Henry H. Gerkens
Analyst · Todd Fowler, KeyBanc Capital Markets
Thanks, Cherry, and good afternoon, and welcome to the Landstar 2012 Second Quarter Earnings Conference call. This conference call will be limited to no more than 1 hour. [Operator Instructions] Before we begin, let me read the following statement. The following is a Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements made during this conference call that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements. During this conference call, I, and other members of Landstar's management may make certain statements containing forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar's business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Such statements are, by nature, subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the operational, financial and legal risks detailed in Landstar's Form 10-K for the 2011 fiscal year described in the section Risk Factors and other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and Landstar undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The 2012 second quarter was another outstanding quarter for Landstar and resulted in record second quarter revenue, record second quarter operating income, record second quarter operating margin and record second quarter diluted earnings per share. Our ability to find the appropriate solutions for customers continues to drive our growth and profit and will be the driver of future growth and profit. In our 2012 second quarter mid-quarter update call, I reiterated our range of earnings per diluted share guidance of $0.71 to $0.76 per diluted share. Actual earnings per diluted share for the 2012 second quarter was $0.76, a 23% increase over the earnings per diluted share reported in the 2011 second quarter. Consolidated revenue in the 2012 second quarter was approximately $736 million, up approximately 9% from the revenue generated in the 2011 second quarter, which compared to our estimated increase of approximately 10%. Total truck transportation revenue in the 2012 quarter over the 2011 second quarter increased approximately 9% and represented 92% of consolidated revenue on both the 2012 and 2011 second quarters. Revenue hauled by BCOs to 2012 second quarter increased by 2% over the revenue generated by BCOs in the 2011 second quarter, and was 51% of total revenue in the 2012 second quarter versus 54% in the 2011 second quarter. Total brokerage revenue in the 2012 second quarter increased a healthy 19% over the brokerage revenue generated in the 2011 second quarter, and was 42% of consolidated revenue in the 2012 second quarter versus 38% in the 2011 second quarter. From a load volume and revenue per load standpoint, total truck transportation loads hauled increased approximately 8% from the 2011 second quarter, while revenue per load increased approximately 1%. Total van revenue in the 2012 second quarter versus the 2011 second quarter increased approximately 4%, entirely due to increased volume. Total platform revenue increased approximately 18% as volume increased 11% and revenue per load increased approximately 7%. Collectively, revenue generated from all other sources increased approximately 4% in the 2012 second quarter versus 2011 second quarter. Our gross margin in the 2012 second quarter was 15.9% versus 16.5% in the 2011 second quarter, and is reflective of the truck transportation revenue mix change, meaning the increased brokerage revenue as a percentage of total consolidated revenue. And as the model should work, a change in mix of this nature had a favorable impact on insurance and claims expense as a percent of revenue, thus offsetting the gross margin change. Jim will talk more about this in a few minutes. One more comment on gross margin and gross profit dollars. Total gross profit dollars generated in the 2012 second quarter was $117 million, and increased approximately 5% from the 2011 second quarter. The entire gross profit dollar increase, and then some, fell right through to the operating income line. It resulted in an overall company operating margin increase in excess of 50%, the highest operating margin for any second quarter in Landstar history. As I have said many, many, many times before, this is how the Landstar model should work and how we gain our superior operating leverage. From a new agent revenue standpoint, Landstar continues to attract quality, productive agents. Revenue generated from all new agent locations added over the past year amounted to $21.5 million in the 2012 second quarter. Landstar's total available 'truck' capacity providers was 36,293 at the end of the 2012 second quarter, up 1,902 capacity providers from the end of the 2011 second quarter, and up 140 capacity providers from the end of the 2012 first quarter. I'm now going to turn it over to Jim for his financial review.