10-Q 1 wern-2014930x10q.htm 10-Q
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[Mark | one]
ý | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014
OR

¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 0-14690

WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

NEBRASKA |  | 47-0648386
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
14507 FRONTIER ROAD POST OFFICE BOX 45308 OMAHA, NEBRASKA |  | 68145-0308
(Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip Code)

(402) 895-6640
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
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.

Large accelerated filer |  | ý |  | Accelerated filer |  | ¨
Non-accelerated filer |  | o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company |  | ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No ý
As of October 31, 2014, 71,863,626 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

Table of Contents
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
INDEX

|  | PAGE
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Financial Statements: | 3
| Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 4
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 5
| Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 | 6
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 | 7
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) as of September 30, 2014 | 8
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 15
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 25
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 26
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 27
Item 6. | Exhibits | 28

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PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains historical information and forward-looking statements based on information currently available to our management. The forward-looking statements in this report, including those made in Item 2 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of Part I, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These safe harbor provisions encourage reporting companies to provide prospective information to investors. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of certain words, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar terms and language. We believe the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information. However, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, whether known or unknown, that could cause our actual results, business, financial condition and cash flows to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. A discussion of important factors relating to forward-looking statements is included in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (“2013 Form 10-K”). Readers should not unduly rely on the forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q because such statements speak only to the date they were made. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation or duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Item 1. Financial Statements.
The interim consolidated financial statements contained herein reflect all adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-Q and were also prepared without audit. The interim consolidated financial statements do not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements; although in management’s opinion, the disclosures are adequate so that the information presented is not misleading.
Operating results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014. In the opinion of management, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheets from which it has been derived.
These interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in our 2013 Form 10-K.
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Unaudited)
Operating revenues | $ | 551,961 |  |  | $ | 511,728 |  |  | $ | 1,586,103 |  |  | $ | 1,511,263 |
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Salaries, wages and benefits | 149,206 |  |  | 137,834 |  |  | 428,425 |  |  | 406,175 |
Fuel | 86,820 |  |  | 92,890 |  |  | 270,026 |  |  | 279,874 |
Supplies and maintenance | 48,527 |  |  | 46,538 |  |  | 140,268 |  |  | 133,600 |
Taxes and licenses | 21,420 |  |  | 21,548 |  |  | 63,563 |  |  | 64,758 |
Insurance and claims | 19,789 |  |  | 16,714 |  |  | 59,175 |  |  | 53,835 |
Depreciation | 44,182 |  |  | 42,612 |  |  | 131,878 |  |  | 127,310 |
Rent and purchased transportation | 133,893 |  |  | 117,651 |  |  | 373,778 |  |  | 339,029 |
Communications and utilities | 3,689 |  |  | 3,754 |  |  | 10,597 |  |  | 10,083 |
Other | 2,745 |  |  | (396 | ) |  | 932 |  |  | (7,038 | )
Total operating expenses | 510,271 |  |  | 479,145 |  |  | 1,478,642 |  |  | 1,407,626 |
Operating income | 41,690 |  |  | 32,583 |  |  | 107,461 |  |  | 103,637 |
Other expense (income): |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense | 140 |  |  | 101 |  |  | 370 |  |  | 336 |
Interest income | (614 | ) |  | (589 | ) |  | (1,929 | ) |  | (1,629 | )
Other | 43 |  |  | (35 | ) |  | 2 |  |  | (127 | )
Total other income | (431 | ) |  | (523 | ) |  | (1,557 | ) |  | (1,420 | )
Income before income taxes | 42,121 |  |  | 33,106 |  |  | 109,018 |  |  | 105,057 |
Income taxes | 16,151 |  |  | 11,847 |  |  | 43,077 |  |  | 40,447 |
Net income | $ | 25,970 |  |  | $ | 21,259 |  |  | $ | 65,941 |  |  | $ | 64,610 |
Earnings per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 0.29 |  |  | $ | 0.91 |  |  | $ | 0.89 |
Diluted | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 0.29 |  |  | $ | 0.91 |  |  | $ | 0.88 |
Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.050 |  |  | $ | 0.050 |  |  | $ | 0.150 |  |  | $ | 0.150 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 71,837 |  |  | 72,621 |  |  | 72,198 |  |  | 72,965 |
Diluted | 72,364 |  |  | 73,216 |  |  | 72,706 |  |  | 73,530 |

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands) | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Unaudited)
Net income | $ | 25,970 |  |  | $ | 21,259 |  |  | $ | 65,941 |  |  | $ | 64,610 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (985 | ) |  | 49 |  |  | (885 | ) |  | (135 | )
Change in fair value of interest rate swap | (431 | ) |  | — |  |  | (431 | ) |  | — |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (1,416 | ) |  | 49 |  |  | (1,316 | ) |  | (135 | )
Comprehensive income | $ | 24,554 |  |  | $ | 21,308 |  |  | $ | 64,625 |  |  | $ | 64,475 |

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts) | September 30, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
| (Unaudited) |  |
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets: |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 47,598 |  |  | $ | 23,678 |
Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance of $10,307 and $9,939, respectively | 264,406 |  |  | 231,647 |
Other receivables | 22,244 |  |  | 10,769 |
Inventories and supplies | 15,167 |  |  | 15,743 |
Prepaid taxes, licenses and permits | 6,503 |  |  | 15,064 |
Current deferred income taxes | 26,668 |  |  | 25,315 |
Other current assets | 31,522 |  |  | 27,445 |
Total current assets | 414,108 |  |  | 349,661 |
Property and equipment | 1,764,972 |  |  | 1,727,737 |
Less – accumulated depreciation | 771,188 |  |  | 750,219 |
Property and equipment, net | 993,784 |  |  | 977,518 |
Other non-current assets | 41,489 |  |  | 26,918 |
Total assets | $ | 1,449,381 |  |  | $ | 1,354,097 |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities: |  |  |
Accounts payable | $ | 89,073 |  |  | $ | 66,678 |
Insurance and claims accruals | 65,070 |  |  | 59,811 |
Accrued payroll | 32,256 |  |  | 22,785 |
Other current liabilities | 20,388 |  |  | 18,457 |
Total current liabilities | 206,787 |  |  | 167,731 |
Long-term debt, net of current portion | 75,000 |  |  | 40,000 |
Other long-term liabilities | 19,667 |  |  | 14,710 |
Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion | 130,825 |  |  | 131,900 |
Deferred income taxes | 212,632 |  |  | 227,237 |
Commitments and contingencies |  |  |
Stockholders’ equity: |  |  |
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 80,533,536 shares |  |  |
issued; 71,756,576 and 72,713,920 shares outstanding, respectively | 805 |  |  | 805 |
Paid-in capital | 102,792 |  |  | 98,534 |
Retained earnings | 885,978 |  |  | 830,842 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (5,947 | ) |  | (4,631 | )
Treasury stock, at cost; 8,776,960 and 7,819,616 shares, respectively | (179,158 | ) |  | (153,031 | )
Total stockholders’ equity | 804,470 |  |  | 772,519 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 1,449,381 |  |  | $ | 1,354,097 |

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

| Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands) | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |
Net income | $ | 65,941 |  |  | $ | 64,610 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |
Depreciation | 131,878 |  |  | 127,310 |
Deferred income taxes | (16,206 | ) |  | (8,418 | )
Gain on disposal of property and equipment | (14,267 | ) |  | (12,701 | )
Non-cash equity compensation | 4,350 |  |  | 3,829 |
Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion | (1,075 | ) |  | 2,700 |
Other | (3,481 | ) |  | (1,239 | )
Changes in certain working capital items: |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net | (32,759 | ) |  | (25,725 | )
Other current assets | 1,592 |  |  | 568 |
Accounts payable | 24,356 |  |  | 13,899 |
Other current liabilities | 4,882 |  |  | 6,258 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 165,211 |  |  | 171,091 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |
Additions to property and equipment | (206,354 | ) |  | (149,889 | )
Retirements of property and equipment | 59,515 |  |  | 43,421 |
Decrease in notes receivable | 11,135 |  |  | 7,095 |
Other | (3,343 | ) |  | 979 |
Net cash used in investing activities | (139,047 | ) |  | (98,394 | )
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |
Repayments of short-term debt | — |  |  | (20,000 | )
Repayments of long-term debt | (40,000 | ) |  | (30,000 | )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 75,000 |  |  | 10,000 |
Dividends on common stock | (10,853 | ) |  | (10,961 | )
Repurchases of common stock | (30,587 | ) |  | (20,060 | )
Tax withholding related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards | (96 | ) |  | (560 | )
Stock options exercised | 4,169 |  |  | 969 |
Excess tax benefits from equity compensation | 295 |  |  | 53 |
Net cash used in financing activities | (2,072 | ) |  | (70,559 | )
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash | (172 | ) |  | (216 | )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 23,920 |  |  | 1,922 |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 23,678 |  |  | 15,428 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 47,598 |  |  | $ | 17,350 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |  |  |
Interest paid | $ | 304 |  |  | $ | 361 |
Income taxes paid | 59,070 |  |  | 54,423 |
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities: |  |  |
Notes receivable issued upon sale of property and equipment | $ | 9,427 |  |  | $ | 12,701 |
Issuance of notes payable | 6,233 |  |  | — |
Change in fair value of interest rate swap | (431 | ) |  | — |
Property and equipment acquired included in accounts payable | 460 |  |  | 2,696 |
Property and equipment disposed included in other receivables | 351 |  |  | 696 |

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(1) | Credit Facilities

As of September 30, 2014, we have unsecured committed credit facilities with two banks. On September 15, 2014, we entered into an amendment to our existing credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The amended agreement includes a $175 million credit facility which will expire on May 31, 2016, and a $75 million term commitment with principal due and payable on September 15, 2019. We borrowed $75 million under the term note on September 15, 2014, and repaid the $40 million that was outstanding under the credit facility. We also have a $75 million credit facility with BMO Harris Bank N.A. which will expire May 31, 2017. Borrowings under the credit facilities and term note bear variable interest (0.7533% at September 30, 2014) based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), with interest on the five-year term note effectively fixed at 2.5% with an interest rate swap agreement.
As of September 30, 2014, we had $75 million outstanding, and as of December 31, 2013, we had $40 million outstanding under these credit facilities with banks. The $325 million of credit available under these facilities is further reduced by $32.7 million in standby letters of credit under which we are obligated. Each of the debt agreements includes, among other things, two financial covenants requiring us (i) not to exceed a maximum ratio of total debt to total capitalization and (ii) not to exceed a maximum ratio of total funded debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (as such terms are defined in each credit facility). At September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants.
At September 30, 2014, the aggregate future maturities of long-term debt by year are as follows (in thousands):

2014 | $ | — |
2015 | — |
2016 | — |
2017 | — |
2018 | — |
2019 and thereafter | 75,000 |
Total | $ | 75,000 |

The carrying amounts of our long-term debt approximate fair value due to the duration of the notes and the variable interest rates.

(2) | Income Taxes

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, there were no material changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits. We accrued interest expense of $63 thousand and $26 thousand during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively, and $185 thousand and $191 thousand during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively, excluding the reversal of accrued interest related to adjustments for the remeasurement of uncertain tax positions. Our total gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2014, is $8.9 million. If recognized, $5.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits would impact our effective tax rate. Interest of $1.8 million has been reflected as a component of the total liability. We expect no other significant increases or decreases for uncertain tax positions during the next twelve months.
We file U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as income tax returns in various states and several foreign jurisdictions. The years 2010 through 2013 are open for examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and various years are open for examination by state and foreign tax authorities. State and foreign jurisdictional statutes of limitations generally range from three to four years.

(3) | Commitments and Contingencies

As of September 30, 2014, we have committed to property and equipment purchases of approximately $155.0 million.
We are involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. At this time, management believes the ultimate resolution of these matters will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements.
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(4) | Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards. There are no differences in the numerators of our computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for any period presented.
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts).

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Net income | $ | 25,970 |  |  | $ | 21,259 |  |  | $ | 65,941 |  |  | $ | 64,610 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding | 71,837 |  |  | 72,621 |  |  | 72,198 |  |  | 72,965 |
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards | 527 |  |  | 595 |  |  | 508 |  |  | 565 |
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share | 72,364 |  |  | 73,216 |  |  | 72,706 |  |  | 73,530 |
Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 0.29 |  |  | $ | 0.91 |  |  | $ | 0.89 |
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 0.29 |  |  | $ | 0.91 |  |  | $ | 0.88 |

There were no options to purchase shares of common stock that were outstanding during the periods indicated above that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option purchase price was greater than the average market price of the common shares during the period. Performance awards are excluded from the calculation of dilutive potential common shares until the threshold performance conditions have been satisfied.

(5) | Equity Compensation

The Werner Enterprises, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Plan (the "Equity Plan"), approved by the Company's shareholders, provides for grants to employees and non-employee directors of the Company in the form of nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and units ("restricted awards"), performance stock and units ("performance awards"), and stock appreciation rights. The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors determines the terms of each award, including the type, recipients, number of shares subject to and vesting conditions of each award. No awards of stock appreciation rights have been issued under the Equity Plan to date. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be awarded under the Equity Plan is 20,000,000 shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be awarded to any one person in any one calendar year under the Equity Plan is 500,000. As of September 30, 2014, there were 7,415,544 shares available for granting additional awards.
We apply the fair value method of accounting for equity compensation awards granted under our Equity Plan. Equity compensation expense is included in salaries, wages and benefits within the Consolidated Statements of Income. For performance awards, we accrue compensation expense for the estimated number of shares expected to be issued using the most current information available at the date of the financial statements. If the performance goals are not met, no compensation expense will be recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense will be reversed. As of September 30, 2014, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested equity compensation awards was approximately $8.1 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.
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The following table summarizes the equity compensation expense and related income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands):

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Stock options: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax compensation expense | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | 90 |  |  | $ | 198 |
Tax benefit | 12 |  |  | 24 |  |  | 36 |  |  | 76 |
Stock option expense, net of tax | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | 43 |  |  | $ | 54 |  |  | $ | 122 |
Restricted awards: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax compensation expense | $ | 1,022 |  |  | $ | 1,173 |  |  | $ | 3,097 |  |  | $ | 3,631 |
Tax benefit | 393 |  |  | 421 |  |  | 1,228 |  |  | 1,398 |
Restricted award expense, net of tax | $ | 629 |  |  | $ | 752 |  |  | $ | 1,869 |  |  | $ | 2,233 |
Performance awards: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax compensation expense | $ | 468 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,185 |  |  | $ | — |
Tax benefit | 179 |  |  | — |  |  | 468 |  |  | — |
Performance award expense, net of tax | $ | 289 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 717 |  |  | $ | — |

We do not have a formal policy for issuing shares upon an exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted and performance awards. Such shares are generally issued from treasury stock. From time to time, we repurchase shares of our common stock, the timing and amount of which depends on market and other factors. Historically, the shares acquired from such repurchases have provided us with sufficient quantities of stock to issue for equity compensation. Based on current treasury stock levels, we do not expect to repurchase additional shares specifically for equity compensation during 2014.
Stock Options
Stock options are granted at prices equal to the market value of the common stock on the date the option award is granted. Option awards currently outstanding become exercisable in installments from 24 to 72 months after the date of grant. The options are exercisable over a period not to exceed ten years, one day from the date of grant.
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

| Number of Options (in thousands) |  | Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) |  | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at beginning of period | 653 |  |  | $ | 17.85 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (235 | ) |  | $ | 17.75 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (3 | ) |  | $ | 21.15 |  |  |  |  |
Expired | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at end of period | 415 |  |  | $ | 17.89 |  |  | 3.33 |  | $ | 3,036 |
Exercisable at end of period | 335 |  |  | $ | 17.40 |  |  | 2.76 |  | $ | 2,611 |

We did not grant any stock options during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013. The fair value of stock option grants is estimated using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $6 thousand and $0.1 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively, and $2.0 million and $0.3 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively.
Restricted Awards
Restricted stock entitles the holder to shares of common stock when the award vests. Restricted stock units entitle the holder to a combination of cash or stock equal to the value of common stock when the unit vests. The value of these shares may fluctuate according to market conditions and other factors. Restricted awards currently outstanding vest over periods ranging from 12 to
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84 months from the grant date of the award. The restricted awards do not confer any voting or dividend rights to recipients until such shares vest and do not have any post-vesting sales restrictions.
The following table summarizes restricted award activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

| Number of Restricted Awards (in thousands) |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ($)
Nonvested at beginning of period | 698 |  |  | $ | 21.04 |
Granted | 10 |  |  | $ | 25.26 |
Vested | (12 | ) |  | $ | 23.31 |
Forfeited | (3 | ) |  | $ | 23.48 |
Nonvested at end of period | 693 |  |  | $ | 21.14 |

We granted 10,000 shares of restricted stock during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and did not grant any shares of restricted stock during the three-month period ended September 30, 2014 and the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013. We estimate the fair value of restricted awards based upon the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated future dividends because the awards are not entitled to receive dividends prior to vesting. Our estimate of future dividends is based on the most recent quarterly dividend rate at the time of grant, adjusted for any known future changes in the dividend rate. Cash settled restricted stock units are recorded as a liability within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are adjusted to fair value each reporting period. The present value of estimated future dividends for the 2014 grants was calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions:

Dividends per share (quarterly amounts) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.05 |
Risk-free interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5 | %

The total fair value of previously granted restricted awards vested during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and was $1.0 million and $1.5 million for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively. We withheld shares based on the closing stock price on the vesting date to settle the employees' minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes. Total cash remitted for the employees' tax obligations to the relevant taxing authorities is reflected as a financing activity within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and the shares withheld to satisfy the minimum tax withholding obligations were recorded as treasury stock.
Performance Awards
In February 2014, we granted performance awards. Performance awards entitle the recipient to shares of common stock upon attainment of performance criteria as pre-established by the Compensation Committee. Performance awards currently outstanding vest, subject to continued employment, over periods ranging from 12 to 60 months from the grant date of the award. The performance awards do not confer any voting or dividend rights to recipients until such shares vest and do not have any post-vesting sales restrictions.
The following table summarizes performance award activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

| Number of Performance Awards (in thousands) |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ($)
Nonvested at beginning of period | — |  |  | $ | — |
Granted | 183 |  |  | $ | 25.06 |
Vested | — |  |  | $ | — |
Forfeited | — |  |  | $ | — |
Nonvested at end of period | 183 |  |  | $ | 25.06 |

The 2014 performance awards are earned based upon the level of attainment by the Company of specified performance objectives related to earnings per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, as established by the Compensation Committee. The number of shares which are ultimately earned will range from 0 percent to 133 percent of the target number based on the level of attainment of the performance objectives. We estimate the fair value of performance awards based upon the market
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price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated future dividends because the awards are not entitled to receive dividends prior to vesting. Our estimate of future dividends is based on the most recent quarterly dividend rate at the time of grant, adjusted for any known future changes in the dividend rate. The present value of estimated future dividends for the 2014 grant was calculated using the following assumptions:

Dividends per share (quarterly amounts) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.05 |
Risk-free interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5 | %

(6) | Segment Information

We have two reportable segments – Truckload Transportation Services (“Truckload”) and Value Added Services (“VAS”).
The Truckload segment consists of two operating units, One-Way Truckload and Specialized Services, that are aggregated because they have similar economic characteristics and meet the other aggregation criteria described in the accounting guidance for segment reporting. One-Way Truckload is comprised of the following operating fleets: (i) the regional short-haul (“Regional”) fleet transports a variety of consumer nondurable products and other commodities in truckload quantities within geographic regions across the United States using dry van trailers; (ii) the medium-to-long-haul van (“Van”) fleet provides comparable truckload van service over irregular routes; and (iii) the expedited (“Expedited”) fleet provides time-sensitive truckload services utilizing driver teams. Specialized Services provides truckload services dedicated to a specific customer, generally for a retail distribution center or manufacturing facility, including services for products requiring specialized trailers such as flatbed or temperature-controlled trailers. Revenues for the Truckload segment include a small amount of non-trucking revenues which consist primarily of the portion of shipments delivered to or from Mexico where we utilize a third-party capacity provider.
The VAS segment generates the majority of our non-trucking revenues through four operating units that provide non-trucking services to our customers. These four VAS operating units are as follows: (i) truck brokerage (“Brokerage”) uses contracted carriers to complete customer shipments; (ii) freight management (“Freight Management”) offers a full range of single-source logistics management services and solutions; (iii) the intermodal (“Intermodal”) unit offers rail transportation through alliances with rail and drayage providers as an alternative to truck transportation; and (iv) Werner Global Logistics international (“WGL”) provides complete management of global shipments from origin to destination using a combination of air, ocean, truck and rail transportation modes.
We generate other revenues from transportation-related activities such as third-party equipment maintenance and equipment leasing and other business activities. None of these operations meets the quantitative reporting thresholds. As a result, these operations are grouped in “Other” in the table below. “Corporate” includes revenues and expenses that are incidental to our activities and are not attributable to any of our operating segments. We do not prepare separate balance sheets by segment and, as a result, assets are not separately identifiable by segment. Inter-segment eliminations in the table below represent transactions between reporting segments that are eliminated in consolidation.
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The following table summarizes our segment information (in thousands):

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Truckload Transportation Services | $ | 428,619 |  |  | $ | 412,673 |  |  | $ | 1,261,194 |  |  | $ | 1,234,442 |
Value Added Services | 106,490 |  |  | 96,455 |  |  | 292,145 |  |  | 270,150 |
Other | 16,868 |  |  | 3,368 |  |  | 33,115 |  |  | 7,495 |
Corporate | 688 |  |  | 1,021 |  |  | 2,075 |  |  | 2,667 |
Subtotal | 552,665 |  |  | 513,517 |  |  | 1,588,529 |  |  | 1,514,754 |
Inter-segment eliminations | (704 | ) |  | (1,789 | ) |  | (2,426 | ) |  | (3,491 | )
Total | $ | 551,961 |  |  | $ | 511,728 |  |  | $ | 1,586,103 |  |  | $ | 1,511,263 |
Operating Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Truckload Transportation Services | $ | 39,138 |  |  | $ | 27,101 |  |  | $ | 98,238 |  |  | $ | 85,158 |
Value Added Services | 1,022 |  |  | 4,193 |  |  | 5,132 |  |  | 12,295 |
Other | 404 |  |  | 949 |  |  | 1,245 |  |  | 3,477 |
Corporate | 1,126 |  |  | 340 |  |  | 2,846 |  |  | 2,707 |
Total | $ | 41,690 |  |  | $ | 32,583 |  |  | $ | 107,461 |  |  | $ | 103,637 |

(7) | Derivative Financial Instrument

In the normal course of business the Company is subject to risk from adverse fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates and commodity prices. The Company manages its risks for interest rate changes through use of an interest rate swap. At September 30, 2014, the Company had one swap outstanding, which matures in September 2019, with a notional value of $75.0 million and a fair value loss of $431 thousand. The counterparty to this contract is a major financial institution. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes and has no derivative financial instruments to reduce its exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
The Company's objective in managing exposure to interest rate risk is to limit the impact on earnings and cash flow. The extent to which the Company uses such instruments is dependent on its access to these contracts in the financial markets and its success using other methods.
The Company's outstanding derivative financial instrument is recognized in the balance sheet at fair value. The effect on earnings from recognizing the fair value of this derivative financial instrument depends on its intended use, its hedge designation, and its effectiveness in offsetting changes in the fair value of the exposure it is hedging. Changes in the fair value of the instrument designated to reduce or eliminate adverse fluctuations in the fair values of recognized assets and liabilities and unrecognized firm commitments are reported currently in earnings along with changes in the fair values of the hedged items. Changes in the effective portion of the fair value of the instrument used to reduce or eliminate adverse fluctuations in cash flows of anticipated or forecasted transactions is reported in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income tax effects. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings when the related hedged items affect earnings or the anticipated transactions are no longer probable. Amounts reported in earnings are classified consistent with the item being hedged.
The interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedging instrument. As such, the Company formally designated and documented, at inception, the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure, the risk management objective, and the manner in which effectiveness of the hedge will be assessed. The Company formally assesses, both at inception and at each reporting period thereafter, whether the derivative financial instrument is effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the related underlying exposure. All changes in fair value of outstanding derivatives in cash flow hedges, except any ineffective portion, are recorded in other comprehensive income until earnings are impacted by the hedged transaction. Classification of the gain or loss in the Consolidated Statements of Income upon release from comprehensive income is the same as that of the underlying exposure. Any ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the instruments is recognized immediately in earnings.
The Company discontinues the use of hedge accounting prospectively when (1) the derivative instrument is no longer effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the underlying hedged item; (2) the derivative instrument expires, is sold, terminated, or exercised; or (3) designating the derivative instrument as a hedge is no longer appropriate.
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Should the Company discontinue hedge accounting because it is no longer probable that an anticipated transaction will occur in the originally expected period, or within an additional two-month period thereafter, changes to fair value accumulated in other comprehensive income are recognized immediately in earnings.
FASB ASC 815-10 requires companies to recognize the derivative instrument as an asset or a liability at fair value in the statement of financial position. Fair value of the derivative instrument is required to be measured under the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance, which establishes a hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). Level 1 inputs use quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap is based on Level 2 inputs.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (the “MD&A”) summarizes the financial statements from management’s perspective with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors that may affect actual results. The MD&A is organized in the following sections:

• | Overview

• | Results of Operations

• | Liquidity and Capital Resources

• | Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

• | Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

• | Regulations

• | Critical Accounting Policies

• | Accounting Standards

The MD&A should be read in conjunction with our 2013 Form 10-K.
Overview:
We have two reportable segments, Truckload Transportation Services ("Truckload") and Value Added Services ("VAS"), and we operate in the truckload and logistics sectors of the transportation industry. In the truckload sector, we focus on transporting consumer nondurable products that generally ship more consistently throughout the year. In the logistics sector, besides managing transportation requirements for individual customers, we provide additional sources of truck capacity, alternative modes of transportation, a global delivery network and systems analysis to optimize transportation needs. Our success depends on our ability to efficiently and effectively manage our resources in the delivery of truckload transportation and logistics services to our customers. Resource requirements vary with customer demand, which may be subject to seasonal or general economic conditions. Our ability to adapt to changes in customer transportation requirements is essential to efficiently deploy resources and make capital investments in tractors and trailers (with respect to our Truckload segment) or obtain qualified third-party capacity at a reasonable price (with respect to our VAS segment). Although our business volume is not highly concentrated, we may also be affected by our customers’ financial failures or loss of customer business.
Revenues for our Truckload segment operating units (One-Way Truckload and Specialized Services) are typically generated on a per-mile basis and also include revenues such as stop charges, loading and unloading charges, equipment detention charges and equipment repositioning charges. To mitigate our risk to fuel price increases, we recover from our customers additional fuel surcharges that generally recoup a majority of the increased fuel costs; however, we cannot assure that current recovery levels will continue in future periods. Because fuel surcharge revenues fluctuate in response to changes in fuel costs, we identify them separately and exclude them from the statistical calculations to provide a more meaningful comparison between periods. The key statistics used to evaluate trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge, are (i) average revenues per tractor per week, (ii) average percentage of empty miles (miles without trailer cargo), (iii) average trip length (in loaded miles) and (iv) average number of tractors in service. General economic conditions, seasonal trucking industry freight patterns and industry capacity are important factors that impact these statistics. Our Truckload segment also generates a small amount of revenues categorized as non-trucking revenues, related to shipments delivered to or from Mexico where the Truckload segment utilizes a third-party capacity provider. We exclude such revenues from the statistical calculations.
Our most significant resource requirements are company drivers, independent contractors, tractors and trailers. Independent contractors supply their own tractors and drivers and are responsible for their operating expenses. Our financial results are affected by company driver and independent contractor availability and the markets for new and used revenue equipment. We are self-insured for a significant portion of bodily injury, property damage and cargo claims; workers’ compensation claims; and associate health claims (supplemented by premium-based insurance coverage above certain dollar levels). For that reason, our financial results may also be affected by driver safety, medical costs, weather, legal and regulatory environments and insurance coverage costs to protect against catastrophic losses.
The operating ratio is a common industry measure used to evaluate our profitability and that of our Truckload segment operating fleets. The operating ratio consists of operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues. The most significant variable expenses that impact the Truckload segment are driver salaries and benefits, fuel, fuel taxes (included in taxes and licenses expense), payments to independent contractors (included in rent and purchased transportation expense), supplies and maintenance and insurance and claims. As discussed further in the comparison of operating results for third quarter 2014 to third quarter 2013, several industry-wide issues have caused, and could continue to cause, costs to increase in future periods. These issues include shortages of drivers or independent contractors, changing fuel prices, higher new truck and trailer purchase prices and compliance with new or proposed regulations. Our main fixed costs include depreciation expense for tractors and trailers and equipment licensing fees (included in taxes and licenses expense). The Truckload segment requires substantial cash expenditures
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for tractor and trailer purchases. We fund these purchases with net cash from operations and financing available under our existing credit facilities, as management deems necessary.
We provide non-trucking services primarily through the four operating units within our VAS segment (Brokerage, Freight Management, Intermodal and WGL). Unlike our Truckload segment, the VAS segment is less asset-intensive and is instead dependent upon qualified associates, information systems and qualified third-party capacity providers. The largest expense item related to the VAS segment is the cost of purchased transportation we pay to third-party capacity providers. This expense item is recorded as rent and purchased transportation expense. Other operating expenses consist primarily of salaries, wages and benefits. We evaluate the VAS segment's financial performance by reviewing the gross margin percentage (revenues less rent and purchased transportation expenses expressed as a percentage of revenues) and the operating income percentage. The gross margin percentage can be impacted by the rates charged to customers and the costs of securing third-party capacity. We generally do not have contracted long-term rates for the cost of third-party capacity, and we cannot assure that our operating results will not be adversely impacted in the future if our ability to obtain qualified third-party capacity providers changes or the rates of such providers increase.
Results of Operations:
The following table sets forth the Consolidated Statements of Income in dollars and as a percentage of total operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items compared to the prior year.

| Three Months Ended (3ME) September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended (9ME) September 30, |  | Percentage Change in Dollar Amounts
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 3ME | 9ME
(Amounts in thousands) | $ | % |  | $ | % |  | $ | % |  | $ | % |  | % | %
Operating revenues | $ | 551,961 |  | 100.0 |  | $ | 511,728 |  | 100.0 |  |  | $ | 1,586,103 |  | 100.0 |  |  | $ | 1,511,263 |  | 100.0 |  |  | 7.9 | % | 5.0 | %
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Salaries, wages and benefits | 149,206 |  | 27.0 |  | 137,834 |  | 26.9 |  |  | 428,425 |  | 27.0 |  |  | 406,175 |  | 26.9 |  |  | 8.3 | % | 5.5 | %
Fuel | 86,820 |  | 15.7 |  | 92,890 |  | 18.2 |  |  | 270,026 |  | 17.0 |  |  | 279,874 |  | 18.5 |  |  | (6.5 | )% | (3.5 | )%
Supplies and maintenance | 48,527 |  | 8.8 |  | 46,538 |  | 9.1 |  |  | 140,268 |  | 8.8 |  |  | 133,600 |  | 8.8 |  |  | 4.3 | % | 5.0 | %
Taxes and licenses | 21,420 |  | 3.9 |  | 21,548 |  | 4.2 |  |  | 63,563 |  | 4.0 |  |  | 64,758 |  | 4.3 |  |  | (0.6 | )% | (1.8 | )%
Insurance and claims | 19,789 |  | 3.6 |  | 16,714 |  | 3.3 |  |  | 59,175 |  | 3.7 |  |  | 53,835 |  | 3.6 |  |  | 18.4 | % | 9.9 | %
Depreciation | 44,182 |  | 8.0 |  | 42,612 |  | 8.3 |  |  | 131,878 |  | 8.3 |  |  | 127,310 |  | 8.4 |  |  | 3.7 | % | 3.6 | %
Rent and purchased transportation | 133,893 |  | 24.2 |  | 117,651 |  | 23.0 |  |  | 373,778 |  | 23.6 |  |  | 339,029 |  | 22.4 |  |  | 13.8 | % | 10.2 | %
Communications and utilities | 3,689 |  | 0.7 |  | 3,754 |  | 0.7 |  |  | 10,597 |  | 0.7 |  |  | 10,083 |  | 0.7 |  |  | (1.7 | )% | 5.1 | %
Other | 2,745 |  | 0.5 |  | (396 | ) | (0.1 | ) |  | 932 |  | 0.1 |  |  | (7,038 | ) | (0.5 | ) |  | 793.2 | % | 113.2 | %
Total operating expenses | 510,271 |  | 92.4 |  | 479,145 |  | 93.6 |  |  | 1,478,642 |  | 93.2 |  |  | 1,407,626 |  | 93.1 |  |  | 6.5 | % | 5.0 | %
Operating income | 41,690 |  | 7.6 |  | 32,583 |  | 6.4 |  |  | 107,461 |  | 6.8 |  |  | 103,637 |  | 6.9 |  |  | 28.0 | % | 3.7 | %
Total other expense (income) | (431 | ) | — |  | (523 | ) | (0.1 | ) |  | (1,557 | ) | (0.1 | ) |  | (1,420 | ) | (0.1 | ) |  | 17.6 | % | (9.6 | )%
Income before income taxes | 42,121 |  | 7.6 |  | 33,106 |  | 6.5 |  |  | 109,018 |  | 6.9 |  |  | 105,057 |  | 7.0 |  |  | 27.2 | % | 3.8 | %
Income taxes | 16,151 |  | 2.9 |  | 11,847 |  | 2.3 |  |  | 43,077 |  | 2.7 |  |  | 40,447 |  | 2.7 |  |  | 36.3 | % | 6.5 | %
Net income | $ | 25,970 |  | 4.7 |  | $ | 21,259 |  | 4.2 |  |  | $ | 65,941 |  | 4.2 |  |  | $ | 64,610 |  | 4.3 |  |  | 22.2 | % | 2.1 | %

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The following tables set forth the operating revenues, operating expenses and operating income for the Truckload segment, as well as certain statistical data regarding our Truckload segment operations for the periods indicated.

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Truckload Transportation Services (amounts in thousands) | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | %
Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge | $ | 334,520 |  |  |  |  | $ | 321,664 |  |  |  |  | $ | 978,067 |  |  |  |  | $ | 955,064 |  |  |
Trucking fuel surcharge revenues | 88,805 |  |  |  |  | 87,562 |  |  |  |  | 268,563 |  |  |  |  | 267,721 |  |  |
Non-trucking and other operating revenues | 5,294 |  |  |  |  | 3,447 |  |  |  |  | 14,564 |  |  |  |  | 11,657 |  |  |
Operating revenues | 428,619 |  |  | 100.0 |  | 412,673 |  |  | 100.0 |  | 1,261,194 |  |  | 100.0 |  | 1,234,442 |  |  | 100.0
Operating expenses | 389,481 |  |  | 90.9 |  | 385,572 |  |  | 93.4 |  | 1,162,956 |  |  | 92.2 |  | 1,149,284 |  |  | 93.1
Operating income | $ | 39,138 |  |  | 9.1 |  | $ | 27,101 |  |  | 6.6 |  | $ | 98,238 |  |  | 7.8 |  | $ | 85,158 |  |  | 6.9

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  |
Truckload Transportation Services | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | % Change |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | % Change
Operating ratio, net of fuel surcharge revenues | 88.5 | % |  | 91.7 | % |  |  |  | 90.1 | % |  | 91.2 | % |  |
Average revenues per tractor per week (1) | $ | 3,690 |  |  | $ | 3,436 |  |  | 7.4 | % |  | $ | 3,577 |  |  | $ | 3,418 |  |  | 4.6 | %
Average trip length in miles (loaded) | 475 |  |  | 445 |  |  | 6.7 | % |  | 469 |  |  | 450 |  |  | 4.2 | %
Average percentage of empty miles (2) | 12.04 | % |  | 12.31 | % |  | (2.2 | )% |  | 12.05 | % |  | 12.76 | % |  | (5.6 | )%
Average tractors in service | 6,974 |  |  | 7,200 |  |  | (3.1 | )% |  | 7,011 |  |  | 7,164 |  |  | (2.1 | )%
Total trailers (at quarter end) | 22,005 |  |  | 22,055 |  |  |  |  | 22,005 |  |  | 22,055 |  |  |
Total tractors (at quarter end): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Company | 6,395 |  |  | 6,565 |  |  |  |  | 6,395 |  |  | 6,565 |  |  |
Independent contractor | 665 |  |  | 680 |  |  |  |  | 665 |  |  | 680 |  |  |
Total tractors | 7,060 |  |  | 7,245 |  |  |  |  | 7,060 |  |  | 7,245 |  |  |

(1) | Net of fuel surcharge revenues.

(2) | “Empty” refers to miles without trailer cargo.

The following tables set forth the VAS segment’s revenues, rent and purchased transportation expense, gross margin, other operating expenses (primarily salaries, wages and benefits expense) and operating income, as well as certain statistical data regarding the VAS segment's shipments and average revenues (excluding logistics fee revenue) per shipment for the periods indicated.

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Value Added Services (amounts in thousands) | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | % |  | $ |  | %
Operating revenues | $ | 106,490 |  |  | 100.0 |  | $ | 96,455 |  |  | 100.0 |  | $ | 292,145 |  |  | 100.0 |  | $ | 270,150 |  |  | 100.0
Rent and purchased transportation expense | 93,762 |  |  | 88.0 |  | 81,958 |  |  | 85.0 |  | 253,525 |  |  | 86.8 |  | 227,410 |  |  | 84.2
Gross margin | 12,728 |  |  | 12.0 |  | 14,497 |  |  | 15.0 |  | 38,620 |  |  | 13.2 |  | 42,740 |  |  | 15.8
Other operating expenses | 11,706 |  |  | 11.0 |  | 10,304 |  |  | 10.7 |  | 33,488 |  |  | 11.4 |  | 30,445 |  |  | 11.2
Operating income | $ | 1,022 |  |  | 1.0 |  | $ | 4,193 |  |  | 4.3 |  | $ | 5,132 |  |  | 1.8 |  | $ | 12,295 |  |  | 4.6

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| Three Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  |
Value Added Services | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | % Change |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | % Change
Total VAS shipments | 74,579 |  |  | 71,210 |  |  | 4.7 | % |  | 211,531 |  |  | 205,959 |  |  | 2.7 | %
Less: Non-committed shipments to Truckload segment | 19,004 |  |  | 19,196 |  |  | (1.0 | )% |  | 55,664 |  |  | 58,553 |  |  | (4.9 | )%
Net VAS shipments | 55,575 |  |  | 52,014 |  |  | 6.8 | % |  | 155,867 |  |  | 147,406 |  |  | 5.7 | %
Average revenue per shipment | $ | 1,753 |  |  | $ | 1,645 |  |  | 6.6 | % |  | $ | 1,723 |  |  | $ | 1,651 |  |  | 4.4 | %
Average tractors in service | 50 |  |  | 46 |  |  |  |  | 48 |  |  | 44 |  |  |
Total trailers (at quarter end) | 1,750 |  |  | 1,715 |  |  |  |  | 1,750 |  |  | 1,715 |  |  |
Total tractors (at quarter end) | 55 |  |  | 50 |  |  |  |  | 55 |  |  | 50 |  |  |

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased 7.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the same period of the prior year. When comparing third quarter 2014 to third quarter 2013, Truckload segment revenues increased $15.9 million, or 3.9%, and VAS revenues increased $10.0 million, or 10.4%.
Within the Truckload segment, freight demand continued to be strong in the third quarter 2014, as it was in second quarter 2014. Freight demand (as measured by our daily morning ratio of loads available to trucks available in our One-Way Truckload network) showed consistent strength, and we were overbooked (more available freight than available trucks at the beginning of each day) throughout third quarter 2014. The freight market dynamics began showing year-over-year improvement for the Company in mid-November 2013, and that favorable trend has continued for the last eleven months, including October 2014. A tight capacity market combined with a gradually firming economy were the primary contributing factors. We believe that truck capacity is being challenged by an increasingly competitive driver market, trucking company failures and heightened regulatory cost increases for truck ownership and safety; thus, we expect this favorable demand trend relative to constrained supply will continue.
Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge, increased 4.0% due to an increase in average revenues per tractor per week, partially offset by a decrease in the average number of tractors in service. Average revenues per tractor per week, net of fuel surcharge, increased 7.4% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. We continue to focus on securing driver friendly, highly productive freight and improved freight selection by using our proprietary freight optimization system, which enabled us to raise our average miles per truck by 5.3% and further reduce our empty miles percentage by 2.2% compared to third quarter 2013. Average revenues per total mile, net of fuel surcharge, increased 2.0% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. Several factors had a positive impact on our average revenues per tractor per week and profitability, while at the same time these factors reduced the percentage increase in our reported revenue per total mile. Our average trip length increased by 6.7% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013, and longer length of haul shipments generally have a lower rate per mile due to productivity benefits. Noting the improved freight market in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013, during third quarter 2014 we accepted less brokerage freight (in which rates are inclusive of fuel) and instead supported our customers with additional capacity priced with a base rate per mile and a fuel surcharge per mile. Finally, customer changes in fuel surcharge programs had a neutral impact on profitability but an adverse effect on reported revenue per total mile, net of fuel surcharge. A few large customers modified their fuel surcharge programs to a "zero peg" in the past 12 months, which shifted revenues from base rates to fuel surcharges.
We believe that we made good progress implementing sustainable rate increases with our customers during third quarter 2014. We expect to continue these efforts as we move forward and work to recoup the cost increases associated with more expensive equipment, a shrinking supply of qualified drivers and an increasingly challenging regulatory environment.
The average number of tractors in service in the Truckload segment decreased 3.1% to 6,974 in third quarter 2014 from 7,200 in third quarter 2013, a decrease of 226 tractors. We ended third quarter 2014 with 7,060 tractors in the Truckload segment (3,655 in our Specialized Services unit and 3,405 in our One-Way Truckload unit), an increase of 25 trucks from the end of second quarter 2014. During July and the first half of August, our driver and truck counts declined from June. We increased pay by varying percentage amounts for many drivers in certain fleets within our One-Way Truckload unit in mid-August 2014. We also increased driver pay for multiple Dedicated fleets over the last several months. Following these changes, our driver recruiting and retention metrics improved in the last half of third quarter 2014. We cannot predict whether future driver shortages, if any, will adversely affect our ability to maintain our fleet size. If such a driver market shortage were to occur, it could result in a fleet size reduction, and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
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Trucking fuel surcharge revenues represent collections from customers for the increase in fuel and fuel-related expenses, including the fuel component of our independent contractor cost (recorded as rent and purchased transportation expense) and fuel taxes (recorded in taxes and licenses expense), when diesel fuel prices rise. Conversely, when fuel prices decrease, fuel surcharge revenues decrease. These revenues increased 1.4% to $88.8 million in third quarter 2014 from $87.6 million in third quarter 2013 because of higher miles in third quarter 2014 and the impact of the less brokerage freight and zero peg fuel surcharge items described on page 18, which more than offset the per-mile decline due to lower fuel prices. To lessen the effect of fluctuating fuel prices on our margins, we collect fuel surcharge revenues from our customers for the cost of diesel fuel and taxes in excess of specified base fuel price levels according to terms in our customer contracts. Fuel surcharge rates generally adjust weekly based on an independent U.S. Department of Energy fuel price survey which is released every Monday. Our fuel surcharge programs are designed to (i) recoup higher fuel costs from customers when fuel prices rise and (ii) provide customers with the benefit of lower fuel costs when fuel prices decline. These programs generally enable us to recover a majority, but not all, of the fuel price increases. The remaining portion is generally not recoverable because it results from empty and out-of-route miles (which are not billable to customers) and truck idle time. Fuel prices that change rapidly in short time periods also impact our recovery because the surcharge rate in most programs only changes once per week.
VAS revenues are generated by its four operating units and exclude revenues for full truckload shipments transferred to the Truckload segment, which are recorded as trucking revenues by the Truckload segment. VAS also recorded revenue and brokered freight expense of $0.7 million in third quarter 2014 and $1.8 million in third quarter 2013 for Intermodal drayage movements performed by the Truckload segment (also recorded as trucking revenue by the Truckload segment), and these transactions between reporting segments are eliminated in consolidation. VAS revenues increased 10.4% to $106.5 million in third quarter 2014 from $96.5 million in third quarter 2013, resulting from growth in Brokerage and Werner Global Logistics revenues. VAS gross margin dollars decreased 12.2% to $12.7 million in third quarter 2014 from $14.5 million for the same period in 2013, and its gross margin percentage declined to 12.0% in third quarter 2014 from 15.0% in third quarter 2013. Operating income was impacted by a lower gross margin percentage for contractual business due to rising third-party carrier costs, as capacity was tighter during third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. In addition, the gross margin percentage continues to be impacted negatively by the start-up of a large customer during second quarter 2014. Gross margins for this customer are being impacted by regional carrier capacity issues that are currently being addressed with the customer. The VAS gross margin percentage improved sequentially from July to September 2014.
Operating Expenses
Our operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) was 92.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 93.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Expense items that impacted the overall operating ratio are described on the following pages. The tables on pages 15 through 17 show the Consolidated Statements of Income in dollars and as a percentage of total operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items compared to the same quarter of the prior year, as well as the operating ratios, operating margins, and certain statistical information for our two reportable segments, Truckload and VAS.
Salaries, wages and benefits increased $11.4 million, or 8.3%, in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and increased 0.1% as a percentage of operating revenues to 27.0%. The higher dollar amount of salaries, wages and benefits expense was due primarily to higher driver and non-driver salaries and fringe benefits. When evaluated on a per-mile basis, driver and non-driver salaries, wages and benefits increased as well, which we primarily attribute to higher driver pay. In mid-August 2014, we increased pay by varying percentage amounts for many drivers within our One-Way Truckload unit. Additionally, over the last several months, we increased driver pay in multiple Dedicated fleets, almost always after obtaining rate increases from the related Dedicated customers. Non-driver salaries, wages and benefits in the non-trucking VAS segment increased 3.5%, and net VAS shipments managed by VAS personnel increased by 6.8%.
We renewed our workers' compensation insurance coverage for the policy year beginning April 1, 2014. Our coverage levels are the same as the prior policy year. We continue to maintain a self-insurance retention of $1.0 million per claim. Our workers’ compensation insurance premiums for the policy year beginning April 2014 were similar to those for the previous policy year.
The driver recruiting and retention market was very difficult during third quarter 2014. We believe that a declining number of, and increased competition for, driver training school graduates, a gradually declining national unemployment rate and job competition from the housing construction, manufacturing and hydraulic fracturing markets were all contributing factors. Following our mid-August pay changes, our driver recruiting and retention metrics improved. However, we expect that competition for drivers will remain high in the coming months. We are unable to predict whether we will experience future driver shortages. If such a shortage were to occur and additional driver pay rate increases became necessary to attract and retain drivers, our results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that we could not obtain corresponding freight rate increases.
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Fuel decreased $6.1 million or 6.5% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and decreased 2.5% as a percentage of operating revenues due to (i) lower average diesel fuel prices and (ii) increased fuel efficiency as measured by miles per gallon ("mpg"). Average diesel fuel prices were 20 cents per gallon lower in third quarter 2014 than in third quarter 2013. These decreases were partially offset by higher company truck miles.
We continue to employ measures to improve our fuel mpg such as (i) limiting truck engine idle time, (ii) optimizing the speed, weight and specifications of our equipment and (iii) implementing mpg-enhancing equipment changes to our fleet including new trucks with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) 2010 compliant engines, more aerodynamic truck features, idle reduction systems, tire inflation systems and trailer skirts to reduce our fuel gallons purchased. However, fuel savings from mpg improvement is offset by higher depreciation expense and the additional cost of diesel exhaust fluid (required in tractors with engines that meet the 2010 EPA emission standards). Although our fuel management programs require significant capital investment and research and development, we intend to continue these and other environmentally conscious initiatives, including our active participation as an EPA SmartWay Transport Partner. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a national voluntary program developed by the EPA and freight industry representatives to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
For October 2014, the average diesel fuel price per gallon was approximately 35 cents lower than the average diesel fuel price per gallon in the same period of 2013 and approximately 34 cents lower than in fourth quarter 2013.
Shortages of fuel, increases in fuel prices and petroleum product rationing can have a materially adverse effect on our operations and profitability. We are unable to predict whether fuel price levels will increase or decrease in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges will be collected from customers. As of September 30, 2014, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
Supplies and maintenance increased $2.0 million or 4.3% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 but decreased 0.3% as a percentage of operating revenues. Increased driver advertising and other driver related expenses and higher company driver miles in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 were primarily responsible for the increase in supplies and maintenance. The average age of our company truck fleet was 2.3 years at the end of third quarter 2014 and third quarter 2013 and was 2.4 years at the end of second quarter 2014.
Taxes and licenses decreased $0.1 million or 0.6% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and decreased 0.3% as a percentage of operating revenues. The decrease resulted from improved mpg despite driving more miles in third quarter 2014 than in third quarter 2013.
Insurance and claims increased $3.1 million or 18.4% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and increased 0.3% as a percentage of operating revenues. The increase in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 was primarily the result of a higher average cost per claim for small dollar claims that occurred during the quarter and higher costs related to large dollar liability claims. The majority of our insurance and claims expense results from our claim experience and claim development under our self-insurance program; the remainder results from insurance premiums for claims in excess of our self-insured limits. We renewed our liability insurance policies on August 1, 2014 and continue to be responsible for the first $2.0 million per claim with an annual $8.0 million aggregate for claims between $2.0 million and $5.0 million and an annual aggregate of $5.0 million for claims in excess of $5.0 million and less than $10.0 million. We maintain liability insurance coverage with insurance carriers substantially in excess of the $10.0 million per claim. Our liability and cargo insurance premiums for the policy year that began August 1, 2014 are slightly lower than premiums for the previous policy year on a per-mile basis.
Depreciation expense increased $1.6 million or 3.7% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 but decreased 0.3% as a percentage of operating revenues. This increase was due primarily to the higher cost of new trucks purchased compared to the cost of used trucks that were sold over the past 12 months. In addition, the purchase of new trailers over the past 12 months to replace older used trailers which were fully depreciated also contributed to the increase in depreciation expense. These increases were partially offset by lower depreciation on auxiliary power units that were sold with the older used trucks and not replaced.
Depreciation expense was historically affected by two changes to engine emissions standards imposed by the EPA that became effective in October 2002 and in January 2007, resulting in increased truck purchase costs. We began to take delivery of trucks with these 2007-standard engines in first quarter 2008 to replace older trucks in our fleet. A final set of more rigorous EPA-mandated emissions standards became effective for all new engines manufactured after January 1, 2010. Trucks with 2010-standard engines have a higher purchase price than trucks manufactured to meet the 2007 standards, but the 2010-standard engines are more fuel efficient. In 2014, we continue to purchase trucks with 2010-standard engines to replace older trucks that we sell or trade. By the end of 2014, we expect nearly all company trucks will have engines that comply with the 2010 emissions standards. Depreciation expense increased in third quarter 2014 due to higher prices for these new trucks and is expected to increase further as we continue to replace tractors with 2007-standard engines.
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Rent and purchased transportation expense increased $16.2 million or 13.8% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and increased 1.2% as a percentage of operating revenues. Rent and purchased transportation expense consists mostly of payments to third-party capacity providers in the VAS segment and other non-trucking operations and payments to independent contractors in the Truckload segment. The payments to third-party capacity providers generally vary depending on changes in the volume of services generated by the VAS segment. VAS rent and purchased transportation expense increased $11.8 million and as a percentage of VAS revenues increased to 88.0% in third quarter 2014 from 85.0% in third quarter 2013. This increase was due primarily to higher third party carrier costs as capacity was tighter during third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. In addition, the gross margin percentage continues to be impacted negatively by the start-up of a large customer during second quarter 2014. Gross margins for this customer are being impacted by regional carrier capacity issues that are currently being addressed with the customer. The VAS gross margin percentage improved sequentially from July to September 2014.
Rent and purchased transportation for the Truckload segment increased $2.8 million in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. This increase is due primarily to higher third-party capacity provider costs for shipments delivered to or from Mexico because of volume increases and a higher average independent contractor pay per mile in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013. In mid-August, we increased the per-mile settlement rate for certain owner-operators. Independent contractor miles as a percentage of total miles were 11.8% in third quarter 2014 compared to 12.4% in third quarter 2013.
Challenging operating conditions continue to make independent contractor recruitment and retention difficult. Such conditions include inflationary cost increases that are the responsibility of independent contractors and a shortage of financing available to independent contractors for equipment purchases. We have historically been able to add company tractors and recruit additional company drivers to offset any decrease in the number of independent contractors. If a shortage of independent contractors and company drivers occurs, further increases in per-mile settlement rates (for independent contractors) and driver pay rates (for company drivers) may become necessary to attract and retain these drivers. This could negatively affect our results of operations to the extent that we would not be able to obtain corresponding freight rate increases.
Communication and utilities decreased $0.1 million or 1.7% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and remained at 0.7% as a percentage of operating revenues. This slight decrease is primarily due to slightly lower communication costs in third quarter 2014.
Other operating expenses increased $3.1 million in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and increased 0.6% as a percentage of operating revenues. Gains on sales of assets (primarily used trucks and trailers) are reflected as a reduction of other operating expenses and are reported net of sales-related expenses (which include costs to prepare the equipment for sale). Gains on sales of assets increased to $4.5 million in third quarter 2014 from $2.7 million in third quarter 2013. We sold more trucks and trailers in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013, and we realized higher average gains per truck and trailer sold in the 2014 quarter. Other operating expenses, including bad debt expense, professional fees and software expense, were higher in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense (income) increased $0.1 million or 17.6% in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013 and increased 0.1% as a percentage of operating revenues. Interest income net of interest expense remained flat in third quarter 2014 compared to third quarter 2013, and other-non-operating expenses were slightly higher.
Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate (income taxes expressed as a percentage of income before income taxes) increased to 38.3% for third quarter 2014 from 35.8% for third quarter 2013. The income tax rate for third quarter 2014 included certain state tax refunds for prior periods, and the lower income tax rate in third quarter 2013 is attributed to favorable tax adjustments for the remeasurement of uncertain tax positions. The Company expects its fourth quarter 2014 effective income tax rate to be approximately 40.3%.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased 5.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the same period of the prior year. In the Truckload segment, trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge, increased 2.4% due primarily to a 4.6% increase in average revenues per tractor per week, partially offset by a 2.1% decrease in the average number of tractors in service. Average revenues per total mile, net of fuel surcharge, increased 2.4% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, and average monthly miles per tractor increased by 2.2%. Fuel surcharge revenues for the Truckload segment increased 0.3% from $267.7 million in the 2013 year-to-date period to $268.6 million in the 2014 year-to-date period, despite lower average fuel prices in 2014. We attribute the increase in fuel surcharge revenues to higher miles in 2014, as well as the effects of accepting
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less freight from brokers and customer changes to fuel surcharge programs. VAS revenues increased 8.1%, from $270.2 million in the first nine months of 2013 to $292.1 million in the same 2014 period. The increases occurred in all VAS operating units.
Operating Expenses
Our operating ratio (operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues) was 93.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 93.1% for the same period of 2013. Expense items that impacted the overall operating ratio are described on the following pages. The tables on pages 15 through 17 show the Consolidated Statements of Income in dollars and as a percentage of total operating revenues and the percentage increase or decrease in the dollar amounts of those items compared to the same period of the prior year, as well as the operating ratios, operating margins, and certain statistical information for our two reportable segments, Truckload and VAS.
Salaries, wages and benefits increased $22.3 million or 5.5% in the 2014 year-to-date period and increased 0.1% as a percentage of operating revenues. The higher dollar amount of salaries, wages, and benefits expense was due primarily to (i) higher driver pay, including discretionary pay items, in a more competitive driver market, and (ii) higher health insurance costs in the first nine months of 2014. Non-driver salaries, wages and benefits in the non-trucking VAS segment increased 1.1% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. VAS handled 2.7% more shipments, including those transferred to the Truckload segment, and the net shipments retained by VAS increased by 5.7%.
Fuel decreased $9.8 million or 3.5% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and decreased 1.5% as a percentage of operating revenues. The decrease resulted from (i) lower average diesel fuel prices, (ii) improved mpg and (iii) fewer company truck miles driven, including the effect of network design changes that reduced empty miles. Average diesel fuel prices were 6 cents lower in the first nine months of 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013.
Supplies and maintenance expense increased $6.7 million or 5.0% in the 2014 year-to-date period compared to the same 2013 period and remained flat as a percentage of operating revenues. Severe weather conditions in first quarter 2014 contributed to the increase in this expense category, causing higher tractor repair and towing costs. Driver advertising and other driver related expenses in 2014 compared to 2013 were also higher.
Taxes and licenses decreased $1.2 million or 1.8% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and decreased 0.3% as a percentage of operating revenues. The decrease resulted from driving fewer miles and from improved fuel mpg in the year-to-date 2014 period and the resulting decrease in fuel taxes associated with fewer gallons purchased.
Insurance and claims increased $5.3 million or 9.9% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased 0.1% as a percentage of operating revenues due primarily to higher expense on new claims, especially during the severe winter weather in first quarter 2014, partially offset by a reduction in reserves for prior period claims (favorable development) in 2014 compared to unfavorable development in 2013, both of which related to smaller dollar liability claims.
Depreciation increased $4.6 million or 3.6% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 but decreased 0.1% as a percentage of operating revenues. The increase was due primarily to higher tractor and trailer depreciation resulting from the higher cost of new equipment and replacing fully-depreciated trailers, offset partially by lower depreciation expense on auxiliary power units that were sold with the older used trucks and not replaced.
Rent and purchased transportation expense increased $34.7 million or 10.2% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased 1.2% as a percentage of operating revenues. Rent and purchased transportation for the Truckload segment was $6.2 million higher because of (i) the shift from salaries, wages and benefits expense and several other expense categories to rent and purchased transportation expense because of the increase in independent contractor miles as a percentage of total miles, (ii) higher third-party capacity provider costs for shipments delivered to or from Mexico and (iii) higher average independent contractor settlement rates per mile. Independent contractor miles as a percentage of total miles were 12.3% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to 12.1% during the same period of 2013. VAS rent and purchased transportation expense increased $26.1 million and increased from 84.2% of VAS revenues in the 2013 period to 86.8% in the 2014 period. Rent and purchased transportation expense for the VAS segment increased in response to higher VAS revenues and was higher as a percentage of VAS revenues because third party capacity was tighter in the 2014 period.
Communications and utilities expense increased $0.5 million or 5.1% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and did not change as a percentage of operating revenues due to the use of a new driver navigation program and higher telephone costs.
Other operating expenses increased $8.0 million or 113.2% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased 0.6% as a percentage of operating revenues. Gains on sales of assets (primarily used trucks and trailers) increased to $14.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $12.7 million in the nine months ended September
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30, 2013. In the 2014 year-to-date period, we sold more trucks and trailers compared to the 2013 year-to-date period but realized lower average gains per truck sold. The 2014 year-to-date period also included a $1.6 million gain from the sale of real estate, while the 2013 year-to-date period included a $1.1 million gain from the sale of real estate. Bad debt expense and professional fees were higher in the 2014 year-to-date period when compared to the same 2013 period.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense (income) decreased $0.1 million or 9.6% in the 2014 year-to-date period and did not change as a percentage of revenues. Interest income net of interest expense increased $0.3 million year over year.
Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate (income taxes expressed as a percentage of income before income taxes) increased to 39.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from 38.5% for the same period in 2013. The higher income tax rate in 2014 is attributed to lower projected employment tax credits in 2014 as well as favorable tax adjustments for the remeasurement of uncertain tax positions in the 2013 period. The 2014 rate also reflected certain state tax refunds for prior periods.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we generated cash flow from operations of $165.2 million, a 3% decrease ($5.9 million) in cash flows compared to the same nine-month period a year ago. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities resulted primarily from a $7.0 million decrease in cash flows related to accounts receivable, a $4 million increase in income tax payments and a $3.7 million decrease in cash flows related to insurance, claims and other long-term accruals that was partially offset by a $10.5 million increase in accounts payable. We were able to make net capital expenditures, pay dividends and repurchase company stock with the net cash provided by operating activities and existing cash balances, supplemented by net borrowings under our credit facilities.
Net cash used in investing activities increased to $139.0 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 from $98.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013. Net property additions (primarily revenue equipment) were $146.8 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, compared to $106.5 million during the same period of 2013. This increase occurred as we continued to lower the average age of our tractor fleet during the third quarter 2014. As of September 30, 2014, we were committed to property and equipment purchases of approximately $155.0 million. We currently expect our net capital expenditures (primarily revenue equipment) in 2014 to be in the range of $210.0 million to $230.0 million, compared to net capital expenditures in 2013 of $151.9 million. We intend to fund these net capital expenditures through cash flow from operations and financing available under our existing credit facilities, as management deems necessary.
Net financing activities used $2.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $70.6 million during the same period in 2013. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, we repaid long-term debt totaling $40.0 million and borrowed $75.0 million of long-term debt. Our outstanding debt at September 30, 2014, was $75.0 million. During the same period in 2013, we repaid short-term and long-term debt totaling $50.0 million and borrowed $10.0 million of long-term debt. We paid dividends of $10.9 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, and $11.0 million in the same period in 2013. Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, also included common stock repurchases of 1,200,000 shares at a cost of $30.6 million compared to 821,091 shares at a cost of $20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. From time to time, the Company has repurchased, and may continue to repurchase, shares of the Company’s common stock. The timing and amount of such purchases depend upon stock market conditions and other factors. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had purchased 3,062,291 shares pursuant to our current Board of Directors repurchase authorization and had 4,937,709 shares remaining available for repurchase.
Management believes our financial position at September 30, 2014 is strong. As of September 30, 2014, we had $47.6 million of cash and cash equivalents and $804.5 million of stockholders’ equity. Cash is invested primarily in government portfolio money market funds. On September 15, 2014, we amended our existing credit agreement with Well Fargo Bank, N.A., to add an unsecured five-year term commitment not to exceed a principal amount of $75 million, which increased our total borrowing capacity with Wells Fargo from $175.0 million to $250.0 million. As of September 30, 2014, we had a total of $325.0 million of credit available pursuant to two credit facilities, of which we had borrowed $75.0 million. The remaining $250.0 million of credit available under these facilities is reduced by the $32.7 million in stand-by letters of credit under which we are obligated. These stand-by letters of credit are primarily required as security for insurance policies. Based on our strong financial position, management does not foresee any significant barriers to obtaining sufficient financing, if necessary.
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Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments:
The following tables set forth our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of September 30, 2014.
Payments Due by Period

(Amounts in millions) | Total |  | Less than 1 year |  | 1-3 years |  | 3-5 years |  | More than 5 years |  | Period Unknown
Contractual Obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | $ | 8.9 |  |  | $ | 0.1 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 8.8 |
Long-term debt including current maturities | 75.0 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 75.0 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Interest payments on debt | 9.4 |  |  | 1.9 |  |  | 3.8 |  |  | 3.7 |  |  | — |  |  |
Property and equipment purchase commitments | 155.0 |  |  | 155.0 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Operating leases | 1.0 |  |  | 1.0 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other obligations | 6.2 |  |  | 3.1 |  |  | 3.1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 255.5 |  |  | $ | 161.1 |  |  | $ | 6.9 |  |  | $ | 78.7 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 8.8 |
Other Commercial Commitments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unused lines of credit | $ | 217.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 217.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Stand-by letters of credit | 32.7 |  |  | 32.7 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total commercial commitments | $ | 250.0 |  |  | $ | 32.7 |  |  | $ | 217.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Total obligations | $ | 505.5 |  |  | $ | 193.8 |  |  | $ | 224.2 |  |  | $ | 78.7 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 8.8 |

We have unsecured committed credit facilities with two banks. On September 15, 2014, we entered into an amendment to our existing credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The amended agreement includes a $175 million four-year credit facility which will expire on May 31, 2016, and a $75 million term commitment with principal due and payable on September 15, 2019. We borrowed $75 million under the term note on September 15, 2014, and repaid the $40 million that was outstanding under the credit facility. We also have a $75 million five-year credit facility with BMO Harris Bank N.A. which will expire May 31, 2017. Borrowings under the credit facilities and term note bear variable interest (0.7533% at September 30, 2014) based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), with interest on the five-year term note effectively fixed at 2.5% with an interest rate swap agreement. Interest payments on debt are based on the debt balance and interest rate at September 30, 2014. The credit available under these facilities is further reduced by the amount of stand-by letters of credit under which we are obligated. The stand-by letters of credit are primarily required for insurance policies. The unused lines of credit are available to us in the event we need financing for the replacement of our fleet or for other significant capital expenditures. Management believes our financial position is strong, and we therefore expect that we could obtain additional financing, if necessary. Property and equipment purchase commitments relate to committed equipment expenditures, primarily for revenue equipment. As of September 30, 2014, we had recorded an $8.9 million liability for unrecognized tax benefits. We expect $0.1 million to be settled within the next twelve months and are unable to reasonably determine when the $8.8 million categorized as “period unknown” will be settled.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements:
We began leasing certain tractors under non-cancelable operating leases in May 2011. Our future payment obligation under these leases at September 30, 2014 was approximately $1.0 million.
Regulations:
Item 1 of Part I of our 2013 Form 10-K includes a discussion of pending proposed regulations that may have an effect on our operations if they become adopted and effective as proposed. Except as described below, there have been no material changes in the status of these proposed regulations previously disclosed in the 2013 Form 10-K.
In March 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") issued its formal proposal regarding the mandatory implementation and use of electronic logging devices ("ELDs") by nearly all carriers to enhance the monitoring and enforcement of the driver HOS rules. The comment period related to this proposal ended in June 2014, and a final rule is scheduled to be issued in early 2015. As proposed, the new regulations would become effective two years after the final rule is issued. We are the recognized industry leader for electronic logging of driver hours as we proactively adopted a paperless log system in 1996 that was subsequently approved for our use by the FMCSA in 1998. We believe the proposed rules will not have a significant effect on our operations and profitability.
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Critical Accounting Policies:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the (i) reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and (ii) reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Information regarding our Critical Accounting Policies can be found in our 2013 Form 10-K. Together with the effects of the matters described there, these factors may significantly impact our results of operations from period to period. The most significant accounting policies and estimates that affect our financial statements include the following:

• | Selections of estimated useful lives and salvage values for purposes of depreciating tractors and trailers.

• | Impairment of long-lived assets.

• | Estimates of accrued liabilities for insurance and claims for liability and physical damage losses and workers’ compensation.

• | Policies for revenue recognition.

• | Accounting for income taxes.

• | Allowance for doubtful accounts.

We periodically evaluate these policies and estimates as events and circumstances change. There have been no material changes to these critical accounting policies and estimates from those discussed in our 2013 Form 10-K.
Accounting Standards:
In the descriptions under “New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted” and “Accounting Standards Updates Not Yet Effective” that follow, references in quotations identify guidance and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) relating to the topics and subtopics (and their descriptive titles, as appropriate) of the Accounting Standards Codification™ of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
We did not adopt any new accounting standards during third quarter 2014.
Accounting Standards Updates Not Yet Effective
On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Management has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risk from changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk
The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations attributed to changes in the level of global oil production, refining capacity, seasonality, weather and other market factors. Historically, we have recovered a majority, but not all, of fuel price increases from customers in the form of fuel surcharges. We implemented customer fuel surcharge programs with most of our customers to offset much of the higher fuel cost per gallon. However, we do not recover all of the fuel cost increase through these surcharge programs. We cannot predict the extent to which fuel prices will increase or decrease in the future or the extent to which fuel surcharges could be collected. As of September 30, 2014, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We conduct business in several foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada, China and Australia. To date, most foreign revenues are denominated in U.S. Dollars, and we receive payment for foreign freight services primarily in U.S. Dollars to reduce direct foreign currency risk. Assets and liabilities maintained by a foreign subsidiary company in the local currency are subject to foreign exchange gains or losses. Foreign currency translation gains and losses primarily relate to changes in the value of revenue
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equipment owned by a subsidiary in Mexico, whose functional currency is the Peso. Foreign currency translation losses were $1.0 million for third quarter 2014 and foreign currency translation gains were $49 thousand for third quarter 2013 and were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Interest Rate Risk
We manage interest rate exposure through a mix of variable rate debt and interest rate swap agreements.We had $75.0 million of debt outstanding at September 30, 2014, for which the interest rate is effectively fixed at 2.5% through September 2019 with an interest rate swap agreement. Interest rates on our unused credit facilities are based on the LIBOR. Increases in interest rates could impact our annual interest expense on future borrowings. As of September 30, 2014, we had one effective interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $75 million to reduce our exposure to interest rate increases.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level in enabling us to record, process, summarize and report information required to be included in our periodic filings with the SEC within the required time period and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that no changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We have confidence in our internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the internal controls or disclosure procedures and controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect that resource constraints exist, and the benefits of controls must be evaluated relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, misstatements and instances of fraud, if any, have been prevented or detected.
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
On October 15, 2007, we announced that on October 11, 2007 our Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares of our common stock that the Company is authorized to repurchase. Under this authorization, the Company is permitted to repurchase an additional 8,000,000 shares. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had purchased 3,062,291 shares pursuant to this authorization and had 4,937,709 shares remaining available for repurchase. The Company may purchase shares from time to time depending on market, economic and other factors. The authorization will continue unless withdrawn by the Board of Directors.
The following table summarizes our common stock repurchases during the third quarter of 2014 made pursuant to this authorization. The Company did not purchase any shares during the third quarter of 2014 other than pursuant to this authorization. All stock repurchases were made by the Company or on its behalf and not by any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined by Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1-31, 2014 | 100,000 |  | $ | 25.25 |  | 100,000 |  | 5,037,709 |
August 1-31, 2014 | 69,222 |  | $ | 24.60 |  | 69,222 |  | 4,968,487 |
September 1-30, 2014 | 30,778 |  | $ | 24.58 |  | 30,778 |  | 4,937,709 |
Total | 200,000 |  | $ | 24.92 |  | 200,000 |  | 4,937,709 |

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Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibit No. |  | Exhibit |  | Incorporated by Reference to:
3(i) |  | Restated Articles of Incorporation of Werner Enterprises, Inc. |  | Exhibit 3(i) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007
3(ii) |  | Revised and Restated By-Laws of Werner Enterprises, Inc. |  | Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007
11 |  | Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings |  | See Note 4 (Earnings Per Share) in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) under Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014
31.1 |  | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |  | Filed herewith
31.2 |  | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |  | Filed herewith
32.1 |  | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |  | Furnished herewith
32.2 |  | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |  | Furnished herewith
101.INS |  | XBRL Instance Document |  | Filed herewith
101.SCH |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |  | Filed herewith
101.CAL |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |  | Filed herewith
101.LAB |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |  | Filed herewith
101.PRE |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |  | Filed herewith
101.DEF |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |  | Filed herewith

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

| WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Date: November 3, 2014 | By: |  | /s/ John J. Steele
|  |  | John J. Steele
|  |  | Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: November 3, 2014 | By: |  | /s/ James L. Johnson
|  |  | James L. Johnson
|  |  | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Secretary

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