P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2013

TONTITOWN, Ark., Oct. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTSI) today reported net income of $2,393,497, or diluted and basic earnings per share of $0.28 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, and net income of $4,619,422, or diluted and basic earnings per share of $0.53 for the nine month period then ended. These results compare to net income of $880,907, or diluted and basic earnings per share of $0.10, and net income of $2,489,890, or diluted and basic earnings per share of $0.29, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Operating revenues, including revenue from fuel surcharges, were $101,877,837 for the third quarter of 2013, a 7.8% increase compared to $94,548,874 for the third quarter of 2012. Operating revenues, including fuel surcharges, were $306,267,426 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a 7.5% increase compared to $284,860,094 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Daniel H. Cushman, President of the Company, commented, "We are pleased with our recent quarterly performance which affirms some of the strategies we have implemented in order to achieve consistent profitability. Operating income for the third quarter of 2013 increased almost 400% as compared to operating income for the third quarter of 2012. In fact, operating income for each month of the third quarter this year exceeded the entire third quarter 2012 operating income. As such, we have demonstrated improved profitability each month versus the same month of the prior year. Last year, we reported that during July 2012 we experienced the first July of profitability in a decade as diversification of our customer base helped mitigate the impact of scheduled shutdown periods with automotive customers. This July, we more than tripled that July 2012 profitability. Our goal has been and continues to be the achievement of a sustainable profit model.

"We have stayed on course in terms of our strategic diversity plan as we have continued to diversify our customer base and are constantly in search of opportunities for growth. While we want to achieve overall revenue growth and diversity, we are currently focused on growth in our Mexico Division, Expedited Division, Automotive Division, Dedicated Division and Supply Chain Solutions offering. Along with growth in those areas, we are also concentrated on efforts to reduce the portion of our business represented by our random freight offering. Due to the non-repetitive nature of the customers, routes, pickup and transit times, we incur considerably more cost and driver dissatisfaction with this random freight business. During the third quarter of 2013, we reduced the percentage of freight serviced by our random freight division to 38.1% from 40.5% in the third quarter of 2012. Providing random freight services is an essential support function for our other more profitable divisions; however, our goal for the random freight division is to reduce service in this division to around 30% of the total freight services.

"Revenue, excluding revenue from fuel surcharges, grew by approximately $5.0 million and represented a 6.4% increase compared to the third quarter of 2012. The primary factors that contributed to this improvement included improved tractor utilization of 4.5% and a reduction of 1.5% in the empty miles ratio. Demand for our services was relatively strong and steady throughout the third quarter.

"The average age of our truck fleet improved from 1.9 years old at the end of the third quarter 2012 to 1.3 years old at the end of the third quarter 2013. A newer fleet generally contributes to lower repair costs, fuel savings, unit utilization, and driver satisfaction. We have generally experienced these positive benefits.

"While we are pleased with our overall results to date, the third quarter was not without its challenges, especially in the area of driver recruiting and retention. We anticipate that this challenge is not going to ease anytime in the near future. We know that driver recruiting and retention is an industry wide challenge. We will continue to strive to provide our driving professionals a steady, predictable income, consistent and predictable home time, quality equipment and the best support group in the industry.

"We would like to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication, and to thank our customers, suppliers and shareholders for their continued commitment and support."

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

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

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