TONTITOWN, Ark., Oct. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTSI) today reported a 14.6% increase in net income and a 27.0% increase in diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2015 as net income increased to $5,794,850, or $0.80 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015 from net income of $5,056,978, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, net income increased 60.3% and diluted earnings per share increased 74.5% as net income increased to $18,203,272, or $2.46 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2015 from net income of $11,358,887, or $1.41 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2014.

Revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 12.1% to $92,076,036 for the third quarter of 2015 from $82,158,036 for the third quarter of 2014, while fuel surcharge revenue decreased 39.6% to $15,033,696 for the third quarter of 2015 from $24,900,936 for the third quarter of 2014. As a result, total operating revenues remained relatively flat at $107,109,732 for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $107,058,972 for the third quarter of 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 11.8% to $265,813,455 from $237,660,146 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, while fuel surcharge revenue decreased 31.8% to $48,812,558 for the first nine months of 2015 from $71,562,479 for the first nine months of 2014. As a result, total operating revenues increased 1.7% to $314,626,013 for the first nine months of 2015 compared to $309,222,625 for the first nine months of 2014. The decline in fuel surcharge revenue for each of the periods was due to the significant decline in retail fuel prices during the most recent twelve months.

Daniel H. Cushman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “Although the third quarter offered its fair share of challenges, we are extremely satisfied with our results. The second quarter of this year was our best earnings quarter on record and this quarter represents our second best earnings quarter on record. Our goal this year was to grow while continuing to operate at the same or better profitability levels as those established in 2014. Growth has been difficult with the challenging driver market, but we have had some success. Although not up to our expectations, we did achieve 12.1% revenue growth without considering the impact of fuel surcharge revenue. We have also been able to not only maintain the operating levels achieved in 2014, but improve upon them, as our trucking division operating ratio in the third quarter of 2015 was 87.5% compared to 89.2% in 2014. We also continue to experience strong revenue growth in our Logistics division, although margins declined throughout the quarter as demand softened.

“We continue to focus on growth in those divisions that allow us better opportunities to recruit and retain drivers. We feel those opportunities exist within our Automotive, Dedicated, Mexico and Expedited Divisions. We also continue to create and develop engineered lanes within our Random fleet, which drivers generally prefer over pure random lanes. Our recruiting and retention efforts continue to be a primary focus, and we are doing everything we can to nurture our relationships with our driving schools, our recruiters, and most importantly our driving professionals.

“Regarding growth, we have examined our existing network of terminal locations and are considering additional terminal locations based upon our existing footprint, customer locations, and potential driver availability. We recently purchased a terminal in Ohio and are also exploring terminal locations on the West Coast. We continue to be open to growth by acquisitions and believe our model allows us the ability to be selective in that regard. Our overall goals remain the same in that we want to grow and we want to be one of the best operating companies in the industry. With the continued support of our customers and the dedicated work of our employees, we believe these goals are attainable.”

P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. is a leading truckload dry van carrier transporting general commodities throughout the continental United States, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company also provides transportation services in Mexico through its gateways in Laredo and El Paso, Texas under agreements with Mexican carriers.

Certain information included in this document contains or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to expected future financial and operating results or events, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, excess capacity in the trucking industry; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, license and registration fees; the resale value of the Company’s used equipment and the price of new equipment; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and owner-operators; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts relating to accident, cargo, workers’ compensation, health, and other claims; unanticipated increases in the number or amount of claims for which the Company is self-insured; inability of the Company to continue to secure acceptable financing arrangements; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors including reductions in rates resulting from competitive bidding; the ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; a significant reduction in or termination of the Company’s trucking service by a key customer; and other factors, including risk factors, included from time to time in filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed above and in company filings might not transpire.

P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Key Financial and Operating Statistics
(unaudited) 
       
  Quarter Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2015       2014       2015       2014  
               
Operating revenues:              
Revenue, before fuel surcharge $ 92,076,036     $ 82,158,036     $ 265,813,455     $ 237,660,146  
Fuel surcharge revenue   15,033,696       24,900,936       48,812,558       71,562,479  
Total operating revenues   107,109,732       107,058,972       314,626,013       309,222,625  
               
Operating expenses and costs:              
Salaries, wages and benefits   26,532,551       28,332,593       79,031,924       81,399,616  
Operating supplies and expenses   21,911,638       31,695,926       69,202,419       98,559,698  
Rent and purchased transportation   35,255,319       23,037,226       97,882,536       65,755,853  
Depreciation   8,452,146       9,037,086       23,752,859       27,329,337  
Insurance and claims   3,889,503       4,474,733       11,245,760       12,125,140  
Other   2,199,725       2,657,833       6,867,408       7,582,144  
Gain on disposition of equipment   (1,357,020 )     (626,270 )     (4,611,380 )     (3,413,718 )
Total operating expenses and costs   96,883,862       98,609,127       283,371,526       289,338,070  
               
Operating income   10,225,870       8,449,845       31,254,487       19,884,555  
               
Interest expense   (732,385 )     (632,359 )     (1,992,838 )     (2,237,737 )
Non-operating (expense) income   (131,605 )     594,562       385,372       1,125,099  
               
Income before income taxes   9,361,880       8,412,048       29,647,021       18,771,917  
Income tax expense   3,567,030       3,355,070       11,443,749       7,413,030  
               
Net income $ 5,794,850     $ 5,056,978     $ 18,203,272     $ 11,358,887  
               
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.80     $ 0.63     $ 2.46     $ 1.41  
               
Average shares outstanding – Diluted   7,218,813       8,031,923       7,385,484       8,034,412  
               

  Quarter Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
Truckload Operations   2015       2014       2015       2014  
               
Total miles   56,260,140       54,115,283       163,700,636       158,814,155  
Operating ratio (1)   87.47 %     89.24 %     86.90 %     91.29 %
Empty miles factor   6.97 %     6.65 %     6.68 %     6.73 %
Revenue per total mile, before fuel surcharge $ 1.43     $ 1.41     $ 1.42     $ 1.39  
Total loads   79,864       72,287       229,903       212,795  
Revenue per truck per work day $ 684     $ 673     $ 670     $ 648  
Revenue per truck per week $ 3,420     $ 3,365     $ 3,350     $ 3,240  
Average company-driver trucks   1,410       1,435       1,418       1,444  
Average owner operator trucks   422       332       395       342  
               
Logistics Operations              
Total revenue $ 11,855,964     $ 6,122,046     $ 33,552,544     $ 16,800,277  
Operating ratio   98.52 %     95.63 %     97.55 %     96.17 %

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1) Operating ratio is calculated based upon total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, as a percentage of revenue, before fuel surcharge. We use revenue, before fuel surcharge, and operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, because we believe that eliminating this sometimes volatile source of revenue affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period.

 

CONTACT: FROM:  P.A.M. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.
P.O. BOX 188
Tontitown, AR 72770
Allen W. West
(479) 361-9111