Marten Transport
Annual Report 2017

Plain-text annual report

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. 2017 Annual Report Who We Are Marten Transport, Ltd., with headquarters in Mondovi, Wisconsin, strives to be the premier supplier of time and tempera- ture-sensitive transportation and distribution services to customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. We will accomplish this by exceeding the expectations of our customers, employees, stock- holders and society. We serve customers with demanding delivery deadlines, as well as those who ship products requiring modern temperature-controlled trailers to protect goods. Our dry freight services are expanding, with 966 dry trailers operating as of December 31, 2017. Founded in 1946, we have been a public company since 1986. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN. At December 31, 2017, we employed 3,492 people, including drivers, office personnel and mechanics. Five-Year Financial Summary Years ended December 31, (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 FOR THE YEAR Operating revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 698,120 $ 671,144 $ 664,994 $ 672,929 $ 659,214 Operating income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,862 58,303 61,063 51,006 51,995 Net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90,284 33,464 35,745 29,834 30,147 Net income – excluding 2017 deferred income taxes benefit(1) . . 33,819 33,464 35,745 29,834 30,147 Operating ratio(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.9% 91.3% 90.8% 92.4% 92.1% PER-SHARE DATA(3) Basic earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1.66 $ 0.62 $ 0.64 $ 0.54 $ 0.54 Basic earnings per common share – excluding 2017 deferred income taxes benefit(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.62 0.62 0.64 0.54 0.54 Diluted earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.65 0.61 0.64 0.53 0.54 Diluted earnings per common share – excluding 2017 deferred income taxes benefit(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.62 0.61 0.64 0.53 0.54 Dividends declared per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.08 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.05 Book value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.64 8.04 7.50 6.96 6.47 AT YEAR END Total assets(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 690,403 $ 653,748 $ 631,528 $ 576,461 $ 522,387 Long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – 7,886 37,867 24,373 – Stockholders’ equity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525,500 437,338 409,421 387,926 359,137 (1) Net income and basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2017 are presented for comparative purposes excluding the $56.5 million deferred income taxes benefit recorded to recognize the impact of the reduction of the federal corporate statutory income tax rate from 35% to 21% related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. (2) Represents operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue. (3) The amounts for December 31, 2013 through 2016 have been restated to reflect the five-for-three stock split effected in the form of a 662⁄3% stock dividend on July 7, 2017. (4) The amounts for December 31, 2013 and 2014 have been restated to reflect the reclassification of current deferred income tax assets to be consistent with the current presentation upon adoption of FASB ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes” effective December 31, 2015. To Our Stockholders and Employees For the trucking industry, the second half of 2017 brought esca- lating freight demand and tightening capacity as an improving economy ran smack into a worsening driver shortage. For the year, the rising rates were more than offset by rising costs in an operating environment that squeezed profit growth out of reach for most of the trucking industry for the second year in a row. But not for Marten Transport. The disciplined execution of our multifaceted business model across Marten’s entire organization produced 2017 net income of $33.8 million, excluding a deferred income taxes benefit—our third consecutive improvement in annual earnings, excluding a gain on the disposition of facilities in 2015. Marten people again made the difference with their smart, hard work within our culture of continuous improvement of systems and processes. Marten uses a proprietary information technolo- gy system that provides the real-time visible information needed to efficiently make data-driven decisions for improved supply chain productivity. Achieving an improvement in Marten’s 2017 earnings meant overcoming a significantly smaller gain on disposition of our rev- enue equipment—a reflection of a depressed used-truck market. 2017 Financial Results For 2017, net income improved to $90.3 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, including a deferred income taxes benefit of $56.5 million related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Excluding that benefit, net income improved 1.1 percent to $33.8 million, or 62 cents per diluted share, from $33.5 million, or 61 cents per diluted share, for 2016. Operating revenue improved 4.0 percent to a record $698.1 million for 2017 from $671.1 million for 2016. Fuel surcharge revenue increased to $67.1 million for 2017 from $53.2 million for 2016. Excluding fuel sur- charges, 2017 operating revenue improved 2.1 percent to $631.0 million from $617.9 million for 2016. Our operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of oper- ating revenue), was 91.9 percent for 2017 and 91.3 percent for 2016. The operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges, was 91.0 percent for 2017 and 90.6 percent for 2016. In terms of freight environment, 2017 came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. From an exceptionally weak level at the start of the year, freight demand surged in the second quarter and grew to a situation in the fourth quarter where it substantially exceeded the declining supply of seated trucks available nationally. We expect the pressure to meet freight demand to intensify in 2018, with expansion of capacity further constrained by two major fac- tors: • The most critical driver shortage in history, • The beginning of the new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) era. Marten has focused on being out in front on both issues. Operating Revenue Growth Excluding Fuel Surcharges Dollars in Millions Dedicated Revenue Growth Excluding Fuel Surcharges Dollars in Millions 2.1% 4.3% 8.2% 3.1% 650 625 600 575 550 525 500 2014 2015 2016 2017 Driver Shortage and ELDs 4.5% 37.1% 89.5% 68.9% 160 120 80 40 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 The chronic national driver shortage has become acute. Retirements are cutting into the nation’s core of veteran drivers, and the industry as a whole is not attracting enough younger workers to provide replacements, let alone meet the underlying demand for more capacity. And those who are attracted to the challenge of driving in the big leagues of over-the-road trans- portation today are a different breed, generally far less enamored with life on the road than their predecessors were. Marten has built a distinct competitive edge in recruiting and retention of top drivers, offering industry-leading compensation, first-class equipment and a network of transportation capabilities dominated by an attractive range of dedicated, regional and inter- modal runs that make it possible for drivers to stay closer to home. The ELD mandate, which went into effect in December 2017, requires electronic logging of drivers’ hours, eliminating reliance on traditional paper log books. Because electronic logging precisely captures waiting time and other delays in transit, the mandate is expected to cut into the regulated time available for drivers to be on the road—further tightening truckload capacity. We also expect ELDs to level the competitive playing field for all truckload carri- ers and, most important, to have a positive impact on safety. Marten is positioned like no other carrier for the ELD era with our unique driver pay package and unique business model. We were one of the first carriers to fully implement electronic logging in early 2011—more than six years before it was mandated. To compensate our drivers for lost driving hours in the transition from paper logs to ELDs, we introduced a series of mileage and non- driving time pay increases. We pay our drivers industry leading per hour compensation for waits at customer docks, inclement weath- er downtime and road service delays. In short, we compensate our drivers for their non-driving time like no other carrier in the new electronic era. In addition to leading the industry in compensation improve- ments, we have focused on the creation of better jobs for our driv- ers—the best jobs in the industry for the best drivers in the industry. A major factor in the creation of better jobs has been Marten’s strategic transition from long-haul carrier to a multifac- MARTEN TRANSPORT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT eted business platform offering a network of truck-based trans- portation capabilities. The regional build out of our network across 15 operating centers nationally has not only addressed cus- tomer trends toward regional distribution, it has helped fulfill the desire of many of our drivers for more time at home. with smaller third-party carriers. Brokerage revenue was $70.4 million for 2017, up 6.0 percent from $66.4 million for 2016. Brokerage operating income increased 23.3 percent to $5.2 mil- lion from $4.2 million for 2016. The Brokerage operating ratio was 92.7 percent for 2017. Our regional centers have provided the foundation for the development of our diversified customer solutions, enabling supportive interaction across our four distinct business plat- forms—Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage. Truckload—regional and over-the-road fleets operating from 15 regional service centers. While cost inflation undercut the improv- ing freight environment in 2017, key measures of Truckload pro- ductivity were positive. Revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week—a main measure of asset productivity— increased by 2.5 percent from 2016. Miles per tractor improved slightly. Truckload revenue was $380.2 million for 2017, com- pared with $375.9 million for 2016. Excluding fuel surcharges, Truckload revenue was $336.6 million for 2017, compared with $340.0 million for 2016. Operating income was $26.3 million versus $27.4 million for 2016. The 2017 Truckload operating ratio was 93.1 percent, and the operating ratio, net of fuel sur- charges, was 92.2 percent. Dedicated—customized solutions tailored to individual customers’ requirements utilizing refrigerated trailers, dry vans and other spe- cialized equipment. Over the past four years, Dedicated revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, has more than quadrupled. Dedicated revenue increased to $166.9 million for 2017 from $157.4 million for 2016. Excluding fuel surcharges, Dedicated revenue improved 4.5 percent to $153.7 million for 2017 from $147.0 million for 2016. Operating income was $17.1 million, compared with $19.6 million for 2016. Revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week increased by 1.4 percent from 2016. The 2017 Dedicated operating ratio was 89.8 percent, and the operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges, was 88.9 percent. In response to con- tinuing awards of new business, the total number of Dedicated tractors is projected to grow to more than 1,150 by June 2018. Intermodal—refrigerated TOFC (trailer on flatcar) services, pro- viding the economies and energy efficiencies of long-haul rail trans- portation with extended door-to-door support from Marten’s truck network. Marten is the largest truckload temperature-controlled carrier with BNSF Railway Company. Intermodal revenue increased to $80.6 million for 2017 from $71.5 million for 2016. Excluding fuel surcharges, Intermodal revenue improved 9.0 per- cent to $70.3 million for 2017 from $64.5 million for 2016. Operating income increased 16.4 percent to $8.3 million from $7.1 million for 2016. The 2017 Intermodal operating ratio was 89.7 percent, and the operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges, was 88.2 percent. In May, Marten’s Intermodal operation was recog- nized as one of the 2016 Carriers of the Year serving Armada Supply Chain Solutions LLC, a major provider of supply chain management services in the food industry. Brokerage—surge flexibility to supplement Marten’s capabilities through temperature-controlled and dry van service within the United States and into and out of Mexico through arrangements MARTEN TRANSPORT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Operating within our Truckload and Brokerage segments, anoth- er component of Marten’s vision and plan is MRTN de México, which provides door-to-door Mexican business service with our Mexican partner carriers. Its 2017 revenue was $64.6 million— reported as part of our Truckload and Brokerage results. We summarize the story of Marten’s multifaceted strategic devel- opment in three words—stability, growth and evolution. • Stability in financial strength, reliably superior customer serv- ice and the talent and teamwork of the people who are Marten. • Growth in financial performance, customer diversity and geo- graphical reach. • Evolution from long-haul carrier to an expanding network of transportation capabilities aimed at providing the best, most efficient services for Marten customers. In recognition of Marten’s continuing financial stability, the Board of Directors declared a five-for-three stock split of the company’s common stock in the form of a 662⁄3 percent stock div- idend in the second quarter of 2017. Holders of the stock received an additional two-thirds share for each outstanding share of com- mon stock held. Marten improved its balance sheet position with $15.8 million in cash at the end of 2017 from $7.9 million in debt at the beginning of the year. We expect to further capitalize on profitable growth opportuni- ties with our diversified platform, cost control emphasis, mod- ern fleet, strong balance sheet and the continuing smart, hard work of our people. More than anything else, our financial per- formance in 2017 was the product of the talent and teamwork of the people of Marten. As Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once observed, “Great things in business are never done by one per- son. They’re done by a team of people.” That describes Marten Transport. Sincerely, Randolph L. Marten Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer February 27, 2018 This Annual Report, including the Stockholders and Employees Letter above, contains 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. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements because of important factors known to us that could cause such material differences including those noted in the attached Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors.” Corporate Information Corporate Headquarters 129 Marten Street Mondovi, Wisconsin 54755 Telephone: (715) 926-4216 Fax: (715) 926-4530 www.marten.com Stockholder Information Additional copies of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available by writing to James J. Hinnendael, executive vice president and chief financial officer, at our corporate headquarters. Annual Meeting Stockholders, employees and friends may attend our annual meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at the Roger Marten Community Center, 120 South Franklin Street, Mondovi, Wisconsin. Stock Listing NASDAQ Global Select Market symbol: MRTN Legal Counsel Fox Rothschild LLP Campbell Mithun Tower – Suite 2000 222 South Ninth Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Grant Thornton LLP 200 South Sixth Street, Suite 1400 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Transfer Agent and Registrar Computershare Shareowner Services Stockholder correspondence mailing address: P.O. Box 505000 Louisville, Kentucky 40233 Overnight correspondence address: 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600 Louisville, Kentucky 40202 Telephone: (866) 637-5412 TDD: (800) 231-5469 Foreign: (201) 680-6578 www.computershare.com/investor Stockholder online inquiries: www-us.computershare.com/investor/contact Direct communications about stock certificates or a change of address to Computershare Shareowner Services. MARTEN TRANSPORT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Executive Officers and Directors Randolph L. Marten Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director Timothy M. Kohl President Timothy P. Nash Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing James J. Hinnendael Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John H. Turner Senior Vice President of Sales Thomas A. Letscher Secretary Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota Larry B. Hagness Director Chief Executive Officer, Durand Builders Service, Inc. Durand, Wisconsin Thomas J. Winkel Director Management Consultant Pewaukee, Wisconsin Jerry M. Bauer Director Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bauer Built, Inc. Durand, Wisconsin Robert L. Demorest Director Business Consultant and former President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, MOCON, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota G. Larry Owens Director Retired Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary, Smithway Motor Xpress Corp. Milford, Iowa Ronald R. Booth Director Retired Partner KPMG LLP Dellwood, Minnesota The 2017 Annual Report is printed on recycled paper. MARTEN TRANSPORT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. 129 MARTEN STREET MONDOVI, WISCONSIN 54755 TELEPHONE: (715) 926-4216 FAX: (715) 926-4530 www.marten.com 

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