UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

Commission File Number: 0-21238

 

Landstar System, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(904) 398-9400

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

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 þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $2,843,986,000 (based on the per share closing price on June 27, 2008, the last business day of the Company’s second fiscal quarter, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market). In making this calculation, the registrant has assumed, without admitting for any purpose, that all directors and executive officers of the registrant, and no other persons, are affiliates.

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), outstanding as of the close of business on January 30, 2009 was 51,690,580.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K as indicated herein:

 

 

 

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC.

 

2008 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

General

 

Landstar System, Inc. was incorporated in January 1991 under the laws of the State of Delaware. It acquired all of the capital stock of its predecessor, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (“LSHI”) on March 28, 1991. Landstar System, Inc. has been a publicly held company since its initial public offering in March 1993. LSHI owns directly or indirectly all of the common stock of Landstar Ranger, Inc. (“Landstar Ranger”), Landstar Inway, Inc. (“Landstar Inway”), Landstar Ligon, Inc. (“Landstar Ligon”), Landstar Gemini, Inc. (“Landstar Gemini”), Landstar Carrier Services, Inc. (“Landstar Carrier Services”), Landstar Global Logistics, Inc. (“Landstar Global Logistics”), Landstar Express America, Inc. (“Landstar Express America”), Landstar Canada Holdings, Inc. (“LCHI”), Landstar Canada, Inc. (“Landstar Canada”), Landstar Contractor Financing, Inc. (“LCFI”), Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. (“RMCS”) and Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”). Landstar Ranger, Landstar Inway, Landstar Ligon, Landstar Gemini, Landstar Carrier Services, Landstar Global Logistics, Landstar Express America and Landstar Canada are collectively herein referred to as Landstar’s “Operating Subsidiaries.” Landstar System, Inc., LSHI, LCFI, RMCS, LCHI, Signature and the Operating Subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as “Landstar” or the “Company,” unless the context otherwise requires. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 and its telephone number is (904) 398-9400. The Company makes available free of charge through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, proxy and current reports on Form 8-K as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s website is www.landstar.com. The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains the Company’s current and periodic reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically with the SEC.

 

Historical Background

 

In March 1993, Landstar completed its initial public offering of Common Stock at a price of $13.00 per share, $1.625 per share adjusted for subsequent stock splits.

 

Description of Business

 

Landstar is a non-asset based transportation and logistics services company, providing transportation capacity and related transportation services to shippers throughout the United States, and to a lesser extent, in Canada, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries. These business services emphasize safety, information coordination and customer service and are delivered through a network of independent commission sales agents and third party capacity providers linked together by a series of technological applications which are provided and coordinated by the Company. The Company markets its services primarily through independent commission sales agents who enter into contractual arrangements with Landstar and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers, railroads and independent warehouse capacity providers (“Warehouse Capacity Owners” or “WCOs”). The Company has contracts with all of the Class 1 domestic railroads and certain Canadian railroads and contracts with domestic and international airlines and ocean lines. Through this network of agents and capacity providers, Landstar operates a transportation and logistics services business primarily throughout North America with revenue of approximately $2.6 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Historically, the Company reported the results of three operating segments: the carrier segment, the global logistics segment and the insurance segment. Beginning in the thirteen-week period ended March 29, 2008, the

Company revised the presentation format of its segment disclosure to consolidate the previously reported three segments to two segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment. This change in segment reporting reflected increased centralization and consolidation of certain administrative and sales functions across all of the Company’s Operating Subsidiaries and the increased similarity of the services provided by the operations of the Company’s various Operating Subsidiaries, primarily with respect to truck brokerage services. As a result of this change in presentation, the revenue and operating results formerly separated into the carrier and global logistics segments, together with corporate overhead, which was previously included as “other” in the segment information, were consolidated into the transportation logistics segment. This change in segment reporting had no impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, statements of cash flows or statements of changes in shareholders’ equity for any periods. This change in reporting also had no impact on reporting with respect to the insurance segment.

 

Transportation Logistics Segment

 

The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of transportation and logistics services including truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo services, the arrangement of multimodal (ground, air, ocean and rail) moves and warehousing to a variety of industries including automotive products, paper, lumber and building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics, ammunition and explosives and military hardware. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. The transportation logistics segment also provides dedicated contract and logistics solutions, including freight optimization and less-than-truckload freight consolidations, expedited ground and air delivery of time-critical freight and the movement of containers via ocean. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment.

 

Truck Services.  The transportation logistics segment’s truck services include a full array of truckload transportation for a wide range of general commodities, much of which are over irregular or non-repetitive routes, utilizing a wide range of specialized equipment, including dry and specialty vans of various sizes, unsided trailers (including flatbeds, drop decks and light specialty trailers), temperature-controlled vans and containers. Available truckload services also include short-to-long haul movement of containers by truck and expedited ground and dedicated power-only truck capacity. The Company also offers less-than-truckload services. During fiscal year 2008, revenue hauled by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers was 58% and 42%, respectively, of total truck services revenue. The Company’s truck services contributed 90% of total revenue in fiscal year 2008.

 

Rail Intermodal Services.  The transportation logistics segment has contracts with all of the Class 1 railroads in North America and all major asset-based intermodal equipment providers, including agreements with stacktrain operators and various container and trailing equipment providers. In addition, the Company has contracts with a vast network of local trucking companies that handle pick-up and delivery of rail freight. These contracts provide Landstar the ability to transport freight via rail throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Landstar’s rail intermodal services include trailer on flat car, container on flat car, box car and railcar service capabilities. The Company’s rail intermodal services contributed 5% of total revenue in fiscal year 2008.

 

Air and Ocean Services.  The transportation logistics segment provides domestic and international air and ocean services to its customers utilizing airlines and ocean lines. Landstar executes international air freight transportation as an indirect air carrier (“IAC”) registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (the “DOT”) and as an endorsed cargo network services (“CNS”) agent accredited by the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”). Landstar provides international ocean freight transportation solutions as a Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) licensed non-vessel operating common carrier (“NVOCC”) and ocean freight forwarder (“OFF”). Through its network of independent commission sales agents and relationships within a global network of foreign freight forwarders, Landstar provides efficient and cost effective door-to-door transportation to most points in the world for a vast array of cargo types such as over-sized

break-bulk, consolidations, full container loads and refrigerated cargo. The Company’s air and ocean services contributed 2% of total revenue in fiscal year 2008.

 

Warehousing Services.  The transportation logistics segment offers its customers, through its independent commission sales agent network, national warehousing services without owning or leasing facilities or hiring employees to work at warehouses. The Company’s warehouse offering is designed to provide the availability of warehouse capacity nationally to its customers utilizing a network of independently owned and operated regional warehouse facilities linked by a single warehouse information technology application.

 

Other Services.  During the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008, revenue for passenger bus capacity provided for evacuation assistance related to the storms that impacted the Gulf Coast in September 2008 (“Bus Revenue”) represented 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue.

 

Insurance Segment

 

The insurance segment is comprised of Signature, a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and RMCS. This segment provides risk and claims management services to Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. Revenue, representing premiums on reinsurance programs provided to the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of the Company’s total 2008 revenue.

 

Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations

 

Management believes the following factors are particularly significant to the Company’s operations:

 

Agent Network

 

The Company’s primary day-to-day contact with its customers is through its network of independent commission sales agents and not typically through employees of the Company. The typical Landstar independent commission sales agent maintains a relationship with a number of shippers and services these shippers utilizing various modes of transportation made available through the Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. The Company provides assistance to the agents in developing additional relationships with shippers and enhancing agent and Company relationships with larger shippers through the Company’s field employees, located throughout the United States and, to a lesser degree, in Canada, and national accounts sales employees. The Operating Subsidiaries emphasize programs to support the agents’ operations and to establish pricing parameters for freight hauled by the various modes of transportation available to the agents. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Operating Subsidiaries contract directly with customers and generally assume the credit risk and liability for freight losses or damages.

 

Management believes the Company has more independent commission sales agents than any other non-asset based transportation and logistics services company. Landstar’s network of over 1,400 independent commission sales agent locations provides the Company with regular contact with shippers at the local level and the capability to be highly responsive to shippers’ changing needs. The Company’s large fleet of available capacity, as further described below, provides the agent network the resources needed to service both large and small shippers. Through its agent network, the Company offers smaller shippers a level of service comparable to that typically enjoyed only by larger customers. Examples include the ability to provide transportation services on short notice (often within hours from notification to time of pick-up), multiple pick-up and delivery points, electronic data interchange capability and access to specialized equipment. In addition, a number of the Company’s agents specialize in certain types of freight and transportation services (such as oversized or heavy loads or international shipments). Each independent commission sales agent has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment.

 

Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of revenue or gross profit, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation. Commissions to agents generally range between

5% and 10% of revenue. Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue will vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and the insurance segment and with changes in gross profit on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and passenger bus capacity providers. Commissions to agents are recognized upon the completion of freight delivery.

 

The independent commission sales agents use a variety of proprietary and third-party technological applications, depending on the mode of transportation, provided by the Company to service the requirements of shippers. For truck services, the Company’s independent commission sales agents use Landstar proprietary software, including the Company’s Landstar Electronic Administrative Dispatch System (LEADS) software program, which enables agents to enter available freight, dispatch capacity and process most administrative procedures and then communicate that information to Landstar and its capacity providers via the internet. The Company’s web-based available freight and truck information system provides a listing of available truck capacity to the Company’s independent commission sales agents. For rail, air and ocean freight, the independent commission sales agents utilize mostly third-party applications to service shippers’ needs.

 

During 2008, 484 agents generated revenue for Landstar of at least $1 million each, or approximately $2.4 billion of Landstar’s total revenue. During 2008, one agent generated approximately $246,000,000, or 9%, of Landstar’s total revenue but contributed less than 1% of the Company’s net revenue, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents. Management believes that the majority of the agents who annually generate revenue of $1 million or more choose to represent Landstar exclusively. Historically, Landstar has experienced very low turnover among its agents who annually generate revenue of $1 million or more.

 

Transportation Capacity

 

Third party capacity providers consist of BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, air and ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Landstar’s use of capacity provided exclusively by third parties allows it to maintain a lower level of capital investment, resulting in lower fixed costs. Additionally, other than the portion of the Company’s available trailing equipment owned or leased by the Company and utilized primarily by the BCO Independent Contractors, the Company relies exclusively on independent third parties for its trailing equipment capacity. During the most recently completed fiscal year, revenue hauled by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers represented 53%, 38%, 5%, 1% and 2%, respectively, of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue. Purchased transportation costs are recognized upon the completion of freight delivery. Historically, with the exception of air revenue, the net margin percentage (defined as net revenue divided by revenue) generated from freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors has been greater than that from freight hauled by other third party capacity providers. However, the Company’s insurance and claims costs and other operating costs are incurred primarily in support of the BCO Independent Contractor capacity. In addition, the Company incurs higher selling, general and administrative costs in support of the BCO Independent Contractor capacity as compared to the other modes of transportation.

 

BCO Independent Contractors.  Management believes the Company has the largest fleet of truckload BCO Independent Contractors in the United States. BCO Independent Contractors provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements. Each BCO Independent Contractor operates under the motor carrier operating authority issued by the DOT to Landstar’s Operating Subsidiary with which such BCO Independent Contractor has entered into a leasing arrangement. Our network of BCO Independent Contractors provides marketing, operating, safety, recruiting, retention and financial advantages to the Company. The Company’s BCO Independent Contractors are compensated based on a fixed percentage of the revenue generated from the freight they haul. This percentage is approximately 65% where the BCO Independent Contractor provides only a tractor and approximately 73% where the BCO Independent Contractor provides both a tractor and a trailer. The BCO Independent Contractor must pay substantially all of the expenses of operating his/her equipment, including driver wages and benefits, fuel, physical damage insurance, maintenance, highway use taxes and debt service, if applicable. The Company passes 100% of fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors to its BCO Independent Contractors. During

2008, the Company billed customers $295.1 million in fuel surcharges and passed 100% of such fuel surcharges to the BCO Independent Contractors. These fuel surcharges are excluded from revenue.

 

The Company maintains an internet site through which BCO Independent Contractors can view a complete listing of the Company’s available freight, allowing them to consider rate, size, origin and destination when planning trips. The Landstar Contractors’ Advantage Purchasing Program (LCAPP) leverages Landstar’s purchasing power to provide discounts to eligible BCO Independent Contractors when they purchase equipment, fuel, tires and other items. In addition, LCFI provides a source of funds at competitive interest rates to the BCO Independent Contractors to purchase trailing equipment and mobile communication equipment.

 

Trucks provided to the Company by the BCO Independent Contractors were 9,039 at December 27, 2008, compared to 8,993 at December 29, 2007. At December 27, 2008, 97% of the trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors were provided by BCO Independent Contractors who lease 5 or less trucks to the Company. The number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors fluctuates daily as a result of truck recruiting and truck terminations. Trucks recruited were lower in 2008 than in 2007, but trucks terminated were also lower in 2008 compared to 2007, resulting in a net gain of 46 trucks. Landstar’s truck turnover was approximately 32% in 2008 compared to 37% in 2007. Approximately half of this turnover was attributable to BCO Independent Contractors who had been with the Company for less than one year. Management believes that factors that have historically favorably impacted turnover include the Company’s financial stability, its extensive agent network, the Company’s programs to reduce the operating costs of its BCO Independent Contractors and Landstar’s reputation for quality, service and reliability.

 

Truck Brokerage Carriers.  The Company maintains a database of over 25,000 qualified Truck Brokerage Carriers who provide truck hauling capacity to the Company. Truck Brokerage Carriers provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive contractual arrangements and each operates under their own DOT issued motor carrier operating authority. Truck Brokerage Carriers are paid either a negotiated rate for each load they haul or a contractually agreed-upon amount per load. The Company recruits, qualifies, establishes contracts with, tracks safety ratings and service records of and generally maintains the relationships with these third party trucking companies. In addition to providing additional capacity to the Company, the use of Truck Brokerage Carriers enables the Company to pursue different types and quality of freight such as temperature-controlled, short-haul traffic and, in certain instances, lower-priced freight that generally would not be handled by the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors.

 

The Company maintains an internet site through which Truck Brokerage Carriers can view a listing of the Company’s freight that is available to be hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. The Landstar Savings Plus Program leverages Landstar’s purchasing power to provide discounts to eligible Truck Brokerage Carriers when they purchase fuel and equipment and provides the Truck Brokerage Carriers with an electronic payment option.

 

Third Party Rail, Air, Ocean and Other Transportation Capacity.  The Company has contracts with all of the Class 1 domestic railroads and certain Canadian railroads and contracts with domestic and international airlines and ocean lines. These relationships allow the Company to pursue the freight best serviced by these forms of transportation capacity. Railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers are generally paid a contractually fixed amount per load. The Company also contracts with other third party capacity providers, such as air charter or passenger bus companies, when required by specific customer needs.

 

Warehouse Capacity

 

The Company has contracts with approximately 120 Warehouse Capacity Owners. The services available to the Company’s customers provided from the warehouse capacity network include storage, order fulfillment, repackaging, labeling, inventory consolidations, sub-assembly and temperature and climate options. In general, Warehouse Capacity Owners are paid a fixed percentage of the gross revenue for storage and services provided through their warehouse. Warehouse storage and services are reported net of the amount earned by the Warehouse Capacity Owner. Warehousing services were not a significant contributor to revenue or earnings in 2008, 2007 or 2006.

Diversity of Services Offered

 

The Company offers its customers a wide range of transportation and logistics services through the Operating Subsidiaries, including a fleet of diverse trailing equipment, extensive geographic coverage and, more recently, warehousing services. Specialized services offered by the Company include those provided by a large fleet of flatbed trailers, multi-axle trailers capable of hauling extremely heavy or oversized loads, drivers certified to handle ammunition and explosives shipments for the U.S. Department of Defense, emergency and expedited surface and air cargo services and intermodal capability with railroads and steamship lines.

 

The following table illustrates the diversity of the trailing equipment, as of December 27, 2008, either provided by the BCO Independent Contractors or owned or leased by the Company and made available primarily to BCO Independent Contractors. In general, Truck Brokerage Carriers utilize their own trailing equipment when providing transportation services on behalf of Landstar. Truck Brokerage Carrier trailing equipment is not included in the following table:

 

 

At December 27, 2008, 7,451 of the trailers available to the BCO Independent Contractors were owned by the Company, 1,357 were leased by the Company under an operating lease with a fixed monthly rental fee, 59 were leased by the Company with monthly rental payments equal to a fixed percentage of revenue hauled by the trailer, and 161 were rented by the Company under short-term rental arrangements. In addition, at December 27, 2008, 4,782 trailers were provided by BCO Independent Contractors.

 

Customers

 

The Company’s customer base is highly diversified and dispersed across many industries, commodities and geographic regions. The Company’s top 100 customers accounted for approximately 52% and 50%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue during fiscal 2008 and 2007. Management believes that the Company’s overall size, geographic coverage, access to equipment and service capability offer the Company significant competitive marketing and operating advantages. These advantages allow the Company to meet the needs of even the largest shippers. Increasingly, larger shippers are substantially reducing the number of authorized carriers they use in favor of a small number of “core carriers,” such as the Company, whose size and diverse service capabilities enable these core carriers to satisfy most of the shippers’ transportation needs. The Company’s national account customers include the United States Department of Defense and many of the companies included in the Fortune 500. Landstar services a wide variety of industries including automotive products, paper, lumber and building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics, ammunition and explosives and military hardware. Management believes the Company’s network of agents and third party capacity providers allows it to efficiently attract and service smaller shippers which may not be as desirable to other large transportation providers (see above under “Agent Network”).

 

Historically, the United States Government has been the Company’s largest customer. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, revenue derived from the United States Government was approximately 5%, 6% and 9% of revenue, respectively. Included in the revenue derived from the United States Government in 2007 and 2006 was revenue related to disaster relief services provided by the Company primarily under a contract with the United States Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”). Revenue in 2007 and 2006 included $8.5 million and $100.7 million, respectively, generated primarily under the FAA contract, which expired on December 31, 2007. No customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s 2008 revenue.

Technology

 

Management believes leadership in the development and application of technology is an ongoing part of providing high quality service at competitive prices. The Company’s focus is on developing and implementing software applications which are designed to improve its operational and administrative efficiency, assist its independent commission sales agents in sourcing capacity, assist customers in meeting their transportation needs and assist its third party capacity providers in identifying desirable freight. Landstar focuses on providing transportation and logistics services which emphasize customer service and information coordination among its independent commission sales agents, customers and capacity providers and Landstar intends to continue developing appropriate systems and technologies that offer integrated transportation and logistics solutions to meet the total needs of its customers. Landstar manages its technology programs centrally through its information services department.

 

The Company’s information technology systems used in connection with its operations are located in Jacksonville, Florida and, to a lesser extent, in Rockford, Illinois. Landstar relies, in the regular course of its business, on the proper operation of its information technology systems.

 

Corporate Services

 

The Company provides many administrative support services to its network of independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers and shippers. Management believes that the technological applications developed and maintained by the Company and its administrative support services provide operational and financial advantages to the independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers and shippers and, in turn, enhance the operational and financial efficiency of all aspects of the network.

 

Administrative support services that provide for operational and financial advantages to the network include customer contract administration, customer credit review and approvals, sales administration and pricing, customer billing, accounts receivable collections, third party capacity payment, safety and operator and equipment compliance management, insurance claims handling, coordination of vendor discount programs and third party capacity quality programs. The Company also provides marketing and advertising support services.

 

Management also believes that significant advantages result from the collective expertise and corporate services provided by Landstar’s corporate management. The primary functions provided by management include finance and treasury services, accounting, strategic initiatives, budgeting and taxes, legal and human resource management.

 

Competition

 

Landstar competes primarily in the transportation and logistics services industry with truckload carriers, intermodal transportation and logistics service providers, railroads, less-than-truckload carriers and other non-asset based transportation and logistics service providers. The transportation services industry is extremely competitive and fragmented.

 

Management believes that competition for the freight transported by the Company is based primarily on service and efficiency and, to a lesser degree, on freight rates alone. Management believes that Landstar’s overall size and availability of a wide range of equipment, together with its geographically dispersed local independent agent network and wide range of service offerings, present the Company with significant competitive advantages over many transportation and logistics service providers.

 

Self-Insured Claims

 

Potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable. Landstar’s retained liability for individual commercial trucking claims varies depending on when such claims are incurred. For commercial trucking claims incurred prior to June 19, 2003 and subsequent to March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $5,000,000 per occurrence. For commercial trucking claims incurred from June 19, 2003 through March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $10,000,000 per

occurrence. The Company also retains liability for each general liability claim up to $1,000,000, $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and $100,000 for each cargo claim. For cargo claims incurred prior to May 1, 2008, the Company retains cargo liability up to $250,000 per occurrence. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which they maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo or workers’ compensation claims or the unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Insurance Coverage Above Self-Insured Retention

 

The Company has historically maintained insurance coverage above its self-insured retention amounts. For the fiscal year ended and as of December 27, 2008, the Company maintains insurance for liabilities attributable to commercial trucking accidents with third party insurance companies for each and every occurrence in an amount in excess of $200,000,000 per occurrence above the Company’s $5,000,000 self-insured retention. Historically, the Company has relied on a limited number of third party insurance companies to provide insurance coverage for commercial trucking claims in excess of specific per occurrence limits, up to various maximum amounts. The premiums proposed by the third party insurance companies providing coverage for commercial trucking liability insurance over the Company’s self insured retention amounts have varied dramatically. In an attempt to manage the significant fluctuations in the cost of these premiums required by the third party insurance companies, the Company has historically increased or decreased the level of its exposure to commercial trucking claims on a per occurrence basis. To the extent that the third party insurance companies increase their proposed premiums for coverage of commercial trucking claims, the Company may increase its exposure in aggregate or on a per occurrence basis. However, to the extent the third party insurance companies reduce their premiums proposed for coverage of commercial trucking claims, the Company may reduce its exposure in aggregate or on a per occurrence basis.

 

Regulation

 

Certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are considered motor carriers and/or brokers authorized to arrange for transportation services by motor carriers which are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the “FMCSA”) and by various state agencies. The FMCSA has broad regulatory powers with respect to activities such as motor carrier operations, practices, periodic financial reporting and insurance. Subject to federal and state regulatory authorities or regulation, the Company may transport most types of freight to and from any point in the United States over any route selected by the Company. The FMCSA and other mandatory regulatory requirements have not adversely affected the Company’s ability to source the capacity necessary to meet its customers’ transportation needs.

 

In addition, certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are licensed as ocean transportation intermediaries by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission as non-vessel-operating common carriers and/or as ocean freight forwarders. The Company’s air transportation activities in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation as an indirect air carrier. The Company is also subject to regulations and requirements relating to safety and security promulgated by, among others, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, the Canada Border Services Agency and various state and local agencies and port authorities.

 

The transportation industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes (such as the possibility of more stringent environmental and/or safety/security regulations or limits on vehicle weight and size) that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload or other transportation or logistics services.

Seasonality

 

Landstar’s operations are subject to seasonal trends common to the trucking industry. Results of operations for the quarter ending in March are typically lower than the quarters ending in June, September and December.

 

Employees

 

As of December 27, 2008, the Company and its subsidiaries employed 1,317 individuals. Approximately 15 Landstar Ranger drivers (out of a Company total of 9,039 drivers for BCO Independent Contractors) are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The Company considers relations with its employees to be good.

 

 

Increased severity or frequency of accidents and other claims.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Self Insured-Claims,” potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable. Landstar’s retained liability for individual commercial trucking claims varies depending on when such claims are incurred. For commercial trucking claims incurred prior to June 19, 2003 and subsequent to March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $5,000,000 per occurrence. For commercial trucking claims incurred from June 19, 2003 through March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $10,000,000 per occurrence. The Company also retains liability for each general liability claim up to $1,000,000, $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and $100,000 for each cargo claim. For cargo claims incurred prior to May 1, 2008, the Company retains cargo liability up to $250,000 per occurrence. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers who haul freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which they maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo or workers’ compensation claims or the unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Dependence on third party insurance companies.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Insurance Above Self-Insured Retention,” the Company is dependent on a limited number of third party insurance companies to provide insurance coverage in excess of its self-insured retention amounts. Historically, the Company has maintained insurance coverage for commercial trucking claims in excess of specific per occurrence limits, up to various maximum amounts, with a limited number of third party insurance companies. The premiums proposed by the third party insurance companies providing coverage for commercial trucking liability insurance above the Company’s self-insured retention amounts have varied dramatically. In an attempt to manage the significant fluctuations in the cost of these premiums required by the third party insurance companies, the Company has historically increased or decreased the level of its exposure to commercial trucking claims on a per occurrence basis. To the extent the third party insurance companies increase their proposed premiums for coverage of commercial trucking liability claims, the Company may increase its exposure or reduce the maximum amount of coverage in aggregate or on a per occurrence basis. However, to the extent the third party insurance companies reduce their premiums proposed for coverage of commercial trucking claims, the Company may reduce its exposure or increase the maximum amount of coverage in aggregate or on a per occurrence basis.

 

Dependence on independent commission sales agents.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Agent Network,” the Company markets its services primarily through independent commission sales agents, and currently has a network of over 1,400 agent locations. During 2008, 484 agents generated revenue for Landstar of at least $1 million each, or approximately 90% of Landstar’s consolidated revenue and one agent generated approximately $246,000,000, or 9%, of Landstar’s total revenue. Although the Company competes with motor carriers and other third parties for the services of these independent commission sales agents, Landstar has historically experienced very limited agent turnover among its larger-volume agents. However, Landstar’s contracts with its agents are typically terminable upon

10 to 30 days notice by either party and generally restrict the ability of a former agent to compete with Landstar for a specific period of time following any such termination. The loss of some of the Company’s key agents or a significant decrease in volume generated by Landstar’s larger agents could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations if not replaced with other volumes.

 

Dependence on third party capacity providers.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Transportation Capacity,” Landstar does not own trucks or other transportation equipment (other than trailing equipment) and relies on third party capacity providers, including BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers, to transport freight for its customers. The Company competes with motor carriers and other third parties for the services of BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. A significant decrease in available capacity provided by either the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors or other third party capacity providers could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Decreased demand for transportation services.  The transportation industry historically has experienced cyclical financial results as a result of slowdowns in economic activity. A slowdown in economic activity or a downturn in the Company’s customers’ business cycles causing a reduction in the volume of freight shipped by those customers could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Substantial industry competition.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Competition,” Landstar competes primarily in the transportation and logistics services industry. The transportation and logistics services industry is extremely competitive and fragmented. Landstar competes primarily with truckload carriers, intermodal transportation service providers, railroads, less-than-truckload carriers, third party broker carriers and other non-asset based transportation and logistics service providers. Management believes that competition for the freight transported by the Company is based primarily on service and efficiency and, to a lesser degree, on freight rates alone. Historically, competition has created downward pressure on freight rates. In addition, many large shippers are using 3PLs to outsource the management and coordination of their transportation needs rather than directly arranging for transportation services with carriers, such as the Company. Usage by large shippers of 3PLs often provide carriers, such as the Company, with a less direct relationship with the shipper and, as a result, may increase pressure on freight rates while making it more difficult for the Company to compete primarily based on service and efficiency. A decrease in freight rates could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Dependence on key personnel.  The Company is dependent on the services of certain of its executive officers. The Company believes it has an experienced and highly qualified management group and the loss of the services of certain of the Company’s executive officers could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Technology,” the Company’s information technology systems used in connection with its operations are located in Jacksonville, Florida and to a lesser extent in Rockford, Illinois. Landstar relies in the regular course of its business on the proper operation of its information technology systems to link its extensive network of customers, agents and third party capacity providers, including its BCO Independent Contractors. Any significant disruption or failure of its technology systems could significantly disrupt the Company’s operations and impose significant costs on the Company.

 

Potential changes in fuel taxes.  From time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced to increase federal, state, or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels. The Company cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in such taxes applicable to the transportation services provided by the Company will be enacted and, if enacted, whether or not the Company’s Truck Brokerage Carriers would attempt to pass the increase on to the Company or if the Company will be able to reflect this potential increased cost of capacity, if any, in prices to customers. Any such increase in fuel taxes, without a corresponding increase in price to the customer, could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations. Moreover, competition from other transportation service companies, including those that provide non-trucking modes of transportation and intermodal transportation would likely increase if state or federal taxes on fuel were to increase without a corresponding increase in taxes imposed upon other modes of transportation.

Status of independent contractors.  From time to time, various legislative or regulatory proposals are introduced at the federal or state levels to change the status of independent contractors’ classification to employees for either employment tax purposes (withholding, social security, Medicare and unemployment taxes) or other benefits available to employees. Currently, most individuals are classified as employees or independent contractors for employment tax purposes based on 20 “common-law” factors rather than any definition found in the Internal Revenue Code or Internal Revenue Service regulations. In addition, under Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978, taxpayers that meet certain criteria may treat an individual as an independent contractor for employment tax purposes if they have been audited without being told to treat similarly situated workers as employees, if they have received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or a court decision affirming their treatment, or if they are following a long-standing recognized practice.

 

The Company classifies all of its BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents as independent contractors for all purposes, including employment tax and employee benefit purposes. There can be no assurance that legislative, judicial, or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would change the employee/independent contractor classification of BCO Independent Contractors or independent commission sales agents currently doing business with the Company. Although management believes that there are no proposals currently pending that would change the employee/independent contractor classification of BCO Independent Contractors or independent commission sales agents currently doing business with the Company, the costs associated with potential changes, if any, with respect to these BCO Independent Contractor and independent commission sales agent classifications could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations, if Landstar were unable to reflect them in its fee arrangements with the BCO Independent Contractors or independent commission sales agents or in the prices charged to its customers.

 

Regulatory and legislative changes.  As noted above in Item 1, “Business — Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations — Regulation,” certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are motor carriers and/or property brokers authorized to arrange for transportation services by motor carriers which are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and by various state agencies. Certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are licensed as ocean transportation intermediaries by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission as non-vessel-operating common carriers and/or as ocean freight forwarders. The Company’s air transportation activities in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation as an indirect air carrier. The Company is also subject to regulations and requirements relating to safety and security promulgated by, among others, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, the Canada Border Services Agency and various state and local agencies and port authorities. The transportation industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes (such as increasingly stringent environmental and/or safety/security regulations or limits on vehicle weight and size) that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload or other transportation or logistics services. Any such regulatory or legislative changes could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Catastrophic loss of a Company facility.  The Company faces the risk of a catastrophic loss of the use of all or a portion of its facilities located in Jacksonville, Florida and Rockford, Illinois due to hurricanes, flooding, tornados or other weather conditions or natural disasters, terrorist attack or otherwise. The Company’s corporate headquarters and approximately two-thirds of the Company’s employees are located in its Jacksonville, Florida facility and a smaller portion of the Company’s operations is located in its Rockford, Illinois facility. In particular, a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane that impacts the Jacksonville, Florida metropolitan area or a tornado that strikes the Rockford, Illinois area could significantly disrupt the Company’s operations and impose significant costs on the Company.

 

Although the Company maintains insurance covering its facilities, including business interruption insurance, the Company’s insurance may not be adequate to cover all losses that may be incurred in the event of a catastrophic loss of either the Jacksonville, Florida or Rockford, Illinois facility. In addition, such

insurance, including business interruption insurance, could in the future become more expensive and difficult to maintain and may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

Concentrations of credit risk in key customers.  Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk include accounts receivable from trade customers. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of the financial condition of its customers and an allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained as required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. During 2008, the Company experienced a higher level of customer bad debt expense than experienced in the previous five years. Credit risk with respect to the Company’s accounts receivable historically has been broadly diversified due to the large number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographical regions. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of Company revenue for the fiscal year period ended December 27, 2008 and no single customer accounted for more than 10% of the gross accounts receivable balance at December 27, 2008. It should be noted, however, that revenue from customers in the automotive sector represented in the aggregate approximately 7% of the Company’s revenue for the 2008 fiscal year period. The Company estimates that receivable balances relating to customers with a significant concentration of their business in the automotive sector represented approximately 6% to 8% of gross accounts receivable at December 27, 2008. The financial condition of the U.S. domestic automotive industry may be significantly adversely affected by the availability of credit to U.S. consumers and the overall financial condition of the U.S. economy, both of which have recently weakened. A significant deterioration in the financial condition or operations of the Company’s customers within the automotive sector, including the larger U.S. domestic automobile manufacturers and their vendors, suppliers and other service providers, or in the Company’s non-automotive sector customer accounts, could negatively impact the collectability of trade accounts receivable due from these customers, which could result in an adverse effect on the Company’s operating results in a given quarter or year.

 

 

None.

 

 

The Company owns or leases various properties in the U.S. for the Company’s operations and administrative staff that support its independent commission sales agents, BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. The transportation logistics segment’s primary facilities are located in Jacksonville, Florida and Rockford, Illinois. In addition, the Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Rockford, Illinois facility is owned by the Company and all other primary facilities are leased.

 

Management believes that Landstar’s owned and leased properties are adequate for its current needs and that leased properties can be retained or replaced at an acceptable cost.

 

 

As further described in periodic and current reports previously filed by the Company with the SEC, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Defendants”) are defendants in a suit (the “Litigation”) brought in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (the “District Court”) by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc. (“OOIDA”) and four former BCO Independent Contractors (the “Named Plaintiffs” and, with OOIDA, the “Plaintiffs”) on behalf of all independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company and its subsidiaries under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”). The Plaintiffs allege that certain aspects of the Company’s motor carrier leases and related practices with its BCO Independent Contractors violate certain federal leasing regulations and seek injunctive relief, an unspecified amount of damages and attorneys’ fees.

 

On March 29, 2007, the District Court denied the request by Plaintiffs for injunctive relief, entered a judgment in favor of the Defendants and issued written orders setting forth its rulings related to the decertification of the plaintiff class and other important elements of the Litigation relating to liability,

injunctive relief and monetary relief. The Plaintiffs filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (the “Appellate Court”) of certain of the District Court’s rulings in favor of the Defendants. The Defendants asked the Appellate Court to affirm such rulings and filed a cross-appeal with the Appellate Court with respect to certain other rulings of the District Court.

 

On September 3, 2008, the Appellate Court issued its ruling, which, among other things, affirmed the District Court’s rulings that (i) the Defendants are not prohibited by the applicable federal leasing regulations from charging administrative or other fees to BCO Independent Contractors in connection with voluntary programs offered by the Defendants through which a BCO Independent Contractor may purchase discounted products and services for a charge that is deducted against the compensation payable to the BCO Independent Contractor (a “Charge-back Deduction”), (ii) the Plaintiffs are not entitled to restitution or disgorgement with respect to violations by Defendants of the applicable federal leasing regulations but instead may recover only actual damages, if any, which they sustained as a result of any such violations and (iii) the claims of BCO Independent Contractors may not be handled on a class action basis for purposes of determining the amount of actual damages, if any, they sustained as a result of any violations. Further, the analysis of the Appellate Court confirmed the absence of any violations alleged by the Plaintiffs of the federal leasing regulations with respect to the written terms of all leases currently in use between the Defendants and BCO Independent Contractors.

 

However, the ruling of the Appellate Court reversed the District Court’s rulings (i) that an old version of the lease formerly used by Defendants but not in use with any current BCO Independent Contractor complied with applicable disclosure requirements under the federal leasing regulations with respect to adjustments to compensation payable to BCO Independent Contractors on certain loads sourced from the U.S. Dept. of Defense, and (ii) that the Defendants had provided sufficient documentation to BCO Independent Contractors under the applicable federal leasing regulations relating to how the component elements of Charge-back Deductions were computed. The Appellate Court then remanded the case to the District Court to permit the Plaintiffs to seek injunctive relief with respect to these violations of the federal leasing regulations and to hold an evidentiary hearing to give the Named Plaintiffs an opportunity to produce evidence of any damages they actually sustained as a result of such violations.

 

Each of the parties to the Litigation has filed a petition with the Appellate Court seeking rehearing of the Appellate Court’s ruling; however, there can be no assurance that any petition for rehearing will be granted.

 

Although no assurances can be given with respect to the outcome of the Litigation, including any possible award of attorneys’ fees to the Plaintiffs, the Company believes that (i) no Plaintiff has sustained any actual damages as a result of any violations by the Defendants of the federal leasing regulations and (ii) injunctive relief, if any, that may be granted by the District Court on remand is unlikely to have a material adverse financial effect on the Company.

 

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

 

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.

 

 

The Common Stock of the Company is listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LSTR.” The following table sets forth the high and low reported sale prices for the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the per share value of dividends declared for the periods indicated.

 

 

The reported last sale price per share of the Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 30, 2009 was $35.87 per share. As of such date, Landstar had 51,690,580 shares of Common Stock outstanding. As of January 30, 2009, the Company had 66 stockholders of record of its Common Stock. However, the Company estimates that it has a significantly greater number of stockholders because a substantial number of the Company’s shares are held by brokers or dealers for their customers in street name.

 

It is the intention of the Board of Directors to pay a quarterly dividend going forward.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company

 

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s purchases of its Common Stock during the period from September 28, 2008 to December 27, 2008, the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter:

 

 

On August 27, 2007, Landstar System, Inc. announced that it had been authorized by its Board of Directors to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock from time to time in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. During its 2008 fourth fiscal quarter, the Company completed the purchase of shares authorized for purchase under this program. On July 16, 2008, Landstar System, Inc. announced that it had been authorized by its Board of Directors to purchase up to an additional 2,000,000 shares of its common stock from time to time in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 27, 2008, the Company may purchase 1,430,623 shares of its common stock under this authorization. On January 28, 2009, Landstar System, Inc. announced that it had been authorized by its Board of Directors to purchase up to an additional 1,569,377 shares of its common stock from time to time in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. No specific expiration date has been assigned to either the July 16, 2008 or January 28, 2009 authorizations.

During 2008, Landstar paid dividends as follows:

 

 

On June 27, 2008 Landstar entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement, under certain circumstances, limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders in the event that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

The Company maintains three stock option plans and one stock compensation plan. The following table presents information related to securities authorized for issuance under these plans at December 27, 2008:

 

 

Included in the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans was 138,423 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2003 Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan.

Financial Model Shareholder Returns

 

The following graph illustrates the return that would have been realized assuming reinvestment of dividends by an investor who invested $100 in each of the Company’s Common Stock, the Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones Transportation Stock Index for the period commencing December 27, 2003 through December 27, 2008.

 

Financial Model
Shareholder Returns

 

 

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this document that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; substantial industry competition; dependence on key personnel; disruptions or failures in our computer systems; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; a downturn in economic growth or growth in the transportation sector; concentrations of credit risk; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in

this and Landstar’s other SEC filings from time to time and described in Item 1A of this Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors.” These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

Introduction

 

Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (together referred to herein as “Landstar” or the “Company”), provide transportation services to a variety of market niches throughout the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries through its operating subsidiaries. Landstar’s business strategy is to be a non-asset based provider of transportation capacity and logistics services delivering safe, specialized transportation services, utilizing a network of independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers and employees. Landstar focuses on providing transportation services which emphasize safety, customer service and information coordination among its independent commission sales agents, customers and capacity providers. The Company markets its services primarily through independent commission sales agents and utilizes third party capacity providers exclusively to transport customers’ freight. The nature of the Company’s business is such that a significant portion of its operating costs varies directly with revenue.

 

Historically, the Company reported the results of three operating segments: the carrier segment, the global logistics segment and the insurance segment. Beginning in the thirteen-week period ended March 29, 2008, the Company revised the presentation format of its segment disclosure to consolidate the previously reported three segments to two segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment. This change in segment reporting reflected increased centralization and consolidation of certain administrative and sales functions across all of the Company’s operating subsidiaries and the increased similarity of the services provided by the operations of the Company’s various operating subsidiaries, primarily with respect to truck brokerage services. As a result of this change in presentation, the revenue and operating results formerly separated into the carrier and global logistics segments, together with corporate overhead, which was previously included as “other” in the segment information, were consolidated into the transportation logistics segment. This change in segment reporting had no impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, statements of cash flows or statements of changes in shareholders’ equity for any periods. This change in reporting also had no impact on reporting with respect to the insurance segment.

 

The transportation logistics segment markets its services primarily through independent commission sales agents. The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of transportation and logistics services including truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo services, the arrangement of multimodal (ground, air, ocean and rail) moves and warehousing to a variety of industries including automotive products, paper, lumber and building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics, ammunition and explosives and military hardware. In addition, Landstar provides transportation services to other transportation companies including logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. Landstar also provides dedicated contract and logistics solutions, including freight optimization and less-than-truckload freight consolidations, expedited land and air delivery of time-critical freight and the movement of containers via ocean. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment.

 

Truckload services primarily are provided for a wide range of general commodities, much of which are over irregular or non-repetitive routes, utilizing dry and specialty vans and unsided trailers, including flatbed, drop deck and specialty trailers. Available truckload services also include short-to-long haul movement of containers by truck and expedited ground and dedicated power-only truck capacity. These services are provided by independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”) and other third party truck capacity providers under non-exclusive contractual arrangements (“Truck Brokerage Carriers”). Rail intermodal, air and ocean services are provided by third party railroad carriers and air and ocean cargo carriers. The Company has contracts with all

of the Class 1 domestic railroads and certain Canadian railroads and contracts with domestic and international airlines and ocean lines. Warehousing services are provided by independent contractors who provide warehouse capacity to the Company under non-exclusive contractual arrangements (“Warehouse Capacity Owners”). During the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008, revenue hauled by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers represented 53%, 38%, 5%, 1%, and 2%, respectively, of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue. In addition, during the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008, revenue for passenger bus capacity provided for evacuation assistance related to the storms that impacted the Gulf Coast in September 2008 (“Bus Revenue”) represented 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue in 2008.

 

The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. Revenue, representing premiums on reinsurance programs provided to the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of total revenue for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

 

Changes in Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

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

 

While customer demand, which is subject to overall economic conditions, ultimately drives increases or decreases in revenue, the Company primarily relies on its independent commission sales agents to establish customer relationships and generate revenue opportunities. Management’s primary focus with respect to revenue growth is on revenue generated by independent commission sales agents who on an annual basis generate $1 million or more of Landstar revenue (“Million Dollar Agents”). Management believes future revenue growth is primarily dependent on its ability to increase both the revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents and the number of Million Dollar Agents through a combination of recruiting new agents and increasing the revenue opportunities generated by existing independent commission sales agents. Management believes the decrease in number of Million Dollar Agents in 2008 resulted from the severe downturn in the economy in the fourth quarter of 2008 and not necessarily from agent turnover. The number of agents generating Landstar revenue between $750,000 and $1,000,000 in 2008 and 2007 were 91 and 61, respectively. The following table shows the number of Million Dollar Agents, the average revenue generated by these agents, the percent of consolidated revenue generated by these agents during the past three fiscal years and the number of agent locations at each fiscal year end:

 

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

 

 

 

 

Also critical to the Company’s success is its ability to secure capacity, particularly truck capacity, at rates that allow the Company to profitably transport customers’ freight. The following table summarizes available truck capacity providers as of the end of the three most recent fiscal years:

 

 

 

 

The Company incurs costs that are directly related to the transportation of freight that include purchased transportation and commissions to agents. The Company incurs indirect costs associated with the transportation of freight that include other operating costs and insurance and claims. In addition, the Company incurs selling, general and administrative costs essential to administering its business operations. Management continually monitors all components of the costs incurred by the Company and establishes annual cost budgets which, in general, are used to benchmark costs incurred on a monthly basis.

 

Purchased transportation represents the amount a transportation capacity provider is paid to haul freight. The amount of purchased transportation paid to a BCO Independent Contractor is primarily based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of revenue generated by the haul. Purchased transportation paid to a Truck Brokerage Carrier is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or a contractually agreed-upon rate. Purchased transportation paid to rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo carriers is based on contractually agreed-upon fixed rates. Purchased transportation paid to bus capacity providers was based on a contractually agreed-upon rate. Purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue with respect to services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, ocean cargo carriers and bus capacity providers is normally higher than that provided by BCO Independent Contractors and air cargo carriers. Purchased transportation is the largest component of costs and expenses and, on a consolidated basis, increases or decreases in proportion to the revenue generated through BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers and revenue from the insurance segment. Purchased transportation costs are recognized upon the completion of freight delivery.

 

Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of revenue or gross profit, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation. No commissions to agents were incurred in connection with the 2008 Bus Revenue. Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue will vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and the insurance segment and with changes in gross profit on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and bus capacity providers. Commissions to agents are recognized upon the completion of freight delivery.

 

Rent and maintenance costs for Company-provided trailing equipment, BCO Independent Contractor recruiting costs and bad debts from BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents are the largest components of other operating costs.

 

Potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable. Landstar’s retained liability for individual commercial trucking claims varies depending on when such claims are incurred. For commercial trucking claims incurred prior to June 19, 2003 and subsequent to March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $5,000,000 per occurrence. For commercial trucking claims

incurred from June 19, 2003 through March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $10,000,000 per occurrence. The Company also retains liability for each general liability claim up to $1,000,000, $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and $100,000 for each cargo claim. For cargo claims incurred prior to May 1, 2008, the Company retains cargo liability up to $250,000 per occurrence. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal carriers, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which they maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s results of operations.

 

Employee compensation and benefits account for over half of the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs.

 

Depreciation and amortization primarily relate to depreciation of trailing equipment and management information services equipment.

 

The following table sets forth the percentage relationships of income and expense items to revenue for the periods indicated:

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 27, 2008 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007

 

Revenue for the 2008 fiscal year period was $2,643,069,000, an increase of $155,792,000, or 6.3%, compared to the 2007 fiscal year period. Revenue increased $155,805,000, or 6.4%, at the transportation logistics segment primarily due to a 13% increase in revenue hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers, increased revenue hauled by ocean cargo carriers and increased revenue from bus capacity provided for evacuation assistance related to the storms that impacted the Gulf Coast in September 2008 (“Bus Revenue”), partially offset by lower revenue hauled by air cargo carriers. The number of loads in the 2008 period hauled by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal and air cargo carriers, decreased 4%, 3%, 7% and 29% , respectively, compared to the number of loads hauled in the 2007 period. Loads hauled by ocean cargo carriers increased 16% over the 2007 period. Revenue per load for loads hauled by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo carriers increased 5%, 16%, 9%, 6% and 37%, respectively, over the 2007 period. The increase in revenue per load hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers and rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo carriers was partly attributable to increased fuel surcharges identified separately in billings to customers in the 2008 period

compared to the 2007 period. Fuel surcharges on truck brokerage revenue identified separately in billings to customers and included as a component of truck brokerage revenue were $134,230,000 and $85,256,000 in the 2008 and 2007 periods, respectively. Fuel surcharges billed to customers on revenue hauled by BCO Independent Contractors are excluded from revenue.

 

Investment income at the insurance segment was $3,339,000 and $5,347,000 in the 2008 and 2007 fiscal year periods, respectively. The decrease in investment income was primarily due to a decreased rate of return, attributable to a general decrease in interest rates, on investments held by the insurance segment in the 2008 period.

 

Purchased transportation was 76.9% and 75.8% of revenue in the 2008 and 2007 fiscal year periods, respectively. The increase in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to increased rates of purchased transportation paid to Truck Brokerage Carriers and ocean cargo carriers, partially attributable to the increased cost of fuel in 2008, increased revenue hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers and ocean cargo carriers, both of which tend to have a higher cost of purchased transportation, and the effect of Bus Revenue, which also had a higher rate of purchased transportation. Commissions to agents were 7.7% of revenue in the 2008 period and 8.1% of revenue in the 2007 period. The decrease in commissions to agents as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to decreased gross profit, revenue less the cost of purchased transportation, on revenue hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. Other operating costs were 1.0% and 1.1% of revenue in the 2008 and 2007 periods, respectively. The decrease in other operating costs as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to the effect of increased revenue hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers and ocean cargo carriers in the 2008 fiscal year period, neither of which incur significant other operating costs, partially offset by lower gains on the sales of trailing equipment in the 2008 period compared to the 2007 period. Insurance and claims were 1.4% of revenue in the 2008 period, compared with 2.0% of revenue in the 2007 period. The decrease in insurance and claims as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to a $5,000,000 charge for the estimated cost of one severe accident that occurred during the first quarter of 2007, favorable development of prior year claims in 2008 and a lower cost of cargo claims in the 2008 period. Selling, general and administrative costs were 5.2% of revenue in the 2008 period, compared with 5.0% of revenue in the 2007 period. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to an increased provision for bonuses under the Company’s incentive compensation programs and an increased provision for customer bad debt, partially offset by the effect of increased revenue. Depreciation and amortization was 0.8% of revenue in each of the 2008 and 2007 fiscal year periods.

 

Interest and debt expense was 0.3% of revenue in each of the 2008 and 2007 fiscal year periods.

 

The provisions for income taxes for the 2008 and 2007 fiscal year periods were based on estimated full year combined effective income tax rates of approximately 38.2% and 38.4%, respectively, which were higher than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily as a result of state taxes, the meals and entertainment exclusion and non-deductible stock compensation expense.

 

Net income was $110,930,000, or $2.11 per common share ($2.10 per diluted share), in the 2008 fiscal year period, compared to $109,653,000, or $2.01 per common share ($1.99 per diluted share), in the 2007 fiscal year period.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2006

 

Revenue for the 2007 fiscal year period was $2,487,277,000, a decrease of $26,479,000, or 1.1%, compared to the 2006 fiscal year period. Revenue decreased $28,747,000, or 1.2%, at the transportation logistics segment primarily due to a decrease in disaster relief revenue provided under the FAA contract in fiscal year 2007 compared to fiscal year 2006. Revenue for disaster relief services provided under the FAA contract in 2007 and 2006 was $8,511,000 and $100,655,000, respectively, including trailer rental revenue of $2,235,000 and $18,778,000, respectively. Revenue hauled in the 2007 fiscal year period by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal, ocean cargo and air cargo carriers increased 2%, 2%, 9%, 56%, and 23%, respectively, compared to the 2006 fiscal year period. The number of loads in the 2007 fiscal year period hauled by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal, ocean

cargo and air cargo carriers increased 1%, 3%, 13%, 26% and 32%, respectively, compared to the number of loads hauled in the 2006 fiscal year period. Revenue per load for loads hauled by BCO Independent Contractors and ocean cargo carriers in the 2007 fiscal year period increased 1% and 24%, respectively, over the 2006 fiscal year period, while revenue per load for loads hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers, rail intermodal and air cargo carriers in the 2007 fiscal year period decreased 2%, 3% and 7%, respectively, compared to the 2006 fiscal year period.

 

Investment income at the insurance segment was $5,347,000 and $4,250,000 in the 2007 and 2006 fiscal year periods, respectively. The increase in investment income was primarily due to an increased rate of return, attributable to a general increase in interest rates, on investments held by the insurance segment and an increase in average investments held at the insurance segment.

 

Purchased transportation was 75.8% of revenue in 2007 compared with 75.2% in 2006. The increase in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to the effect of decreased revenue under the FAA contract, which tends to have a lower cost of purchased transportation, and increased rates for purchased transportation paid to rail intermodal carriers, partially offset by decreased rates for purchased transportation paid to Truck Brokerage Carriers. Commissions to agents were 8.1% of revenue in 2007 and 8.0% of revenue in 2006. The increase in commissions to agents as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to decreased revenue for disaster relief services provided under the FAA contract, which tends to have a lower agent commission rate, and increased commissions to agents primarily attributable to increased gross profit on revenue hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. Other operating costs were 1.1% of revenue in 2007 and 1.8% of revenue in 2006. The decrease in other operating costs as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to reduced trailer rental costs incurred in support of disaster relief services under the FAA contract. Insurance and claims were 2.0% of revenue in 2007 and 1.6% of revenue in 2006. The increase in insurance and claims as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to a $5,000,000 charge for the estimated cost of one severe accident that occurred during the first quarter of 2007 and increased cargo claims expense in 2007. Selling, general and administrative costs were 5.0% of revenue in 2007 and 5.3% in 2006. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to a decreased provision for bonuses under the Company’s incentive compensation programs. Depreciation and amortization was 0.8% of revenue in 2007 and 0.7% of revenue in 2006. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to an increase in Company-owned trailing equipment.

 

Interest and debt expense was 0.3% of revenue in both 2007 and 2006.

 

The provisions for income taxes for the 2007 and 2006 fiscal years were based on estimated full year combined effective income tax rates of approximately 38.4% and 38.7%, respectively, which are higher than the statutory federal income tax rate primarily as a result of state income taxes, the meals and entertainment exclusion and non-deductible stock compensation expense. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to changes in the mix of income apportioned to the states in which the Company generates revenue and previously unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions that were recognized in 2007 that had reached the statute of limitations. The Company believes that deferred income tax benefits are more likely than not to be realized because of the Company’s ability to generate future taxable earnings.

 

Net income for the 2007 fiscal year was $109,653,000, or $2.01 per common share ($1.99 per diluted share), which included approximately $2,153,000 of operating income related to the $8,511,000 of revenue related to emergency transportation services provided primarily under the FAA contract. The $2,153,000 of operating income, net of related income taxes, increased net income approximately $1,325,000, or $0.02 per common share ($0.02 per diluted share). Net income for the 2006 fiscal year was $113,085,000, or $1.95 per common share ($1.93 per diluted share), which included approximately $14,590,000 of operating income related to the $100,655,000 of revenue related to emergency transportation services provided primarily under the FAA contract. The $14,590,000 of operating income, net of related income taxes, increased net income approximately $8,944,000, or $0.15 per common share ($0.15 per diluted share).

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

Shareholders’ equity was $253,136,000, or 65% of total capitalization (defined as total debt plus equity), at December 27, 2008, compared with $180,786,000, or 52% of total capitalization, at December 29, 2007. The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily a result of net income and the effect of the exercises of stock options during the period, partially offset by the purchase of 1,303,778 shares of the Company’s common stock at a total cost of $51,576,000 and dividends paid. The Company paid $0.155 per share, or $8,136,000, in cash dividends during 2008. It is the intention of the Board of Directors to continue to pay a quarterly dividend. As of December 27, 2008, the Company may purchase an additional 1,430,623 shares of its common stock under its authorized stock purchase program. Long-term debt including current maturities was $136,445,000 at December 27, 2008, compared to $164,753,000 at December 29, 2007.

 

Working capital and the ratio of current assets to current liabilities were $238,817,000 and 2.0 to 1, respectively, at December 27, 2008, compared with $184,078,000 and 1.7 to 1, respectively, at December 29, 2007. Landstar has historically operated with current ratios within the range of 1.5 to 1 to 2.0 to 1. Cash provided by operating activities was $119,689,000 in 2008 compared with cash provided by operating activities of $140,608,000 in 2007. The decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to the timing of collections of trade receivables.

 

On June 27, 2008, Landstar entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which expires on June 27, 2013, provides $225,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $75,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letter of credit guarantees. The initial borrowing of $67,000,000 under the Credit Agreement was used to refinance $67,000,000 of outstanding borrowings under the prior credit agreement, which was terminated in connection with entering into the Credit Agreement.

 

The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders in the event that after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event, among other things, that a person or group acquires 25% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors. None of these covenants are presently considered by management to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.

 

At December 27, 2008, the Company had $70,000,000 in borrowings outstanding and $28,032,000 of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. At December 27, 2008, there was $126,968,000 available for future borrowings under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Company has $44,545,000 in letters of credit outstanding, as collateral for insurance claims, that are secured by investments and cash equivalents totaling $46,189,000. Investments, all of which are carried at fair value, consist of investment-grade bonds having maturities of up to five years. Fair value of investments is based primarily on quoted market prices.

 

Historically, the Company has generated sufficient operating cash flow to meet its debt service requirements, fund continued growth, both internal and through acquisitions, complete or execute share purchases of its common stock under authorized share purchase programs, pay dividends and meet working capital needs. As a non-asset based provider of transportation capacity and logistics services, the Company’s annual capital requirements for operating property are generally for trailing equipment and management information services equipment. In addition, a significant portion of the trailing equipment used by the Company is provided by third party capacity providers, thereby reducing the Company’s capital requirements.

During 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company purchased $8,289,000, $6,514,000 and $4,173,000, respectively, of operating property and acquired $4,802,000, $36,046,000 and $36,594,000, respectively, of trailing equipment by entering into capital leases. Prior to 2003, the Company historically funded its acquisition of Company provided fixed cost trailing equipment using capital leases. During 2004 and 2003, the Company acquired van trailing equipment under a long-term operating lease at a fixed monthly rental price per trailer. During 2009, Landstar anticipates purchasing approximately $10,000,000 of the trailing equipment that has been operated under a previously existing operating lease that is set to expire in 2009. In addition, Landstar anticipates purchasing approximately $12,000,000 in operating property, primarily new trailing equipment to replace older trailing equipment, and information technology equipment during fiscal year 2009 either by purchase or lease financing. The Company does not currently anticipate any other significant capital requirements in 2009.

 

Since January 1997, the Company has purchased $816,386,000 of its common stock under programs authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company in open market and private block transactions. The Company has used cash provided by operating activities and borrowings on the Company’s revolving credit facilities to fund the purchases.

 

Management believes that cash flow from operations combined with the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement will be adequate to meet Landstar’s debt service requirement, fund continued growth, both internal and through acquisitions, pay dividends, complete the authorized share purchase program and meet working capital needs.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

At December 27, 2008, the Company’s obligations and commitments to make future payments under contracts, such as debt and lease agreements, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Long-term debt represents borrowings under the Credit Agreement and does not include interest. Capital lease obligations above include $5,467,000 of imputed interest. Operating leases include $11,866,000 related to the Company’s main office facility located in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

At December 27, 2008, the Company has gross unrecognized tax benefits of $16,110,000. This amount is excluded from the table above as the Company cannot reasonably estimate the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authorities.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of December 27, 2008, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements, other than operating leases as disclosed in the table of Contractual Obligations and Commitments above, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Legal Matters

 

As further described in periodic and current reports previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Defendants”) are defendants in a suit (the “Litigation”) brought in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (the “District Court”) by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc. (“OOIDA”) and four former

BCO Independent Contractors (the “Named Plaintiffs” and, with OOIDA, the “Plaintiffs”) on behalf of all independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company and its subsidiaries under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”). The Plaintiffs allege that certain aspects of the Company’s motor carrier leases and related practices with its BCO Independent Contractors violate certain federal leasing regulations and seek injunctive relief, an unspecified amount of damages and attorneys’ fees.

 

On March 29, 2007, the District Court denied the request by Plaintiffs for injunctive relief, entered a judgment in favor of the Defendants and issued written orders setting forth its rulings related to the decertification of the plaintiff class and other important elements of the Litigation relating to liability, injunctive relief and monetary relief. The Plaintiffs filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (the “Appellate Court”) of certain of the District Court’s rulings in favor of the Defendants. The Defendants asked the Appellate Court to affirm such rulings and filed a cross-appeal with the Appellate Court with respect to certain other rulings of the District Court.

 

On September 3, 2008, the Appellate Court issued its ruling, which, among other things, affirmed the District Court’s rulings that (i) the Defendants are not prohibited by the applicable federal leasing regulations from charging administrative or other fees to BCO Independent Contractors in connection with voluntary programs offered by the Defendants through which a BCO Independent Contractor may purchase discounted products and services for a charge that is deducted against the compensation payable to the BCO Independent Contractor (a “Charge-back Deduction”), (ii) the Plaintiffs are not entitled to restitution or disgorgement with respect to violations by Defendants of the applicable federal leasing regulations but instead may recover only actual damages, if any, which they sustained as a result of any such violations and (iii) the claims of BCO Independent Contractors may not be handled on a class action basis for purposes of determining the amount of actual damages, if any, they sustained as a result of any violations. Further, the analysis of the Appellate Court confirmed the absence of any violations alleged by the Plaintiffs of the federal leasing regulations with respect to the written terms of all leases currently in use between the Defendants and BCO Independent Contractors.

 

However, the ruling of the Appellate Court reversed the District Court’s rulings (i) that an old version of the lease formerly used by Defendants but not in use with any current BCO Independent Contractor complied with applicable disclosure requirements under the federal leasing regulations with respect to adjustments to compensation payable to BCO Independent Contractors on certain loads sourced from the U.S. Dept. of Defense, and (ii) that the Defendants had provided sufficient documentation to BCO Independent Contractors under the applicable federal leasing regulations relating to how the component elements of Charge-back Deductions were computed. The Appellate Court then remanded the case to the District Court to permit the Plaintiffs to seek injunctive relief with respect to these violations of the federal leasing regulations and to hold an evidentiary hearing to give the Named Plaintiffs an opportunity to produce evidence of any damages they actually sustained as a result of such violations.

 

Each of the parties to the Litigation has filed a petition with the Appellate Court seeking rehearing of the Appellate Court’s ruling; however, there can be no assurance that any petition for rehearing will be granted.

 

Although no assurances can be given with respect to the outcome of the Litigation, including any possible award of attorneys’ fees to the Plaintiffs, the Company believes that (i) no Plaintiff has sustained any actual damages as a result of any violations by the Defendants of the federal leasing regulations and (ii) injunctive relief, if any, that may be granted by the District Court on remand is unlikely to have a material adverse financial effect on the Company.

 

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

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts for both trade and other receivables represents management’s estimate of the amount of outstanding receivables that will not be collected. Historically, management’s estimates for uncollectible receivables have been materially correct. During 2008, the Company experienced a higher level of customer bad debt expense than experienced in any of the previous five years. Management believes this resulted from the difficult economic environment experienced by the Company’s customers. Although management believes the amount of the allowance for both trade and other receivables at December 27, 2008 is appropriate, a prolonged period of low or no economic growth may adversely affect the collection of these receivables. Conversely, a more robust economic environment may result in the realization of some portion of the estimated uncollectible receivables.

 

Landstar provides for the estimated costs of self-insured claims primarily on an actuarial basis. The amount recorded for the estimated liability for claims incurred is based upon the facts and circumstances known on the applicable balance sheet date. The ultimate resolution of these claims may be for an amount greater or less than the amount estimated by management. The Company continually revises its existing claim estimates as new or revised information becomes available on the status of each claim. Historically, the Company has experienced both favorable and unfavorable development of prior year claims estimates. During fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, insurance and claims costs included $9,968,000, $8,296,000 and $7,739,000, respectively, of favorable adjustments to prior years claims estimates. It is reasonably likely that the ultimate outcome of settling all outstanding claims will be more or less than the estimated claims reserve at December 27, 2008.

 

The Company utilizes certain income tax planning strategies to reduce its overall cost of income taxes. Upon audit, it is possible that certain strategies might be disallowed resulting in an increased liability for income taxes. Certain of these tax planning strategies result in a level of uncertainty as to whether the related tax positions taken by the Company will result in a recognizable benefit. The Company has provided for its estimated exposure attributable to such tax positions due to the corresponding level of uncertainty with respect to the amount of income tax benefit that may ultimately be realized. Management believes that the provision for liabilities resulting from the uncertainty in such income tax positions is appropriate. To date, the Company has not experienced an examination by governmental revenue authorities that would lead management to believe that the Company’s past provisions for exposures related to the uncertainty of such income tax positions are not appropriate.

 

Significant variances from management’s estimates for the amount of uncollectible receivables, the ultimate resolution of self-insured claims or the provision for uncertainty in income tax positions can all be expected to positively or negatively affect Landstar’s earnings in a given quarter or year. However, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these items, given a range of reasonably likely outcomes, will not significantly affect the long-term financial condition of Landstar or its ability to fund its continuing operations.

 

Effects of Inflation

 

Management does not believe inflation has had a material impact on the results of operations or financial condition of Landstar in the past five years. However, inflation higher than that experienced in the past five years might have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Seasonality

 

Landstar’s operations are subject to seasonal trends common to the trucking industry. Results of operations for the quarter ending in March are typically lower than the quarters ending June, September and December.

 

The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of its financing activities, primarily its borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and investing activities with respect to investments held by the insurance segment.

 

On June 27, 2008, Landstar entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which expires on June 27, 2013, provides $225,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $75,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letter of credit guarantees.

 

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at rates equal to, at the option of the Company, either (i) the greater of (a) the prime rate as publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and (b) the federal funds effective rate plus .5%, or, (ii) the rate at the time offered to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in the Eurodollar market for amounts and periods comparable to the relevant loan plus, in either case, a margin that is determined based on the level of the Company’s Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. As of December 27, 2008, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings outstanding was 2.63%. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the average outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was approximately $84,500,000. Based on the borrowing rates in the Credit Agreement and the repayment terms, the fair value of the outstanding borrowings as of December 27, 2008 was estimated to approximate carrying value. Assuming that debt levels on the Credit Agreement remain at $70,000,000, the balance at December 27, 2008, a hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in current rates provided for under the Credit Agreement is estimated to result in an increase in interest expense of $700,000 on an annualized basis.

 

All amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement are payable on June 27, 2013, the expiration date of the Credit Agreement.

 

Long-term investments, all of which are available-for-sale, consist of investment-grade bonds having maturities of up to five years. Assuming that the long-term portion of investments in bonds remains at $14,431,000, the balance at December 27, 2008, a hypothetical increase or decrease in interest rates of 100 basis points would not have a material impact on future earnings on an annualized basis. Short-term investments consist of short-term investment-grade instruments and the current maturities of investment-grade bonds. Accordingly, any future interest rate risk on these short-term investments would not be material.

 

Assets and liabilities of the Company’s Canadian operation are translated from their functional currency to U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and revenue and expense accounts are translated at average monthly exchange rates during the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Transactional gains and losses arising from receivable and payable balances, including intercompany balances, in the normal course of business that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the operation are recorded in the statements of income when they occur. The net assets held at Landstar’s Canadian subsidiary at December 27, 2008 was, as translated to U.S. dollars, less than 1% of total consolidated net assets. Accordingly, any translation gain or loss related to the Canadian operation would not be material.

 

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 27, 2008,
December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (“LSHI”). Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary are herein referred to as “Landstar” or the “Company.” Significant inter-company accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires the use of management’s estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fiscal Year

 

Landstar’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the last Saturday in December.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company is the primary obligor with respect to freight delivery and assumes the related credit risk. Accordingly, transportation revenue and the related direct freight expenses of the transportation logistics segment are recognized on a gross basis upon completion of freight delivery. Insurance premiums of the insurance segment are recognized over the period earned, which is usually on a monthly basis. Fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”) are excluded from revenue and paid in their entirety to the BCO Independent Contractors.

 

Insurance Claim Costs

 

Landstar provides, primarily on an actuarially determined basis, for the estimated costs of cargo, property, casualty, general liability and workers’ compensation claims both reported and for claims incurred but not reported. Landstar retains liability for individual commercial trucking claims incurred prior to June 19, 2003 or subsequent to March 30, 2004, up to $5,000,000 per occurrence. For commercial trucking claims incurred from June 19, 2003 through March 30, 2004, Landstar retains liability up to $10,000,000 per occurrence. The Company also retains liability for each general liability claim up to $1,000,000, $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and $100,000 for each cargo claim. For cargo claims incurred prior to May 1, 2008 the Company retains cargo liability up to $250,000.

 

Tires

 

Tires purchased as part of trailing equipment are capitalized as part of the cost of the equipment. Replacement tires are charged to expense when placed in service.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Included in cash and cash equivalents are all investments, except those provided for collateral, with an original maturity of 3 months or less.

 

Investments

 

Investments, all of which are available-for-sale, consist of investment-grade bonds having maturities of up to five years. Investments are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income. Short-term investments include $2,003,000 in current maturities of investment-grade bonds and $21,476,000 of cash equivalents held by the Company’s insurance segment at December 27, 2008. These short-term investments together with $14,431,000 of the non-current portion of investment-grade bonds and $8,279,000 of cash equivalents included in other assets at

 

LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

December 27, 2008, provide collateral for the $44,545,000 of letters of credit issued to guarantee payment of insurance claims. Based upon quoted market prices, the unrealized loss on the investment-grade bonds was $343,000 at December 27, 2008 and the unrealized gain on the investment-grade bonds was $88,000 at December 29, 2007.

 

Investment income represents the earnings on the insurance segment’s assets. Investment income earned from the assets of the insurance segment are included as a component of operating income as the investing activities and earnings thereon generally comprise a significant portion of the insurance segment’s profitability.

 

Operating Property

 

Operating property is recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Trailing equipment is being depreciated over 7 years. Hardware and software included in management information services equipment is generally being depreciated over 3 to 7 years.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense is equal to the current year’s liability for income taxes and a provision for deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

 

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company adopted FIN 48 on December 31, 2006.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Earnings per common share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and diluted earnings per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the incremental shares that would have been outstanding upon the assumed exercise of all dilutive stock options.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share to the average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share (in thousands):