2012 wasn’t the greatest year for trucking companies, but some of the nation’s largest carriers reported mostly positive gains in profits. Many are planning on expanding their fleets for 2013, even though industry groups like the ATA predict 2013 will be a flat year for trucking, finally making a bigger recovery in early 2014.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services’ fourth-quarter and full-year profits rose, led by gains at its intermodal and dedicated contract services segments.
Net income rose to $84 million, or 70 cents per share, from $72.6 million, or 61 cents, a year ago. Revenue rose 11% to $1.34 billion, the company said Thursday.
Heartland Express said its fourth-quarter profit fell from a year ago, though its revenue improved.
Net income fell to $14.3 million, or 17 cents per share, from $17.1 million, or 20 cents, a year ago.
Revenue — which was negatively affected by a $4.1 million decrease in gains on disposal of property and equipment — rose 3.8% to $136.2 million, the truckload carrier said in a statement.
Swift Transportation Co. said its fourth-quarter and full-year profit rose and that it recorded the highest quarterly revenue and operating profit in its history.
Net income rose to $46.8 million, or 34 cents per share, from $36.8million, or 26 cents, a year ago. Revenue rose to $922.6 million, from $860.7 million, Swift said late Wednesday.
For the full year, Swift earned $114.6 million, or 82 cents per share, up from $90.6 million, or 65 cents, the previous year.
Truckload segment revenue for the quarter rose to $591.1 million from $573.2 million a year earlier, while intermodal revenue rose to $97.7 million from $72.8 million.
Celadon Group said late Wednesday its fiscal second-quarter profit jumped almost 35% on operating efficiencies and cost control.
Net income rose to $7.4 million, or 32 cents a share, from $5.5 million, or 24 cents, a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 rose 2.7% to $148.1 million.
Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharges rose 1.5% to $116.8 million, the truckload carrier said.
Marten Transport’s fourth-quarter and full-year profit rose to a company record on strong truckload and logistics revenue, the company said.
Net income for the quarter rose to $7.72 million, or 35 cents per share, from $7.66 million, or 35 cents, a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter rose to $166.4 million from $158.3 million a year earlier.
Truckload net income for the quarter slipped to $10.8 million from $11.2 million, while logistics income rose to $2.45 million from $1.8 million.
Full-year net income rose to $27.3 million, or $1.23 per share, from $24.3 million, or $1.10, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $638.5 million, from $603.7 million in 2011.
