangements, we are required to perform under these guaranties. The undiscounted maximum amount of our obligation to make future payments in the event of defaults is approximately $4.4$2.7 million as of December 31, 2017.2019.

As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately $117.8 million of obligations remaining under operating lease arrangements related primarily to terminal and support facilities. Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2018, were approximately $117.8 million, with payment streams as follows (in millions): 2019 - $34.9;2020 - $29.9;2021 - $20.7;2022 - $13.7; and thereafter - $18.6.

 

We arewere a defendant in a certain alleged class-action lawsuitslawsuit in which the plaintiffs arewere current and former California-based employee drivers who allegealleged claims for unpaid wages, failure to provide meal and rest periods, and other items.  During the first half of 2014, the District Court in the lead class-action granted judgment in our favor with regard to all claims.  The plaintiffs appealed the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  In July 2017, the Ninth Circuit issued We reached an agreement and recorded a Memorandum decision vacating the judgment in our favor and remanding the case to the District Court for further proceedings. The Ninth Circuit denied our Petition for Rehearing En Bancreserve in November 2017, and the case has been reassigned to the United States District Court for the Central District of California for further proceedings according to the schedule entered by the Court. In FebruarySeptember 2018 we filed a Petitionto resolve all pending claims for a Writclass settlement payment of Certiorari$15 million, with Court approval of settlement granted in the Supreme Court of the United States seeking review of the Ninth Circuit’s decision. The overlapping claims in the other lawsuits remain stayed pending final resolution of the appellate process or a final decision in the lead class-action case.  We cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may April 2019.arise from these lawsuits, however, as of December 31, 2017, we have recorded a $10 million reserve representing an amount we deem acceptable for the settlement of these claims.

 

In January 2017 we exercised our right to utilize the arbitration process to review the division of revenue collected beginning May 1, 2016, as well as to clarify other issues, under our Joint Service Agreement with BNSF Railway Company (BNSF). BNSF has requested the same, andsame. In October 2018 we received the arbitration process has commenced. BNSF provides a significant amount of rail transportation services to our JBI business segment. At this time, we are unable to reasonably predictarbitrators’ Interim Award. For the outcomedetermined components of the arbitration,Interim Award, we recorded an $18.3 million pre-tax charge in the third quarter 2018 related to certain charges claimed by BNSF for specific services requested for customers from April 2014 through May 2018. In January 2019 the Panel issued its Second Interim Award ordering that $89.4 million is due from the Company to BNSF resulting from the adjusted revenue divisions relating to the 2016 period at issue ($52.1 million) and as such,for calendar year 2017 ($37.3 million). We recorded pretax charges for contingent liabilities in the fourth quarter 2018 of $89.4 million claimed by the BNSF for the period May 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017 and $44.6 million for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, for a total of $134 million. In October 2019 the arbitrators issued a Final Award. As a result, we recorded pre-tax charges in the third quarter 2019 of $26.8 million related to certain charges claimed by BNSF for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 and no gain or loss contingency can be determined or recorded. Normal commercial business activity betweenmaterial adjustments for the parties, including load tendering, load tracing, billingperiod January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019. In addition, we recorded a $17.4 million charge in the third quarter 2019 for legal fees, costs and payments, has continued and is expected to continue oninterest claimed by BNSF, for a timely basis.total of $44.2 million.

 


On January 17, 2020, we filed under seal in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas a motion to confirm and enforce the Final Award, seeking the Court’s specific enforcement of certain confidential contractual rights the arbitrators decided in our favor. BNSF has moved to confirm the Final Award in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

In June 2019, we recorded pre-tax charges of $20 million for the settlement of a casualty claim within our DCS segment.

 

We are involved in certain other claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Based on present knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, we believe the resolution of these claims and pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. 

51

 

 

11.

Leases

As of 1December 31, 2019, we had various obligations remaining under operating lease arrangements related primarily to the rental of maintenance and support facilities, cross-dock and delivery system facilities, office space, parking yards and equipment. Many of these leases include 1.one Acquisitionor more options, at our discretion, to renew and extend the agreement beyond the current lease expiration date or to terminate the agreement prior to the lease expiration date. These options are included in the calculation of our operating lease right-of-use asset and liability when it becomes reasonably certain the option will be exercised. Our lease obligations typically do not include options to purchase the leased property, nor do they contain residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Operating leases with an initial term of more than 12 months are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as discounted liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets consisting of the following (in millions):

  

Asset/(Liability)

Balance

 
  

December 31, 2019

 

Right-of-use assets

 $125.5 

Lease liabilities, current

 $(44.4)

Lease liabilities, long-term

 $(80.1)

Right-of-use assets are classified in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating lease liability, current is classified in other accrued expenses, while operating lease liability, long-term is classified in other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of December 31, 2019, the weighted-average remaining lease term for our outstanding operating lease obligations was 4.2 years and the weighted-average discount rate was 3.46%. Future minimum lease payments under these operating leases as of December 31, 2019, are as follows (in millions):

Year one

 $44.9 

Year two

  35.0 

Year three

  24.0 

Year four

  14.6 

Year five

  5.2 

Thereafter

  10.0 

Total lease payments

  133.7 

Less interest

  (9.2)

Present value of lease liabilities

 $124.5 

During the year ended December 31, 2019, cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $44.5 million, while $43.5 million, of operating lease expense was recognized on a straight-line basis. Operating lease expense is recorded in general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2019, a total of $61.6 million of right-of-use assets were obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities, of which, $19.1 million were obtained through the business combinations discussed at Note 12, Acquisitions.

52

12.

Acquisitions

 

On July 20, 2017,January 7, 2019, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire Special Logistics Dedicated, LLC (SLD),substantially all of the assets and itsassume certain specified liabilities of the affiliated entities of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery (“Cory”), subject to customary closing conditions.  The purchase price was $136.0 million with no assumption of debt.  The closing of the transaction was effective on July 31, 2017.February 15, 2019, with a purchase price of $100 million. Total consideration paid in cash under the SLDCory agreement was $137.6$98.2 million and consisted of the agreed upon purchase price adjusted for an estimated working capital adjustment and cash acquired.adjustments. In addition, we incurred approximately $3.1$2.9 million in transaction costs which are recorded in general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The SLDCory acquisition was accounted for as a business combination.combination and operates within our Dedicated Contract Services business segment. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at their estimated fair values, as of the closing date, using cost, market data and valuation techniques that reflect management’s judgment and estimates. As a result of the acquisition, we recorded approximately $76$45.8 million of finite-lived intangible assets and approximately $40$48.2 million of goodwill. Goodwill consists of acquiring and retaining the SLDCory existing network and expected synergies from the combination of operations. The following table outlines the consideration transferred and purchase price allocation at their respective estimated fair values as of February 15, 2019 (in millions):

Consideration

 $98.2 

Accounts receivable

  8.9 

Other current assets

  0.3 

Property and equipment

  0.8 

Right-of-use assets

  16.0 

Intangible

  45.8 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  (5.8)

Lease liabilities

  (16.0)

Goodwill

 $48.2 

On November 26, 2019, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets and assume certain specified liabilities of the affiliated entities of RDI Last Mile Co. (RDI), subject to customary closing conditions.  The closing of the transaction was effective on December 31, 2019, with a purchase price of $17.5 million. Total consideration paid in cash under the RDI agreement was $17.4 million and consisted of the agreed upon purchase price adjusted for estimated working capital adjustments. In addition, we incurred approximately $0.5 million in transaction costs which are recorded in general and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The RDI acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and operates within our Dedicated Contract Services business segment. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at their estimated fair values, as of the closing date, using cost, market data and valuation techniques that reflect management’s judgment and estimates. As a result of the acquisition, we recorded approximately $8.1 million of finite-lived intangible assets and approximately $8.1 million of goodwill. Goodwill consists of acquiring and retaining the RDI existing network and expected synergies from the combination of operations. The following table outlines the consideration transferred and preliminary purchase price allocation at their respective estimated fair values as of December 31, 20172019 (in millions):

 

Consideration

 $17.4 

Accounts receivable

  1.5 

Other current assets

  0.3 

Property and equipment

  0.5 

Right-of-use assets

  3.1 

Intangible

  8.1 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  (1.1)

Lease liabilities

  (3.1)

Goodwill

 $8.1 

Consideration

 $137.6 

Cash

  0.7 

Accounts receivable

  9.4 

Other current assets

  1.4 

Property and equipment

  14.9 

Intangibles

  75.5 

Accounts payable

  (3.9)

Accrued Liabilities

  (0.2)

Goodwill

 $39.8 
53

 

As of December 31, 2017, the purchase price allocation is considered preliminary, subject to revision, as valuation procedures and tax considerations are completed.

As this acquired business is not significant to our consolidated results of operations and financial position, pro forma financial information has not been presented. The results of the acquired operations after the respective acquisition date have been included in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.


 

12.13.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

As discussed in Note 11,12, Acquisitions, in 2019,we recorded additional goodwill of approximately $40$56.3 million and additional finite-lived intangible assets of approximately $76$53.9 million in connection with the SLD acquisition.Cory and RDI acquisitions. Total goodwill was $96.3 million and $40.1 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. All goodwill wasis assigned to our Dedicated Contract Services®Services business segment. The initial carrying amount of goodwill recorded in the third quarter of 2017, was subsequently reduced during the fourth quarter of 2017, as our valuation procedures and tax considerations were more refined. No impairment losses have been recorded for goodwill as of December 31, 2017.2019. Prior to the SLDCory and RDI acquisitions, our intangible assets consisted of those arising from a previous business acquisition our only intangible asset consisted ofand our purchased LDC network access, both within our Dedicated Contract Services®Services segment. Identifiable intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):

 

         

Weighted Average

 
 

December 31,

  

Amortization

  December 31, 

Weighted Average
Amortization

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

Period

  

2019

  

2018

  

Period

 

Finite-lived intangibles:

                   

Customer relationships

 $118.6  $75.3  11.5 

Non-competition agreements

 $0.2  $-   5  6.9  0.2  6.8 

Customer relationships

  75.3   -   10 

Trade names

 3.8  -  2.0 

LDC Network

  10.5   10.5   10   10.5   10.5  10.0 

Total finite-lived intangibles

  86.0   10.5      139.8  86.0    

Less accumulated amortization

  (12.3)  (8.1)      (33.3)  (20.9)   

Total identifiable intangible assets, net

 $73.7  $2.4      $106.5  $65.1    

 

Our finite-lived intangible assets have no assigned residual values.

 

During the years ending December 31, 2017,2019, 2016,2018, and 2015,2017, intangible asset amortization expense was $4.2$12.4 million, $1.0$8.6 million and $1.0$4.2 million, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for our finite-lived intangible assets is expected to be approximately $8.6 million for 2018,  $7.8 million for 2019, and $7.6$13.6 million for 2020 and $11.9 million for 2021, and $11.7 million for 2022through 2022.2024. Actual amounts of amortization expense may differ from estimated amounts due to additional intangible asset acquisitions, impairment or accelerated amortization of intangible assets, and other events.

 

 

114.3.

Segment Information

 

We have four4 reportable business segments – Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services® (DCS), Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), and Truckload (JBT) – which are based primarily on the services each segment provides. The JBI segment includes freight that is transported by rail over at least some portion of the movement and also includes certain repositioning truck freight moved by JBI equipment or third-party carriers, when such highway movement is intended to direct JBI equipment back toward intermodal operations. DCS segment business includes company-owned and customer-owned, DCS-operated revenue equipment and employee drivers assigned to a specific customer, traffic lane, or service. DCS operations usually include formal, written longer-term agreements or contracts that govern services performed and applicable rates. ICS provides non-asset and asset-light transportation solutions to customers through relationships with third-party carriers and integration with JBHT-owned equipment. ICS services include flatbed, refrigerated, and LTL, as well as a variety of dry-van and intermodal solutions. JBT business includes full-load, dry-van freight that is typically transported utilizing company-owned or company-controlled revenue equipment. This freight is typically transported over roads and highways and does not move by rail. All transactions between reporting segments are eliminated in consolidation.

54

 

Our customers are geographically dispersed across the United States. A summary of certain segment information as of December 31 is presented below (in millions):

 

  

Assets

(Excludes intercompany

accounts)

 
  

December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

JBI

 $2,108  $2,032 

DCS

  1,182   951 

ICS

  204   136 

JBT

  283   279 

Other (includes corporate)

  688   553 

Total

 $4,465  $3,951 


 

Revenues

  

Assets

(Excludes intercompany accounts)

 
 

Years ended December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

 

JBI

 $4,084  $3,796  $3,665  $2,217  $2,221 

DCS

  1,719   1,533   1,451  1,877  1,595 

ICS

  1,025   852   699  208  212 

JBT

  378   388   386  241  307 

Total segment revenues

  7,206   6,569   6,201 

Intersegment eliminations

  (16

)

  (14

)

  (13

)

Other (includes corporate)

  928   757 

Total

 $7,190  $6,555  $6,188  $5,471  $5,092 

 

 

 

Operating Income

  

Revenues

 
 

Years ended December 31,

  

Years ended December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2015

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

 $407  $450  $477  $4,745  $4,717  $4,084 

DCS

  171   205   163  2,695  2,163  1,719 

ICS

  23   36   36  1,348  1,335  1,025 

JBT

  23   30   40   389   417   378 

Total segment revenues

 9,177  8,632  7,206 

Intersegment eliminations

  (12

)

  (17

)

  (16

)

Total

 $624  $721  $716  $9,165  $8,615  $7,190 

 

 

  

Operating Income

 
  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

 $447  $401  $407 

DCS

  269   193   171 

ICS

  (11)  50   23 

JBT

  29   37   23 

Total

 $734  $681  $624 

  

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 
  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

 

JBI

 $181  $173  $163 

DCS

  246   200   158 

JBT

  33   38   41 

Other

  39   25   22 

Total

 $499  $436  $384 

  

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 
  

Years ended December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2015

 

JBI

 $163  $160  $148 

DCS

  158   143   133 

JBT

  41   41   42 

Other

  22   18   17 

Total

 $384  $362  $340 
55

 

 

1

15.4.  Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

As further discussed in Note 7,10, Income Taxes,Commitments and Contingencies, ourthird quarter 2019 and fourth quarter 2017,2018 operating income, net earnings and earnings per share includeincluded the effectimpact of a $309.2 million provisional amount recorded as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations resulting from the remeasurement of our deferred tax balance due to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.pretax charges for contingent liabilities. Operating results by quarter for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

Quarter

  

Quarter

 
 

First

  

Second

  

Third

  

Fourth

  

First

  

Second

  

Third

  

Fourth

 

2017:

                

2019:

         

Operating revenues

 $1,629,158  $1,726,915  $1,843,334  $1,990,160  $2,089,627  $2,261,647  $2,363,660  $2,450,323 

Operating income

 $149,389  $163,615  $164,972  $145,814  $167,795  $193,093  $167,862  $205,074 

Net earnings

 $102,702  $97,869  $100,385  $385,308  $119,601  $133,633  $118,410  $144,676 

Basic earnings per share

 $0.93  $0.89  $0.92  $3.51  $1.10  $1.24  $1.11  $1.36 

Diluted earnings per share

 $0.92  $0.88  $0.91  $3.48  $1.09  $1.23  $1.10  $1.35 
                 

2016:

                

2018:

         

Operating revenues

 $1,528,712  $1,615,026  $1,690,659  $1,721,062  $1,948,245  $2,139,027  $2,209,760  $2,317,842 

Operating income

 $167,890  $175,792  $182,977  $194,361  $168,781  $214,812  $174,688  $122,740 

Net earnings

 $100,098  $105,011  $109,425  $117,556  $118,142  $151,652  $131,110  $88,681 

Basic earnings per share

 $0.89  $0.93  $0.97  $1.05  $1.08  $1.39  $1.20  $0.81 

Diluted earnings per share

 $0.88  $0.92  $0.97  $1.05  $1.07  $1.37  $1.19  $0.81 

 

5156