This document is Celadon Group's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. It provides an overview of Celadon Group's business operations, including that it is one of North America's largest truckload carriers, generating over $565 million in revenue in fiscal year 2008. Approximately half of its revenue comes from international shipments between the US, Mexico, and Canada, making it a leader in cross-border truckload movements. It operates both internationally and domestically, with strategies focused on improving rates, utilization, and service standards.
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Celadon 2008 Annual Report
1. UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the transition period from _________________ to ______________
Commission file number: 0-23192
CELADON GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-3361050
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
9503 East 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46235
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (317) 972-7000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock ($0.033 par value) The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (Global Select Market)
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (Global Select Market)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not
be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of quot;accelerated filer and
large accelerated filerquot; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No
On December 31, 2007, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant's
common stock ($0.033 par value) held by non-affiliates (19,914,592 shares) was approximately $182 million, based upon the reported last sale price of the
common stock on that date. The exclusion from such amount of the market value of shares of common stock owned by any person shall not be deemed an
admission by the registrant that such person is an affiliate of the registrant.
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's common stock as of the close of business on August 28, 2008 was 21,871,660.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part III of Form 10-K - Portions of Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
2. CELADON GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
Business 3
Item 1.
Risk Factors 9
Item 1A.
Unresolved Staff Comments 15
Item 1B.
Properties 15
Item 2.
Legal Proceedings 15
Item 3.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 15
Item 4.
PART II
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and 16
Item 5.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Selected Financial Data 19
Item 6.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results 20
Item 7.
of Operation
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 31
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 31
Item 8.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and 55
Item 9.
Financial Disclosure
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 55
Item 9B. Other Information 56
PART III
Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance 57
Item 10.
Executive Compensation 57
Item 11.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and 57
Item 12.
Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 58
Item 13.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services 58
Item 14.
PART IV
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 59
Item 15.
62
SIGNATURES
32
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets 33
Consolidated Statements of Operations 34
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 35
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity 36
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 37
2
3. PART I
Disclosure Regarding Forward Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a quot;safe harborquot; for forward-looking
statements. Certain statements contained in this Form 10-K and those portions of the 2008 Proxy Statement
incorporated by reference may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, events, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from any future results, events, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-
looking statements. Words such as quot;anticipates,quot; quot;estimates,quot; quot;expects,quot; quot;projects,quot; quot;intends,quot; quot;plans,quot; quot;believes,quot;
and words or terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating results, financial
performance, or business plans identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect our
management's present expectation of future events and are subject to a number of important factors and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. While it
is impossible to identify all factors that may cause actual results to differ, the risks and uncertainties that may affect
the Company's business, performance, and results of operations include the factors discussed in Item 1A of this
report. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its
behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere in this
Form 10-K.
All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained
in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(quot;Exchange Actquot;), as amended.
References to the quot;Companyquot;, quot;Celadonquot;, quot;wequot;, quot;usquot;, quot;ourquot; and words of similar import refer to Celadon
Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Item 1. Business
Introduction
We are one of North America's fifteen largest truckload carriers as measured by revenue. We generated
$565.9 million in operating revenue during our fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. We have grown significantly since
our incorporation in 1986 through internal growth and a series of acquisitions since 1995. As a dry van truckload
carrier, we generally transport full trailer loads of freight from origin to destination without intermediate stops or
handling. Our customer base includes Fortune 500 shippers such as Alcoa, Carrier Corporation, General Electric,
International Truck & Engine, John Deere, Kohler Company, Philip Morris, Phillips Lighting, Proctor & Gamble,
and Wal-Mart.
In our international operations, we offer time-sensitive transportation in and between the United States and
its two largest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. We generated approximately one-half of our revenue in fiscal
2008 from international movements, and we believe our annual border crossings make us the largest provider of
international truckload movements in North America. We believe that our strategically located terminals and
experience with the language, culture, and border crossing requirements of each North American country provide a
competitive advantage in the international trucking marketplace.
We believe our international operations, particularly those involving Mexico, offer an attractive business
niche for several reasons. The additional complexity and the need to establish cross-border business partners and to
develop a strong organization and an adequate infrastructure in Mexico afford some barriers to competition that are
not present in traditional U.S. truckload service. Information regarding our revenue derived from foreign customers
and long-lived assets located in foreign countries is set forth in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements filed
as part of this report.
3
4. Our success is dependent upon the success of our operations in Mexico and Canada, and we are subject to
risks of doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign currencies, changes in the economic
strength of the countries in which we do business, difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations and intellectual
property rights, burdens of complying with a wide variety of international and United States export and import laws,
and social, political, and economic instability. Additional risks associated with our foreign operations, including
restrictive trade policies and imposition of duties, taxes, or government royalties by foreign governments, are
present but largely mitigated by the terms of NAFTA. Information regarding our revenue derived from foreign
external customers and long-lived assets located in foreign countries is set forth in Note 13 to the consolidated
financial statements filed as part of this report.
In addition to our international business, we offer a broad range of truckload transportation services within
the United States, including long-haul, regional, dedicated, less than truckload, and logistics. With the acquisitions
of certain assets of Highway Express, Inc. (quot;Highwayquot;) in August 2003, CX Roberson, Inc. (quot;Robersonquot;) in January
2005, Erin Truckways Ltd., d/b/a Digby Truck Line, Inc. (quot;Digbyquot;) in October 2006, Warrior Services Inc. d/b/a
Warrior Xpress (quot;Warriorquot;) in February 2007, and Air Road Express Inc. (quot;Air Roadquot;) in June 2007, we expanded
our operations and service offerings within the United States and significantly improved our lane density, freight
mix, and customer diversity.
We also operate TruckersB2B, Inc. (quot;Truckers B2Bquot;), a profitable marketing business that affords volume
purchasing power for items such as fuel, tires, and equipment to approximately 21,000 member trucking fleets
representing approximately 480,000 tractors. TruckersB2B represents a separate operating segment under generally
accepted accounting principles. Information regarding revenue, profits and losses, and total assets of our
transportation and e-commerce (TruckersB2B) operating segments is set forth in Note 13 to the consolidated
financial statements filed as part of this report.
Operating and Sales Strategy
We approach our trucking operations as an integrated effort of marketing, customer service, and fleet
management. We have identified as priorities: increasing our freight rates; decreasing our reliance on automotive
industry customers; raising our service standards; rebalancing lane flows to enhance asset utilization; and identifying
and acquiring suitable acquisition candidates and successfully integrating acquired operations. To accomplish these
objectives, we have sought to instill high levels of discipline, cooperation, and trust between our operations and
sales departments. As a part of this integrated effort, our operations and sales departments have developed the
following strategies, goals, and objectives:
Seeking high yielding freight from targeted industries, customers, regions, and lanes that improves
•
our overall network density and diversifies our customer and freight mix. We believe that by focusing
our sales resources on targeted regions and lanes with emphasis on cross-border or international
moves and a north - south direction, we can improve our lane density and equipment utilization,
increase our average revenue per mile, and control our average cost per mile. Each piece of business
has rate and productivity goals that are designed to improve our yield management. We believe that
by increasing the business we do with less cyclical shippers and reducing our dependency on the
automotive industry, our ability to improve rate per mile increases.
Focusing on asset productivity. Our primary productivity measure is revenue per tractor per week.
•
Within revenue per tractor we examine rates, non-revenue miles, and loaded miles per tractor. We
actively analyze customers and freight movements in an effort to enhance the revenue production of
our tractors. We also attempt to concentrate our equipment in defined operating lanes to create more
predictable movements, reduce non-revenue miles, and shorten turn times between loads.
4
5. Operating a modern fleet to reduce maintenance costs and improve safety and driver retention. We
•
believe that updating our tractor and trailer fleets has produced several benefits, including lower
maintenance expenses, and enhanced safety, driver recruitment, and retention. We have taken two
important steps towards modernizing our fleet. First, we shortened the replacement cycle for our
tractors from four years to three years. Second, we have replaced approximately 67% of all of our
trailers during the last 4 years. These trade policies have allowed us to recognize significant benefits
over the past few years because maintenance and tire expenses increase significantly for tractors
beyond the third year of operation and for trailers beyond the seventh year of operation, as wear and
tear increases and some warranties expire.
Continuing our emphasis on service, safety, and technology. We offer just-in-time, time-definite, and
•
other premium transportation services to meet the expectations of our service-oriented customers. We
believe that targeting premium service freight permits us to obtain higher rates, build long-term,
service-based customer relationships, and avoid competition from railroad, intermodal, and trucking
companies that compete primarily on the basis of price. We believe our recent safety record has been
among the best in our industry. In March 2006, 2005, and 2003, at the Truckload Carriers Association
Annual Conference, we were awarded first place in fleet safety among all truckload fleets that log
more than 100 million miles per year. We have made significant investments in technologies that are
intended to reduce costs, afford a competitive advantage with service-sensitive customers, and
promote economies of scale. Examples of these technologies are Qualcomm satellite-based tracking
and communications systems, our proprietary CelaTrac system that enables customers to track
shipments and access other information via the Internet, and document imaging.
Maintaining our leading position in cross-border truckload shipments while offering diversified,
•
nationwide transportation services in the U.S. We believe our strategically located terminals and
experience with the languages, cultures, and border crossing requirements of all three North
American countries provide us with competitive advantages in the international trucking marketplace.
As a result of these advantages, we believe we are the industry leader in cross-border movements
between North American countries. These cross-border shipments, which comprised over 48% of our
revenue in fiscal 2008, are balanced by a strong and growing business with domestic freight from
service-sensitive customers.
Seeking strategic acquisitions to broaden our existing domestic operations. We have made eleven
•
trucking company acquisitions since 1995 and continue to evaluate acquisition candidates. Our
current acquisition strategy, as evidenced by our purchases of certain assets of Highway Express in
2003, CX Roberson in 2005, Digby in October 2006, Warrior in February 2007, and Air Road in June
2007, is focused on broadening our domestic operations through the addition of carriers that improve
our lane density, customer diversity, and service offerings.
Other Services
TruckersB2B. Our TruckersB2B subsidiary is a profitable marketing business that affords volume
purchasing power for items such as fuel, tires, insurance, and other products and services to small and medium-sized
trucking companies through its website, www.truckersb2b.com. TruckersB2B provides small and medium-sized
trucking company members with the ability to cut costs and thereby compete more effectively and profitably with
the larger fleets. TruckersB2B has approximately 21,000 member trucking fleets representing approximately
480,000 tractors. TruckersB2B has improved to $9.3 million in revenue and an operating profit of $1.6 million in
fiscal 2008, from $6.7 million in revenue and an operating profit of $0.9 million in fiscal 2002. TruckersB2B
continues to introduce complementary products and services to drive its growth and attract new fleets.
Celadon Dedicated Services. Through Celadon Dedicated Services, we provide warehousing and trucking
services to three Fortune 500 companies. Our warehouse facilities are located near our customers' manufacturing
plants. We also transport the manufacturing component parts to our warehouses and sequence those parts for our
customers. We then transport completed units from our customers' plants. In fiscal 2008, we began to offer less
than truckload services to our customers.
Industry and Competition
5
6. The full truckload market is defined by the quantity of goods, generally over 10,000 pounds, shipped by a
single customer point-to-point and is divided into several segments by the type of trailer used to transport the goods.
These segments include van, temperature-controlled, flatbed, and tank carriers. We participate in the North
American van truckload market. The markets within the United States, Canada, and Mexico are fragmented, with
thousands of competitors, none of whom dominate the market. We believe that the current economic pressures will
continue to force many smaller and private fleets into acquisitions or to exit the industry.
Transportation of goods by truck between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is subject to the
provisions of NAFTA. Transportation of goods between the United States or Canada and Mexico consists of three
components: (i) transportation from the point of origin to the Mexican border, (ii) transportation across the border,
and (iii) transportation from the border to the final destination. United States and Canadian based carriers may
operate within both countries. United States and Canadian carriers are not allowed to operate within Mexico, and
Mexican carriers are not allowed to operate within the United States and Canada, in each case except for a 26-
kilometer, or approximately 16 miles, band along either side of the Mexican border. Trailers may cross all borders.
We are one of a limited number of trucking companies that participates in all three segments of this cross border
market, providing or arranging for door-to-door transport service between points in the United States, Canada, and
Mexico.
The truckload industry is highly competitive and fragmented. Although both service and price drive
competition in the premium long haul, time sensitive portion of the market, we rely primarily on our high level of
service to attract customers. This strategy requires us to focus on market segments that employ just-in-time
inventory systems and other premium services. Our competitors for freight include other long-haul truckload carriers
and, to a lesser extent, medium-haul truckload carriers and railroads. We also compete with other trucking
companies for the services of drivers. Some of the truckload carriers with which we compete have greater financial
resources, operate more revenue equipment, and carry a larger total volume of freight than we do.
TruckersB2B is a business-to-business savings program, for small and mid-sized fleets. Competitors
include other large trucking companies and other business-to-business buying programs.
Customers
We target large service-sensitive customers with time-definite delivery requirements throughout the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. Our customers frequently ship in the north-south lanes (i.e., to and from locations in
Mexico and locations in the United States and Eastern Canada). The sales personnel in our offices work to source
northbound and southbound transport, in addition to other transportation solutions. We currently service
approximately 2,000 customers. Our premium service to these customers is enhanced by the ability to provide
significant trailer capacity where needed, state-of-the-art technology, well-maintained tractors and trailers, and 24/7
dispatch and reporting services. The principal types of freight transported include tobacco, consumer goods,
automotive parts, various home products and fixtures, lawn tractors and assorted equipment, light bulbs, and various
parts for engines.
No customer accounted for more than 5% of our total revenue during any of our three most recent fiscal
years.
Drivers and Personnel
At June 30, 2008, we employed 3,874 persons, of whom 2,861 were drivers, 198 were truck maintenance
personnel, 577 were administrative personnel, and 238 were dedicated services personnel. None of our U.S. or
Canadian employees is represented by a union or a collective bargaining unit.
Driver recruitment, retention, and satisfaction are essential components of our success. Competition to
recruit and retain drivers is intense in the trucking industry. There has been and continues to be a shortage of
qualified drivers in the industry. Drivers are selected in accordance with specific guidelines, relating primarily to
safety records, driving experience, and personal evaluations, including a physical examination and mandatory drug
testing. Our drivers attend an orientation program and ongoing driver efficiency and safety programs. An increase in
driver turnover can have a negative impact on our results of operations.
6
7. Independent contractors are utilized through a contract with us to supply one or more tractors and drivers
for our use. Independent contractors must pay their own tractor expenses, fuel, maintenance, and driver costs and
must meet our specified guidelines with respect to safety. A lease-purchase program offered through third party
financing sources provides independent contractors the opportunity to lease-to-own a tractor. As of June 30, 2008,
there were 216 independent contractors providing a combined 7.4% of our tractor capacity.
Revenue Equipment
Our equipment strategy is to utilize late-model tractors and high-capacity trailers, actively manage
equipment throughout its life cycle, and employ a comprehensive service and maintenance program.
We have determined that the average annual cost of maintenance and tires for tractors in our fleet rises
substantially after the first three years due to a combination of greater wear and tear and the expiration of some
warranty coverages. We believe these costs rise late in the trade cycle for our trailers as well. We anticipate that we
will achieve ongoing savings in maintenance and tire expense by replacing tractors and trailers more often. In
addition, we believe operating newer equipment will enhance our driver recruiting and retention efforts.
Accordingly, we seek to manage our tractor trade cycle at approximately three years and our trailer trade cycle at
approximately seven years.
The average age of our owned and leased tractors and trailers was approximately 1.8 and 4.1 years,
respectively, at June 30, 2008. We utilize a comprehensive maintenance program to minimize downtime and control
maintenance costs. Centralized purchasing of spare parts and tires, and centralized control of over-the-road repairs
are also used to control costs.
Fuel
We purchase the majority of our fuel through a network of over 700 fuel stops throughout the United States
and Canada. We have negotiated discounted pricing based on certain volume commitments with these fuel stops.
We maintain bulk-fueling facilities in Indianapolis, Laredo, and Kitchener, Ontario to further reduce fuel costs.
Shortages of fuel, increases in prices, or rationing of petroleum products can have a materially adverse
effect on our operations and profitability. Fuel is subject to economic, political, climatic, and market factors that are
outside of our control. We have historically been able to recover a majority of high fuel prices from customers in the
form of fuel surcharges. However, a portion of the fuel expense increase is not recovered due to several factors,
including the base fuel price levels, which determine when surcharges are collected, truck idling, empty miles
between freight shipments, and out-of-route miles. We cannot predict whether high fuel price levels will occur in the
future or the extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected to offset such increases.
Stock Splits
On January 18, 2006, the Board of Directors approved a three-for-two stock split, effected in the form of a
fifty percent (50%) stock dividend. The stock split distribution date was February 15, 2006, to stockholders of
record as of the close of business on February 1, 2006.
On May 4, 2006, the Board of Directors approved a second three-for-two stock split, effected in the form of
a fifty percent (50%) stock dividend. The second stock split distribution date was June 15, 2006, to stockholders of
record as of the close of business of June 1, 2006.
Unless otherwise indicated, all share and per share amounts have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to
these stock splits.
Regulation
Our operations are regulated and licensed by various United States federal and state, Canadian provincial,
and Mexican federal agencies. Interstate motor carrier operations are subject to safety requirements prescribed by
the United States Department of Transportation (quot;DOTquot;). Such matters as weight and equipment dimensions are
7
8. also subject to United States federal and state regulation and Canadian provincial regulations. We operate in the
United States throughout the 48 contiguous states pursuant to operating authority granted by the Federal Highway
Administration, in various Canadian provinces pursuant to operating authority granted by the Ministries of
Transportation and Communications in such provinces, and within Mexico pursuant to operating authority granted
by Secretaria de Communiciones y Transportes. To the extent that we conduct operations outside the United States,
we are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally prohibits United States companies and their
intermediaries from bribing foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining favorable treatment.
New rules that limit driver hours-of-service were adopted by the DOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (quot;FMCSAquot;), effective January 4, 2004, and then modified effective October 1, 2005 (the
quot;2005 Rulesquot;). On July 24, 2007, a federal appeals court vacated portions of the 2005 Rules. Two of the key
portions vacated by the court include the expansion of the driving day from 10 hours to 11 hours, and the quot;34 hour
restartquot; requirement that drivers must have a break of at least 34 consecutive hours during each week. The court
indicated that, in addition to other reasons, it vacated these two portions of the 2005 Rules because FMCSA failed to
provide adequate data supporting its decision to increase the driving day and provide for the 34-hour
restart. Following a request by FMCSA for a 12-month extension of the vacated rules, the court, in an order filed on
September 28, 2007, granted a 90-day stay of the mandate and directed that issuance of its ruling be withheld until
December 27, 2007, to allow FMCSA time to prepare its response. On December 17, 2007, FMCSA submitted an
interim final rule, which became effective December 27, 2007 (the quot;Interim Rulequot;). The Interim Rule retains the 11
hour driving day and the 34-hour restart, but provides greater statistical support and analysis regarding the increased
driving time and the 34-hour restart. We understand that FMCSA expects to publish a final rule later in 2008. As
the Interim Rule appears to be very similar to the one struck down by the federal appeals court in July of 2007,
advocacy groups may challenge the Interim Rule.
On January 23, 2008, the federal appeals court denied an advocacy group's motion to invalidate the Interim
Rule; though additional challenges to the Interim Rule are possible. If further challenges occur, a court's decision to
strike down the Interim Rule could have varying effects, as reducing driving time to 10 hours daily may reduce
productivity in some lanes, while eliminating the 34-hour restart could enhance productivity in certain instances. On
the whole, however, we believe a court's decision to strike down the Interim Rule would decrease productivity and
cause some loss of efficiency, as drivers and shippers may need to be retrained, computer programming may require
modifications, additional drivers may need to be employed or engaged, additional equipment may need to be
acquired, and some shipping lanes may need to be reconfigured. We are also unable to predict the effect of any new
rules that might be proposed, but any such proposed rules could increase costs in our industry or decrease
productivity.
Our operations are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations,
implemented principally by the Environmental Protection Agency (quot;EPAquot;) and similar state regulatory agencies,
governing the management of hazardous wastes, other discharge of pollutants into the air and surface and
underground waters, and the disposal of certain substances. We do not believe that compliance with these
regulations has a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, and competitive position.
In addition, the engines used in our newer tractors are subject to emissions control regulations issued by the
EPA. The regulations require progressive reductions in exhaust emissions from diesel engines for 2007 through
2010. Compliance with such regulations has increased the cost of our new tractors and could impair equipment
productivity, lower fuel mileage, and increase our operating expenses. These adverse effects combined with the
uncertainty as to the reliability of the vehicles equipped with the newly designed diesel engines and the residual
values realized from the disposition of these vehicles could increase our costs or otherwise adversely affect our
business or operations. Some manufacturers have significantly increased new equipment prices, in part to meet new
engine design requirements.
Cargo Liability, Insurance, and Legal Proceedings
We are a party to routine litigation incidental to our business, primarily involving claims for bodily injury
or property damage incurred in the transportation of freight. We are responsible for the safe delivery of cargo. We
have increased the self-insured retention portion of our insurance coverage for most claims significantly over the
past several years. Effective July 1, 2008, we renewed our auto liability policy for two years, self-insuring for
8
9. personal injury and property damage claims for amounts up to $1.5 million per occurrence. Management believes
our uninsured exposure is reasonable for the transportation industry, based on previous history.
We are also responsible for administrative expenses, for each occurrence involving personal injury or
property damage. We are also self-insured for the full amount of all our physical damage losses, for workers'
compensation losses up to $1.5 million per claim, and for cargo claims up to $100,000 per shipment, except for a
few transportation contracts in which a higher retention may apply. Subject to these self-insured retention amounts,
our current workers' compensation policy provides coverage up to a maximum per claim amount of $10.0 million,
and our current cargo loss and damage coverage provides coverage up to $1.0 million per shipment. We maintain
separate insurance in Mexico consisting of bodily injury and property damage coverage with acceptable deductibles.
Management believes our uninsured exposure is reasonable for the transportation industry, based on previous
history.
There are various claims, lawsuits, and pending actions against us and our subsidiaries that arise in the
normal course of business. We believe many of these proceedings are covered in whole or in part by insurance and
that none of these matters will have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of
operations in any given period.
Seasonality
We have substantial operations in the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. and Canada. In those geographic
regions, our tractor productivity may be adversely affected during the winter season because inclement weather may
impede our operations. Moreover, some shippers reduce their shipments during holiday periods as a result of
curtailed operations or vacation shutdowns. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with fuel
efficiency declining because of engine idling and harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased
claims, and more equipment repairs.
Internet Website
We maintain an Internet website where additional information concerning our business can be found. The
address of that website is www.celadontrucking.com. All of our reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission (quot;SECquot;) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including our annual report
on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments thereto are made
available free of charge on or through our Internet website as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are
electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this
report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our future results may be affected by a number of factors over which we have little or no control. The
following issues, uncertainties, and risks, among others, should be considered in evaluating our business and growth
outlook.
Our business is subject to general economic and business factors that are largely out of our control, any of
which could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results.
Our business is dependent on a number of factors that may have a materially adverse effect on our results
of operations, many of which are beyond our control. Some of the most significant of these factors include excess
tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry, declines in the resale value of used equipment, strikes or work
stoppages, or work slow downs at our facilities or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related
facilities, increases in interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees, rising costs of healthcare, and
fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
We are also affected by recessionary economic cycles, changes in customers' inventory levels, and
downturns in customers' business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries, such as retail and
manufacturing, where we have a significant concentration of customers, and regions of the country, such as Texas
and the Midwest, where we have a significant amount of business. Economic conditions may adversely affect our
9
10. customers and their ability to pay for our services. Customers encountering adverse economic conditions represent a
greater potential for loss and we may be required to increase our allowance for doubtful accounts. These economic
conditions may adversely affect our ability to execute our strategic plan.
In addition, we cannot predict the effects on the economy or consumer confidence of actual or threatened
armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against a foreign state or group
located in a foreign state, or heightened security requirements. Enhanced security measures could impair our
operating efficiency and productivity and result in higher operating costs.
Ongoing insurance and claims expenses could significantly affect our earnings.
Our future insurance and claims expenses may exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings.
We self-insure for a significant portion of our claims exposure, which could significantly increase the volatility of,
and decrease the amount of, our earnings. We currently accrue amounts for liabilities based on our assessment of
claims that arise and our insurance coverage for the periods in which the claims arise. In general, for casualty claims
for fiscal 2008, we were self-insured for the first $2.5 million of each personal injury and property damage claim
and the first $100,000 of each cargo claim. Effective July 1, 2008, we renewed our auto liability policy for two
years, self-insuring for personal injury and property damage claims for amounts up to $1.5 million per occurrence.
We are also responsible for a pro rata portion of legal expenses relating to personal injury, property damage, and
cargo claims. We maintain a workers' compensation plan and group medical plan for our employees with a
deductible amount of $1.5 million for each workers' compensation claim and stop loss amount of $175,000 for each
group medical claim. Because of our significant self-insured retention amounts, we have significant exposure to
fluctuations in the number and severity of claims.
We maintain insurance above the amounts for which we self-insure with licensed insurance carriers. Our
insurance and claims expense could increase when our current coverage expires or we could raise our self-insured
retention. Although we believe our aggregate insurance limits are sufficient to cover reasonably expected claims, it
is possible that one or more claims could exceed those limits. If insurance carriers raise our premiums, our insurance
and claims expense could increase, or we could find it necessary to again raise our self-insured retention or decrease
our aggregate coverage limits when our policies are renewed or replaced. Our operating results and financial
condition could be materially and adversely affected if these expenses increase, if we experience a claim in excess of
our coverage limits, or if we experience a claim for which we do not have coverage.
Ongoing insurance requirements could constrain our borrowing capacity. At June 30, 2008, our revolving
line of credit had a maximum borrowing limit of $70.0 million, outstanding borrowings of $43.1 million, and
outstanding letters of credit of $4.5 million. Our borrowings may increase if we do acquisitions or finance more of
our equipment under our revolving line of credit. Outstanding letters of credit with certain financial institutions
reduce the available borrowings under our revolving line of credit, which could negatively affect our liquidity
should we need to increase our borrowings in the future. In addition, ongoing insurance requirements could
constrain our borrowing capacity.
We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry and our business may suffer if we are unable to
adequately address downward pricing pressures and other results of competition.
Numerous competitive factors could impair our ability to maintain or improve our current profitability.
These factors include the following:
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 and greater capital resources than we do.
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.
Many customers reduce the number of carriers they use by selecting so-called quot;core carriersquot; as
•
approved service providers, and in some instances we may not be selected.
10
11. Many customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, and this
•
process may depress freight rates or result in the loss of some business to competitors.
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.
Advances in technology require increased investments to remain competitive, and our customers
•
may not be willing to accept higher freight rates to cover the cost of these investments.
Competition from non-asset-based logistics and freight brokerage companies may adversely
•
affect our customer relationships and freight rates.
Economies of scale that may be passed on to smaller carriers by procurement aggregation
•
providers may improve their ability to compete with us.
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 2008, our top 25
customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 29% of our revenue, and our top 10 customers,
approximately 18% of our revenue. We do not expect these percentages to change materially for 2009. Generally,
we do not have long term contractual relationships with our major customers, and we cannot assure you that our
customers will continue to use our services or that they will continue at the same levels. For some of our customers,
we have entered into multi-year contracts and we cannot be assured that the rates will remain advantageous. 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.
Increases in driver compensation or difficulty in attracting and retaining drivers could affect our profitability
and ability to grow.
The trucking industry experiences substantial difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers,
including independent contractors. Because of the shortage of qualified drivers, the availability of alternative jobs,
and intense competition for drivers from other trucking companies, we expect to continue to face difficulty
increasing the number of our drivers, including independent contractor drivers. The compensation we offer our
drivers and independent contractors is subject to market conditions, and we may find it necessary to increase driver
and independent contractor compensation in future periods. In addition, the Company suffers from a high turnover
rate of drivers; although our turnover rate is lower than the industry average. A high turnover rate requires us to
continually recruit a substantial number of drivers in order to operate existing revenue equipment. If we are unable
to continue to attract and retain a sufficient number of drivers and independent contractors, we could be required to
adjust our compensation packages, let trucks sit idle, or operate with fewer trucks and face difficulty meeting
shipper demands, all of which would adversely affect our growth and profitability.
Our revenue growth may not continue at historical rates, which could adversely affect our stock price.
We experienced significant growth in revenue between 2002 and 2008. There can be no assurance that our
revenue growth rate will continue at historical levels or that we can effectively adapt our management,
administrative, and operational systems to respond to any future growth. We can provide no assurance that our
operating margins will not be adversely affected by expansion of our business or by changes in economic
conditions. Slower or less profitable growth could adversely affect our stock price.
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.
Our operations are regulated and licensed by various U.S., Canadian, and Mexican agencies. Our company
drivers and independent contractors also must comply with the safety and fitness regulations of the United States
DOT, including those relating to drug and alcohol testing and hours-of-service. Such matters as weight and
11
12. equipment dimensions are also subject to U.S. and Canadian regulations. We also may become subject to new or
more restrictive regulations relating to fuel emissions, drivers' hours-of-service, ergonomics, or other matters
affecting safety or operating methods. Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and
the 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 FMCSA, imposes safety and fitness regulations on us and our drivers. On July 24,
2007, a federal appeals court vacated portions of the existing rules relating to drivers' hours of service. Two of the
key portions that were vacated include the expansion of the driving day from 10 hours to 11 hours, and the quot;34 hour
restartquot; requirement that drivers must have a break of at least 34 consecutive hours during each week. Following a
request by FMCSA for a 12-month extension of the vacated rules, the court, in an order filed on September 28,
2007, granted a 90-day stay of the mandate and directed that issuance of the its ruling be withheld until December
27, 2007, to allow FMSCA time to prepare its response. On December 17, 2007, FMCSA submitted the Interim
Rule, which became effective December 27, 2007. The Interim Rule retains the 11 hour driving day and the 34-hour
restart, but provides greater statistical support and analysis regarding the increased driving time and the 34-hour
restart. We understand that FMCSA expects to publish a final rule later in 2008. As the Interim Rule appears to be
very similar to the one struck down by the federal appeals court in July of 2007, advocacy groups may challenge the
Interim Rule. On January 23, 2008, the federal appeals court denied an advocacy group's motion to invalidate the
Interim Rule; though additional challenges to the Interim Rule are possible. If further challenges occur, a court's
decision to strike down the Interim Rule could have varying effects, as reducing driving time to 10 hours daily may
reduce productivity in some lanes, while eliminating the 34-hour restart could enhance productivity in certain
instances. On the whole, however, we believe a court's decision to strike down the Interim Rule would decrease
productivity and cause some loss of efficiency, as drivers and shippers may need to be retrained, computer
programming may require modifications, additional drivers may need to be employed or engaged, additional
equipment may need to be acquired, and some shipping lanes may need to be reconfigured. We are also unable to
predict the effect of any new rules that might be proposed, but any such proposed rules could increase costs in our
industry or decrease productivity.
The FMCSA also is studying rules relating to braking distance and on-board data recorders that could result
in new rules being proposed. We are unable to predict the effect of any rules that might be proposed, but we expect
that any such proposed rules would increase costs in our industry, and the on-board recorders potentially could
decrease productivity and the number of people interested in being drivers.
On December 26, 2007 the FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (quot;NPRMquot;) in the Federal
Register regarding minimum requirements for entry level driver training. Under the proposed rule, an applicant for
a commercial driver's license (quot;CDLquot;) would be required to present a valid driver training certificate obtained from
an accredited institution or program. Entry-level drivers applying for a Class A CDL would be required to complete
a minimum of 120 hours of training, consisting of 76 classroom hours and 44 driving hours. The current regulations
do not require a minimum number of training hours and require only classroom education. Drivers who obtain their
first CDL during the three-year period after the FMCSA issues a final rule would be exempt. Comments on the
NPRM were to be received by March 25, 2008, but were extended to May 23, 2008. If the NPRM is approved as
written, this rule could materially impact the number of potential new drivers entering the industry and, accordingly
negatively impact our results of operations.
Federal, state, and municipal authorities have implemented and continue to implement various security
measures, including checkpoints and travel restrictions on large trucks. These regulations also could complicate the
matching of available equipment with hazardous material shipments, thereby increasing our response time on
customer orders and our non-revenue miles. As a result, it is possible we may fail to meet the needs of our customers
or may incur increased expenses to do so. These security measures could negatively impact our operating results.
Some states and municipalities have begun to restrict the locations and amount of time where diesel-
powered tractors, such as ours, may idle, in order to reduce exhaust emissions. These restrictions could force us to
alter our drivers' behavior, purchase on-board power units that do not require the engine to idle, or face a decrease in
productivity.
12
13. We have significant ongoing capital requirements that could affect our profitability if we are unable to
generate sufficient cash from operations and obtain financing on favorable terms.
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 operating leases of revenue equipment, cash
flows from operations, and borrowings under our line of credit. 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.
We currently have lease residual value guarantees of approximately $67.1 million, substantially all of
which are not covered by trade-in or fixed residual agreements with the equipment suppliers. We are exposed to
decreases in the resale value of our used equipment and we have increased exposure to issues on the significant
percentage of our fleet not covered by manufacturer commitments which could have a materially adverse effect on
our results of operations.
Fluctuations in the price or availability of fuel, as well as hedging activities, surcharge collection, and the
volume and terms of diesel fuel purchase commitments may increase our cost of operation, which could
materially and adversely affect our profitability.
Fuel is one of our largest operating expenses. Diesel fuel prices fluctuate greatly due to economic, political,
climatic, and other factors beyond our control. Fuel is also subject to regional pricing differences and often costs
more on the West Coast, where we have significant operations. From time-to-time we have used fuel surcharges,
hedging contracts, and volume purchase arrangements to attempt to limit the effect of price fluctuations. Although
we seek to recover a portion of the short-term increases in fuel prices from customers through fuel surcharges, these
arrangements do not fully offset the increase in the cost of diesel fuel and also may result in us not receiving the full
benefit of any fuel price decreases. We currently do not have any fuel hedging contracts in place. If we do hedge, we
may be forced to make cash payments under the hedging arrangements. Based on current market conditions we have
decided to limit our hedging and purchase commitments, but we continue to evaluate such measures. 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 not make acquisitions in the future, or if we do, we may not be successful in our acquisition strategy.
We have made eleven acquisitions since 1995. Accordingly, acquisitions have provided a substantial
portion of our growth. There is no assurance that we will be successful in identifying, negotiating, or consummating
any future acquisitions. If we fail to make any future acquisitions, our growth rate could be materially and adversely
affected.
Any acquisitions we undertake could involve the dilutive issuance of equity securities and/or incurring
indebtedness. In addition, acquisitions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in assimilating the acquired
company's operations, the diversion of our management's attention from other business concerns, risks of entering
into markets in which we have had no or only limited direct experience, and the potential loss of customers, key
employees, and drivers of the acquired company, all of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business
and operating results. If we make acquisitions in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to
successfully integrate the acquired companies or assets into our business.
If we cannot effectively manage the challenges associated with doing business internationally, our revenues
and profitability may suffer.
Our success is dependent upon the success of our operations in Mexico and Canada, and we are subject to risks of
doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign currencies, changes in the economic strength of the
countries in which we do business, difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations and intellectual property rights,
burdens of complying with a wide variety of international and United States export and import laws, and social,
political, and economic instability. Additional risks associated with our foreign operations, including restrictive
13
14. trade policies and imposition of duties, taxes, or government royalties by foreign governments, are present but
largely mitigated by the terms of NAFTA.
Increased prices, reduced productivity, and restricted availability of new revenue equipment may adversely
affect our earnings and cash flows.
We have experienced higher prices for new tractors over the past few years, partially as a result of
government regulations applicable to newly manufactured tractors and diesel engines, in addition to higher
commodity prices and better pricing power among equipment manufacturers. More restrictive Environmental
Protection Agency, or EPA, emissions standards that went into effect in 2007 and emission standards that will take
effect in 2010 are more stringent than prior standards and will require vendors to introduce new engines. Our
business could be harmed if we are unable to continue to obtain an adequate supply of new tractors and trailers for
these or other reasons. As a result, we expect to continue to pay increased prices for equipment and incur additional
expenses and related financing costs for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the new engines are expected to reduce
equipment efficiency and lower fuel mileage and, therefore, increase our operating expenses.
Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result
in substantial fines or penalties.
In addition to direct regulation by the DOT and other agencies, we are subject to various environmental
laws and regulations dealing with the hauling and handling of hazardous materials, fuel storage tanks, air emissions
from our vehicles and 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. We also maintain underground bulk fuel storage tanks and fueling
islands at two of our facilities. A small percentage of our freight consists of low-grade hazardous substances, which
subjects us to a wide array of regulations. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous
substances, if there are releases of hazardous substances we transport, or if we are found to be in violation of
applicable laws or regulations, we could be subject to liabilities that could have a materially adverse effect on our
business and operating results. If we should fail to comply with applicable environmental regulations, we could be
subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability.
If we are unable to retain our key employees, our business, financial condition, and results of operations
could be adversely affected.
We are highly dependent upon the services of certain key employees, including, but not limited to: Stephen
Russell, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; Chris Hines, our President and Chief Operating
Officer; and Paul Will, our Vice Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer.
Although we have an employment agreement with Mr. Russell and a separation agreement with Mr. Will, the loss of
any of their services or the services of Mr. Hines could negatively impact our operations and future profitability.
Seasonality and the impact of weather affect our operations and profitability.
Our tractor productivity decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations,
and some shippers reduce their shipments after the winter holiday season. Revenue can also be affected by bad
weather and holidays, since revenue is directly related to available working days of shippers. At the same time,
operating expenses increase, with fuel efficiency declining because of engine idling and harsh weather creating
higher accident frequency, increased claims, and more equipment repairs. We could 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. Weather and other seasonal events could adversely affect our operating results.
Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of shares of our common stock under a stock
repurchase program. The number of shares repurchased and the effects of repurchasing the shares may
have an adverse effect on debt, equity, and liquidity of the Company.
On October 24, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program pursuant to
which the Company purchased 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. On December 5, 2007, the
14
15. Company announced that it had purchased all of the shares of the Company's common stock previously authorized
and that the Company's Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program pursuant to which the
Company may purchase up to 2,000,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock through December 3,
2008. As any repurchases would likely be funded from cash flow from operations and/or possible borrowings under
the Company's Credit Agreement, such repurchasing of shares could reduce the amount of cash on hand or increase
debt, and reduce the Company's liquidity.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
We operate a network of 16 terminal locations, including facilities in Laredo and El Paso, Texas, which are
the two largest inland freight gateway cities between the U.S. and Mexico. Our operating terminals currently are
located in the following cities:
United States Mexico Canada
Baltimore, MD (Leased) Guadalajara (Leased) Kitchener, ON (Leased)
Dallas, TX (Owned) Mexico City (Leased)
El Paso, TX (Owned) Monterrey (Leased)
Greensboro, NC (Leased) Nuevo Laredo (Leased)
Hampton, VA (Leased) Puebla (Leased)
Indianapolis, IN (Leased) Silao (Leased)
Laredo, TX (Owned and Leased)
Richmond, VA (Leased)
Nashville, TN (Leased)
Our executive and administrative offices occupy four buildings located on 40 acres of property in
Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis, Laredo, and Kitchener terminals include administrative functions, lounge
facilities for drivers, parking, fuel, maintenance, and truck washing facilities. A portion of the Indianapolis facility is
used for the operations of Truckers B2B. All of our other owned and leased facilities are utilized exclusively by our
transportation segment.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
See discussion under quot;Cargo Liability, Insurance, and Legal Proceedingsquot; in Item 1, and Note 9 to the
consolidated financial statements, quot;Commitments and Contingencies.quot;
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted for a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise,
during the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
15
16. PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Price Range of Common Stock
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol quot;CLDN.quot; The
following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price per share of our common stock as
reported by NASDAQ.
Fiscal 2007 High Low
Quarter ended September 30, 2006 $ 23.73 $ 14.66
Quarter ended December 31, 2006 $ 21.00 $ 16.08
Quarter ended March 31, 2007 $ 18.64 $ 14.92
Quarter ended June 30, 2007 $ 17.00 $ 15.38
Fiscal 2008
Quarter ended September 30, 2007 $ 18.22 $ 11.77
Quarter ended December 31, 2007 $ 11.45 $ 6.50
Quarter ended March 31, 2008 $ 11.61 $ 7.13
Quarter ended June 30, 2008 $ 11.68 $ 9.15
On July 22, 2008, there were 208 holders of our common stock based upon the number of record holders on
that date. However, we estimate our actual number of stockholders is much higher because a substantial number of
our shares are held of record by brokers or dealers for their customers in street names.
Dividend Policy
We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock, and we do not expect to make or declare any
cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to continue to retain earnings to finance the growth of
our business and reduce our indebtedness. Our ability to pay cash dividends is currently prohibited by restrictions
contained in our revolving credit facility. Future payments of cash dividends will depend on our financial condition,
results of operations, capital commitments, restrictions under our then-existing debt agreements, and other factors
our Board of Directors may consider relevant.
We recorded two stock dividends in fiscal 2006, reflected as three-for-two stock splits, each effected in the
form of a 50% stock dividend paid on February 15, 2006 and June 15, 2006.
Stock Repurchase Programs
On October 24, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program pursuant to
which the Company purchased 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. On December 5, 2007, the
Company announced that it had purchased all of the shares of the Company's common stock previously authorized
and that the Company's Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program pursuant to which the
Company may purchase up to 2,000,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock through
December 3, 2008. Shares may be purchased in open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise at such
times and from time to time, and at such prices and in such amounts as the Company believes appropriate and in the
best interests of its stockholders. The timing and volume of repurchases will vary depending on market conditions
and other factors. Purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without notice.
16
17. Below is a summary of the Company's purchases of its common stock during the fiscal year ended June 30,
2008:
(d) Maximum
(c) Total Number Number of Shares
of Shares that May Yet Be
(a) Total Purchased as Part Purchased Under
Number of (b) Average of Publicly the Plans or
Shares Price Paid Announced Plans Programs
Period Purchased Per Share or Programs (at End of Period)
Total first quarter fiscal 2008 0 N/A 0 0
Second quarter fiscal 2008 repurchases:
100,000(1) 1,900,000(1)
October 100,000 $8.22
1,900,000(1) 0(1)
November 1,900,000 $6.86
0(1)(2) 2,000,000(1)(2)
December 0 0
2,000,000(2) 2,000,000(2)
Total second quarter fiscal 2008 2,000,000 $6.92
0(2) 2,000,000(2)
Total third quarter fiscal 2008 0 N/A
0(2) 2,000,000(2)
Total fourth quarter fiscal 2008 0 N/A
2,000,000(2) 2,000,000(2)
Total fiscal 2008 2,000,000 $6.92
(1)
A stock repurchase program was authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and announced to the public
on October 24, 2007. Pursuant to this program, the Company was authorized to purchase up to 2,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock in open market or negotiated transactions through October 31, 2008.
All 2,000,000 shares were repurchased prior to December 5, 2007.
(2)
A second stock repurchase program was authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and announced to
the public on December 5, 2007. Pursuant to this program, the Company was authorized to purchase up to an
additional 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock in open market or negotiated transactions
through December 3, 2008. No shares have been repurchased by the Company pursuant to this second stock
repurchase program, but the program has not been terminated.
17
18. Stock Performance Graph
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Celadon Group, Inc., The NASDAQ Composite Index
And The NASDAQ Transportation Index
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
$0
6/03 6/04 6/05 6/06 6/07 6/08
Celadon Group, Inc. NASDAQ Composite NASDAQ Transportation
*$100 invested on 6/30/03 in stock & index-including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending June 30.
Company/Index/Peer Group 6/30/03 6/30/04 6/30/05 6/30/06 6/30/07 6/30/08
Celadon Group, Inc. $100.00 $194.28 $186.55 $547.41 $394.91 $248.12
NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S.) $100.00 $129.09 $127.97 $136.00 $164.15 $142.67
NASDAQ Trucking & Transportation $100.00 $127.08 $147.72 $201.41 $217.11 $184.39
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The statements of operations data and balance sheet data presented below have been derived from our
consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto. The information set forth below should be read in
conjunction with quot;Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operationsquot; and
our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto.
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
(in thousands, except per share data and operating data)
Statements of Operations Data:
Freight revenue(1) $ 457,482 $ 433,012 $ 414,465 $ 399,656 $ 382,918
Fuel surcharge revenue 108,413 69,680 65,729 37,107 15,005
Total revenue 565,895 502,692 480,194 436,763 397,923
Operating expense(2) 547,097 462,592 445,966 413,355 390,852
Operating income(2) 18,798 40,100 34,228 23,408 7,071
18
19. Interest expense, net 4,922 3,511 780 1,418 3,723
Other expense (income) 193 109 34 13 180
Income before income taxes 13,683 36,480 33,414 21,977 3,168
Provision for income taxes 7,147 14,228 12,866 9,397 3,443
Net income (loss)(2) $ 6,536 $ 22,252 $ 20,548 $ 12,580 $ (275)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share(2)(3) $ 0.29 $ 0.94 $ 0.88 $ 0.55 $ (0.02)
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding(3) 22,617 23,698 23,386 23,013 17,969
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):
Net property and equipment $ 206,199 $ 207,499 $ 91,267 $ 57,545 $ 61,801
Total assets 329,335 306,913 190,066 160,508 151,310
Long-term debt, revolving lines of credit, and
capital lease obligations, including current
maturities 102,506 94,642 12,023 7,344 14,494
Stockholders' equity 143,852 147,320 121,427 98,491 82,830
Operating Data:
For period(4):
Average revenue per loaded mile(5) $ 1.503 $ 1.534 $ 1.491 $ 1.424 $ 1.322
Average revenue per total mile(5) $ 1.348 $ 1.380 $ 1.367 $ 1.316 $ 1.225
Average revenue per tractor per week(5) $ 2,717 $ 2,790 $ 2,948 $ 2,841 $ 2,723
Average length of haul 935 960 1,004 995 994
At end of period:
Total tractors(6) 2,929 3,016 2,732 2,570 2,531
Average age of company tractors (in years) 1.8 1.6 2.0 1.9 2.1
Total trailers(6) 9,052 7,843 7,630 7,468 6,966
Average age of company trailers (in years) 4.1 3.8 3.5 3.6 4.6
__________________________
(1)
Freight revenue is total revenue less fuel surcharges.
(2)
Includes a $9.8 million pretax impairment charge relating to the disposition of our approximately 1,600 remaining 48-
foot trailers, in the year ended June 30, 2004.
(3)
Earnings per share amounts and weighted average number of shares outstanding have been adjusted to give
retroactive effect to two three-for-two stock splits effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend paid on February 15,
2006 and June 15, 2006.
(4)
Unless otherwise indicated, operating data and statistics presented in this table and elsewhere in this report are for our
truckload revenue and operations and exclude revenue and operations of TruckersB2B; our Mexican subsidiary,
Servicio de Transportation Jaguar, S.A. de C.V. (quot;Jaguarquot;); and our less-than truckload, local trucking (or quot;shuttlequot;),
brokerage, and logistics.
(5)
Excludes fuel surcharges.
(6)
Total fleet, including equipment operated by our Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Recent Results and Fiscal Year-End Financial Condition
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, total revenue increased 12.6%, to $565.9 million from
$502.7 million during fiscal 2007. Freight revenue, which excludes revenue from fuel surcharges, increased 5.7%, to
$457.5 million in fiscal 2008 from $433.0 million in 2007. We generated net income of $6.5 million, or $0.29 per
diluted share, for fiscal 2008 compared with net income of $22.3 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for 2007.
We believe that a weakened freight market and increased industry-wide trucking capacity in fiscal 2008
compared to fiscal 2007, as well as a sharp increase in fuel prices, were the major factors that contributed to our
decrease in net income. Decreased freight demand due to a slower economy caused a decrease in truck utilization
measured by miles per tractor. In addition, shippers used the less robust freight market to resist rate increases and,
in some cases, attempted to reduce freight rates. The downward pressure on our rates was somewhat offset by a
decrease in average length of haul. As a result, average freight revenue per loaded mile excluding fuel surcharge
for 2008 decreased $0.031 per mile to $1.503, a 2.0% decrease compared with $1.534 per mile for 2007. Average
freight revenue per tractor per week, our main measure of asset productivity, decreased by 2.6% to $2,717 in 2008
compared with $2,790 for 2007. This decrease was due to lower general freight demand and an increase in non-
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20. revenue miles, offset by a decrease in fleet size to 2,929 tractors at June 30, 2008 from 3,016 tractors at June 30,
2007. As the freight market weakened and we ran more empty miles to get to our next load and position equipment
for sale, our non-revenue miles increased. Our operating ratio, excluding the effect of fuel surcharge, increased to
95.9% for 2008 compared with 90.7% for 2007.
At June 30, 2008, our total balance sheet debt was $102.5 million and our total stockholders' equity was
$143.9 million, for a total debt to capitalization ratio of 41.6%. At June 30, 2008, we had $22.4 million of available
borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility and $2.3 million of cash on hand.
Revenue
We generate substantially all of our revenue by transporting freight for our customers. Generally, we are
paid by the mile or by the load for our services. We also derive revenue from fuel surcharges, loading and unloading
activities, equipment detention, other trucking related services, and from TruckersB2B. The main factors that affect
our revenue are the revenue per mile we receive from our customers, the percentage of miles for which we are
compensated, the number of tractors operating, and the number of miles we generate with our equipment. These
factors relate to, among other things, the U.S. economy, inventory levels, the level of truck capacity in our markets,
specific customer demand, the percentage of team-driven tractors in our fleet, driver availability, and our average
length of haul.
We eliminate fuel surcharges from revenue, when calculating operating ratios and some of our operating
data. We believe that eliminating the impact of this sometimes volatile source of revenue affords a more consistent
basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period.
Expenses and Profitability
The main factors that impact our profitability on the expense side are the variable costs of transporting
freight for our customers. These costs include fuel expense, driver-related expenses, such as wages, benefits,
training, and recruitment, and independent contractor costs, which we record as purchased transportation. Expenses
that have both fixed and variable components include maintenance and tire expense and our total 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 cost is the acquisition and financing of long-term
assets, primarily revenue equipment. We have other mostly fixed costs, such as our non-driver personnel and
facilities expenses. In discussing our expenses as a percentage of revenue, we sometimes discuss changes as a
percentage of revenue before fuel surcharges, in addition to absolute dollar changes, because we believe the high
variable cost nature of our business makes a comparison of changes in expenses as a percentage of revenue more
meaningful at times than absolute dollar changes.
The trucking industry has experienced significant increases in expenses over the past three years, in
particular those relating to equipment costs, driver compensation, insurance, and fuel. As the United States economy
has slowed down, many trucking companies have been forced to lower freight rates to keep their trucks moving.
Over the long term, we expect a limited pool of qualified drivers and intense competition to recruit and retain those
drivers to constrain overall industry capacity. Assuming a return to economic growth in U.S. manufacturing, retail,
and other high volume shipping industries, we expect to be able to raise freight rates in line with or faster than costs.
Over the near term this may prove challenging in the current freight environment.
Revenue Equipment
We operate 2,929 tractors and 9,052 trailers. Of our tractors at June 30, 2008, 1,687 were owned, 1,026
were acquired under operating leases, and 216 were provided by independent contractors, who own and drive their
own tractors. Of our trailers at June 30, 2008, 2,321 were owned and 6,731 were acquired under operating and
capital leases.
Prior to fiscal 2006, we had financed most of our new tractors under operating leases. Beginning in fiscal
2006 and continuing through fiscal 2008, we have purchased most of our new tractors with cash or borrowings. We
expect to continue to use cash and borrowings on our credit facility for most tractor purchases. Most of our new
trailers are acquired with operating leases. These leases generally run for a period of seven years for trailers. When
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21. we finance revenue equipment acquisitions with operating leases, rather than borrowings or capital leases, the
interest component of our financing activities is recorded as an quot;above-the-linequot; operating expense on our statements
of operations. Accordingly, the trend toward financing more equipment with cash and borrowings, and less through
operating leases, improves our operating ratio.
Independent contractors (owner operators) provide a tractor and a driver and are responsible for all
operating expenses in exchange for a fixed payment per mile. We do not have the capital outlay of purchasing the
tractors. The payments to independent contractors are recorded in purchased transportation and the payments for
equipment under operating leases are recorded in revenue equipment rentals. Expenses associated with owned
equipment, such as interest and depreciation, are not incurred, and for independent contractor tractors, driver
compensation, fuel, and other expenses are not incurred. Because obtaining equipment from independent contractors
and through operating leases effectively shifts these expenses from interest to quot;above the linequot; operating expenses,
we evaluate our efficiency using our operating ratio as well as income before income taxes.
Outlook
Looking forward, our profitability goal is to achieve an operating ratio of approximately 90%. We expect
this to require additional improvements in rate per mile, non-revenue miles percentage, and miles per tractor
compared with those key performance indicators for fiscal 2008, to overcome expected additional cost increases.
Because a large percentage of our costs are variable, changes in revenue per mile and non-revenue miles percentage
affect our profitability to a greater extent than changes in miles per tractor. For fiscal 2009, the key factors that we
expect to have the greatest effect on our profitability are our freight revenue per tractor per week, our compensation
of drivers, our cost of revenue equipment (particularly in light of the 2007 and 2010 EPA engine requirements), our
fuel costs, and our insurance and claims. To overcome cost increases and improve our margins, we will need to
achieve increases in freight revenue per tractor, particularly in revenue per mile, which we intend to achieve by
increasing rates and continuing to shift to more profitable freight. Operationally, we will seek improvements in
safety and driver recruiting and retention. Our success in these areas primarily will affect revenue, driver-related
expenses, and insurance and claims expense. Given the difficult freight market confronting our industry, we believe
achieving our profitability goal during fiscal 2009 is unlikely, although we intend to continue to strive toward that
goal.
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth the percentage relationship of revenue and expense items to operating and
freight revenue for the periods indicated.
Fiscal year ended June 30,
2008 2007 2006
Operating revenue 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits 28.2 28.8 30.1
Fuel 28.8 23.1 22.8
Operations and maintenance 6.6 6.4 6.1
Insurance and claims 2.7 2.6 2.9
Depreciation and amortization 5.9 4.4 2.6
Revenue equipment rentals 4.5 6.3 8.2
Purchased transportation 14.5 14.7 14.6
Cost of products and services sold 1.1 1.4 1.1
Communication and utilities 0.9 1.0 0.9
Operating taxes and licenses 1.6 1.7 1.7
General and other operating 1.9 1.6 1.9
Total operating expenses 96.7 92.0 92.9
Operating income 3.3 8.0 7.1
Other expense:
Interest expense, net 0.9 0.7 0.1
Income before income taxes 2.4 7.3 7.0
Provision for income taxes 1.2 2.9 2.7
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22. Net income 1.2% 4.4% 4.3%
Freight revenue(1) 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits 34.9 33.5 34.9
Fuel 12.0 10.8 10.5
Operations and maintenance 8.1 7.5 7.1
Insurance and claims 3.4 3.0 3.3
Depreciation and amortization 7.3 5.1 3.0
Revenue equipment rentals 5.6 7.4 9.6
Purchased transportation 18.0 17.0 17.0
Cost of products and services sold 1.4 1.6 1.3
Communication and utilities 1.1 1.1 1.0
Operating taxes and licenses 2.0 2.0 2.0
General and other operating 2.1 1.7 2.0
Total operating expenses 95.9 90.7 91.7
Operating income 4.1 9.3 8.3
Other expense:
Interest expense, net 1.1 0.9 0.2
Income before income taxes 3.0 8.4 8.1
Provision for income taxes 1.6 3.3 3.1
Net income 1.4% 5.1% 5.0%
(1)
Freight revenue is total operating revenue less fuel surcharges. In this table, fuel surcharges are eliminated from revenue and
subtracted from fuel expense. The amounts were $108.4 million, $69.7 million, and $65.7 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, compared with fiscal year ended June 30, 2007
Total revenue increased by $63.2 million, or 12.6%, to $565.9 million for fiscal 2008, from $502.7 million
for fiscal 2007. Freight revenue excludes $108.4 million and $69.7 million of fuel surcharge revenue for fiscal 2008
and 2007, respectively.
Freight revenue increased by $24.5 million, or 5.7%, to $457.5 million for fiscal 2008, from $433.0 million
for fiscal 2007. This increase resulted from the continuation of our efforts to eliminate the least favorable freight
from our system and the growth of customer relationships from our prior year acquisitions, which more than offset
softer freight demand generally. The increase was attributable to an increase in billed miles to 253.3 million in
fiscal 2008, compared to 237.8 million in fiscal 2007, partially offset by a 2.3% decrease in average freight revenue
per total mile, excluding fuel surcharge, to $1.348 from $1.380. The reduction in average freight revenue per total
mile resulted primarily from an increase in non-revenue miles. Average freight revenue per tractor per week,
excluding fuel surcharge, which is our primary measure of asset productivity, decreased 2.6% to $2,717 in fiscal
2008, from $2,790 for fiscal 2007, as a result of lower general freight demand and an increase in non-revenue miles.
The decrease in miles per tractor and an increase in non-revenue mile percentage were attributable to less freight
demand.
Revenue for TruckersB2B was $9.3 million in fiscal 2008, compared to $10.0 million in fiscal 2007. The
decrease was related to a decrease in tractor and trailer rebate revenue, partially due to the discontinuance of the
trailer incentive program, and decreases in the fuel rebates due to small and mid size carriers being adversely
affected by weak freight demand.
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits were $159.9 million, or 34.9% of freight revenue, for fiscal 2008,
compared to $144.8 million, or 33.5% of freight revenue, for fiscal 2007. These increases were primarily due to
increased driver payroll, resulting from a 10.2% increase in company miles.
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