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ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
ACCOUNTING POLICIES | ACCOUNTING POLICIES Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short‑Term Investments: Short‑term investments that have a maturity of ninety days or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. Variable rate demand notes are classified as cash equivalents, as the investments may be redeemed on a daily basis with the original issuer. Short‑term investments consist of FDIC‑insured certificates of deposit with original maturities ranging from ninety‑one days to one year. Interest and dividends related to cash, cash equivalents, and short‑term investments are included in interest and dividend income. Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short‑Term Investments: Cash, cash equivalents, and short‑term investments that are pledged as collateral, primarily for the Company’s outstanding letters of credit, are classified as restricted. The Company’s letters of credit are primarily issued in support of certain workers’ compensation and third‑party casualty claims liabilities in various states in which the Company is self‑insured. The restricted cash, cash equivalents, and short‑term investments are classified consistent with the classification of the liabilities to which they relate and in accordance with the duration of the letters of credit. Restricted cash, cash equivalents, and short‑term investments consisted of cash deposits at December 31, 2013 and cash deposits and certificates of deposit at December 31, 2012. Changes in the amount of restricted funds are reflected as financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Concentration of Credit Risk: The Company is potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk related to the portion of its unrestricted and restricted cash, cash equivalents, and short‑term investments which is not federally insured, as further discussed in Note C. The Company’s services are provided primarily to customers throughout the United States and, to a lesser extent, Canada. On a consolidated basis, the Company had no single customer representing more than 5% of its revenues in 2013 and 2012 or more than 5% of its accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral. Historically, credit losses have been within management’s expectations. Allowances: The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts, revenue adjustments, and deferred tax assets. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts represents an estimate of potential accounts receivable write‑offs associated with recognized revenue based on historical trends and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. The Company writes off accounts receivable when accounts are turned over to a collection agency or when determined to be uncollectible. Receivables written off are charged against the allowance. The Company’s allowance for revenue adjustments represents an estimate of potential adjustments associated with recognized revenue based upon historical trends and current information regarding trends and business changes. The Company’s valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is determined by evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the benefits of its deferred tax assets will be realized through future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years, projected future taxable income, or tax‑planning strategies. Property, Plant and Equipment, Including Repairs and Maintenance: The Company utilizes tractors and trailers in its Freight Transportation operations. Tractors and trailers are commonly referred to as “revenue equipment” in the transportation business. Purchases of property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. For financial reporting purposes, property, plant and equipment is depreciated principally by the straight‑line method, using the following lives: structures – primarily 15 to 20 years; revenue equipment – 3 to 12 years; and other equipment – 2 to 15 years. For tax reporting purposes, accelerated depreciation or cost recovery methods are used. Gains and losses on asset sales are reflected in the year of disposal. Exchanges of nonmonetary assets that have commercial substance are measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. Tires purchased with revenue equipment are capitalized as a part of the cost of such equipment, with replacement tires being expensed when placed in service. Repair and maintenance costs associated with property, plant and equipment are expensed as incurred if the costs do not extend the useful life of the asset. If such costs do extend the useful life of the asset, the costs are capitalized and depreciated over the appropriate remaining useful life. Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, Including Web Site Development Costs: The Company capitalizes the costs of software acquired from third parties and qualifying internal computer software costs incurred during the “application development stage.” For financial reporting purposes, capitalized software costs are amortized by the straight‑line method generally over 2 to 3 years with some applications, including the acquired software of Panther, having longer lives (up to 7 years) as applicable. The amount of costs capitalized within any period is dependent on the nature of software development activities and projects in each period. Impairment Assessment of Long‑Lived Assets: The Company reviews its long‑lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and capitalized software, which are held and used in its operations, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If such an event or change in circumstances is present, the Company will estimate the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the related asset, the Company will recognize an impairment loss. The Company records impairment losses in operating income or loss. Assets to be disposed of are reclassified as assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Assets held for sale primarily represent ABF Freight’s nonoperating properties, older revenue equipment, and other equipment. Adjustments to write down assets to fair value less the amount of costs to sell are reported in operating income or loss. Assets held for sale are expected to be disposed of by selling the assets within the next 12 months. Gains and losses on property and equipment are reported in operating income or loss. Assets held for sale, which consisted primarily of older revenue equipment, of $0.4 million and $1.0 million are reported within other noncurrent assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, management was not aware of any events or circumstances indicating the Company’s long‑lived assets would not be recoverable. Asset Retirement Obligations: The Company records estimated liabilities for the cost to remove underground storage tanks, dispose of tires, and return leased real property to its original condition at the end of a lease term. The liabilities are discounted using the Company’s credit adjusted risk‑free rate. Revisions to these liabilities for such costs may occur due to changes in the estimates for fuel tank removal costs, tire disposal fees, and real property lease restoration costs; changes in estimates of the timing of incurring asset retirement costs; or changes in regulations or agreements affecting these obligations. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company’s estimated asset retirement obligations totaled $2.5 million. Goodwill and Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business combination over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The Company’s measurement of goodwill impairment involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, an estimate of the current fair values of all assets and liabilities is made to determine the amount of implied goodwill and, consequently, the amount of any goodwill impairment. Indefinite‑lived intangible assets are also not amortized but rather are evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. If the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Fair values are determined based on a discounted cash flow model, similar to the goodwill analysis. The Company’s annual impairment testing is performed as of October 1. The Company amortizes finite‑lived intangible assets over their respective estimated useful lives. Finite‑lived intangible assets are also evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In reviewing finite‑lived intangible assets for impairment, the carrying amount of the asset is compared to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If such cash flows are not sufficient to support the recorded value, an impairment loss to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value shall be recognized in operating income or loss. Income Taxes: Deferred income taxes are accounted for under the liability method, which takes into account the differences between the tax basis of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and amounts recognized for income tax purposes. Deferred income taxes relate principally to asset and liability basis differences resulting from the timing of the depreciation and cost recovery deductions and to temporary differences in the recognition of certain revenues and expenses. The Company classifies interest and penalty amounts related to income tax matters as interest expense and operating expenses, respectively. Management applies considerable judgment in determining the consolidated income tax provision, including valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is determined by evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the benefits of deferred tax assets will be realized through future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years, projected future taxable income, or tax‑planning strategies. Uncertain tax positions are then measured to determine the amounts to be recognized in the financial statements. The income tax provision and valuation allowances are complicated by complex and frequently changing rules administered in multiple jurisdictions, including U.S. federal, state, and foreign governments. Claims Liabilities: The Company is self‑insured up to certain limits for workers’ compensation, certain third‑party casualty claims, and cargo loss and damage claims. Amounts in excess of the self‑insured limits are fully insured to levels which management considers appropriate for the Company’s operations. The Company’s claims liabilities have not been discounted. Liabilities for self‑insured workers’ compensation and third‑party casualty claims are based on the case reserve amounts plus an estimate of loss development and incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims, which is developed from an independent actuarial analysis. The process of determining reserve requirements utilizes historical trends and involves an evaluation of claim frequency and severity, claims management, and other factors. Case reserves established in prior years are evaluated as loss experience develops and new information becomes available. Adjustments to previously estimated reserves are reflected in financial results in the periods in which they are made. Aggregate reserves represent an estimate of the costs of claims incurred, and it is possible that the ultimate liability may differ significantly from such estimates. The Company is entitled to recover, from insurance carriers, amounts which have been previously paid by the Company for claims above the self‑insurance retention level. These amounts are included in other accounts receivable, net of allowances for potentially unrecoverable amounts. The Company’s excess insurers for workers’ compensation claims above the self‑insured retention level for the 1993 through 2001 policy years are insolvent. For claims that are related to these excess insurers and that are not accepted by state guaranty funds, the Company has recorded an allowance for uncollectible receivables and additional liabilities for excess claims based upon available financial information. Receivables, net of related allowances, totaled $1.0 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 for workers’ compensation excess claims paid by the Company but insured by these excess insurers. Liabilities for workers’ compensation excess claims insured by, but not expected to be covered by, these excess insurers totaled $2.7 million and $1.9 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and were reported within accrued expenses. The Company develops an estimate of self‑insured cargo loss and damage claims liabilities based on historical trends and certain event‑specific information. Insurance‑Related Assessments: Liabilities for state guaranty fund assessments and other insurance‑related assessments totaled $1.0 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Management has estimated the amounts incurred using the best available information regarding premiums and guaranty assessments by state. These amounts are expected to be paid within a period not to exceed one year. The liabilities recorded have not been discounted. Long‑Term Debt: Long‑term debt consisted of a secured term loan (the “Term Loan”) outstanding under the Company’s credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), notes payable, and capital lease obligations, as further described in Note H. Leases: The Company leases, under capital and operating lease arrangements, certain facilities, revenue equipment, and certain other equipment used primarily in ABF Freight’s terminal operations. Certain of these leases contain fluctuating or escalating payments. The related rent expense is recorded on a straight‑line basis over the lease term. The cumulative excess of rent expense over rent payments is accounted for as a deferred lease obligation. For financial reporting purposes, leasehold improvements associated with assets utilized under capital or operating leases are amortized by the straight‑line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the asset’s useful life. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation expense. Obligations under the capital lease arrangements are included in long‑term debt, net of the current portion due, which is classified in current liabilities. Nonunion Defined Benefit Pension, Supplemental Benefit, and Postretirement Health Benefit Plans: The Company recognizes the funded status (the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation) of its nonunion defined benefit pension plan, supplemental benefit plan (“SBP”), and postretirement health benefit plan in the balance sheet and recognizes changes in the funded status, net of tax, in the year in which they occur as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income or loss are subsequently expensed as components of net periodic benefit cost by amortizing unrecognized net actuarial losses over the average remaining active service period of the plan participants and amortizing unrecognized prior service credits over the remaining years of service until full eligibility of the active participants at the time of the plan amendment. A corridor approach is not used for determining the amounts of net actuarial losses to be amortized. The expense and liability related to the Company’s nonunion defined benefit pension plan, SBP, and postretirement health benefit plan are measured based upon a number of assumptions and using the services of a third‑party actuary. Assumptions are made regarding expected retirement age, mortality, employee turnover, and future increases in health care costs. The assumptions with the greatest impact on the Company’s expense are the discount rate used to discount the plans’ obligations and, for the nonunion defined benefit pension plan, the expected return on plan assets and, prior to the June 30, 2013 curtailment of the nonunion defined benefit pension plan, the assumed compensation cost increase. The discount rate is determined by matching projected cash distributions with appropriate high‑quality corporate bond yields in a yield curve analysis. The Company establishes the expected long‑term rate of return on plan assets by considering the historical returns for the plan’s current investment mix and the plan investment advisor’s range of expected returns for the plan’s current investment mix. Prior to the June 30, 2013 curtailment of the nonunion defined benefit pension plan, the Company established the assumed rate of compensation increase at the measurement date by considering historical changes in compensation combined with an estimate of compensation rates for the subsequent two years. The assumptions used directly impact the net periodic benefit cost for a particular year. An actuarial gain or loss results if actual results vary from the assumptions. Actuarial gains and losses are not included in net periodic benefit cost in the period when they arise but are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income or loss and subsequently amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. The Company uses December 31 as the measurement date for its nonunion defined benefit pension plan, SBP, and postretirement health benefit plan. Plan obligations are also remeasured upon curtailment and upon settlement. The Company records quarterly pension settlement expense related to the nonunion defined benefit pension plan when qualifying distributions determined to be settlements are expected to exceed the estimated total annual service and interest cost of the plan. Benefit distributions under the SBP individually exceed the annual interest cost of the plan, and the Company records the related settlement expense when the amount of the benefit to be distributed is fixed, which is generally upon an employee’s termination of employment. Pension settlement expense for the nonunion defined benefit pension and SBP plans is presented in Note J. Revenue Recognition: Freight Transportation revenue is recognized based on relative transit time in each reporting period with expenses recognized as incurred. Freight Transportation’s bill‑by‑bill analysis is used to establish estimates of revenue in transit for recognition in the appropriate reporting period. Premium Logistics & Expedited Freight Services and Domestic & Global Transportation Management revenue is recognized based on the delivery of the shipment. Service fee revenue for the Emergency & Preventative Maintenance segment is recognized upon occurrence of the service event. Repair revenue and expenses for the Emergency & Preventative Maintenance segment are recognized at the completion of the service by third‑party vendors. Household Goods Moving Services revenue is recognized upon completion of the shipment, which is defined as delivery to the storage destination or to the customer‑designated location. Revenue, purchased transportation expense, and third‑party service expenses are reported on a gross basis for certain shipments and services where the Company utilizes a third‑party carrier for pickup, linehaul, delivery of freight, or performance of services but remains the primary obligor and assumes collection and credit risks. Comprehensive Income or Loss: Other comprehensive income or loss refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that are included in comprehensive income or loss but excluded from net income or loss. The Company reports the components of other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, by their nature and discloses the tax effect allocated to each component in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The accumulated balance of other comprehensive income or loss is displayed separately in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity and the components of the balance are reported in Note K. The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, and the significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss are disclosed, by component, in Note K. Earnings Per Share: The Company uses the two‑class method for calculating earnings per share. The calculation is based on the weighted‑average number of common shares (basic earnings per share) or common equivalent shares outstanding (diluted earnings per share) during the applicable period, and also considers the effect of participating securities such as share‑based compensation awards which are paid dividends during the vesting period. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is excluded from basic earnings per common share and included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share. Share‑Based Compensation: The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based upon the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. The restricted stock awards generally vest at the end of a five‑year period following the date of grant, except for certain awards granted to non‑employee directors that typically vest at the end of a three‑year period, subject to accelerated vesting due to death, disability, retirement, or change‑in‑control provisions. When restricted stock awards become vested, the Company issues new shares which are subsequently distributed. Dividends or dividend equivalents are paid on all restricted stock units during the vesting period. The Company recognizes the income tax benefits of dividends on share‑based payment awards as an increase in paid‑in capital. Share‑based awards are amortized to compensation expense on a straight‑line basis over the three‑year or five‑year vesting period or the period to which the recipient first becomes eligible for retirement, whichever is shorter, with vesting accelerated upon death or disability. Compensation expense reflects an estimate of shares expected to be forfeited over the service period. Estimated forfeitures, which are based on historical experience, are adjusted to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from these estimates. The Company has not granted stock options since January 2004. Stock options generally vest in equal amounts over a five‑year period and expire ten years from the date of grant. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options. The grant date fair value of stock options is estimated based on a Black‑Scholes‑Merton option pricing model that utilizes several assumptions, including expected volatility, weighted‑average life, and a risk‑free interest rate. Expected volatilities are estimated using the historical volatility of the Company’s stock, based upon the expected term of the option. The expected term of the option is derived from historical data and represents the period of time that options are estimated to be outstanding. The risk‑free interest rate for periods within the estimated life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury Strip rate in effect at the time of the grant. Fair Value Measurements: The Company discloses the fair value measurements of its financial assets and liabilities. Fair value measurements for investments held in trust for the Company’s nonunion defined benefit pension plan are also disclosed. Fair value measurements are disclosed in accordance with the following hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs of market data and market assumptions used to measure fair value are observable or unobservable:
• | Level 1 – | Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
• | Level 2 – | Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
• | Level 3 – | Unobservable inputs (Company’s market assumptions) that are significant to the valuation model.
Environmental Matters: The Company expenses environmental expenditures related to existing conditions resulting from past or current operations and from which no current or future benefit is discernible. Expenditures which extend the life of the related property or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Amounts accrued reflect management’s best estimate of the future undiscounted exposure related to identified properties based on current environmental regulations, management’s experience with similar environmental matters, and testing performed at certain sites. The estimated liability is not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers or other third parties. Exit or Disposal Activities: The Company recognizes liabilities for costs associated with exit or disposal activities when the liability is incurred. Variable Interest Entities: The Company has no investments in or known contractual arrangements with variable interest entities. Recent Accounting Pronouncements: Management believes that there is no new accounting guidance adopted but not yet effective that is relevant to the financial statements. However, there are new proposals under development by the standard setting bodies which, if and when enacted, may have a significant impact on our financial statements, including the recognition of revenue and accounting for leases.

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