Werner Enterprises, Inc. operates as a transportation and logistics company. The company engages primarily in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in both interstate and intrastate commerce.
Segments
The company operate through two segments, TTS and Werner Logistics.
TTS
TTS segment consists of Dedicated and One-Way Truckload. Dedicated had 4,840 trucks as of December 31, 2024, and provides truckload services dedicated to a specific customer, generally for a retail distrib...
Werner Enterprises, Inc. operates as a transportation and logistics company. The company engages primarily in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in both interstate and intrastate commerce.
Segments
The company operate through two segments, TTS and Werner Logistics.
TTS
TTS segment consists of Dedicated and One-Way Truckload. Dedicated had 4,840 trucks as of December 31, 2024, and provides truckload services dedicated to a specific customer, generally for a retail distribution center or manufacturing facility, utilizing either dry van or specialized trailers. One-Way Truckload had 2,610 trucks as of December 31, 2024 and includes the following operating fleets: (i) the medium-to-long-haul van (‘Van’) fleet transports a variety of consumer nondurable products and other commodities in truckload quantities over irregular routes using dry van trailers, including Mexico cross-border routes; (ii) the expedited (‘Expedited’) fleet provides time-sensitive truckload services utilizing driver teams; (iii) the regional short-haul (‘Regional’) fleet provides comparable truckload van service within geographic regions across the United States; and (iv) the Temperature Controlled fleet provides truckload services for temperature sensitive products over irregular routes utilizing temperature-controlled trailers.
The company’s TTS fleets operate throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states pursuant to operating authority, both common and contract, granted by U.S. Department of Transportation (‘DOT’) and pursuant to intrastate authority granted by various U.S. states. The company also have authority to operate in several provinces of Canada and to provide through-trailer service into and out of Mexico. The principal types of freight the company transports include retail store merchandise, consumer products, food and beverage products and manufactured products. The company focuses on transporting consumer nondurable products that generally ship more consistently throughout the year and whose volumes are generally more stable during a slowdown in the economy.
Werner Logistics
Werner Logistics segment is a non-asset-based transportation and logistics provider. Werner Logistics provides services throughout North America and generates the majority of its non-trucking revenues through three operating units. These three Werner Logistics operating units are as follows: (i) Truckload Logistics, which uses contracted carriers to complete shipments for brokerage customers and freight management customers for which the company offers a full range of single-source logistics management services and solutions; (ii) the intermodal (‘Intermodal’) unit offers rail transportation through alliances with rail and drayage providers as an alternative to truck transportation; and (iii) Werner Final Mile (‘Final Mile’) offers residential and commercial deliveries of large or heavy items using third-party agents, independent contractors, and company employees with two-person delivery teams operating a liftgate straight truck.
Marketing and Operations
The company’s business philosophy is to provide superior on-time customer service at a significant value for its customers. To accomplish this, the company operates premium modern tractors and trailers. This equipment has fewer mechanical and maintenance issues and helps attract and retain experienced drivers. The company continually develops its business processes and technology to improve customer service and driver retention. The company focuses on customers who value the broad geographic coverage, diversified truck and logistics services, equipment capacity, technology, customized services and flexibility available from a large, financially stable transportation and logistics provider.
The company operates in the truckload and logistics sectors of the transportation industry. The company’s TTS segment provides specialized services to customers based on (i) each customer’s trailer needs (such as van and temperature-controlled trailers), (ii) geographic area (regional and medium-to-long-haul van, including transport throughout Mexico and Canada), (iii) time-sensitive shipments (expedited) or (iv) conversion of their private fleet to the company (dedicated). In 2024, TTS segment revenues accounted for 71% of total operating revenues, Werner Logistics revenues accounted for 27% of total operating revenues, and the remaining 2% was recorded in non-reportable segments.
The company’s Werner Logistics segment manages the transportation and logistics requirements for customers, providing customers with additional sources of truck capacity, alternative modes of transportation, and systems analysis to optimize transportation needs. Werner Logistics services include (i) truck brokerage, (ii) freight management, (iii) intermodal transport, and (iv) final mile. Werner Logistics is highly dependent on qualified associates, information systems and the services of qualified third-party capacity providers.
The company has a diversified freight base but are dependent on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of its revenues. During 2024, the company’s largest 5, 10, 25 and 50 customers consists of 36%, 48%, 65% and 77% of its revenues, respectively. The company’s largest customer, Dollar General, accounted for 11% of its total revenues in 2024. The industry groups of the company’s top 50 customers are 62% retail and consumer products, 14% food and beverage, 16% manufacturing/industrial, and 8% logistics and other.
The company and independent contractor tractors are equipped with communication devices. These devices enable it and the company’s drivers to conduct two-way communication using standardized and freeform messages. This technology also allows the company to plan and monitor shipment progress. The company automatically monitor truck movement and obtain specific data on the location of trucks at fixed intervals. Using the real-time global positioning data obtained from the devices, the company have advanced application systems to improve customer and driver service. The company was the first trucking company in the United States to receive an exemption from DOT to use a global positioning-based paperless log system as an alternative to the paper logbooks traditionally used by truck drivers to track their daily work activities.
Seasonality
After the December holiday season and during the remaining winter months, the company’s freight volumes are typically lower because some customers reduce shipment levels. The company’s operating expenses have historically been higher in the winter months due primarily to decreased fuel efficiency, increased cold weather-related maintenance costs of revenue equipment and increased insurance and claims costs attributed to adverse winter weather conditions.
Revenue Equipment
As of December 31, 2024, the company operated 7,155 company tractors and 295 tractors owned by independent contractors in its TTS segment. The company’s Werner Logistics segment operated an additional 18 drayage company tractors and 134 Final Mile delivery trucks at the end of 2024. The TTS segment company tractors were primarily manufactured by Freightliner (a Daimler company), International (a Navistar company), and Kenworth and Peterbilt (both divisions of PACCAR). The Final Mile delivery trucks are primarily manufactured by Hino, International, and Freightliner. The company adheres to a comprehensive maintenance program for both company tractors and trailers. The company inspects independent contractor tractors prior to acceptance for compliance with Werner and DOT operational and safety requirements. The company periodically inspects these tractors, in a manner similar to company tractor inspections, to monitor continued compliance. The company also regulates the vehicle speed of company trucks to improve safety and fuel efficiency.
The average age of the company’s TTS segment company truck fleet was 2.1 years as of December 31, 2024. The average age of the company’s trailer fleet was 5.3 years as of December 31, 2024.
The company operated 28,665 trailers on December 31, 2024, consists of dry vans, flatbeds, temperature-controlled, and other specialized trailers. Most of the company-owned trailers were manufactured by Wabash National Corporation and Great Dane. Nearly all the company’s dry van trailer fleet consisted of 53-foot composite trailers, and it also provides other trailer lengths to meet the specialized needs of certain customers. The company wholly owned subsidiary, Werner Fleet Sales, sells its used trucks and trailers.
Fuel
In 2024, the company purchased nearly all its fuel from a predetermined network of fuel truck stops throughout the United States consists mostly of three large fuel truck stop chains.
Regulations
As a for-hire motor carrier, Werner is subject to federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations and is regulated by various federal, state, and local agencies including DOT, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (‘FMCSA’), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (‘EPA’), among others.
The company’s operations are subject to applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, many of which are implemented by the EPA and similar state regulatory agencies. These laws and regulations govern the management of hazardous wastes, discharge of pollutants into the air and surface and underground waters and disposal of certain substances.
History
Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 by Clarence L. Werner. The company was incorporated in the state of Nebraska in 1982.