10-Q

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 30, 2024

☐	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: 0-21238

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		06-1313069
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida

(Address of principal executive offices)

32224

(Zip Code)

(904) 398-9400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	LSTR	NASDAQ

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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files):

Yes

☒

No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of the close of business on April 22, 2024 was 35,762,038.

Index


PART I – Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023			Page 4

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023			Page 5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023			Page 6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023			Page 7

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023			Page 8

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			Page 9

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			Page 17

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			Page 28

Item 4. Controls and Procedures			Page 29

PART II – Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings			Page 29

Item 1A. Risk Factors			Page 29

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			Page 29

Item 5. Other Information			Page 30

Item 6. Exhibits			Page 30

Signatures			Page 32

EX – 31.1 Section 302 CEO Certification
EX – 31.2 Section 302 CFO Certification
EX – 32.1 Section 906 CEO Certification
EX – 32.2 Section 906 CFO Certification

PART I -

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

The interim consolidated financial statements contained herein reflect all adjustments (all of a normal, recurring nature) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the periods presented. They have been prepared in accordance with Rule

10-01

of Regulation

S-X

and do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Operating results for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 28, 2024.

These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form

10-K.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	March 30, 2024			December 30, 2023
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	467,671		$	481,043
Short-term investments		62,781			59,661
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $ 11,764 and $ 11,738		723,841			743,762
Other receivables, including advances to independent contractors, less allowance of $ 14,310 and $ 14,010		40,535			43,339
Other current assets		15,540			24,936

Total current assets		1,310,368			1,352,741

Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $ 442,898 and $ 436,682		279,552			284,300
Goodwill		42,381			42,275
Other assets		113,540			122,530

Total assets	$	1,745,841		$	1,801,846

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Cash overdraft	$	51,674		$	61,541
Accounts payable		384,267			395,980
Current maturities of long-term debt		26,730			27,876
Insurance claims		40,683			41,825
Dividends payable		—			71,433
Other current liabilities		86,318			76,569

Total current liabilities		589,672			675,224

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		38,496			43,264
Insurance claims		59,668			58,922
Deferred income taxes and other noncurrent liabilities		40,094			40,513
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000 shares, issued 68,547,553 and 68,497,324 shares		685			685
Additional paid-in capital		254,192			254,642
Retained earnings		2,818,939			2,783,645
Cost of 32,785,515 and 32,780,651 shares of common stock in treasury		(2,049,070	)		(2,048,184	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,835	)		(6,865	)

Total shareholders’ equity		1,017,911			983,923

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,745,841		$	1,801,846

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Revenue	$	1,171,043		$	1,435,675
Investment income		3,412			1,368
Costs and expenses:
Purchased transportation		905,521			1,101,294
Commissions to agents		97,282			125,675
Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions		14,859			12,378
Insurance and claims		26,268			27,647
Selling, general and administrative		56,422			53,567
Depreciation and amortization		14,142			15,198

Total costs and expenses		1,114,494			1,335,759

Operating income		59,961			101,284
Interest and debt (income) expense		(1,611	)		(726	)

Income before income taxes		61,572			102,010
Income taxes		14,476			23,815

Net income	$	47,096		$	78,195

Basic and diluted earnings per share	$	1.32		$	2.17

Average basic and diluted shares outstanding		35,750,000			35,982,000

Dividends per common share	$	0.33		$	0.30

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Net income	$	47,096		$	78,195
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale investments, net of tax expense of $ 92 and $ 306		336			1,120
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains		(306	)		1,711

Other comprehensive income		30			2,831

Comprehensive income	$	47,126		$	81,026

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	47,096		$	78,195
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		14,142			15,198
Non-cash interest charges		66			66
Provisions for losses on trade and other accounts receivable		3,854			3,199
Gains on sales/disposals of operating property		(248	)		(1,140	)
Deferred income taxes, net		(1,259	)		758
Stock-based compensation		1,724			1,852
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in trade and other accounts receivable		18,871			67,776
Decrease in other assets		11,574			8,625
Decrease in accounts payable		(11,713	)		(37,068	)
Increase in other liabilities		10,497			2,640
Decrease in insurance claims		(396	)		(1,066	)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		94,208			139,035

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Sales and maturities of investments		19,923			40,349
Purchases of investments		(15,869	)		(31,425	)
Purchases of operating property		(9,281	)		(6,233	)
Proceeds from sales of operating property		1,585			1,645

NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(3,642	)		4,336

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Decrease in cash overdraft		(9,867	)		(26,758	)
Dividends paid		(83,235	)		(82,660	)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options		—			28
Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued related to stock-based compensation plans		(3,060	)		(8,236	)
Purchases of common stock		—			(15,433	)
Principal payments on finance lease obligations		(7,239	)		(9,408	)

NET CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(103,401	)		(142,467	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(537	)		502

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(13,372	)		1,406
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		481,043			339,581

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	467,671		$	340,987

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock at Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	Shares		Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Shares		Amount			Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income			Total

Balance December 30, 2023		68,497,324	$	685	$	254,642		$	2,783,645			32,780,651	$	(2,048,184	)	$	(6,865	)	$	983,923
Net income									47,096											47,096
Dividends ($ 0.33 per share)									(11,802	)										(11,802	)
Issuance of stock related to stock-based compensation plans		50,229				(2,174	)					4,864		(886	)					(3,060	)
Stock-based compensation						1,724														1,724
Other comprehensive income																	30			30

Balance March 30, 2024		68,547,553	$	685	$	254,192		$	2,818,939			32,785,515	$	(2,049,070	)	$	(6,835	)	$	1,017,911


	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock at Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	Shares		Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Shares		Amount			Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income			Total

Balance December 31, 2022		68,382,310	$	684	$	258,487		$	2,635,960			32,455,300	$	(1,992,886	)	$	(15,024	)	$	887,221
Net income									78,195											78,195
Dividends ($0.30 per share)									(10,806	)										(10,806	)
Purchases of common stock												89,661		(15,433	)					(15,433	)
Issuance of stock related to stock-based compensation plans		101,653		1		(7,201	)					5,891		(1,008	)					(8,208	)
Stock-based compensation						1,852														1,852
Other comprehensive income																	2,831			2,831

Balance April 1, 2023		68,483,963	$	685	$	253,138		$	2,703,349			32,550,852	$	(2,009,327	)	$	(12,193	)	$	935,652

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc., and reflect all adjustments (all of a normal, recurring nature) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires the use of management’s estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary are herein referred to as “Landstar” or the “Company.” Significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

(1) Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table summarizes (i) the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by mode of transportation and (ii) the total amount of truck transportation revenue hauled by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers generated by equipment type during the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 (dollars in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Mode
Truck – BCO Independent Contractors		39	%		36	%
Truck – Truck Brokerage Carriers		53	%		56	%
Rail intermodal		2	%		2	%
Ocean and air cargo carriers		5	%		4	%
Truck Equipment Type
Van equipment	$	628,304		$	755,083
Unsided/platform equipment	$	343,045		$	377,564
Less-than-truckload	$	25,617		$	31,558
Other truck transportation (1)	$	71,966		$	159,503

(1)

Includes power-only, expedited, straight truck, cargo van, and miscellaneous other truck transportation revenue generated by the transportation logistics segment. Power-only refers to shipments where the Company furnishes a power unit and an operator but not trailing equipment, which is typically provided by the shipper or consignee.

Table of Contents

(2) Share-based Payment Arrangements

As of March 30, 2024, the Company has an employee equity incentive plan, the 2011 equity incentive plan (the “2011 EIP”). The Company also has a stock compensation plan for members of its Board of Directors, the 2022 Directors Stock Compensation Plan (the “2022 DSCP”). 6,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2011 EIP and 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2022 DSCP. The 2011 EIP and 2022 DSCP are each referred to herein as a “Plan,” and, collectively, as the “Plans.” Amounts recognized in the financial statements with respect to these Plans are as follows (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Total cost of the Plans during the period	$	1,724		$	1,852
Amount of related income tax benefit recognized during the period		(1,152	)		(2,751	)

Net cost of the Plans during the period	$	572		$	(899	)

Included in income tax benefits recognized in the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 were excess tax benefits from stock-based awards of $729,000 and $2,296,000, respectively.

As of March 30, 2024, there were 187,260 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 DSCP and 2,750,207 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2011 EIP.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s outstanding restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards with either a performance condition or a market condition under the Plans:


	Number of RSUs			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 30, 2023		132,722		$	138.93
Granted		102,253		$	138.86
Vested shares		(36,249	)	$	131.10
Forfeited		(2,173	)	$	148.85

Outstanding at March 30, 2024		196,553		$	140.23

During the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024, the Company granted RSUs with a performance condition and RSUs with a market condition, as further described below. Outstanding RSUs at both December 30, 2023 and March 30, 2024 include RSUs with a performance condition and RSUs with a market condition, as further described below and in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form

10-K.

RSUs with a performance condition granted on February 2, 2024 may vest on January 31 of 2027, 2028 and 2029 based on growth in operating income and pre-tax income per diluted share from continuing operations as compared to the results from the 2023 fiscal year.

On February 2, 2024, the Company granted 58,268 RSUs

that vest based on a market condition. These RSUs may vest based on the achievement of the target Company’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) compound annual growth rate, adjusted to reflect dividends (if any) paid during such periods and capital adjustments as may be necessary, and are eligible to vest annually starting after the sixth anniversary of the grant date and concluding after the tenth anniversary of the grant date. The fair value of this RSU award was determined at the time of grant based on the expected achievement of the market condition. With respect to these RSU awards, the Company reports compensation expense ratably over the service period of the award based on the number of units granted multiplied by the grant date fair value of the RSU. Previously recognized compensation cost would be reversed only if the employee did not complete the requisite service period due to termination of employment.

Table of Contents

The Company recognized approximately $632,000 and $958,000 of share-based compensation expense related to RSU awards in the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively. As of March 30, 2024, there was a maximum of $49.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSU awards granted under the Plans with an expected average remaining life of approximately 4.5 years. With respect to RSU awards with a performance condition, the amount of future compensation expense to be recognized will be determined based on future operating results.

Non-vested Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Units

The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s outstanding shares of non-vested restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units (defined below) under the Plans:


	Number of Shares and Deferred Stock Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested at December 30, 2023		46,348		$	158.38
Granted		25,151		$	188.78
Vested		(16,169	)	$	152.07
Forfeited		(295	)	$	169.89

Non-vested at March 30, 2024		55,035		$	174.07

The fair value of each share of non-vested restricted stock issued and Deferred Stock Unit granted under the Plans is based on the fair value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Shares of non-vested restricted stock are generally subject to vesting in three equal annual installments either on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of the grant or the third, fourth and fifth anniversary of the date of the grant, in two equal annual installments on the first and second anniversary of the date of the grant or 100% on the first, third or fifth anniversary of the date of the grant. For restricted stock awards granted under the 2022 DSCP, each recipient may elect to defer receipt of shares and instead receive restricted stock units (“Deferred Stock Units”), which represent contingent rights to receive shares of the Company’s common stock on the date of the recipient’s separation from service from the Board of Directors, or, if earlier, upon a change in control event of the Company. Deferred Stock Units become vested 100% on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. Deferred Stock Units do not represent actual ownership in shares of the Company’s common stock and the recipient does not have voting rights or other incidents of ownership until the shares are issued. However, Deferred Stock Units do contain the right to receive dividend equivalent payments prior to settlement into shares.

As of March 30, 2024, there was $7,427,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested shares of restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units granted under the Plans. The unrecognized compensation cost related to these non-vested shares of restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.

Stock Options

The Company had no remaining issued and outstanding vested or unvested stock options or unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock options granted under the Plans as of December 30, 2023 and March 30, 2024. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the thirteen-week period ended April 1, 2023 was $218,000.

(3) Income Taxes

The provisions for income taxes for the 2024 and 2023 thirteen-week periods were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.5% and 24.4%, respectively, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The effective income tax rate for the 2024 thirteen-week period was 23.5%. The effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% in the 2024 period primarily attributable to state taxes. The effective income tax rate for the 2023 thirteen-week period was 23.3%. The effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% in the 2023 period primarily attributable to state taxes.

(4) Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding, which includes outstanding

non-vested

restricted stock and outstanding Deferred Stock Units. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the incremental shares that would have been outstanding upon the assumed exercise of all dilutive stock options. For each of the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding is the same for purposes of the calculations of both basic and diluted earnings per share. During and as of the thirteen-week

Table of Contents

period ended March 30, 2024, there were no outstanding stock options issued by the Company. For the thirteen-week period ended April 1, 2023, the impact on earnings per share of future compensation expense related to outstanding, unvested time-based awards was greater than the incremental impact of outstanding dilutive stock options, and would therefore have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share if included in the calculation of earnings per share. Accordingly, the Company had no reconciling items between the average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic earnings per common share and the average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share during each of the 2024 and 2023 thirteen-week periods.

Outstanding RSUs were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for all periods because the performance metric requirements or market condition for vesting had not been satisfied.

(5) Additional Cash Flow Information

During the 2024 thirteen-week period, Landstar received income tax refunds, net of income tax payments, of $495,000 and paid interest of $825,000. During the 2023 thirteen-week period, Landstar paid income taxes and interest of $895,000 and $1,030,000, respectively. Landstar acquired operating property by entering into finance leases in the amount of $1,325,000 in the 2024 thirteen-week period. Landstar did not acquire any operating property by entering into finance leases in the 2023 thirteen-week period.

(6) Segment Information

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s reportable business segments as of and for the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024						April 1, 2023
	Transportation Logistics		Insurance		Total		Transportation Logistics		Insurance		Total
External revenue	$	1,154,532	$	16,511	$	1,171,043	$	1,416,846	$	18,829	$	1,435,675
Internal revenue				12,069		12,069				11,961		11,961
Investment income				3,412		3,412				1,368		1,368
Operating income		42,681		17,280		59,961		86,162		15,122		101,284
Expenditures on long-lived assets		9,281				9,281		6,233				6,233
Goodwill		42,381				42,381		41,726				41,726

In the thirteen-week periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue.

(7) Other Comprehensive Income

The following table presents the components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of related income taxes, as of and for the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024 (in thousands):


	Unrealized Holding (Losses) Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities			Foreign Currency Translation			Total
Balance as of December 30, 2023	$	(5,010	)	$	(1,855	)	$	(6,865	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		336			(306	)		30

Balance as of March 30, 2024	$	(4,674	)	$	(2,161	)	$	(6,835	)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to investment income due to the realization of previously unrealized gains and losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income were not significant for the thirteen-week period

ended March 30, 2024.

Table of Contents

(8) Investments

Investments include primarily investment-grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities and U.S. treasury obligations having maturities of up to five years (the “bond portfolio”) and money market investments. Investments in the bond portfolio are reported as

available-for-sale

and are carried at fair value. Investments maturing less than one year from the balance sheet date are included in short-term investments and investments maturing more than one year from the balance sheet date are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Management performs an analysis of the nature of the unrealized losses on

available-for-sale

investments to determine whether an allowance for credit loss is necessary. Unrealized losses, representing the excess of the purchase price of an investment over its fair value as of the end of a period, considered to be a result of credit-related factors, are to be included as a charge in the statement of income, while unrealized losses considered to be a result of

non-credit-related

factors are to be included as a component of shareholders’ equity. Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets are classified within Level 1. Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on quoted market prices, are classified within Level 2. As Level 2 investments include positions that are not traded in active markets, valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or

non-transferability,

which are generally based on available market information. Any transfers between levels are recognized as of the beginning of any reporting period. Fair value of the bond portfolio was determined using Level 1 inputs related to U.S. Treasury obligations and money market investments and Level 2 inputs related to investment-grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities and direct obligations of government agencies. Unrealized losses, net of unrealized gains, on the investments in the bond portfolio

were $5,954,000 and $6,382,000 at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively.

The amortized cost and fair values of available-for-sale investments are as follows at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023 (in thousands):


	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
March 30, 2024
Money market investments	$	8,303	$	—	$	—	$	8,303
Asset-backed securities		18,019		2		2,062		15,959
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies		123,879		143		4,012		120,010
U.S. Treasury obligations		3,832		—		25		3,807

Total	$	154,033	$	145	$	6,099	$	148,079

December 30, 2023
Money market investments	$	16,832	$	—	$	—	$	16,832
Asset-backed securities		16,543		—		2,236		14,307
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies		118,481		279		4,384		114,376
U.S. Treasury obligations		6,287		2		43		6,246

Total	$	158,143	$	281	$	6,663	$	151,761

Table of Contents

For those

available-for-sale

investments with unrealized losses at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the following table summarizes the duration of the unrealized loss (in thousands):


	Less than 12 months				12 months or longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss

March 30, 2024
Asset-backed securities	$	—	$	—	$	13,975	$	2,062	$	13,975	$	2,062
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies		22,850		135		82,114		3,877		104,964		4,012
U.S. Treasury obligations		—		—		2,323		25		2,323		25

Total	$	22,850	$	135	$	98,412	$	5,964	$	121,262	$	6,099

December 30, 2023
Asset-backed securities	$	—	$	—	$	14,307	$	2,236	$	14,307	$	2,236
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies		3,506		42		86,841		4,342		90,347		4,384
U.S. Treasury obligations		—		—		2,305		43		2,305		43

Total	$	3,506	$	42	$	103,453	$	6,621	$	106,959	$	6,663

The Company believes unrealized losses on investments were primarily caused by rising interest rates rather than changes in credit quality. The Company expects to recover, through collection of all of the contractual cash flows of each security, the amortized cost basis of these securities as it does not intend to sell, and does not anticipate being required to sell, these securities before recovery of the cost basis. For these reasons, no losses have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

(9) Leases

Landstar’s noncancelable leases are primarily comprised of finance leases for the acquisition of new trailing equipment. Each finance lease for the acquisition of trailing equipment is a five year lease with a $1 purchase option for the applicable equipment at lease expiration. Substantially all of Landstar’s operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities represent leases for facilities maintained in support of the Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors and office space used to conduct Landstar’s business. These leases do not have significant rent escalation holidays, concessions, leasehold improvement incentives or other build-out clauses. Further, the leases do not contain contingent rent provisions. Landstar also rents certain trailing equipment to supplement the Company-owned trailer fleet under “month-to-month” lease terms, which are not required to be recorded on the balance sheet due to the less than twelve month lease term exemption. Sublease income is primarily comprised of weekly trailing equipment rentals to BCO Independent Contractors.

Most of Landstar’s operating leases include one or more options to renew. The exercise of lease renewal options is typically at Landstar’s sole discretion, and, as such, the majority of renewals to extend the lease terms are not included in the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise. Landstar regularly evaluates the renewal options, and when they are reasonably certain of exercise, Landstar includes the renewal period in the lease term.

As most of Landstar’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, Landstar utilized its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments. Landstar has a centrally managed treasury function; therefore, based on the applicable lease terms and the current economic environment, the Company applies a portfolio approach for determining the incremental borrowing rate.

Table of Contents

The components of lease cost for finance leases and operating leases for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2024 were (in thousands):


Finance leases:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	$	4,079
Interest on lease liability		550

Total finance lease cost		4,629
Operating leases:
Lease cost		1,040
Variable lease cost		—
Sublease income		(1,407	)

Total net operating lease income		(367	)

Total net lease cost	$	4,262

A summary of the lease classification on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 30, 2024 is as follows (in thousands):


Assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	Other assets	$	1,484
Finance lease assets	Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization		97,244

Total lease assets		$	98,728

Liabilities:

The following table reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for the finance and operating leases to the finance and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at March 30, 2024 (in thousands):


	Finance Leases		Operating Leases
2024 Remainder	$	22,254	$	629
2025		23,855		547
2026		15,752		213
2027		5,358		176
2028		1,256		49
Thereafter		51		—

Total future minimum lease payments		68,526		1,614
Less amount representing interest (1.6% to 6.5%)		3,300		130

Present value of minimum lease payments	$	65,226	$	1,484

Current maturities of long-term debt		26,730
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		38,496
Other current liabilities				791
Deferred income taxes and other noncurrent liabilities				693

The weighted average remaining lease term and the weighted average discount rate for finance and operating leases as of March 30, 2024 were:


	Finance Leases			Operating Leases
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)		2.8			2.6
Weighted average discount rate		3.2	%		6.5	%

Table of Contents

(10) Debt

Other

than the finance lease obligations as presented on the consolidated balance sheets, the Company had no outstanding debt as of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023.

On July 1, 2022, Landstar entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement with a bank syndicate led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures July 1, 2027, provides for borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility of $300,000,000, $45,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement also includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase of up to an aggregate amount of borrowing capacity of $600,000,000. As of March 30, 2024, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

The revolving credit loans under the Credit Agreement, at the option of Landstar, bear interest at (i) a forward-looking term rate based on the secured overnight financing rate plus 0.10% and an applicable margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00%, or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case with the applicable margin determined based upon the Company’s Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. The revolving credit facility bears a commitment fee, payable quarterly in arrears, of 0.20% to 0.30%, based on the Company’s Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.

The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, as described in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders to the extent that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed

2.5

to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event that, among other things, a person or group acquires 35% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors or the directors cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors, as defined in the Credit Agreement. None of these covenants are presently considered by management to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.

The interest rates on borrowings under the revolving credit facility are typically tied to short-term interest rates and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value. Interest rates on borrowings under finance leases approximate the interest rates that would currently be available to the Company under similar terms and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value.

(11) Commitments and Contingencies

Short-term investments include $62,781,000 in current maturities of investments held by the Company’s insurance segment at March 30, 2024. The non-current portion of the bond portfolio of $85,298,000 is included in other assets. The short-term investments, together with $22,834,000 of non-current investments, provide collateral for the $77,054,000 of letters of credit issued to guarantee payment of insurance claims. As of March 30, 2024, Landstar also had $33,492,000 of additional letters of credit outstanding under the Company’s Credit Agreement.

The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Many of these claims are covered in whole or in part by insurance. Based on knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, management believes that adequate provisions have been made for probable losses with respect to the resolution of all such claims and pending litigation and that the ultimate outcome, after provisions therefor, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, but could have a material effect on the results of operations in a given quarter or year.

(12) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07,

Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures

(“ASU 2023-07”), which expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-07 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09,

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures

(“ASU 2023-09”), which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-09 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein, and with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this document that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; the impact of the Russian conflict with Ukraine on the operations of certain independent commission sales agents, including the Company’s largest such agent by revenue in the 2023 fiscal year; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; potential changes in taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; regulations requiring the purchase and use of zero-emission vehicles; intellectual property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10-K for the 2023 fiscal year, described in Item 1A “Risk Factors”, in this report or in Landstar’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Introduction

Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (collectively referred to herein with their subsidiaries and other affiliated companies as “Landstar” or the “Company”), is a technology-enabled, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third party capacity providers and employees. The Company offers services to its customers across multiple transportation modes, with the ability to arrange for individual shipments of freight to comprehensive third party logistics solutions to meet all of a customer’s transportation needs. Landstar provides services principally throughout the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada and Mexico, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries around the world. The Company’s services emphasize safety, information coordination and customer service and are delivered through a network of approximately 1,100 independent commission sales agents and over 80,000 third party capacity providers, primarily truck capacity providers, linked together by a series of digital technologies which are provided and coordinated by the Company. The nature of the Company’s business is such that a significant portion of its operating costs varies directly with revenue.

Landstar markets its integrated transportation management solutions primarily through independent commission sales agents and exclusively utilizes third party capacity providers to transport customers’ freight. Landstar’s independent commission sales agents enter into contractual arrangements with the Company and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the

“BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Through this network of agents and capacity providers linked together by Landstar’s ecosystem of digital technologies, Landstar operates an integrated transportation management solutions business primarily throughout North America with revenue of $5.3 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year. The Company reports the results of two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment.

The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services are provided by Landstar’s “Operating Subsidiaries”: Landstar Ranger, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc., Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc., Landstar Global Logistics, Inc., Landstar Express America, Inc., Landstar Canada, Inc., Landstar Metro, S.A.P.I. de C.V., and Landstar Blue, LLC. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload, less-than-truckload and other truck transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Examples of the industries serviced by the transportation logistics segment include automotive parts and assemblies, consumer durables, building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics and military equipment. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including third party logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. The independent commission sales agents market services provided by the transportation logistics segment. Billings for freight transportation services are typically charged to customers on a per shipment basis for the physical transportation of freight and are referred to as transportation revenue. During the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2024, revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and railroads represented approximately 39%, 53% and 2%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenue. Collectively, revenue generated by air and ocean cargo carriers represented approximately 5% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024.

The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to certain of Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. Revenue at the insurance segment represents reinsurance premiums from third party insurance companies that provide insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors where all or a portion of the risk is ultimately borne by Signature. Revenue at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024.

Changes in Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management believes the Company’s success principally depends on its ability to generate freight revenue through its network of independent commission sales agents and to deliver freight safely and efficiently utilizing third party capacity providers. Management believes the most significant factors to the Company’s success include increasing revenue, sourcing capacity, empowering its network through technology-based tools and controlling costs, including insurance and claims.

Revenue

While customer demand, which is subject to overall economic conditions, ultimately drives increases or decreases in revenue, the Company primarily relies on its independent commission sales agents to establish customer relationships and generate revenue opportunities. Management’s emphasis with respect to revenue growth is on revenue generated by independent commission sales agents who on an annual basis generate $1 million or more of Landstar revenue (“Million Dollar Agents”). Management believes future revenue growth is primarily dependent on its ability to increase both the revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents and the number of Million Dollar Agents through a combination of recruiting new agents, increasing the revenue opportunities generated by existing independent commission sales agents and providing its independent commission sales agents with digital technologies they may use to grow revenue and increase efficiencies at their businesses. During the 2023 fiscal year, 524 independent commission sales agents generated $1 million or more of Landstar revenue and thus qualified as Million Dollar Agents. During the 2023 fiscal year, the average revenue generated by a Million Dollar Agent was $9,645,000 and revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents in the aggregate represented 95% of consolidated revenue.

Management monitors business activity by tracking the number of loads (volume) and revenue per load by mode of transportation. Revenue per load can be influenced by many factors other than a change in price. Those factors include the average length of haul, freight type, special handling and equipment requirements, fuel costs and delivery time requirements. For shipments involving two or more modes of transportation, revenue is generally classified by the mode of transportation having the highest cost for the load. The following table summarizes this information by trailer type for truck transportation and by mode for all others:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Revenue generated through (in thousands):
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment	$	628,304		$	755,083
Unsided/platform equipment		343,045			377,564
Less-than-truckload		25,617			31,558
Other truck transportation ⁽¹⁾		71,966			159,503

Total truck transportation		1,068,932			1,323,708
Rail intermodal		22,695			25,657
Ocean and air cargo carriers		54,074			61,093
Other ⁽²⁾		25,342			25,217

	$	1,171,043		$	1,435,675

Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation	$	452,561		$	519,526
Number of loads:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment		299,014			331,954
Unsided/platform equipment		117,947			127,572
Less-than-truckload		40,233			46,192
Other truck transportation ⁽¹⁾		33,526			58,062

Total truck transportation		490,720			563,780
Rail intermodal		7,150			7,760
Ocean and air cargo carriers		8,720			8,440

		506,590			579,980

Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation		208,740			232,550
Revenue per load:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment	$	2,101		$	2,275
Unsided/platform equipment		2,908			2,960
Less-than-truckload		637			683
Other truck transportation ⁽¹⁾		2,147			2,747
Total truck transportation		2,178			2,348
Rail intermodal		3,174			3,306
Ocean and air cargo carriers		6,201			7,239
Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors	$	2,168		$	2,234
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue):
Truck capacity providers:
BCO Independent Contractors		39	%		36	%
Truck Brokerage Carriers		53	%		56	%
Rail intermodal		2	%		2	%
Ocean and air cargo carriers		5	%		4	%
Other		2	%		2	%

⁽¹⁾

⁽²⁾	Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.

Expenses

Purchased transportation

Also critical to the Company’s success is its ability to secure capacity, particularly truck capacity, at rates that allow the Company to profitably transport customers’ freight. The following table summarizes the number of available truck capacity providers on the dates indicated:


	March 30, 2024		April 1, 2023
BCO Independent Contractors		8,619		9,996
Truck Brokerage Carriers:
Approved and active ⁽¹⁾		45,919		61,771
Other approved		26,320		30,893

		72,239		92,664

Total available truck capacity providers		80,858		102,660

Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors		9,410		10,809

⁽¹⁾	Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal quarter end.

Purchased transportation represents the amount a BCO Independent Contractor or other third party capacity provider is paid to haul freight. The amount of purchased transportation paid to a BCO Independent Contractor is primarily based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of revenue generated by loads hauled by the BCO Independent Contractor. Purchased transportation paid to a Truck Brokerage Carrier is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or, to a lesser extent, a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to railroads and ocean cargo carriers is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to air cargo carriers is generally based on a negotiated rate for each load hauled. Purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue for truck brokerage, rail intermodal and ocean cargo services is normally higher than that of BCO Independent Contractor and air cargo services. Purchased transportation is the largest component of costs and expenses and, on a consolidated basis, increases or decreases as a percentage of consolidated revenue in proportion to changes in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated through BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers and external revenue from the insurance segment, consisting of reinsurance premiums. Purchased transportation as a percent of revenue also increases or decreases in relation to the availability of truck brokerage capacity and with changes in the price of fuel on revenue generated from shipments hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. The Company passes 100% of fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors to its BCO Independent Contractors. These fuel surcharges are excluded from revenue and the cost of purchased transportation. Purchased transportation costs are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.

Commissions to agents

Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of (i) revenue, (ii) revenue less the cost of purchased transportation, or (iii) revenue less a contractually agreed upon percentage of revenue retained by Landstar and the cost of purchased transportation (the “retention contracts”). Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and reinsurance premiums and, in general, vary inversely with changes in the amount of purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers. Commissions to agents are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.

Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions

Maintenance costs for Company-provided trailing equipment, the provision for uncollectible advances and other receivables due from BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents and recruiting and qualification costs for BCO Independent Contractors are the largest components of other operating costs. Also included in other operating costs are trailer rental costs and gains/losses, if any, on sales of Company-owned trailing equipment.

Insurance and claims

With respect to insurance and claims cost, potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable.

Landstar retains liability through a self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims up to $5 million per occurrence. Effective May 1, 2023, the Company entered into a three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5 million and $10 million (the “2023 Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2026, the 2023 Initial Excess Policy provides for an aggregate deductible of $18 million over the thirty-six month term ending April 30, 2026. After payment of the deductible, the 2023 Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5 million, with an aggregate limit of $15 million for the thirty-six month term ending April 30, 2026.

The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10 million. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the occurrence of trials in courts throughout the United States involving catastrophic injury and fatality claims against commercial motor carriers that have resulted in verdicts in excess of $10 million. Within the transportation logistics industry, these verdicts are often referred to as “Nuclear Verdicts.” The increase in Nuclear Verdicts has had a significant impact on the cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims, the availability of excess coverage has significantly decreased, and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Since the annual policy year ended April 30, 2020, as compared to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2025, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $22 million, or over 400%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10 million.

Moreover, the Company from year to year manages the level of its financial exposure to commercial trucking claims in excess of $10 million, including through the use of additional self-insurance, deductibles, aggregate loss limits, quota shares and other arrangements with third party insurance companies, based on the availability of coverage within certain excess insurance coverage layers and estimated cost differentials between proposed premiums from third party insurance companies and historical and actuarially projected losses experienced by the Company at various levels of excess insurance coverage. For example, with respect to a single hypothetical claim in the amount of $65 million incurred during the annual policy year ending April 30, 2025, the Company would have an aggregate financial exposure of approximately $30 million. Furthermore, the Company’s third party insurance arrangements provide excess coverage up to an uppermost coverage layer, in excess of which the Company retains additional financial exposure. No assurances can be given that the availability of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims will not continue to deteriorate, that the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, will not continue to increase, nor that insurance coverage from third party insurers for excess coverage of commercial trucking claims will even be available on commercially reasonable terms at certain levels. Moreover, the occurrence of a Nuclear Verdict, or the settlement of a catastrophic injury and/or fatality claim that could have otherwise resulted in a Nuclear Verdict, could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.

Further, the Company retains liability of up to $2,000,000 for each general liability claim, $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which such carriers maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the material unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.

Selling, general and administrative

During the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024, employee compensation and benefits accounted for approximately 68% of the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs. Employee compensation and benefits include wages and employee benefit costs as well as incentive compensation and stock-based compensation expense. Incentive compensation and stock-based compensation expense is highly variable in nature in comparison to wages and employee benefit costs.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization primarily relate to depreciation of trailing equipment and information technology hardware and software.

Costs of revenue

The Company incurs costs of revenue related to the transportation of freight and, to a much lesser extent, to reinsurance premiums received by Signature. Costs of revenue include variable costs of revenue and other costs of revenue. Variable costs of revenue include purchased transportation and commissions to agents, as these costs are entirely variable on a shipment-by-shipment basis. Other costs of revenue include fixed costs of revenue and semi-variable costs of revenue, where such costs may vary over time based on certain economic factors or operational metrics such as the number of Company-controlled trailers, the number of BCO Independent Contractors, the frequency and severity of insurance claims, the number of miles traveled by BCO Independent Contractors, or the number and/or scale of information technology projects in process or in-service to support revenue generating activities, rather than on a shipment-by-shipment basis. Other costs of revenue associated with the transportation of freight include: (i) other operating costs, primarily consisting of trailer maintenance, the provision for uncollectible advances and other receivables due from BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents and BCO Independent Contractor recruiting and qualification costs, as reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) transportation-related insurance premiums paid and claim costs incurred, included as a portion of insurance and claims in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) costs incurred related to internally developed software including ASC 350-40 amortization, implementation costs, hosting costs and other support costs utilized to support the Company’s independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers, and customers, included as a portion of depreciation and amortization and of selling, general and administrative in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income; and (iv) depreciation on Company-owned trailing equipment, included as a portion of depreciation and amortization in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Other costs of revenue associated with reinsurance premiums received by Signature are comprised of broker commissions and other fees paid related to the administration of insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors and are included in selling, general and administrative in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition to costs of revenue, the Company incurs various other costs relating to its business, including most selling, general and administrative costs and portions of costs attributable to insurance and claims and depreciation and amortization. Management continually monitors all components of the costs incurred by the Company and establishes annual cost budgets that, in general, are used to benchmark costs incurred on a monthly basis.

Gross Profit, Variable Contribution, Gross Profit Margin and Variable Contribution Margin

The following table sets forth calculations of gross profit, defined as revenue less costs of revenue, and gross profit margin, defined as gross profit divided by revenue, for the periods indicated. The Company refers to revenue less variable costs of revenue as “variable contribution” and variable contribution divided by revenue as “variable contribution margin”. Variable contribution and variable contribution margin are each non-GAAP financial measures. The closest comparable GAAP financial measures to variable contribution and variable contribution margin are, respectively, gross profit and gross profit margin. The Company believes variable contribution and variable contribution margin are useful measures of the variable costs that we incur at a shipment-by-shipment level attributable to our transportation network of third-party capacity providers and independent commission sales agents in order to provide services to our customers. The Company believes variable contribution and variable contribution margin are important performance measurements and management considers variable contribution and variable contribution margin in evaluating the Company’s financial performance and in its decision-making, such as budgeting for infrastructure, trailing equipment and selling, general and administrative costs.

The reconciliations of gross profit to variable contribution and gross profit margin to variable contribution margin are each presented below:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Revenue	$	1,171,043		$	1,435,675
Costs of revenue:
Purchased transportation		905,521			1,101,294
Commissions to agents		97,282			125,675

Variable costs of revenue		1,002,803			1,226,969
Trailing equipment depreciation		6,897			8,369
Information technology costs		5,804			6,751
Insurance-related costs (1)		26,778			28,260
Other operating costs		14,859			12,378

Other costs of revenue		54,338			55,758

Total costs of revenue		1,057,141			1,282,727

Gross profit	$	113,902		$	152,948

Gross profit margin		9.7	%		10.7	%
Plus: other costs of revenue		54,338			55,758

Variable contribution	$	168,240		$	208,706

Variable contribution margin		14.4	%		14.5	%

(1)

Insurance-related costs in the table above include (i) other costs of revenue related to the transportation of freight that are included as a portion of insurance and claims in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income and (ii) certain other costs of revenue related to reinsurance premiums received by Signature that are included as a portion of selling, general and administrative in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Insurance and claims costs included in other costs of revenue relating to the transportation of freight primarily consist of insurance premiums paid for commercial auto liability, general liability, cargo and other lines of coverage related to the transportation of freight and the related cost of claims incurred under those programs, and, to a lesser extent, the cost of claims incurred under insurance programs available to BCO Independent Contractors that are reinsured by Signature. Other insurance and claims costs included in costs of revenue that are included in selling, general and administrative in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income consist of brokerage commissions and other fees incurred by Signature relating to the administration of insurance programs available to BCO Independent Contractors that are reinsured by Signature.

In general, variable contribution margin on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors represents a fixed percentage due to the nature of the contracts that pay a fixed percentage of revenue to both the BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents. For revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers, variable contribution margin may be either a fixed or variable percentage, depending on the contract with each individual independent commission sales agent. Variable contribution margin on revenue generated from shipments hauled by railroads, air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and Truck Brokerage Carriers, other than those under retention contracts, is variable in nature, as the Company’s contracts with independent commission sales agents provide commissions to agents at a contractually agreed upon percentage of the amount represented by revenue less purchased transportation for these types of shipments. Approximately 44% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in the thirteen-week period ended March 30, 2024 was generated under transactions that pay a fixed percentage of revenue to the third party capacity provider and/or agents while 56% was generated under transactions that pay a variable percentage of revenue to the third party capacity provider and/or agents.

Operating income as a percentage of gross profit and operating income as a percentage of variable contribution

The following table presents operating income as a percentage of gross profit and operating income as a percentage of variable contribution. The Company’s operating income as a percentage of variable contribution is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as operating income divided by variable contribution. The Company believes that operating income as a percentage of variable contribution is useful and meaningful to investors for the following principal reasons: (i) the variable costs of revenue for a significant portion of the business are highly influenced by short-term market-based trends in the freight transportation industry, whereas other costs, including other costs of revenue, are much less impacted by short-term freight market trends; (ii) disclosure of this measure allows investors to better

understand the underlying trends in the Company’s results of operations; (iii) this measure is meaningful to investors’ evaluations of the Company’s management of costs attributable to operations other than the purely variable costs associated with purchased transportation and commissions to agents that the Company incurs to provide services to our customers; and (iv) management considers this financial information in its decision-making, such as budgeting for infrastructure, trailing equipment and selling, general and administrative costs.


	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 30, 2024			April 1, 2023
Gross profit	$	113,902		$	152,948
Operating income	$	59,961		$	101,284
Operating income as % of gross profit		52.6	%		66.2	%
Variable contribution	$	168,240		$	208,706
Operating income	$	59,961		$	101,284
Operating income as % of variable contribution		35.6	%		48.5	%

The decrease in operating income as a percentage of gross profit from the 2023 thirteen-week period to the 2024 thirteen-week period resulted from the decrease of operating income at a more rapid percentage rate than the decrease in gross profit, primarily due to the impact of the Company’s fixed cost infrastructure, principally certain components of selling, general and administrative costs, in comparison to a smaller gross profit base.

The decrease in operating income as a percentage of variable contribution from the 2023 thirteen-week period to the 2024 thirteen-week period resulted from the decrease of operating income at a more rapid percentage rate than the decrease in variable contribution, primarily due to the impact of the Company’s fixed cost infrastructure, principally certain components of selling, general and administrative costs, in comparison to a smaller variable contribution base, and the impact of increased other operating costs during the 2024 thirteen-week period.

Also, as previously mentioned, the Company reports two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment. External revenue at the insurance segment, representing reinsurance premiums, has historically been relatively consistent on an annual basis at 2% or less of consolidated revenue and generally corresponds directly with the number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors. The discussion of cost line items in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations considers the Company’s costs on a consolidated basis rather than on a segment basis. Management believes this presentation format is the most appropriate to assist users of the financial statements in understanding the Company’s business for the following reasons: (1) the insurance segment has no other operating costs; (2) discussion of insurance and claims at either segment without reference to the other may create confusion amongst investors and potential investors due to intercompany arrangements and specific deductible programs that affect comparability of financial results by segment between various fiscal periods but that have no effect on the Company from a consolidated reporting perspective; (3) selling, general and administrative costs of the insurance segment comprise less than 10% of consolidated selling, general and administrative costs and have historically been relatively consistent on a year-over-year basis; and (4) the insurance segment has no depreciation and amortization.

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 30, 2024 COMPARED TO THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED APRIL 1, 2023

SEC Form 10-Q filed by Landstar System Inc.