Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

15.	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Other than the lawsuit discussed below, the Company is not a party to any pending legal proceedings which management believes to be material to the Consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Company maintains liability insurance against risks arising in the normal course of its business.

We are a defendant in a collective-action lawsuit which was re-filed on

December

2016,

in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The plaintiffs, who are former drivers who worked for the Company during the period of

December

2013,

through the date of the filing, allege unsubstantiated violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Arkansas Minimum Wage Law. The plaintiffs, through their attorneys, have filed causes of action alleging “Failure to pay minimum wage during orientation, failure to pay minimum wage to team drivers after initial orientation, failure to pay minimum wage to solo-drivers after initial orientation, failure to pay for compensable travel time, Comdata card fees, unlawful deductions, and breach of contract.” The plaintiffs are seeking actual and liquidated damages to include court costs and legal fees. The lawsuit is currently under preliminary review. We cannot reasonably estimate, at this time, the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that

may

arise from this lawsuit. Management has determined that any losses under this claim will not be covered by existing insurance policies.

During

2014,

the Company’s subsidiaries entered into operating leases for the lease of

421

trucks. Revenue equipment held under operating leases is not carried on our balance sheet and the respective lease payments are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations as a component of the Rents and purchased transportation category.

Leases for revenue equipment and certain premises under non-cancellable operating leases expire at various dates through

2021.

Future minimum lease payments related to these non-cancellable leases at

December

31,

2016

are as follows:

		(in thousands)

2017	$	5,912
2018		431
2019		67
2020		36
2021 and thereafter		6

Total	$	6,452

Total rental expense, net of amounts reimbursed, for the years ended

December

31,

2016,

2015

and

2014

was approximately

$10,294,000,

$12,057,000,

and

$6,239,000,

respectively.