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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 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 000-19969

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

71-0673405

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

8401 McClure Drive

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916

(479) 785-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

Not Applicable

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock $0.01 Par Value

ARCB

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.

Large accelerated filer ☒

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging growth company ☐

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class

    

Outstanding at April 30, 2024

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

23,431,641 shares

Table of Contents

ARCBEST CORPORATION

INDEX

    

    

Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets —March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023

3

Consolidated Statements of Operations — For the Three Months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — For the Three Months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity — For the Three Months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — For the Three Months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

26

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

49

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

49

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

50

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

50

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

50

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

50

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

51

Item 5.

Other Information

51

Item 6.

Exhibits

52

SIGNATURES

53

Table of Contents

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

March 31

December 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

$

172,855

$

262,226

Short-term investments

 

68,065

 

67,842

Accounts receivable, less allowances (2024 – $9,184; 2023 – $10,346)

 

433,717

 

430,122

Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2024 – $733; 2023 – $731)

 

11,389

 

52,124

Prepaid expenses

 

39,232

 

37,034

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

 

22,084

 

24,319

Other

 

11,136

 

11,116

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

758,478

 

884,783

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Land and structures

 

491,555

 

460,068

Revenue equipment

 

1,119,446

 

1,126,055

Service, office, and other equipment

 

318,252

 

319,466

Software

 

176,988

 

173,354

Leasehold improvements

 

25,173

 

24,429

 

2,131,414

 

2,103,372

Less allowances for depreciation and amortization

 

1,193,584

 

1,188,548

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

937,830

 

914,824

GOODWILL

 

304,753

 

304,753

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

97,940

 

101,150

OPERATING RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS

174,987

169,999

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

10,032

 

8,140

OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS

 

73,123

 

101,445

TOTAL ASSETS

$

2,357,143

$

2,485,094

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable

$

209,908

$

214,004

Income taxes payable

 

8

 

10,410

Accrued expenses

 

313,494

 

378,029

Current portion of long-term debt

 

63,179

 

66,948

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

31,986

32,172

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

618,575

 

701,563

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion

 

148,992

 

161,990

OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES, less current portion

174,085

176,621

POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES, less current portion

 

13,318

 

13,319

CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION

100,220

92,900

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

34,422

 

40,553

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

44,798

 

55,785

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued 2024: 30,038,556 shares;
2023: 30,024,125 shares

 

300

 

300

Additional paid-in capital

 

343,102

 

340,961

Retained earnings

 

1,267,444

 

1,272,584

Treasury stock, at cost, 2024: 6,580,818 shares; 2023: 6,460,137 shares

 

(391,458)

 

(375,806)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

3,345

 

4,324

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

1,222,733

 

1,242,363

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

2,357,143

$

2,485,094

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

Table of Contents

ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

REVENUES

$

1,036,419

$

1,106,094

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

1,013,984

1,084,935

OPERATING INCOME

 

22,435

 

21,159

OTHER INCOME (COSTS)

Interest and dividend income

 

3,315

 

2,933

Interest and other related financing costs

 

(2,228)

 

(2,327)

Other, net

 

(28,199)

 

1,780

 

(27,112)

 

2,386

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

(4,677)

 

23,545

INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)

 

(1,765)

 

4,698

NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

(2,912)

18,847

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX

600

52,436

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Continuing operations

$

(0.12)

$

0.78

Discontinued operations

0.03

2.16

$

(0.10)

$

2.93

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Continuing operations

$

(0.12)

$

0.75

Discontinued operations

0.03

2.09

$

(0.10)

$

2.84

AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

Basic

 

23,561,309

 

24,288,138

Diluted

 

23,561,309

 

25,057,726

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax

Postretirement benefit plans:

Amortization of unrecognized net periodic benefit cost (credit), net of tax: (2024 – $65; 2023 – $86)

Net actuarial gain

 

(187)

 

(247)

Interest rate swap and foreign currency translation:

Change in unrealized loss on interest rate swap, net of tax: (2024 – $130; 2023 – $161)

(366)

(452)

Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax: (2024 – $150; 2023 – $6)

 

(426)

 

(18)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax

 

(979)

 

(717)

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

$

(3,291)

$

70,566

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

Accumulated

Additional

Other

Common Stock

    

Paid-In

Retained

Treasury Stock

    

Comprehensive

Total

Shares

    

Amount

    

Capital

    

Earnings

    

Shares

    

Amount

    

Income

    

Equity

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2023

 

30,024

$

300

$

340,961

$

1,272,584

 

6,460

$

(375,806)

$

4,324

$

1,242,363

Net loss

 

(2,312)

 

(2,312)

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(979)

 

(979)

Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans

 

15

 

 

 

Shares withheld for employee tax remittance on share-based compensation

 

(748)

 

(748)

Share-based compensation expense

 

2,889

 

2,889

Purchase of treasury stock

121

(15,652)

(15,652)

Dividends declared on common stock

 

(2,828)

 

(2,828)

Balance at March 31, 2024

 

30,039

$

300

$

343,102

$

1,267,444

 

6,581

$

(391,458)

$

3,345

$

1,222,733

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

29,759

$

298

$

339,582

$

1,088,693

 

5,529

$

(284,275)

$

7,103

$

1,151,401

Net income

 

71,283

 

71,283

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(717)

 

(717)

Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans

 

50

 

 

 

Shares withheld for employee tax remittance on share-based compensation

 

(1,590)

 

(1,590)

Share-based compensation expense

 

2,489

 

2,489

Purchase of treasury stock

154

(14,092)

(14,092)

Dividends declared on common stock

 

(2,915)

 

(2,915)

Balance at March 31, 2023

 

29,809

$

298

$

340,481

$

1,157,061

 

5,683

$

(298,367)

$

6,386

$

1,205,859

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income (loss)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

33,616

 

32,187

Amortization of intangibles

 

3,217

 

3,203

Share-based compensation expense

 

2,889

 

2,235

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

1,055

 

1,427

Change in deferred income taxes

 

(12,548)

 

(9,814)

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment

 

217

 

(9)

Pre-tax gain on sale of discontinued operations

(806)

(69,083)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

7,320

15,040

Change in fair value of equity investment

28,739

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Receivables

 

35,059

 

43,977

Prepaid expenses

 

(2,198)

 

(1,464)

Other assets

 

(1,218)

 

3,874

Income taxes

 

(8,305)

 

6,221

Operating right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, net

(7,710)

1,570

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

 

(70,548)

 

(79,984)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

6,467

 

20,663

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of financings

 

(55,049)

 

(34,657)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

1,292

 

1,833

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

 

101,138

Purchases of short-term investments

 

(5,236)

 

(35,588)

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

 

5,635

 

41,865

Capitalization of internally developed software

(3,635)

 

(3,631)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(56,993)

 

70,960

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Payments on long-term debt

 

(16,767)

 

(17,649)

Net change in book overdrafts

 

(2,850)

 

(10,493)

Deferred financing costs

63

Payment of common stock dividends

 

(2,828)

 

(2,915)

Purchases of treasury stock

(15,652)

(14,092)

Payments for tax withheld on share-based compensation

 

(748)

 

(1,590)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(38,845)

 

(46,676)

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(89,371)

 

44,947

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of period

 

262,226

 

158,264

Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at beginning of period

108

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

$

172,855

$

203,319

NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Equipment financed

$

$

3,478

Accruals for equipment received

$

915

$

1,453

Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets

$

5,694

$

30,581

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ARCBEST CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

NOTE A – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

Organization and Description of Business

ArcBest Corporation™ (the “Company”) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that leverages technology and a full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers’ supply chain needs. The Company, which started over a century ago as a local freight hauler, is now a logistics powerhouse with global reach. The Company’s operations are conducted through its two reportable operating segments: Asset-Based, which consists of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries (“ABF Freight”), and Asset-Light, which includes MoLo Solutions, LLC (“MoLo”), Panther Premium Logistics® (“Panther”), and certain other subsidiaries. References to the Company in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are primarily to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

The Asset-Based segment represented approximately 63% of the Company’s total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations for the three months ended March 31, 2024. As of March 2024, approximately 82% of the Asset-Based segment’s employees were covered under a collective bargaining agreement, the ABF National Master Freight Agreement (the “2023 ABF NMFA”), with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (the “IBT”), which will remain in effect through June 30, 2028.

Financial Statement Presentation

On February 28, 2023, the Company sold FleetNet America, Inc. (“FleetNet”), a wholly owned subsidiary and reportable operating segment of the Company, for an aggregate adjusted cash purchase price of $100.9 million, including post-closing adjustments. The sale of FleetNet® was a strategic shift for the Company as it exited the fleet roadside assistance and maintenance management business; therefore, the sale was accounted for as discontinued operations. As such, historical results of FleetNet have been excluded from both continuing operations and segment results for all periods presented. The cash flows related to the discontinued operations have not been segregated and are included in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to continuing operations, including comparisons to the prior year. For more information on the Company’s discontinued operations, see Note C.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, certain reclassifications have been made between operating expenses lines of the Asset-Light segment to conform to the current-year presentation (see Note J). There was no impact on total Asset-Light operating expenses as a result of these reclassifications.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pertaining to interim financial information. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all information or footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other current filings with the SEC. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which are of a normal and recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts may differ from those estimates.

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Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280, Segment Reporting, was amended in November 2023 through the issuance of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 will require enhanced disclosures of significant segment expenses on an annual and interim basis. ASU 2023-07, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s disclosures.

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, was amended in December 2023 through the issuance of ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), to improve income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, while early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the amendment’s impact on the Company’s disclosures.

In March 2024, the SEC adopted final rules under SEC Release Nos. 33-11275 and 33-99678, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors, that will require registrants to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. This information includes, among other things, material climate-related risks; activities to mitigate or adapt to such risks; information about the registrant's board of directors' oversight of climate-related risks and management’s role in managing material climate-related risks; information on any climate-related targets or goals that are material to the registrant's business, results of operations, or financial condition; disclosure of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions; the filing of an attestation report covering the required disclosure of such registrants’ Scope 1 and 2 emissions; and disclosure of the financial statement effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Disclosure requirements are effective using a phased-in compliance period beginning with the Company’s 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Subsequent to issuance, the rules became the subject of litigation, and the SEC has issued a stay to allow the legal process to proceed. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the final rules on the Company’s disclosures.

NOTE B – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Financial Instruments

The following table presents the components of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments:

    

March 31

    

December 31

 

2024

2023

 

(in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash deposits(1)

$

140,655

$

168,472

Money market funds(2)

 

32,200

 

93,754

Total cash and cash equivalents

$

172,855

$

262,226

Short-term investments

Certificates of deposit(1)

$

68,065

$

67,842

(1) Recorded at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
(2) Recorded at fair value as determined by quoted market prices (see amounts presented in the table of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value within this Note).

The Company’s long-term financial instruments are presented in the table of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value within this Note.

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Concentrations of Credit Risk of Financial Instruments

The Company is potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk related to its cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. The Company reduces credit risk by maintaining its cash deposits and short-term investments in accounts and certificates of deposit which are primarily FDIC-insured or in direct obligations of the U.S. government. However, certain cash deposits and certificates of deposit may exceed federally insured limits. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, cash deposits and short-term investments totaling $60.0 million and $76.3 million, respectively, were not FDIC insured. The Company also holds money market funds, which are invested in U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized solely by U.S. government securities.

Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments

Fair value disclosures are made in accordance with the following hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs of market data and market assumptions used to measure fair value are observable or unobservable:

Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs (Company’s market assumptions) that are significant to the valuation model.

Fair value and carrying value disclosures of financial instruments are presented in the following table:

March 31

December 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

Carrying

    

Fair

    

Carrying

    

Fair

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

Credit Facility(1)

$

50,000

$

50,000

$

50,000

$

50,000

Notes payable(2)

 

162,171

 

159,385

 

178,938

 

177,149

New England Pension Fund withdrawal liability(3)

19,222

17,734

19,402

18,220

$

231,393

$

227,119

$

248,340

$

245,369

(1) The revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) carries a variable interest rate based on Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus a margin, priced at market for debt instruments having similar terms and collateral requirements (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).
(2) Fair value of the notes payable was determined using a present value income approach based on quoted interest rates from lending institutions with which the Company would enter into similar transactions (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy).
(3) ABF Freight’s multiemployer pension plan obligation with the New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund (the “New England Pension Fund”) was restructured under a transition agreement effective on August 1, 2018, which resulted in a related withdrawal liability. The fair value of the outstanding withdrawal liability is equal to the present value of the future withdrawal liability payments, discounted at an interest rate of 5.6% and 5.3% at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, determined using the 20-year U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy). As of March 31, 2024, the outstanding withdrawal liability totaled $19.2 million, of which $0.7 million was recorded in accrued expenses, and the remaining portion was recorded in other long-term liabilities.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

March 31, 2024

Fair Value Measurements Using

Quoted Prices

    

Significant

    

Significant

    

In Active

Observable

Unobservable

Markets

Inputs

Inputs

Total

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

 

(in thousands)

Assets:

Money market funds(1)

$

32,200

$

32,200

$

$

Equity, bond, and money market mutual funds held in trust related to the Voluntary Savings Plan(2)

 

4,821

 

4,821

 

 

Interest rate swap(3)

1,214

1,214

$

38,235

$

37,021

$

1,214

$

Liabilities:

 

Contingent consideration(4)

$

100,220

$

$

$

100,220

December 31, 2023

Fair Value Measurements Using

Quoted Prices

    

Significant

    

Significant

    

In Active

Observable

Unobservable

Markets

Inputs

Inputs

Total

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

 

(in thousands)

Assets:

Money market funds(1)

$

93,754

$

93,754

$

$

Equity, bond, and money market mutual funds held in trust related to the Voluntary Savings Plan(2)

 

4,627

 

4,627

 

 

Interest rate swap(3)

1,710

1,710

$

100,091

$

98,381

$

1,710

$

Liabilities:

 

Contingent consideration(4)

$

92,900

$

$

$

92,900

(1) Included in cash and cash equivalents.
(2) Nonqualified deferred compensation plan investments consist of U.S. and international equity mutual funds, government and corporate bond mutual funds, and money market funds which are held in a trust with a third-party brokerage firm. Included in other long-term assets, with a corresponding liability reported within other long-term liabilities.
(3) Included in other long-term assets. The fair value of the interest rate swap was determined by discounting future cash flows and receipts based on expected interest rates observed in market interest rate curves adjusted for estimated credit valuation considerations reflecting nonperformance risk of the Company and the counterparty, which are generally considered to be in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. However, the Company assessed Level 3 inputs as insignificant to the valuation at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and considers the interest rate swap valuation in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
(4) Included as a long-term liability, based on the March 31, 2024 remeasurement as achievement of the 2024 target is not expected. As part of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) of MoLo, executed on November 1, 2021, certain additional cash consideration is required to be paid by the Company based on the achievement of certain incremental targets of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The adjusted EBITDA metric was below target for 2023, resulting in no earnout payment for 2023. At 100% of the target, the cumulative additional consideration through 2025 would be $215.0 million, consisting of target earnout payments of $70.0 million and $145.0 million, including catch-up provisions, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Possible undiscounted cash consideration could range from a total of $95.0 million at 80% of target to $455.0 million at 300% of target, as outlined in the Merger Agreement. The estimated fair value of contingent consideration is determined by assessing Level 3 inputs. The Level 3 assessments utilize a Monte Carlo simulation with inputs including scenarios of estimated revenues and adjusted EBITDA to be achieved for the applicable performance periods, volatility factors applied to the simulations, and the discount rate applied, which was 13.4% and 13.3% as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Changes in the significant unobservable inputs might result in a significantly higher or lower fair value at the reporting date. The increase in fair value of contingent earnout consideration as of March 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023, primarily relates to the shorter discount period remaining until the expected payout.

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The following table provides the changes in fair value of the liabilities measured at fair value using inputs categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

Contingent Consideration

(in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2023

$

92,900

Change in fair value included in operating income

7,320

Balance at March 31, 2024

$

100,220

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company remeasures certain assets on a nonrecurring basis upon the occurrence of certain events. In November 2021, the Company recorded an equity investment for $25.0 million in Phantom Auto, a startup provider of human-centered remote operation software, and became a lead investor in their Series B Preferred offering. The equity investment was accounted for as a nonmarketable equity security without a readily determinable value using the measurement alternative, which allowed the investment to be recorded at cost, less any impairment and adjusted for observable price changes. During the second quarter of 2023, the fair value of the Company’s investment in Phantom Auto increased by $3.7 million based on an observable price change upon the closing of Phantom Auto’s Series B-2 funding round. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company was notified that Phantom Auto was ceasing operations due to liquidity concerns from failing to secure additional funding from investors or lenders. As a result, the Company assessed the likelihood of recovering its investment as remote and recorded a pre-tax, noncash impairment charge of $28.7 million, to write off the equity investment in Phantom Auto, which was recognized below the operating income line in “Other, net” within “Other income (costs).”

The following table provides the change in fair value of equity investments on a nonrecurring basis using inputs categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

Equity Investment

    

(in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2023

$

28,739

Change in fair value included in other income

(28,739)

Balance at March 31, 2024

$

NOTE C – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On February 28, 2023, the Company sold FleetNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for an initial aggregate cash purchase price of $101.1 million, which was subject to certain tax and other customary adjustments, and recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of $69.1 million, or $51.4 million, net of tax. The purchase price was adjusted during the second quarter of 2023, resulting in an aggregate adjusted cash purchase price of $100.9 million. After adjustments the total pre-tax gain recognized in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 was $70.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively. FleetNet provided roadside repair solutions and vehicle maintenance management services for commercial and private fleets through a network of third-party service providers. The sale of FleetNet allowed the Company to focus on growing its continuing operations, as FleetNet was no longer core to the Company’s growth initiatives. The financial results of FleetNet have been accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

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The following table summarizes the financial results from discontinued operations:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

Revenues

$

$

55,929

Operating expenses

Gain on sale of business(1)

(806)

(69,083)

Other

54,623

(806)

(14,460)

Operating income

806

70,389

Other income, net(2)

17

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

806

70,406

Income tax provision

206

17,970

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

$

600

$

52,436

(1) The 2024 period includes the reversal of an employee-related contingent liability that expired one-year after disposition, per the purchase agreement. The 2023 period includes transaction costs of $4.4 million consisting of consulting fees, professional fees, and employee-related expenses prior to resolution of certain post-close contingencies in second quarter 2023.
(2) The 2023 period includes interest expense, which is immaterial.

Cash flows from discontinued operations of FleetNet were as follows:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

(in thousands)

Net cash provided by operating activities(1)

$

$

762

Net cash used in investing activities(2)

(398)

Net cash used in financing activities

(472)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

$

$

(108)

(1) The 2023 period includes depreciation and amortization expense of $0.4 million and share-based compensation expense of $0.3 million, which is included in the “Pre-tax gain on sale of discontinued operations” line of the consolidated statements of cash flows.
(2) The 2023 period includes purchases of property, plant and equipment of $0.1 million. Excludes the proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations, which are included in cash flows from continuing operations.

NOTE D – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. The goodwill balance of $304.8 million at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, primarily relates to the Asset-Light segment acquisitions of MoLo and Panther.

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Intangible assets consisted of the following:

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

 

Weighted-Average

Accumulated

Net

Accumulated

Net

 

    

Amortization Period

    

Cost

    

Amortization

    

Value

    

Cost

    

Amortization

    

Value

 

(in years)

(in thousands)

(in thousands)

 

Finite-lived intangible assets

Customer relationships

 

12

$

99,579

$

53,463

$

46,116

$

99,579

$

51,357

$

48,222

Other

8

30,158

10,634

19,524

30,151

9,523

20,628

 

11

 

129,737

 

64,097

 

65,640

129,730

 

60,880

 

68,850

Indefinite-lived intangible asset

Trade name

 

N/A

 

32,300

 

N/A

 

32,300

32,300

 

N/A

 

32,300

 

Total intangible assets

 

N/A

$

162,037

$

64,097

$

97,940

$

162,030

$

60,880

$

101,150

As of March 31, 2024, the future amortization for intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions were as follows:

    

Amortization of

    

Intangible Assets

 

(in thousands)

Remainder of 2024

$

9,598

2025

 

12,798

2026

 

8,691

2027

 

7,266

2028

7,266

Thereafter

20,021

Total amortization

$

65,640

NOTE E – INCOME TAXES

The Company’s total effective tax benefit rate was 40.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, due primarily to the pre-tax loss from a noncash impairment charge to write off our equity investment in Phantom Auto included in the loss from continuing operations during the first quarter of 2024. The Company’s total effective tax rate of 24.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 includes discontinued operations further discussed in Note C. The effective tax benefit rate from continuing operations was 37.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 20.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2023. State tax rates vary among states and average approximately 6.0%, although some state rates are higher, and a small number of states do not impose an income tax.

For the three months ended March 31 2024 and 2023, the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations and the federal statutory rate resulted from state income taxes, nondeductible expenses, changes in the cash surrender value of life insurance, the federal alternative fuel tax credit, the federal research and development tax credit, changes in tax valuation allowances, and the tax benefit from the vesting of stock awards.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s deferred tax liabilities, which will reverse in future years, exceeded the deferred tax assets. The Company evaluated the total deferred tax assets at March 31, 2024, and concluded that, other than for certain deferred tax assets related to foreign and state tax credit carryforwards and state net operating losses, the assets did not exceed the amount for which realization is more likely than not. In making this determination, the Company considered the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income, and tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets totaled $1.8 million at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company paid federal, state, and foreign income taxes of $19.1 million and received refunds of less than $0.1 million of state income taxes that were paid in prior years. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company paid federal, state, and foreign income taxes of $27.7 million and received refunds of $1.6 million of federal and state income taxes that were paid in prior years.

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Income tax expense reflected in discontinued operations, which primarily consisted of federal and state income taxes on the gain on the sale of FleetNet, was $0.2 million and $18.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, or an effective tax rate of 25.5% in each period.

NOTE F – LEASES

The Company has operating lease arrangements for certain facilities and revenue equipment used in the Asset-Based and Asset-Light segment operations and certain other facilities and office equipment.

The components of operating lease expense were as follows:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

Operating lease expense

$

10,276

$

9,166

Variable lease expense

1,681

1,540

Sublease income

(646)

(114)

Total operating lease expense(1)

$

11,311

$

10,592

(1) Operating lease expense excludes short-term leases with a term of 12 months or less.

The operating cash flows from operating lease activity were as follows:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

Noncash change in operating right-of-use assets

$

8,618

$

7,485

Cash payments to obtain right-of-use assets

(7,752)

Change in operating lease liabilities

(8,576)

(5,915)

Operating right-of-use-assets and lease liabilities, net

$

(7,710)

$

1,570

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities

$

(10,226)

$

(7,596)

Maturities of operating lease liabilities at March 31, 2024, were as follows:

Equipment

Land and

and

    

Total

    

Structures(1)

    

Other

 

 

(in thousands)

Remainder of 2024

$

30,278

$

30,085

$

193

2025

 

37,922

 

37,899

 

23

2026

 

34,746

 

34,746

 

2027

 

28,069

 

28,069

 

2028

 

24,584

 

24,584

 

Thereafter

 

87,556

 

87,556

 

Total lease payments

243,155

242,939

216

Less imputed interest

(37,084)

(37,081)

(3)

Total

$

206,071

$

205,858

$

213

(1) Excludes future minimum lease payments for leases which were executed but had not yet commenced as of March 31, 2024, totaling $28.8 million, which will be paid over approximately 10 years.

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NOTE G – LONG-TERM DEBT AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

Long-Term Debt Obligations

Long-term debt consisted of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility, which is further described in Financing Arrangements within this Note, and notes payable related to the financing of revenue equipment (tractors and trailers used primarily in Asset-Based segment operations) and certain other equipment were as follows:

March 31

December 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

Credit Facility (interest rate of 6.6%(1) at March 31, 2024)

$

50,000

$

50,000

Notes payable (weighted-average interest rate of 3.9% at March 31, 2024)

 

162,171

 

178,938

 

212,171

 

228,938

Less current portion

 

63,179

 

66,948

Long-term debt, less current portion

$

148,992

$

161,990

(1) The interest rate swap mitigates interest rate risk by effectively converting the $50.0 million of borrowings under the Credit Facility from variable-rate interest to fixed-rate interest with a per annum rate of 1.55% based on the margin of the Credit Facility as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt obligations as of March 31, 2024, were as follows:

Credit

Notes

    

Total

    

Facility(1)

    

Payable

 

 

(in thousands) 

Due in one year or less

 

$

71,602

 

$

3,142

 

$

68,460

Due after one year through two years

 

50,181

 

2,690

 

47,491

Due after two years through three years

 

38,552

 

2,502

 

36,050

Due after three years through four years

 

69,270

 

51,273

 

17,997

Due after four years through five years

 

3,433

 

 

3,433

Due after five years

Total payments

 

233,038

 

59,607

 

173,431

Less amounts representing interest

 

20,867

 

9,607

 

11,260

Long-term debt

 

$

212,171

 

$

50,000

 

$

162,171

(1) The future interest payments included in the scheduled maturities due are calculated using variable interest rates based on the SOFR swap curve, plus the anticipated applicable margin, exclusive of payments on the interest rate swap.

Assets securing notes payable were included in property, plant and equipment as follows:

March 31

December 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenue equipment

 

$

300,161

 

$

300,922

Service, office and other equipment

38,138

38,138

Total assets securing notes payable

 

338,299

 

339,060

Less accumulated depreciation(1)

 

145,630

 

135,305

Net assets securing notes payable

$

192,669

$

203,755

(1) Depreciation of assets securing notes payable is included in depreciation expense.

Financing Arrangements

Credit Facility

As of March 31, 2024, the Company has a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) under its Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), with an initial maximum credit amount of $250.0 million, including a swing line facility in an aggregate amount of up to $40.0 million and a letter of credit sub-facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit up to an aggregate amount of $20.0 million.

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The Company may request additional revolving commitments or incremental term loans thereunder up to an aggregate amount of up to $125.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain additional conditions as provided in the Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $200.0 million under the initial maximum credit amount of the Credit Facility.

Principal payments under the Credit Facility are due upon maturity of the facility on October 7, 2027; however, borrowings may be repaid, at the Company’s discretion, in whole or in part at any time, without penalty, subject to required notice periods and compliance with minimum prepayment amounts. In addition, the Credit Facility requires the Company to pay a fee on unused commitments. The Credit Agreement contains conditions, representations and warranties, events of default, and indemnification provisions that are customary for financings of this type, including, but not limited to, a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum adjusted leverage ratio, and limitations on incurrence of debt, investments, liens on assets, certain sale and leaseback transactions, transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, and sales of assets. The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2024.

Interest Rate Swap

As noted in the table above, the Company has an interest rate swap agreement with a $50.0 million notional amount, which will end on October 1, 2024. The Company receives floating-rate interest amounts based on one-month SOFR in exchange for fixed-rate interest payments of 0.33% throughout the remaining term of the agreement. The fair value of the interest rate swap of $1.2 million and $1.7 million was recorded in other long-term assets at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The unrealized gain or loss on the interest rate swap instrument in effect at the balance sheet date was reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and the change in the unrealized gain or loss on the interest rate swap for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was reported in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The interest rate swap is subject to certain customary provisions that could allow the counterparty to request immediate settlement of the fair value liability or asset upon violation of any or all of the provisions. The Company was in compliance with all provisions of the interest rate swap agreement at March 31, 2024.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Program

The Company’s accounts receivable securitization program, which matures on July 1, 2024, provides available cash proceeds of $50.0 million under the program and has an accordion feature allowing the Company to request additional borrowings up to $100.0 million, subject to certain conditions.

Under this program, certain subsidiaries of the Company continuously sell a designated pool of trade accounts receivables to a wholly owned subsidiary which, in turn, may borrow funds on a revolving basis. This wholly owned consolidated subsidiary is a separate bankruptcy-remote entity, and its assets would be available only to satisfy the claims related to the lenders’ interest in the trade accounts receivables. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization program bear interest based upon SOFR, plus a margin, and an annual facility fee. The securitization agreement contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default that are customary for financings of this type, including a maximum adjusted leverage ratio covenant. The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the accounts receivable securitization program at March 31, 2024.

The accounts receivable securitization program includes a provision under which the Company may request, and the letter of credit issuer may issue standby letters of credit, primarily in support of workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims liabilities in various states in which the Company is self-insured. The outstanding standby letters of credit reduce the availability of borrowings under the program. As of March 31, 2024, standby letters of credit of $16.8 million have been issued under the program, which reduced the available borrowing capacity to $33.2 million.

Letter of Credit Agreements and Surety Bond Programs

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $17.4 million (including $16.8 million issued under the accounts receivable securitization program). The Company has programs in place with multiple surety companies for the issuance of surety bonds in support of its self-insurance program.

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As of March 31, 2024, surety bonds outstanding related to the self-insurance program totaled $67.7 million.

NOTE H – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income were as follows:

    

March 31

    

December 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

Pre-tax amounts:

Unrecognized net periodic benefit credit

$

6,564

$

6,816

Interest rate swap

1,214

1,710

Foreign currency translation

 

(3,285)

 

(2,709)

Total

$

4,493

$

5,817

After-tax amounts:

Unrecognized net periodic benefit credit

$

4,874

$

5,061

Interest rate swap

897

1,263

Foreign currency translation

 

(2,426)

 

(2,000)

Total

$

3,345

$

4,324

The following is a summary of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, by component for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

Unrecognized

Interest

Foreign

    

Total

    

Benefit Credit

    

Swap

    

Translation

 

(in thousands)

Balances at December 31, 2023

$

4,324

$

5,061

$

1,263

$

(2,000)

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

(792)

(366)

(426)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

(187)

(187)

Net current-period other comprehensive loss

(979)

(187)

(366)

(426)

Balances at March 31, 2024

$

3,345

$

4,874

$

897

$

(2,426)

Balances at December 31, 2022

$

7,103

$

6,896

$

2,604

$

(2,397)

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

 

(470)

 

(452)

 

(18)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

(247)

 

(247)

 

Net current-period other comprehensive loss

 

(717)

 

(247)

(452)

 

(18)

Balances at March 31, 2023

$

6,386

$

6,649

$

2,152

$

(2,415)

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The following is a summary of the significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component:

Unrecognized Net Periodic

Benefit Credit

 

Three Months Ended March 31

    

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

 

Amortization of net actuarial gain, pre-tax(1)

$

252

$

333

Tax expense

(65)

 

(86)

Total, net of tax

$

187

$

247

(1) Included in the computation of net periodic benefit credit of the Company’s supplemental benefit plan (“SBP”) and postretirement health benefit plan.

Dividends on Common Stock

The following table is a summary of dividends declared during the applicable quarter:

2024

2023

    

Per Share

    

Amount

    

Per Share

    

Amount

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

First quarter

$

0.12

$

2,828

$

0.12

$

2,915

On April 26, 2024, the Company announced its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.12 per share to stockholders of record as of May 10, 2024.

Treasury Stock

The Company has a program to repurchase its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions (the “share repurchase program”). The share repurchase program has no expiration date but may be terminated at any time at the Board of Directors’ discretion. Repurchases may be made using the Company’s cash reserves or other available sources.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $33.5 million available for repurchases of its common stock in total under the share repurchase program. In February 2024, the Board of Directors reauthorized the share repurchase program and increased the total amount available for purchases of the Company’s common stock under the program to $125.0 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 120,681 shares for an aggregate cost of $15.7 million, including 65,366 shares for an aggregate cost of $8.0 million under Rule 10b5-1 plans, which allows for stock repurchases during closed trading windows. The Company had $115.3 million remaining under its share repurchase program as of March 31, 2024. Subsequent to March 31, 2024 through April 30, 2024, the Company settled repurchases of 36,547 shares for an aggregate cost of $5.2 million.

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NOTE I – EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Basic

Numerator:

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

$

(2,912)

$

18,847

Net income from discontinued operations

 

600

 

52,436

Net income (loss)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

Denominator:

Weighted-average shares

 

23,561,309

 

24,288,138

Basic earnings per common share

Continuing operations

$

(0.12)

$

0.78

Discontinued operations

 

0.03

 

2.16

Total basic earnings per common share(1)

$

(0.10)

$

2.93

Diluted

Numerator:

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

$

(2,912)

$

18,847

Net income from discontinued operations

 

600

 

52,436

Net income (loss)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

Denominator:

Weighted-average shares

 

23,561,309

 

24,288,138

Effect of dilutive securities

 

 

769,588

Adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions

 

23,561,309

 

25,057,726

Diluted earnings per common share

Continuing operations

$

(0.12)

$

0.75

Discontinued operations

 

0.03

 

2.09

Total diluted earnings per common share(1)

$

(0.10)

$

2.84

(1) Earnings per common share is calculated in total and may not equal the sum of earnings per common share from continuing operations and discontinued operations due to rounding.

NOTE J – OPERATING SEGMENT DATA

The Company uses the “management approach” to determine its reportable operating segments, as well as to determine the basis of reporting the operating segment information. The management approach focuses on financial information that the Company’s management uses to make operating decisions. Management uses revenues, operating expense categories, operating ratios, operating income (loss), and key operating statistics to evaluate performance and allocate resources to the Company’s operations.

On February 28, 2023, the Company sold FleetNet, a wholly owned subsidiary and reportable operating segment of the Company. Following the sale, FleetNet is reported as discontinued operations. As such, historical results of FleetNet have been excluded from both continuing operations and segment results for all periods presented.

The Company’s reportable operating segments are impacted by seasonal fluctuations which affect tonnage and shipment levels and demand for services, as described below; therefore, operating results for the interim periods presented may not necessarily be indicative of the results for the fiscal year. Inclement weather conditions can adversely affect freight shipments and operating costs of the Asset-Based and Asset-Light segments. Shipments may decline during winter months because of post-holiday slowdowns and during summer months due to plant shutdowns affecting automotive and manufacturing customers of the Asset-Light segment; however, weather and other disruptive events can result in higher short-term demand for expedite services depending on the impact to customers' supply chains.

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Table of Contents

Historically, the second and third calendar quarters of each year usually have the highest tonnage and shipment levels, while the first quarter generally has the lowest, although other factors, including the state of the U.S. and global economies; available capacity in the market; the impact of yield initiatives; and the impact of external events or conditions, may influence quarterly business levels. The Company’s yield initiatives, along with increased technology-driven intelligence and visibility with respect to demand, have allowed for shipment optimization in non-peak times, reducing the Company’s susceptibility to seasonal fluctuations in recent years, including the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The Company’s reportable operating segments are as follows:

The Asset-Based segment includes the results of operations of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries. The segment operations include national, inter-regional, and regional transportation of general commodities through standard, expedited, and guaranteed LTL services. The Asset-Based segment provides services to the Asset-Light segment, including freight transportation related to managed transportation solutions and other services.

The Asset-Light segment includes the results of operations of the Company’s service offerings in truckload, ground expedite, dedicated, intermodal, household goods moving, managed transportation, warehousing and distribution, and international freight transportation for air, ocean, and ground. The Asset-Light segment provides services to the Asset-Based segment.

The Company’s other business activities and operations that are not reportable segments include ArcBest Corporation (the parent holding company) and certain subsidiaries. Certain costs incurred by the parent holding company and the Company’s shared services subsidiary are allocated to the reporting segments. The Company eliminates intercompany transactions in consolidation. However, the information used by the Company’s management with respect to its reportable operating segments is before intersegment eliminations of revenues and expenses.

Shared services represent costs incurred to support all segments, including sales, pricing, customer service, marketing, capacity sourcing functions, human resources, financial services, information technology, and other company-wide services. Certain overhead costs are not attributable to any segment and remain unallocated in “Other and eliminations.” Included in unallocated costs are expenses related to investor relations, legal, the Company’s Board of Directors, and certain technology investments. Shared services costs attributable to the reportable operating segments are predominantly allocated based upon estimated and planned resource utilization-related metrics, such as estimated shipment levels or number of personnel supported. The bases for such charges are modified and adjusted by management when necessary or appropriate to reflect fairly and equitably the actual incidence of cost incurred by the reportable operating segments. Management believes the methods used to allocate expenses are reasonable.

Further classifications of operations or revenues by geographic location are impracticable and, therefore, are not provided. The Company’s foreign operations are not significant.

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The following tables reflect the Company’s reportable operating segment information from continuing operations:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

REVENUES

Asset-Based

$

671,467

$

697,817

 

Asset-Light

 

396,363

 

438,092

Other and eliminations

 

(31,411)

 

(29,815)

Total consolidated revenues

 

$

1,036,419

 

$

1,106,094

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

Asset-Based

Salaries, wages, and benefits

$

344,999

$

335,605

 

Fuel, supplies, and expenses

 

81,044

 

94,288

Operating taxes and licenses

 

13,529

 

13,979

Insurance

 

14,482

 

13,273

Communications and utilities

 

4,799

 

5,304

Depreciation and amortization

 

27,007

 

24,911

Rents and purchased transportation

 

65,671

 

90,744

Shared services

64,914

64,613

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment

 

149

 

(51)

Innovative technology costs(1)

 

 

6,068

Other

 

1,417

 

1,612

Total Asset-Based

 

618,011

 

650,346

Asset-Light

Purchased transportation

 

344,122

 

370,163

Salaries, wages, and benefits(2)

30,304

 

34,894

Supplies and expenses(2)

 

2,809

 

3,629

Depreciation and amortization(3)

 

5,078

 

5,068

Shared services(2)

16,274

16,535

Contingent consideration(4)

7,320

15,040

Other(2)

5,714

 

6,854

Total Asset-Light

 

411,621

 

452,183

Other and eliminations

 

(15,648)

 

(17,594)

 

Total consolidated operating expenses

$

1,013,984

$

1,084,935

(1) Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight, for which the decision was made to pause the pilot during third quarter 2023.
(2) For the 2023 period, certain expenses have been reclassed to conform to the current year presentation, including amounts previously reported in “Shared services” that were reclassed to present “Salaries, wages, and benefits” expenses in a separate line item, and certain immaterial facility rent expenses which were reclassed between line items.
(3) Depreciation and amortization includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses.
(4) Represents the change in fair value of the contingent earnout consideration related to the MoLo acquisition (see Note B).

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Table of Contents

Three Months Ended 

March 31

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Asset-Based

$

53,456

$

47,471

Asset-Light

 

(15,258)

 

(14,091)

Other and eliminations

 

(15,763)

 

(12,221)

Total consolidated operating income

$

22,435

$

21,159

OTHER INCOME (COSTS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Interest and dividend income

$

3,315

$

2,933

Interest and other related financing costs

 

(2,228)

 

(2,327)

Other, net(1)

 

(28,199)

 

1,780

Total other income (costs)

 

(27,112)

 

2,386

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

$

(4,677)

$

23,545

(1) The 2024 period includes a noncash impairment charge to write off the Company’s equity investment in Phantom Auto, a provider of human-centered remote operation software, which ceased operations during first quarter 2024.

The following table reflects information about revenues from customers and intersegment revenues:

    

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

Revenues from customers

Asset-Based

$

640,576

$

669,220

 

Asset-Light

 

394,825

 

436,033

Other

 

1,018

 

841

Total consolidated revenues

 

$

1,036,419

 

$

1,106,094

 

Intersegment revenues

Asset-Based

$

30,891

$

28,597

Asset-Light

1,538

2,059

Other and eliminations

(32,429)

(30,656)

Total intersegment revenues

$

 

$

 

Total segment revenues

Asset-Based

$

671,467

$

697,817

Asset-Light

396,363

438,092

Other and eliminations

(31,411)

(29,815)

Total consolidated revenues

$

1,036,419

$

1,106,094

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The following table presents operating expenses by category on a consolidated basis:

    

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

 

(in thousands)

OPERATING EXPENSES

Salaries, wages, and benefits

$

439,523

$

436,982

Rents, purchased transportation, and other costs of services

 

375,319

 

429,605

Fuel, supplies, and expenses(1)

 

109,522

 

122,175

Depreciation and amortization(2)

 

36,833

 

35,010

Contingent consideration(3)

7,320

15,040

Other(1)

 

45,467

 

46,123

$

1,013,984

$

1,084,935

(1) For the 2023 period, certain facility rent expenses have been reclassed between line items to conform to the current year presentation. Adjustments made are not material.
(2) Includes amortization of intangible assets.
(3) Represents the change in fair value of the contingent earnout consideration related to the MoLo acquisition (see Note B).

NOTE K – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS

The Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains liability insurance against certain risks arising out of the normal course of its business, subject to certain self-insured retention limits. The Company routinely establishes and reviews the adequacy of reserves for estimated legal, environmental, and self-insurance exposures. While management believes that amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements are adequate, estimates of these liabilities may change as circumstances develop. Considering amounts recorded, routine legal matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Legal Proceedings

In January 2023, the Company and MoLo were named as defendants in lawsuits related to an auto accident which involved a MoLo contract carrier. The accident occurred prior to the Company’s acquisition of MoLo on November 1, 2021. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these lawsuits. The Company believes that a loss related to this matter is reasonably possible. The Company cannot estimate the amount or a range of reasonably possible losses for this matter, if any, at this time; however, it is reasonably possible that such amounts could be material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company will pursue recovery for its losses, if any, against all available sources, including, but not limited to, insurance and any potentially responsible third parties.

Environmental Matters

The Company’s subsidiaries store fuel for use in tractors and trucks in underground tanks at certain facilities. Maintenance of such tanks is regulated at the federal and, in most cases, state levels. The Company believes it is in substantial compliance with all such regulations. The Company’s underground storage tanks are required to have leak detection systems. The Company is not aware of any leaks from such tanks that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company has received notices from the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and others that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or other federal or state environmental statutes, at several hazardous waste sites. After investigating the Company’s involvement in waste disposal or waste generation at such sites, the Company has either agreed to de minimis settlements or determined that its obligations, other than those specifically accrued with respect to such sites, would involve immaterial monetary liability, although there can be no assurances in this regard. The Company maintains a reserve within accrued expenses, for estimated environmental cleanup costs of properties currently or previously operated by the Company. Amounts accrued reflect management’s best estimate of the future undiscounted exposure related to identified properties based on current environmental regulations, management’s experience with similar environmental matters, and testing performed at certain sites.

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Other Events

During second quarter 2023, the Company received a Notice of Assessment from a state regarding an ongoing sales and use tax audit for the period December 1, 2018 to March 31, 2021. This notice is in addition to the February 2021 Notice of Assessment from that state pertaining to uncollected sales and use tax, including interest and penalties, for the period of September 1, 2016 to November 30, 2018. The Company does not agree with the basis of these assessments and filed an appeal for the 2023 assessment in October 2023 on the same legal basis as the appeal filed in May 2021 for the earlier assessment. The Company has previously accrued an amount related to these assessments consistent with applicable accounting guidance, but if the state prevails in its position, the Company may owe additional tax. Management does not believe the resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

During fourth quarter 2023, the Company tentatively settled a claim related to the classification of certain Asset-Light employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act for approximately $9.5 million. The settlement is pending court approval. The estimated settlement expense for this matter was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2023 and the reserve is maintained within accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2024.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

ArcBest Corporation™ (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “ArcBest®,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that leverages our technology and a full suite of solutions to meet our customers’ supply chain needs. Our operations are conducted through two reportable operating segments: Asset-Based, which consists of ABF Freight System, Inc. and certain other subsidiaries (“ABF Freight”); and Asset-Light, which includes MoLo Solutions, LLC (“MoLo”), Panther Premium Logistics®, and certain other subsidiaries. References to the Company, including “we,” “us,” and “our,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are primarily to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

On February 28, 2023, the Company sold FleetNet America, Inc. (“FleetNet”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for an aggregate adjusted cash purchase price of $100.9 million, including post-closing adjustments. Following the sale, FleetNet® was reported as discontinued operations. As such, historical results of FleetNet have been excluded from both continuing operations and segment results. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to continuing operations, including comparisons to the prior year. For more information on our discontinued operations, see Note C to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided to assist readers in understanding our financial performance during the periods presented and significant trends which may impact our future performance, including the principal factors affecting our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources, and critical accounting policies. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes additional information about significant accounting policies, practices, and the transactions that underlie our financial results, as well as a detailed discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties to which our financial and operating results are subject.

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Results of Operations

Consolidated Results

The following table reflects the Company’s consolidated results, including segment revenues and operating income from continuing operations:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands, except per share data)

REVENUES

Asset-Based

$

671,467

$

697,817

Asset-Light

 

396,363

 

438,092

Other and eliminations

 

(31,411)

 

(29,815)

Total consolidated revenues

$

1,036,419

$

1,106,094

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

Asset-Based

$

53,456

$

47,471

Asset-Light

 

(15,258)

 

(14,091)

Other and eliminations

 

(15,763)

 

(12,221)

Total consolidated operating income

$

22,435

$

21,159

NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

$

(2,912)

$

18,847

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX(1)

600

52,436

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

(2,312)

$

71,283

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Continuing operations

$

(0.12)

$

0.75

Discontinued operations(1)

0.03

2.09

Total diluted earnings per common share

$

(0.10)

$

2.84

(1) Discontinued operations represents the FleetNet segment, which sold on February 28, 2023, as previously discussed. The 2024 period represents adjustments related to the prior year gain on sale of FleetNet. The 2023 period includes the net gain on sale of FleetNet of $51.4 million (after-tax) or $2.05 diluted earnings per share. Discontinued operations are further described within Note C to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Our consolidated revenues, which totaled $1,036.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, decreased 6.3% compared to the same prior-year period. The revenue decline is primarily attributable to lower market rates for our Asset-Light shipping and logistics services in a softer market environment, and a decrease in our Asset-Based daily tonnage levels. The lower tonnage levels are due to fewer daily shipments and lower weight per shipment experienced within the network, compared to the prior-year period, despite an increase in demand for our core, published LTL business during the first quarter of 2024 following market disruption, as further discussed below. The year-over-year decrease in consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 reflects a decrease in our Asset-Based revenues of 3.8%, and a decrease in Asset-Light revenues of 9.5%. The increased elimination of revenues reported in the “Other and eliminations” line of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, includes the impact of increased intersegment business levels among our operating segments.

Our Asset-Based revenue decline reflects a 16.8% decrease in tonnage per day, partially offset by a 15.6% increase in billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. The increase in total billed revenue per hundredweight reflects favorable pricing, partially offset by a decrease in fuel surcharge associated with lower fuel prices, and lower weight per shipment driven by a weaker manufacturing sector and changes in our business mix. Lower weight per shipment was also affected by low truckload rates as larger LTL shipments are moving into the full truckload space due to excess capacity and lower market rates. As compared to the first quarter of 2023, we targeted less dynamically priced, transactional LTL shipments due to improved demand for core, published LTL-rated shipments.

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Following the shutdown of one of our larger LTL competitors in late July 2023 (as further discussed in the Asset-Based Overview within the Asset-Based Operations section), our Asset-Based segment experienced an increase in demand for its core, published LTL business and was able to secure these shipments at profitable rates. This increase in published LTL-rated shipments and resulting decrease in transactional business positively impacted the Asset-Based operating results for the first quarter of 2024.

The decrease in revenues of our Asset-Light segment for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, was impacted by a 19.7% decline in revenue per shipment associated with softer market conditions and changes in business mix, partially offset by a 13.6% increase in shipments per day. Our Asset-Light segment generated approximately 37% and 39% of our total revenues before other revenues and intercompany eliminations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Consolidated operating income totaled $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $21.2 million for the same period of 2023. The year-over-year improvement in operating income reflects a decrease in operating expenses due to lower purchased transportation costs in both of our operating segments and lower employee costs in the Asset-Light segment from continued alignment of costs to business levels, offset partially by higher employee costs in the Asset-Based segment due to union wage and benefit rate increases. Segment operating expenses are further described in the Asset-Based Segment Results and Asset-Light Segment Results sections of Results of Operations. In addition to the results of our operating segments, the year-over-year comparison of consolidated operating income was also impacted by items described in the following paragraphs.

Innovative technology costs impacted our consolidated operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and our consolidated and Asset-Based segment results for the same period of 2023. In March 2023, we publicly launched our customer offering of Vaux™ – the innovative suite of hardware and software which modernizes and transforms how freight is loaded, unloaded, and transferred in warehouse and dock operations. In February 2024, we announced the next step in our Vaux suite – Vaux Smart Autonomy™, which combines autonomous mobile robot forklifts and reach trucks, intelligent software, and remote teleoperation capability to autonomously handle materials movement within warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities, while being monitored by humans. Certain costs related to our growing number of Vaux pilot programs in customer test locations and other initiatives to optimize our performance through technological innovation are reported in the “Other and eliminations” line of consolidated operating income. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, innovative technology costs also included our freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight, as further discussed in the Asset-Based Segment Results section. Our combined innovative technology costs impacted consolidated operating results by a total of $9.7 million (pre-tax), or $7.4 million (after-tax) and $0.31 per diluted share, for first quarter 2024, compared to $12.5 million (pre-tax), or $9.5 million (after-tax) and $0.38 per diluted share, for first quarter 2023.

The liability for contingent earnout consideration recorded for the MoLo® acquisition is remeasured at each quarterly reporting date, and any change in fair value as a result of the recurring assessments is recognized in operating income. Consolidated operating results decreased by $7.3 million (pre-tax), or $5.5 million (after-tax) and $0.23 per diluted share, due to quarterly remeasurement which resulted in a higher liability of the contingent earnout consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the quarterly remeasurement decreased consolidated operating results by $15.0 million (pre-tax), or $11.3 million (after-tax) and $0.45 per diluted share. Remeasurement of the contingent earnout consideration is further described within Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, consolidated net loss and earnings per share were impacted by a one-time, noncash impairment charge of $21.6 million (after-tax), or $0.90 per diluted share, to write off our equity investment in Phantom Auto, a provider of human-centered remote operation software, which ceased operations during the first quarter of 2024. This charge was recognized in “Other, net” within “Other income (costs).” The write-off of our equity investment is further described within Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In addition to the above items, the year-over-year changes in consolidated net income and earnings per share were impacted by changes in the cash surrender value of variable life insurance policies, tax benefits from the vesting of share-based compensation awards, and other changes in the effective tax rate as described within the Income Taxes section of MD&A.

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A portion of our variable life insurance policies have investments, through separate accounts, in equity and fixed income securities and, therefore, are subject to market volatility. Changes in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, which are reported below the operating income line in the consolidated statements of operations, increased consolidated net income by $1.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the same prior-year period. The vesting of restricted stock units resulted in a tax benefit of $0.5 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the same prior-year period.

Consolidated Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)

We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios, such as Adjusted EBITDA, utilized for internal analysis provide analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance. These measures provide meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. Accordingly, using these measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management’s opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a key measure of performance and for business planning. The measure is particularly meaningful for analysis of our operating performance, because it excludes amortization of acquired intangibles and software of the Asset-Light segment and changes in the fair value of contingent earnout consideration and our equity investment, which are significant expenses resulting from strategic decisions or other factors rather than core daily operations. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is a primary component of the financial covenants contained in our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (see Note G to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q). Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently; therefore, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a better measurement than operating income, operating cash flow, net income (loss), or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP. The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to our net income (loss) from continuing operations, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure for the periods presented.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

(in thousands)

Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

$

(2,912)

$

18,847

Interest and other related financing costs

 

2,228

 

2,327

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

(1,765)

 

4,698

Depreciation and amortization(1)

 

36,833

 

35,010

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

2,889

 

2,182

Change in fair value of contingent consideration(2)

7,320

15,040

Change in fair value of equity investment(3)

 

28,739

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations

$

73,332

$

78,104

(1) Includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses.
(2) Represents change in fair value of the contingent earnout consideration recorded for the MoLo acquisition, as previously discussed.
(3) Represents a noncash impairment charge to write off our equity investment in Phantom Auto, as previously discussed.

Asset-Based Operations

Asset-Based Segment Overview

The Asset-Based segment consists of ABF Freight System, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ArcBest Corporation, and certain other subsidiaries. Our Asset-Based segment provides freight transportation services through one of North America’s largest less-than-truckload (“LTL”) carriers.

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Our customers trust the LTL solutions ABF Freight has provided for over a century and rely on our unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and customer service to solve their transportation challenges through market disruptions and rapidly changing economic conditions. We are strategically investing in our Asset-Based operations and leveraging technology to drive efficiency and productivity. We are also committed to deepening our customer relationships as we help customers navigate current and future challenges.

Our Asset-Based operations are affected by general economic conditions, as well as a number of other competitive factors that are more fully described in Item 1 (Business) and in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Part I of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note J to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of the Asset-Based segment and additional segment information, including revenues, operating expenses, and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The key indicators necessary to understand the operating results of our Asset-Based segment, which are more fully described in the Asset-Based Segment Overview within the Asset-Based Operations section of Results of Operations in Item 7 (MD&A) of Part II of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, are outlined below. These key indicators are used by management to evaluate segment operating performance and measure the effectiveness of strategic initiatives in the results of our Asset-Based segment. We quantify certain key indicators using key operating statistics, which are important measures in analyzing segment operating results from period to period. These statistics are defined within the key indicators below and referred to throughout the discussion of the results of our Asset-Based segment:

Overall customer demand for Asset-Based transportation services, including the impact of economic factors.

Volume of transportation services provided and processed through our network which influences operating leverage as the level of tonnage and number of shipments vary, primarily measured by:

Tonnage per day (average daily shipment weight) – total weight of shipments processed during the period in U.S. tons divided by the number of workdays in the period.

Shipments per day – total number of shipments moving through the Asset-Based freight network during the period divided by the number of workdays in the period.

Pounds per shipment (weight per shipment) – total weight of shipments processed during the period in U.S. pounds divided by the number of shipments during the period.

Average length of haul (miles) – total miles between origin and destination service centers for all shipments (including shipments moved with purchased transportation) during the period.

Prices obtained for services, including fuel surcharges, primarily measured by:

Billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges (yield) – revenue per 100 pounds of shipment weight, including fuel surcharges, systematically calculated as shipments are processed in the Asset-Based freight network. Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Billed revenue used for calculating revenue per hundredweight measurements is not adjusted for the portion of revenue deferred for financial statement purposes.

Billed revenue per shipment, including fuel surcharges – Asset-Based freight revenue, including fuel surcharges, divided by the number of shipments that are processed in the Asset-Based freight network. Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Billed revenue used for calculating revenue per shipment measurements is not adjusted for the portion of revenue deferred for financial statement purposes.

Ability to manage cost structure, primarily in the area of salaries, wages, and benefits (“labor”), with the total cost structure primarily measured by:

Operating ratio – operating expenses as a percentage of revenue.

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We also quantify certain key operating statistics, which are used by management to evaluate productivity of operations within the Asset-Based freight network and to measure the effectiveness of strategic initiatives to manage the segment’s cost structure from period to period. These measures are defined below and further discussed in the Asset-Based Operating Expenses section within Asset-Based Segment Results:

Shipments per DSY hour – total shipments (including shipments handled by purchased transportation agents) divided by dock, street, and yard (“DSY”) hours. This metric is used to measure labor efficiency in the segment’s local operations. The shipments per DSY hour metric will generally increase when more purchased transportation is used; however, the labor efficiency may be offset by increased purchased transportation expense.

Pounds per mile – total pounds divided by total miles driven during the period (including pounds and miles moved with purchased transportation). This metric is used to measure labor efficiency of linehaul operations, although it is influenced by other factors including freight density, loading efficiency, average length of haul, and the degree to which purchased transportation (including rail service) is used.

Other companies within our industry may present different key performance indicators or operating statistics, or they may calculate their measures differently; therefore, our key performance indicators or operating statistics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Key performance indicators or operating statistics should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. Our key performance indicators or operating statistics should not be construed as better measurements of our results than operating income, operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

As of March 2024, approximately 82% of our Asset-Based segment’s employees were covered under the ABF National Master Freight Agreement (the “2023 ABF NMFA”), the collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (the “IBT”), which will remain in effect through June 30, 2028. The terms of the 2023 ABF NMFA continue to provide some of the best wages and benefits in the industry to our contractual employees. The combined contractual wage and benefits top hourly rate is estimated to increase approximately 4.2% on a compounded annual basis through the end of the agreement, with potential profit-sharing bonuses representing additional costs under the 2023 ABF NMFA.

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Asset-Based Segment Results

The following table sets forth a summary of operating expenses and operating income as a percentage of revenue for the Asset-Based segment:

Three Months Ended 

 

March 31

    

2024

  

2023

Asset-Based Operating Expenses (Operating Ratio)

Salaries, wages, and benefits

 

51.4

%  

48.1

%  

Fuel, supplies, and expenses

 

12.1

13.5

Operating taxes and licenses

 

2.0

2.0

Insurance

 

2.1

1.9

Communications and utilities

 

0.7

0.8

Depreciation and amortization

 

4.0

3.6

Rents and purchased transportation

 

9.8

13.0

Shared services

 

9.7

9.2

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment

 

Innovative technology costs(1)

0.9

Other

 

0.2

0.2

 

92.0

%  

93.2

%  

Asset-Based Operating Income

 

8.0

%  

6.8

%  

(1) Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight, as further discussed in the Asset-Based Operating Income section.

The following table provides a comparison of key operating statistics for the Asset-Based segment, as previously defined in the Asset-Based Segment Overview:

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

    

2023

    

% Change

    

Workdays(1)

 

63.5

 

64.0

  

Billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges

$

48.56

$

41.99

 

15.6

%

Billed revenue per shipment, including fuel surcharges

 

542.84

 

529.43

 

2.5

%

Tonnage per day

 

10,937

 

13,149

 

(16.8)

%

Shipments per day

 

19,566

 

20,856

 

(6.2)

%

Shipments per DSY hour

 

0.442

 

0.431

 

2.6

%

Pounds per shipment

 

1,118

 

1,261

 

(11.3)

%

Pounds per mile

 

18.53

 

19.42

 

(4.6)

%

Average length of haul (miles)

1,110

1,096

1.3

%

(1) Workdays represent the number of operating days during the period after adjusting for holidays and weekends.

Asset-Based Revenues

Asset-Based segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, totaled $671.5 million, compared to $697.8 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease in revenues, compared to the prior-year period, primarily reflects a decrease in tonnage per day related to a softer market environment, partially offset by changes in the Asset-Based business mix in response to market conditions. Billed revenue (as described in the Asset-Based Segment Overview) decreased 3.8% on a per-day basis for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, primarily reflecting a 16.8% decrease in tonnage per day, partially offset by a 15.6% increase in billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges for first quarter 2024. The decrease in revenues, compared to the prior-year period, also reflects the decrease in fuel surcharge revenue associated with lower fuel prices. The number of workdays was fewer by half of a day in the first quarter of 2024, versus the first quarter of 2023.

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The 16.8% decrease in tonnage per day for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, reflects lower daily shipment levels and a decrease in average weight per shipment on both LTL-rated and truckload-rated shipments, primarily related to changes in Asset-Based business mix and smaller shipment sizes for our core customers. We have strategically decreased our transactional LTL-rated shipments allowing us to focus on our core published LTL-rated business as demand improved during the current-year period primarily due to the market disruption related to the shutdown of a large LTL carrier at the end of July 2023.

The 15.6% increase in total billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges, for first quarter 2024, compared to first quarter 2023, was driven by improved pricing on fewer dynamic LTL-rated and truckload-rated shipments and the positive impact of changes in mix, as core, published LTL-rated tonnage represented a higher proportion of Asset-Based business in first quarter 2024. The increase in total billed revenue per hundredweight was also impacted by lower weight per shipment due to the changes in business mix. The percentage change in billed revenue per hundredweight, including fuel surcharges, on LTL-rated freight was a low-double digit increase for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. Lower fuel surcharge revenue associated with decreased fuel prices, compared to the prior-year period, negatively impacted the billed revenue per hundredweight measure during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The pricing environment for LTL shipments continues to be rational. Pricing on core, published LTL-rated business, excluding fuel surcharges, increased by a percentage in the low-single digits for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. Prices on accounts subject to deferred pricing agreements and annually negotiated contracts which were renewed during the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased approximately 5.3%, compared to the same period of 2023. The Asset-Based segment implemented general rate increases on its LTL base rate tariffs of 5.9% effective on both October 2, 2023 and November 7, 2022, although the rate changes vary by lane and shipment characteristics.

The Asset-Based segment’s average nominal fuel surcharge rate decreased by approximately 5 percentage points in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. During periods of changing diesel fuel prices, the fuel surcharge and associated direct diesel fuel costs also vary by differing degrees. Depending upon the rates of these changes and the impact on costs in other fuel- and energy-related areas, operating margins could be impacted. Whether fuel prices fluctuate or remain constant, operating results may be adversely affected if competitive pressures limit our ability to recover fuel surcharges. In periods of declining fuel prices, fuel surcharge percentages also decrease, which negatively impacts the total billed revenue per hundredweight measure and, consequently, revenues. The revenue decline may be disproportionate to the change in our fuel costs. The segment’s operating results will continue to be impacted by further changes in fuel prices and related fuel surcharges.

Asset-Based Operating Income

The Asset-Based segment generated operating income of $53.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $47.5 million for the same period of 2023. The Asset-Based segment’s operating ratio improved by 1.2 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, primarily reflecting decreased operating expenses and cost control efforts to reduce utilization of outside resources, as further discussed in the following paragraphs.

Asset-Based Operating Expenses

Labor costs, which are reported in operating expenses as salaries, wages, and benefits, amounted to 51.4% of Asset-Based segment revenues for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, compared to 48.1% for the same period of 2023. The increase in salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, was more than offset by lower utilization of purchased transportation as discussed later in this section. The increase in salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of revenue was also influenced by the effect of lower revenues. Salaries, wages, and benefits increased $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, primarily due to a 13% increase in union wages related to the wage and mileage rate increases effective July 1, 2023 under the 2023 ABF NMFA, as previously discussed in the Assed-Based Revenues section, partially offset by a decrease in headcount to align with lower shipment levels. The increases in labor costs also reflect year-over-year increases in contractual benefit contribution rates under the labor agreements with the IBT. The average health, welfare, and pension benefit contribution rate increased approximately 3.6% and 2.5%, effective primarily on August 1, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

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The Asset-Based segment manages costs with shipment levels; however, a number of factors impact DSY productivity, including the effect of freight profile and mix changes, utilization of local delivery agents, and personnel efficiency. Shipments per DSY hour increased 2.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in dynamic LTL-price-quoted shipments, which typically require a higher number of stops, during the first quarter of 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the year-over-year decrease in pounds per mile of 4.6% reflects lower weight per shipment, partially offset by an improvement in linehaul productivity and an increase in the average length of haul.

Fuel, supplies, and expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased 1.4 percentage points during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. Fuel expense decreased during the 2024 period, as the Asset-Based segment’s average fuel price per gallon (excluding taxes) decreased 10.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. Lower city tractor age contributed to the decrease in costs to repair and maintain revenue equipment units during first quarter 2024, compared to first quarter 2023.

Rents and purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue decreased 3.2 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, primarily due to focused reduction in the utilization of local delivery agents and linehaul purchased transportation. Rail miles decreased approximately 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023.

Shared services as a percentage of revenue increased 0.5 percentage point for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, primarily reflecting the impact of lower revenues during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024.

The hardware portion of the freight handling pilot test program (the “pilot”) at certain ABF Freight distribution centers was paused during third quarter 2023. The Asset-Based segment did not incur innovative technology costs related to the pilot in first quarter 2024, while these costs totaled $6.1 million in first quarter 2023, resulting in a decrease of 0.9 percentage point as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023.

Asset-Light Operations

Asset-Light Segment Overview

Our Asset-Light segment is a key component of our strategy to offer a single source of integrated logistics solutions, designed to satisfy customers’ complex supply chain needs and unique shipping requirements. We are focused on growing and making strategic investments in our Asset-Light segment that enhance our service offerings and strengthen our customer relationships. Throughout our operations, we are seeking opportunities to expand our revenues by deepening existing customer relationships, securing new customers, and adding capacity options for our customers.

Our acquisition of MoLo, which was completed on November 1, 2021, accelerated the growth of our company by increasing the scale of truckload brokerage services offered within our Asset-Light segment and expanding our access to truckload capacity partners. We continue to develop our managed transportation solutions as part of our strategic efforts to cross-sell our service offerings and meet the demand for services that increase operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and provide better supply chain visibility. We expect to benefit from these and other strategic initiatives as we continue to deliver innovative solutions to customers.

Our Asset-Light operations are affected by general economic conditions, as well as several other competitive factors that are more fully described in Item 1 (Business) and in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Part I of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note J to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for descriptions of the Asset-Light segment and additional segment information, including revenues, operating expenses, and operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

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The key indicators necessary to understand our Asset-Light segment operating results are outlined below. These key indicators are used by management to evaluate segment operating performance and measure the effectiveness of strategic initiatives in the results of our Asset-Light segment. We quantify certain key indicators using key operating statistics which are important measures in analyzing segment operating results from period to period. These statistics are defined within the key indicators below and referred to throughout the discussion of the results of our Asset-Light segment:

Customer demand for logistics and premium transportation services, primarily measured by:

Shipments per day – total shipments divided by the number of working days during the period, compared to the same prior-year period.

Prices obtained for services, primarily measured by:

Revenue per shipment – total segment revenue divided by total segment shipments during the period, compared to the same prior-year period.

Availability of market capacity and cost of purchased transportation to fulfill customer shipments, with a measure of purchased transportation cost expressed as:

Purchased transportation costs as a percentage of revenue – the expense incurred for third-party transportation providers to haul or deliver freight during the period, divided by segment revenues for the period, expressed as a percentage.

Management of operating costs, primarily in the area of purchased transportation, with the total cost structure primarily measured by:

Operating ratio – operating expenses as a percentage of revenue.

Other companies within our industry may present different key performance indicators or they may calculate their key performance indicators differently; therefore, our key performance indicators may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Key performance indicators should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. Our key performance indicators should not be construed as better measurements of our results than operating income, operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

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Asset-Light Segment Results

The following table sets forth a summary of operating expenses and operating loss as a percentage of revenue for the Asset-Light segment:

Three Months Ended 

 

March 31

    

2024

  

2023

Asset-Light Segment Operating Expenses (Operating Ratio)

Purchased transportation

 

86.8

%  

84.5

%  

Salaries, wages, and benefits(1)

7.6

8.0

Supplies and expenses(1)

 

0.7

0.8

Depreciation and amortization(2)

 

1.3

1.2

Shared services(1)

 

4.1

3.8

Contingent consideration(3)

1.8

3.4

Other(1)

 

1.5

1.5

 

103.8

%  

103.2

%  

Asset-Light Segment Operating Loss

 

(3.8)

%  

(3.2)

%  

(1) For 2023, certain expenses have been reclassed to conform to the current year presentation. Amounts previously reported in “Shared services” were reclassed to present “Salaries, wages, and benefits” expenses in a separate line item and certain immaterial facility rent expenses were reclassed from “Supplies and expenses” to “Other.”
(2) Includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses.
(3) Represents the change in fair value of the contingent earnout consideration recorded for the MoLo acquisition, as further discussed in Asset-Light Operating Expenses below.

A comparison of key operating statistics for the Asset-Light segment, as previously defined in the Asset-Light Segment Overview section, is presented in the following table:

Year Over Year % Change

Three Months Ended 

 

March 31, 2024(1)

Revenue per shipment

(19.7%)

Shipments per day

13.6%

(1) Statistical data for the periods presented include transactions related to managed transportation solutions which were previously excluded from the presentation of operating statistics for the Asset-Light segment for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Asset-Light Revenues

Asset-Light segment revenues decreased 9.5% to $396.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $438.1 million for the same respective period of 2023. Current year results have been impacted by lower average revenue per shipment associated with a softer market environment and changes in business mix. Excess capacity in the truckload market continues to impact spot market rates resulting in lower revenue per shipment and compressed margins. Although average daily shipment levels increased due to growth in managed transportation service offerings despite weak market demand, lower revenue per shipment drove the reduction in revenue compared to the prior-year period.

Asset-Light Operating Loss

The Asset-Light segment generated an operating loss of $15.3 million and $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Operating results were impacted by changes in fair value of contingent earnout consideration related to the Molo acquisition, which increased expenses by $7.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $15.0 million for the same period of 2023.

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The year-over-year decline in operating results reflects the lower revenues along with changes in operating expenses discussed in the following paragraphs.

Asset-Light Operating Expenses

Operating expenses decreased $40.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, but increased as a percentage of revenue by 0.6 percentage point, due to lower revenues in the first quarter of 2024.

Purchased transportation buy rates have declined in the softer market environment. Although the purchased transportation cost was $26.0 million lower, as a percentage of revenue, it increased by 2.3 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023. This increase as a percentage of revenue was due, in part, to weather events in January 2024. Changes in market capacity impact the cost of purchased transportation and may not correspond to the timing of revisions to customer pricing and revenue per shipment. There can be no assurance that we will be able to secure prices from our customers that will allow us to maintain or improve our margins on the cost of sourcing carrier capacity.

Salaries, wages and benefits, decreased $4.6 million and as a percentage of revenue decreased by 0.4 percentage point, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period, as the segment continued its efforts to align resources with business levels.

Contingent earnout consideration, as previously described, decreased as a percentage of revenue by 1.6 percentage points for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same prior-year period. The contingent earnout consideration is discussed further in Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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Asset-Light Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA”)

We report our financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios, such as Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA, which is utilized for internal analysis, provide analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance. These measures provide meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. The use of certain non-GAAP measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management’s opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Management uses Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA as a key measure of performance and for business planning. This measure is particularly meaningful for analysis of our Asset-Light segment, because it excludes amortization of acquired intangibles and software and changes in the fair value of contingent earnout consideration, which are significant expenses or gains resulting from strategic decisions or other factors rather than core daily operations. Management also believes Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA to be relevant and useful information, as EBITDA is a standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors, and others to measure financial performance of asset-light businesses and the ability to service debt obligations. Other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently; therefore, our calculation of Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a better measurement than operating income (loss), operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA

Three Months Ended 

March 31

    

2024

2023

Operating Income (Loss)(1)

$

(15,258)

$

(14,091)

Depreciation and amortization(2)

5,078

5,068

Change in fair value of contingent consideration(3)

7,320

15,040

Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA

$

(2,860)

$

6,017

(1) The calculation of Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this table begins with operating income as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Other income (costs), income taxes, and net income (loss) are reported at the consolidated level and not included in the operating segment financial information evaluated by management to make operating decisions. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to consolidated net income (loss) in the Consolidated Results section of Results of Operations.
(2) Includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses. Amortization of acquired intangibles totaled $3.2 million for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and is expected to total $12.8 million for full-year 2024, consistent with 2023.
(3) Represents the change in fair value of the contingent earnout consideration recorded for the MoLo acquisition. The liability for contingent consideration is remeasured at each quarterly reporting date, and any change in fair value as a result of the recurring assessments is recognized in operating income (loss). See Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Current Economic Conditions

Economic conditions continue to be challenged by higher interest rates; supply chain volatility, including the impact of geopolitical conflicts; and a tight labor market. Although inflation has declined and the manufacturing sector as measured by the Purchasing Managers’ Index (“PMI”) showed expansion in March 2024 for the first time since October 2022, recession risk still exists, as the housing market continues to face affordability constraints of high home prices and elevated interest rates through the first quarter of 2024. Economic growth is gradually decelerating without causing a recessionary downturn as measured by U.S. real gross domestic product (“real GDP”), primarily driven by a declining growth rate of consumer spending, driven in part by increasing levels of consumer debt.

Recent economic measures continue to indicate slowing economic activity despite economic growth exceeding expectations in the second half of 2023, which, combined with rising consumer prices, has created additional uncertainties in the global and U.S. economies and supply chains. According to the advance estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on April 25, 2024, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.6% for first quarter 2024.

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PMI, which is a leading indicator for demand in the freight transportation and logistics industry, crossed into economic growth territory in March 2024 following sixteen consecutive months of economic contraction in the manufacturing sector. PMI was slightly lower for April 2024 at 49.2%, compared to 47.1% in April 2023. The Industrial Production Index issued by the Federal Reserve decreased at an annual rate of 1.8% for first quarter 2024. Our business has been impacted by the economic conditions indicated by these statistics related to the softer economic environment, which resulted in decelerating customer demand trends for transportation and logistics services in this extended freight recession. The spike in shipment volume caused by the shutdown of a large LTL competitor at the end of July 2023 has moderated, although we retained our general rate increases and secured increases on deferred pricing agreements and annually negotiated contracts during the first quarter of 2024. There can be no assurance that the economic environment, including the impact of interest rates on consumer demand, will be favorable for our freight services in future periods and that the impact of recent market disruptions will continue to positively impact demand for our Asset-Based and Asset-Light services.

Geopolitical conflicts, including the escalating tensions in the Israel-Hamas war and the related Red Sea crisis, have and could in future periods result in a shift in trade routes, including requiring a reduction in the use of the Suez Canal to ship goods to the U.S. East Coast. A lack of rainfall in Panama has also forced a reduction in the number of vessels traveling through the Panama Canal. Additionally, the full extent of the impact from the Port of Baltimore bridge collapse is yet to be determined. As freight flow is reshaped by these disruptions, supply of goods, including those of our customers, may be delayed and could result in an increase in shipping costs.

Given the uncertainties of current economic conditions, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions regarding the pricing environment and economic conditions, which are made for purposes of impairment tests related to operating assets and deferred tax assets, will prove to be accurate. Extended periods of economic disruption and resulting declines in industrial production and manufacturing and consumer spending could negatively impact demand for our services and have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. The softer freight environment, which we continued to experience during the first quarter of 2024, resulted in a year-over-year decline in market pricing for many of our services, as compared to the first quarter of 2023. There can be no assurance that we will be able to secure adequate prices from new business or from our existing customers to maintain or improve our operating results. Significant declines in our business levels or other changes in cash flow assumptions or other factors that negatively impact the fair value of the operations of our reporting units could result in impairment and a resulting noncash write-off of a significant portion of the goodwill and intangible assets of our Asset-Light segment, which would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Effects of Inflation

Inflation remains above normal levels. Global supply chain volatility and labor and energy shortages, in addition to the impact of federal programs and monetary policy, have elevated costs higher across a broad array of consumer goods. The consumer price index (“CPI”) increased 3.5%, before seasonal adjustment, year-over-year in March 2024 and 0.4% from February 2024. While CPI has declined from the level reached in June 2022 due to market response to the Federal Reserve’s tighter monetary policy implemented in March 2022, the last several months of increases in CPI indicate an ongoing challenge in achieving the Federal Reserve’s target inflation of 2%. Inflation is impacted by energy prices, including petroleum products; shelter prices; and food prices, which have moderated in recent months while remaining elevated. Most of our expenses are affected by inflation, which generally results in increased operating costs. As such, there can be no assurances of the potential impact of inflationary conditions on our business, including demand for our transportation services.

Generally, inflationary increases in labor and fuel costs as they relate to our Asset-Based operations have historically been mostly offset through price increases and fuel surcharges. In periods of increasing fuel prices, the effect of higher associated fuel surcharges on the overall price to the customer influences our ability to obtain increases in base freight rates. In addition, certain nonstandard arrangements with some of our customers have limited the amount of fuel surcharge recovered. The timing and extent of base price increases on our Asset-Based revenues may not correspond with contractual increases in wage rates and other inflationary increases in cost elements and, as a result, could adversely impact our operating results. Our Asset-Based segment’s ability to fully offset inflationary and contractual cost increases can be challenging during periods of recessionary and uncertain economic conditions.

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Generally, inflationary increases in labor and operating costs related to our Asset-Light operations have historically been offset through price increases. The pricing environment, however, generally becomes more competitive during economic downturns, which may, as it has in the past, affect the ability to obtain price increases from customers both during and following such periods. The pricing environment continues to be rational, and we believe that Asset-Light pricing has stabilized at the bottom of the truckload market cycle and should improve as 2024 progresses.

The impact of supply chain disruptions and component shortages has limited the availability and production of certain revenue equipment and certain other equipment used in our business operations. Consequently, the prices for these items have also increased. Partly as a result of inflationary pressures, our revenue equipment (tractors and trailers) has been and will very likely continue to be replaced at higher per-unit costs, which could result in higher depreciation charges on a per-unit basis. We consider these costs in setting our pricing policies, although the overall freight rate structure is governed by market forces. In addition to general effects of inflation, the motor carrier freight transportation industry faces rising costs related to compliance with government regulations on safety, equipment design and maintenance, driver utilization, emissions, and fuel economy.

Environmental and Legal Matters

We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations relating to, among other things: emissions control, transportation or handling of hazardous materials, underground and aboveground storage tanks, stormwater pollution prevention, contingency planning for spills of petroleum products, and disposal of waste oil. We may transport or arrange for the transportation of hazardous materials and explosives, and we operate in industrial areas where truck service centers and other industrial activities are located and where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination could occur. See Note K to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of the environmental matters to which we are subject, including additional detail on ABF Freight’s Consent Decree with the EPA.

Concern over climate change has led to legislative and regulatory efforts to limit carbon and other greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, and we may incur significant costs to comply with increased regulation related to climate change in the future. Customers are increasingly focused on concerns related to climate change and demand for our services may be adversely impacted if we are less effective than our competitors in reducing or offsetting our GHG emissions. In consideration of the environmental impact of emissions from our operations, we are seeking more sustainable options for our equipment. We are piloting a small number of electric forklifts, electric yard tractors, and electric straight trucks at several ABF Freight service centers across our network. Electric tractors are significantly more expensive than new diesel tractors. To comply with more stringent sustainability standards for tractors, we expect the cost of our equipment, as well as our fuel and maintenance costs, will continue to increase in future periods. We are also investing in upgrades to our facilities, including energy efficient lighting, plumbing updates that lower our water usage, and other sustainability-related remodels and updates. To address our environmental impact in our city pickup and delivery operations, during 2023, with the help of a third-party leading provider of data analytics solutions using artificial intelligence (“AI”), we implemented City Route Optimization technology at our service centers that identifies opportunities to optimize routes and reduce emissions.

Physical effects from climate change, including more severe weather events, have the potential to adversely impact our business levels and employee working conditions, cause shipping delays or disrupt our operations, increase our operating costs, and cause damage to our property and equipment. Due to the uncertainty of these matters, we cannot estimate the impact of climate-related developments on our operations or financial condition at this time. These and other matters related to climate change and the related risks to our business are further discussed in Part I, Item 1 (Business) and Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to our focus on sustainability of our equipment and facilities, we continue our commitment to advance environmental and social issues that are critical to our business and our customers’ businesses by investing in innovative technologies, developing our employees, and enhancing our capabilities and services for customers.

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We are involved in various legal actions, the majority of which arise in the ordinary course of business. We maintain liability insurance against certain risks arising out of the normal course of our business, subject to certain self-insured retention limits. We routinely establish and review the adequacy of reserves for estimated legal, environmental, and self-insurance exposures. While management believes that amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements are adequate, estimates of these liabilities may change as circumstances develop. Considering amounts recorded, routine legal matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In January 2023, we and MoLo were named as defendants in lawsuits related to an auto accident involving one of MoLo’s contract carriers, which occurred prior to our acquisition of MoLo. Although we cannot estimate a range of reasonably possible losses for this matter at this time, it is reasonably possible that such amounts could be material to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. See Note K to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of the legal matters in which we are currently involved.

As disclosed in Note K to our consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we tentatively settled a claim relating to the classification of certain Asset-Light employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The estimated settlement expense of $9.5 million, recognized in fourth quarter 2023, is reserved within accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2024.

Information Technology and Cybersecurity

We depend on the proper functioning, availability, and security of our information systems, including communications, data processing, financial, and operating systems, as well as proprietary software programs that are integral to the efficient operation of our business. Any significant failure or other disruption in our critical information systems, including denial of service, ransomware, and other cybersecurity attacks and incidents that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy, or other proper functioning of these systems or that result in proprietary information or sensitive or confidential data, including personal information of customers, employees and others, being compromised could have a significant impact on our operations. Generative AI has the ability to create higher-quality misinformation and phishing attacks increasing the likelihood of a successful attack. Any new or enhanced technology that we develop and implement may also be subject to cybersecurity attacks and may be more prone to related incidents. We also utilize certain software applications provided by third parties; provide underlying data to third parties; grant access to certain of our systems to third parties who provide certain outsourced administrative functions or other services; and increasingly store and transmit data with our customers and third parties by means of connected information technology (“IT”) systems, any of which may increase the risk of a data privacy breach or other cybersecurity incident. Although we strive to carefully select our third-party vendors, we do not control their actions and any problems caused by or impacting these third parties, including cybersecurity attacks and security breaches at a vendor, could result in claims, litigation, losses, and/or liabilities and materially adversely affect our ability to provide service to our customers and otherwise conduct our business.

Our IT systems are protected through physical and software safeguards as well as backup systems considered appropriate by management. However, these systems are vulnerable to interruption by adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; power loss; telecommunications failures; terrorist attacks; internet failures and other disruptions to technology, including computer viruses; and other events beyond our control. It is not practicable to fully protect against the possibility of these events or cybersecurity attacks and other cyber events in every potential circumstance that may arise. To mitigate the potential for such occurrences at our primary data center, we have implemented various systems, including redundant telecommunication facilities; replication of critical data to an offsite location; fire suppression systems to protect our on-site data centers; and electrical power protection and generation facilities. We also have a catastrophic disaster recovery plan and alternate processing capability available for our critical data processes in the event of a catastrophe that renders one of our data centers unusable.

A portion of our office personnel work remotely through hybrid and remote work arrangements, which may increase the demand for IT resources and our exposure to cybersecurity risks, including increased risks of phishing, an increased risk of unauthorized access to proprietary information or sensitive or confidential data, and increased risks of other cybersecurity incidents. As AI capabilities improve and are increasingly adopted, we may see cybersecurity attacks perpetrated through AI. As a component of our cyber risk management program, we periodically engage a third-party provider to assess our cyber posture and assist us in improving our security profile. During 2023, we reviewed our processes around cybersecurity risk management and related governance framework and began performing materiality assessments in order to comply with the new cybersecurity disclosure requirements.

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Although we have implemented measures to mitigate our exposure to the heightened risks of cybersecurity incidents, we cannot be certain that such measures will be effective to prevent a cybersecurity incident from materializing.

Our property and cyber insurance would offset losses up to certain coverage limits in the event of a catastrophe or certain cyber incidents, including certain business interruption events related to these incidents; however, losses arising from a catastrophe or significant cyber incident may exceed our insurance coverage and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. We do not have insurance coverage specific to losses resulting from a pandemic or geopolitical conflict. A significant disruption in our IT systems or a significant cybersecurity incident, including denial of service, system failure, security breach, intentional or inadvertent acts by employees or vendors with access to our systems or data, disruption by malware, or other damage, could interrupt or delay our operations, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers, cause errors or delays in financial reporting, result in violation of privacy laws, expose us to a risk of loss or litigation, and/or cause us to incur significant time and expense to remedy such an event.

We have experienced incidents involving attempted denial of service attacks, malware attacks, and other events intended to disrupt information systems, wrongfully obtain valuable information, or cause other types of malicious events that could have resulted in harm to our business. To our knowledge, the various protections we have employed have been effective to date in identifying these types of events at a point when the impact on our business could be minimized. We must continuously monitor and develop our IT networks and infrastructure to prevent, detect, address, and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses, and other events that could have a security impact. We have made and continue to make significant financial investments in technologies and processes to mitigate these risks. We also provide employee awareness training around phishing, malware, and other cyber risks. Despite our efforts, due to the increasing sophistication of cyber criminals and the development of new techniques for attack, we may be unable to anticipate or promptly detect, or implement adequate protective or remedial measures against, the activities of perpetrators of cybersecurity attacks. Management is not aware of any current cybersecurity incident that has had a material effect on our operations, although there can be no assurances that a cyber incident that could have a material impact to our operations could not occur.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments; cash generated by continuing operations; and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility or our accounts receivable securitization program.

Cash Flow and Short-Term Investments

Components of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, which are further described in Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, were as follows:

March 31

December 31

 

2024

    

2023

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

172,855

$

262,226

Short-term investments

 

68,065

 

67,842

Total

$

240,920

$

330,068

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased $89.1 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

Our consolidated statements of cash flows presented for the three months ended March 31, 2023, include cash flows from continuing operations and the discontinued operations of FleetNet, which sold February 28, 2023. Our discussions below segregate cash flows from continuing operations from those of discontinued operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023.

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Cash Flows from Continuing Operations

Cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $6.5 million, compared to $19.9 million in the same prior-year period. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding income taxes, decreased cash provided by operating activities by $46.6 million and $31.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Excluding settlement by the insurer, in the first quarter of 2024, of the receivable (and offsetting liability) for insured third-party casualty claims recorded at December 31, 2023, the year-over-year increase in accounts receivable was offset by year-over-year decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The remainder of the change in operating assets and liabilities related primarily to a lease buyout during the first quarter of 2024 of a property made available following the bankruptcy of a competitor in 2023.

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we spent $53.8 million on capital expenditures, net of proceeds from asset sales, including property purchases and the renovation of properties for our Asset-Based network. See Capital Expenditures below for estimated annual expenditure amounts for 2024. Cash provided by investing activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 was impacted by $101.1 million of proceeds from the sale of FleetNet, as further discussed in the General section of MD&A.

Cash used to fund promissory note payments during the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $16.8 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we repurchased 120,681 shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program for an aggregate cost of $15.7 million. We also continued to return capital to our shareholders with our quarterly dividend payments, which totaled $2.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Our dividends and share repurchase program are further discussed in Other Liquidity below.

Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations

We did not have any cash activities from discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations was $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, reflecting the routine operations of FleetNet. Net cash used in investing and financing activities of discontinued operations was $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Net cash activity for FleetNet did not materially impact our operations in recent years, nor will the absence of cash flows from the discontinued operations of FleetNet affect current or future liquidity or capital resources.

Financing Arrangements

We did not finance the purchase of revenue equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Future payments due under our notes payable totaled $173.4 million, including interest, as of March 31, 2024, for a decrease of $18.5 million from December 31, 2023.

We have an accounts receivable securitization program, which matures on July 1, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, standby letters of credit of $16.8 million have been issued under the program which reduced our available borrowing capacity to $33.2 million.

Our financing arrangements and the scheduled maturities of our long-term debt obligations, are disclosed in Note G to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Contractual Obligations

We have purchase obligations, consisting of authorizations to purchase and binding agreements with vendors, relating to revenue equipment used in our Asset-Based operations, other equipment, facility improvements, software, service contracts, and other items for which amounts were not accrued in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2024. These purchase obligations totaled $247.2 million as of March 31, 2024, with $238.6 million expected to be paid within the next year, provided that vendors complete their commitments to us. As of March 31, 2024, the amount of our purchase obligations has increased $65.9 million from December 31, 2023, primarily related to commitment timing.

As of March 31, 2024, contractual obligations for operating lease liabilities, primarily related to our Asset-Based service centers, totaled $272.0 million, including imputed interest, for a decrease of $3.8 million from December 31, 2023.

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The scheduled maturities of our operating lease liabilities as of March 31, 2024, are disclosed in Note F to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There have been no other material changes in the contractual obligations disclosed in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K during the three months ended March 31, 2024. We have no investments, loans, or any other known contractual arrangements with unconsolidated special-purpose entities, variable interest entities, or financial partnerships, and we have no outstanding loans with executive officers or directors.

Capital Expenditures

For 2024, our total capital expenditures, including amounts financed, are estimated to range from $325.0 million to $375.0 million, net of asset sales. These 2024 estimated net capital expenditures include revenue equipment purchases of $155.0 million, primarily for our Asset-Based operations, including approximately $10.2 million of previously planned 2023 equipment purchases which were delayed due to supply chain-related manufacturing delays and cancellations and carried over to our 2024 planned expenditures. The remainder of our 2024 expected capital expenditures includes $130.0 million of investments in real estate and facility upgrades to support our growth plans, including $46.4 million of previously planned 2023 investments which were delayed and carried over to our 2024 planned expenditures, as well as other investments across the enterprise, such as technology-related items and miscellaneous dock equipment upgrades and enhancements. We have the flexibility to adjust certain planned 2024 capital expenditures as business levels dictate. In January 2024, we purchased three service center locations for an all-cash purchase price of $30.2 million and executed a lease buyout for $7.8 million, as a result of the properties becoming available due to the previously mentioned LTL competitor bankruptcy. Depreciation and amortization expense, excluding amortization of intangibles, is estimated to be approximately $142.0 million in 2024. The amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $13.0 million in 2024, primarily related to purchase accounting amortization associated with the MoLo acquisition.

Other Liquidity Information

General economic conditions are currently being impacted by geopolitical conflicts, competitive market factors, high interest rates as a result of monetary policy, and volatile energy prices, among other factors. These conditions and the related impact on our business (primarily tonnage and shipment levels and the pricing that we receive for our services in future periods) could affect our ability to generate cash from operating activities and maintain cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments on hand. Our revolving credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization program provide available sources of liquidity with flexible borrowing and payment options. We believe these agreements provide borrowing capacity necessary for growth of our business. During the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future, we believe existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, cash generated by operating activities, and amounts available under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to finance our operating expenses; fund our ongoing initiatives to grow our business, including investments in technology; repay amounts due under our financing arrangements; and pay contingent earnout consideration related to the MoLo acquisition as it is earned. We also have borrowing capacity available under our accounts receivable securitization program until maturity on July 1, 2024. Notes payable, finance leases, and other secured financing may also be used to fund capital expenditures, provided that such arrangements are available and the terms are acceptable to us.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) for our acquisition of MoLo provides for additional cash consideration ranging from 44% to 212% of the target payment relative to the achievement of incremental adjusted EBITDA targets of 80% to 300% for years 2023 through 2025. The adjusted EBITDA metric was below target for 2023, resulting in no earnout payment for 2023. The cumulative additional consideration through 2025 would be $215.0 million at 100% of the target, consisting of target earnout payments of $70.0 million and $145.0 million, including catch-up provisions, for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2025, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, the fair value of contingent earnout consideration is estimated to be $100.2 million (see Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis within Note B to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

We continue to take actions to enhance shareholder value with our quarterly dividend payments and treasury stock purchases. On April 26, 2024, we announced our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.12 per share payable to stockholders of record as of May 10, 2024.

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We expect to continue to pay quarterly dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, although there can be no assurance in this regard since future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and are dependent upon our future earnings, capital requirements, and financial condition; contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends under our revolving credit facility; and other factors.

In February 2024, our Board of Directors increased the total amount available for purchases of our common stock under our share repurchase program to $125.0 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we purchased 120,681 shares of our common stock for an aggregate cost of $15.7 million, including shares purchased under Rule 10b5-1 plans. As of March 31, 2024, $115.3 million remained available under the share repurchase program (see Note H to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

Financial Instruments

We have an interest rate swap agreement, which is further discussed in Note G to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of March 31, 2024, we have no other derivative or hedging arrangements outstanding.

Balance Sheet Changes

Other Accounts Receivable

Other accounts receivable decreased $40.7 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, reflecting the settlement by the insurer for third-party casualty claims accrued as of December 31, 2023, for which the related liability was recognized in accrued expenses.

Property, Plant and Equipment

The increase in property, plant and equipment, of $23.0 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, was primarily due to the purchase of three service center properties and a lease buy-out of a service center used in our Asset-Based operations.

Other Long-Term Assets

The decrease in other long-term assets, of $28.3 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, was primarily due to the impairment charge to write off our equity investment in Phantom Auto, which ceased operations during first quarter 2024.

Income Taxes Payable

Income taxes payable decreased $10.4 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, reflecting net tax payments in excess of tax accruals.

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses decreased $64.5 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, primarily due to the settlement by the insurer of third-party casualty claims accrued as of December 31, 2023, for which the related receivable was recognized in other accounts receivable, and payments made during first quarter 2024 for certain performance-based incentive plans and contributions to our defined contribution plan which were accrued at December 31, 2023.

Long-term Debt

The $16.8 million decrease in long-term debt, including current portion, from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024 is primarily due to payments on notes payable.

Contingent Consideration

The contingent earnout consideration related to the MoLo acquisition, which is previously described within the Other Liquidity section, is remeasured at each quarterly reporting date and any change in fair value as a result of the recurring assessments is recognized in operating income. The liability for contingent earnout consideration increased $7.3 million from December 31, 2023, due to the net increase in fair value following remeasurement at March 31, 2024.

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Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income tax liabilities decreased $11.0 million from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024, primarily due to the deferred tax benefit from the capital loss on our equity investment in Phantom Auto, the increase in contingent consideration, and tax differences related to depreciation during the first three months of 2024.

Income Taxes

For continuing operations, our effective tax benefit rate was 37.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and our effective tax rate was 20.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The federal statutory tax rate is 21.0% and the average state tax rate, net of the associated federal deduction, is approximately 5%. However, various factors and significant changes in nondeductible expenses, the cash surrender value of life insurance, the federal alternative fuel tax credit, and the settlement of share-based payment awards primarily vesting in the second quarter, may cause the full-year 2024 tax rate to vary significantly from the statutory rate.

Reconciliation between the effective income tax rate for continuing operations, as computed on income before income taxes, and the statutory federal income tax rate is presented in the following table:

Three Months Ended 

 

March 31

    

2024

    

  

2023

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

Income tax provision (benefit) at the statutory federal rate

$

(982)

(21.0)

%

$

4,945

21.0

%

Federal income tax effects of:

 

Nondeductible expenses and other

 

108

2.3

%

 

380

1.6

%

Alternative fuel credit

 

(287)

(6.1)

%

 

(338)

(1.4)

%

Increase in valuation allowances

 

53

1.1

%

 

25

0.1

%

Tax benefit from vested RSUs

 

(487)

(10.4)

%

 

(1,051)

(4.5)

%

Federal research and development tax credits

(19)

(0.4)

%

(19)

(0.1)

%

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(257)

(5.5)

%

(314)

(1.3)

%

Federal income tax provision (benefit)

$

(1,871)

(40.0)

%

$

3,628

15.4

%

State income tax provision

 

106

2.3

%

 

1,070

4.6

%

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes for continuing operations

$

(1,765)

(37.7)

%

$

4,698

20.0

%

At March 31, 2024, we had $34.8 million of net deferred tax liabilities after valuation allowances. We evaluated the need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets at March 31, 2024 by considering the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income, and available tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets totaled $1.8 million at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, deferred tax liabilities which will reverse in future years exceeded deferred tax assets.

Financial reporting income may differ significantly from taxable income because of items such as contingent earnout consideration, accelerated depreciation for tax purposes, and a significant number of liabilities such as vacation pay, workers’ compensation and third-party casualty claims, and other liabilities, which, for tax purposes, are generally deductible only when paid. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there is income determined under income tax law, but a loss for financial reporting. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, income determined under income tax law exceeded financial reporting income.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we made federal, state, and foreign tax payments of $19.1 million, and received refunds of less than $0.1 million of state income taxes that were paid in prior years. Management does not expect the cash outlays for income taxes will materially exceed reported income tax expense for the foreseeable future.

Our total effective tax benefit rate was 40.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and our effective tax rate was 24.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, including discontinued operations, which are further discussed in Note C to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Income tax expense reflected in discontinued operations, which primarily consisted of federal and state income taxes on the gain on the sale of FleetNet, was $0.2 million and $18.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, or an effective tax rate of 25.5% in each period.

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Critical Accounting Policies

The accounting policies that are “critical,” or the most important, to understand our financial condition and results of operations and that require management to make the most difficult judgments are described in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no updates to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Management believes that there is no new accounting guidance issued but not yet effective that will impact our critical accounting policies.

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this report may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding (i) our expectations about our intrinsic value or our prospects for growth and value creation and (ii) our financial outlook, position, strategies, goals, and expectations. Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations based on currently available information, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control). Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, we cannot provide assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in these statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the effects of a widespread outbreak of an illness or disease or any other public health crisis, as well as regulatory measures implemented in response to such events; external events which may adversely affect us or the third parties who provide services for us, for which our business continuity plans may not adequately prepare us, including, but not limited to, acts of war or terrorism, or military conflicts; data privacy breaches, cybersecurity incidents, and/or failures of our information systems, including disruptions or failures of services essential to our operations or upon which our information technology platforms rely; interruption or failure of third-party software or information technology systems or licenses; untimely or ineffective development and implementation of, or failure to realize the potential benefits associated with, new or enhanced technology or processes, including our customer pilot offering of Vaux; the loss or reduction of business from large customers or an overall reduction in our customer base; the timing and performance of growth initiatives and the ability to manage our cost structure; the cost, integration, and performance of any recent or future acquisitions and the inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition within the expected time period or at all; unsolicited takeover proposals, proxy contests, and other proposals/actions by activist investors; maintaining our corporate reputation and intellectual property rights; nationwide or global disruption in the supply chain resulting in increased volatility in freight volumes; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; increased prices for and decreased availability of equipment, including new revenue equipment, decreases in value of used revenue equipment, and higher costs of equipment-related operating expenses such as maintenance, fuel, and related taxes; availability of fuel, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates, and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract, retain, and upskill employees; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight’s collective bargaining agreement; union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer plans; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; our ability to secure independent owner-operators and/or operational or regulatory issues related to our use of their services; litigation or claims asserted against us; governmental regulations; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; default on covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; our ability to generate sufficient cash from operations to support significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements and other business initiatives; self-insurance claims, insurance premium costs, and loss of our ability to self-insure; potential impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and intangible assets; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries we serve and/or limit our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; increasing costs due to inflation and higher interest rates; seasonal fluctuations, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, and climate change; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in ArcBest Corporation’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our primary market risk results from fluctuations in interest rates primarily resulting from our debt portfolio. Our debt portfolio includes notes payable with a fixed rate of interest, which mitigates the impact of fluctuations in interest rates. Future issuances of long-term debt could be impacted by increases in interest rates, which could result in higher interest costs. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility and accounts receivable securitization program are at a variable interest rate and expose us to the risk of increasing interest rates. We currently utilize an interest rate swap agreement to mitigate a portion of our interest rate risk under our revolving credit facility. See Note G to our consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of our interest rates.

Discussion of current economic conditions and related impact on our business can be found in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

There have been no other significant changes in the Company’s market risks as reported in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K since December 31, 2023.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was performed with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

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PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

ARCBEST CORPORATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information related to the Company’s legal proceedings, see Note K, Legal Proceedings, Environmental Matters, and Other Events under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The Company’s risk factors are fully described in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. No material changes to the Company’s risk factors have occurred since the Company filed its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a)Recent sales of unregistered securities.

None.

(b)Use of proceeds from registered securities.

None.

(c)Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers.

The Company has a program (the “share repurchase program”) to repurchase its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The share repurchase program has no expiration date but may be terminated at any time at the Board of Directors’ discretion. Repurchases may be made using the Company’s cash reserves or other available sources. In February 2024, the Board reauthorized the program and increased the total amount available for purchases of the Company’s common stock under the program to $125.0 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 120,681 shares for aggregate cost of $15.7 million, including 65,366 shares for an aggregate cost of $8.0 million under Rule 10b5-1 plans, which allows for stock repurchases during closed trading windows. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $115.3 million and $33.5 million, respectively, remaining under its share repurchase program.

Total Number of

Maximum

Shares Purchased

Approximate Dollar

Total Number

Average

as Part of Publicly

Value of Shares that

of Shares

Price Paid

Announced

May Yet Be Purchased

Purchased

    

Per Share(1)

    

Program

    

Under the Program

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

1/1/2024-1/31/2024

44,239

 

$

118.66

 

44,239

 

$

28,219

2/1/2024-2/29/2024

33,994

 

136.32

 

33,994

 

$

121,116

3/1/2024-3/31/2024

42,448

 

135.90

 

42,448

 

$

115,347

Total

120,681

 

$

129.70

 

120,681

(1) Represents weighted-average price paid per common share including commission.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES ITEM 4.

None.

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MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) None.

(b) None.

(c) During the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed or furnished with this report or are incorporated by reference to previously filed material:

Exhibit No.

    

 

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 29, 2021, by and among the Company, Simba Sub, MoLo Solutions, LLC and Andrew Silver and Matt Vogrich, in their capacity as Sellers’ Representatives (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 29, 2021, File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

2.2

Consent and Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 25, 2021, by and among the Company, Simba Sub, LLC, MoLo Solutions, LLC and Andrew Silver and Matt Vogrich, in their capacity as Sellers’ Representatives (previously filed as Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2022, File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

2.3

Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 31, 2022, by and among the Company on behalf of itself and MoLo Solutions, LLC, and Andrew Silver and Matt Vogrich, in their capacity as Sellers’ Representatives (previously filed as Exhibit 2.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2022, File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

2.4

Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 6, 2022, by and among the Company on behalf of itself and MoLo Solutions, LLC, and Andrew Silver and Matt Vogrich, in their capacity as Sellers’ Representatives (previously filed as Exhibit 2.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2022, File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1*

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

3.2

Eighth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated as of February 29, 2024 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2024, File No. 000-19969, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1#*

The ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and form of award.

10.2#*

The ArcBest Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan and form of award.

10.3#*

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Employees) (2024 awards).

31.1*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32**

Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS*

XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data Files because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104*

The Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

#     Designates a compensation plan or arrangement for directors or executive officers.

*     Filed herewith.

**   Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ Judy R. McReynolds

Judy R. McReynolds

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ J. Matthew Beasley

J. Matthew Beasley

Vice President — Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

53

EX-3.1 2 arcb-20240331xex3d1.htm EX-3.1

EXHIBIT 3.1

4885-2218-1279

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ARCBEST CORPORATION

ArcBest Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

1.The name of the Corporation is ArcBest Corporation. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name Best Holding Corporation pursuant to the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Original Certificate of Incorporation”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 23, 1988.
2.The Original Certificate of Incorporation was amended and restated by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 16, 1992, whereby the Corporation changed its name from Best Holding Corporation to Arkansas Best Corporation, as amended by (a) Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 22, 2009 and (b) a Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging ArcBest Corporation with Arkansas Best Corporation, which included a change of the Corporation’s name from Arkansas Best Corporation to ArcBest Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 24, 2014 and effective as of May 1, 2014.
3.The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and filed with Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 1, 2023.
4.This Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (this “Certificate of Incorporation”) was duly adopted by the Board of Directors and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; and
5.This Certificate of Incorporation amends and restates the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I​

The name of the Corporation is ArcBest Corporation.


ARTICLE II​

The name of the Corporation’s registered agent and the address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County, 19808.

ARTICLE III​

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV​
A. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is eighty million (80,000,000) consisting of (a) ten million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and (b) seventy million (70,000,000) shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share.
B. Designations, etc. of Preferred Stock.
1. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each such series to have distinctive serial designations, as shall hereafter be determined in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series from time to time adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the authority which is hereby vested in the Board of Directors.
2. Each series of Preferred Stock
(i) may have such number of shares;
(ii) may have such voting power, full or limited, or may be without voting power;
(iii) may be subject to redemption at such time or times and at such prices;
(iv) may be entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or noncumulative), payable in cash, securities or property, at such rate or rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable in any other class or classes or series of stock;
(v) may be made convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange, and with such adjustments;

2


(vi) may be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund or purchase fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of such series in such amount or amounts;
(vii) may be entitled to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of the Corporation or any subsidiary, upon the issue of any additional stock (including additional shares of such series or of any other series) and upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and the purchase, redemption, or other acquisition by the Corporation or any subsidiary, of any outstanding stock of the Corporation, or of other affirmative or negative covenants;
(viii) may have certain rights in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation, and relative rights of priority of payment of shares of that series; and
(ix) may have such other relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; all as shall be stated in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock. Except where otherwise set forth in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of shares comprising such series may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V​

In furtherance and not limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation or to adopt new bylaws.

ARTICLE VI​

A director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director or officer’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) with respect to any director, under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived any improper personal benefit, or (v) with respect to any officer, in any action by or in right of the Corporation. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

Any amendment, repeal or elimination of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director or officer of the Corporation for acts or omissions occurring before such amendment, repeal or elimination unless the provision provides otherwise at the time of such act or omission.

3


ARTICLE VII​

The number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be as set forth in or pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation. At the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders (which number of directors shall be approximately one-third of the total number of directors of the Corporation); at the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (which number of directors shall be approximately two-thirds of the total number of directors of the Corporation); and at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, and each annual meeting of stockholders thereafter, all directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders.

ARTICLE VIII​
1. Right to Indemnification.

Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or omission in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue with respect to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph 2 of this Article with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article or otherwise.

4


2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.

If a claim under paragraph 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation (except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days), the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, the indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled under this Article or otherwise to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, shall be on the Corporation.

3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Certificate of Incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

4. Insurance.

The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any indemnitee against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

5


5. Indemnity of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article or as otherwise permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX​

No stockholder of the Corporation shall by reason of his holding shares of any class of its capital stock have any preemptive or preferential right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class of the Corporation, now or hereafter to be authorized, or any notes, debentures, bonds or other securities convertible into or carrying warrants, rights or options to purchase shares of any class or any other security, now or hereafter to be authorized, whether or not the issuance of any such shares or such notes, debentures, bonds or other securities would adversely affect the dividend, voting or any other rights of such stockholder; and the Board of Directors may issue shares of any class of stock of the Corporation, or any notes, debentures, bonds or other securities convertible into or carrying warrants, rights or options to purchase shares of any class, without offering any such shares of any class, either in whole or in part, to the existing holders of any class of stock of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X​

Cumulative voting for the election of Directors shall not be permitted.

ARTICLE XI​

The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation shall be required for the approval or authorization of any (i) merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, (ii) sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to or with any other corporation, person or other entity, (iii) dissolution of the Corporation or (iv) amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XII​

No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed this 29th day of April, 2024.

ARCBEST CORPORATION

By:/s/ Judy R. McReynolds​ ​

Name:

Judy R. McReynolds

Title:

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer


EX-10.1 3 arcb-20240331xex10d1.htm EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 1 of 9

[ ] Schedule

ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Signature Page to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ArcBest Corporation Pursuant to the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Governing Plan”), the Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) has adopted the following Individual Award Opportunities, Performance Measures, and Participants pool for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the [ ] – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (the “[ ] Plan”). The Compensation Committee has determined that the [ ] Plan incentive will include the following components:

[ ] Operating Income (“Operating Income Component”)

60% weighting

ROCE Component

40% weighting

The weighting of the components is determined by the Compensation Committee for each Measurement Period.

I. Defined Terms

A. Act of Misconduct. Act of Misconduct shall mean the Participant (i) has committed an act of (a) gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of Participant’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) embezzlement, fraud, or dishonesty, (c) material theft or misappropriation of Company or Subsidiary property, (d) nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, (e) breach of fiduciary duty, (f) violation of Company ethics policy or code of conduct, or (g) deliberate disregard of Company or Subsidiary rules; (ii) is convicted of or enters a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with regard to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or Subsidiary trade secret or confidential information; (iv) solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary; (v) breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant; (vi) engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition or breaches any non-competition agreement; (vii) induces any Company or Subsidiary customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or to cease doing business with the Company or any Subsidiary; or (viii) induces any principal for whom the Company or any Subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

B.Base Salary for Section 16 Officers. Base Salary for Section 16 Officers is defined as an Section 16 Officer’s total base salary earned, while an eligible Participant in the [ ] Plan, for the designated Measurement Period, but in no event shall the Base Salary for an Section 16 Officer exceed the monthly base salary for the Section 16 Officer as most recently approved by the Compensation Committee as of the end of the day on which the Plan is approved for the Measurement Period or, if later, the day on which the Participant becomes an Section 16 Officer with a salary approved by the Compensation Committee, multiplied by twelve, multiplied by 150%.  Base Salary is not reduced by any voluntary salary reductions or any salary reduction contributions made to any salary reduction plan, defined contribution plan or other deferred compensation plans of the Company, but does not include any payments under the Governing Plan, any stock option or other type of equity plan, or any other bonuses, incentive pay or special awards.

C.  Base Salary. Base Salary for Participants other than Section 16 Officers is defined as a Participant’s total base salary earned, while an eligible Participant in the [      ] Plan, for the designated Measurement Period.  Base Salary is not reduced by any voluntary salary reductions or any salary reduction contribution made to any salary reduction plan, defined contribution plan or other deferred compensation plans of the Company, but does not include any payments under the Governing Plan, any stock option or other type of equity plan, or any other bonuses, incentive pay or special awards.

D. Disability. Disability means a physical or mental condition resulting from bodily injury, disease or mental disorder, which constitutes a disability under the terms of the Company’s Short-Term Disability Policy.


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 2 of 9

E. Good Reason. Good Reason shall mean (i) any material adverse diminution in Participant’s title, duties, or responsibilities; (ii) any reduction in Participant’s base salary or employee benefits (including reducing Participant’s level of participation or bonus award opportunity in the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s incentive compensation plans) or (iii) a relocation of Participant’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles without the prior consent of Participant.

F. Material. Five percent (5%) of the aggregate annual incentive pool.

G.  Measurement Period.  The Measurement Period is 1/1/[      ] to 12/31/[      ].

H. Qualified Termination. Qualified Termination shall mean, within 24 full calendar months after a Change in Control, as defined in the Section 16 Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, a participant’s separation from service by the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company) not due to an Act of Misconduct (and not as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability), or by the Participant for Good Reason.

I. Retirement. Retirement shall mean Participant’s retirement from active employment at or after age 65 or retirement from the Company or Subsidiary at or after age 55, so long as the Participant has, as of the date of such retirement, at least 10 years of service with the Company or any Subsidiary. Officers and/or Section 16 Officers must be a Participant in the Plan during the Plan Year for not less than ninety (90) days prior to his or her Retirement to be eligible for an incentive under the [ ] Plan.

II. Participants

Eligible Participants in the [ ] Plan are listed in Appendix C and certain employees or positions may be specifically included or excluded by the Compensation Committee.

If you are promoted to an eligible position after November 30, [ ], you will not be eligible to participate in the [ ] Plan.

If an Eligible Participant in the [ ] Plan also participates in the ArcBest Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan, the terms of the ArcBest Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan shall govern.

III. Corporate Performance Metrics

Operating Income Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the Operating Income Component are based on (a) achieving certain levels of Operating Income in [ ], and (b) Your Target Payout Factor Earned. The formula below illustrates how your incentive is computed:

Your Incentive Payment= [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Factor x Your Base Salary x the Operating Income Component Weighting]

A. Performance Factor Earned. Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix A and depends on the Operating Income achieved.

B. Target Payout Factor. Your Target Payout Factor is a percentage of your Base Salary. The Target Payout Factors are listed in Appendix C.

ROCE Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the ROCE Component are based on (a) achieving certain levels of performance for ArcBest’s Consolidated Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”) and (b) your Target Payout Factor. The formula below illustrates how your incentive is computed:

2


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 3 of 9

Your Incentive Payment = [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Factor x Your Base Salary x the ROCE Component Weighting]

A. Performance Factor Earned. Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix B and depends on the ROCE achieved by ArcBest for the year.

B. Target Payout Factor. Your Target Payout Factor is a percentage of your Base Salary. The Target Payout Factors are listed in Appendix C.

If the performance result falls between two rows on Appendix A or Appendix B, interpolation is used to determine the factor used in the computation of the incentive.

An example of the computation of an individual award opportunity for a Vice President is as follows:

Base Salary during the Measurement Period: $200,000

Target Payout Factor: 40%

[ ] ArcBest Operating Income: $248,000,000

[ ] ArcBest ROCE: 14.7%

Operating Income ROCE Total

Base Salary $200,000 $200,000

Your Target Payout Factor 40% 40%

Performance Factor Earned 50% 121%

Weighting 60% 40%

Your Incentive Payment $24,000 $38,720$62,720

The Compensation Committee has established maximum incentive amounts based on a maximum Performance Factor Earned of 250% of your Target Payout Factor for the Operating Income Component and 250% of your Target Payout Factor for the ROCE Component subject to the applicable weighting for each component as provided in Appendix A and Appendix B.

IV. Effect of a Change in Control

Upon the occurrence of a Qualified Termination following a Change in Control, Participant shall be entitled to immediate payment of the amount computed under the Plan based on the actual percentage of Performance Factor Earned in Appendix A and Appendix B, calculated as if the Measurement Period ended on the date of the Change in Control. In no case will the payment be made later than seventy-five (75) days from the date of the Participant’s Qualified Termination.

V. Payment of Award

Payment will be made as soon as practicable following the end of the Measurement Period, and in any event, no later than seventy-five (75) days after the end of the Measurement Period.

VI. Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Defined terms in this [ ] ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan Schedule shall have the same meaning as in the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan except where the context otherwise requires.

3


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 4 of 9

Schedule A

[ ] Plan – Operating Income Component

ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Pursuant to the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Governing Plan”), the Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”) has adopted this Operating Income Component as a component of the [ ] Plan, including the following Individual Award Opportunities and Performance Measures for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries.

I. Performance Measure

[ ] Operating Income is defined as operating income as shown by the consolidated financial statements and consistent with the historical determination of operating income in ArcBest’s consolidated financial statements.

II. Required Adjustments

Adjustments to Operating Income shall be made by the Company in accordance with the Policy Regarding Required Adjustments under the ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and the ArcBest Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan.

III. Discretionary Adjustments

Prior to a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make any adjustment (to increase or reduce) to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. Following a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make a positive adjustment only to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. In addition, the Section 16 Officers of the Company are permitted to make adjustments to performance metrics and awards under the [ ] Plan, provided that, such adjustment does not result in a Material increase or decrease of the aggregate annual incentive pool.

4


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 5 of 9

Schedule B

[ ] Plan – ROCE Plan Component

ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Pursuant to the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Governing Plan”), the Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”) has adopted this ROCE Component as a component of the [ ] Plan, including the following Individual Award Opportunities and Performance Measures for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries.

I. Performance Measure

ROCE for ArcBest is calculated as the following ratio:

Net Income + After-tax Effect of Interest Expense

+ After-tax Effect of Imputed Interest Expense + After-tax Effect of Amortization of intangibles

– After-tax Effect of Income from

Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Average Debt

Average Equity + Average Debt + Average Imputed Debt

“Net Income” for the ROCE calculation is consolidated net income determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

“Interest Expense” for the ROCE calculation is (i) interest on all long and short-term indebtedness, including capital leases, and other interest bearing obligations, and (ii) deferred financing cost amortization and other financing costs including letters of credit fees, reduced by the amount of interest expense on debt not included in Average Debt as defined below.

“Imputed Interest Expense” consists of the interest attributable to Average Imputed Debt assuming an interest rate of 7.5%.

“Average Debt” is the average of the beginning of the year and the end of the year current and long-term debt, with beginning of the year and end of the year current and long-term debt reduced by the respective amount of the beginning of the year and end of the year total of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and limited to a reduction of debt to zero.

“Average Equity” is the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period stockholder’s equity.

“Average Imputed Debt” consists of the average of the beginning of the year and the end of the year present value of all payments determined using an interest rate of 7.5% on operating leases of revenue equipment with an initial term of more than two years.

“Amortization of intangibles” consists of amortization of intangibles and depreciation of software related to acquired businesses including any writedown or impairment charge related to those assets.

“Income from Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Average Debt” consists of income earned on the amount by which Average Debt is reduced at the average interest rate earned in cash and short-term investments for the measurement period.

5


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 6 of 9

II. Required Adjustments

Adjustments to ROCE shall be made by the Company in accordance with the Policy Regarding Required Adjustments under the ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and the ArcBest Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan.

II. Discretionary Adjustments

Prior to a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make any adjustment (to increase or reduce) to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. Following a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make a positive adjustment only to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. In addition, the Section 16 Officers of the Company are permitted to make adjustments to performance metrics and awards under the [ ] Plan, provided that, such adjustment does not result in a Material increase or decrease of the aggregate annual incentive pool.

6


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 7 of 9

Appendix A

Operating Income Component

[ ] Operating Income

Performance Factor Earned

As approved annually by the Compensation Committee

0%

Threshold

50%

Target

100%

Maximum

250%

250%

Operating Income Component Weighting: 60%

7


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 8 of 9

Appendix B

[ ] ROCE Component

Return on Capital Employed

(“ROCE”)

Performance Factor Earned

Less than 9%

0%

Threshold

9%

50%

Target

14%

100%

Maximum

19%

250%

Greater than 19%

250%

ROCE Component Weighting: 40%

8


[ ] Schedule – ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Page 9 of 9

Appendix C

Target Payout Factors

Participants/Job Title

Target Payout Factor

ArcBest Chairman, President & CEO

[ ]%

ABF Freight President

[ ]%

ArcBest Chief Financial Officer

AB Tech President and ArcBest SVP – CINO

ArcBest President, Asset-Light Logistics, Chief Commercial Officer

[ ]%

ArcBest Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Sec.

ArcBest Chief Strategy Officer

ArcBest Chief Human Resources Officer

[ ]%

ArcBest Vice President – Yield Strategy & Management

[ ]%

ArcBest Vice President – Controller

[ ]%

9


EX-10.2 4 arcb-20240331xex10d2.htm EX-10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

ArcBest

Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan

Pursuant to the ArcBest Corporation (“ArcBest” or “Company”) Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, the Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) has adopted the “Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan” (the “Plan”) and has determined that the Plan will include the following components for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[ ] and ending 12/31/[ ]:

ROCE Component

60% weighting

Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) Component

40% weighting

The ROCE Component weighting and TSR Component weighting are determined by the Compensation Committee for each Measurement Period.

I.Defined Terms

Act of Misconduct.  Act of Misconduct shall mean the Participant (i) has committed an act of (a) gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of Participant’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) embezzlement, fraud, or dishonesty, (c) material theft or misappropriation of Company or Subsidiary property, (d) nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, (e) breach of fiduciary duty, (f) violation of Company ethics policy or code of conduct, or (g) deliberate disregard of Company or Subsidiary rules; (ii) is convicted of or enters a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with regard to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or Subsidiary trade secret or confidential information; (iv) solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary; (v) breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant; (vi) engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition or breaches any non-competition agreement; (vii) induces any Company or Subsidiary customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or to cease doing business with the Company or any Subsidiary; or (viii) induces any principal for whom the Company or any Subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

Disability. Disability means a physical or mental condition resulting from bodily injury, disease or mental disorder, which constitutes a disability under the terms of the Company’s Short-Term Disability Policy.

Good Reason. Good Reason shall mean (i) any material adverse diminution in Participant’s title, duties, or responsibilities; (ii) any reduction in Participant’s base salary or employee benefits (including reducing Participant’s level of participation or bonus award opportunity in the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s incentive compensation plans) or (iii) a relocation of Participant’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles without the prior consent of Participant.

Material. Five percent (5%) of the aggregate Plan pool.

Measurement Period. The Measurement Period is 1/1/[ ] to 12/31/[ ].

Qualified Termination. Qualified Termination shall mean, within 24 full calendar months after a Change in Control, as defined in the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, a participant’s Separation from Service by the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company) not due to an Act of Misconduct (and not as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability), or by the Participant for Good Reason.

Retirement. Retirement shall mean Participant’s retirement from active employment at or after age 65 or retirement from the Company or Subsidiary at or after age 55, so long as the Participant has, as of the date of such retirement, at least 10 years of service with the Company or any Subsidiary.


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

II. Participants

Participants in the Plan (who are not active participants in ArcBest or a Subsidiary’s Supplemental Benefit Plan or Deferred Salary Agreement program or who selected Option 1 for their 12/31/2009 SBP Freeze election) are listed in Appendix C and certain employees may be specifically included or excluded by the Compensation Committee. For purposes of Appendix C, the term “ArcBest’ refers to both ArcBest Corporation and ArcBest II, Inc.

An employee may not become a Participant after the end of the 12th month of the Measurement Period.

If an Eligible Participant in the Plan also participates in the ArcBest Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan, the terms of the ArcBest Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Change in Control Plan shall govern.

III. Corporate Performance Metrics

ROCE Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the ROCE Component are based on (a) achieving certain levels of performance for ArcBest’s consolidated Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”) and (b) your Target Payout Value. The formula below illustrates how your incentive is computed:

Your Incentive Payment = [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Value x the ROCE Component Weighting].

If you become eligible to participate in the Plan during the first 12 months of the Measurement Period, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed while you are in an eligible Job listed in the Plan, the applicable Performance Factor Earned and Your Target Payout Value. If you die, are Disabled or Retire as provided for under Section VII of the ROCE Component, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed from the beginning of the Measurement Period until the applicable date of death, Disability or retirement date.

A. Performance Factor Earned. Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix A and depends on the ROCE achieved by ArcBest for the Measurement Period.

B. Target Payout Value. Your Target Payout Value is the fixed dollar value you receive upon target performance as determined by the Compensation Committee. The value varies by role within the Company. The Target Payout Values are listed in Appendix C.

TSR Component: The Individual Award Opportunities provided by the TSR Component are based on (a) the percentile rank of the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) of Total Shareholder Return relative to the Peer Companies over the Measurement Period and (b) your Target Payout Factor. At the end of the Measurement Period, the percentile rank of the Company’s CAGR Total Shareholder Return will be calculated. Any Peer Company that is no longer publicly traded shall be excluded from this calculation. The formula below illustrates how this portion of your incentive is computed:

Your Incentive Payment = [Performance Factor Earned x Your Target Payout Value x TSR Component Weighting].

If you become eligible to participate in the Plan during the first 12 months of the Measurement Period, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed while you are in an eligible Job listed in the Plan, the applicable Performance Factor Earned and Your Fixed Dollar Value. If you die, are Disabled or Retire as provided for under Section VII of the TSR Component, your Incentive Payment will be prorated based on the number of whole months completed from the beginning of the Measurement Period until your date of death, Disability or retirement date.

2


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

A. Performance Factor Earned. The Performance Factor Earned is shown in Appendix B and depends on the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate of Total Shareholder Return over the Measurement Period as compared to the Peer Companies.

B. Target Payout Value. Your Target Payout Value is a fixed dollar value you receive upon target performance as determined by the Compensation Committee. The value varies by role within the Company. The Target Payout Values are listed in Appendix C.

If the performance result falls between two rows on Appendix A or Appendix B, interpolation is used to determine the factor used in the computation of the incentive.

An example of the computation of an individual award opportunity for a Vice President is as follows:

Target Payout Value: $100,000

ArcBest Consolidated 3-Year Average ROCE = 16.0%

Company’s TSR Ranking for Measurement Period: 60th percentile

ROCE TSR​ ​ Total

Performance Factor Earned 160% 160%

Your Target Payout Value 100,000 $100,000

Weighting 60% 40%

Your Incentive Payment $96,000 $64,000 $160,000

The Compensation Committee has established maximum incentive amounts based on a maximum Performance Factor Earned of 250% for the TSR Component and 250% for the ROCE Component subject to the applicable weighting for each component as provided in Appendix A and Appendix B.

The terms of the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan – ROCE Component and the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan – TSR Component are incorporated into the Plan.

IV. Payment of Award

Payment will be made as soon as practicable following the end of the Measurement Period, and in any event, no later than seventy-five (75) days after the end of the Measurement Period.

V. Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan

Defined terms in this Plan shall have the same meaning as in the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan, except where the context otherwise requires.

No term or provision in this Plan may conflict with any term or provision of the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan. It is specifically intended that the Plan, ROCE Component and TSR Component be an “Award Agreement” and the incentives paid hereunder be an “Award” under the terms of the Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Plan.

VI. Discretionary Adjustments

Prior to a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make any adjustment (to increase or decrease) to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. Following a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee may make a positive adjustment only to any Participant’s Final Award if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that events have occurred or facts have become known which would make such adjustment appropriate and equitable. In addition, the Executive Officers of the Company are permitted to make adjustments to performance metrics and awards under the [ ] Plan, provided that, such adjustment does not result in a Material increase or decrease of the Plan pool.

3


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

VII. Effect of Termination of Employment; Change in Control

(a) General. Except as provided in subparts (b) or (c), upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason prior to the completion of the Measurement Period, the Participant shall not be entitled to any Incentive Payment under the Plan.

(b) Death; Disability; Retirement. Upon termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement (as defined in the Plan), Participant’s Incentive Payment shall be prorated based on the period of participation in the Plan, provided that Participant’s Incentive Payment shall be computed and paid in the normal course of business after the end of the Measurement Period. Provided, however, an employee must have completed at least 12 months of the Measurement Period to be entitled to an Incentive Payment under this Section VII(b).

(c) Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Qualified Termination following a Change in Control, Participant shall be entitled to immediate payment of the greater of the following:

(A) The amount computed under the Plan based on 100% of the Participant’s “Target Payout Value” in Appendix C and prorated using the date of the Change in Control as the end of the Measurement Period, or

(B) The amount computed under the Plan based on the actual percentage of Performance Factor Earned in Appendix A and Appendix B, calculated as if the Measurement Period ended on the date of the Change in Control. And specifically, for the TSR metric, using the Company share price as of the date of the Change in Control to calculate TSR rather than the 60-day average price for the ending of the Measurement Period.

4


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

LTIP - ROCE Component

The Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors has adopted this ROCE Component of the Plan (“ROCE Component”), including the following Individual Award Opportunities, Performance Measures and Participants for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[ ] and ending 12/31/[ ].

I. Performance Measure

ROCE for ArcBest is calculated as the following ratio for the Measurement Period:

Net Income + After-tax Effect of Interest Expense + After-tax Effect of Imputed Interest Expense + After-tax Effect of Amortization of intangibles – After-tax Effect of Income from Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Avg. Debt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Average Equity + Average Debt + Average Imputed Debt

Divided by 3

“Net Income” for the ROCE calculation is consolidated net income for the Measurement Period determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

“Interest Expense” for the ROCE calculation is (i) interest on all long and short-term indebtedness and other interest bearing obligations and (ii) deferred financing cost amortization and other financing costs, including letters of credit fees for the Measurement Period, reduced by the amount of interest expense on debt not included in Average Debt as defined below.

“Imputed Interest Expense” consists of the interest attributable to Average Imputed Debt assuming an interest rate of 7.5% for the Measurement Period.

“Average Equity” is the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period stockholder’s equity.

“Average Debt” is the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period current and long-term debt, with beginning of the Measurement Period and end of the Measurement Period current and long-term debt reduced by the respective amount of the beginning of the Measurement Period and end of the Measurement Period total of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and limited to a reduction of debt to zero.

“Average Imputed Debt” consists of the average of the beginning of the Measurement Period and the end of the Measurement Period present value of all payments determined using an interest rate of 7.5% on operating leases of revenue equipment with an initial term of more than two years.

“Amortization of intangibles” consists of amortization of intangibles and depreciation of software related to acquired businesses including any writedown or impairment charge related to those assets.

“Income from Cash and Short-term Investments Attributable to the reduction in Average Debt” consists of income earned on the amount by which Average Debt is reduced at the average interest rate earned in cash and short-term investments for the measurement period.

5


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

II. Required Adjustments

Adjustments to ROCE shall be made by the Company in accordance with the Policy Regarding Required Adjustments under the ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and the ArcBest Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan.

6


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

LTIP - TSR Component

The Compensation Committee of the ArcBest Corporation Board of Directors has adopted this Total Shareholder Return Component of the Total Plan (“TSR Component”), including the following Individual Award Opportunities, Performance Measures, and Participants for ArcBest Corporation and its subsidiaries for the three-year period beginning 1/1/[ ] and ending 12/31/[ ].

I. Performance Measure

Total Shareholder Return. (“TSR”). Total Shareholder Return with respect to the Company and each Peer Company equals the annualized rate of return reflecting price appreciation between the beginning 60-day average share price (ending December 31 of the year immediately prior to the beginning of the Measurement Period) and the ending 60-day average share price (ending December 31 of the final year of the Measurement Period), adjusted for dividends paid and the compounding effect of dividends paid on reinvested dividends (the calculation assumes that all dividends paid are reinvested). Any Peer Company that is no longer publicly traded shall be excluded from this calculation.

Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”). Compounded Annual Growth Rate converts the total return into a value that indicates what the return was on an annual basis for the 3-year period.

Peer Companies. The Peer Companies are the following publicly traded companies:

Company Name

Ticker

Covenant Logistics Group, Inc.

CVLG

Forward Air Corporation

FWRD

Hub Group, Inc.

HUBG

JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

JBHT

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

KNX

Landstar System, Inc.

LSTR

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

ODFL

RXO, Inc.

RXO

Saia, Inc.

SAIA

Schneider National, Inc.

SNDR

TFI International, Inc.

TFII

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

WERN

XPO, Inc.

XPO

II. Adjustments

Adjustments to TSR shall be made by the Company in accordance with the Policy Regarding Required Adjustments under the ArcBest Section 16 Officer Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and the ArcBest Long-Term (3-Year) Incentive Compensation Plan.

7


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Appendix A

[ ]-[ ] LTIP – ROCE Component

Three-Year Average Return

on Capital Employed

(“ROCE”)

Performance Factor Earned

Less than 9%

0%

Threshold

9%

50%

Target

14%

100%

Maximum

19%

250%

Greater than 19%

250%

ROCE Component Weighting: 60%

8


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Appendix B

[ ]-[ ] LTIP – TSR Component

Percentile ranking of the Company’s Compounded Annual Growth Rate TSR relative to Peer Companies over the Measurement Period

Performance Factor Earned

Below 25th Percentile

0%

Threshold

25th Percentile

25%

Target

50th Percentile

100%

Maximum

75th Percentile

250%

Above 75th Percentile

250%

TSR Component Weighting: 40%

9


ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Appendix C

LTIP Target Payout Value

Participants/Job Title

Target Payout Value

Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

$ [ ]

President, ABF Freight

$ [ ]

Chief Financial Officer

$ [ ]

Chief Commercial Officer and Pres, Asset-Light Logistics

$ [ ]

Sr VP Chf Innov Off, ArcBest & Pres, ArcBest Tech

$ [ ]

Chief Legal Officer and Corp Secretary

$ [ ]

Chief Strategy Officer

$ [ ]

Chief Human Resources Officer

$ [ ]

Vice President, Yield Strategy and Mgmt

$ [ ]

COO Asset-Light Logistics

$ [ ]

Vice President, Financial Services and Risk Mgmt

$ [ ]

Vice President, Real Estate

$ [ ]

Vice President, Engineering

$ [ ]

Vice President, Service Center Operations

$ [ ]

Vice President, Process Compliance

$ [ ]

Vice President, Talent and Growth Initiatives

$ [ ]

Chief Sales Officer

$ [ ]

Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

$ [ ]

Vice President, Controller

$ [ ]

EVP, Asset-Light Services

$ [ ]

Vice President, Internal Audit

$ [ ]

Vice President, Pricing, Treasurer & Controller

$ [ ]

Vice President, Enterprise Sales

$ [ ]

Vice President, Field Sales

$ [ ]

Vice President, Customer Solutions

$ [ ]

Vice President, Treasurer

$ [ ]

Vice President, Employee Relations

$ [ ]

Vice President, Managed Solutions & Carrier Partnerships

$ [ ]

Vice President, Safety, Security & HR

$ [ ]

Vice President, Technology Research & Development

$ [ ]

Vice President, Innovation Management & Strategy

$ [ ]

Vice President, People Services

$ [ ]

Vice President, Data Science

$ [ ]

Vice President & Chief Information Officer

$ [ ]

Vice President, Tax

$ [ ]

Vice President, Investor Relations

$ [ ]

Vice President, Yield

$ [ ]

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ArcBest Corporation [ ] Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Vice President, Customer Experience

$ [ ]

Vice President, International

$ [ ]

Vice President, Business Development

$ [ ]

Vice President, Expedite Fleet and Operations

$ [ ]

Vice President, Pricing

$ [ ]

Vice President, Controller Asset-Light Logistics

$ [ ]

Vice President, Fleet Services

$ [ ]

Vice President, Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis

$ [ ]

Vice President, Strategy

$ [ ]

11


EX-10.3 5 arcb-20240331xex10d3.htm EX-10.3

EXHIBIT 10.3

ARCBEST CORPORATION

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(Employees)

Participant:

Date of Grant:

Award Number:

Total Number of Units Granted:

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement and any special terms and conditions for Participant’s country set forth in the appendix attached hereto (the “Appendix”) (together, this “Agreement”) is dated as of this [    ] day of [      ], [      ] (the “Grant Date”), and is between ArcBest Corporation (the “Company”) and the “Participant” named above.

WHEREAS, the Company, by action of the Board and approval of its shareholders established the ArcBest Corporation Ownership Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);

WHEREAS, Participant is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary and the Company desires to encourage Participant to own Common Stock for the purposes stated in Section 1 of the Plan;

WHEREAS, Participant and the Company have entered into this Agreement to govern the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Award (as defined below) granted to Participant by the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.Definitions

Defined terms in the Plan shall have the same meaning in this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires.

2.Grant of Restricted Stock Units

On the Grant Date, the Company hereby grants to Participant an Award of Restricted Stock Units (the “Award”) in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan (as amended from time to time). Except as set forth in the Appendix, each Restricted Stock Unit subject to the Award represents the right to receive one Share (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan) upon the terms and subject to the conditions (including the vesting conditions) set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. By accepting the Award, Participant irrevocably agrees on behalf of Participant and Participant’s successors and permitted assigns to all of the terms and conditions of the Award as set forth in or pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan (as such Plan may be amended from time to time).


In addition, Participant consents to receive documents from the Company and any plan administrator by means of electronic delivery, provided that such delivery complies with applicable law, including, without limitation, documents pursuant or relating to any equity award granted to you under the Plan or any other current or future equity or other benefit plan of the Company (the “Company’s Equity Plans”).  This consent shall be effective for the entire time that you are a participant in a Company Equity Plan.

3.Vesting; Payment
(a)The Award shall not be vested as of the Grant Date and shall be forfeitable unless and until otherwise vested pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Award shall become vested on a pro rata basis over a three-year period beginning as of the Grant Date, with one-third of the Award vesting on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the Grant Date (each a “Normal Vesting Date”), provided that Participant remains continuously employed by the Company through each such Normal Vesting Date. In addition, the Award shall become vested with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock Units on the date Participant experiences a termination of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or after age 65 (referred to herein as “Normal Retirement”) other than for Cause (as defined below).

Restricted Stock Units that have vested and are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture are referred to herein as “Vested Units.” Restricted Stock Units that are not vested and generally remain subject to forfeiture are referred to herein as “Unvested Units.”

(b)The vesting period of the Award set forth in Paragraph 3(a) may be adjusted by the Compensation Committee (“Committee”) to reflect the decreased level of employment during any period in which Participant is on an approved leave of absence or is employed on a less than full time basis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Paragraph 3, the Award shall be subject to earlier acceleration of vesting and/or forfeiture and transfer as provided in this Agreement and the Plan. In no event may any adjustment under this paragraph delay the Settlement Date for any Vested Units beyond the applicable Normal Vesting Date or termination of employment if earlier.
(c)Subject to Paragraph 3(d) below, on each Normal Vesting Date, or, if earlier, upon Normal Retirement, Participant shall be entitled to receive one Share (subject to adjustment under Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan) for each Vested Unit in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Plan. The Company will transfer such Shares to Participant or Participant’s designee subject to (i) Participant’s satisfaction of any required tax withholding obligations as set forth in Paragraph 6 and (ii) the restrictions, if any, imposed by the Company pursuant to Paragraph 14(f) or otherwise pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.
(d)Each date upon which Shares are to be issued under Paragraph 3(c) is referred to as a “Settlement Date.” The issuance of the Shares hereunder may be effected by the issuance of a stock certificate, recording shares on the stock records of the Company or by crediting shares in an account established on the Participant’s behalf with a brokerage firm or other custodian, in each case as determined by the Company. Fractional shares will not be issued pursuant to the Award.

2


Notwithstanding the above, prior to a Change in Control (i) for administrative or other reasons, the Company may from time to time temporarily suspend the issuance of Shares, (ii) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws, and (iii) the date on which Shares are issued hereunder may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters. Any delay pursuant to 3(d)(ii) shall only be until such time that the Company determines that the delivery of shares would no longer violate any federal, state or other applicable law. Notwithstanding the delay for administrative or other reasons provided for in clauses (i) and (iii) above, in no event will such issuance of shares be delayed beyond the later of the end of the calendar year in which the Settlement Date occurs or the 15th day of the third month after the end of such year, or such other time as permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder without the imposition of any additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement shall be construed or deemed to be amended as necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the imposition of any additional or accelerated taxes or other penalties under Section 409A of the Code. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the requirements of Section 409A of the Code applicable to the Plan, and this Agreement and shall interpret the terms of the Plan and this Agreement consistently therewith. Under no circumstances, however, shall the Company have any liability under the Plan or this Agreement for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable pursuant to the Plan or this Agreement, including any taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

4.Status of Participant

Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder (including, without limitation, any voting rights with respect to the Shares subject to the Award and, except to the extent the Award is adjusted pursuant to Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan, the right to receive any payments with respect to dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the Shares subject to this Award) with respect to either the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder or the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units, unless and until such Shares are issued in respect of Vested Units, and then only to the extent of such issued Shares.

5.Effect of Termination of Employment; Change in Control
(a)General. Except as provided in Paragraphs 5(c) or (d), upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason, the Unvested Units shall be forfeited by Participant and cancelled and surrendered to the Company without payment of any consideration to Participant.
(b)Cause. Upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for Cause (as defined below), all Vested Units and Unvested Units shall be forfeited by Participant and cancelled and surrendered to the Company without payment of any consideration to Participant.

3


(c)Death; Disability. Upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of Participant’s death or Disability all Unvested Units shall vest as of the date of such termination of service and be issued as soon as administratively possible. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall mean a condition under which Participant either (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.
(d)Change in Control. Upon a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary by the Company or any Subsidiary without Cause (as defined below) or by Participant for Good Reason (as defined below), in either case, within the 24-month period immediately following a Change in Control, all Unvested Units shall vest as of the date of such termination of employment and be issued as soon as administratively possible.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean (i) Participant’s gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of Participant’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) Participant’s conviction or guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with respect to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) Participant’s engaging in any material act of theft or material misappropriation of Company property or (iv) Participant’s breach of the Company’s Code of Conduct as such code may be revised from time to time.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Good Reason” shall mean (i) any material and adverse diminution in Participant’s title, duties, or responsibilities; (ii) a reduction in Participant’s base salary or employee benefits (including reducing Participant’s level of participation or target bonus award opportunity in the Company’s incentive compensation plans) or (iii) a relocation of Participant’s principal place of employment of more than 50 miles without the prior consent of Participant.

(e)Specified Employees. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any amounts that the Company determines to be deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, if the Company determines that as of the Settlement Date Participant is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code), any such Shares to be issued to Participant on a Settlement Date that occurs by reason of Participant’s termination of employment with the Company other by reason of Participant’s death or Disability will not be issued to Participant until the date that is six months following the Settlement Date (or such earlier time permitted under Section 409A of the Code without the imposition of any accelerated or additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code).
6.Withholding and Disposition of Shares
(a)Generally. Participant is liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the Award, regardless of any action the Company takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Award. The Company does not make any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the grant or vesting of the Award or the subsequent sale of Shares issuable pursuant to the Award. The Company does not commit and is under no obligation to structure the Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

4


(b)Payment of Withholding Taxes. Prior to any event in connection with the Award that the Company determines may result in any domestic or foreign minimum statutory tax withholding obligation (i.e. federal, state, OASDI and HI and/or local) (the “Tax Withholding Obligation”), Participant is required to arrange for the satisfaction of the amount of such Tax Withholding Obligation in a manner acceptable to the Company. Participant and the Company agree that tax withholding required as a result of periodic vesting will be handled at the Company’s option by payroll deduction or such other means as the Company may establish or permit.
(i)By Withholding Shares. Unless Participant elects to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation by an alternative means in accordance with Paragraph 6(b)(ii), that occurs at the Settlement Date, Participant’s acceptance of this Award constitutes Participant’s instruction and authorization to the Company to withhold on Participant’s behalf the number of Shares from those Shares issuable to Participant as a result of the occurrence of a Settlement Date as the Company determines to be sufficient to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation.
(ii)By Other Payment. At any time not less than five (5) business days before any Tax Withholding Obligation arising as a result of the Settlement Date, Participant may notify the Company of Participant’s election to pay Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation by wire transfer, cashier’s check or other means permitted by the Company. In such case, Participant shall satisfy his or her tax withholding obligation by paying to the Company on such date as it shall specify an amount that the Company determines is sufficient to satisfy the expected Tax Withholding Obligation by (i) wire transfer to such account as the Company may direct, (ii) delivery of a cashier’s check payable to the Company, Attn: Executive Benefits, at the address set forth in Paragraph 14(a), or such other address as the Company may from time to time direct, or (iii) such other means as the Company may establish or permit. Participant agrees and acknowledges that prior to the date the Tax Withholding Obligation arises, the Company will be required to estimate the amount of the Tax Withholding Obligation and accordingly may require the amount paid to the Company under this Paragraph 6(b)(ii) to be more than the minimum amount that may actually be due and that, if Participant has not delivered payment of a sufficient amount to the Company to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation (regardless of whether as a result of the Company underestimating the required payment or Participant failing to timely make the required payment), the additional Tax Withholding Obligation amounts shall be satisfied in the manner specified in Paragraph 6(b)(i).
7.Excess Parachute Payments

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of the payments in respect of this Award, together with any other payments to which Participant has the right to receive from the Company or any purchaser, successor, or assign, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code), a best-of-net calculation will be performed to determine whether change in control benefits due to the Participant should be reduced (so no excise tax will be imposed under Section 4999 of the Code) or should be paid in full (with any excise tax to be paid in full by the Participant, with any such reduction first applied to payments pursuant to any Deferred Salary Agreement to which Participant is a party, then to payments pursuant to the 2012 Change in Control Plan, if applicable, and then to Awards of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan.

5


8.Plan Controls

The terms of this Agreement are governed by the terms of the Plan, as it exists on the Grant Date and as the Plan is amended from time to time. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control, except as expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement. The term “Section” generally refers to provisions within the Plan; provided, however, the term “Paragraph” shall refer to a provision of this Agreement.

9.Limitation on Rights; No Right to Future Grants; Extraordinary Item

By entering into this Agreement and accepting the Award, Participant acknowledges that: (a) Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (b) the value of the Award is an extraordinary item which is outside the scope of any employment contract with Participant; (c) the Award is not part of normal or expected compensation for any purpose, including without limitation for calculating any benefits, severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments, and Participant will not be entitled to compensation or damages as a consequence of Participant’s forfeiture as provided for in the Plan or this Agreement of any unvested portion of the Award for any reason; and (d) in the event that Participant is not a direct employee of Company, the grant of the Award will not be interpreted to form an employment relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary and the grant of the Award will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with Participant’s employer, the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company shall be under no obligation whatsoever to advise Participant of the existence, maturity or termination of any of Participant’s rights hereunder and Participant shall be responsible for familiarizing himself or herself with all matters contained herein and in the Plan which may affect any of Participant’s rights or privileges hereunder.

10.Committee Authority

Any question concerning the interpretation of this Agreement or the Plan, any adjustments required to be made under the Plan, and any controversy that may arise under the Plan or this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. Such decision by the Committee shall be final and binding.

11.Transfer Restrictions
(a)General Restrictions. Any sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, conveyance in trust, gift, transfer by bequest, devise or descent, or other transfer or disposition of any kind, whether voluntary or by operation of law, directly or indirectly, of (i) Unvested Units, (ii) Vested Units prior to the Settlement Date, or (iii) Shares subject to such Unvested Units or Vested Units shall be strictly prohibited and void; provided, however, Participant may assign or transfer the Award to the extent permitted under the Plan, provided that the Award shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Agreement and any other terms required by the Committee as a condition to such transfer.

6


(b)Transfers by Covered Persons. If Participant is a “Covered Person” as defined in the ArcBest Corporation Stock Ownership Policy for Directors and Executives (the “Policy”) as amended from time to time, Participant agrees that he or she shall not sell or otherwise dispose or transfer any shares from this Award or any other Award except to the extent permitted by the Policy.
12.Recoupment, Suspension or Termination of Award

Pursuant to Section 15 of the Plan, if at any time prior to Participant’s receipt of Shares pursuant to the Award an Authorized Officer reasonably believes that Participant may have committed an Act of Misconduct (as defined below), the Authorized Officer, the Committee or the Board may suspend Participant’s rights to vest in any Restricted Stock Units, and/or to receive payment for or receive Shares in settlement of Vested Units pending a determination of whether an Act of Misconduct has been committed. Further, in such event, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (i) neither Participant nor Participant’s estate nor transferee will be entitled to vest in or have the restrictions on Unvested Units lapse, or otherwise receive payment or Shares in respect of Vested Units and (ii) Participant will forfeit all undelivered Vested and Unvested Units. In making such determination, the Committee or an Authorized Officer shall give Participant an opportunity to appear and present evidence on his or her behalf at a hearing before the Committee or an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, information and arguments to be considered by the Committee. Any dispute by Participant or other person as to the determination of the Committee must be resolved pursuant to Paragraph 14(j).

Further, except as otherwise provided by applicable law and in accordance with the ArcBest Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Policy adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, Participant agrees that the Company may reduce or offset any payment due to Participant from the Company under this Agreement to recoup the repayment obligation set forth in this Section 12, and by accepting the grant of this Award, Participant consents to such reduction or offset. Such reduction or offset will be applicable to any Award granted, awarded, vested, made or earned during the three full fiscal years immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Participant is found to have committed an Act of Misconduct.

For purposes of this Agreement, an “Act of Misconduct” means the Participant (i) has committed an act of (a) gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of Participant’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) embezzlement, fraud, or dishonesty, (c) material theft or misappropriation of Company or Subsidiary property, (d) nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Subsidiary, (e) breach of fiduciary duty, (f) violation of Company ethics policy or code of conduct, or (g) deliberate disregard of Company or Subsidiary rules; (ii) is convicted of or enters a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with regard to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (iii) makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company or Subsidiary trade secret or confidential information; (iv) solicits any employee or service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary; (v) breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant; (vi) engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition or breaches any noncompetition agreement; (vii) induces any Company or Subsidiary customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or to cease doing business with the Company or any Subsidiary; or (viii) induces any principal for whom the Company or any Subsidiary acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

7


13.Adjustment of and Changes in the Stock

In the event that the number of Shares increases or decreases through a reorganization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, dividend (other than regular, quarterly cash dividends), or otherwise, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares subject to this Award to reflect such increase or decrease.

14.General Provisions
(a)Notices. Whenever any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice must be in writing and delivered in person or by mail (to the address set forth below if notice is being delivered to the Company) or electronically. Any notice delivered in person or by mail shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on which it is personally delivered, or, whether actually received or not, on the third business day after it is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith. Any notice given by the Company to Participant directed to Participant at Participant’s address on file with the Company shall be effective to bind Participant and any other person who shall have acquired rights under this Agreement. The Company or Participant may change, by written notice to the other, the address previously specified for receiving notices. Notices delivered to the Company in person or by mail shall be addressed as follows:

Company:ArcBest Corporation

Attn: Executive Benefits

P.O. Box 10048

Fort Smith, AR 72917-0048

Fax: (479) 785-6470

(b)No Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be valid unless in writing and signed by the person against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, nor will failure to enforce any right hereunder constitute a continuing waiver of the same or a waiver of any other right hereunder.
(c)Undertaking. Participant hereby agrees to take whatever additional action and execute whatever additional documents the Company may deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on either Participant or the Award pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Entire Contract. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement is made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and will in all respects be construed in conformity with the express terms and provisions of the Plan.

8


(e)Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and be binding on, the Company and its successors and assigns and Participant and Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees, distributees, assigns and transferees by operation of law, whether or not any such person will have become a party to this Agreement and agreed in writing to join herein and be bound by the terms and conditions hereof.
(f)Securities Law Compliance. The Company may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by Participant or other subsequent transfers by Participant of any Shares issued as a result of or under this Award, including without limitation (i) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (ii) restrictions that may be necessary in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the Award and/or the Shares underlying the Award and (iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm or other agent for such resales or other transfers. Any sale of the Shares must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations governing the sale of such shares.
(g)Information Confidential. As partial consideration for the granting of the Award, Participant agrees that he or she will keep confidential all information and knowledge that Participant has relating to the manner and amount of his or her participation in the Plan; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to Participant’s spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to secure a loan. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Participant from: (A) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to any governmental agency or entity or (B) making disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Participant from making a disclosure that: (1) is made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may make disclosures without violating this Paragraph 14(g) to the attorney of the individual and use such information in the court proceeding.
(h)Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any awards granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company, and such consent shall remain in effect throughout Participant’s term of employment or service with the Company and thereafter until withdrawn in writing by Participant.
(i)Governing Law. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan, the provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
(j)Arbitration of Disputes. Pursuant to Section 22 of the Plan, Participant hereby

9


agrees as follows:
(i)If Participant or Participant’s transferee wishes to challenge any action of the Committee or the Plan Administrator, the person may do so only by submitting to binding arbitration with respect to such decision. The review by the arbitrator will be limited to determining whether Participant or Participant’s transferee has proven that the Committee’s decision was arbitrary or capricious. This arbitration will be the sole and exclusive review permitted of the Committee’s decision. Participant explicitly waives any right to judicial review.
(ii)Notice of demand for arbitration will be made in writing to the Committee within thirty (30) days after written notice to Participant of the applicable decision by the Committee. The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the Committee and Participant. If the Committee and Participant are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the arbitrator will be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator, no matter how selected, must be neutral within the meaning of the Commercial Rules of Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator will administer and conduct the arbitration pursuant to the Commercial Rules of Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association. Each side will bear its own fees and expenses, including its own attorney’s fees, and each side will bear one half of the arbitrator’s fees and expenses; provided, however, that the arbitrator will have the discretion to award the prevailing party its fees and expenses. The arbitrator will have no authority to award exemplary, punitive, special, indirect, consequential, or other extra contractual damages. The decision of the arbitrator on the issue(s) presented for arbitration will be final and conclusive and any court of competent jurisdiction may enforce it.
(k)Section 409A of the Code. This Award is intended to comply, to the extent applicable, with the distribution and other requirements of Section 409A of the Code and, as such, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the Company may, in its sole discretion, amend this Award (which amendment shall be effective upon its adoption or at such other time designated by the Company) as may be necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code or otherwise comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder; provided, however, that any such amendment shall be implemented in such a manner as to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the terms and conditions of this Award as in existence immediately prior to any such amendment.
(l)Board Policies and Guidelines. Participant acknowledges that this Award is subject to certain policies and guidelines as may be from time to time enacted by the Board of Directors of the Company including the ArcBest Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Policy adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective October 18, 2007, as amended from time to time.
(m)Non-U.S. Appendix. This Award is subject to any special terms and conditions set forth for your country in the Appendix. If you relocate to a country included in the Appendix, the special terms and conditions for that country will apply to you to the extent the Company

10


determines that applying such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Appendix constitutes part of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

ARCBEST CORPORATION

By: _____________________________

Judy R. McReynolds

Chairman, President & CEO

PARTICIPANT:

________________________________

[First Name/MI/Last Name]

11


APPENDIX TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Appendix shall have the same meanings given to them in the Agreement and the Plan.

This Appendix includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Award granted to you under the Plan if you reside and/or work in Canada. If you are a resident of Quebec, additional terms and conditions may apply. If you are a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which you are currently working and/or residing, transfer to another country after the Grant Date or are considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the Company shall, in its discretion, determine the extent to which the special terms and conditions contained herein apply to you.

Terms and Conditions

Form of Settlement. This provision replaces Paragraph 3(c) of the Agreement:

(c)Subject to Paragraph 3(d) below, on each Normal Vesting Date, or, if earlier, upon Normal Retirement, Participant shall be entitled to receive the cash equivalent of one Share (subject to adjustment under Paragraph 13 hereof and/or Section 13 of the Plan) for each Vested Unit in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Plan. The cash equivalent of each Vested Unit shall equal the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date such Restricted Stock Unit vests. The Company will issue the cash payment to Participant or Participant’s designee subject to (i) Participant’s satisfaction of any required tax withholding obligations as set forth in Paragraph 6 and (ii) the restrictions, if any, imposed by the Company pursuant to Paragraph 14(f) or otherwise pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.

Settlement Date. This provision replaces the first two sentences of Paragraph 3(d) of the Agreement:

(d)Each date upon which a cash payment is to be issued under Paragraph 3(c) is referred to as a “Settlement Date.”

Reference to Shares. All references to “Shares” in the Agreement shall be interpreted to include the cash equivalent of such Shares except as otherwise required by the context.

Award for Future Services. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or the Agreement to the contrary, the Award is related to future services to be performed and is not a bonus or compensation for past services.

i


EX-31.1 6 arcb-20240331xex31d1.htm EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Judy R. McReynolds, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ArcBest Corporation;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:      May 3, 2024

/s/ Judy R. McReynolds

Judy R. McReynolds

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)


EX-31.2 7 arcb-20240331xex31d2.htm EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, J. Matthew Beasley, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ArcBest Corporation;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:     May 3, 2024

/s/ J. Matthew Beasley

J. Matthew Beasley

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)


EX-32 8 arcb-20240331xex32.htm EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the “Report”) by ArcBest Corporation (the “Registrant”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies that:

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ Judy R. McReynolds

Judy R. McReynolds

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: May 3, 2024

/s/ J. Matthew Beasley

J. Matthew Beasley

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)