USA Truck Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results

• 2Q 2020 loss per diluted share of $0.11 versus 2Q 2019 earnings per diluted share of $0.00
• 2Q 2020 adjusted loss per diluted share^(a) of $0.06 versus 2Q 2019 adjusted earnings per diluted share^(a) $0.03
• 2Q 2020 consolidated operating revenue decreased 7.4% to $123.7 million from $133.6 million in 2Q 2019

USA Truck Inc. USAK, a leading capacity solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, consolidated operating revenue was $123.7 million compared to $133.6 million for the prior-year period. Base revenue^(a), which excludes fuel surcharge revenue, was $113.2 million compared to $116.7 million for the 2019 period. The Company reported a net loss of $0.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted share for the second quarter 2020 and adjusted net loss^(a) of $0.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.0 million, or $0.00 per diluted share and adjusted net income^(a) of $0.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share for the same quarter in 2019. The Company's second quarter 2020 consolidated operating ratio was 99.2%, compared to 98.5% in the comparable 2019 quarter.

President and CEO James Reed commented, "The second quarter of 2020 was unlike any quarter we have seen in transportation, producing unprecedented day to day and week to week swings in freight and pricing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our diversified customer base - we classify approximately 80% of our customers as essential / quasi-essential – kept our asset-based freight moving consistently through the quarter. Although our non-essential customers, which are critical to our network despite being a smaller relative percentage of the freight basket, have yet to make a full recovery. We supplemented this shortfall with lower priced spot freight and consequently saw an overall degradation in our base revenue per available tractor per week. Despite the challenges, the Trucking segment improved its adjusted operating ratio^(a) by 370 basis points sequentially.

USAT Logistics' efficiency continued to improve as we saw a 15.7% increase year over year in load count, continuing the recent trend of efficiency gains and throughput capacity. But the broader environment proved challenging as spot prices alternated between near all-time lows and near all-time highs all within the same quarter. We expect this segment will continue to track ahead of the market in coming quarters.

Our organization is continuing to show progress in key initiatives of regionalization, technology, and cost control. Regionalization is starting to gain traction, as we anticipate the opening of a terminal in the Dallas, Texas market by the end of third quarter. We expect the addition of this terminal to result in lower over the road maintenance costs, improved driver retention, and better network execution. Additionally, we have entered into an agreement for delivery of an additional 189 new tractors that we expect to be completed during 2020. This transaction will reduce our average age of the fleet, improve maintenance costs further, and contribute to our cost reduction initiatives.

We believe we are well positioned as market capacity is tightening: we continue to focus on providing great service to our customers, improving utilization on our trucks, and increasing volumes through our USAT Logistics segment."

Trucking: For the second quarter of 2020, Trucking operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations) decreased $7.8 million, or 8.1%, to $88.6 million, compared to the second quarter of 2019. Trucking operating income of $1.2 million for the 2020 period, reflected an operating ratio of 98.7%, compared to operating income of $0.8 million and an operating ratio of 99.1% for the second quarter of 2019. This represents an increase of $0.3 million year over year in operating income and a 40 basis point improvement in operating ratio. Trucking adjusted operating income^(a) was $1.7 million for the 2020 period, reflecting an adjusted operating ratio^(a) of 97.8%, compared to adjusted operating income^(a) of $1.2 million and an adjusted operating ratio^(a) of 98.6% for the comparable 2019 period. This represents an increase of $0.6 million year over year in adjusted operating income^(a) and a 80 basis point improvement in adjusted operating ratio^(a).

Trucking operations delivered the following results during the second quarter:

• Base revenue per available tractor per week decreased $347 per week, or 10.4%, compared to the second quarter of 2019, and $220 per week or 6.8% sequentially, primarily due to a decrease in base revenue per loaded mile.
• Base revenue per loaded mile decreased $0.123, or 5.7% year over year and $0.068, or 3.3%, sequentially. This change was the result of continued decreased rate realizations.
• Loaded miles per available tractor per week decreased 76 miles, or 4.9%, compared to the second quarter of 2019, and by 57 miles per tractor, or 3.7% sequentially.
• Deadhead percentage for second quarter 2020 increased 40 basis points year over year but improved 10 basis points sequentially.
• The average seated tractor count for the second quarter of 2020 was 1,943, which represented an increase of 6.9% over the second quarter 2019 average of 1,817, and a 3.8% increase over the sequential average of 1,871. Average unseated tractor percentage for second quarter 2020 was 5.8%, an increase from 5.2% for both the second quarter of 2019 and sequentially.

USAT Logistics: Operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations) was $38.7 million for the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 2.1% year over year. Both operating loss and adjusted operating loss^(a) were $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2020, reflecting an operating ratio of 100.5% and an adjusted operating ratio of 100.5%, compared to operating income and adjusted operating income^(a) of $1.1 million and an operating ratio of 97.1% and an adjusted operating ratio^(a) of 96.8% for the comparable 2019 period. This change represented a decrease of $1.3 million year over year in operating income and adjusted operating income^(a) and a degradation of 340 basis points in operating ratio and 370 basis points in adjusted operating ratio^(a) compared to the second quarter of 2019.

USAT Logistics operations delivered the following results during the second quarter:

• Gross margin dollars decreased 27.9%, or $1.8 million year over year, to $4.7 million for the second quarter 2020, but increased 18.7%, or $0.7 million, sequentially.
• Gross margin percentage for the second quarter of 2020 decreased 430 basis points to 12.2% compared to 16.5% in the second quarter of 2019 but increased 110 basis points sequentially from 11.1%.
• Revenue per load decreased 15.4%, or $212 per load year over year, and decreased 11.8%, or $155 per load, sequentially.
• Load count increased by approximately 4,500 loads, or 15.7%, year over year and by 6,100 loads, or 22.4%, sequentially.

   

Segment Results

The following table includes key operating results and statistics by reportable segment:

1) Operating income (loss) is calculated by deducting operating expenses (before intersegment eliminations) from operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations).

2) Adjusted operating income (loss)^(a) is calculated by deducting operating expenses (before intersegment eliminations) excluding severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, certain asset impairments, and amortization of acquisition related intangibles, net of fuel surcharge revenue from operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations), net of fuel surcharge revenue.

3) Operating ratio is calculated as operating expenses (before intersegment eliminations) as a percentage of operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations).

4) Adjusted operating ratio^(a) is calculated as operating expenses (before intersegment eliminations) excluding severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, certain asset impairments, and amortization of acquisition related intangibles, net of fuel surcharge revenue, as a percentage of operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations) excluding fuel surcharge revenue.

5) Total miles include both loaded and empty miles.

6) Deadhead percentage is calculated by dividing empty miles by total miles.

7) Available tractors are a) all Company tractors that are available to be dispatched, including available unseated tractors, and b) all tractors in the independent contractor fleet.

8) In-service tractors include all of the tractors in the Company fleet (Company-operated tractors) and all the tractors in the independent contractor fleet.

9) Gross margin is calculated by deducting USAT Logistics purchased transportation expense from USAT Logistics operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations).

10) Gross margin percentage is calculated as USAT Logistics gross margin divided by USAT Logistics operating revenue (before intersegment eliminations).

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of June 30, 2020, total debt and lease liabilities was $189.5 million, total debt and lease liabilities, net of cash ("Net Debt")^(a), was $189.4 million and total stockholders' equity was $75.5 million. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDAR^(a) for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2020 was 4.1x. The Company had approximately $38 million available to borrow under its Credit Facility as of June 30, 2020.

Second Quarter 2020 Conference Call Information

USA Truck will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2020 results on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 8:00 AM CT / 9:00 AM ET. To participate in the call, please dial 1-844-824-3828 (U.S./Canada) or 1‑412‑317‑5138 (International). A live webcast of the conference call will be broadcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website www.usa-truck.com, under the "Events & Presentations" tab of the "Investor Relations" menu. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, the presentation materials and an audio replay of the call will be available at our website, www.usa-truck.com, under the "Events & Presentations" tab of the "Investor Relations" menu, or may be accessed using the following link: https://services.choruscall.com/links/usak200728.html. A telephone replay of the call will also be available through August 4, 2020, and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada), or 1‑412-317-0088 (International) and by referencing conference ID #10145647.

^(a) About Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to our GAAP results, this press release also includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by the SEC. The terms "Base Revenue," "Net Debt," "EBITDAR," "Adjusted EBITDAR," "Adjusted operating ratio," "Adjusted operating income (loss)," "Adjusted net income (loss)," and "Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share," as we define them, are not presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company defines Base Revenue as operating revenue less fuel surcharge revenue and intercompany eliminations. The Company defines Net Debt as total debt, including insurance premium financing and lease liabilities, net of cash. The Company defines EBITDAR as net income (loss), plus interest expense net of interest income, provision for income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization, and equipment rent. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDAR as EBITDAR plus non-cash equity compensation, severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, and asset impairments. Adjusted operating ratio is calculated as operating expenses excluding severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, certain asset impairments, and amortization of acquisition related intangibles, net of fuel surcharge revenue, as a percentage of operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue. Adjusted operating income (loss) is calculated by deducting operating expenses excluding severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, certain asset impairments, and amortization of acquisition related intangibles, net of fuel surcharge revenue, from operating revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) excluding severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, certain asset impairments, and amortization of acquisition related intangibles plus or minus the income tax effect of such adjustments using a statutory tax rate. Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share is defined as Adjusted net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding during the period. The per-share impact of each item is determined by dividing it by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding. These financial measures supplement our GAAP results in evaluating certain aspects of our business. We believe that using these measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because they remove the impact of items from our operating results that, in our opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Management and the board of directors focus on Base Revenue, Net Debt, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted operating ratio, Adjusted operating income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share as key measures of our performance and liquidity, all of which are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measures and further discussed below. We believe our presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors and other users because it provides them the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance.

Base Revenue, Net Debt, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted operating ratio, Adjusted operating income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share are not substitutes for their comparable GAAP financial measures, such as total debt, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, operating ratio, diluted earnings (loss) per share, or other measures prescribed by GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that they improve comparability in analyzing our period to period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define these measures differently. Because of these limitations, our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered measures of income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G and Regulation S-K, we have provided reconciliations of Base Revenue, Net Debt, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted operating ratio, Adjusted operating income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share to the most comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Financial information in this press release is preliminary and based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release. As such, this information remains subject to the completion of our quarterly review procedures, and the filing of the related Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which could result in changes, some of which could be material, to the preliminary information provided in this press release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements generally may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "seek," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "believes," "hopes," "plans," "goals," "intends," "may," "might," "likely," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "predict," "continue," "strategy," "future" and terms or phrases of similar substance. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impacts and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there are other risks, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Readers should review and consider the factors that may affect future results and other disclosures by the Company in its press releases, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release might not occur. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

References to the "Company," "we," "us," "our" and words of similar expression refer to USA Truck Inc. and its subsidiaries.

About USA Truck

USA Truck provides comprehensive capacity solutions to a broad and diverse customer base throughout North America. Our Trucking and USAT Logistics divisions blend an extensive portfolio of asset and asset-light services, offering a balanced approach for our customers' supply chain management, including customized truckload, dedicated contract carriage, intermodal and third-party logistics freight management services. For more information, visit usa-truck.com or usatlogistics.com.

This press release and related information will be available to interested parties at our investor relations website, http://investor.usa-truck.com.

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