Heartland Express Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2024

OF OPERATIONS

This Item 2 contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by such sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including without limitation: any projections of earnings (losses), revenues, or other financial items; any statement of plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and any statements of belief and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as “seeks,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” "ensure," “projects,” “believes,” “hopes,” “plans,” “goals,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “predict,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available operating, financial, and competitive information. In this Form 10-Q, statements relating to general trucking industry trends, including future freight demand and capacity, freight rates, operating ratio goals, anticipated revenue equipment sales and purchases, including revenue equipment gains, the used equipment market, and the availability of revenue equipment, future customer relationships, future growth and acquisitions, including the anticipated impact of our acquisitions of Smith Transport and CFI, our ability to attract and retain drivers, future driver compensation, including possible driver compensation increases, future insurance and claims expense, including the impact of our insurance renewal, the impact of changes in interest rates and tire prices, future liquidity, expected fuel costs, including strategies for managing fuel costs, the potential impact of pending litigation, our dividend policy, future capital spending, future depreciation expense, our future repurchases of our shares, future cost reduction and implementation of freight optimization strategies, including at Millis Transfer, CFI, and Smith Transport, our ability to react to and capitalize on changing market conditions, and the expected impact of operational improvements and strategic changes, among others, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2024. Readers should review and consider such factors, along with various disclosures in our press releases, stockholder reports, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 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 the events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

References in this Quarterly Report to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Heartland,” or the “Company” or similar terms refer to Heartland Express, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Overview

Prior to our acquisitions in 2022 we, together with our subsidiaries, historically were a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier where approximately 99.9% of our operating revenue was derived from shipments within the United States with the remainder being Canada and no operations in Mexico. With the acquisition of CFI on August 31, 2022, we significantly expanded our scale and our transportation services. We continue to provide nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for major shippers from across the U.S. and now including cross border freight to and from Mexico and our consolidated average length of haul is approximately 400 loaded miles. We continue to focus on providing high quality service to targeted customers with a high density of freight in our regional operating areas. We also offer truckload temperature-controlled transportation services and Mexico logistics services, which are not significant to our consolidated operations. Through the acquisition of CFI, we now provide transportation logistics services across Mexico for our customers and provide cross-border freight services for customer loads moving from the United States into Mexico and loads originating from Mexico into the United States. We utilize third party service providers for all miles run in Mexico and to move freight across the US-Mexico border while leveraging terminal locations in the US and Mexico near the border to facilitate these moves. We generally earn revenue based on the number of miles per load delivered and the revenue per mile or per load paid. We operate our consolidated operations under the brand names of Heartland Express, Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI. We manage our business based on overall corporate operating goals and objectives that are the same for all of our brands. Our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), our CEO, evaluates the operational efficiencies of our transportation services, operating performance and asset allocation on a combined basis based on consolidated operating goals and objectives. We believe the keys to success are maintaining high levels of customer service and safety, which are predicated on the availability of experienced drivers and late-model equipment. We believe that our service standards, safety record, and equipment accessibility have made us a core carrier to many of our major customers, as well as allowed us to build solid, long-term relationships with customers and brand ourselves as an industry leader for on-time service.

We operate in a cyclical industry. Freight demand began to soften in the back half of 2022 and continued to degrade throughout all of 2023. Truck capacity has continued to exceed freight demand to date in 2024. While in October 2024 we began to see encouraging signs pointing to the early stages of potential recovery in freight demand, we do not expect impactful improvement until we are into 2025. We expect the strategic changes that we have implemented during 2023 and into 2024 will improve our operational readiness ahead of future expected freight demand growth, which could happen in 2025. However, supply chain issues for tractors, trailers and related parts, general consumer product output and inventory volatility, consumer demand, the political landscape, foreign wars, and disruption in oil and diesel markets all could create additional volatility regarding freight demand.

We continue to focus on providing quality service to targeted customers with a high density of freight in our regional operating areas. Organic growth has become increasingly difficult for traditional over-the-road truckload carriers given a shortage of qualified drivers in the industry and availability of revenue equipment assets. In 2022 we completed two strategic acquisitions to combat these industry challenges. In addition, we continue to evaluate and explore different driving options and offerings for our existing and potential new drivers across our unique mix of driver offerings at Heartland Express, Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI.

In addition to past organic growth through the development of our regional operating areas, we have completed ten acquisitions since 1986 with the most recent and our fifth acquisition since 2013, CFI, occurring on August 31, 2022 following the acquisition of Smith Transport on May 31, 2022. These ten acquisitions have enabled us to solidify our position within existing regions, expand into new operating regions, expand service offerings to address longer length of haul needs from customers, pursue new customer relationships in new markets, as well as expand business relationships with current customers in new markets. We are highly selective about acquisitions, with our main criteria being (i) safe operations, (ii) high quality professional truck drivers, (iii) fleet profile that is compatible with our philosophy or can be replaced economically, and (iv) freight profile that will allow a path to a low-80s operating ratio upon full integration, application of our cost structure, and freight optimization, including exiting certain business that fails to meet our operating profile. We have historically been a debt free organization, although with the acquisition of CFI we now have a significant amount of debt. We have also significantly lowered our debt balance from 2022 to date in 2024. We expect to continue to evaluate acquisition candidates presented to us, however, we do not expect to make any significant acquisitions while we are paying down debt. We believe future growth depends upon several factors including the level of economic growth and the related customer demand, the available capacity in the trucking industry, our ability to identify and consummate future acquisitions, our ability to integrate operations of acquired companies to realize efficiencies, and our ability to attract and retain experienced drivers that meet our hiring standards.

The trucking industry has been faced with a qualified driver shortage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased freight demand intensified an already challenging qualified driver market. Competition for qualified drivers continued to be challenging into 2024 and is expected to be a challenge going forward due to the decreasing numbers of qualified drivers in our industry. However, driver availability challenges were reduced in 2023 and into 2024, as a result of the declining freight and economic environments and we believe certain drivers have moved from smaller less financially stable carriers to more financially stable carriers and from independent contractors to company drivers. Although there has been some increased movement of drivers between companies in our industry, the issue of a decreasing amount of qualified CDL drivers in our industry continues. We continually explore new strategies to attract and retain qualified drivers with changes in market conditions and demands. We hire the majority of our drivers with at least six months of over-the-road experience and safe driving records. As discussed below, the Company's driver training program provides an additional source of future potential professional drivers. In order to attract and retain experienced drivers who understand the importance of customer service, we have sought to solidify our position as an industry leader in driver compensation in our operating markets and for the services we provide. We have continued to get more creative in providing better pay, benefits, equipment, and facilities for our drivers. Our comprehensive driver compensation and benefits program rewards drivers for years of service and safe operating mileage benchmarks, which are critical to our operational and financial performance. Certain driver pay packages include minimum pay protection provisions, future pay increases based on years of continued service with us, increased rates for accident-free miles of operation, detention pay, and other pay programs to assist drivers with unproductive time associated with circumstances outside of their control, such as inclement weather, equipment breakdowns, and customer issues. As a result of the freight environment during the second half of 2023 and to date in 2024, we have paid more through these programs, resulting in an increase of driver pay per mile and as a percentage of revenue. This has allowed us to maintain driver turnover rates lower than the industry average as a result. We believe that our driver compensation and benefits package is consistently among the best in the industry. We are committed to investing in our drivers and compensating them for safety as both are key to our operational and financial performance. Currently over 10% of our driver employees, individually, have achieved 1.0 million safe miles.

In response to the overall driver shortage in our industry, the Company continues to evaluate and pursue the expansion of driver training schools. Millis Transfer has operated a driver training school program, Millis Training Institute, since 1989. Millis Training Institute is a driver training program dedicated to identifying, training, and developing capable individuals into obtaining their commercial driving license and becoming professional truck drivers. This driver training program currently provides a source of qualified professional drivers for our Company. The driver training program offers an additional opportunity to hire professional drivers other than the traditional approach of hiring only experienced over-the-road drivers. During 2022, we rolled out the first Heartland Training Institute location in Phoenix, Arizona, modeled after the successful program in place at Millis Transfer. We will continue to evaluate this training program for future expansion.

Managing fuel cost continues to be one of management's top priorities given the volatility in the price of diesel fuel. The Department of Energy ("DOE") average diesel fuel prices per gallon for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $3.69 and $4.24 (a 13.0% decrease), respectively. Average DOE prices were $4.26, $3.96 and $3.86 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, and June 30, 2024 respectively. While the third quarter 2024 average DOE price was the lowest it has been since 2021, we cannot predict that it will remain lower for the remainder of 2024. There are many factors that could impact diesel fuel prices including political, economic and geographic events, cyber attacks, global conflicts, weather events, and other natural disasters. We cannot predict what fuel prices will be for the remainder of 2024, but year-to-date fuel expense is the second highest expense behind salaries, wages, and benefits.

We are not able to pass through all fuel price increases through fuel surcharge agreements with customers due to tractor idling time, along with empty and out-of-route miles. Therefore, our operating income is negatively impacted with increased net fuel costs (fuel expense less fuel surcharge revenue) in a rising fuel environment and is positively impacted in a declining fuel environment. Specifically, to date during 2024 fuel prices have been lower at the same time we were incurring higher empty mile moves with our drivers as a result of slower freight demand. During the same period of 2023, fuel prices were declining and empty mile moves were not as high compared to 2024. Therefore, our net fuel cost per mile (gross fuel expense net of fuel surcharge revenues) was significantly higher in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 even though the gross price was higher in 2023 as compared to 2024. We expect to continue to manage and implement fuel initiative strategies that we believe will effectively manage fuel costs. These initiatives include strategic fueling of our trucks, whether it be terminal fuel or over-the-road fuel, bulk fuel purchases, controlling out-of-route miles, controlling empty miles, utilizing idle management programming and battery power and diesel power units to minimize idling, educating drivers to save energy, trailer skirting and rear fairings, and increasing fuel economy through the purchase of newer, more fuel-efficient tractors. At September 30, 2024, the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 2.7 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 7.2 years compared to September 30, 2023 when the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 1.9 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 6.2 years.

We ended the first nine months of 2024 with operating revenues of $804.9 million, including fuel surcharges, net loss of $27.9 million, and basic net loss per share of $0.35 on basic weighted average outstanding shares of 78.8 million compared to operating revenues of $932.1 million, including fuel surcharges, net income of $9.7 million, and basic net income per share of $0.12 on basic weighted average shares of 79.0 million in the first nine months of 2023. We posted a 102.6% operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 96.6% for the same period of 2023. We posted a 102.5% non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 95.5% for the same period of 2023. We had total assets of $1.4 billion at September 30, 2024. We had a loss on assets of (1.6)% and a loss on equity of (2.7)% over the immediate past four quarters ended September 30, 2024, compared to return on assets of 1.6% and return on equity of 2.9% for the immediate past four quarters ended September 30, 2023.

Our cash flow from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $106.6 million was 13.2% of operating revenues, compared to $124.5 million and 13.4% of operating revenues in the same period of 2023. During 2024, we had net cash provided by investing activities of $1.5 million resulting from net property and equipment transactions. Net cash provided by property and equipment was primarily the result of timing and an overall low volume of normal tractor and trailer fleet replacement activity. We had net cash used in financing activities of $104.8 million resulting primarily from debt repayments associated with debt taken on with our 2022 acquisitions along with repurchases of common stock and dividend payments. Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased $3.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We ended the third quarter of 2024 with cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $44.4 million. Cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash was $30.7 million at September 30, 2024.

(1)

Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating ratio reconciliation (a)

(Unaudited, in thousands)

(Unaudited, in thousands)

(a) Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue is based upon operating revenue minus fuel surcharge revenue. Adjusted operating income is based upon operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, less operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge revenue, and non-cash amortization expense related to intangible assets. Adjusted operating ratio is based upon operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge revenue, and amortization of intangibles, as a percentage of operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue. We believe that operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating ratio are more representative of our underlying operations by excluding the volatility of fuel prices, which we cannot control. Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating ratio are not substitutes for operating revenue, operating income, or operating ratio measured in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating ratio improve comparability in analyzing our period-to-period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define such measures differently. Because of these limitations, operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating ratio should not be considered measures of income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the percentage relationships of expense items to total operating revenue for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared With the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

Our quarterly operating ratio was 102.7% and 102.6% non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio as compared to the prior year 102.5% and 102.4%. See the “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule” above for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio. Our net loss was $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to net loss of $10.7 million during the period ended September 30, 2023. The operating ratio and net losses are the result of a combination of an extended and significant period of weak freight demand, driven by excess capacity in the industry, and ongoing operating cost inflation. Further, we have implemented strategic changes which targeted unprofitable customers and lanes of freight that were not acceptable for the long term profitability of our organization. These decisions, while difficult, were made to set a course to ensure that we are prepared to capitalize on stronger freight demand with more efficient operations in the future. Consistent with past acquisitions, we continue to implement cost reduction and freight optimization strategies at Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI, focused on improving the consolidated operating ratio.

Operating revenue decreased $35.2 million (11.9%), to $259.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $295.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in revenue was the result of a weak freight environment leading to a decline in total miles resulting in the decrease in trucking and other revenues of $25.1 million (9.9%) along with a decrease to fuel surcharge revenue of $10.1 million (23.5%) from $42.9 million in 2023 to $32.8 million in 2024. Operating revenues (the total of trucking and fuel surcharge revenue) are primarily earned based on loaded miles driven in providing truckload services. The number of loaded miles is affected by general freight supply and demand trends and the number of revenue earning equipment vehicles (tractors). The number of tractors is directly affected by the number of available drivers providing capacity to us. Due to continued over capacity in the market compared to freight demand, our truck assets continue to be under utilized. Our operating revenues are reviewed regularly by our CODM on a combined basis across the U.S. due to the similar nature of our services offerings and related similar base pricing structure.

Fuel surcharge revenues represent fuel costs passed on to customers based on customer specific fuel surcharge recovery rates and billed loaded miles. Fuel surcharge revenues decreased due to lower average DOE diesel fuel prices (13.0%), as reported by the DOE, along with a decrease in loaded miles during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to September 30, 2023.

Salaries, wages, and benefits decreased $11.5 million (9.7%), to $107.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $118.9 million in the 2023 period. Salaries, wages, and benefits decreased primarily due to the reduction of driver payroll as a result of lower company miles, along with a reduction of office and shop employees. Offsetting this decrease was an increase in driver pay for non-productive time associated with layovers and other factors associated with a slower freight environment. As a result, salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of gross revenues is higher in 2024 compared to 2023. We have continued to get more creative in providing better pay, driving opportunities, benefits, equipment, and facilities for our drivers. We expect the qualified driver shortage within the trucking industry to continue to be a challenge in the foreseeable future. However, driver availability improved in 2023 and to date in 2024, as a result of the changing freight and economic environments and we believe certain drivers have moved from smaller less financially stable carriers to more financially stable carriers.

Rent and purchased transportation decreased $8.4 million, to $18.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $26.7 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from reduced purchased transportation and lower contractor miles associated with the CFI business integration, along with a reduction of leased equipment.

Fuel decreased $12.0 million (21.5%), to $43.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $55.8 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower average diesel price per gallon (13.0%) as reported by the DOE along with less miles driven. We expect to see fuel price volatility through the remainder of 2024.

Operations and maintenance expense increased $2.7 million (16.5%), to $19.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $16.6 million in the same period of 2023. The net increase is mainly attributable to higher equipment maintenance costs. At September 30, 2024, the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 2.7 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 7.2 years compared to September 30, 2023 when the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 1.9 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 6.2 years. Based upon current agreements for new revenue equipment we anticipate that the average age of our fleet of tractors will decrease while the average age of our fleet of trailers will increase by December 31, 2024. We do not believe these changes in fleet age will significantly impact operations and maintenance expense.

Operating taxes and licenses decreased $0.4 million (7.2%), to $5.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $5.4 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from a reduction of operating units as a result of the soft freight environment.

Insurance and claims expense was $11.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to $9.3 million in 2023. The increase is due to unfavorable claim severity and frequency. In April 2023, we renewed our primary auto liability insurance with a three year program. Under the April 2023 renewal, our auto liability retention limit across all operating entities was increased to $3.0 million for any individual claim, subject to a $3.5 million corridor for any one accident or combination of accidents that exceed $3.0 million, based on the insured party, accident date, and circumstances of the loss event. In April 2024, an additional corridor was added, where we retain liability of $5.0 million for any one accident or combination of accidents that exceed $10.0 million. Liabilities in excess of the $3.0 million deductible, the $3.5 million corridor, and the $5.0 million corridor are covered by insurance up to $80.0 million. We retain any liability in excess of $80.0 million. Furthermore, under the April 2023 renewal, our premiums are subject to upward or downward adjustments based on claims experience in the $3.0 million to $10.0 million policy during the three year program. The elevated retention limit and the premium adjustment feature could lead to increased volatility in our insurance and claims expense, depending on the frequency and magnitude of claims. We believe these insurance program features better meet the needs of our consolidated risk profile.

Depreciation and amortization decreased $6.1 million (12.0%), to $45.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $51.1 million in the same period of 2023 as a result of ongoing fleet replacement strategies. We expect depreciation expense in 2024 to be approximately $180 million to $185 million.

Other operating expenses decreased $2.7 million, to $14.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $17.2 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from a reduction of costs associated directly with freight, and a decrease in freight demand, as well as general corporate expense initiatives.

Gains on the disposal of property and equipment decreased $0.6 million, to a gain on disposal of $0.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to an $1.1 million gain on disposal in the same period of 2023. The decrease is primarily due to a significant decrease of equipment sales volume. During the calendar year of 2024, we currently expect $5 to $10 million of gains on disposal of property and equipment as we expect increased revenue equipment trade activity during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Interest expense decreased $1.9 million, to $4.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $6.1 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly due to debt repayments and a corresponding decrease to average outstanding debt balances. The interest expense is made up of $3.9 million from the Credit Facilities coinciding with the acquisition of CFI while the remaining $0.3 million is the result of debt and financing leases assumed through the Smith Transport acquisition. We expect further reductions to interest expense as we continue to pay down the debt. Based upon planned capital needs for revenue equipment during the fourth quarter of 2024, debt payments in the fourth quarter are not expected to be significant.

Our effective tax rate was 16.5% and 19.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate is the result of an increase in unfavorable permanent differences offsetting the tax benefit generated on the net loss for the respective quarters.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared With the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

Our operating ratio was 102.6% and 102.5% non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio as compared to the prior year 96.6% and 95.5%. See the “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule” above for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio. Our net loss was $27.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to net income of $9.7 million during the period ended September 30, 2023. The operating ratio and net loss are the result of a combination of an extended and significant period of weak freight demand, driven by excess capacity in the industry, unfavorable weather early in the year, and ongoing operating cost inflation. Further, we have implemented strategic changes which targeted unprofitable customers and lanes of freight that were not acceptable for the long term profitability of our organization. These decisions, while difficult, were made to set a course to ensure that we are prepared to capitalize on stronger freight demand with more efficient operations in the future. Consistent with past acquisitions, we continue to implement cost reduction and freight optimization strategies at Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI, focused on improving the consolidated operating ratio.

Operating revenue decreased $127.2 million (13.6%), to $804.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $932.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in revenue was the result of a weak freight environment leading to a decline in total miles resulting in the decrease in trucking and other revenues of $99.0 million (12.4%) along with a decrease to fuel surcharge revenue of $28.2 million (21.0%) from $134.1 million in 2023 to $105.9 million in 2024. Operating revenues (the total of trucking and fuel surcharge revenue) are primarily earned based on loaded miles driven in providing truckload services. The number of loaded miles is affected by general freight supply and demand trends and the number of revenue earning equipment vehicles (tractors). The number of tractors is directly affected by the number of available drivers providing capacity to us. Our operating revenues are reviewed regularly by our CODM on a combined basis across the U.S. due to the similar nature of our services offerings and related similar base pricing structure.

Fuel surcharge revenues represent fuel costs passed on to customers based on customer specific fuel surcharge recovery rates and billed loaded miles. Fuel surcharge revenues decreased due to lower average DOE diesel fuel prices (8.6%), as reported by the DOE, along with a decrease in loaded miles during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to September 30, 2023.

Salaries, wages, and benefits decreased $32.4 million (8.9%), to $330.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $362.6 million in the 2023 period. Salaries, wages, and benefits decreased primarily due to the reduction of driver payroll as a result of lower company miles, along with a reduction of office and shop employees. Offsetting this decrease was an increase in driver pay for non-productive time associated with weather shut downs, layovers, and other factors associated with a slower freight environment. As a result, salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of gross revenues was higher in 2024 compared to 2023. We have continued to get more creative in providing better pay, driving opportunities, benefits, equipment, and facilities for our drivers. We expect the qualified driver shortage within the trucking industry to continue to be a challenge in the foreseeable future. However, driver availability improved in 2023 and to date in 2024, as a result of the changing freight and economic environments and we believe certain drivers have moved from smaller less financially stable carriers to more financially stable carriers.

Rent and purchased transportation decreased $24.4 million, to $63.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $88.3 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from reduced purchased transportation and lower contractor miles associated with the CFI business integration, along with a reduction of leased equipment. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in property leases due to terminals sold in late 2023 that are now under short term leases.

Fuel decreased $25.1 million (15.4%), to $138.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $163.2 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower average diesel price per gallon (8.6%) as reported by the DOE along with less miles driven. We expect to see fuel price volatility through the remainder of 2024.

Operations and maintenance expense increased $4.6 million (9.8%), to $52.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $47.7 million in the same period of 2023. The net increase is mainly attributable to higher equipment maintenance costs. At September 30, 2024, the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 2.7 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 7.2 years compared to September 30, 2023 when the Company’s tractor fleet had an average age of 1.9 years and the Company's trailer fleet had an average age of 6.2 years. Based upon current agreements for new revenue equipment we anticipate that the average age of our fleet of tractors will decrease while the average age of our fleet of trailers will increase by December 31, 2024. We do not believe these changes in fleet age will significantly impact operations and maintenance expense.

Operating taxes and licenses decreased $0.8 million (5.0%), to $15.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $16.4 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from a reduction of operating units as a result of the soft freight environment.

Insurance and claims expense was $38.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to $30.8 million in 2023. The increase is due to unfavorable claim severity and frequency. The elevated retention limit and the premium adjustment feature under our primary auto liability insurance program described above could lead to increased volatility in our insurance and claims expense, depending on the frequency and magnitude of claims.

Depreciation and amortization decreased $10.3 million (7.0%), to $137.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $147.9 million in the same period of 2023 as a result of ongoing fleet replacement strategies. We expect depreciation expense in 2024 to be approximately $180 million to $185 million.

Other operating expenses decreased $7.8 million, to $43.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $51.4 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease resulted from a reduction of costs associated directly with freight, and a decrease in freight demand, as well as general corporate expense initiatives.

Gains on the disposal of property and equipment decreased $14.4 million, to a gain on disposal of $1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to a $15.9 million gain on disposal in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a significant decrease of equipment sales volume. During the calendar year of 2024, we currently expect $5 to $10 million of gains on disposal of property and equipment.

Interest expense decreased $4.2 million, to $14.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $18.3 million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was mainly due to debt repayments and a corresponding decrease to average outstanding debt balances. The interest expense is made up of $13.2 million from the Credit Facilities coinciding with the acquisition of CFI while the remaining $0.9 million is the result of debt and financing leases assumed through the Smith Transport acquisition. We expect further reductions to interest expense as we pay down the debt.

Our effective tax rate was 19.1% and 34.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily the result of permanent differences and items not correlated to income reducing the rate for 2024 calculated on a loss before tax.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The growth of our business requires significant investments in new revenue equipment. Historically, except for acquisitions, we have been debt-free, funding revenue equipment purchases with our primary sources of liquidity, cash flow provided by operating activities and proceeds from sales of used equipment. In conjunction with the acquisition of CFI on August 31, 2022, (the “CFI Closing Date”), Heartland entered into a $550.0 million unsecured credit facility which included a $100.0 million revolving line of credit (“Revolving Facility”) and $450.0 million in term loans (“Term Facility” and, together with the Revolving Facility, the “Credit Facilities”). The Credit Facilities includes a consortium of lenders, including joint bookrunners JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”).

The Credit Facilities replaced the previous credit arrangements in place for the Company which consisted of a November 2013 Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo, along with an asset-based credit facility with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania that was assumed as part of the acquisition of Smith Transport on May 31, 2022.

The full amount of the Term Facility was made in a single draw on August 31, 2022 and amounts borrowed under the Term Facility that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. The Term Facility amortizes in quarterly installments which began in September 2023, at 5% per annum through June 2025 and 10% per annum from September 2025 through June 2027, with the balance due on the date that is five years from the CFI Closing Date. Based on debt repayments made through September 30, 2024, required minimum payments have been covered until the term loan maturity on August 31, 2027.

The Revolving Facility consists of a five-year revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments in an amount equal to $100.0 million, of which up to $50.0 million is available for the issuance of letters of credit, and including a swingline facility in an amount equal to $20.0 million. The Revolving Facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate on the date that is five years after the CFI Closing Date. Amounts repaid under the Revolving Facility may be reborrowed. The Credit Facilities include an uncommitted accordion feature pursuant to which the Company may request up to $275.0 million in incremental revolving or term loans, subject to lender approvals.

The indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities under the Credit Facilities are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis by the Company, borrower, and certain other subsidiaries of the Company. The borrower may voluntarily prepay outstanding loans under the Credit Facilities in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty, subject to payment of customary breakage costs in the case of Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate loans.

The Credit Facilities contain usual and customary events of default and negative covenants for a facility of this nature including, among other things, restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur certain additional indebtedness or issue guarantees, to create liens on the Company’s assets, to make distributions on or redeem equity interests (subject to certain exceptions, including that (a) the Company may pay regularly scheduled dividends on the Company’s common stock not to exceed $10.0 million during any fiscal year and (b) the Company may make any other distributions so long as it maintains a net leverage ratio not greater than 2.50 to 1.00), to make investments and to engage in mergers, consolidations, or acquisitions. The Credit Facilities contain customary financial covenants, including (i) a maximum net leverage ratio of 2.75 to 1.00, measured quarterly on a trailing twelve-month basis, and (ii) a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly on a trailing twelve-month basis. We were in compliance with the respective financial covenants at September 30, 2024 and have been in compliance since the inception of the Credit Facilities.

Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facilities will accrue interest, at the option of the borrower, at a per annum rate of (i) for an “ABR Loan”, the alternate base rate (defined as the interest rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the variable rate of interest announced by the administrative agent as its “prime rate”, (b) 0.50% above the Federal Funds Rate, (c) the Term SOFR for an interest period of one-month plus 1.1%, or (d) 1.00%) plus the applicable margin or (ii) for a “SOFR Loan”, the Term SOFR Rate for an interest period of one, three or six-months as selected by Company plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for ABR Loans ranges from 0.250% to 0.875% and the applicable margin for SOFR Loans ranges from 1.250% to 1.875%, depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio.

We had $188.0 million outstanding on the Term Facility and nothing outstanding under the Revolving Facility at September 30, 2024. Outstanding letters of credit associated with the Revolving Facility at September 30, 2024 were $11.7 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Revolving Facility available for future borrowing was $88.3 million. As of September 30, 2024 the weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facilities was 6.8%. Unamortized loan origination fees of $0.4 million at September 30, 2024 are included in long-term debt and finance lease liabilities.

The May 31, 2022 acquisition of Smith Transport included the assumption of $46.8 million of debt and financing lease obligations associated with the fleet of revenue equipment of which $19.2 million was outstanding at September 30, 2024, (the "Smith Debt"). The Smith Debt has $6.3 million of outstanding principal and is made up of installment notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.4% at September 30, 2024, due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates ranging from February 2027 to January 2029, secured by related revenue equipment. The remaining Smith Debt of $12.9 million are finance lease obligations with a weighted average interest rate of 4.0% at September 30, 2024, due in monthly installments with final maturities at various dates ranging from October 2024 to April 2026 with the weighted average remaining lease term of 1.2 years.

At September 30, 2024, we had $30.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, $193.9 million in net outstanding debt, $12.9 million in finance lease liabilities, $9.6 million in operating lease obligations, and $88.3 million available borrowing capacity on the Revolving Facility.

We have and will continue to pay down the debt we incurred and assumed to complete our most recent acquisitions, while maintaining our regular quarterly dividends and funding our ongoing capital expenditure needs. Although this has been the priority year to date we currently expect more capital to be shifted to net capital expenditure needs during the fourth quarter of 2024 and into early 2025. While we are paying down the debt, we do not expect to declare special dividends or make significant acquisitions. We expect to evaluate the potential of share repurchases in addition to paying down the debt. The specific timing and amount of future repurchases will be determined by market conditions, cash flow requirements, securities law limitations, and other factors. We continue to remain flexible to ensure the best deployment of our capital given market conditions and the needs of the Company.

The total estimated purchase commitments for tractors (net of tractor sale commitments) and trailer equipment as of September 30, 2024 was $58.6 million. These commitments extend into 2025. We anticipate continued disposition of older tractors and trailers in the Smith Transport and CFI fleets throughout 2024 and beyond. During the calendar year of 2024, we currently expect net capital expenditures of approximately $35 to $40 million and $5 to $10 million of gains on disposal of property and equipment. The majority of 2024 net capital expenditures is expected to happen during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Cash flow provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $106.6 million as compared to $124.5 million during the same period of 2023. This decrease was due to a $46.8 million reduction in net income net of non-working capital items and partially offset by an increase of $28.9 million more cash provided by working capital items. Cash flows provided by operating activities was 13.2% of operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared with 13.4% for the same period of 2023.

Cash provided by investing activities was $1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to cash used in investing activities of $81.8 million during the comparative 2023 period. The change is primarily due to the $83.7 million decrease in net property and equipment cash used.

Cash used in financing activities increased $31.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period of 2023 due mainly to $7.3 million more cash used for repurchases of common stock and an increase of $24.1 million of repayments of finance leases and debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 we repurchased 0.6 million shares compared to no shares repurchased during the same period of 2023.

We have a stock repurchase program with 6.0 million shares remaining authorized for repurchase under the program as of September 30, 2024 and the program has no expiration date. There were 0.6 million shares repurchased in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and there were no shares repurchased in the open market during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. We expect to evaluate the potential of share repurchases in addition to paying down the debt. The specific timing and amount of future repurchases will be determined by market conditions, cash flow requirements, securities law limitations, and other factors. We continue to remain flexible to ensure the best deployment of our capital given market conditions and the needs of the Company.

We had net payments of $10.0 million and $29.1 million for income taxes, net of refunds, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The reduction in taxes paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 is due to prior year over payment credit forward and reduced taxable income in 2024.

Management believes we have adequate liquidity to meet our current and projected needs in the foreseeable future. Management believes we will continue to have significant capital requirements over the long-term, which we expect to fund with current available cash, cash flows provided by operating activities, proceeds from the sale of used equipment and to a lesser extent, available capacity on the Credit Facilities.

General

We are exposed to market risk changes in interest rates during periods when we have outstanding borrowings and from changes in commodity prices, primarily fuel and rubber. We do not currently use derivative financial instruments for risk management purposes, although we have used instruments in the past for fuel price risk management, and do not use them for either speculation or trading. Because substantially all of our operations are confined to the United States, we are not directly subject to a material foreign currency risk.

Interest Rate Risk

We had $193.9 million net debt outstanding and $12.9 million in finance lease liabilities at September 30, 2024. Of the total $206.8 million net debt and finance lease liabilities outstanding, $188.0 million is subject to variable interest rates and the remainder is at fixed annual interest rates. Interest rates associated with borrowings under the Credit Facilities are based on the SOFR rate plus a spread based on the Company’s net leverage ratio. Increases in interest rates would currently impact our interest expense given our outstanding borrowings subject to variable interest rates. An increase of 1.0% in the SOFR rate would drive a decrease to our income before income taxes by approximately $1.9 million annually based on the current amount of debt outstanding that is subject to variable interest rates.

Commodity Price Risk

We are subject to commodity price risk primarily with respect to purchases of fuel and rubber. We have fuel surcharge agreements with most customers that enable us to pass through most long-term price increases therefore limiting our exposure to commodity price risk. Fuel surcharges that can be collected do not always fully offset an increase in the cost of fuel as we are not able to pass through fuel costs associated with out-of-route miles, empty miles, and tractor idle time. Based on our actual fuel purchases for 2023, assuming miles driven, fuel surcharges as a percentage of revenue, percentage of unproductive miles, and miles per gallon remained consistent with 2023 amounts, a $1.00 increase in the average price of fuel per gallon, year over year, would decrease our income before income taxes by approximately $12.3 million in 2024. We use a significant amount of tires to maintain our revenue equipment. We are not able to pass through 100% of price increases from tire suppliers due to the severity and timing of increases and current rate environment. Historically, we have sought to minimize tire price increases through bulk tire purchases from our suppliers. Based on our expected tire purchases for 2024, a 10% increase in the price of tires would increase our tire purchase expense by $2.2 million, resulting in a corresponding decrease in income before income taxes.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures– We have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to us, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify our financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2024.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures, or our internal controls, will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can only provide reasonable, not total, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

While we attempt to identify, manage, and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, in the sections entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors," describe some of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business.