The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. All investments over which we exercise significant influence, but do not control (a 20% to 50% ownership interest), are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. For joint ventures that have been accounted for using the consolidation method of accounting, noncontrolling interests represent the allocation of earnings to our joint venture partners who either have a minority-ownership interest in the joint venture or are not at risk for the majority of losses of the joint venture.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Refer to Note 3 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information.

For purposes of the consolidated financial statements, we consider all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We maintain a centralized cash management system whereby our excess cash balances are invested in high quality, short-term money market instruments, which are considered cash equivalents. We have cash balances in certain of our domestic bank accounts that exceed federally insured limits.

Accounts receivable are recognized in the period we deliver goods or provide services to our customers or when our right to consideration is unconditional. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses. A considerable amount of judgment is required when determining expected credit losses. Estimates of such losses are recorded when we believe a customer, or group of customers, may not be able to meet their financial obligations due to deterioration in financial condition or credit rating. Relevant factors include our prior collection history with our customers, the related aging of past due balances, projections of credit losses based on historical trends in credit quality indicators or past events, and forecasts of future economic conditions. In addition to monitoring delinquent accounts, management reviews the credit quality of its receivables by, among other things, obtaining credit ratings of significant customers, assessing economic and market conditions, and evaluating material changes to a customer’s business, cash flows, and financial condition.

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our accounts receivable of $1,922.1 million and $2,030.8 million, respectively, were recorded net of allowances for credit losses of $18.0 million and $14.5 million, respectively. Due to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our allowance for credit losses increased based on our evaluation of: (a) specific outstanding balances and (b) forecasts of future economic conditions and the expected impact on customer collections. Allowances for credit losses are based on the best facts available and are reassessed and adjusted on a regular basis as additional information is received. Should anticipated collections fail to materialize, or if future economic conditions compare unfavorably to our forecasts, we could experience an increase in our credit losses. The provision for credit losses during 2020, 2019, and 2018 amounted to approximately $3.3 million, $2.6 million, and $2.1 million, respectively.

At the inception of a contract, we determine whether the arrangement is or contains a lease. Leases are classified as either operating or finance, based on our evaluation of certain criteria. With the exception of short-term leases (leases with an initial term of 12 months or less), we record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with contractual fixed payments. Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of remaining lease payments, while right-of-use assets are initially set equal to the lease liability, as adjusted for any payments made prior to lease commencement, lease incentives, and any initial direct costs incurred by us. For operating leases, rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, and right-of-use assets are subsequently re-measured to reflect the effect of uneven lease payments. For finance leases, right-of-use assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Expenses for finance leases include the amortization of right-of-use assets, which is recorded as depreciation and amortization expense, and interest expense, which reflects interest accrued on the lease liability. Refer to Note 17 - Leases of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation, including amortization of assets under finance leases, is recorded principally using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, 3 to 7 years for vehicles, furniture and fixtures and computer hardware/software, and 25 years for buildings. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the expected useful life of the improvement.

The carrying values of property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. In performing this review for recoverability, property, plant and equipment is assessed for possible impairment by comparing their carrying values to their undiscounted net pre-tax cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset. Impaired assets are written down to their fair values, generally determined based on their estimated future discounted cash flows.

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives, such as trade names, are tested at least annually for impairment (which we test each October 1, absent any earlier identified impairment indicators) and are written down if impaired. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives and are reviewed for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be fully recoverable. See Note 9 - Goodwill, Identifiable Intangible Assets, and Other Long-Lived Assets of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Insurance liabilities for automobile liability, workers’ compensation and general liability claims are determined based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. The liabilities are derived from known facts, historical trends, and industry averages, utilizing the assistance of an independent third-party actuary to determine the best estimate for such obligations. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the estimated current portion of such undiscounted insurance liabilities of $48.2 million and $48.3 million, respectively, were included in “Other accrued expenses and liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The estimated non-current portion of such undiscounted insurance liabilities included in “Other long-term obligations” at December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $192.8 million and $186.0 million, respectively. The current portion of anticipated insurance recoveries of $14.4 million and $13.8 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and the non-current portion of anticipated insurance recoveries of $54.3 million and $50.9 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were included in “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The financial statements and transactions of our foreign subsidiaries are maintained in their functional currency and translated into U.S. dollars when preparing our consolidated financial statements. Statements of operations, comprehensive income, and cash flows are translated using weighted average monthly exchange rates, while balance sheets are translated at month-end exchange rates. Translation adjustments are recorded as “Accumulated other comprehensive loss,” a separate component of “Equity.”

The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future taxable consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities as well as for net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income taxes are valued using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when income taxes are paid or recovered, with the effect of a change in tax laws or rates recognized in the statement of operations in the period in which such change is enacted. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period in which those temporary differences become deductible. Deferred income taxes are recorded net of a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In making such determination, we consider all available evidence, including projections of future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and recent results of operations.

Tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized only if it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained on its technical merits. For positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recognized. To the extent interest and penalties may be assessed related to unrecognized tax benefits, we record accruals for such amounts as a component of the income tax provision. We had no unrecognized income tax benefits as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.

We have various types of share-based compensation plans and programs, which are administered by our Board of Directors or its Compensation and Personnel Committee. See Note 14 - Share-Based Compensation Plans of the notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the share-based compensation plans and programs.

We recognize all share-based payments issued to acquire goods or services in the statement of operations based on the fair value of such payments. Compensation expense related to share-based awards is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. For shares subject to graded vesting, our policy is to apply the straight-line method in recognizing compensation expense. The benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation expense are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations when the underlying awards vest or are settled.

On January 1, 2020, we adopted the accounting pronouncement issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which changes the way in which entities estimate and present credit losses for most financial assets, including accounts receivable and contract assets. This pronouncement replaces the previous incurred loss model with an expected credit loss model that requires consideration of a broader range of information when estimating expected credit losses over the contractual life of an asset. This guidance requires entities to estimate expected credit losses by considering forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions. The cumulative effect of applying the new guidance was recorded as a reduction to retained earnings in the amount of $2.3 million, net of deferred taxes of $0.9 million. Our financial position and results of operations for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020 reflect the guidance issued under this new accounting pronouncement, while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previous guidance and historical accounting policy.

In December 2019, an accounting pronouncement was issued by the FASB which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to existing guidance surrounding intraperiod tax allocations and the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period. The guidance also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes as well as enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The pronouncement is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Certain aspects of this standard must be applied retrospectively while other aspects are to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The Company intends to adopt this accounting pronouncement on January 1, 2021, and does not anticipate that such adoption will have a material impact on our financial position and/or results of operations.