Old Dominion Freight Line Provides Update for First-Quarter 2019
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (Nasdaq: ODFL) today reported certain less-than-truckload (“LTL”) operating metrics for February
2019. Revenue per day increased 7.5% as compared to February 2018 due primarily to an increase in LTL revenue per hundredweight.
For the quarter-to-date period, LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 9.6% as compared to the same period last year. LTL tons per
day decreased 1.5% due to a 3.6% decrease in LTL weight per shipment that was partially offset by a 2.1% increase in LTL
shipments.
Greg C. Gantt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dominion, commented, “While the beginning of 2019 has included a few
seasonal challenges, we have focused on executing our business model and produced solid revenue growth as a result. The consistent
increase in our LTL revenue per hundredweight reflects the favorable pricing environment as well as the decrease in our LTL weight
per shipment. Although our yield has increased consistently, our volumes for both January and February were slightly lower than
expected. Customer demand continues to be favorable, however, and the domestic economy continues to show strength. We believe these
factors should support further opportunities for us to win market share and produce profitable growth in 2019.”
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution the reader that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events and results to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein, including, but not limited
to, the following: (1) the competitive environment with respect to industry capacity and pricing, including the use of fuel
surcharges, which could negatively impact our total overall pricing strategy and our ability to cover our operating expenses; (2)
our ability to collect fuel surcharges and the effectiveness of those fuel surcharges in mitigating the impact of fluctuating
prices for diesel fuel and other petroleum-based products; (3) the negative impact of any unionization, or the passage of
legislation or regulations that could facilitate unionization, of our employees; (4) the challenges associated with executing our
growth strategy, including our ability to successfully consummate and integrate any acquisitions; (5) changes in our goals and
strategies, which are subject to change at any time at our discretion; (6) various economic factors such as recessions, downturns
in the economy, global uncertainty and instability, changes in international trade policies, changes in U.S. social, political, and
regulatory conditions or a disruption of financial markets, which may decrease demand for our services or increase our costs; (7)
the impact of changes in tax laws, rates, guidance and interpretations, including those related to certain provisions of the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act; (8) increases in driver and maintenance technician compensation or difficulties attracting and retaining
qualified drivers and maintenance technicians to meet freight demand; (9) our exposure to claims related to cargo loss and damage,
property damage, personal injury, workers’ compensation, group health and group dental, including increased premiums, adverse loss
development, increased self-insured retention levels and claims in excess of insured coverage levels; (10) cost increases
associated with employee benefits, including costs associated with employee healthcare plans; (11) the availability and cost of
capital for our significant ongoing cash requirements; (12) the availability and cost of new equipment and replacement parts,
including regulatory changes and supply constraints that could impact the cost of these assets; (13) decreases in demand for, and
the value of, used equipment; (14) the availability and cost of diesel fuel; (15) the costs and potential liabilities related to
compliance with, or violations of, existing or future governmental laws and regulations, including environmental laws, engine
emissions standards, hours-of-service for our drivers, driver fitness requirements and new safety standards for drivers and
equipment; (16) the costs and potential liabilities related to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the
ordinary course of our business, some of which include class-action allegations; (17) the costs and potential liabilities related
to governmental proceedings, inquiries, notices or investigations; (18) the costs and potential liabilities related to our
international business relationships; (19) the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance with, or violations of, current and
future rules issued by the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the “FMCSA”) and other
regulatory agencies; (20) the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance associated with FMCSA’s electronic logging device
(“ELD”) regulations and guidance, including the transition of our fleet and safety management systems from our legacy electronic
automatic on-board recording devices to a new ELD hardware and software platform; (21) seasonal trends in the less-than-truckload
industry, including harsh weather conditions and disasters; (22) our ability to retain our key employees and continue to
effectively execute our succession plan; (23) the concentration of our stock ownership with the Congdon family; (24) the costs and
potential adverse impact associated with future changes in accounting standards or practices; (25) potential costs and liabilities
associated with cyber incidents and other risks with respect to our systems and networks or those of our third-party service
providers, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware or ransomware or other damage; (26) failure to comply
with data privacy, security or other laws and regulations; (27) failure to keep pace with developments in technology, any
disruption to our technology infrastructure, or failures of essential services upon which our technology platforms rely, which
could cause us to incur costs or result in a loss of business; (28) the costs and potential adverse impact associated with
transitional challenges in upgrading or enhancing our technology systems; (29) damage to our reputation through unfavorable
perceptions or publicity, including those related to environmental, social and governance issues, cybersecurity and data privacy
concerns; (30) the costs and potential adverse impact of compliance with anti-terrorism measures on our business; (31) dilution to
existing shareholders caused by any issuance of additional equity; (32) the impact of a quarterly cash dividend or the failure to
declare future cash dividends; (33) recent and future volatility in the market value of our common stock; (34) the impact of
certain provisions in our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and Virginia law that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in
control of us or a change in our management; and (35) other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. Our forward-looking statements are based upon our beliefs and assumptions using
information available at the time the statements are made. We caution the reader not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking
statements as (i) these statements are neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and (ii) the
assumptions, beliefs, expectations and projections about future events may differ materially from actual results. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made, except
as otherwise required by law.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional,
inter-regional and national LTL services through a single integrated organization. Our service offerings, which include expedited
transportation, are provided through an expansive network of service centers located throughout the continental United States.
Through strategic alliances, the Company also provides LTL services throughout North America. In addition to its core LTL services,
the Company offers a range of value-added services including container drayage, truckload brokerage and supply chain
consulting.
Adam N. Satterfield
Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
(336) 822-5721
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