MRTN Marten Transport Ltd

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements. Such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements not of historical fact may be considered forward-looking statements. Written words such as “may” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “goal,” or “estimate,” or other variations of these or similar words, identify such statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to us that could cause such material differences are identified in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any future disclosures we make on related subjects in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.

 

References in this Annual Report to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” or similar terms refer to Marten Transport, Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico. We are one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. In 2023, we generated $1.131 billion in operating revenue. Approximately 58% of our Truckload and Dedicated revenue in 2023 resulted from hauling temperature-sensitive products and 42% from hauling dry freight. We operate throughout the United States and in parts of Mexico and Canada, with our revenue primarily generated from within the United States. We provide regional truckload carrier services in the Southeast, West Coast, Midwest, South Central and Northeast regions. Our primary medium-to-long-haul traffic lanes are between the Midwest and the West Coast, Southwest, Southeast, and the East Coast, as well as from California to the Pacific Northwest. In 2023, our average length of haul was 414 miles.

 

Our growth strategy is to expand our business organically by offering shippers a high level of service and significant freight capacity. We market primarily to shippers that offer consistent volumes of freight in the lanes we prefer and are willing to compensate us for a high level of service. With our fleet of 3,349 company and independent contractor tractors, we offer service levels that include up to 99% on-time performance and delivery within the narrow time windows often required when shipping perishable commodities.

 

We have four reporting segments – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage. Financial information regarding these segments can be found in Footnote 14 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

Our Truckload segment provides a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

 

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet each individual customer’s requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our refrigerated containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.

 

 

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.

 

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

 

Organized under Wisconsin law in 1970, we are a successor to a sole proprietorship Roger R. Marten founded in 1946. In 1988, we reincorporated under Delaware law. Our executive offices are located at 129 Marten Street, Mondovi, Wisconsin 54755. Our telephone number is (715) 926-4216.

 

We maintain a website at www.marten.com. We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, nor incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We post on our website, free of charge, documents that we file with or furnish to the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. We also provide a link on our website to Forms 3, 4 and 5 that our officers, directors and 10% stockholders file with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Marketing and Operations

 

We approach our business as an integrated effort of marketing and operations. We target food and consumer packaged goods companies whose products require temperature-sensitive services and who ship multiple truckloads per week. By emphasizing high-quality service, we seek to become a core carrier for our customers. In 2023, our largest customer was Walmart.

 

Our marketing efforts are conducted by a staff of 290 sales, customer service and support personnel under the supervision of our senior management team. Marketing personnel travel within their regions to solicit new customers and maintain contact with existing customers. Customer service managers regularly contact customers to solicit additional business on a load-by-load basis.

 

Our operations and sales personnel strive to improve our asset productivity by seeking freight that allows for rapid turnaround times, minimizes non-revenue miles between loads and carries a favorable rate structure. Once we have established a customer relationship, customer service managers work closely with our fleet managers to match customer needs with our capacity and the location of revenue equipment. Fleet managers use our optimization system to assign loads to satisfy customer and operational requirements, as well as to meet the routing needs of our drivers. We attempt to route most of our trucks over selected operating lanes, which we believe assists us in meeting customer requirements, balancing traffic, reducing non-revenue miles, and improving the reliability of delivery schedules.

 

We employ technology in our operations when we believe that it will allow us to operate more efficiently and the investment is cost-justified. Examples of the technologies we employ include:

 

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Terrestrial-based tracking and messaging that allows us to communicate with our drivers, obtain load position updates, provide our customers with freight visibility, and download operating information such as fuel mileage and idling time for the tractor engines and temperature setting and run time for the temperature-control units on our trailers.

 

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Electronic data interchange and internet communication with customers concerning freight tendering, invoices, shipment status and other information.

 

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Electronic logging devices in our tractors to monitor drivers’ hours of service.

 

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Auxiliary power units installed on our company-owned tractors that allow us to decrease fuel costs associated with idling our tractors.

 

 

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Fuel-routing software that optimizes the fuel stops for each trip to take advantage of volume discounts available in our fuel network.

 

We believe this integrated approach to our marketing and operations, coupled with our use of technology, has allowed us to provide our customers with a high level of service and support our revenue growth in an efficient manner. For example, we produced a non-revenue mile percentage of 7.3% during 2023, which points to the efficiency of our operations and we believe compares favorably to other temperature-sensitive and dry van trucking companies.

 

Major Customers

 

A significant portion of our revenue is generated from our major customers. In 2023, our top 30 customers accounted for approximately 69% of our revenue excluding fuel surcharges, and our top ten customers accounted for 47% of our revenue. We have emphasized increasing our customer diversity which is shown by the decrease in the portion of our revenue with our top customers. In 2010, our top 30 customers accounted for approximately 78% of our revenue. Nine of our top ten customers have been significant customers of ours for the last ten years. We believe we are the largest or second largest temperature-sensitive carrier for seven of our top ten customers. We believe our relationships with these key customers are sound, but we are dependent upon them and the loss of some or all of their business could have a materially adverse effect on our results.

 

Human Capital

 

As of December 31, 2023, we had 4,213 employees. This total consists of 3,256 drivers, 303 mechanics and maintenance personnel, and 654 support personnel, which includes management and administration. As of that date, we also contracted with 94 independent contractors. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining unit. We consider relations with our employees to be good.

 

We believe our employees are a critical part to the continued success of our operations. Our business model depends on the efforts of our support personnel to efficiently and effectively coordinate transportation services for our customers and on the efforts of our drivers to timely and safely execute the delivery of our customers’ cargo. Competition in the trucking industry for qualified drivers is normally intense and has increased. Our operations have been impacted by, and from time-to-time we have experienced under-utilization and increased expense relating to, a shortage of qualified drivers. As such, we dedicate significant attention to hiring and retaining talented employees to manage, support and execute our operations and place a high priority on the recruitment and retention of an adequate supply of qualified drivers, and on minimizing turnover of our company-employed drivers and independent contractors. As part of those efforts, we are also committed to hiring, developing and supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

 

We believe we provide our employees with compensation and benefits that are competitive with or exceed our industry peers. We primarily pay company-employed drivers a fixed rate per mile. The rate increases based on length of service. We also compensate drivers for all detention time, for inclement weather and for road service delays. Total weekly compensation is also subject to a guaranteed minimum amount. We pay independent contractors a fixed rate per mile. Independent contractors pay for their own fuel, insurance, maintenance and repairs.

 

The health and well-being of our employees is paramount to our success. We sponsor a wellness program designed to enhance the well-being of each of our employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has also heightened our responsibility of ensuring our employees have a safe work environment and we have implemented numerous efforts to keep our valued employees safe, healthy and informed. We believe that maintaining a healthy, safe and productive professional driver group is essential to providing excellent customer service and achieving profitability. We select drivers, including independent contractors, using our specific guidelines for safety records, including drivers’ Compliance, Safety, Accountability, or CSA, scores, driving experience and personal evaluations. We maintain stringent screening, training and testing procedures for our drivers to reduce the potential for accidents and the corresponding costs of insurance and claims. We train new drivers at a number of our terminals in all phases of our policies and operations, as well as in safety techniques and fuel-efficient operation of the equipment. All new drivers also must pass DOT required tests prior to assignment to a vehicle.

 

 

Revenue Equipment

 

Our revenue equipment programs are an important part of our overall goal of profitable growth. We evaluate our equipment decisions based on factors such as initial cost, useful life, warranty terms, expected maintenance costs, fuel economy, driver comfort, customer needs, manufacturer support and resale value. We generally operate newer, well-maintained equipment with uniform specifications to minimize our spare parts inventory, streamline our maintenance program and simplify driver training.

 

As of December 31, 2023, we operated a fleet of 3,349 tractors, including 3,255 company-owned tractors and 94 tractors supplied by independent contractors. The average age of our company-owned tractor fleet at December 31, 2023 was approximately 1.9 years. In 2023, we replaced our company-owned tractors within an average of 4.1 years after purchase.

 

Kenworth and Freightliner manufacture most of our company-owned tractors. Maintaining a relatively new and standardized fleet allows us to operate most miles while the tractors are under warranty to minimize repair and maintenance costs. It also enhances our ability to attract drivers, increases fuel economy and improves customer acceptance by minimizing service interruptions caused by breakdowns. We adhere to a comprehensive maintenance program during the life of our equipment. We perform most routine servicing and repairs at our terminal facilities to reduce costly on-road repairs and out-of-route trips. We do not have any agreements with tractor manufacturers pursuant to which they agree to repurchase the tractors or guarantee a residual value, and we therefore could incur losses upon disposition if resale values of used tractors decline.

 

We historically have contracted with independent contractors to provide and operate a portion of our tractor fleet. Independent contractors own their own tractors and are responsible for all associated expenses, including financing costs, fuel, maintenance, insurance and taxes. The percentage of our fleet provided by independent contractors was 2.8% at December 31, 2023, 2.6% at December 31, 2022 and 2.9% at December 31, 2021.

 

As of December 31, 2023, we operated a fleet of 5,653 trailers, consisting of 3,347 refrigerated trailers and 2,306 dry vans. Most of our refrigerated trailers are equipped with Thermo-King refrigeration units, air ride suspensions and anti-lock brakes. The average age of our trailer fleet at December 31, 2023 was approximately 4.6 years. In 2023, we replaced our company-owned trailers within an average of 8.0 years after purchase.

 

As of December 31, 2023, we operated a fleet of 787 refrigerated containers for use on railroad flatcars as compared to a fleet of 802 refrigerated containers as of December 31, 2022.

 

Insurance and Claims

 

We self-insure for a portion of our claims exposure resulting from workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, as well as employees’ health insurance. We are responsible for our proportionate share of the legal expenses relating to such claims as well. We reserve currently for anticipated losses and expenses. We periodically evaluate and adjust our insurance and claims reserves to reflect our experience. We have $20.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of the amounts for which we self-insure up to specified policy limits with licensed insurance carriers. Insurance carriers have significantly raised premiums for trucking companies, which increases our insurance and claims expense, along with other factors. We believe that our policy of self-insuring up to set limits, together with our safety and loss prevention programs, are effective means of managing insurance costs.

 

 

Fuel

 

Our operations are heavily dependent upon the use of diesel fuel. The price and availability of diesel fuel can vary and are subject to political, economic and market factors that are beyond our control. Fuel prices fluctuated dramatically and quickly at various times during the last three years. We actively manage our fuel costs by purchasing fuel in bulk at a number of our facilities throughout the country and have volume purchasing arrangements with national fuel centers that allow our drivers to purchase fuel at a discount while in transit. During 2023, nearly 100% of our fuel purchases were made at these designated locations. To help further reduce fuel consumption, we have equipped our company-owned tractors with auxiliary power units since 2007. These units reduce fuel consumption by providing quiet climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine. We have also invested in terrestrial-based tracking equipment for the temperature-control units on our trailers that has improved fuel usage through management of required temperature settings and run time of the units.

 

We further manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices through fuel surcharge programs with our customers and other measures that we have implemented. We have historically been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges. These fuel surcharges, which adjust with the cost of fuel, enable us to recover a substantial portion of the higher cost of fuel as prices increase, except for non-revenue miles, out-of-route miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling. As of December 31, 2023, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.

 

Competition

 

We are one of the leading carriers operating in the temperature-sensitive segment of the truckload market, and our dry freight services are expanding. These markets are highly competitive, and we compete with many other truckload carriers of varying sizes and, to a lesser extent, with less-than-truckload carriers, railroads, and other transportation companies, many of which have more equipment, a wider range of services and greater capital resources than we do or have other competitive advantages. We also compete with other motor carriers for the services of drivers, independent contractors and management employees. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our business are service, freight rates, capacity, use of technology and financial stability, which positions us well to compete in these segments.

 

Regulation

 

The DOT and various state and local agencies exercise broad powers over our business, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety and insurance requirements. Our company drivers and independent contractors also must comply with the safety and fitness regulations promulgated by the DOT, including those relating to drug and alcohol testing, medical and continuous training qualification and hours-of-service.

 

The DOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, imposes safety and fitness regulations on us and our drivers. In December 2010, the FMCSA introduced the Compliance, Safety, Accountability, or CSA, system to measure and evaluate the on-road safety performance of commercial carriers and individual drivers. CSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Measurement System replaced the former SafeStat system and has removed a number of drivers from the industry as carriers are less willing to hire and retain drivers with marginal ratings, which has increased competition for qualified drivers. The FMCSA is currently considering possible changes to the agency’s safety and fitness regulations.

 

The FMCSA issued final revisions to the hours-of-service requirements for drivers in September 2020. The revisions allow drivers more flexibility with their 30-minute rest breaks and with dividing their time in the sleeper berth. Additionally, the new regulations increase by two hours the duty time for drivers encountering adverse weather and expand the short haul exemption radius from 100 to 150 miles.

 

 

In January 2011, the FMCSA issued a regulatory proposal requiring commercial carriers to track compliance with hours-of-service regulations using electronic logging devices, or ELD’s, which was vacated and sent back to the FMCSA for further analysis and review in September 2011 by the 7^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act, or MAP-21 Act, included a provision directing the FMCSA to develop a final ELD rule in 2013, which was delayed until its issuance in December 2015. The final rule required compliance beginning in December 2017 which was strictly enforced beginning in April 2018. Carriers using automatic on-board recording devices, or AOBRD’s, which were installed and in use prior to December 2017 were allowed until December 2019 to convert to ELD’s. Our entire fleet was equipped with AOBRD’s since early 2011 and converted to ELD’s prior to December 2019.

 

The FMCSA has established a Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which is a database of drivers who have violations including failed or refused drug and alcohol tests. Beginning in January 2020, all carriers are required to run queries in the clearinghouse for all prospective drivers and annually for all drivers currently employed. All testing violations must also be reported to the clearinghouse. Also effective in January 2020, all carriers must perform random drug tests at a rate of at least 50% of the average number of driver positions. The rate was at least 25% previously. We have been testing at a rate in excess of 50%, including when the requirement was at least 25%, and tested 55% in 2021, 57% in 2022 and 67% in 2023. The impact of the clearinghouse has been significant, with a total of approximately 158,000 drivers removed from the trucking industry from January 2020 through December 2023.

 

In September 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services proposed mandatory guidelines for federal workplace drug testing programs using hair follicles, which is a more strenuous test than current requirements. The FMCSA has not issued proposed regulations.

 

We are also subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with vehicle emissions and idling, the handling of hazardous materials, fuel storage tanks, air emissions from our facilities and discharge and retention of storm water. These regulations did not have a significant impact on our operations or financial results in 2021 through 2023.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

The following factors are important and should be considered carefully in connection with any evaluation of our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects or an investment in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that we currently believe may materially affect our company or our financial results. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations or affect our financial results.

 

Risks Related to Our Industry and Operations

 

Our business is subject to general economic and business factors that are largely beyond our control, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results. Our business is dependent on a number of general economic and business factors that may have a materially adverse effect on our results of operations, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include excess capacity in the trucking industry, strikes or other work stoppages, and significant increases or fluctuations in interest rates, fuel taxes, fuel prices and license and registration fees. We are affected by recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries where we have a significant concentration of customers. Economic conditions may adversely affect our customers and their ability to pay for our services.

 

It is not possible to predict the effects of actual or threatened armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against any foreign state, heightened security requirements or other related events and the subsequent effects on the economy or on consumer confidence in the United States, or the impact, if any, on our future results of operations.

 

 

We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry, and numerous competitive factors could impair our ability to maintain our current profitability. We compete with many other truckload carriers that provide temperature-sensitive service and dry freight of varying sizes and, to a lesser extent, with less-than-truckload carriers, railroads and other transportation companies, many of which have more equipment, a wider range of services and greater capital resources than we do or have other competitive advantages. Many 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 maintain significant growth in our business. In addition, many customers reduce the number of carriers they use by selecting so-called “core carriers” as approved service providers or conduct bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, and in some instances, we may not be selected as a core carrier or to provide service under such bids.

 

In addition, the trend toward consolidation in the trucking industry may create other large carriers with greater financial resources and other competitive advantages relating to their size. Competition from freight logistics and brokerage companies may negatively impact our customer relationships and freight rates. Furthermore, economies of scale that may be passed on to smaller carriers by procurement aggregation providers may improve such carriers’ ability to compete with us.

 

If the growth in our regional operations declines, or if we expand into a market with insufficient economic activity, our results of operations could be adversely affected. We operate regional service centers which are located in a number of cities within the United States. In order to support future growth, these regional operations require the commitment of additional capital, revenue equipment and facilities along with qualified management, drivers and other personnel. Should the growth in our regional operations decline, the results of our operations could be adversely affected. It may become more difficult to identify additional cities that can support service centers, and we may expand into cities where there is insufficient economic activity, reduced capacity for growth or less driver and non-driver personnel to support our operations. We may encounter operating conditions in these new markets that materially differ from our current operations and customer relationships may be difficult to obtain at appropriate freight rates. Also, we may not be able to apply our regional operating strategy successfully in additional cities, and it might take longer than expected or require a more substantial financial commitment than anticipated to establish our operations in the additional cities.

 

Lack of capacity, changes in equipment requirements and service instability in the railroad industry could increase our operating costs and reduce our ability to offer intermodal services, which could adversely affect our revenue, results of operations and customer relationships. Our Intermodal segment is dependent on railroad services and their capacity to transport freight for our customers. We expect our dependence on railroads will continue to increase as we expand our intermodal services. We compete for the availability of railroad services with other intermodal operators as well as certain industries reliant on the use of rail cars, such as oil and agricultural, whose consumption of railroad capacity has significantly fluctuated over the past several years. In most markets, rail service is limited to a few railroads or even a single railroad. Any capacity constraints, changes in equipment requirements, threatened or actual rail worker strikes, service problems or reduction in service by the railroads with which we have, or in the future may have, relationships is likely to increase the cost of the rail-based services we provide and reduce the reliability, timeliness and overall attractiveness of our rail-based services, which could adversely affect our revenue, results of operations and customer relationships. Furthermore, railroads are relatively free to adjust shipping rates up or down as market conditions permit. Price increases could result in higher costs to our customers and reduce or eliminate our ability to offer intermodal services. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate additional contracts with railroads to expand our capacity, add additional routes or obtain multiple providers, which could limit our ability to provide this service.

 

Increased prices and restricted availability of new revenue equipment could cause our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows to suffer. We have experienced higher prices for new tractors and trailers over the past few years, primarily as a result of higher commodity prices and government regulations applicable to newly manufactured tractors and trailers. We expect to continue to pay increased prices for revenue equipment for the foreseeable future. Our business could be harmed if we are unable to continue to obtain an adequate supply of new tractors and trailers or if we are required to pay increased prices for new revenue equipment.

 

 

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from our major customers, the loss of one or more of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business. A significant portion of our revenue is generated from our major customers. For 2023 our top 30 customers, based on revenue excluding fuel surcharges, accounted for approximately 69% of our revenue; our top ten customers accounted for approximately 47% of our revenue; our top five customers accounted for approximately 35% of our revenue; our top two customers accounted for approximately 27% of our revenue; and our largest customer accounted for approximately 19% of our revenue. Generally, other than for our Dedicated operations, we enter into one-year contracts with our major customers, the majority of which do not contain any firm obligations to ship with us. We cannot ensure that, upon expiration of existing contracts, these customers will continue to use our services or that, if they do, they will continue at the same levels. Many of our customers periodically solicit bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, and this process may depress freight rates or result in loss of business to our competitors. Some of our customers also operate their own private trucking fleets, and they may decide to transport more of their own freight. A reduction in or termination of our services by one or more of our major customers could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Ongoing insurance and claims expenses could significantly affect our earnings. Our future insurance and claims expense might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. We self-insure for a portion of our claims exposure resulting from workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, as well as employees’ health insurance. We also are responsible for our legal expenses relating to such claims. We reserve currently for anticipated losses and expenses. We periodically evaluate and adjust our claims reserves to reflect our experience. However, ultimate results may differ from our estimates, which could result in losses over our reserved amounts.

 

We maintain insurance above the amounts for which we self-insure with licensed insurance carriers. Although we believe the aggregate insurance limits should be sufficient to cover reasonably expected claims, it is possible that one or more claims could exceed our aggregate coverage limits. Insurance carriers have significantly raised premiums for trucking companies. As a result, our insurance and claims expense has increased. If these expenses increase, or if we experience a claim in excess of our coverage limits, or we experience a claim for which coverage is not provided, results of our operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

 

If demand declines for our used revenue equipment, it could result in decreased equipment sales, resale values and gains on sales of assets. The market for used revenue equipment is subject to a number of factors, including fluctuations in demand and prices. We do not have any agreements with tractor manufacturers pursuant to which they agree to repurchase our tractors or guarantee a residual value. As such, we are sensitive to changes in used equipment prices and demand, especially with respect to tractors. Reduced demand for used equipment could result in a lower volume of sales or lower sales prices, either of which could negatively affect our gains on sales of assets.

 

We depend on the stability, availability and security of the technology related to our management information and communication systems, which are subject to certain cyber risks and other events beyond our control. We depend upon our management information and communication systems for the efficient operation of our business. Our systems are used for receiving, planning and optimizing loads, communicating with and monitoring our drivers, tractors and trailers, billing customers and financial reporting. In addition, some of our key software has been developed internally by our programmers or by adapting purchased software to our needs and this software may not be easily modified or integrated with other software and systems. Our operations are potentially vulnerable to interruption by natural disasters, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attacks, internet failures, computer viruses, malware, hacking and other events beyond our control. Although we have taken steps to prevent and mitigate service interruptions and data security threats, the operational and security risks associated with information technology systems have increased in recent years because of the complexity of the systems and the sophistication and increasing volume of cyberattacks. We have been subject to cyberattacks, which have yet to have a material impact on our business or results of operations, but this might not always be the case in the future. For example, as previously reported, in October 2021, we detected a cyberattack that accessed and encrypted files utilized by us in the operation of our business. The incident did not have a material impact on our business, operations or financial results. Nonetheless, certain employee data was at risk during the event. Our business could be materially and adversely affected if our management information and communication systems are materially compromised or disrupted by a failure or security breach, or if we are unable to improve, upgrade, integrate or expand our systems as we continue to execute our growth strategy. In addition, there has also been heightened regulatory focus on data protection, and failure to comply with applicable data protection regulations or other data protection standards may expose us to litigation, fines, sanctions or other penalties, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

 

Fluctuations in the price or availability of fuel may increase our cost of operation, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability. We require large amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors and to power the temperature-control units on our trailers. Fuel is one of our largest operating expenses. Fuel prices tend to fluctuate, and prices and availability of all petroleum products are subject to political, economic and market factors that are beyond our control. We depend primarily on fuel surcharges, auxiliary power units for our tractors, terrestrial-based tracking equipment for the temperature-control units on our trailers, volume purchasing arrangements with truck stop chains and bulk purchases of fuel at our terminals to control and recover our fuel expenses. There can be no assurance that we will be able to collect fuel surcharges, enter into volume purchase agreements or execute successful hedges in the future. Additionally, we may encounter decreases in productivity that may offset or eliminate savings from auxiliary power units or terrestrial-based tracking equipment, or we may incur unexpected maintenance or other costs associated with such units. The absence of meaningful fuel price protection through these measures, fluctuations in fuel prices or a shortage of diesel fuel could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We may be adversely affected by the physical effects of climate change as well as legal, regulatory or market responses to climate change concerns. Risks associated with climate change are subject to increasing societal, regulatory and political focus. Shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change may lead to an increase in the frequency, severity or duration of certain adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, extreme temperatures or flooding, which could cause more significant business interruptions, damage to our revenue equipment and facilities, reduced workforce availability, increased costs, increased liabilities and decreased revenue than what we have experienced in the past from such events. For example, severe sustained heat in multiple regions of the United States during the summer of 2023 resulted in increased fuel expense due to decreased engine fuel efficiency and increased idling, along with additional damage and wear on tires. In addition, increased public and political concern over climate change could result in new legal or regulatory requirements designed to mitigate the effects of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels such as those used in our tractors and in the refrigeration units on our trailers and containers, which could include the adoption of more stringent environmental laws and regulations or stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations. Due to such increased concerns, there could be an increase in regulation from federal, state and local governments related to our carbon footprint, including with respect to vehicle engine emissions. This increase in regulation could result in increased direct costs, such as taxes, fees, fuel, or capital costs, or changes to our operations in order to comply. There is also a focus from regulators and our customers on sustainability issues. This focus may result in new legislation or customer requirements, such as limits on vehicle weight and size or energy source. The State of California recently passed the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act that will impose broad climate-related disclosure obligations on certain companies doing business in California, including us, starting in 2026. Additionally, the SEC has included in its regulatory agenda potential rulemaking on climate change disclosures that, if adopted, could significantly increase compliance burdens and associated regulatory costs and complexity. Costs associated with future climate change concerns or environmental laws and regulations and sustainability requirements could have a material adverse effect on our operations and operating results.

 

Seasonality and the impact of weather can affect our profitability. Our tractor productivity generally decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations and some shippers reduce their shipments. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased claims and more equipment repairs. We can also suffer short-term impacts from weather-related events such as hurricanes, blizzards, ice-storms and floods that could harm our results or make our results more volatile.

 

 

We are subject to risks associated with public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which could negatively impact our business and results of operations. While many countries around the world have removed or reduced the restrictions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus may result in new governmental lockdowns, quarantine requirements or other restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. In addition, any such measures could also impact the global economy more broadly, for example, by leading to further economic slowdowns. While COVID-19 case volumes have decreased in the United States and certain other countries, the global outlook remains uncertain as case counts fluctuate and vaccination and booster rates remain relatively low in many parts of the world. The future impact of the pandemic continues to be an unknown. Although transportation services have been generally considered essential services and the overall demand for our services has continued throughout the pandemic, we did experience significant changes in demand from certain customers in certain freight lanes earlier in the pandemic. We are unable to predict if overall demand for our services will continue at current levels or decrease should an increase in the severity of the pandemic occur. We continue to monitor the pandemic’s impact on the health and safety of our employees, but any widespread outbreak among our employees due to an increase in the severity of the pandemic may negatively impact our business. Earlier in the pandemic, some of our customers encountered significant disruptions to their business. An increase in the severity of the pandemic could cause a similar impact for our customers, which could cause a greater risk for collection of amounts owed, potentially requiring us to increase our allowance for credit losses.

 

The scope and duration of any future public health crisis, including the potential emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus, the pace at which government restrictions are imposed and lifted, the scope of additional actions taken to mitigate the spread of disease, global vaccination and booster rates, the speed and extent to which global markets and utilization rates for our customers’ products fully recover from the disruptions caused by such a public health crisis, and the impact of these factors on our business, financial condition and results of operations, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence.

 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the expansion of such conflicts to other areas or countries or similar conflicts could adversely impact our business and financial results. Although we do not have any operations outside of North America, we may be affected by the broader consequences of the ongoing international conflicts or expansion of such conflicts to other areas or countries or similar conflicts elsewhere, such as, increased inflation, supply chain issues, including access to parts for our revenue equipment, embargoes, geopolitical shift, access to diesel fuel, higher energy prices, potential retaliatory action by the Russian or other governments and the extent of the conflict’s effect on the global economy. The magnitude of these risks cannot be predicted, including the extent to which these conflicts may heighten other risks disclosed herein. Any of the above-mentioned factors could materially adversely affect our business and financial results.

 

Risks Related to Our Capital Requirements and Financing

 

We have significant ongoing capital requirements that could harm our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows if we are unable to generate sufficient cash from our operations. The truckload industry is capital intensive, and our policy of operating newer equipment requires us to expend significant amounts annually. If we elect to expand our fleet in future periods, our capital needs would increase. We expect to pay for projected capital expenditures with cash flows from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Significant increases or fluctuations in interest rates could have a materially adverse effect on such borrowings and our operating results. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations and obtain financing on favorable terms in the future, we may have to limit our growth, enter into less favorable financing arrangements, or operate our revenue equipment for longer periods, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our profitability.

 

Instability of the credit markets and the resulting effects on the economy could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. If the credit markets and the economy weaken, our business, financial results and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, especially if consumer confidence declines and domestic spending decreases. We may need to incur indebtedness, which may include drawing on our credit facility, or issue debt securities in the future to fund working capital requirements, make investments or for general corporate purposes. Additionally, stresses in the credit market causes uncertainty in the equity markets, which may result in volatility of the market price for our securities.

 

 

Risks Related to Regulation of Our Operations

 

We operate in a highly regulated industry and increased costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations could have a materially adverse effect on our business. The DOT and various state and local agencies exercise broad powers over our business, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety and insurance requirements. Our company drivers and independent contractors also must comply with the safety and fitness regulations promulgated by the DOT, including those relating to drug and alcohol testing, medical and continuous training qualification and hours-of-service. We also may become subject to new or more restrictive regulations relating to vehicle emissions, ergonomics or other matters affecting safety or operating methods. Other agencies, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, also regulate our equipment, operations and drivers. Future laws and regulations may be more stringent and require changes in our operating practices, influence the demand for transportation services or require us to incur significant additional costs. Higher costs incurred by us or by our suppliers who pass the costs onto us through higher prices could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

The DOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, imposes safety and fitness regulations on us and our drivers. In December 2010, the FMCSA introduced the Compliance, Safety, Accountability, or CSA, system to measure and evaluate the on-road safety performance of commercial carriers and individual drivers. CSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Measurement System replaced the former SafeStat system and has removed a number of drivers from the industry as carriers are less willing to hire and retain drivers with marginal ratings, which has increased competition for qualified drivers. The FMCSA is currently considering possible changes to the agency’s safety and fitness regulations.

 

The FMCSA issued final revisions to the hours-of-service requirements for drivers in September 2020. The revisions allow drivers more flexibility with their 30-minute rest breaks and with dividing their time in the sleeper berth. Additionally, the new regulations increase by two hours the duty time for drivers encountering adverse weather and expand the short haul exemption radius from 100 to 150 miles.

 

In January 2011, the FMCSA issued a regulatory proposal requiring commercial carriers to track compliance with hours-of-service regulations using electronic logging devices, or ELD’s, which was vacated and sent back to the FMCSA for further analysis and review in September 2011 by the 7^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act, or MAP-21 Act, included a provision directing the FMCSA to develop a final ELD rule in 2013, which was delayed until its issuance in December 2015. The final rule required compliance beginning in December 2017 which was strictly enforced beginning in April 2018. Carriers using automatic on-board recording devices, or AOBRD’s, which were installed and in use prior to December 2017 were allowed until December 2019 to convert to ELD’s. Our entire fleet was equipped with AOBRD’s since early 2011 and converted to ELD’s prior to December 2019.

 

The FMCSA has established a Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which is a database of drivers who have violations including failed or refused drug and alcohol tests. Beginning in January 2020, all carriers are required to run queries in the clearinghouse for all prospective drivers and annually for all drivers currently employed. All testing violations must also be reported to the clearinghouse. Also effective in January 2020, all carriers must perform random drug tests at a rate of at least 50% of the average number of driver positions. The rate was at least 25% previously. We have been testing at a rate in excess of 50%, including when the requirement was at least 25%, and tested 55% in 2021, 57% in 2022 and 67% in 2023. The impact of the clearinghouse has been significant, with a total of approximately 158,000 drivers removed from the trucking industry from January 2020 through December 2023.

 

In September 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services proposed mandatory guidelines for federal workplace drug testing programs using hair follicles, which is a more strenuous test than the current requirements. The FMCSA has not yet issued proposed regulations.

 

From time to time, various federal, state or local taxes are increased, including taxes on fuels. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, any such increase applicable to us will be enacted, but such an increase could adversely affect our profitability.

 

 

Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result in substantial fines or penalties. We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with vehicle emissions and idling, the handling of hazardous materials, fuel storage tanks, air emissions from our facilities 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. Although we have instituted programs to monitor and control environmental risks and promote compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, if we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations, we could be subject to liabilities, including substantial fines or penalties or civil and criminal liability, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Our business is subject to the risk of litigation, which may adversely affect our business and operating results. We are subject to litigation resulting from trucking accidents. These lawsuits have resulted, and may result in the future, in the payment of substantial settlements or damages and could impact our insurance costs. Additionally, a number of trucking companies, including us, have been subject to lawsuits alleging violations of various federal and state wage and hour laws. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in the payment of substantial settlements or damages by the defendants.

 

The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits, is difficult to assess or quantify, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The cost to defend litigation may also be significant. Not all claims are covered by our insurance, and there can be no assurance that our coverage limits will be adequate to cover all amounts in dispute. To the extent we experience claims that are uninsured, exceed our coverage limits or cause increases in future premiums, the resulting expense could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Risks Related to Our Human Capital

 

Increases in compensation or difficulty in attracting drivers could affect our profitability and ability to grow. The transportation industry has historically experienced substantial difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers, including independent contractors. With the current increased competition for drivers, including the impact that regulatory changes have had on the number of drivers in the transportation industry, we could experience greater difficulty in attracting sufficient numbers of qualified drivers. In addition, the available pool of independent contractor drivers is smaller than it has been historically. Accordingly, we may face difficulty in attracting and retaining drivers for all of our current tractors and for those we may add. Additionally, we may face difficulty in increasing the number of our independent contractor drivers. In addition, our industry suffers from high turnover rates of drivers. Our turnover rate requires us to recruit a substantial number of drivers. Moreover, our turnover rate could increase. If we are unable to continue to attract drivers and contract with independent contractors, we could be required to continue adjusting our driver compensation package or let trucks sit idle. An increase in our expenses or in the number of tractors without drivers could materially and adversely affect our growth and profitability.

 

If we are unable to retain our executive officers and key management employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. We are highly dependent upon the services of our executive officers and key management employees, including our Chief Executive Officer. Currently, we do not have employment agreements with these employees and the loss of their services for any reason could have a materially adverse effect on our operations and future profitability. We have entered into agreements with our executive officers that require us to provide compensation to them in the event of termination of their employment without cause in connection with or within a certain period of time after a “change in control” of our Company. In addition, we must continue to develop and retain a core group of managers if we are to realize our goal of expanding our operations and continuing our growth. While our Board regularly engages in succession planning for our Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team, there is no guarantee that a candidate or plan will be successful. Although we strive to reduce the potential negative impact of any such changes, the loss of any executive officers or key management employees could result in disruptions to our operations. In addition, hiring, training and successfully integrating replacement personnel, whether internal or external, could be time consuming, may cause additional disruptions to our operations and may be unsuccessful, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1C.

CYBERSECURITY

 

We have processes in place for assessing, identifying and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. In order to assess and identify material risks from cybersecurity threats, we engage a third-party managed security service provider to conduct ongoing (24x7x365) security information and event management (SIEM) monitoring to collect, aggregate and analyze data from our applications, devices, servers and users in real-time to assist our security team in detecting and blocking cybersecurity attacks. In addition, we conduct periodic security vulnerability scans as well as external and internal penetration testing that simulate attacks on our computer systems to assist with the discovery and remediation of security flaws and vulnerabilities. Management continually reassesses our cybersecurity risk environment based on changing circumstances and new information identified by our monitoring, scanning and testing, as well as third party resources. Our processes for assessing, identifying and managing cybersecurity threats have been integrated into our overall risk management processes. The information provided by these processes facilitates management’s ongoing assessment of our cybersecurity risk environment and provides current and accurate information regarding cybersecurity risks to management, our Audit Committee and Board to allow appropriate management of such risks through remediation or other risk mitigation activities.

 

We engage various third-party cybersecurity service providers to assist with protection and monitoring of our systems and information, including with respect to protection of our e-mail and system access. These service providers are subject to an initial risk assessment as well as periodic risk assessments in order to evaluate, identify and mitigate risks from cybersecurity threats arising from our use of such service providers.

 

Although we have taken steps to prevent and mitigate service interruptions and data security threats, the operational and security risks associated with information technology systems have increased in recent years because of the complexity of the systems and the sophistication and increasing volume of cyberattacks. We have been subject to cyberattacks, which have yet to have a material impact on our business or results of operations, but this might not always be the case in the future. For example, as previously reported, in October 2021, we detected a cyberattack that accessed and encrypted files utilized by us in the operation of our business. The incident did not have a material impact on our business, operations or financial results. Nonetheless, certain employee data was at risk during the event. Our business could be materially and adversely affected if our management information and communication systems are materially compromised or disrupted by a failure or security breach, or if we are unable to safely improve, upgrade, integrate or expand our systems as we continue to execute our growth strategy. In addition, there has also been heightened regulatory focus on data protection, and failure to comply with applicable data protection regulations or other data protection standards may expose us to litigation, fines, sanctions or other penalties, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Management is responsible for our day-to-day cybersecurity risk management and the Board’s responsibility is to engage in informed oversight of and provide overall direction with respect to such risk management. As part of its charter, the Audit Committee discusses with management and the independent auditors our adequacy and effectiveness of accounting and financial controls, including our systems to monitor and manage business, information technology and cybersecurity risks. On an annual basis, management prepares and presents to the Audit Committee a risk management summary that identifies risks by operational department (e.g., executive, finance, human resources, information systems, maintenance, operations, sales and marketing, risk management and safety), estimated maximum exposure per occurrence, the risk management option and insured level. The Board, its committees and management continually re-assess our cybersecurity risk environment based on changing circumstances and new information. The Audit Committee regularly discusses with management its enterprise risk management process, including our cybersecurity exposures, the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures and guidelines and policies to govern our risk assessment and risk management processes. The Audit Committee periodically reports to the Board regarding significant matters identified with respect to the foregoing, including, among others, our risk assessment and risk management approach to cybersecurity.

 

 

Our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Randall Baier, is responsible for our day-to-day assessment and management of cybersecurity risks. Mr. Baier also served as our Senior Vice President of Information Systems from December 2019 to August 2023, our Vice President of Information Systems from January 2014 to December 2019 and our Senior Director of Information Systems from April 2011 to January 2014. Mr. Baier advanced through various professional capacities in our information technology area including Developer, System Administrator and Database Administrator from April 1993 to April 2011. We have implemented a number of processes which allow Mr. Baier and his team to be informed about and monitor the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. These processes include, among other things, system alerts of potential malicious cyber activity, access to real-time dashboards that monitor and assess our systems, status reports provided on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and regular ongoing communications with service providers regarding potential new attach vectors and vulnerabilities. Mr. Baier shares such information with our management team and reports information about such risks to the Audit Committee. 

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

 

Our executive offices and principal terminal are located on approximately seven acres in Mondovi, Wisconsin. This facility consists of 39,000 square feet of office space and 21,000 square feet of equipment repair and maintenance space. We added additional equipment repair and maintenance facilities in 2007 and in 2009 in Mondovi, Wisconsin which consist of 15,000 square feet of space located on approximately 11 acres and 50,000 square feet of space located on approximately three acres, respectively. We operate facilities in or near the following cities at which we primarily perform operations and maintenance activities:

 

●     Mondovi, Wisconsin	●     Atlanta, Georgia	●      Memphis, Tennessee
●     Phoenix, Arizona	●     Indianapolis, Indiana	●     Desoto, Texas
●     Jurupa Valley, California	●     Kansas City, Kansas	●     Laredo, Texas
●     Otay Mesa, California	●     Portland, Oregon	●     Colonial Heights, Virginia
●     Tampa, Florida	●     Carlisle, Pennsylvania	●      Rio Grande Valley, Texas

 

Our Truckload, Dedicated and Brokerage segments operate out of a majority of our facilities while our Intermodal segment operates out of a small number of our locations. We believe the nature, size and location of our properties are suitable and adequate for our current business needs.

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are involved in ordinary routine litigation incidental to our operations. These lawsuits primarily involve claims for workers’ compensation, personal injury or property damage incurred in the transportation of freight.

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

ITEM 4A.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Our executive officers, with their ages and the offices held as of February 14, 2024, are as follows:

 

Name	Age	Position
Randolph L. Marten	71	Executive Chairman of the Board and Director
Timothy M. Kohl	76	Chief Executive Officer
Douglas P. Petit	57	President
James J. Hinnendael	60	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Adam D. Phillips	46	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Randall J. Baier	53	Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

 

Randolph L. Marten has been a full-time employee of ours since 1974. Mr. Marten has been a Director since October 1980 and our Executive Chairman of the Board since May 2021. Mr. Marten also served as our Chairman of the Board from August 1993 to May 2021, our Chief Executive Officer from January 2005 to May 2021, our President from June 1986 to June 2008, our Chief Operating Officer from June 1986 to August 1998 and as a Vice President from October 1980 to June 1986.

 

Timothy M. Kohl has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 2021. Mr. Kohl also served as our President from June 2008 to August 2021 after joining the Company in November 2007. Mr. Kohl served as Knight Transportation Inc.’s President from 2004 to 2007 and as its Secretary from 2000 to 2007. Mr. Kohl served as a director on Knight’s Board of Directors from 2001 to 2006, and he served as its Chief Financial Officer from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Kohl also served as Knight’s Vice President of Human Resources from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Kohl served as Vice President of Knight’s southeast region. Prior to his employment with Knight, Mr. Kohl was employed by Burlington Motor Carriers as a Vice President. Prior to his employment with Burlington Motor Carriers, Mr. Kohl served as a Vice President for J.B. Hunt.

 

Douglas P. Petit has been our President since August 2021. Mr. Petit also served as our Chief Operating Officer from August 2019 to August 2021, our Senior Vice President of Operations from January 2014 to August 2019 and our Vice President of Operations from December 2011 to January 2014. Mr. Petit advanced through various professional capacities in our operations area from June 1992 to December 2011 and from February 1990 to June 1991. From June 1991 to June 1992, Mr. Petit served as a fleet manager for Transport America, Inc.

 

James J. Hinnendael has been our Executive Vice President since May 2015 and our Chief Financial Officer since January 2006, and served as our Controller from January 1992 to December 2005. Mr. Hinnendael served in various professional capacities with Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm, from January 1987 to December 1991. Mr. Hinnendael is a certified public accountant.

 

Adam D Phillips has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2023. Mr. Phillips also served as our Chief Operating Officer from March 2023 to December 2023, our President of Western Operations and MRTN de Mexico from August 2019 to March 2023, our Vice President of Regional and Mexico Operations from January 2014 to August 2019, our Senior Director of Regional Operations from April 2010 to January 2014 and our Director of Regional Operations from January 2008 to April 2010. Mr. Phillips served in various operational and management capacities for Knight Transportation Inc. from 2001 to 2008.

 

Randall J. Baier has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since August 2023. Mr. Baier also served as our Senior Vice President of Information Systems from December 2019 to August 2023, our Vice President of Information Systems from January 2014 to December 2019 and our Senior Director of Information Systems from April 2011 to January 2014. Mr. Baier advanced through various professional capacities in our information technology area including Developer, System Administrator and Database Administrator from April 1993 to April 2011.

 

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.

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

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MRTN.” On February 14, 2024, we had 155 record stockholders and approximately 20,096 beneficial stockholders of our common stock.

 

Dividend Policy

 

In 2010, we announced a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2023 which totaled $19.5 million. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2022 which totaled $19.6 million. We paid cash dividends totaling $54.7 million in 2021 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock in October, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.04 per share of common stock in March, June, October and December. We currently expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. The payment of cash dividends in the future, and the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and certain corporate law requirements, as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

 

Our credit agreement effective in August 2022 prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of $150 million. Our previous credit agreement prohibited us from making such payments in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. Waivers allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in total amounts of up to $80 million in each of 2022 and 2021 were obtained from the lender in March 2022 and August 2021, respectively. The current and previous credit agreements also contain restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34.0 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 2.7 million shares in August 2020 to reflect the three-for-two stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on August 13, 2020. On May 3, 2022, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an additional increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million, or approximately 3.1 million shares, of our common stock. The share repurchase program allows purchases on the open market or through private transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

We repurchased and retired 1.3 million shares of common stock for $25.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, and 963,000 shares of common stock for $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. We did not repurchase any shares in 2023, the third or fourth quarters of 2022, or in 2021. As of December 31, 2023, future repurchases of up to $33.2 million, or approximately 2.2 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

 

 

Comparative Stock Performance 

 

The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the NASDAQ Market index and the SIC code 4213 (trucking, except local) line-of-business index for the last five years. Research Data Group, Inc. prepared the line-of-business index. The graph assumes $100 is invested in our common stock, the NASDAQ Stock Market index and the line-of-business index on December 31, 2018, with reinvestment of dividends. The comparisons in the graph below are based on historical data and are not intended to forecast the possible future performance of our common stock. The information in the graph below shall be deemed “furnished” and not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.

 

 

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the selected consolidated financial data and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6. We do not assume, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this report.

 

Overview

 

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.

 

Our Truckload segment provides a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

 

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet each individual customer’s requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

 

Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our refrigerated containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

 

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.

 

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

 

In addition to the factors discussed above, our operating revenue is also affected by, among other things, the United States economy, inventory levels, the level of truck and rail capacity in the transportation market, a contracting driver market, severe weather conditions and specific customer demand.

 

 

Our operating revenue decreased $132.4 million, or 10.5%, in 2023 from 2022. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $81.4 million, or 7.7%, compared with 2022. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 3.9% from 2022, primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor, despite an increase in our average fleet size. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 0.6% from 2022, primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 24.5% from 2022, primarily due to decreases in both our number of loads and our revenue per load. Brokerage segment revenue decreased 19.0% from 2022, primarily due to decreases in both our revenue per load and our number of loads. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $159.4 million in 2023 from $210.4 million in 2022.

 

Our profitability is impacted by the variable costs of transporting freight for our customers, fixed costs, and expenses containing both fixed and variable components. The variable costs include fuel expense, driver-related expenses, such as wages, benefits, training and recruitment, and independent contractor costs, which are recorded under purchased transportation. Expenses that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our cost of insurance and claims. These expenses generally vary with the miles we travel, but also have a controllable component based on safety, fleet age, efficiency and other factors. Our main fixed costs relate to the acquisition and subsequent depreciation of long-term assets, such as revenue equipment and operating terminals. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of higher prices of new equipment, along with any increases in fleet size. Although certain factors affecting our expenses are beyond our control, we monitor them closely and attempt to anticipate changes in these factors in managing our business. For example, fuel prices have significantly fluctuated over the past several years. We manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices primarily through fuel surcharge programs with our customers, as well as through volume fuel purchasing arrangements with national fuel centers and bulk purchases of fuel at our terminals. To help further reduce fuel expense, we have installed and tightly manage the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine, and also have improved the fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. For our Intermodal and Brokerage segments, our profitability is impacted by the percentage of revenue which is payable to the providers of the transportation services we arrange. This expense is included within purchased transportation in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

Our operating income declined 37.1% to $90.1 million in 2023 from $143.3 million in 2022. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 92.0% in 2023 and 88.7% in 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, increased to 90.7% in 2023 from 86.4% in 2022. Our net income declined 36.2% to $70.4 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in 2023 from $110.4 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, in 2022.

 

Our business requires substantial ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. At December 31, 2023, we had $53.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, $757.4 million in stockholders’ equity and no long-term debt outstanding. In 2023, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $164.4 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $163.9 million, to pay cash dividends of $19.5 million and to construct and upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $8.6 million, resulting in a $27.4 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents. We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $165 million in 2024. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2023 which totaled $19.5 million. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 

 

We continue to invest considerable time and capital resources to actively implement and promote long-term environmentally sustainable solutions that drive reductions in our fuel and electricity consumption and decrease our carbon footprint. These initiatives include (i) reducing idle time for our tractors by installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units, which are powered by solar panels and provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine, (ii) improving the energy efficiency of our newer, more aerodynamic and well-maintained tractor and trailer fleets by optimizing the equipment’s specifications, weight and tractor speed, equipping our tractors with automatic transmissions, converting the refrigeration units in our refrigerated trailers to the new, more-efficient CARB refrigeration units along with increasing the insulation in the trailer walls and installing trailer skirts, and using ultra-fuel efficient and wide-based tires, and (iii) upgrading all of our facilities to indoor and outdoor LED lighting along with converting all of our facilities to solar power. Additionally, we are an active participant in the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, SmartWay Transport Partnership, in which freight shippers, carriers, logistics companies and other voluntary stakeholders partner with the EPA to measure, benchmark and improve logistics operations to reduce their environmental footprint.

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes discussions of operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue; operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, each net of fuel surcharge revenue; and net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads). We provide these additional disclosures because management believes these measures provide a more consistent basis for comparing results of operations from period to period. These financial measures in this report have not been determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Pursuant to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, we have included the amounts necessary to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures of operating revenue, operating expenses divided by operating revenue, and fuel and fuel taxes.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth for the years indicated certain operating statistics regarding our revenue and operations: 

 

		2023				2022				2021
Truckload Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	465,475			$	500,462			$	396,666
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)		$	4,377			$	4,898			$	4,315
Average tractors(1)			1,733				1,611				1,539
Average miles per trip			519				510				516
Total miles (in thousands)			155,929				149,868				147,192
Dedicated Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	408,272			$	429,092			$	329,442
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)		$	3,936			$	3,963			$	3,377
Average tractors(1)			1,632				1,631				1,572
Average miles per trip			335				341				322
Total miles (in thousands)			133,163				136,310				128,256
Intermodal Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	92,078			$	129,765			$	102,245
Loads			25,160				31,862				32,987
Average tractors			159				175				143
Brokerage Segment:
Revenue (in thousands)		$	165,630			$	204,559			$	145,291
Loads			91,077				95,615				66,512

 

(1)	Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 94, 96 and 93 tractors as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

 

Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2023 to Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

The following table sets forth for the years indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

 

										Dollar Change				Percentage Change
(Dollars in thousands)		2023				2022				2023 vs. 2022				2023 vs. 2022
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		$	395,565			$	411,448			$	(15,883	)			(3.9	)%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue			69,910				89,014				(19,104	)			(21.5	)
Total Truckload revenue			465,475				500,462				(34,987	)			(7.0	)
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			334,962				336,973				(2,011	)			(0.6	)
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue			73,310				92,119				(18,809	)			(20.4	)
Total Dedicated revenue			408,272				429,092				(20,820	)			(4.9	)
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			75,887				100,452				(24,565	)			(24.5	)
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue			16,191				29,313				(13,122	)			(44.8	)
Total Intermodal revenue			92,078				129,765				(37,687	)			(29.0	)
Brokerage revenue			165,630				204,559				(38,929	)			(19.0	)
Total operating revenue		$	1,131,455			$	1,263,878			$	(132,423	)			(10.5	)%
Operating income/(loss):
Truckload		$	24,835			$	59,392			$	(34,557	)			(58.2	)%
Dedicated			48,377				50,566				(2,189	)			(4.3	)
Intermodal			(156	)			10,639				(10,795	)			(101.5	)
Brokerage			17,054				22,747				(5,693	)			(25.0	)
Total operating income		$	90,110			$	143,344			$	(53,234	)			(37.1	)%
Operating ratio:
Truckload			94.7	%			88.1	%
Dedicated			88.2				88.2
Intermodal			100.2				91.8
Brokerage			89.7				88.9
Consolidated operating ratio			92.0	%			88.7	%
Operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges:
Truckload			93.7	%			85.6	%
Dedicated			85.6				85.0
Intermodal			100.2				89.4
Brokerage			89.7				88.9
Consolidated operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges			90.7	%			86.4	%

 

Our operating revenue decreased $132.4 million, or 10.5%, to $1.131 billion in 2023 from $1.264 billion in 2022. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $81.4 million, or 7.7%, to $972.0 million in 2023 from $1.053 billion in 2022. This decrease in 2023 was due to a $38.9 million decrease in Brokerage revenue, a $24.6 million decrease in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $15.9 million decrease in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, and a $2.0 million decrease in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge revenue decreased to $159.4 million in 2023 from $210.4 million in 2022.

 

 

In addition to the factors discussed below, our profitability across each segment in 2023 was impacted by a freight market which has considerably softened from the exceptionally tight conditions during 2022.

 

Truckload segment revenue decreased $35.0 million, or 7.0%, to $465.5 million in 2023 from $500.5 million in 2022. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased $15.9 million, or 3.9%, to $395.6 million in 2023 from $411.4 million in 2022 primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor, despite an increase in our average fleet size. The operating ratio increased to 94.7% in 2023 from 88.1% in 2022. Impacting the 2023 operating ratio was a decrease in our average revenue per tractor along with higher company driver compensation, depreciation, maintenance and net fuel costs as a percentage of revenue.

 

Dedicated segment revenue decreased $20.8 million, or 4.9%, to $408.3 million in 2023 from $429.1 million in 2022. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 0.6% primarily due to a decrease in our average revenue per tractor. The operating ratio was 88.2% in each of 2023 and 2022.

 

Intermodal segment revenue decreased $37.7 million, or 29.0%, to $92.1 million in 2023 from $129.8 million in 2022. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, decreased 24.5% from 2022 primarily due to decreases in both our number of loads and our revenue per load. The operating ratio in 2023 increased to 100.2% from 91.8% in 2022. Impacting the 2023 operating ratio was a decrease in our revenue per load along with higher net fuel, company driver compensation, depreciation, maintenance, purchased transportation and chassis rental costs as a percentage of revenue.

 

Brokerage segment revenue decreased $38.9 million, or 19.0%, to $165.6 million in 2023 from $204.6 million in 2022 primarily due to decreases in both our revenue per load and our number of loads. The operating ratio in 2023 of 89.7% was up from 88.9% in 2022. This increase was due to higher costs across most areas of the segment, partially offset by a decrease in the amounts payable to carriers for transportation services which we arranged as a percentage of our Brokerage revenue.

 

The following table sets forth for the years indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our consolidated statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:

 

		Dollar Change				Percentage Change				Percentage of Operating Revenue
(Dollars in thousands)		2023 vs. 2022				2023 vs. 2022				2023				2022
Operating revenue		$	(132,423	)			(10.5	)%			100.0	%			100.0	%
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits			(11,486	)			(2.9	)			33.5				30.9
Purchased transportation			(50,458	)			(20.2	)			17.6				19.8
Fuel and fuel taxes			(38,134	)			(17.4	)			15.9				17.3
Supplies and maintenance			11,711				21.0				6.0				4.4
Depreciation			5,708				5.1				10.3				8.8
Operating taxes and licenses			290				2.7				1.0				0.9
Insurance and claims			5,501				10.9				5.0				4.0
Communications and utilities			972				10.6				0.9				0.7
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment			(233	)			(1.7	)			(1.2	)			(1.1	)
Other			(3,060	)			(8.0	)			3.1				3.0
Total operating expenses			(79,189	)			(7.1	)			92.0				88.7
Operating income			(53,234	)			(37.1	)			8.0				11.3
Other			(2,979	)			(360.2	)			(0.3	)			(0.1	)
Income before income taxes			(50,255	)			(34.9	)			8.3				11.4
Income taxes expense			(10,274	)			(30.4	)			2.1				2.7
Net income		$	(39,981	)			(36.2	)%			6.2	%			8.7	%

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits consist of compensation for our employees, including both driver and non-driver employees, employees’ health insurance, 401(k) plan contributions and other fringe benefits. These expenses vary depending upon the size of our Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal tractor fleets, the ratio of company drivers to independent contractors, our efficiency, our experience with employees’ health insurance claims, changes in health care premiums and other factors. Salaries, wages and benefits expense decreased $11.5 million, or 2.9%, in 2023 from 2022. This decrease resulted primarily from a $9.6 million decrease in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees and lower company driver compensation expense of $4.6 million, partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in non-driver compensation expense.

 

Purchased transportation consists of amounts payable to railroads and carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with Brokerage and Intermodal operations and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment. This category will vary depending upon the amount and rates, including fuel surcharges, we pay to third-party railroad and motor carriers, the ratio of company drivers versus independent contractors and the amount of fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors. Purchased transportation expense decreased $50.5 million in total, or 20.2%, in 2023 from 2022. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment decreased $34.1 million to $136.1 million in 2023 from $170.1 million in 2022, primarily due to decreases in both our cost per load and number of loads. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment decreased to $47.5 million in 2023 from $65.3 million in 2022, primarily due to decreases in both our number of loads and cost per load. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, increased $1.3 million in 2023. We expect our purchased transportation expense to increase as we grow our Intermodal and Brokerage segments.

 

Fuel and fuel taxes decreased by $38.1 million, or 17.4%, in 2023 from 2022. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) increased $5.2 million, or 16.2%, to $37.1 million in 2023 from $31.9 million in 2022. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads decreased to $16.0 million from $23.8 million in 2022. The United States Department of Energy, or DOE, national average cost of fuel decreased to $4.21 per gallon from $4.99 per gallon in 2022. Despite this price decrease, our net fuel expense increased to 4.6% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, in 2023 from 3.8% in 2022, primarily due to the record heat in the third quarter of 2023. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers. Auxiliary power units, which we have installed in our company-owned tractors, provide climate control and electrical power for our drivers without idling the tractor engine.

 

Supplies and maintenance consist of repairs, maintenance, tires, parts, oil and engine fluids, along with load-specific expenses including loading/unloading, tolls, pallets and trailer hostling. Our supplies and maintenance expense increased $11.7 million, or 21.0%, from 2022 primarily due to higher outside repair, loading/unloading and parts costs.

 

Depreciation relates to owned tractors, trailers, containers, auxiliary power units, communication units, terminal facilities and other assets. The $5.7 million, or 5.1%, increase in depreciation in 2023 was primarily due to an increase in our average tractor fleet size during the year, along with higher prices of new equipment. We expect our annual cost of tractor and trailer ownership will increase in future periods as a result of continued higher prices of new equipment, which will result in greater depreciation over the useful life.

 

Insurance and claims consist of the costs of insurance premiums and accruals we make for claims within our self-insured retention amounts, primarily for personal injury, property damage, physical damage to our equipment, cargo claims and workers’ compensation claims. These expenses will vary primarily based upon the frequency and severity of our accident experience, our self-insured retention levels and the market for insurance. The $5.5 million, or 10.9% increase in insurance and claims in 2023 was primarily due to increases in our self-insured cost of physical damage claims related to our revenue equipment, self-insured workers’ compensation claim costs and insurance premiums, partially offset by a reduction in our self-insured auto liability claim costs. Our significant self-insured retention exposes us to the possibility of significant fluctuations in claims expense between periods which could materially impact our financial results depending on the frequency, severity and timing of claims.

 

 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment was $13.6 million in 2023, up slightly from $13.4 million in 2022 primarily due to an increase in the number of units sold, offset by a decrease in the average gain for our tractor and trailer sales. Future gains or losses on dispositions of revenue equipment will be impacted by the market for used revenue equipment, which is beyond our control.

 

Our operating income declined 37.1% to $90.1 million in 2023 from $143.3 million in 2022 as a result of the foregoing factors. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 92.0% in 2023 and 88.7% in 2022. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 94.7% in 2023 and 88.1% in 2022, for our Dedicated segment was 88.2% in each of 2023 and 2022, for our Intermodal segment was 100.2% in 2023 and 91.8% in 2022, and for our Brokerage segment was 89.7% in 2023 and 88.9% in 2022. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, was 90.7% in 2023 and 86.4% in 2022.

 

Other non-operating income increased to $3.8 million from $827,000 in 2022 due to increased interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents.

 

Our effective income tax rate increased to 25.1% in 2023 from 23.5% in 2022 primarily due to increases in per diem and other non-deductible expenses.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income declined 36.2% to $70.4 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in 2023 from $110.4 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, in 2022.

 

 

Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2022 to Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

The following table sets forth for the years indicated our operating revenue, operating income and operating ratio by segment, along with the change for each component:

 

										Dollar Change				Percentage Change
(Dollars in thousands)		2022				2021				2022 vs. 2021				2022 vs. 2021
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		$	411,448			$	346,289			$	65,159				18.8	%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue			89,014				50,377				38,637				76.7
Total Truckload revenue			500,462				396,666				103,796				26.2
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			336,973				276,883				60,090				21.7
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue			92,119				52,559				39,560				75.3
Total Dedicated revenue			429,092				329,442				99,650				30.2
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			100,452				87,468				12,984				14.8
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue			29,313				14,777				14,536				98.4
Total Intermodal revenue			129,765				102,245				27,520				26.9
Brokerage revenue			204,559				145,291				59,268				40.8
Total operating revenue		$	1,263,878			$	973,644			$	290,234				29.8	%
Operating income:
Truckload		$	59,392			$	51,032			$	8,360				16.4	%
Dedicated			50,566				36,395				14,171				38.9
Intermodal			10,639				9,479				1,160				12.2
Brokerage			22,747				14,783				7,964				53.9
Total operating income		$	143,344			$	111,689			$	31,655				28.3	%
Operating ratio:
Truckload			88.1	%			87.1	%
Dedicated			88.2				89.0
Intermodal			91.8				90.7
Brokerage			88.9				89.8
Consolidated operating ratio			88.7	%			88.5	%
Operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges:
Truckload			85.6	%			85.3	%
Dedicated			85.0				86.9
Intermodal			89.4				89.2
Brokerage			88.9				89.8
Consolidated operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges			86.4	%			87.0	%

 

Our operating revenue increased $290.2 million, or 29.8%, to $1.264 billion in 2022 from $973.6 million in 2021. Our operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $197.5 million, or 23.1%, to $1.053 billion in 2022 from $855.9 million in 2021. This increase in 2022 was due to a $65.2 million increase in Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $60.1 million increase in Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, a $59.3 million increase in Brokerage revenue, and a $13.0 million increase in Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge revenue increased to $210.4 million in 2022 from $117.7 million in 2021 primarily due to higher fuel costs.

 

 

Truckload segment revenue increased $103.8 million, or 26.2%, to $500.5 million in 2022 from $396.7 million in 2021. Truckload segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased $65.2 million, or 18.8%, to $411.4 million in 2022 from $346.3 million in 2021 primarily due to an increase in our average revenue per tractor. The operating ratio increased to 88.1% in 2022 from 87.1% in 2021. Impacting the 2022 operating ratio were higher company driver compensation, driver recruitment and retention and fuel costs, partially offset by an increase in our average revenue per tractor due to increased rates with our customers.

 

Dedicated segment revenue increased $99.7 million, or 30.2%, to $429.1 million in 2022 from $329.4 million in 2021. Dedicated segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 21.7% primarily due to an increase in our average revenue per tractor. The operating ratio in 2022 was positively impacted by an increase in our average revenue per tractor due to increased rates with our customers and reduced depreciation expense as a percentage of revenue, partially offset by higher company driver compensation costs.

 

Intermodal segment revenue increased $27.5 million, or 26.9%, to $129.8 million in 2022 from $102.2 million in 2021. Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, increased 14.8% from 2021 primarily due to an increase in revenue per load. The operating ratio in 2022 was negatively impacted by higher company driver compensation, chassis rental and amounts payable to railroads as a percentage of our revenue, partially offset by increased rates with our customers.

 

Brokerage segment revenue increased $59.3 million, or 40.8%, to $204.6 million in 2022 from $145.3 million in 2021 primarily due to an increase in the number of loads. The improvement in the operating ratio in 2022 was primarily due to increased rates with our customers.

 

The following table sets forth for the years indicated the dollar and percentage increase or decrease of the items in our consolidated statements of operations, and those items as a percentage of operating revenue:

 

		Dollar Change				Percentage Change				Percentage of Operating Revenue
(Dollars in thousands)		2022 vs. 2021				2022 vs. 2021				2022				2021
Operating revenue		$	290,234				29.8	%			100.0	%			100.0	%
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits			72,342				22.8				30.9				32.7
Purchased transportation			56,571				29.3				19.8				19.8
Fuel and fuel taxes			87,283				66.5				17.3				13.5
Supplies and maintenance			10,241				22.5				4.4				4.7
Depreciation			8,452				8.2				8.8				10.5
Operating taxes and licenses			229				2.2				0.9				1.1
Insurance and claims			8,526				20.3				4.0				4.3
Communications and utilities			827				9.9				0.7				0.9
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment			2,916				17.9				(1.1	)			(1.7	)
Other			11,192				41.6				3.0				2.8
Total operating expenses			258,579				30.0				88.7				88.5
Operating income			31,655				28.3				11.3				11.5
Other			(784	)			(1,823.3	)			(0.1	)			-
Income before income taxes			32,439				29.0				11.4				11.5
Income taxes expense			7,513				28.6				2.7				2.7
Net income		$	24,926				29.2	%			8.7	%			8.8	%

 

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $72.3 million, or 22.8%, in 2022 from 2021. This increase resulted primarily from additional company driver compensation expense of $53.8 million, a $7.1 million increase in non-driver compensation expense, a $3.8 million increase in employees’ health insurance expense as a result of higher self-insured medical claims and a $2.5 million increase in bonus compensation expense for our non-driver employees.

 

 

Purchased transportation expense increased $56.6 million in total, or 29.3%, in 2022 from 2021. Amounts payable to carriers for transportation services we arranged in our Brokerage segment increased $49.0 million to $170.1 million in 2022 from $121.1 million in 2021, primarily due to an increase in the cost per load within the tight freight market and growth in load volume. Amounts payable to railroads and drayage carriers for transportation services within our Intermodal segment increased $9.5 million to $65.3 million in 2022 from $55.8 million in 2021 due to higher fuel surcharges paid to the railroads. The portion of purchased transportation expense related to independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments, including fuel surcharges, decreased $1.9 million in 2022.

 

Fuel and fuel taxes increased by $87.3 million, or 66.5%, in 2022 from 2021. Net fuel expense (fuel and fuel taxes net of fuel surcharge revenue and surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads) increased $5.0 million, or 18.5%, to $31.9 million in 2022 from $26.9 million in 2021. Fuel surcharges passed through to independent contractors, outside drayage carriers and railroads increased to $23.8 million from $13.3 million in 2021. The DOE national average cost of fuel increased to $4.99 per gallon from $3.29 per gallon in 2021. Despite this increase, our net fuel expense was 3.8% of Truckload, Dedicated and Intermodal segment revenue, net of fuel surcharges, in each of 2022 and 2021. We have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in the temperature-control units on our trailers.

 

Our supplies and maintenance expense increased $10.2 million, or 22.5%, from 2021, primarily due to higher outside repair, parts and tire costs, along with increased loading/unloading and tolls costs.

 

The $8.5 million, or 20.3%, increase in insurance and claims in 2022 was primarily due to increases in our self-insured auto liability claim costs and in the self-insured cost of physical damage claims related to our revenue equipment.

 

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment was $13.4 million in 2022, down from $16.3 million in 2021 primarily due to a decrease in the number of units sold, partially offset by an increase in the average gain for our tractor and trailer sales.

 

The $11.2 million increase in other operating expenses in 2022 was primarily due to increases in costs associated with driver recruitment and retention along with travel and meals expense.

 

Our operating income improved 28.3% to $143.3 million in 2022 from $111.7 million in 2021 as a result of the foregoing factors. Our operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, or “operating ratio,” was 88.7% in 2022 and 88.5% in 2021. The operating ratio for our Truckload segment was 88.1% in 2022 and 87.1% in 2021, for our Dedicated segment was 88.2% in 2022 and 89.0% in 2021, for our Intermodal segment was 91.8% in 2022 and 90.7% in 2021, and for our Brokerage segment was 88.9% in 2022 and 89.8% in 2021. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 86.4% in 2022 from 87.0% in 2021.

 

Our effective income tax rate was 23.5% in each of 2022 and 2021.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income improved 29.2% to $110.4 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, in 2022 from $85.4 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, in 2021.

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

 

Our business requires substantial ongoing capital investments, particularly for new tractors and trailers. Our primary sources of liquidity are funds provided by operations and our revolving credit facility. A portion of our tractor fleet is provided by independent contractors who own and operate their own equipment. We have no capital expenditure requirements relating to those drivers who own their tractors or obtain financing through third parties.

 

The table below reflects our net cash flows provided by operating activities, net cash flows used for investing activities and net cash flows used for financing activities for the years indicated.

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022				2021
Net cash flows provided by operating activities		$	164,378			$	219,489			$	171,204
Net cash flows used for investing activities			(172,540	)			(134,958	)			(123,734	)
Net cash flows used for financing activities			(19,225	)			(60,926	)			(56,602	)

 

In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34.0 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 2.7 million shares in August 2020 to reflect the three-for-two stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on August 13, 2020. On May 3, 2022, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an additional increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million, or approximately 3.1 million shares, of our common stock. The share repurchase program allows purchases on the open market or through private transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

We repurchased and retired 1.3 million shares of common stock for $25.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, and 963,000 shares of common stock for $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. We did not repurchase any shares in 2023, the third or fourth quarters of 2022, or in 2021. As of December 31, 2023, future repurchases of up to $33.2 million, or approximately 2.2 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

 

In 2023, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $164.4 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $163.9 million, to pay cash dividends of $19.5 million and to construct and upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $8.6 million, resulting in a $27.4 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents. In 2022, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $219.5 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $120.9 million, to repurchase and retire 2.3 million shares of our common stock for $41.8 million, to pay cash dividends of $19.6 million and to construct and upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $11.2 million, resulting in a $23.6 million increase in cash and cash equivalents. In 2021, net cash flows provided by operating activities of $171.2 million were primarily used to purchase new revenue equipment, net of proceeds from dispositions, in the amount of $118.3 million, to pay cash dividends of $54.7 million and to construct and upgrade regional operating facilities in the amount of $4.3 million, resulting in a $9.1 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents.

 

We estimate that capital expenditures, net of proceeds from dispositions, will be approximately $165 million in 2024. This amount includes commitments to purchase $181 million of new revenue equipment in 2024. Additionally, operating lease obligations total $561,000 through 2028. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2023 which totaled $19.5 million. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2022 which totaled $19.6 million. We paid cash dividends totaling $54.7 million in 2021 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock in October, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.04 per share of common stock in March, June, October and December. We currently expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. The payment of cash dividends in the future, and the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and certain corporate law requirements, as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. We believe our sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our current and anticipated needs for at least the next twelve months. Based upon anticipated cash flows, existing cash and cash equivalents balances, current borrowing availability and other sources of financing we expect to be available to us, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future.

 

 

In August 2022, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for an unsecured committed credit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $30.0 million which matures in August 2027. The credit agreement amends, restates and continues in its entirety our previous credit agreement, as amended. At December 31, 2023, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $20.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $9.3 million. At December 31, 2022, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $16.1 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the Term SOFR Rate plus applicable margins. The interest rate for the facility that would apply to outstanding principal balances was 8.5% at December 31, 2023.

 

Our credit agreement effective in August 2022 prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of $150 million. Our previous credit agreement prohibited us from making such payments in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. Waivers allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in total amounts of up to $80 million in each of 2022 and 2021 were obtained from the lender in March 2022 and August 2021, respectively. The current and previous credit agreements also contain restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

Other than our obligations for revenue equipment and operating lease expenditures, along with our outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims, which are each mentioned above, we did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements at December 31, 2023.

 

Seasonality

 

Our tractor productivity generally decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations and some shippers reduce their shipments. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased claims, lower fuel efficiency and more equipment repairs.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors believed to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and such differences could be material. We believe that the following area involves critical accounting estimates due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment that are necessary to account for its highly uncertain matters, the susceptibility of such matters to change and the potentially material impact these estimates and assumptions could have to our financial condition and operating performance.

 

Auto Liability and Workers’ Compensation Claims Reserves. We self-insure for our portion of claims exposure resulting from auto liability and workers’ compensation claims. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim and for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. Additionally, we have $20.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. However, we could suffer a series of losses within our self-insured retention limits or losses over our policy limits which could negatively affect our financial condition and operating results. Our auto liability and workers’ compensation claims expense and the related claims reserves will vary primarily based upon the frequency and severity of our accident experience. The total auto liability and workers’ compensation claims reserves within the insurance and claims accruals in our consolidated balance sheets were $40.3 million and $39.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The excess of the insurance and claims accruals over these amounts relates to general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with reserves for physical damage to our equipment and outstanding employees’ health insurance claims.

 

 

We reserve for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending auto liability and workers’ compensation claims, including legal costs. These case reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on our continuing evaluation of the nature and severity of each individual claim. Claims development factors are applied to the total amount of the individual claims’ case reserves by year incurred to estimate future claims development based on our historical experience. Our claims development factors phase down each year over nine years for auto liability claims and eleven years for workers’ compensation claims from the year incurred. We also ensure that our total recorded auto liability and workers’ compensation claims reserves are within a range of reasonable amounts determined in an independent actuarial analysis. There were no changes to our methodology used to estimate our ultimate claims losses in 2023 or 2022. Projection of losses is subject to a high level of estimation uncertainty and actual results could differ from these current estimates. Our estimates require judgments concerning the nature and severity of each claim, historical trends, consultation with actuarial experts, settlement patterns, jury awards, litigation trends and legal interpretations, which are difficult to predict.

 

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to a variety of market risks, most importantly the effects of the price and availability of diesel fuel. We require substantial amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors and power the temperature-control units on our trailers. The price and availability of diesel fuel can vary, and are subject to political, economic and market factors that are beyond our control. Significant increases in diesel fuel costs could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Based upon our fuel consumption in 2023, a 5% increase in the average cost of diesel fuel would have increased our fuel expense by $8.8 million.

 

We have historically been able to pass through a significant portion of long-term increases in diesel fuel prices and related taxes to customers in the form of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharge programs are widely accepted among our customers, though they can vary somewhat from customer-to-customer. These fuel surcharges, which adjust weekly with the cost of fuel, enable us to recover a substantial portion of the higher cost of fuel as prices increase. These fuel surcharge provisions are not effective in mitigating the fuel price increases related to non-revenue miles or fuel used while the tractor is idling. In addition, we have worked diligently to control fuel usage and costs by improving our volume purchasing arrangements and optimizing our drivers’ fuel purchases with national fuel centers, focusing on shorter lengths of haul, installing and tightly managing the use of auxiliary power units in our tractors to minimize engine idling and improving fuel usage in our trailers’ refrigeration units.

 

While we do not currently have any outstanding hedging instruments to mitigate this market risk, we may enter into derivatives or other financial instruments to hedge a portion of our fuel costs in the future.

 

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for Marten Transport, Ltd. and subsidiaries (the “Company”). This system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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, and even when determined to be effective, can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projection of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this evaluation, management used the criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023. Further, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, has issued a report on the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting on page 32 of this Report.

 

February 28, 2024

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Marten Transport, Ltd.

 

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Marten Transport, Ltd. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our report dated February 28, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 

Basis for opinion

 

The Company’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 Annual 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’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/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 28, 2024

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Marten Transport, Ltd.

 

Opinion on the financial statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Marten Transport, Ltd. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and financial statement schedule included under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

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, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 28, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion.

 

Basis for opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’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 matter

 

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

 

Auto and workers’ compensation self-insurance reserves

 

As described further in Note 1 and Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company self-insures for a portion of their claims exposure resulting from workers’ compensation claims and auto liability claims. The Company maintains insurance coverage for per incident and total losses in excess of their risk retention levels in amounts they consider adequate based upon historical experience and their ongoing review. The Company reserves for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims, including legal costs. These reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on the Company’s evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and an estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Insurance and claims expenses, including the related insurance and claims reserves, will vary primarily based upon the frequency and severity of the Company’s accident experience.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021

 

 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Nature of business: Marten Transport, Ltd. is a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico. We are one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. We operate throughout the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada.

 

Principles of consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Marten Transport, Ltd. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.

 

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. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

Trade accounts receivable: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for credit losses. Our allowance for credit losses was $497,000 and $500,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer and related aging of the past-due balances, including any billing disputes. In order to assess the collectability of these receivables, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Through these evaluations, we may become aware of a situation where a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration of its financial viability, credit ratings or bankruptcy. The allowance for credit losses is based on the best information available to us and is reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. We evaluate the allowance based on historical write-off experience, the size of the individual customer balances, past-due amounts and the overall national economy. We review the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses monthly. Invoice balances over 30 days after the contractual due date are considered past due per our policy and are reviewed individually for collectability. Initial payments by new customers are monitored for compliance with contractual terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential recovery is considered remote.

 

Property and equipment: Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations. Gains and losses on disposals of revenue equipment are included in operations as they are a normal, recurring component of our operations.

 

Depreciation is computed based on the cost of the asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. We begin depreciating assets in the month that each asset is placed in service and, therefore, is ready for its intended use, and depreciate each asset until it is taken out of service and available for sale. Accelerated methods are used for income tax reporting purposes. Following is a summary of estimated useful lives for financial reporting purposes:

 

		Years
Tractors			5
Trailers			7
Refrigerated containers			12
Service and other equipment		3	-	15
Buildings and improvements		20	-	40

 

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In 2023, we replaced our company-owned tractors within an average of 4.1 years and our trailers within an average of 8.0 years after purchase. Our useful lives for depreciating tractors is five years, for trailers is seven years and for refrigerated containers is 12 years, with a 25% salvage value for tractors, a 35% salvage value for trailers and no salvage value for refrigerated containers. These salvage values are based upon the expected market values of the equipment after five years for tractors and seven years for trailers. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner approximates the continuing declining value of the revenue equipment and continues at a consistent straight-line rate for units held beyond the normal replacement cycle.

 

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted 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 the costs to sell.

 

Tires in service: The cost of original equipment and replacement tires placed in service is capitalized. Amortization is calculated based on cost, less estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over 24 months. Tire amortization, which is included within supplies and maintenance in our consolidated statements of operations, was $7.2 million in 2023, $6.6 million in 2022 and $6.4 million in 2021. The current portion of capitalized tires in service is included in prepaid expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The long-term portion of capitalized tires in service and the estimated salvage value are included in revenue equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cost of recapping tires is charged to operations as incurred.

 

Income taxes: 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 basis. 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 in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We have reflected the necessary deferred tax assets and liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We believe the future tax deductions will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income.

 

In the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. Potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

 

Insurance and claims: We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance, with varying risk retention levels. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim. We are also responsible for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims, including legal costs. These reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and an estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities, we have $20.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims.

 

Revenue recognition: We account for our revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The current revenue standard requires us to recognize revenue and related expenses within each of our four reporting segments over time as our customers simultaneously receive and consume benefits as we perform the freight services.

 

40

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We account for revenue of our Intermodal and Brokerage segments and revenue on freight transported by independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments on a gross basis because we are the principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. Accordingly, all such revenue billed to customers is classified as operating revenue and all corresponding payments to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment are classified as purchased transportation expense within our consolidated statements of operations. See Note 14 for more information.

 

Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for 19% of our revenue excluding fuel surcharges in 2023 and 19% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2023, 21% of our revenue in 2022 and 22% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2022, and 23% of our revenue in 2021. During each of 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 99% of our revenue was generated within the United States.

 

Share-based payment arrangement compensation: Under our stock incentive plans, all of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including incentive and non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards. We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of employee stock options and performance unit awards, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values at the date of grant.

 

Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares related to stock options and performance unit awards had been issued using the treasury stock method.

 

Segment reporting: We report our operating segments in accordance with accounting standards codified in FASB ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We have five current operating segments that are aggregated into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 14 for more information.

 

Use of estimates: We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are primarily related to insurance and claims accruals and depreciation. Ultimate results could differ from these estimates.

 

2. Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts

 

Prepaid expenses and other: As of December 31, prepaid expenses and other consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022
Parts and tires inventory		$	6,286			$	5,427
License fees			5,557				6,029
Tires in service			4,984				5,330
Insurance premiums			4,608				4,054
Contract assets			2,106				2,746
Other			3,971				3,734
		$	27,512			$	27,320

 

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Accrued and other current liabilities: As of December 31, accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022
Accrued expenses		$	10,575			$	14,426
Vacation			9,612				9,776
Salaries and wages			3,800				14,750
Other			2,722				2,312
		$	26,709			$	41,264

 

3. Long-Term Debt

 

In August 2022, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for an unsecured committed credit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $30.0 million which matures in August 2027. The credit agreement amends, restates and continues in its entirety our previous credit agreement, as amended. At December 31, 2023, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $20.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $9.3 million. At December 31, 2022, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $16.1 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the Term SOFR Rate plus applicable margins. The interest rate for the facility that would apply to outstanding principal balances was 8.5% at December 31, 2023.

 

Our credit agreement effective in August 2022 prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of $150 million. Our previous credit agreement prohibited us from making such payments in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. Waivers allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in total amounts of up to $80 million in each of 2022 and 2021 were obtained from the lender in March 2022 and August 2021, respectively. The current and previous credit agreements also contain restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

4. Related Party Transactions

 

The following related party transactions occurred during the three years ended December 31, 2023:

 

(a) We purchase tires and obtain related services from a company in which one of our directors is the chairman of the board and chief executive officer. We paid that company $195,000 in 2023, $477,000 in 2022 and $306,000 in 2021 for tires and related services. In addition, we paid $2.0 million in each of 2023, 2022 and 2021 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by the same company. The same company received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases. We did not have any accounts payable to that company as of December 31, 2023. Payables to that company were $29,000 at December 31, 2022.

 

(b) We paid $8,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2022 for building repairs to a company in which one of our directors is the chief executive officer and the principal stockholder. No payments were made to that company for services in 2021. We did not have any accounts payable to that company as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

 

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5. Income Taxes

 

The components of the income taxes expense consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022				2021
Current:
Federal		$	33,416			$	18,025			$	18,872
State			4,706				3,914				3,367
Total current			38,122				21,939				22,239
Deferred:
Federal			(13,526	)			9,795				3,462
State			(1,053	)			2,083				603
Total deferred			(14,579	)			11,878				4,065
Total expense		$	23,543			$	33,817			$	26,304

 

The federal statutory income tax rate is reconciled to the effective income tax rate as follows:

 

		2023				2022				2021
Federal statutory income tax rate			21	%			21	%			21	%
Increase in taxes arising from state income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit			3				3				3
Per diem and other non-deductible expenses			2				-				-
Other, net			(1	)			(1	)			-
Effective tax rate			25	%			23	%			24	%

 

As of December 31, the net deferred tax liability consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and accrued liabilities		$	13,126			$	13,244
Other			1,212				1,597
			14,338				14,841
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation			133,634				148,285
Prepaid expenses			3,166				3,597
			136,800				151,882
Net deferred tax liability		$	122,462			$	137,041

 

We have not provided a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at December 31, 2023 or 2022. We believe the deferred tax assets will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (deferred tax liabilities) and future taxable income.

 

Our reserves for unrecognized tax benefits were $434,000 as of December 31, 2023 and $438,000 as of December 31, 2022. The $4,000 decrease in the amount reserved relates to current period tax positions. If recognized, $343,000 of the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023 would favorably impact our effective tax rate. Potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $14,000 and $10,000 were recognized in our financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The federal statute of limitations remains open for 2020 and forward. We file tax returns in numerous state jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations.

 

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6. Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2023				2022				2021
Numerator:
Net income		$	70,373			$	110,354			$	85,428
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares			81,272				81,692				82,872
Effect of dilutive stock options			141				267				536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions			81,413				81,959				83,408
Basic earnings per common share		$	0.87			$	1.35			$	1.03
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.86			$	1.35			$	1.02

 

Options totaling 173,300, 541,500 and 605,550 equivalent shares were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, because including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares, due to their exercise prices exceeding the average market price of the common shares, or because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the options to be antidilutive.

 

Unvested performance unit awards (see Note 10) totaling 106,582, 16,632 and 71,734 equivalent shares for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were considered outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the performance units to be antidilutive.

 

7. Share Repurchase Program

 

In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34.0 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 2.7 million shares in August 2020 to reflect the three-for-two stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on August 13, 2020. On May 3, 2022, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an additional increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million, or approximately 3.1 million shares, of our common stock. The share repurchase program allows purchases on the open market or through private transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.

 

We repurchased and retired 1.3 million shares of common stock for $25.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, and 963,000 shares of common stock for $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. We did not repurchase any shares in 2023, the third or fourth quarters of 2022, or in 2021. As of December 31, 2023, future repurchases of up to $33.2 million, or approximately 2.2 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

8. Dividends

 

In 2010, we announced a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2023 which totaled $19.5 million. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2022 which totaled $19.6 million. We paid cash dividends totaling $54.7 million in 2021 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock in October, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.04 per share of common stock in March, June, October and December.

 

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9. Leases

 

We lease facilities, drop yards, office space, land, chassis and equipment. All leases are classified as operating leases. We do not have any financing leases. Payments for operating leases that extend beyond 12 months are fixed.

 

Some leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from six months to five years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and is considered in the determination of the operating lease assets and lease liabilities once reasonably certain of exercise.

 

Management has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and these leases are not capitalized. This primarily affects drop yards and chassis, for which we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

As of December 31, the classification of operating leases in our consolidated balance sheets was as follows:

 

(In thousands)		2023				2022
Assets:
Other noncurrent assets (a)		$	517			$	710
Liabilities:
Accrued and other current liabilities			268				301
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities			249				409
Total liabilities		$	517			$	710

 

(a)

Operating lease asset balances at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

The maturity of the operating lease liabilities is as follows:

 

		Amount
Maturities:
2024		$	296
2025			125
2026			64
2027 thru 2028			76
Total lease payments			561
Adjust to present value			(44	)
Total operating lease liabilities		$	517

 

The weighted-average remaining lease term at December 31, 2023 was 33 months and at December 31, 2022 was 39 months. The weighted-average discount rate was 5.1% at December 31, 2023 and 4.4% at December 31, 2022. The operating leases identified do not specify implicit rates, accordingly, we use our incremental borrowing rate at the time of lease inception to determine the present value of lease payments.

 

Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations in 2023 and 2022 totaled $89,000 and $318,000, respectively. We paid $332,000 of cash for capitalized operating leases during 2023 and $285,000 during 2022.

 

Total operating lease expense for 2023 was $6.5 million and for 2022 was $5.7 million. These amounts are reported within other operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations and include $6.2 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of short-term lease expense with an initial term of 12 months or less.

 

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10. Employee Benefits

 

Equity Incentive Plans - In May 2015, our stockholders approved our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). Our Board of Directors adopted the 2015 Plan in March 2015. Under our 2015 Plan, each of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including non-statutory stock options, performance unit awards and shares of common stock, of which 2,674,431 shares have been awarded as of December 31, 2023. Stock options expire within 7 or 10 years after the date of grant and the exercise price must be at least the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Stock options issued to employees are generally exercisable beginning one year from the date of grant in cumulative amounts of 20% per year. Performance unit awards are subject to vesting requirements over a five-year period, based on our earnings growth and service with us. Options exercised and performance unit award shares issued represent newly issued shares.

 

At our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 7, 2019, our stockholders approved an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, which was previously approved and adopted by our Board of Directors, subject to approval by our stockholders. The amendment increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan by 1.3 million shares and the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance pursuant to full-value awards by 558,334 shares. The amendment also adjusted certain numbers to reflect the stock split that occurred in July 2017.

 

On August 13, 2020, we effected a three-for-two stock split of our common stock, $0.01 par value, in the form of a 50% stock dividend. In July 2020, our Board of Directors approved an increase to reflect the three-for-two stock split in the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 plan, along with in the number of shares reserved for issuance under all outstanding options and performance unit awards and shares held within our Deferred Compensation Plan. As a result, the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan, as amended, increased to 3,950,000 shares.

 

As of December 31, 2023, there were 838,150 shares reserved for issuance under options outstanding and 226,715 shares reserved for issuance under outstanding performance unit awards under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan replaced our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), which expired by its terms in May 2015.

 

Under the 2005 Plan, officers, directors and employees were granted non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards with similar terms to the options and awards under the 2015 Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were no remaining shares reserved for issuance under options issued within the 2005 Plan. As of the same date, there were also no remaining shares reserved for issuance under performance unit awards issued within the 2005 Plan. No additional awards will be granted under the 2005 Plan.

 

We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the grant-date fair value of option awards. The fair value of service-based option awards granted was estimated as of the date of grant using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

		2023				2022				2021
Expected option life in years(1)			6.0				6.0				6.0
Expected stock price volatility percentage(2)			28	%			26	%			27	%
Risk-free interest rate percentage(3)			4.1	%			2.9	%			1.2	%
Expected dividend yield(4)			1.14	%			1.13	%			0.91	%
Fair value as of the date of grant		$	6.63			$	5.79			$	4.29

 

(1)

Expected option life – We use historical employee exercise and option expiration data to estimate the expected life assumption for the Black-Scholes grant-date valuation. We believe that this historical data is currently the best estimate of the expected term of a new option. We use a weighted-average expected life for all awards.

 

(2)	Expected stock price volatility – We use our stock’s historical volatility for the same period of time as the expected life. We have no reason to believe that its future volatility will differ from the past.

 

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(3)	Risk-free interest rate – The rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant for the same period of time as the expected life.

 

(4)	Expected dividend yield – The calculation is based on the total expected annual dividend payout divided by the average stock price.

 

Compensation costs associated with service-based option awards with graded vesting are recognized, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the period between the grant date and the award’s stated vesting term. Service-based option awards become immediately exercisable in full in the event of death or disability and upon a change in control with respect to all options that have been outstanding for at least six months.

 

In May 2017, we granted 163,754 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to certain employees. This was our eighth grant of such awards. As of December 31, 2017 and each December 31^st thereafter through December 31, 2021, each award vested and became the right to receive a number of shares of common stock equal to a total vesting percentage multiplied by the number of units subject to such award. The total vesting percentage for each of the five years was equal to the sum of a performance vesting percentage, which was the percentage increase, if any, in our net income for the year being measured over the prior year, and a service vesting percentage of ten percentage points. All payments were made in shares of our common stock. One half of the vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting, with the other half being credited to the employees’ accounts within the Marten Transport, Ltd. Deferred Compensation Plan, which restricted the sale of vested shares to the later of each employee’s termination of employment or attainment of age 62. We also granted 65,013 performance unit awards in May 2017 and 3,000 awards in August 2017 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting.

 

In May 2018, we granted 68,550 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to the awards granted in 2017. We also granted 42,000 performance unit awards in May 2018 and 3,000 awards in August 2018 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2018 vested from December 31, 2018 through 2022. We also granted 3,000 performance unit awards in December 2018 with similar terms to the awards granted in August 2018, except that the awards vested from December 31, 2019 through 2023.

 

In May 2019, we granted 60,000 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to the awards granted in 2017. We also granted 45,000 performance unit awards in May 2019 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2019 vested from December 31, 2019 through 2023.

 

In May 2020, we granted 73,205 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2017, except that all vested performance units will be paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2020 vest from December 31, 2020 through 2024.

 

In May 2021, we granted 98,400 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2021 vest from December 31, 2021 through 2025.

 

In May 2022, we granted 102,900 performance unit awards, and in August 2022, we granted 21,000 performance unit awards, under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2022 vest from December 31, 2022 through 2026.

 

In May 2023, we granted 114,044 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2023 vest from December 31, 2023 through 2027.

 

In May 2020, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the termination of our deferred compensation plan. The termination was effective in May 2021. All shares of our common stock within the plan were distributed by March 2022.

 

The fair value of each performance unit is based on the closing market price on the date of grant. We recognize compensation expense for these awards based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the vesting requirements of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate.

 

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The amount of share-based compensation recognized during a period is based on the value of the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We currently expect, based on an analysis of our historical forfeitures and known forfeitures on existing awards, that approximately 1.25% of unvested outstanding awards will be forfeited each year. This analysis will be re-evaluated on a quarterly basis and the forfeiture rate will be adjusted as necessary. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those shares that vest.

 

Total share-based compensation expense recorded in 2023 was $2.3 million ($1.7 million net of income tax benefit, $0.02 earnings per basic and diluted share), in 2022 was $2.8 million ($2.2 million net of income tax benefit, $0.03 earnings per basic and diluted share) and in 2021 was $2.5 million ($1.9 million net of income tax benefit, $0.02 earnings per basic and diluted share). All share-based compensation expense was recorded in salaries, wages and benefits expense.

 

As of December 31, 2023, there was a total of $1.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested service-based option awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years, and $3.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested performance unit awards, which will be recorded based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the vesting requirements of the awards through 2027.

 

Option activity in 2023 was as follows:

 

		Shares				Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2022			915,391			$	15.84
Granted			39,000				21.44
Exercised			(106,941	)			11.30
Forfeited			(9,300	)			18.35
Outstanding at December 31, 2023			838,150			$	16.65
Exercisable at December 31, 2023			431,850			$	15.12

 

The 838,150 options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 have a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 3.9 years and an aggregate intrinsic value based on our closing stock price on December 29, 2023 for in-the-money options of $3.8 million. The 431,850 options exercisable as of the same date have a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 2.9 years and an aggregate intrinsic value, similarly calculated, of $2.6 million.

 

The fair value of options granted in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $258,000, $819,000 and $1.8 million, respectively, for service-based options. The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $1.1 million, $2.0 million and $789,000, respectively. Intrinsic value is the difference between the fair value of the acquired shares at the date of exercise and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of options exercised. Proceeds received from option exercises in 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $2.4 million, $4.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 

Nonvested service-based option awards as of December 31, 2023 and changes during 2023 were as follows:

 

		Shares				Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value				Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)
Nonvested at December 31, 2022			544,150			$	4.62				5.5
Granted			39,000				6.63				6.6
Vested			(167,550	)			4.44				3.9
Forfeited			(9,300	)			5.01				5.2
Nonvested at December 31, 2023			406,300			$	4.88				5.0

 

The total fair value of options which vested during 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $744,000, $691,000 and $411,000, respectively.

 

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The following table summarizes our nonvested performance unit award activity in 2023:

 

		Shares				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2022			121,867			$	17.83
Granted			114,044				20.49
Vested			(47,511	)(1)			17.56
Nonvested at December 31, 2023			188,400			$	19.51

 

(1)	This number of performance unit award shares vested based on our financial performance in 2023 and will be distributed in March 2024. The fair value of unit award shares that vested in 2023 was $834,000.

 

Retirement Savings Plan - We sponsor a defined contribution retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees are eligible for the plan after three months of service. Participants are able to contribute up to the limit set by law, which in 2023 was $22,500 for participants less than age 50 and $30,000 for participants age 50 and above. We contribute 35% of each participant’s contribution, up to a total of 6% contributed. Our contribution vests at the rate of 20% per year for the first through fifth years of service. In addition, we may make elective contributions as determined by the Board of Directors. No elective contributions were made in 2023, 2022 or 2021. Total expense recorded for the plan was $3.9 million in 2023, $4.0 million in 2022 and $3.0 million in 2021.

 

Stock Purchase Plans - An Employee Stock Purchase Plan and an Independent Contractor Stock Purchase Plan are sponsored to encourage employee and independent contractor ownership of our common stock. Eligible participants specify the amount of regular payroll or contract payment deductions and voluntary cash contributions that are used to purchase shares of our common stock. The purchases are made at the market price on the open market. We pay the broker’s commissions and administrative charges for purchases of common stock under the plans.

 

11. Termination of Deferred Compensation Plan

 

In August 2010, our Board of Directors approved and adopted the Marten Transport, Ltd. Deferred Compensation Plan. The deferred compensation plan was an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan designed to allow board elected officers and other select members of our management designated by our Compensation Committee to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

 

Under the terms of the plan, each participant was eligible to defer portions of their base pay, annual bonus or receipt of common stock otherwise payable under a vested performance unit award. Each participant could have elected a fixed distribution date for the participant’s deferral account, other than certain required performance unit award deferrals credited to the discretionary account, which were to be distributed after the later of the date of the participant’s termination of employment or the date the participant attains age 62. Upon termination of a participant’s employment with us, the plan required a lump-sum distribution of the deferral account, excluding the required performance unit award deferrals, unless the participant had elected an installment distribution. Upon a participant’s death, the plan provided that a participant’s distributions accelerate and be paid in a lump sum to the participant’s beneficiary. We had the ability to terminate the plan and accelerate distributions to participants, but only to the extent and at the times permitted under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We had the ability to terminate the plan and accelerate distributions upon a change in control, which was not a payment event under the plan. In conjunction with the approval of the plan, our Board of Directors also adopted an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan to allow for deferral of receipt of income from a performance unit award under the plan. Such deferral is also provided for within the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

In May 2020, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the termination of our deferred compensation plan. The termination was effective in May 2021. All shares of our common stock within the plan were distributed by March 2022.

 

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12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

 

13. Commitments and Contingencies

 

We are committed to new revenue equipment purchases of $181 million in 2024. Operating lease obligation expenditures through 2028 total $561,000.

 

We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance, with varying risk retention levels. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review, and reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims.

 

We are also involved in other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. A number of trucking companies, including us, have been subject to lawsuits alleging violations of various federal and state wage and hour laws. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in the payment of substantial settlements or damages by the defendants.

 

The outcome of all litigation is difficult to assess or quantify, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The cost to defend litigation may also be significant. Not all claims are covered by our insurance, and there can be no assurance that our coverage limits will be adequate to cover all amounts in dispute. To the extent we experience claims that are uninsured, exceed our coverage limits or cause increases in future premiums, the resulting expense could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results. Based on our present knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, advice of outside counsel, management believes the resolution of open claims and pending litigation, taking into account existing reserves, is not likely to have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements, however, any future liability claims or adverse developments in existing claims could impact this analysis.

 

14. Revenue and Business Segments

 

We account for our revenue in accordance with FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. We combine our five current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. These four reporting segments are also the appropriate categories for the disaggregation of our revenue under FASB ASC 606.

 

We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.

 

Our Truckload segment provides a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.

 

Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.

 

50

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Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.

 

Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our refrigerated containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.

 

Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.

 

Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.

 

Our customer agreements are typically for one-year terms except for our Dedicated agreements which range from three to five years with annual rate reviews. Under FASB ASC 606, the contract date for each individual load within each of our four reporting segments is generally the date that each load is tendered to and accepted by us. For each load transported within each of our four reporting segments, the entire amount of revenue to be recognized is a single performance obligation and our agreements with our customers detail the per-mile charges for line haul and fuel surcharges, along with the rates for loading and unloading, stop offs and drops, equipment detention and other accessorial services, which is the transaction price. There are no discounts that would be a material right or consideration payable to a customer. We are required to recognize revenue and related expenses over time, from load pickup to delivery, for each load within each of our four reporting segments. We base our calculation of the amount of revenue to record in each period for individual loads picking up in one period and delivering in the following period using the number of hours estimated to be incurred within each period applied to each estimated transaction price. Contract assets for this estimated revenue which are classified within prepaid expenses and other within our consolidated balance sheets were $2.1 million and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. We had no impairment losses on contract assets in 2023 or 2022. We bill our customers for loads after delivery is complete with standard payment terms of 30 days.

 

51

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The following table sets forth for the years indicated our operating revenue and operating income by segment. We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment.

 

(Dollars in thousands)		2023				2022				2021
Operating revenue:
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue		$	395,565			$	411,448			$	346,289
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue			69,910				89,014				50,377
Total Truckload revenue			465,475				500,462				396,666
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			334,962				336,973				276,883
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue			73,310				92,119				52,559
Total Dedicated revenue			408,272				429,092				329,442
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue			75,887				100,452				87,468
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue			16,191				29,313				14,777
Total Intermodal revenue			92,078				129,765				102,245
Brokerage revenue			165,630				204,559				145,291
Total operating revenue		$	1,131,455			$	1,263,878			$	973,644
Operating income/(loss):
Truckload		$	24,835			$	59,392			$	51,032
Dedicated			48,377				50,566				36,395
Intermodal			(156	)			10,639				9,479
Brokerage			17,054				22,747				14,783
Total operating income		$	90,110			$	143,344			$	111,689

 

Truckload segment depreciation expense was $61.6 million, $56.4 million and $52.1 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $46.2 million, $45.6 million and $43.0 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $7.1 million, $7.5 million and $6.3 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $1.9 million, $1.5 million and $1.2 million, in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

52

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ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We intend to periodically evaluate our disclosure controls and procedures as required by the Exchange Act Rules.

 

We have included Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting in Item 8 above.

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 9C.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

A.	Directors of the Registrant.

 

The information in the “Election of Directors--Information About Nominees” and “Election of Directors--Other Information About Nominees” sections of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

B.	Executive Officers of the Registrant.

 

Information about our executive officers is included in this Report under Item 4A, “Information About our Executive Officers.”

 

C.	Procedure for Director Nominations by Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

 

D.	Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The information in the “Election of Directors—Board and Board Committees” section of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

E.	Identification of the Audit Committee.

 

The information in the “Election of Directors—Board and Board Committees” section of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

F.	Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management.

 

Our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management applies to each of our executive officers, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, along with our Senior Vice President of Finance and Controller, and meets the requirements of the SEC. We have posted our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management on our website at www.marten.com. We intend to disclose any amendments to and any waivers from a provision of our Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management on our website within five business days following such amendment or waiver.

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information in the “Election of Directors--Director Compensation,” “Compensation and Other Benefits” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” sections of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information in the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Compensation and Other Benefits--Equity Compensation Plan Information” sections of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The information in the “Related Party Transactions” and “Election of Directors--Board and Board Committees” sections of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information in the “Fees of Independent Auditors” section of our 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated in this Report by reference.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)	1.	Financial Statements (See Part II, Item 8 of this Report):	Page
		Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	31
		Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID Number 248)	32
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022	35
		Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021	36
		Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021	37
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021	38
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	39
	2.	Financial Statement Schedules (Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule Included in Part IV of this Report):
		Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves	62
		Schedules not listed above have been omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

 

 

3.	Exhibits:
	The exhibits to this Report are listed below. A copy of any of the exhibits listed will be sent at a reasonable cost to any stockholder as of March 8, 2024. Requests should be sent to James J. Hinnendael, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, at our corporate headquarters. The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

 

 

Item No.	Item		Filing Method
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective August 11, 2003		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107367).
3.2	Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective May 25, 2005		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (File No. 0-15010).
3.3	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective June 1, 2015		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 (File No. 0-15010).
3.4	Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective May 18, 2018		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (File No. 0-15010).
3.5	Amended and Restated Bylaws effective August 15, 2023		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 21, 2023.
4.1	Specimen form of the Company’s Common Stock Certificate		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-8108). (Filed on paper – hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T).
4.2	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective August 11, 2003		See Exhibit 3.1 above.
4.3	Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective May 25, 2005		See Exhibit 3.2 above.
4.4	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective June 1, 2015		See Exhibit 3.3 above.
4.5	Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effective May 18, 2018		See Exhibit 3.4 above.
4.6	Amended and Restated Bylaws effective August 15, 2023		See Exhibit 3.5 above.
4.7	Description of Company’s Common Stock		Filed with this Report.
10.1	Marten Transport, Ltd. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (File No. 0-15010).

 

 

Item No.	Item		Filing Method
10.2	Credit Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2006, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 6, 2006.
10.3	First Amendment to Credit Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2007, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 5, 2007.
10.4	Form of Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 15, 2007.
10.5	Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, effective as of November 30, 2007, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (File No. 0-15010).
10.6	Form of First Amendment to Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 0-15010).
10.7	Form of Indemnification Agreement		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 22, 2010.
10.8	Amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 0-15010).
10.9	Marten Transport, Ltd. Deferred Compensation Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 0-15010).
10.10	Form of Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement		Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 8, 2011.
10.11	Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd. as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 31, 2011.

 

 

Item No.	Item		Filing Method
10.12	Executive Officer Performance Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 2012.
10.13	Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2012, between Marten Transport, Ltd. as borrower and U.S. Bank National Association		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (File No. 0-15010).
10.14	Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2014, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 29, 2014.
10.15	Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement for the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2015.
10.16	Form of Performance Unit Awards Agreement for the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2015.
10.17	Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 (File No. 0-15010).
10.18	Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2015, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 6, 2015.
10.19	Amended and Restated Executive Officer Performance Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 4, 2015.
10.20	Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 6, 2016, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 12, 2016.
10.21	Second Amended and Restated Executive Officer Performance Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 18, 2017.
10.22	Eighth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2018, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 28, 2018.

 

 

Item No.	Item		Filing Method
10.23	Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 13, 2019.
10.24	Ninth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2019, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 14, 2019.
10.25	Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2020.
10.26	Tenth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2020, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 18, 2020.
10.27	Eleventh Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2021, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 20, 2021.
10.28	Twelfth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2022, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto as lenders, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 2, 2022.
10.29	Credit Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2022, by and among Marten Transport, Ltd., as borrower, the banks party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the banks		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 22, 2022.
10.30	Named Executive Officer Compensation		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 8, 2023.
23.1	Consent of Grant Thornton LLP		Filed with this Report.
31.1	Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Timothy M. Kohl, the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		Filed with this Report.
31.2	Certification pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by James J. Hinnendael, the Registrant’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)		Filed with this Report.

 

 

Item No.	Item		Filing Method
32.1	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002		Filed with this Report.
97.1	Marten Transport, Ltd. Clawback Policy		Filed with this Report.
101	The following financial information from Marten Transport, Ltd.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024, formatted in iXBRL, or Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		Filed with this Report.
104	The cover page from Marten Transport, Ltd.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, formatted in iXBRL, included in Exhibit 101		Filed with this Report.

 

ITEM 16.

FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 

None.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Marten Transport, Ltd., the Registrant, has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: February 28, 2024	MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
	By /s/ Timothy M. Kohl
	Timothy M. Kohl
	Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below on February 28, 2024, by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature	Title
/s/ Randolph L. Marten	Executive Chairman of the Board and Director
Randolph L. Marten
/s/ James J. Hinnendael	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
James J. Hinnendael	Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Larry B. Hagness	Director
Larry B. Hagness
/s/ Thomas J. Winkel	Director
Thomas J. Winkel
/s/ Jerry M. Bauer	Director
Jerry M. Bauer
/s/ Robert L. Demorest	Director
Robert L. Demorest
/s/ Ronald R. Booth	Director
Ronald R. Booth
/s/ Kathleen P. Iverson	Director
Kathleen P. Iverson
/s/ Patricia L. Jones	Director
Patricia L. Jones

 

 

SCHEDULE II

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

 

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
(In thousands)

 

		Balance at				Charged to
		Beginning of				Costs and									Balance at
Description		Year				Expenses				Deductions					End of Year
Insurance and claims accruals:
Year ended December 31, 2023		$	45,747			$	71,230			$	(69,960	)	(1)		$	47,017
Year ended December 31, 2022			42,014				67,790				(64,057	)	(1)			45,747
Year ended December 31, 2021			39,595				55,342				(52,923	)	(1)			42,014
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
Year ended December 31, 2023			500				-				(3	)	(2)			497
Year ended December 31, 2022			348				350				(198	)	(2)			500
Year ended December 31, 2021			348				-				-		(2)			348

 

(1)	Claims payments
(2)	Write-off of bad debts, net of recoveries

 

See report of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Exhibit 4.7

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Marten Transport, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (“Marten,” “we,” “us” and “our”), has only one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“common stock”).

 

The following description of our common stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Charter”), and our Bylaws, as amended (our “Bylaws”), which are filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and are incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to read our Charter, our Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) for additional information.

 

Authorized Shares

 

Our Charter authorizes the issuance of up to 194,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of:

 

●

192,000,000 shares of common stock; and

 

●

2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“preferred stock”).

 

As of December 31, 2023, we had 81,312,168 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

The Board of Directors of Marten (the “Board”) is authorized to establish out of the authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, one or more series of preferred stock, and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the rights, powers and preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each such series. Each such class or series of preferred stock shall have such voting powers (full or limited or no voting powers), such preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series of preferred stock as may be adopted from time to time by the Board prior to the issuance of any shares thereof.

 

We may amend from time to time our Charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock. Any such amendment would require the approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per each share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Our common stock does not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of outstanding shares of any series of preferred stock we may designate and issue in the future, holders of our common stock are entitled to vote on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

Our Bylaws provide that at all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect directors. Our Bylaws further provide that unless otherwise provided by our Charter, Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to Marten or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to Marten or its securities, all other matters shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of Marten that are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

 

 

Dividend Rights

 

Subject to the provisions of the applicable statutes and our Charter, dividends upon the capital stock of Marten may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of Marten available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, deem proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of Marten, or for such other purposes as the directors shall deem conducive to the interests of Marten, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Marten, subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of outstanding shares of any series of preferred stock we may designate and issue in the future, holders of our common stock are entitled to share pro rata in the distribution of our assets remaining after the payment in full of our liabilities.

 

Other Rights and Preferences

 

Under the terms of our Charter, the holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Board may designate and issue in the future. Our Charter and Bylaws do not restrict the ability of a holder of our common stock to transfer such holder’s shares of common stock. All currently outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Shareowner Services.

 

Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ Global Select Market) under the symbol “MRTN.”

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of our Charter and Bylaws and the DGCL

 

Our Charter and Bylaws and the DGCL contain provisions that may have the anti-takeover effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Marten. Our Charter and Bylaws and the DGCL contain the following anti-takeover provisions that may have the anti-takeover effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Marten:

 

●

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable the Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management.

 

●

The Board may make, alter, amend and repeal our Bylaws without stockholder approval, subject to the power of our stockholders to alter, amend or repeal any Bylaw, whether adopted by them or otherwise.

 

 

●

Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of our Charter and the right of stockholders to elect directors to fill vacancies on the Board in connection with a special election meeting, if the office of any director becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, by a majority vote may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  With respect to the initial election of a director to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the number of directors by action of the Board in the manner permitted by statute, such vacancy shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors serving at the time of the increase.

 

●

Stockholders must follow advance notice procedures to submit nominations of candidates for election to the Board at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders and must follow advance notice procedures to submit other proposals for business to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders.

 

Delaware Business Combination Statute

 

We are a Delaware corporation, and, in our Charter, we have elected to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, known as the Delaware Business Combination Statute. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

●

Prior to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

●

Upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, exclusive of shares owned by directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans; or

 

●

At or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock or is the corporation’s affiliate or associate and was the owner of 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at any time within the three-year period immediately before the date of determination.

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We have issued our reports dated February 28, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting included in the Annual Report of Marten Transport, Ltd. and subsidiaries on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of Marten Transport, Ltd. on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-234594, File No. 333-204386, File No. 333-128168, and File No. 333-81494).

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 28, 2024

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Timothy M. Kohl, certify that:

 

1.	I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Marten Transport, Ltd.;

 

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 28, 2024	/s/ Timothy M. Kohl
	Timothy M. Kohl
	Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, James J. Hinnendael, certify that:

 

1.	I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Marten Transport, Ltd.;

 

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 28, 2024	/s/ James J. Hinnendael
	James J. Hinnendael
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. §1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

In connection with the Annual Report of Marten Transport, Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best knowledge of the undersigned:

 

(1)	The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: February 28, 2024	/s/ Timothy M. Kohl
	Timothy M. Kohl
	Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ James J. Hinnendael
	James J. Hinnendael
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Exhibit 97.1

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CLAWBACK POLICY

 

This Marten Transport, Ltd. Clawback Policy (this “Policy”) was approved effective as of October 2, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Marten Transport, Ltd. (the “Company”). This Policy is adopted pursuant to and intended to comply with Rule 5608 (Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) so long as the Company’s securities are listed on Nasdaq.

 

Purpose and Policy Statement

 

The Company is committed to conducting business with integrity in accordance with high ethical standards and in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. This includes the Company’s commitment to comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the presentation of the Company’s financial information to the public and to the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation.

 

As a result, the Committee has adopted this Policy to provide that, in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (each, as applicable, a “Restatement”), the Company will recover reasonably promptly the amount of any “erroneously awarded compensation” “received” by an “executive officer,” in each case as such terms are defined in this Policy, if and to the extent required by any federal or state law, rule or regulation, or rule, regulation, policy or listing standard of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, including without limitation, Nasdaq Rule 5608 (Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation).

 

In the event of any change in any federal or state law, rule or regulation, or rule, regulation, policy or listing standard of the SEC or any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed after the Effective Date, which requires the Company to recover compensation from an executive officer, the Company will seek recovery under this Policy to the extent required by such laws, rules, regulations or listing standards.

 

 

Administration

 

The Committee has full power, authority, and sole and exclusive discretion to reasonably construe, interpret and administer this Policy. The Committee will interpret this Policy consistent with Nasdaq Rule 5608 (Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation) and any guidance issued thereunder, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and any other applicable laws, rules or regulations governing the mandatory recovery of compensation, as such laws, rules or regulations may change, be interpreted or evolve from time to time. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee will be made in its reasonable discretion and will be final, conclusive and binding on all affected individuals.

 

The term “Committee” as used in this Policy means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or in the absence of such a committee, a majority of the “independent directors” (as defined under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2)) serving on the Board.

 

Applicability

 

This Policy applies to all “incentive-based compensation” “received” by a person, in each case as such terms are defined in this Policy:

 

●

After beginning service as an “executive officer,” as such term is defined in this Policy, and who served as an executive officer at any time during the performance period for that incentive-based compensation;

 

●

While the Company has a class of securities listed on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange or a national securities association; and

 

●

During the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare the Restatement, plus any transition period (that results from a change in the Company’s fiscal year) within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years; provided, however, that a transition period between the last day of the Company’s previous fiscal year end and the first day of its new fiscal year that comprises a period of nine to 12 months would be deemed a completed fiscal year; and provided, further, that the Company’s obligation to recover erroneously awarded compensation is not dependent on if or when the restated financial statements are filed.

 

For purpose of determining the relevant recovery period, the date that the Company is required to prepare a Restatement is the earlier to occur of: (i) the date the Company’s Board, a committee of the Board or the officer or officers of the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare a Restatement; or (ii) the date a court, regulator or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare a Restatement.

 

 

Executive Officers Covered by Policy

 

This Policy covers the Company’s current and former executive officers who received erroneously awarded compensation regardless of whether the executive officer committed misconduct or contributed to the error.

 

The term “executive officer” as used in this Policy means the Company’s:

 

●

president;

 

●

principal financial officer;

 

●

principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller);

 

●

any vice-president of the Company in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance);

 

●

any other officer who performs a policy-making function; or

 

●

any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the Company and executive officers of the Company’s parents or subsidiaries if such individuals perform such policy-making functions for the Company.

 

Policy-making function is not intended to include policy-making functions that are not significant.

 

Identification of an executive officer for purposes of this Policy would include at a minimum executive officers identified by the Company pursuant to Item 401(b) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

Authority and Obligation to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation; Exceptions

 

In the event of a Restatement, the Company must reasonably promptly recover any “erroneously awarded compensation,” as such term is defined in this Policy, in compliance with this Policy, except to the extent one of the three conditions below is met and the Committee has made a determination that recovery would be impracticable.

 

1.

The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered and the Company has made a reasonable attempt to recover any amount of erroneously awarded compensation, has documented such reasonable attempt(s) to recover and provided that documentation to Nasdaq.

 

2.

Recovery would violate home country law where that law was adopted prior to November 28, 2022 and the Company has obtained an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to Nasdaq, that recovery would result in such a violation and has provided such opinion to Nasdaq.

 

3.

Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of Section 401(a)(13) or 411(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder.

 

 

Erroneously Awarded Compensation

 

The term “erroneously awarded compensation” as used in this Policy means that amount of “incentive-based compensation” received that exceeds the amount of “incentive-based compensation” that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts, and must be computed without regard to any taxes paid.

 

For incentive-based compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in a Restatement,

 

●

the amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the incentive-based compensation was received; and

 

●

the Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to Nasdaq.

 

The term “incentive-based compensation” as used in this Policy means any compensation that is granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a financial reporting measure.

 

The term “financial reporting measures” as used in this Policy means measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Financial reporting measures include, without limitation, stock price and total shareholder return, and may include non-GAAP financial measures. A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the Company’s financial statements or included in an SEC filing to constitute a financial reporting measure for this purpose.

 

Incentive-based compensation is deemed “received” as such term is used in this Policy by an executive officer in the Company’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the incentive-based compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the incentive-based compensation occurs after the end of that period.

 

Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, “incentive-based compensation” is intended to be interpreted and construed broadly and includes with respect to any plan that takes into account incentive-based compensation (other than a tax-qualified plan) any amount contributed to a notional account based on erroneously awarded compensation and any earnings accrued to date on that notional account. Such plans include without limitation long-term disability plans, life insurance plans, supplemental executive retirement plans and other compensation, if it is based on incentive-based compensation.

 

For clarity and the avoidance of doubt, “incentive-based compensation” does not include the following:

 

●

base salary (other than any base salary increase earned wholly or in part based on the attainment of a financial reporting measure, which increase is subject to recovery as incentive-based compensation hereunder);

 

 

●

bonuses paid solely at the discretion of the Committee or Board that are not paid from a “bonus pool” that is determined by satisfying a financial reporting measure performance goal;

 

●

bonuses paid solely upon satisfying one or more subjective standards (e.g., demonstrated leadership) and/or completion of a specified employment period;

 

●

non-equity incentive plan awards earned solely upon satisfying one or more strategic measures (e.g., consummating a merger or divestiture), or operational measures (e.g., completion of a project); and

 

●

equity awards for which the grant is not contingent upon achieving any financial reporting measure performance goal, and vesting is contingent solely upon completion of a specified employment period and/or attaining one or more non-financial reporting measures.

 

Method of Recovery

 

The Committee will determine, in its reasonable discretion, the method for recovering incentive-based compensation hereunder, which may include, without limitation, any one or more of the following:

 

●

requiring reimbursement of cash incentive-based compensation previously paid;

 

●

seeking recovery of any gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer or other disposition of any equity-based awards;

 

●

cancelling or rescinding some or all outstanding vested or unvested equity-based awards;

 

●

adjusting or withholding from unpaid compensation, deferred compensation or other set-off;

 

●

cancelling or setting-off against planned future grants of equity-based awards; and/or

 

●

any other method required or authorized by applicable law or contract.

 

Enforceability

 

In addition to the adoption of this Policy, the Company will take steps to implement an agreement to this Policy by all current and future executive officers. In furtherance of the foregoing, each executive officer subject to this Policy is required to sign and return to the Company the Acknowledgement Form attached hereto as Exhibit A pursuant to which such executive officer will agree to be bound by the terms and comply with this Policy.

 

Policy Not Exclusive

 

Any recovery under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recovery that may be available to the Company pursuant to the terms of any other clawback or recovery policy or any similar policy in any employment agreement, incentive or equity compensation plan or award or other agreement and any other legal rights or remedies available to the Company.

 

 

Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, to the extent that the requirements under the provisions of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are broader than the provisions in this Policy, the provisions of such law will apply to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

No Indemnification

 

The Company will not indemnify or agree to indemnify any executive officer or former executive officer against the loss of erroneously awarded compensation nor will the Company pay or agree to pay any insurance premium to cover the loss of erroneously awarded compensation.

 

Effective Date

 

This Policy is effective as of the Effective Date and applies to all incentive-based compensation received by the Company’s current and former executive officers on or after the Effective Date.

 

Required Disclosures

 

The Company will file all disclosures with respect to this Policy in accordance with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including the disclosure required by the applicable SEC filings and will provide all required SEC and other disclosures regarding this Policy and in the event of a Restatement.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The Committee may amend, modify or terminate this Policy in whole or in part at any time in its sole discretion and may adopt such rules and procedures that it deems necessary or appropriate to implement this Policy or to comply with Nasdaq Rule 5608 (Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation) and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

Successors

 

This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all current and former executive officers of the Company and their respective beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives.

 

* * * * * *

 

Adopted by the Compensation Committee

of the Board of Directors of Marten Transport, Ltd.

On August 15, 2023.

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CLAWBACK POLICY

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

 

 

By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges and confirms that the undersigned has received and reviewed a copy of the Marten Transport, Ltd. Clawback Policy (the “Policy”).

 

By signing this Acknowledgement Form, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned is and will continue to be subject to the Policy and that the Policy will apply both during and after the undersigned’s employment with Marten Transport, Ltd. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

Further, by signing below, the undersigned agrees to abide by the terms of the Policy, including, without limitation, by returning any erroneously awarded compensation (as defined in the Policy) to Marten Transport, Ltd. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries to the extent required by, and in a manner permitted by, the Policy.

 

 

Signature:                                                                                      Name:                                                                                            Date:

 

v3.24.0.1

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 14, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Entity File Number	0-15010
Entity Registrant Name	MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-1140809
Entity Address, Address Line One	129 Marten Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Mondovi
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	54755
City Area Code	715
Local Phone Number	926-4216
Title of 12(b) Security	COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE
Trading Symbol	MRTN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,348,378,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		81,322,168
Auditor Name	GRANT THORNTON LLP
Auditor Firm ID	2014
Auditor Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Entity Central Index Key	0000799167
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 53,213	$ 80,600
Receivables:
Trade, less allowances of $497 and $500, respectively	105,501	120,702
Other	10,356	7,218
Prepaid expenses and other	27,512	27,320
Total current assets	196,582	235,840
Property and equipment:
Less accumulated depreciation	(370,103)	(346,665)
Net property and equipment	792,233	728,167
Other noncurrent assets	1,524	1,672
Total assets	990,339	965,679
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	36,516	37,299
Insurance and claims accruals	47,017	45,747
Accrued and other current liabilities	26,709	41,264
Total current liabilities	110,242	124,310
Deferred income taxes	122,462	137,041
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	249	409
Total liabilities	232,953	261,760
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 192,000,000 shares authorized; 81,312,168 shares at December 31, 2023, and 81,115,132 shares at December 31, 2022, issued and outstanding	813	811
Additional paid-in capital	49,789	47,188
Retained earnings	706,784	655,920
Total stockholders’ equity	757,386	703,919
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	990,339	965,679
Revenue Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment	996,396	915,866
Land and Building [Member]
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment	108,867	102,877
Office Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment:
Revenue equipment	$ 57,073	$ 56,089

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	$ 497,000	$ 500,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized (in shares)	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	0	0
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized (in shares)	192,000,000	192,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in shares)	81,312,168	81,115,132
Common Stock, Shares, Issued (in shares)	81,312,168	81,115,132

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating revenue	$ 1,131,455	$ 1,263,878	$ 973,644
Operating expenses (income):
Salaries, wages and benefits	378,818	390,304	317,962
Purchased transportation	199,334	249,792	193,221
Fuel and fuel taxes	180,437	218,571	131,288
Supplies and maintenance	67,411	55,700	45,459
Depreciation	116,722	111,014	102,562
Operating taxes and licenses	11,053	10,763	10,534
Insurance and claims	56,014	50,513	41,987
Communications and utilities	10,149	9,177	8,350
Other	35,019	38,079	26,887
Total operating expenses	1,041,345	1,120,534	861,955
Operating income	90,110	143,344	111,689
Other	(3,806)	(827)	(43)
Income before income taxes	93,916	144,171	111,732
Income taxes expense	23,543	33,817	26,304
Net income	$ 70,373	$ 110,354	$ 85,428
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 1.35	$ 1.03
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	0.86	1.35	1.02
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.66
Revenue Equipment [Member]
Operating expenses (income):
Gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	$ (13,612)	$ (13,379)	$ (16,295)

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	82,705
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 827	$ 85,070	$ 534,436	$ 620,333
Net income	$ 0	0	85,428	85,428
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	329
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 3	873	0	876
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld	0	(2,743)	0	(2,743)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense	0	2,518	0	2,518
Dividends on common stock	$ 0	0	(54,735)	(54,735)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	83,034
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 830	85,718	565,129	651,677
Net income	$ 0	0	110,354	110,354
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	351
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 4	1,996	0	2,000
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld	0	(1,610)	0	(1,610)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense	0	2,814	0	2,814
Dividends on common stock	$ 0	0	(19,563)	(19,563)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(2,270)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (23)	(41,730)	0	(41,753)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	81,115
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 811	47,188	655,920	703,919
Net income	$ 0	0	70,373	70,373
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards (in shares)	197
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises and vesting of performance unit awards	$ 2	1,208	0	1,210
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld	0	(926)	0	(926)
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense	0	2,319	0	2,319
Dividends on common stock	$ 0	0	(19,509)	$ (19,509)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)				0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	81,312
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 813	$ 49,789	$ 706,784	$ 757,386

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 70,373	$ 110,354	$ 85,428
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	116,722	111,014	102,562
Tires in service amortization	7,172	6,604	6,433
Deferred income taxes	(14,579)	11,878	4,065
Share-based payment arrangement compensation expense	2,319	2,814	2,518
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract
Receivables	12,751	(23,547)	(16,745)
Prepaid expenses and other	(3,939)	(8,227)	(5,749)
Accounts payable	(3,615)	11,893	(823)
Insurance and claims accruals	1,270	3,733	2,419
Accrued and other current liabilities	(10,484)	6,352	7,391
Net cash provided by operating activities	164,378	219,489	171,204
CASH FLOW USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other	(45)	(38)	(37)
Net cash used for investing activities	(172,540)	(134,958)	(123,734)
CASH FLOWS USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends on common stock	(19,509)	(19,563)	(54,735)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	0	(41,753)	0
Issuance of common stock from share-based payment arrangement exercises, deferred compensation plan distributions and vesting of performance unit awards	1,210	2,000	876
Employee taxes paid in exchange for shares withheld	(926)	(1,610)	(2,743)
Net cash used for financing activities	(19,225)	(60,926)	(56,602)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(27,387)	23,605	(9,132)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of year	80,600	56,995	66,127
End of year	53,213	80,600	56,995
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH DISCLOSURE:
Change in property and equipment not yet paid	(1,612)	10,470	(6,187)
Operating lease assets and liabilities acquired	89	318	0
Income taxes	36,978	23,649	21,719
Interest	10	65	0
Revenue Equipment [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment	(13,612)	(13,379)	(16,295)
CASH FLOW USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Revenue equipment additions	(231,943)	(162,556)	(193,892)
Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions	68,009	41,695	75,596
Buildings And Land Office Equipment And Other [Member]
CASH FLOW USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Revenue equipment additions	(8,614)	(14,067)	(5,402)
Proceeds from revenue equipment dispositions	$ 53	$ 8	$ 1

v3.24.0.1

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies   Nature of business: Marten Transport, Ltd. is a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico. We are one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. We operate throughout the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada.   Principles of consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Marten Transport, Ltd. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.   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. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts.   Trade accounts receivable: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for credit losses. Our allowance for credit losses was $497,000 and $500,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer and related aging of the past-due balances, including any billing disputes. In order to assess the collectability of these receivables, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Through these evaluations, we may become aware of a situation where a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration of its financial viability, credit ratings or bankruptcy. The allowance for credit losses is based on the best information available to us and is reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. We evaluate the allowance based on historical write-off experience, the size of the individual customer balances, past-due amounts and the overall national economy. We review the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses monthly. Invoice balances over 30 days after the contractual due date are considered past due per our policy and are reviewed individually for collectability. Initial payments by new customers are monitored for compliance with contractual terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential recovery is considered remote.   Property and equipment: Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations. Gains and losses on disposals of revenue equipment are included in operations as they are a normal, recurring component of our operations.   Depreciation is computed based on the cost of the asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. We begin depreciating assets in the month that each asset is placed in service and, therefore, is ready for its intended use, and depreciate each asset until it is taken out of service and available for sale. Accelerated methods are used for income tax reporting purposes. Following is a summary of estimated useful lives for financial reporting purposes:       Years   Tractors     5     Trailers     7     Refrigerated containers     12     Service and other equipment   3 - 15   Buildings and improvements   20 - 40       In 2023, we replaced our company-owned tractors within an average of 4.1 years and our trailers within an average of 8.0 years after purchase. Our useful lives for depreciating tractors is five years, for trailers is seven years and for refrigerated containers is 12 years, with a 25% salvage value for tractors, a 35% salvage value for trailers and no salvage value for refrigerated containers. These salvage values are based upon the expected market values of the equipment after five years for tractors and seven years for trailers. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner approximates the continuing declining value of the revenue equipment and continues at a consistent straight-line rate for units held beyond the normal replacement cycle.   Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted 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 the costs to sell.   Tires in service: The cost of original equipment and replacement tires placed in service is capitalized. Amortization is calculated based on cost, less estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over 24 months. Tire amortization, which is included within supplies and maintenance in our consolidated statements of operations, was $7.2 million in 2023, $6.6 million in 2022 and $6.4 million in 2021. The current portion of capitalized tires in service is included in prepaid expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The long-term portion of capitalized tires in service and the estimated salvage value are included in revenue equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cost of recapping tires is charged to operations as incurred.   Income taxes: 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 basis. 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 in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We have reflected the necessary deferred tax assets and liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We believe the future tax deductions will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income.   In the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. Potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense.   Insurance and claims: We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance, with varying risk retention levels. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim. We are also responsible for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims, including legal costs. These reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and an estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities, we have $20.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims.   Revenue recognition: We account for our revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The current revenue standard requires us to recognize revenue and related expenses within each of our four reporting segments over time as our customers simultaneously receive and consume benefits as we perform the freight services.     We account for revenue of our Intermodal and Brokerage segments and revenue on freight transported by independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments on a gross basis because we are the principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. Accordingly, all such revenue billed to customers is classified as operating revenue and all corresponding payments to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment are classified as purchased transportation expense within our consolidated statements of operations. See Note 14 for more information.   Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for 19% of our revenue excluding fuel surcharges in 2023 and 19% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2023, 21% of our revenue in 2022 and 22% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2022, and 23% of our revenue in 2021. During each of 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 99% of our revenue was generated within the United States.   Share-based payment arrangement compensation: Under our stock incentive plans, all of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including incentive and non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards. We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of employee stock options and performance unit awards, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values at the date of grant.   Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares related to stock options and performance unit awards had been issued using the treasury stock method.   Segment reporting: We report our operating segments in accordance with accounting standards codified in FASB ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We have five current operating segments that are aggregated into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 14 for more information.   Use of estimates: We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are primarily related to insurance and claims accruals and depreciation. Ultimate results could differ from these estimates.

v3.24.0.1

Note 2 - Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block]	2. Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts   Prepaid expenses and other: As of December 31, prepaid expenses and other consisted of the following:   (In thousands)   2023     2022   Parts and tires inventory   $ 6,286     $ 5,427   License fees     5,557       6,029   Tires in service     4,984       5,330   Insurance premiums     4,608       4,054   Contract assets     2,106       2,746   Other     3,971       3,734       $ 27,512     $ 27,320       Accrued and other current liabilities: As of December 31, accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:   (In thousands)   2023     2022   Accrued expenses   $ 10,575     $ 14,426   Vacation     9,612       9,776   Salaries and wages     3,800       14,750   Other     2,722       2,312       $ 26,709     $ 41,264

v3.24.0.1

Note 3 - Long-term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	3. Long-Term Debt   In August 2022, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for an unsecured committed credit facility with an aggregate principal amount of $30.0 million which matures in August 2027. The credit agreement amends, restates and continues in its entirety our previous credit agreement, as amended. At December 31, 2023, there was no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of self-insurance claims of $20.7 million and remaining borrowing availability of $9.3 million. At December 31, 2022, there was also no outstanding principal balance on the facility. As of that date, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $16.1 million on the facility. This facility bears interest at a variable rate based on the Term SOFR Rate plus applicable margins. The interest rate for the facility that would apply to outstanding principal balances was 8.5% at December 31, 2023.   Our credit agreement effective in August 2022 prohibits us from paying, in any fiscal year, stock redemptions and dividends in excess of $150 million. Our previous credit agreement prohibited us from making such payments in excess of 25% of our net income from the prior fiscal year. Waivers allowing stock redemptions and dividends in excess of the 25% limitation in total amounts of up to $80 million in each of 2022 and 2021 were obtained from the lender in March 2022 and August 2021, respectively. The current and previous credit agreements also contain restrictive covenants which, among other matters, require us to maintain compliance with cash flow leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

v3.24.0.1

Note 4 - Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	4. Related Party Transactions   The following related party transactions occurred during the three years ended December 31, 2023:   (a) We purchase tires and obtain related services from a company in which one of our directors is the chairman of the board and chief executive officer. We paid that company $195,000 in 2023, $477,000 in 2022 and $306,000 in 2021 for tires and related services. In addition, we paid $2.0 million in each of 2023, 2022 and 2021 to tire manufacturers for tires that were provided by the same company. The same company received commissions from the tire manufacturers related to these purchases. We did not have any accounts payable to that company as of December 31, 2023. Payables to that company were $29,000 at December 31, 2022.   (b) We paid $8,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2022 for building repairs to a company in which one of our directors is the chief executive officer and the principal stockholder. No payments were made to that company for services in 2021. We did not have any accounts payable to that company as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	5. Income Taxes   The components of the income taxes expense consisted of the following:   (In thousands)   2023     2022     2021   Current:                         Federal   $ 33,416     $ 18,025     $ 18,872   State     4,706       3,914       3,367   Total current     38,122       21,939       22,239                             Deferred:                         Federal     (13,526 )     9,795       3,462   State     (1,053 )     2,083       603   Total deferred     (14,579 )     11,878       4,065   Total expense   $ 23,543     $ 33,817     $ 26,304     The federal statutory income tax rate is reconciled to the effective income tax rate as follows:       2023     2022     2021   Federal statutory income tax rate     21 %     21 %     21 % Increase in taxes arising from state income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit     3       3       3   Per diem and other non-deductible expenses     2       -       -   Other, net     (1 )     (1 )     -   Effective tax rate     25 %     23 %     24 %   As of December 31, the net deferred tax liability consisted of the following:   (In thousands)   2023     2022   Deferred tax assets:                 Reserves and accrued liabilities   $ 13,126     $ 13,244   Other     1,212       1,597         14,338       14,841   Deferred tax liabilities:                 Depreciation     133,634       148,285   Prepaid expenses     3,166       3,597         136,800       151,882   Net deferred tax liability   $ 122,462     $ 137,041     We have not provided a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at December 31, 2023 or 2022. We believe the deferred tax assets will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (deferred tax liabilities) and future taxable income.   Our reserves for unrecognized tax benefits were $434,000 as of December 31, 2023 and $438,000 as of December 31, 2022. The $4,000 decrease in the amount reserved relates to current period tax positions. If recognized, $343,000 of the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023 would favorably impact our effective tax rate. Potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $14,000 and $10,000 were recognized in our financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The federal statute of limitations remains open for 2020 and forward. We file tax returns in numerous state jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations.

v3.24.0.1

Note 6 - Earnings Per Common Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	6. Earnings per Common Share   Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows:   (In thousands, except per share amounts)   2023     2022     2021   Numerator:                         Net income   $ 70,373     $ 110,354     $ 85,428   Denominator:                         Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares     81,272       81,692       82,872   Effect of dilutive stock options     141       267       536   Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions     81,413       81,959       83,408   Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.87     $ 1.35     $ 1.03   Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.86     $ 1.35     $ 1.02     Options totaling 173,300, 541,500 and 605,550 equivalent shares were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, because including the options in the denominator would be antidilutive, or decrease the number of weighted-average shares, due to their exercise prices exceeding the average market price of the common shares, or because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the options to be antidilutive.   Unvested performance unit awards (see Note 10) totaling 106,582, 16,632 and 71,734 equivalent shares for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were considered outstanding but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because inclusion of average unrecognized compensation expense in the calculation would cause the performance units to be antidilutive.

v3.24.0.1

Note 7 - Share Repurchase Program	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Treasury Stock [Text Block]	7. Share Repurchase Program   In August 2019, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $34.0 million, or approximately 1.8 million shares, of our common stock, which was increased by our Board of Directors to 2.7 million shares in August 2020 to reflect the three-for-two stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on August 13, 2020. On May 3, 2022, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an additional increase from current availability in our existing share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $50.0 million, or approximately 3.1 million shares, of our common stock. The share repurchase program allows purchases on the open market or through private transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The timing and extent to which we repurchase shares depends on market conditions and other corporate considerations. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.   We repurchased and retired 1.3 million shares of common stock for $25.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, and 963,000 shares of common stock for $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. We did not repurchase any shares in 2023, the third or fourth quarters of 2022, or in 2021. As of December 31, 2023, future repurchases of up to $33.2 million, or approximately 2.2 million shares, were available in the share repurchase program.

v3.24.0.1

Note 8 - Dividends	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Dividends [Text Block]	8. Dividends   In 2010, we announced a regular cash dividend program to our stockholders, subject to approval each quarter. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2023 which totaled $19.5 million. Quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock were paid in each quarter of 2022 which totaled $19.6 million. We paid cash dividends totaling $54.7 million in 2021 which consisted of a special dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock in October, along with quarterly cash dividends of $0.04 per share of common stock in March, June, October and December.

v3.24.0.1

Note 9 - Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block]	9. Leases   We lease facilities, drop yards, office space, land, chassis and equipment. All leases are classified as operating leases. We do not have any financing leases. Payments for operating leases that extend beyond 12 months are fixed.   Some leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from six months to five years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and is considered in the determination of the operating lease assets and lease liabilities once reasonably certain of exercise.   Management has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and these leases are not capitalized. This primarily affects drop yards and chassis, for which we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.   As of December 31, the classification of operating leases in our consolidated balance sheets was as follows:   (In thousands)   2023     2022   Assets:                 Other noncurrent assets (a)   $ 517     $ 710   Liabilities:                 Accrued and other current liabilities     268       301   Noncurrent operating lease liabilities     249       409   Total liabilities   $ 517     $ 710       (a) Operating lease asset balances at December 31, 2023 and 2022.   The maturity of the operating lease liabilities is as follows:       Amount   Maturities:         2024   $ 296   2025     125   2026     64   2027 thru 2028     76   Total lease payments     561   Adjust to present value     (44 ) Total operating lease liabilities   $ 517     The weighted-average remaining lease term at December 31, 2023 was 33 months and at December 31, 2022 was 39 months. The weighted-average discount rate was 5.1% at December 31, 2023 and 4.4% at December 31, 2022. The operating leases identified do not specify implicit rates, accordingly, we use our incremental borrowing rate at the time of lease inception to determine the present value of lease payments.   Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations in 2023 and 2022 totaled $89,000 and $318,000, respectively. We paid $332,000 of cash for capitalized operating leases during 2023 and $285,000 during 2022.   Total operating lease expense for 2023 was $6.5 million and for 2022 was $5.7 million. These amounts are reported within other operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations and include $6.2 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of short-term lease expense with an initial term of 12 months or less.

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]	10. Employee Benefits   Equity Incentive Plans - In May 2015, our stockholders approved our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). Our Board of Directors adopted the 2015 Plan in March 2015. Under our 2015 Plan, each of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including non-statutory stock options, performance unit awards and shares of common stock, of which 2,674,431 shares have been awarded as of December 31, 2023. Stock options expire within 7 or 10 years after the date of grant and the exercise price must be at least the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Stock options issued to employees are generally exercisable beginning one year from the date of grant in cumulative amounts of 20% per year. Performance unit awards are subject to vesting requirements over a five-year period, based on our earnings growth and service with us. Options exercised and performance unit award shares issued represent newly issued shares.   At our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 7, 2019, our stockholders approved an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, which was previously approved and adopted by our Board of Directors, subject to approval by our stockholders. The amendment increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan by 1.3 million shares and the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance pursuant to full-value awards by 558,334 shares. The amendment also adjusted certain numbers to reflect the stock split that occurred in July 2017.   On August 13, 2020, we effected a three-for-two stock split of our common stock, $0.01 par value, in the form of a 50% stock dividend. In July 2020, our Board of Directors approved an increase to reflect the three-for-two stock split in the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 plan, along with in the number of shares reserved for issuance under all outstanding options and performance unit awards and shares held within our Deferred Compensation Plan. As a result, the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan, as amended, increased to 3,950,000 shares.   As of December 31, 2023, there were 838,150 shares reserved for issuance under options outstanding and 226,715 shares reserved for issuance under outstanding performance unit awards under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan replaced our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), which expired by its terms in May 2015.   Under the 2005 Plan, officers, directors and employees were granted non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards with similar terms to the options and awards under the 2015 Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were no remaining shares reserved for issuance under options issued within the 2005 Plan. As of the same date, there were also no remaining shares reserved for issuance under performance unit awards issued within the 2005 Plan. No additional awards will be granted under the 2005 Plan.   We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the grant-date fair value of option awards. The fair value of service-based option awards granted was estimated as of the date of grant using the following weighted average assumptions:       2023     2022     2021                             Expected option life in years(1)     6.0       6.0       6.0   Expected stock price volatility percentage(2)     28 %     26 %     27 % Risk-free interest rate percentage(3)     4.1 %     2.9 %     1.2 % Expected dividend yield(4)     1.14 %     1.13 %     0.91 % Fair value as of the date of grant   $ 6.63     $ 5.79     $ 4.29     (1) Expected option life – We use historical employee exercise and option expiration data to estimate the expected life assumption for the Black-Scholes grant-date valuation. We believe that this historical data is currently the best estimate of the expected term of a new option. We use a weighted-average expected life for all awards.   (2) Expected stock price volatility – We use our stock’s historical volatility for the same period of time as the expected life. We have no reason to believe that its future volatility will differ from the past.     (3) Risk-free interest rate – The rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant for the same period of time as the expected life.   (4) Expected dividend yield – The calculation is based on the total expected annual dividend payout divided by the average stock price.   Compensation costs associated with service-based option awards with graded vesting are recognized, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the period between the grant date and the award’s stated vesting term. Service-based option awards become immediately exercisable in full in the event of death or disability and upon a change in control with respect to all options that have been outstanding for at least six months.   In May 2017, we granted 163,754 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to certain employees. This was our eighth grant of such awards. As of December 31, 2017 and each December 31st thereafter through December 31, 2021, each award vested and became the right to receive a number of shares of common stock equal to a total vesting percentage multiplied by the number of units subject to such award. The total vesting percentage for each of the five years was equal to the sum of a performance vesting percentage, which was the percentage increase, if any, in our net income for the year being measured over the prior year, and a service vesting percentage of ten percentage points. All payments were made in shares of our common stock. One half of the vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting, with the other half being credited to the employees’ accounts within the Marten Transport, Ltd. Deferred Compensation Plan, which restricted the sale of vested shares to the later of each employee’s termination of employment or attainment of age 62. We also granted 65,013 performance unit awards in May 2017 and 3,000 awards in August 2017 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting.   In May 2018, we granted 68,550 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to the awards granted in 2017. We also granted 42,000 performance unit awards in May 2018 and 3,000 awards in August 2018 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2018 vested from December 31, 2018 through 2022. We also granted 3,000 performance unit awards in December 2018 with similar terms to the awards granted in August 2018, except that the awards vested from December 31, 2019 through 2023.   In May 2019, we granted 60,000 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to the awards granted in 2017. We also granted 45,000 performance unit awards in May 2019 with similar terms to such awards, except that all vested performance units were paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2019 vested from December 31, 2019 through 2023.   In May 2020, we granted 73,205 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2017, except that all vested performance units will be paid to the employees immediately upon vesting. These awards granted in 2020 vest from December 31, 2020 through 2024.   In May 2021, we granted 98,400 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2021 vest from December 31, 2021 through 2025.   In May 2022, we granted 102,900 performance unit awards, and in August 2022, we granted 21,000 performance unit awards, under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2022 vest from December 31, 2022 through 2026.   In May 2023, we granted 114,044 performance unit awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan with similar terms to awards granted in 2020. These awards granted in 2023 vest from December 31, 2023 through 2027.   In May 2020, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the termination of our deferred compensation plan. The termination was effective in May 2021. All shares of our common stock within the plan were distributed by March 2022.   The fair value of each performance unit is based on the closing market price on the date of grant. We recognize compensation expense for these awards based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the vesting requirements of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate.     The amount of share-based compensation recognized during a period is based on the value of the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We currently expect, based on an analysis of our historical forfeitures and known forfeitures on existing awards, that approximately 1.25% of unvested outstanding awards will be forfeited each year. This analysis will be re-evaluated on a quarterly basis and the forfeiture rate will be adjusted as necessary. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those shares that vest.   Total share-based compensation expense recorded in 2023 was $2.3 million ($1.7 million net of income tax benefit, $0.02 earnings per basic and diluted share), in 2022 was $2.8 million ($2.2 million net of income tax benefit, $0.03 earnings per basic and diluted share) and in 2021 was $2.5 million ($1.9 million net of income tax benefit, $0.02 earnings per basic and diluted share). All share-based compensation expense was recorded in salaries, wages and benefits expense.   As of December 31, 2023, there was a total of $1.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested service-based option awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years, and $3.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested performance unit awards, which will be recorded based on the estimated number of units probable of achieving the vesting requirements of the awards through 2027.   Option activity in 2023 was as follows:       Shares     Weighted- Average Exercise Price   Outstanding at December 31, 2022     915,391     $ 15.84   Granted     39,000       21.44   Exercised     (106,941 )     11.30   Forfeited     (9,300 )     18.35   Outstanding at December 31, 2023     838,150     $ 16.65   Exercisable at December 31, 2023     431,850     $ 15.12     The 838,150 options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 have a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 3.9 years and an aggregate intrinsic value based on our closing stock price on December 29, 2023 for in-the-money options of $3.8 million. The 431,850 options exercisable as of the same date have a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 2.9 years and an aggregate intrinsic value, similarly calculated, of $2.6 million.   The fair value of options granted in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $258,000, $819,000 and $1.8 million, respectively, for service-based options. The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $1.1 million, $2.0 million and $789,000, respectively. Intrinsic value is the difference between the fair value of the acquired shares at the date of exercise and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of options exercised. Proceeds received from option exercises in 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $2.4 million, $4.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.   Nonvested service-based option awards as of December 31, 2023 and changes during 2023 were as follows:       Shares     Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value     Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)   Nonvested at December 31, 2022     544,150     $ 4.62       5.5   Granted     39,000       6.63       6.6   Vested     (167,550 )     4.44       3.9   Forfeited     (9,300 )     5.01       5.2   Nonvested at December 31, 2023     406,300     $ 4.88       5.0     The total fair value of options which vested during 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $744,000, $691,000 and $411,000, respectively.     The following table summarizes our nonvested performance unit award activity in 2023:       Shares     Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value   Nonvested at December 31, 2022     121,867     $ 17.83   Granted     114,044       20.49   Vested     (47,511 )(1)     17.56   Nonvested at December 31, 2023     188,400     $ 19.51     (1) This number of performance unit award shares vested based on our financial performance in 2023 and will be distributed in March 2024. The fair value of unit award shares that vested in 2023 was $834,000.   Retirement Savings Plan - We sponsor a defined contribution retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees are eligible for the plan after three months of service. Participants are able to contribute up to the limit set by law, which in 2023 was $22,500 for participants less than age 50 and $30,000 for participants age 50 and above. We contribute 35% of each participant’s contribution, up to a total of 6% contributed. Our contribution vests at the rate of 20% per year for the first through fifth years of service. In addition, we may make elective contributions as determined by the Board of Directors. No elective contributions were made in 2023, 2022 or 2021. Total expense recorded for the plan was $3.9 million in 2023, $4.0 million in 2022 and $3.0 million in 2021.   Stock Purchase Plans - An Employee Stock Purchase Plan and an Independent Contractor Stock Purchase Plan are sponsored to encourage employee and independent contractor ownership of our common stock. Eligible participants specify the amount of regular payroll or contract payment deductions and voluntary cash contributions that are used to purchase shares of our common stock. The purchases are made at the market price on the open market. We pay the broker’s commissions and administrative charges for purchases of common stock under the plans.

v3.24.0.1

Note 11- Termination of Deferred Compensation Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Compensation Related Costs, General [Text Block]	11. Termination of Deferred Compensation Plan   In August 2010, our Board of Directors approved and adopted the Marten Transport, Ltd. Deferred Compensation Plan. The deferred compensation plan was an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan designed to allow board elected officers and other select members of our management designated by our Compensation Committee to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.   Under the terms of the plan, each participant was eligible to defer portions of their base pay, annual bonus or receipt of common stock otherwise payable under a vested performance unit award. Each participant could have elected a fixed distribution date for the participant’s deferral account, other than certain required performance unit award deferrals credited to the discretionary account, which were to be distributed after the later of the date of the participant’s termination of employment or the date the participant attains age 62. Upon termination of a participant’s employment with us, the plan required a lump-sum distribution of the deferral account, excluding the required performance unit award deferrals, unless the participant had elected an installment distribution. Upon a participant’s death, the plan provided that a participant’s distributions accelerate and be paid in a lump sum to the participant’s beneficiary. We had the ability to terminate the plan and accelerate distributions to participants, but only to the extent and at the times permitted under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We had the ability to terminate the plan and accelerate distributions upon a change in control, which was not a payment event under the plan. In conjunction with the approval of the plan, our Board of Directors also adopted an amendment to the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan to allow for deferral of receipt of income from a performance unit award under the plan. Such deferral is also provided for within the Marten Transport, Ltd. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.   In May 2020, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the termination of our deferred compensation plan. The termination was effective in May 2021. All shares of our common stock within the plan were distributed by March 2022.

v3.24.0.1

Note 12 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments   The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

v3.24.0.1

Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	13. Commitments and Contingencies   We are committed to new revenue equipment purchases of $181 million in 2024. Operating lease obligation expenditures through 2028 total $561,000.   We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance, with varying risk retention levels. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review, and reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims.   We are also involved in other legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. A number of trucking companies, including us, have been subject to lawsuits alleging violations of various federal and state wage and hour laws. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in the payment of substantial settlements or damages by the defendants.   The outcome of all litigation is difficult to assess or quantify, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The cost to defend litigation may also be significant. Not all claims are covered by our insurance, and there can be no assurance that our coverage limits will be adequate to cover all amounts in dispute. To the extent we experience claims that are uninsured, exceed our coverage limits or cause increases in future premiums, the resulting expense could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results. Based on our present knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, advice of outside counsel, management believes the resolution of open claims and pending litigation, taking into account existing reserves, is not likely to have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements, however, any future liability claims or adverse developments in existing claims could impact this analysis.

v3.24.0.1

Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	14. Revenue and Business Segments   We account for our revenue in accordance with FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. We combine our five current operating segments into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. These four reporting segments are also the appropriate categories for the disaggregation of our revenue under FASB ASC 606.   We have strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across our five distinct business platforms – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.   Our Truckload segment provides a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. We transport food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. Our agreements with customers are typically for one year.   Our Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet individual customers’ requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. Our agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.     Generally, we are paid by the mile for our Truckload and Dedicated services. We also derive Truckload and Dedicated revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading activities, equipment detention and other accessorial services. The main factors that affect our Truckload and Dedicated revenue are the rate per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are compensated, the number of miles we generate with our equipment and changes in fuel prices. We monitor our revenue production primarily through average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week. We also analyze our average Truckload and Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per total mile, non-revenue miles percentage, the miles per tractor we generate, our fuel surcharge revenue, our accessorial revenue and our other sources of operating revenue.   Our Intermodal segment transports our customers’ freight within the United States utilizing our refrigerated containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using our tractors or, to a lesser extent, contracted carriers. The main factors that affect our Intermodal revenue are the rate per mile and other charges we receive from our customers.   Our Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for our customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. We retain the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities. The main factors that affect our Brokerage revenue are the rate per mile and other charges that we receive from our customers.   Operating results of our MRTN de Mexico business which offers our customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with our Mexican partner carriers is reported within our Truckload and Brokerage segments.   Our customer agreements are typically for one-year terms except for our Dedicated agreements which range from three to five years with annual rate reviews. Under FASB ASC 606, the contract date for each individual load within each of our four reporting segments is generally the date that each load is tendered to and accepted by us. For each load transported within each of our four reporting segments, the entire amount of revenue to be recognized is a single performance obligation and our agreements with our customers detail the per-mile charges for line haul and fuel surcharges, along with the rates for loading and unloading, stop offs and drops, equipment detention and other accessorial services, which is the transaction price. There are no discounts that would be a material right or consideration payable to a customer. We are required to recognize revenue and related expenses over time, from load pickup to delivery, for each load within each of our four reporting segments. We base our calculation of the amount of revenue to record in each period for individual loads picking up in one period and delivering in the following period using the number of hours estimated to be incurred within each period applied to each estimated transaction price. Contract assets for this estimated revenue which are classified within prepaid expenses and other within our consolidated balance sheets were $2.1 million and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. We had no impairment losses on contract assets in 2023 or 2022. We bill our customers for loads after delivery is complete with standard payment terms of 30 days.       The following table sets forth for the years indicated our operating revenue and operating income by segment. We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment.   (Dollars in thousands)   2023     2022     2021   Operating revenue:                         Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue   $ 395,565     $ 411,448     $ 346,289   Truckload fuel surcharge revenue     69,910       89,014       50,377   Total Truckload revenue     465,475       500,462       396,666                             Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue     334,962       336,973       276,883   Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue     73,310       92,119       52,559   Total Dedicated revenue     408,272       429,092       329,442                             Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue     75,887       100,452       87,468   Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue     16,191       29,313       14,777   Total Intermodal revenue     92,078       129,765       102,245                             Brokerage revenue     165,630       204,559       145,291                             Total operating revenue   $ 1,131,455     $ 1,263,878     $ 973,644                             Operating income/(loss):                         Truckload   $ 24,835     $ 59,392     $ 51,032   Dedicated     48,377       50,566       36,395   Intermodal     (156 )     10,639       9,479   Brokerage     17,054       22,747       14,783   Total operating income   $ 90,110     $ 143,344     $ 111,689     Truckload segment depreciation expense was $61.6 million, $56.4 million and $52.1 million, Dedicated segment depreciation expense was $46.2 million, $45.6 million and $43.0 million, Intermodal segment depreciation expense was $7.1 million, $7.5 million and $6.3 million, and Brokerage segment depreciation expense was $1.9 million, $1.5 million and $1.2 million, in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

v3.24.0.1

Insider Trading Arrangements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Insider Trading Arr Line Items
Material Terms of Trading Arrangement [Text Block]	ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION   None.
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag]	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag]	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag]	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag]	false

v3.24.0.1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Principles of consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Marten Transport, Ltd. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	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. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Receivable [Policy Text Block]	Trade accounts receivable: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, net of an allowance for credit losses. Our allowance for credit losses was $497,000 and $500,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer and related aging of the past-due balances, including any billing disputes. In order to assess the collectability of these receivables, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Through these evaluations, we may become aware of a situation where a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deterioration of its financial viability, credit ratings or bankruptcy. The allowance for credit losses is based on the best information available to us and is reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. We evaluate the allowance based on historical write-off experience, the size of the individual customer balances, past-due amounts and the overall national economy. We review the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses monthly. Invoice balances over 30 days after the contractual due date are considered past due per our policy and are reviewed individually for collectability. Initial payments by new customers are monitored for compliance with contractual terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential recovery is considered remote.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Property and equipment: Additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations. Gains and losses on disposals of revenue equipment are included in operations as they are a normal, recurring component of our operations.   Depreciation is computed based on the cost of the asset, reduced by its estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. We begin depreciating assets in the month that each asset is placed in service and, therefore, is ready for its intended use, and depreciate each asset until it is taken out of service and available for sale. Accelerated methods are used for income tax reporting purposes. Following is a summary of estimated useful lives for financial reporting purposes:       Years   Tractors     5     Trailers     7     Refrigerated containers     12     Service and other equipment   3 - 15   Buildings and improvements   20 - 40       In 2023, we replaced our company-owned tractors within an average of 4.1 years and our trailers within an average of 8.0 years after purchase. Our useful lives for depreciating tractors is five years, for trailers is seven years and for refrigerated containers is 12 years, with a 25% salvage value for tractors, a 35% salvage value for trailers and no salvage value for refrigerated containers. These salvage values are based upon the expected market values of the equipment after five years for tractors and seven years for trailers. Depreciation expense calculated in this manner approximates the continuing declining value of the revenue equipment and continues at a consistent straight-line rate for units held beyond the normal replacement cycle.   Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted 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 the costs to sell.
Tires In Service [Policy Text Block]	Tires in service: The cost of original equipment and replacement tires placed in service is capitalized. Amortization is calculated based on cost, less estimated salvage value, using the straight-line method over 24 months. Tire amortization, which is included within supplies and maintenance in our consolidated statements of operations, was $7.2 million in 2023, $6.6 million in 2022 and $6.4 million in 2021. The current portion of capitalized tires in service is included in prepaid expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The long-term portion of capitalized tires in service and the estimated salvage value are included in revenue equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The cost of recapping tires is charged to operations as incurred.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income taxes: 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 basis. 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 in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We have reflected the necessary deferred tax assets and liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We believe the future tax deductions will be realized principally through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income.   In the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. Potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense.
Self Insurance Reserve [Policy Text Block]	Insurance and claims: We self-insure, in part, for losses relating to workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, along with employees’ health insurance, with varying risk retention levels. We are responsible for the first $1.0 million on each auto liability claim. We are also responsible for the first $750,000 on each workers’ compensation claim. We maintain insurance coverage for per-incident and total losses in excess of these risk retention levels in amounts we consider adequate based upon historical experience and our ongoing review. We reserve currently for the estimated cost of the uninsured portion of pending claims, including legal costs. These reserves are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on our evaluation of the nature and severity of outstanding individual claims and an estimate of future claims development based on historical development. Under agreements with our insurance carriers and regulatory authorities, we have $20.7 million in standby letters of credit to guarantee settlement of claims.
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]	Revenue recognition: We account for our revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The current revenue standard requires us to recognize revenue and related expenses within each of our four reporting segments over time as our customers simultaneously receive and consume benefits as we perform the freight services.     We account for revenue of our Intermodal and Brokerage segments and revenue on freight transported by independent contractors within our Truckload and Dedicated segments on a gross basis because we are the principal service provider controlling the promised service before it is transferred to each customer. We are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide each specified service to each customer. We bear the primary risk of loss in the event of cargo claims by our customers. We also have complete control and discretion in establishing the price for each specified service. Accordingly, all such revenue billed to customers is classified as operating revenue and all corresponding payments to carriers for transportation services we arrange in connection with brokerage and intermodal activities and to independent contractor providers of revenue equipment are classified as purchased transportation expense within our consolidated statements of operations. See Note 14 for more information.   Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for 19% of our revenue excluding fuel surcharges in 2023 and 19% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2023, 21% of our revenue in 2022 and 22% of our trade receivables as of December 31, 2022, and 23% of our revenue in 2021. During each of 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 99% of our revenue was generated within the United States.
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]	Share-based payment arrangement compensation: Under our stock incentive plans, all of our employees and any subsidiary employees, as well as all of our non-employee directors, may be granted stock-based awards, including incentive and non-statutory stock options and performance unit awards. We account for share-based payment arrangements in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of employee stock options and performance unit awards, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values at the date of grant.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares related to stock options and performance unit awards had been issued using the treasury stock method.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Segment reporting: We report our operating segments in accordance with accounting standards codified in FASB ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We have five current operating segments that are aggregated into four reporting segments (Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage) for financial reporting purposes. See Note 14 for more information.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of estimates: We must make estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are primarily related to insurance and claims accruals and depreciation. Ultimate results could differ from these estimates.

v3.24.0.1

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	Years   Tractors     5     Trailers     7     Refrigerated containers     12     Service and other equipment   3 - 15   Buildings and improvements   20 - 40

v3.24.0.1

Note 2 - Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block]	(In thousands)   2023     2022   Parts and tires inventory   $ 6,286     $ 5,427   License fees     5,557       6,029   Tires in service     4,984       5,330   Insurance premiums     4,608       4,054   Contract assets     2,106       2,746   Other     3,971       3,734       $ 27,512     $ 27,320
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	(In thousands)   2023     2022   Accrued expenses   $ 10,575     $ 14,426   Vacation     9,612       9,776   Salaries and wages     3,800       14,750   Other     2,722       2,312       $ 26,709     $ 41,264

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	(In thousands)   2023     2022     2021   Current:                         Federal   $ 33,416     $ 18,025     $ 18,872   State     4,706       3,914       3,367   Total current     38,122       21,939       22,239                             Deferred:                         Federal     (13,526 )     9,795       3,462   State     (1,053 )     2,083       603   Total deferred     (14,579 )     11,878       4,065   Total expense   $ 23,543     $ 33,817     $ 26,304
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	2023     2022     2021   Federal statutory income tax rate     21 %     21 %     21 % Increase in taxes arising from state income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit     3       3       3   Per diem and other non-deductible expenses     2       -       -   Other, net     (1 )     (1 )     -   Effective tax rate     25 %     23 %     24 %
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	(In thousands)   2023     2022   Deferred tax assets:                 Reserves and accrued liabilities   $ 13,126     $ 13,244   Other     1,212       1,597         14,338       14,841   Deferred tax liabilities:                 Depreciation     133,634       148,285   Prepaid expenses     3,166       3,597         136,800       151,882   Net deferred tax liability   $ 122,462     $ 137,041

v3.24.0.1

Note 6 - Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	(In thousands, except per share amounts)   2023     2022     2021   Numerator:                         Net income   $ 70,373     $ 110,354     $ 85,428   Denominator:                         Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares     81,272       81,692       82,872   Effect of dilutive stock options     141       267       536   Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions     81,413       81,959       83,408   Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.87     $ 1.35     $ 1.03   Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.86     $ 1.35     $ 1.02

v3.24.0.1

Note 9 - Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Lease, Balance Sheet Classification [Table Text Block]	(In thousands)   2023     2022   Assets:                 Other noncurrent assets (a)   $ 517     $ 710   Liabilities:                 Accrued and other current liabilities     268       301   Noncurrent operating lease liabilities     249       409   Total liabilities   $ 517     $ 710
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Maturity [Table Text Block]	Amount   Maturities:         2024   $ 296   2025     125   2026     64   2027 thru 2028     76   Total lease payments     561   Adjust to present value     (44 ) Total operating lease liabilities   $ 517

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Schedule of Share-Based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	2023     2022     2021                             Expected option life in years(1)     6.0       6.0       6.0   Expected stock price volatility percentage(2)     28 %     26 %     27 % Risk-free interest rate percentage(3)     4.1 %     2.9 %     1.2 % Expected dividend yield(4)     1.14 %     1.13 %     0.91 % Fair value as of the date of grant   $ 6.63     $ 5.79     $ 4.29
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block]	Shares     Weighted- Average Exercise Price   Outstanding at December 31, 2022     915,391     $ 15.84   Granted     39,000       21.44   Exercised     (106,941 )     11.30   Forfeited     (9,300 )     18.35   Outstanding at December 31, 2023     838,150     $ 16.65   Exercisable at December 31, 2023     431,850     $ 15.12
Schedule of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block]	Shares     Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value     Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)   Nonvested at December 31, 2022     544,150     $ 4.62       5.5   Granted     39,000       6.63       6.6   Vested     (167,550 )     4.44       3.9   Forfeited     (9,300 )     5.01       5.2   Nonvested at December 31, 2023     406,300     $ 4.88       5.0
Schedule of Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]	Shares     Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value   Nonvested at December 31, 2022     121,867     $ 17.83   Granted     114,044       20.49   Vested     (47,511 )(1)     17.56   Nonvested at December 31, 2023     188,400     $ 19.51

v3.24.0.1

Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Notes Tables
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	(Dollars in thousands)   2023     2022     2021   Operating revenue:                         Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue   $ 395,565     $ 411,448     $ 346,289   Truckload fuel surcharge revenue     69,910       89,014       50,377   Total Truckload revenue     465,475       500,462       396,666                             Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue     334,962       336,973       276,883   Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue     73,310       92,119       52,559   Total Dedicated revenue     408,272       429,092       329,442                             Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue     75,887       100,452       87,468   Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue     16,191       29,313       14,777   Total Intermodal revenue     92,078       129,765       102,245                             Brokerage revenue     165,630       204,559       145,291                             Total operating revenue   $ 1,131,455     $ 1,263,878     $ 973,644                             Operating income/(loss):                         Truckload   $ 24,835     $ 59,392     $ 51,032   Dedicated     48,377       50,566       36,395   Intermodal     (156 )     10,639       9,479   Brokerage     17,054       22,747       14,783   Total operating income   $ 90,110     $ 143,344     $ 111,689

v3.24.0.1

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Number of Operating Segments	5
Loss on Deposits Above FDIC Amount	$ 0
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	497,000	$ 500,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 20,700,000	$ 16,100,000
Revenue Benchmark [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Walmart [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	19.00%	21.00%	23.00%
Revenue Benchmark [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | UNITED STATES
Concentration Risk, Percentage	99.00%	99.00%	99.00%
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Walmart [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	19.00%	22.00%
Uninsured Risk [Member] | Auto Liability Claim [Member]
Loss Contingency Range Possible Loss Per Claim	$ 1,000,000
Uninsured Risk [Member] | Workers Compensation Liability Claim [Member]
Loss Contingency Range Possible Loss Per Claim	750,000
Insurance Claims [Member]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	20,700,000
Supplies and Maintenance Costs [Member]
Amortization	$ 7,200,000	$ 6,600,000	$ 6,400,000
Tractor [Member]
Replacement Of Equipment Period After Purchase (Year)	4 years 1 month 6 days
Useful life (Year)	5 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage	25.00%
Trailer [Member]
Replacement Of Equipment Period After Purchase (Year)	8 years
Useful life (Year)	7 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage	35.00%
Refrigerated Containers [Member]
Useful life (Year)	12 years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage	0.00%
Tires In Service [Member]
Useful life (Year)	24 months

v3.24.0.1

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Lives (Details)	Dec. 31, 2023
Tractor [Member]
Useful life (Year)	5 years
Trailer [Member]
Useful life (Year)	7 years
Refrigerated Containers [Member]
Useful life (Year)	12 years
Service And Other Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Useful life (Year)	3 years
Service And Other Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Useful life (Year)	15 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Useful life (Year)	20 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Useful life (Year)	40 years

v3.24.0.1

Note 2 - Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts - Prepaid Expenses and Other (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Insurance premiums	$ 4,608	$ 4,054
Contract assets	2,106	2,746
Other	3,971	3,734
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current	27,512	27,320
Parts And Tires Inventory [Member]
Prepaid expenses	6,286	5,427
License Fees Member [Member]
Prepaid expenses	5,557	6,029
Tires In Service [Member]
Prepaid expenses	$ 4,984	$ 5,330

v3.24.0.1

Note 2 - Details of Consolidated Balance Sheet Accounts - Accrued Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Accrued expenses	$ 10,575	$ 14,426
Vacation	9,612	9,776
Salaries and wages	3,800	14,750
Other	2,722	2,312
Accrued Liabilities, Current	$ 26,709	$ 41,264

v3.24.0.1

Note 3 - Long-term Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 30.0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	20.7	$ 16.1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 9.3
Line of Credit Facility, Dividends Payment, Maximum		$ 150.0
Line Of Credit Facility Dividend Restrictions Percentage Of Net Income Limit		25.00%
Line of Credit Facility Dividend Restrictions Percentage of Net Income Limit1		25.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Waiver to Pay Dividends, Maximum		$ 80.0	$ 80.0
Credit Facility [Member]
Long-Term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate, at Point in Time	8.50%

v3.24.0.1

Note 4 - Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Tire Purchases [Member]
Accounts Payable	$ 0	$ 29,000
Director [Member] | Construction Projects [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	8,000	10,000
Purchase of Fuel, Tires and Related Services [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	195,000	477,000	$ 306,000
Tire Purchases [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 434,000	$ 438,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	4,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	343,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense	$ 14,000	$ 10,000
Open Tax Year	2020

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes - Components of Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Current:
Federal	$ 33,416	$ 18,025	$ 18,872
State	4,706	3,914	3,367
Total current	38,122	21,939	22,239
Deferred:
Federal	(13,526)	9,795	3,462
State	(1,053)	2,083	603
Total deferred	(14,579)	11,878	4,065
Total expense	$ 23,543	$ 33,817	$ 26,304

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes - Federal Income Tax Reconciled to the Effective Income Tax Rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Federal statutory income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Increase in taxes arising from state income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Per diem and other non-deductible expenses	2.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other, net	(1.00%)	(1.00%)	0.00%
Effective tax rate	25.00%	23.00%	24.00%

v3.24.0.1

Note 5 - Income Taxes - Net Deferred Tax Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and accrued liabilities	$ 13,126	$ 13,244
Other	1,212	1,597
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	14,338	14,841
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	133,634	148,285
Prepaid expenses	3,166	3,597
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	136,800	151,882
Net deferred tax liability	$ 122,462	$ 137,041

v3.24.0.1

Note 6 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details Textual) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	173,300	541,500	605,550
Unvested Performance Unit Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	106,582	16,632	71,734

v3.24.0.1

Note 6 - Earnings per Common Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Numerator:
Net income	$ 70,373	$ 110,354	$ 85,428
Denominator:
Basic earnings per common share - weighted-average shares (in shares)	81,272	81,692	82,872
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	141	267	536
Diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	81,413	81,959	83,408
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 1.35	$ 1.03
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 1.35	$ 1.02

v3.24.0.1

Note 7 - Share Repurchase Program (Details Textual) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Aug. 13, 2020	Dec. 31, 2022 shares	Sep. 30, 2022 shares	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	May 03, 2022 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2020 shares	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount | $								$ 50,000		$ 34,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased | shares								3,100,000	2,700,000	1,800,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares | shares		0	0	963,000	1,300,000	0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value | $				$ 16,800	$ 25,000		$ 41,753
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount | $						$ 33,200
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased | shares						2,200,000
Stock Split To [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	3
Stock Split from [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	2

v3.24.0.1

Note 8 - Dividends (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended											4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared														$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.66
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock														$ 19,509	$ 19,563	$ 54,735
Paid Quarterly [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared		$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.04
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock														$ 19,500	$ 19,600	$ 54,700
Special Dividend [Member]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.5

v3.24.0.1

Note 9 - Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Month)	33 months	39 months
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	5.10%	4.40%
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability	$ 89,000	$ 318,000
Operating Lease, Payments	332,000	285,000
Operating Lease, Cost	6,500,000	5,700,000
Short-Term Lease, Cost	$ 6,200,000	$ 5,400,000

v3.24.0.1

Note 9 - Leases - Operating Leases Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		$ 249	$ 409
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Other noncurrent assets (a)	[1]	517	710
Accrued and Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Accrued and other current liabilities		268	301
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		249	409
Other Liabilities [Member]
Total liabilities		$ 517	$ 710
[1] Operating lease asset balances at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

v3.24.0.1

Note 9 - Leases - Maturity of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
2024	$ 296,000
2025	125,000
2026	64,000
2027 thru 2028	76,000
Total lease payments	561,000
Adjust to present value	(44,000)
Other Liabilities [Member]
Total operating lease liabilities	$ 517,000	$ 710,000

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits (Details Textual) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Aug. 13, 2020	May 07, 2019	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 29, 2023
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted														2,674,431
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share														$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Forfeiture Rate Of Unvested Outstanding Awards														1.25%
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense														$ 2,319,000	$ 2,814,000	$ 2,518,000
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense, after Tax														$ 1,700,000	$ 2,200,000	$ 1,900,000
Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax Amount Per Basic Share (in dollars per share)														$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.02
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number														838,150	915,391
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term														3 years 10 months 24 days
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value																	$ 3,800,000
Exercisable, shares (in shares)														431,850
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term														2 years 10 months 24 days
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value														$ 2,600,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value														1,100,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 789,000
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised														2,400,000	4,000,000	1,700,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value														$ 744,000	691,000	411,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match														35.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay														6.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employers Matching Contribution, Annual Vesting Percentage														20.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost														$ 3,900,000	4,000,000	3,000,000
Retirement Savings Plan, Participants Less Than 50 Years Old [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Amount														22,500
Retirement Savings Plan, Participants Over50 Years Old [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Amount														$ 30,000
Stock Split [Member]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Dividend Settlement, Percent	50.00%
Performance Shares [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Reserved For Issuance Under Awards Outstanding														838,150
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value														$ 834,000
Performance Shares [Member] | Awards Paid to Employees Upon Vesting [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted			114,044	21,000	102,900	98,400	73,205	45,000	3,000	3,000	42,000	3,000	65,013
Performance Shares [Member] | One Half of Awards Paid Immediately Upon Vesting and One Half Credited to Employees' Accounts [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted								60,000			68,550
Unvested Service Based Option Awards [Member]
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount														$ 1,800,000
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition														3 years
Unvested Performance Unit Awards [Member]
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount														$ 3,700,000
Service Based Options [Member]
Shares Granted, Value, Share-Based Payment Arrangement, before Forfeiture														$ 258,000	$ 819,000	$ 1,800,000
2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized		1,300,000
2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Stock Split [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized	3,950,000
2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Annual Percentage Of Award Which Vests														20.00%
2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Full Value Awards [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized		558,334
2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Performance Shares [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted													163,754
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Reserved For Issuance Under Awards Outstanding														226,715
Minimum [Member] | 2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Expiration Period														7 years
Maximum [Member] | 2015 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Expiration Period														10 years

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits - Stock Options Valuation Assumptions (Details) - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Expected option life in years(1) (Year)	[1]	6 years	6 years	6 years
Expected stock price volatility percentage(2)	[2]	28.00%	26.00%	27.00%
Risk-free interest rate percentage(3)	[3]	4.10%	2.90%	1.20%
Expected dividend yield(4)	[4]	1.14%	1.13%	0.91%
Fair value as of the date of grant (in dollars per share)		$ 6.63	$ 5.79	$ 4.29
[1] Expected option life – We use historical employee exercise and option expiration data to estimate the expected life assumption for the Black-Scholes grant-date valuation. We believe that this historical data is currently the best estimate of the expected term of a new option. We use a weighted-average expected life for all awards. [2] Expected stock price volatility – We use our stock’s historical volatility for the same period of time as the expected life. We have no reason to believe that its future volatility will differ from the past. [3] Risk-free interest rate – The rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant for the same period of time as the expected life. [4] Expected dividend yield – The calculation is based on the total expected annual dividend payout divided by the average stock price.

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits - Option Activity (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 $ / shares shares
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 (in shares) | shares	915,391
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 15.84
Granted, shares (in shares) | shares	39,000
Granted, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 21.44
Exercised, shares (in shares) | shares	(106,941)
Exercised, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 11.3
Forfeited, shares (in shares) | shares	(9,300)
Forfeited, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 18.35
Balance, shares (in shares) | shares	838,150
Balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 16.65
Exercisable, shares (in shares) | shares	431,850
Exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 15.12

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits - Non-vested Option Awards Activity (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Granted, shares (in shares)	39,000
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 6.63	$ 5.79	$ 4.29
Forfeited, shares (in shares)	(9,300)
Service Based Options [Member]
Beginning of period, nonvested, shares (in shares)	544,150
Beginning of period, nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 4.62
Nonvested, weighted average remaining contractual life (Year)	5 years	5 years 6 months
Granted, shares (in shares)	39,000
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 6.63
Granted, weighted average remaining contractual life (Year)	6 years 7 months 6 days
Vested, shares (in shares)	(167,550)
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 4.44
Vested, weighted average remaining contractual life (Year)	3 years 10 months 24 days
Forfeited, shares (in shares)	(9,300)
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.01
Forfeited, weighted average remaining contractual life (Year)	5 years 2 months 12 days
End of period, nonvested, shares (in shares)	406,300	544,150
End of period, nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 4.88	$ 4.62

v3.24.0.1

Note 10 - Employee Benefits - Non-vested Performance Unit Award Activity (Details) - Performance Shares [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 $ / shares shares
Nonvested, shares (in shares) | shares	121,867
Nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 17.83
Granted, shares (in shares) | shares	114,044
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 20.49
Vested, shares (in shares) | shares	(47,511)	[1]
Vested, shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ (17.56)
Nonvested, shares (in shares) | shares	188,400
Nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 19.51
[1] This number of performance unit award shares vested based on our financial performance in 2023 and will be distributed in March 2024. The fair value of unit award shares that vested in 2023 was $834,000.

v3.24.0.1

Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total	$ 561,000
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member] | Revenue Equipment [Member]
Purchase Obligation, to be Paid, Remainder of Fiscal Year	$ 181,000,000

v3.24.0.1

Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Number of Operating Segments	5
Number of Reportable Segments	4
Customer Contract Term (Year)	1 year
Capitalized Contract Cost, Impairment Loss	$ 0	$ 0
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]
Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Total	2,100	2,700
Dedicated [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	$ 46,200	45,600	$ 43,000
Dedicated [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Customer Contract Term (Year)	3 years
Dedicated [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Customer Contract Term (Year)	5 years
Truckload [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	$ 61,600	56,400	52,100
Intermodal [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	7,100	7,500	6,300
Brokerage [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total	$ 1,900	$ 1,500	$ 1,200

v3.24.0.1

Note 14 - Revenue and Business Segments - Operating Revenue and Operating Income by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating revenue	$ 1,131,455	$ 1,263,878	$ 973,644
Operating income/(loss):
Operating Income	90,110	143,344	111,689
Truckload [Member]
Operating revenue	465,475	500,462	396,666
Operating income/(loss):
Operating Income	24,835	59,392	51,032
Truckload [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	395,565	411,448	346,289
Truckload [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	69,910	89,014	50,377
Dedicated [Member]
Operating revenue	408,272	429,092	329,442
Operating income/(loss):
Operating Income	48,377	50,566	36,395
Dedicated [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	334,962	336,973	276,883
Dedicated [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	73,310	92,119	52,559
Intermodal [Member]
Operating revenue	92,078	129,765	102,245
Operating income/(loss):
Operating Income	(156)	10,639	9,479
Intermodal [Member] | Revenue, Net of Fuel Surcharge [Member]
Operating revenue	75,887	100,452	87,468
Intermodal [Member] | Fuel Surcharge Revenue [Member]
Operating revenue	16,191	29,313	14,777
Brokerage [Member]
Operating revenue	165,630	204,559	145,291
Operating income/(loss):
Operating Income	$ 17,054	$ 22,747	$ 14,783

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