EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 853816
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 853816_10-K_2021_0001193125-21-052225.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
Business
Introduction
Landstar System, Inc. was incorporated in January 1991 under the laws of the State of Delaware and has been a publicly held company since its initial public offering in March 1993. The principal executive offices of Landstar System, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries and other affiliated companies referred to herein as “Landstar” or the “Company,” unless the context otherwise requires) is located at 13410 Sutton Park Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 and its telephone number is (904) 398-9400.
The Company makes available free of charge through its website its annual report on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
current reports on Form 8-K,
proxy statements on Schedule 14A and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s website is www.landstar.com. The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains the Company’s current and periodic reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically with the SEC.
Description of Business
Landstar is a worldwide asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions. The Company offers services to its customers across multiple transportation modes, with the ability to arrange for individual shipments of freight to comprehensive third party logistics solutions to meet all of a customer’s transportation needs. Landstar provides services principally throughout the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada and Mexico, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries around the world. The Company’s services emphasize safety, information coordination and customer service and are delivered through a network of over 1,100 independent commission sales agents and approximately 79,000 third party capacity providers, primarily truck capacity providers, linked together by a series of digital technologies which are provided and coordinated by the Company. The nature of the Company’s business is such that a significant portion of its operating costs varies directly with revenue.
Landstar markets its integrated transportation management solutions primarily through independent commission sales agents and exclusively utilizes third party capacity providers to transport customers’ freight. Landstar’s independent commission sales agents enter into contractual arrangements with the Company and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive
contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Through this network of agents and capacity providers linked together by Landstar’s series of digital technologies, Landstar operates an integrated transportation management solutions business primarily throughout North America with revenue of $4.1 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year. The Company reports the results of two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment.
Transportation Logistics Segment
The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services are provided by Landstar’s “Operating Subsidiaries”: Landstar Ranger, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc., Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc., Landstar Global Logistics, Inc., Landstar Express America, Inc., Landstar Canada, Inc., and as further described below under “Truck Services
”, Landstar Metro, Landstar Servicios and Landstar Blue. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Examples of the industries serviced by the transportation logistics segment include automotive parts and assemblies, consumer durables, building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics and military equipment. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including third party logistics, small package and less-than-truckload service providers. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment. Billings for freight transportation services are typically charged to customers on a per shipment basis for the physical transportation of freight and are referred to as transportation revenue. See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for the amount of revenue from external customers, measure of profit and total assets attributable to the transportation logistics segment for the last three fiscal years.
Truck Services
. The transportation logistics segment’s truck transportation services include a full array of truckload transportation for a wide range of commodities and, to a lesser degree, less-than-truckload transportation services. A significant portion of the Company’s truckload services is priced in the spot market and delivered over irregular or non-repetitive
routes, while approximately 32% of the Company’s fiscal year 2020 truck transportation revenue was generated by BCO Independent Contractors utilizing Landstar provided trailing equipment, which frequently is used on more routine, regular routes. The Company utilizes a broad assortment of equipment, including dry and specialty vans of various sizes, unsided/platform trailers (including flatbeds, drop decks and specialty trailers) and temperature-controlled vans. Available truck transportation services also include short-to-long
haul movement of containers by truck and expedited ground and dedicated power-only truck capacity. During fiscal year 2020, revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers was 45% and 47%, respectively, of consolidated revenue. Also, during fiscal year 2020, truck transportation revenue generated via van equipment and unsided/platform trailing equipment was 66% and 32%, respectively, of truck transportation revenue and less-than-truckload revenue was 2% of truck transportation revenue. The Company’s truck services contributed 92% of consolidated revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 93% of consolidated revenue in fiscal year 2018.
On May 6, 2020, the Company formed a new subsidiary that was subsequently renamed Landstar Blue. Landstar Blue arranges truckload brokerage services while helping the Company to develop and test digital technologies and processes for the benefit of all Landstar independent commission sales agents. On June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company whose business focused on truckload brokerage services. The results of operations from Landstar Blue are presented as part of the Company’s transportations logistics segment. Revenue from Landstar Blue represented less than 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue in fiscal year 2020.
Rail Intermodal Services.
The transportation logistics segment has contracts with Class 1 domestic and Canadian railroads, certain short-line railroads and most major asset-based intermodal equipment providers, including agreements with stacktrain operators and container and trailing equipment companies. In addition, the transportation logistics segment has contracts with a vast network of local trucking companies that handle pick-up
and delivery of rail freight. These contracts provide the transportation logistics segment the ability to transport freight via rail throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The transportation logistics segment’s rail intermodal service capabilities include trailer on flat car, container on flat car, box car and railcar. The transportation logistics segment’s rail intermodal services contributed 3% of consolidated revenue in each of fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Air and Ocean Services.
The transportation logistics segment provides domestic and international air services and ocean services to its customers. The Company executes international air freight transportation as an International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) certified Indirect Air Carrier (“IAC”) and international ocean freight transportation as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (“OTI”) licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) as a non-vessel
operating common carrier (“NVOCC”) and ocean freight forwarder. Through its network of independent commission sales agents, relationships within a global network of foreign transportation intermediaries and contracts with a number of airlines and ocean lines, the
transportation logistics segment provides efficient and cost effective door-to-door
transportation to most points in the world for a vast array of cargo types such as over-sized
break bulk, consolidations, full container loads, less-than container loads and refrigerated freight. The transportation logistics segment’s air and ocean services contributed 3% of consolidated revenue in each of fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Insurance Segment
The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. (“RMCS”). The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. Revenue at the insurance segment represents reinsurance premiums from third party insurance companies that provide insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors where all or a portion of the risk of loss is ultimately borne by Signature. Revenue at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in each of fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018. See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for the amount of revenue from external customers, measure of profit and total assets attributable to the insurance segment for the last three fiscal years.
Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations
Management believes the following factors are particularly significant to the Company’s operations:
Agent Network
The Company’s primary day-to-day
contact with its customers is through its network of independent commission sales agents and, to a lesser extent, through employees of the Company. The typical Landstar independent commission sales agent maintains a relationship with a number of shippers and services these shippers utilizing the Company’s digital technologies and extensive network of third party capacity that provides various modes of transportation services to the Company. The Company provides assistance to the agents in developing additional relationships with shippers and enhancing agent and Company relationships with larger shippers through the Company’s field employees, located throughout the United States and Canada. The Operating Subsidiaries provide programs to support the agents’ operations and tools and data to assist agents in establishing pricing for freight hauled by the various modes of transportation available to the agents. It is important to note that the Operating Subsidiaries, and not the Company’s agents, contract directly with customers and generally assume the related credit risk and potential liability for freight losses or damages when the Company is providing transportation services as a motor carrier.
Management believes the Company has more independent commission sales agents than any other asset-light integrated transportation management solutions company in the United States. Landstar’s vast network of independent commission sales agent locations provides the Company regular contact with shippers at the local level and the capability to be highly responsive to shippers’ changing needs. The Company’s large network of available capacity provides independent commission sales agents with the resources needed to service both large and small shippers. Through its agent network, the Company offers smaller shippers a level of service comparable to that typically enjoyed only by larger customers. Examples include the ability to provide transportation services on short notice, multiple pick-up
and delivery points, automated information flow, access to specialized equipment, spotted van trailers and drop-and-hook
operations. While the majority of the agents in the Company’s network arrange truck transportation services for shippers, a number of the Company’s agents specialize in certain types of freight and transportation services (such as oversized or heavy loads and/or rail, air and international freight transportation). Each independent commission sales agent has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment.
The independent commission sales agents use a variety of digital technologies provided by the Company to service the requirements of shippers. For truckload services, the Company’s independent commission sales agents primarily use Landstar proprietary software which enables agents to enter available freight, dispatch capacity and process most administrative procedures and then communicate that information to Landstar and its capacity providers via the internet. The Company’s web-based
available truck information system provides a listing of available truck capacity to the Company’s independent commission sales agents. The Company also offers independent commission sales agents a variety of proprietary pricing, operational and financial tools via web or mobile applications. For modes of transportation other than truckload, the independent commission sales agents utilize both proprietary and third party information technology applications provided by the Company.
Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of revenue or net revenue, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation, or net revenue less a contractually agreed upon percentage of revenue retained by Landstar. Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue will vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and reinsurance premiums and with changes in net revenue margin, defined as net revenue divided by revenue, on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers. Commissions to agents are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
The Company had 508 and 555 agents who each generated at least $1 million in Landstar revenue (the “Million Dollar Agents”) during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. Landstar revenue from the Million Dollar Agents in the aggregate represented 92% and 93% of consolidated revenue in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Management believes that the majority of the Million Dollar Agents choose to represent the Company exclusively.
Historically, the Company has experienced very few terminations of its Million Dollar Agents, whether such terminations are initiated by the agent or the Company. Annual terminations of Million Dollar Agents have typically been less than 3% of the total number of Million Dollar Agents. In fiscal year 2020, the change in the number of Million Dollar Agents was entirely attributable to agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue per year, as the Company experienced no change in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 in the number of independent sales agents generating $5 million or more of Landstar revenue.
During fiscal year 2020, the COVID-19
pandemic impacted the number of agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue both with respect to existing agents, some of whom had difficulty operating their small businesses during the pandemic due to personal issues, staffing issues and/or customer issues, and with respect to the Company’s ability to recruit new independent sales agents to the Landstar network, given the uncertain operating environment and challenges we experienced in building personal relationships with prospective agent candidates during the pandemic.
Third Party Capacity
The Company relies exclusively on independent third parties for its hauling capacity other than for trailing equipment owned or leased by the Company and utilized primarily by the BCO Independent Contractors. These third party transportation capacity providers consist of BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, air and ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Landstar’s use of capacity provided by third parties allows it to maintain a lower level of capital investment, resulting in lower fixed costs. During fiscal year 2020, revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and railroads represented approximately 45%, 47% and 3%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenue. Collectively, revenue generated by air and ocean cargo carriers represented approximately 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue during fiscal year 2020. Historically, the gross profit margin (defined as gross profit, which is defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents, divided by revenue) generated from freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors has been greater than that from freight hauled by other third party capacity providers. However, the Company’s insurance and claims costs, depreciation costs and other operating costs are incurred primarily in support of BCO Independent Contractor capacity. In addition, as further described in the “Corporate Services” section that follows, the Company incurs significantly higher selling, general and administrative costs in support of BCO Independent Contractor capacity as compared to the other modes of transportation. Purchased transportation costs are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
BCO Independent Contractors.
Management believes the Company has the largest fleet of truckload BCO Independent Contractors in the United States. BCO Independent Contractors provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements. Each BCO Independent Contractor operates under the motor carrier operating authority issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) to Landstar’s Operating Subsidiary to which such BCO Independent Contractor provides services and has leased his or her equipment. The Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors provides marketing, operating, safety, recruiting and retention advantages to the Company.
The Company’s BCO Independent Contractors are compensated primarily based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of revenue generated by loads they haul. This percentage generally ranges from 62% to 70% where the BCO Independent Contractor provides only a tractor and 73% to 76% where the BCO Independent Contractor provides both a tractor and trailing equipment. The BCO Independent Contractor must pay substantially all of the expenses of operating his/her equipment, including driver wages and benefits, fuel, physical damage insurance, maintenance, highway use taxes and debt service, if applicable. The Company passes 100% of fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors to its BCO Independent Contractors. During fiscal year 2020, the Company billed customers $168.8 million in fuel surcharges and passed 100% of such fuel surcharges to the BCO Independent Contractors. These fuel surcharges are excluded from revenue and the cost of purchased transportation.
The Company maintains an ecosystem of digital technologies and applications through which BCO Independent Contractors can view a comprehensive listing of the Company’s available freight, allowing them to consider rate, size, origin and destination when planning trips. The Company’s digital applications also provide BCO Independent Contractors information on fueling station locations, retail fuel prices, fuel prices net of Landstar-arranged discounts and applicable state fuel tax credits, and equipment inspection site locations. The Landstar Contractors’ Advantage Purchasing Program (“LCAPP”) leverages Landstar’s purchasing power to provide discounts to eligible BCO Independent Contractors when they purchase equipment, fuel, tires and other items. In addition, Landstar Contractor Financing, Inc. provides a source of funds at competitive interest rates to the BCO Independent Contractors to purchase trailing equipment.
The number of trucks provided to the Company by BCO Independent Contractors was 10,991 at December 26, 2020, compared to 10,243 at December 28, 2019. At December 26, 2020, approximately 97% of the trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors were provided by BCO Independent Contractors who provided five or fewer trucks to the Company. The number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors fluctuates daily as a result of truck recruiting and truck terminations. More trucks were recruited in fiscal year 2020 than in fiscal year 2019 and trucks terminated were lower in fiscal year 2020 than in fiscal year 2019, resulting in an overall net increase of 748 trucks during fiscal year 2020. Landstar’s BCO Independent Contractor truck
turnover was approximately 27% in fiscal year 2020, compared to 36% in fiscal year 2019. Approximately 38% of 2020 turnover was attributable to BCO Independent Contractors who had been with the Company for less than one year. Management believes the factors that have historically favorably impacted turnover include the Company’s extensive agent network, the quantity and quality of available freight, the Company’s programs to reduce the operating costs of its BCO Independent Contractors and Landstar’s reputation for quality, service, reliability and financial strength.
In October 2020, the Company announced a new initiative in further support of its network of BCO Independent Contractors. This initiative involved the establishment of multiple field operations centers located in the United States and Canada to further support the Company’s ongoing efforts in recruiting and retaining BCO Independent Contractors. In connection with this initiative, the Company recorded commission program termination costs of $15,494,000 related to buyouts of certain incentive commission arrangements with several of its independent sales agents due to the Company’s discontinuation of a truck owner-operator recruitment and retention program formerly involving those agents.
Truck Brokerage Carriers.
At December 26, 2020, the Company maintained a database of over 69,000 approved Truck Brokerage Carriers who provide truck capacity to the Company. Truck Brokerage Carriers provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive
contractual arrangements and each operates under its own DOT-issued
motor carrier operating authority. Truck Brokerage Carriers are paid either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or, to a lesser extent, a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. The Company recruits, approves, establishes contracts with and tracks safety ratings and service records of these third party trucking companies. In addition to providing additional capacity to the Company, the use of Truck Brokerage Carriers enables the Company to pursue different types and quality of freight such as short-haul traffic, less-than-truckload and, in certain instances, lower-priced freight that generally would not be handled by the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors.
The Company maintains an ecosystem of digital technologies and applications through which Truck Brokerage Carriers can view a listing of the Company’s freight that is available to them. The Landstar Savings Plus Program leverages Landstar’s purchasing power to provide discounts to eligible Truck Brokerage Carriers when they purchase fuel and equipment and provides the Truck Brokerage Carriers with an electronic payment option.
Railroads and Air and Ocean Cargo Carriers.
The Company has contracts with Class 1 domestic and Canadian railroads, certain short-line railroads and domestic and international airlines and ocean lines. These relationships allow the Company to pursue the freight best serviced by these forms of transportation capacity. Railroads are paid either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Air cargo carriers are generally paid a negotiated rate for each load hauled. Ocean cargo carriers are generally paid contractually agreed-upon fixed rates per load. The Company also contracts with other third party capacity providers, such as air charter service providers, when required by specific customer needs.
Trailing Equipment
The Company offers its customers a large and diverse fleet of trailing equipment. The following table illustrates the mix of the trailing equipment as of December 26, 2020, either provided by the BCO Independent Contractors or owned or leased by the Company and made available primarily to BCO Independent Contractors. In general, Truck Brokerage Carriers utilize their own trailing equipment when providing transportation services on behalf of Landstar. Truck Brokerage Carrier trailing equipment is not included in the following table:
Trailers by Type
Van
13,822
Unsided/platform, including flatbeds, step decks, drop decks and low boys
3,067
Temperature-controlled
Total
17,061
Specialized services offered by the Company include those provided by a large fleet of flatbed trailers and multi-axle trailers capable of hauling extremely heavy or oversized loads. Management believes the Company, along with its network of capacity providers, offers one of the largest fleets of heavy/specialized trailing equipment in North America.
At December 26, 2020, 12,831 of the trailers available to the BCO Independent Contractors were owned by the Company and 206 were rented. In addition, at December 26, 2020, 4,024 trailers were provided by the BCO Independent Contractors. Approximately 32% of Landstar’s truck transportation revenue was generated on Landstar provided trailing equipment during fiscal year 2020.
Customers
The Company’s customer base is highly diversified and dispersed across many industries, commodities and geographic regions. The Company’s top 100 customers accounted for approximately 46% and 42%, respectively, of consolidated revenue during fiscal years 2020 and 2019. Management believes that the Company’s overall size, ecosystem of digital technologies and applications, geographic coverage, access to equipment and diverse service capability offer the Company significant competitive marketing and operating advantages. These advantages allow the Company to meet the needs of even the largest shippers. Larger shippers often consider reducing the number of authorized carriers they use in favor of a small number of “core carriers,” such as the Company, whose size and diverse service capabilities enable these core carriers to satisfy most of the shippers’ transportation needs. The Company’s national account customers include the United States Department of Defense and many of the companies included in the Fortune 500. Large shippers also use third party logistics providers (“3PLs”) to outsource the management and coordination of their transportation needs. 3PLs and other transportation companies also utilize the Company’s available transportation capacity to satisfy their obligations to their shippers. There were 12 transportation service providers, including 3PLs, included in the Company’s top 25 customers for fiscal year 2020. Management believes the Company’s network of agents and third party capacity providers allows it to efficiently attract and service smaller shippers which may not be as desirable to other large transportation providers (see above under “Agent Network”). No customer accounted for more than 4% of the Company’s 2020 revenue.
Technology
Management believes leadership in the development, operation and support of an ecosystem of digital technologies and applications is an ongoing part of providing high quality service. Landstar focuses on providing integrated transportation management solutions which emphasize customer service and information coordination among its independent commission sales agents, customers, capacity providers and employees. The Company continues to focus on identifying, purchasing or developing and implementing software applications and tools which are designed to: (i) assist Landstar independent commission sales agents in efficiently sourcing capacity, pricing transportation services and managing and analyzing the performance of the independent businesses, (ii) assist customers in meeting their transportation needs, (iii) assist third party capacity providers in identifying desirable freight opportunities and operating their independent businesses, and (iv) improve operational and administrative efficiency throughout the Company. Landstar intends to continue to improve its technologies to meet the total needs of its agents, customers and third party capacity providers and remains engaged in various multi-year projects aimed at increasing efficiencies, primarily through technology, at Landstar and across our agent and third party capacity network.
The Company’s information technology systems used in connection with its operations are located in Jacksonville, Florida and, to a lesser extent, in Rockford, Illinois. In addition, the Company utilizes several third party data centers throughout the U.S. Landstar relies, in the regular course of its business, on the proper operation of its information technology systems.
Corporate Services
The Company provides many administrative support services to its network of independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers and customers. Management believes that the mobile and digital applications purchased or developed and maintained by the Company and its administrative support services provide operational and financial advantages to its independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers and customers. These, in turn, enhance the operational and financial efficiency of all aspects of the network.
Administrative support services that provide operational and financial advantages to the network include customer contract administration, customer credit review and approvals, pricing, customer billing, accounts receivable collections, third party capacity settlement, operator and equipment safety and compliance management for our network of BCO Independent Contractors, insurance claims handling, coordination of vendor discount programs and third party capacity sourcing programs. Marketing and advertising strategies are also provided by the Company. The Company’s practices of accepting customer credit risk and paying its agents and carriers promptly provides a significant competitive advantage to the Company in comparison to less capitalized competitors.
Competition
Landstar competes primarily in the transportation and logistics services industry with truckload carriers, third party logistics companies, digital freight brokers, intermodal transportation and logistics service providers, railroads, less-than-truckload carriers and other asset-light transportation and logistics service providers. The transportation and logistics services industry is extremely competitive and fragmented.
Management believes that competition for freight transported by the Company is based on service, efficiency and freight rates, which are influenced significantly by the economic environment, particularly the amount of available transportation capacity and freight demand. Management believes that Landstar’s overall size, service offerings and availability of a wide range of equipment, together with its geographically dispersed local independent agent network, present the Company with significant competitive advantages over many transportation and logistics service providers.
Self-Insured Claims
Potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable. For periods prior to May 1, 2019, Landstar retains liability for commercial trucking claims up to $5,000,000 per occurrence and maintains various third party insurance arrangements for liabilities in excess of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention. Effective May 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022, the Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5,000,000, with an aggregate limit of $15,000,000 for each policy year, an aggregate limit of $20,000,000 for the thirty-six
month term ended April 30, 2022, and options to increase such aggregate limits for pre-established
amounts of additional premium. If aggregate losses under the Initial Excess Policy exceed either the annual aggregate limit or the aggregate limit for the three year period ending April 30, 2022, and the Company did not elect to increase such aggregate limits for a pre-established
amount of additional premium, Landstar would retain liability of up to $10,000,000 per occurrence, inclusive of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims during the remainder of the applicable policy year(s). Moreover, as a result of the Company’s aggregate loss experience since it entered into the Initial Excess Policy, the Initial Excess Policy required the Company to pay additional premium up to a pre-established
maximum amount of $3,500,000, which was provided for in insurance and claims costs for the Company’s 2020 fiscal first quarter.
The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States in recent years, the availability of such excess coverage has significantly decreased and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Effective May 1, 2020 with respect to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2021, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $14 million, or over 170%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. No assurances can be given that the availability of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims will not continue to deteriorate, that the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, will not continue to increase, nor that insurance coverage from third party insurers for excess coverage of commercial trucking claims will even be available on commercially reasonable terms at certain levels.
Further, the Company retains liability of up to $1,000,000 for each general liability claim, up to $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which such carriers maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the material unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.
Regulation
Certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are considered motor carriers and/or brokers authorized to arrange for transportation services by motor carriers which are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the “FMCSA”) and by various state agencies. The FMCSA has broad regulatory powers with respect to activities such as motor carrier operations, practices, periodic financial reporting and insurance. Subject to federal and state regulatory authorities or regulation, the Company’s capacity providers may transport most types of freight to and from any point in the United States over any route selected.
Interstate motor carrier operations are subject to safety requirements prescribed by the FMCSA. Each truck operator, whether working as a BCO Independent Contractor or for a Truck Brokerage Carrier, is required to have a commercial driver’s license and may be subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing. The FMCSA’s commercial driver’s license and drug and alcohol testing requirements have not adversely affected the Company’s ability to source the capacity necessary to meet its customers’ transportation needs. However, on January 6, 2020 the FMCSA implemented new requirements applicable to drug and alcohol testing by motor carriers. The new regulation expands motor carrier reporting requirements to include reporting of all operators who test positive and/or refuse to submit to a test as prescribed in the regulation. The new regulation also expands rules relating to the obligation of motor carriers to conduct queries to check if current or prospective operators are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle due to a positive or unresolved drug or alcohol test. The expanded reporting of positive results, or of an operator’s refusal to meet FMCSA testing requirements, to a centralized clearinghouse prescribed by FMCSA has the potential to remove operators from service that may otherwise have been undetected or unreported.
In addition, FMCSA mandated the use of electronic logging devices (“ELDs”) in certain over-the-road
commercial motor vehicles effective December 18, 2017. The FMCSA’s ELD mandate has not adversely affected the size of the Company’s fleet of BCO Independent Contractors or its ability to source truck capacity provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers.
Additionally, certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are licensed as Ocean Transportation Intermediaries by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission as non-vessel-operating
common carriers and/or as ocean freight forwarders. The Company’s air transportation activities in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation as an indirect air carrier. One of the Operating Subsidiaries is licensed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”) as a customs broker. The Company is also subject to regulations and requirements relating to safety and security promulgated by, among others, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through U.S. Customs and the Transportation Security Administration, the Canada Border Services Agency and various state and local agencies and port authorities. In addition, because the U.S. government is one of the Company’s customers, the Company must comply with and is affected by laws and regulations relating to doing business with the federal government.
The transportation industry is subject to other potential regulatory and legislative changes (such as the possibility of more stringent environmental, climate change and/or safety/security regulations, limits on vehicle weight and size and regulations relating to the health and wellness of commercial truck operators) that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices, by changing the demand for motor carrier services or the cost of providing truckload or other transportation or logistics services, or by adversely impacting the number of available commercial truck operators.
For a discussion of the risks associated with these laws and regulations, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
Seasonality
Landstar’s operations are subject to seasonal trends common to the trucking industry. Truckload volumes for the quarter ending in March are typically lower than for the quarters ending in June, September and December.
Human Capital Resources
We believe our employees are among our most important resources and are critical to our continued success. We focus significant attention on attracting and retaining talented and experienced individuals to manage and support our operations. To attract and retain top talent in our highly competitive industry, we have designed our compensation and benefits programs to provide a balanced and effective reward structure. Our short and long-term incentive programs are aligned with key business objectives and are intended to motivate strong performance. Our employees are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings/retirement plan, flexible time-off,
employer-provided life and disability insurance, our wellness program, our tuition reimbursement program, and an array of voluntary benefits designed to meet individual needs. We engage firms nationally recognized in the benefits area to objectively evaluate our programs and benchmark them against peers and other similarly situated organizations.
As of December 26, 2020, the Company and its subsidiaries employed 1,320 individuals. Three Landstar Ranger drivers (out of a Company total of approximately 10,991 drivers for BCO Independent Contractors) are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The Company considers relations with its employees to be good.
The Company has identified the following employee-focused goals:
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Create and maintain an environment in which continuous improvement is encouraged and expected by everyone within the organization;
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Engage each Landstar employee in the Company’s vision to inspire and empower entrepreneurs to succeed in the highly competitive, technology driven transportation industry; and
•
Ensure that all Landstar employees fully understand the requirements of their job and the role their job plays within Landstar.
Landstar formally monitors employee satisfaction and engagement through periodic employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. The Company also uses employee roundtable and focus group discussions as well as exit interviews to monitor engagement and satisfaction. Landstar also provides comprehensive professional development opportunities to employees at all levels. Various learning tracks include Leadership, Workplace Safety & Security, Customer Service and other core skills. Courses are delivered by Landstar’s team of Association for Talent Development (ATD) certified trainers through both on-line
and classroom settings.
At our core, Landstar is about providing opportunity to people regardless of background. We do not tolerate racism or discriminatory behavior and strongly believe that diversity and inclusion make us stronger as a company. The Company reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity for all people. The Company complies with all applicable federal and state laws pertaining to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. It is our philosophy to treat our employees and applicants fairly without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, present, past, or future service in a branch of the uniformed services of the United States, citizenship, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our management teams and all of our employees are expected to exhibit and promote honest, ethical and respectful conduct in the workplace. All of our employees must adhere to a code of ethics and employee compliance code that set standards for appropriate behavior and includes required annual training.
During 2020, to address the safety and health of our employees, BCO Independent Contractors, and independent sales agents amidst the COVID-19
pandemic, we implemented the following, among other steps:
•
Shifting the vast majority of our employees to a remote work environment;
•
Initiating regular communication to employees regarding impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures to address actual and suspected COVID-19
cases and potential exposure of our employees;
•
Establishing physical distancing procedures and providing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for employees who need to be on-site;
•
Increasing cleaning protocols at our offices;
•
Modifying work spaces with plexiglass dividers, rearranged office layouts and touchless faucets;
•
Expanding the use of virtual interactions in all aspects of our business;
•
Cancelling the annual agent convention, BCO All-Star
Celebration and various other events;
•
Instituting a pandemic relief program whereby Landstar paid an extra $50 for each load delivered by a BCO Independent Contractor with a confirmed delivery date from April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020 to both the BCO Independent Contractor hauling the load and the independent sales agent dispatching the load;
•
Providing up to $2,000 to a BCO Independent Contractor who tests positive for COVID-19
or is placed under a mandatory quarantine by a public health authority;
•
Providing paid time-off
for employees directly impacted by COVID-19,
and instructing those who are infected to stay home; and
•
Prohibiting non-essential
business travel for all employees.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Operational Risks
Increased severity or frequency of accidents and other claims or a material unfavorable development of existing claims.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Self-Insured Claims,” potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable. For periods prior to May 1, 2019, Landstar retains liability for commercial trucking claims up to $5,000,000 per occurrence and maintains various third party
insurance arrangements for liabilities in excess of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention. Effective May 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022, the Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5,000,000, with an aggregate limit of $15,000,000 for each policy year, an aggregate limit of $20,000,000 for the thirty-six
month term ended April 30, 2022, and options to increase such aggregate limits for pre-established
amounts of additional premium. If aggregate losses under the Initial Excess Policy exceed either the annual aggregate limit or the aggregate limit for the three year period ending April 30, 2022, and the Company did not elect to increase such aggregate limits for a pre-established
amount of additional premium, Landstar would retain liability of up to $10,000,000 per occurrence, inclusive of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims during the remainder of the applicable policy year(s).
The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Landstar retains liability for commercial trucking claims in excess of our coverage limits under these third party insurance arrangements. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States in recent years, the availability of such excess coverage has significantly decreased and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Effective May 1, 2020 with respect to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2021, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $14 million, or over 170%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. No assurances can be given that the availability of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims will not continue to deteriorate, that the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, will not continue to increase, nor that insurance coverage from third party insurers for excess coverage of commercial trucking claims will even be available on commercially reasonable terms at certain levels. If any claim occurrence were to exceed our excess coverage limits under our third party insurance arrangements, such claim could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s financial condition and results of operations.
Further, the Company retains liability of up to $1,000,000 for each general liability claim, up to $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which such carriers maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the material unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.
Dependence on third party insurance companies.
The Company is dependent on a limited number of third party insurance companies to provide insurance coverage in excess of its self-insured retention amounts. Historically, the Company has maintained insurance coverage for commercial trucking claims in excess of its self-insured retention, up to various maximum amounts, with a limited number of third party insurance companies. In an attempt to manage the cost of insurance and claims, the Company has historically increased or decreased the level of its financial exposure to commercial trucking claims by increasing or decreasing its level of self-insured retention based on the estimated cost differential between proposed premiums from third party insurance companies and historical and actuarially projected losses experienced by the Company at various levels of self-insured retention. Similarly, in its excess insurance layers, the Company may increase or decrease the level of its financial exposure to commercial trucking claims, including through the use of additional self-insurance as well as deductibles, aggregate loss limits, quota shares and other arrangements with third party insurance companies, based on the estimated cost differential between proposed premiums from third party insurance companies and historical and actuarially projected losses experienced by the Company at various levels of excess insurance coverage. To the extent that the third party insurance companies propose increases to their premiums for coverage of commercial trucking claims, the Company may decide to pay such increased premiums or increase its financial exposure on an aggregate, per occurrence or other basis, including by increasing the amount of its self-insured retention. In fact, in recent years, three of the largest third party insurers providing excess coverage for commercial trucking claims in the United States announced that in light of increased severity trends related to the increase in losses attributable to unfavorable verdicts, they would no longer provide such coverage. Decisions by these third party insurers to exit this line of business have had a significant negative impact on the availability and pricing of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims in the United States. No assurances can be given that other third party insurers will not also decide to exit the market as a provider of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims in the United States, which could have a further negative effect on the availability and pricing of such coverage. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that insurance coverage from third party insurers for claims in excess of the Company’s current self-insured retentions will continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms.
Dependence on independent commission sales agents.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Agent Network,” the Company markets its services primarily through independent commission sales agents. During fiscal year 2020, 508 agents generated revenue for Landstar of at least $1 million each, or in the aggregate approximately 92% of Landstar’s consolidated revenue. Landstar competes with motor carriers and other third parties for the services of these independent commission sales agents. Landstar has historically experienced very limited agent turnover in the number of its Million Dollar Agents. There can be no assurances, however, that Landstar will continue to experience very limited turnover of its Million Dollar Agents in the future. Landstar’s contracts with its agents, including its Million Dollar Agents, are typically terminable without cause upon 10 to 30 days’ notice by either party and generally contain significant but not unqualified non-compete
provisions limiting the ability of a former agent to compete with Landstar for a specified period of time post-termination, and other restrictive covenants. The loss of some of the Company’s Million Dollar Agents and/or a significant decrease in revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents could have a material adverse effect on Landstar, including its results of operations and revenue.
Dependence on third party capacity providers.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Transportation Capacity,” Landstar does not own trucks or other transportation equipment (other than trailing equipment) and relies on third party capacity providers, including BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers, to transport freight for its customers. The Company competes with motor carriers and other third parties for the services of BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. The market for qualified truck owner-operators and other third party truck capacity providers is very competitive among motor carriers and no assurances can be given that the Company will be able to maintain or expand the number of BCO Independent Contractors or other third party truck capacity providers. Additionally, the Company’s third party capacity providers other than BCO Independent Contractors can be expected, under certain circumstances, to charge higher prices to cover increased operating expenses, such as any increases in the cost of fuel, and the Company’s operating income may decline without a corresponding increase in price to the customer. A significant decrease in available capacity provided by either the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors or other third party capacity providers, or increased rates charged by other third party capacity providers that cannot be passed through to customers, could have a material adverse effect on Landstar, including its results of operations and revenue.
The coronavirus (
“
COVID-19
”
) pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on our business.
The COVID-19
pandemic has caused and continues to cause significant disruptions in the global economy, which significantly intensified in the United States in late March and continued throughout the remainder of 2020. The situation with respect to the COVID-19
pandemic continues to evolve and its effects, both short and long-term, remain unknown. Economic disruptions and other effects on the global or domestic economies caused by the COVID-19
pandemic could have a material adverse impact on the demand for our services and our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all.
In connection with the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, the Company experienced a significant decline in truckload volumes during the second quarter of 2020 compared to the corresponding period of 2019 followed by a similarly significant yet more gradual sequential increase in demand during the third and fourth quarters of 2020. This significant, rapid decrease in demand followed by the similarly significant yet more gradual increase was unprecedented in the history of the Company. The extent to which the COVID-19
pandemic impacts the Company’s results in future quarters will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the duration of the pandemic, the actions taken by federal, state and local governments in response to the pandemic, the availability and effectiveness of vaccines for COVID-19
and the length of time necessary for the economy to transition back to more normal operating conditions. These and other factors could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Moreover, the COVID-19
virus continues to spread in areas where we provide services. The Landstar network includes over 1,100 independent agent locations throughout North America where such independent agents provide shipment coordination and dispatch services, freight tracking, trailer management and numerous other operational functions. Similarly, the Landstar network includes tens of thousands of truck capacity providers who operate throughout North America without any Landstar truck terminals. Management believes the decentralized nature of our model should insulate Landstar’s freight operations in an environment where social distancing can disrupt centralized business structures. A significant disruption to our independent agent network and/or a significant decrease in available truck capacity providers due to illness or government restrictions related to the COVID-19
pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our ability to source capacity to service our customers and could have a significant impact on Landstar, including our results of operations, revenue and cash flows.
In addition, the COVID-19
pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the Mexican economy. During the Company’s 2020 fiscal year, the value of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar significantly depreciated and may continue to depreciate further. No assurances can be given regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and other factors on the Mexican economy and the value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar and could have a significant adverse impact on the financial condition and results of operations of our Mexican subsidiaries.
Disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Technology,” the Company’s information technology systems used in connection with its operations are located in Jacksonville, Florida and to a lesser extent in Rockford, Illinois. In addition, the Company utilizes several third party data centers throughout the U.S. Landstar relies, in the regular course of its business, on the proper operation of its information technology systems to link its extensive network of customers, employees, agents and third party capacity providers, including its BCO Independent Contractors. Moreover, in connection with the COVID-19
pandemic, the Company has temporarily transitioned the vast majority of its office-based employees to work-at-home
arrangements. Although the Company has redundant systems for its critical operations, any significant disruption or failure of its technology systems or those of third party data centers on which it relies could significantly disrupt the Company’s operations and impose significant costs on the Company. Moreover, it is critical that the data processed by or stored in the Company’s information technology systems or otherwise in the Company’s possession remain confidential, as it often includes confidential, proprietary and/or competitively sensitive information regarding our customers, employees, agents and third party capacity providers, key financial and operational results and statistics, and our strategic plans, including technology innovations, developments and enhancements. Cyber incidents that impact the security, availability, reliability, speed, accuracy or other proper functioning of these systems and data, including outages, computer viruses, break-ins
and similar disruptions, could have a significant impact on our operations. Accordingly, information security and the continued development and enhancement of the controls and processes designed to protect our systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for us. Although we believe that we have robust security procedures and other safeguards in place, as threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities. For example, in the first quarter of 2016, we were subject to “spear-phishing” attacks through which third parties were able to obtain personal employee data. We have undertaken a number of remedial measures in response, including enhancing our security systems and additional training for our employees. Additional incidents may occur in the future and may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. A significant incident, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware, or other damage, could interrupt or delay our operations, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers, agents and/or third party capacity providers, expose us to a risk of loss or litigation, and/or cause us to incur significant time and expense to remedy such an event, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on key vendors.
As described above under “Dependence on third party insurance companies
”
and “Disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents,
” the Company is dependent on certain vendors, including third party insurance companies, third party data center providers, third party information technology application providers and third party payment disbursement providers. Any inability to negotiate satisfactory terms with one of these key vendors or any other significant disruption to or termination of a relationship with one of these key vendors could disrupt the Company’s operations and impose significant costs on the Company.
Catastrophic loss of a Company facility.
The Company faces the risk of a catastrophic loss of the use of all or a portion of its facilities located in Jacksonville, Florida, Laredo, Texas and Rockford, Illinois due to hurricanes, flooding, tornados, other weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or otherwise. The Company’s corporate headquarters and approximately two-thirds
of the Company’s employees are located in its Jacksonville, Florida facility. In particular, a significant hurricane or similar catastrophic event that impacts the Jacksonville, Florida metropolitan area could significantly disrupt the Company’s operations and impose significant costs on the Company.
Although the Company maintains insurance covering its facilities, including business interruption insurance, the Company’s insurance may not be adequate to cover all losses that may be incurred in the event of a catastrophic loss of one of the Company’s facilities. In addition, such insurance, including business interruption insurance, could in the future become more expensive and difficult to maintain and may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Economic, Competitive and Industry Risks
Decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. trade relationships.
The transportation industry historically has experienced cyclical financial results as a result of slowdowns in economic activity, the business cycles of customers, and other economic factors beyond Landstar’s control. If a slowdown in economic activity or a downturn in the Company’s customers’ business cycles cause a reduction in the volume of freight shipped by those customers, the Company’s operating results could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, Landstar hauls a significant number of shipments that have either been imported into the United States or are destined for export from the United States. Any decision by the U.S. government to adopt actions such as a border tax on imports, an increase in customs duties or tariffs, the renegotiation of U.S. trade agreements or any other action that could have a negative impact on international trade could cause a reduction in the volume of freight shipped by many Landstar customers. Any changes in tax and trade policies in the United States and corresponding actions by other countries could adversely affect our financial performance.
Substantial industry competition.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Competition,” Landstar competes primarily in the transportation and logistics services industry. This industry is extremely competitive and fragmented. Landstar competes primarily with truckload carriers, intermodal transportation service providers, railroads, less-than-truckload carriers, third party logistics companies, digital freight brokers and other asset-light transportation and logistics service providers. Management believes that competition for the freight transported by the Company is based on service, efficiency and freight rates, which are influenced significantly by the economic environment, particularly the amount of available transportation capacity and freight demand. In recent years, the use of technology and the implementation of technology-based innovations have become increasingly important to compete within the transportation and logistics industry. In particular, management believes leadership in the development, operation and support of an ecosystem of digital technologies and applications is an ongoing part of providing high quality service. The failure of the Company to maintain or enhance its technology ecosystem in response to changing demands from customers, agents, and capacity providers could have a significant adverse impact on Landstar’s ability to compete for customers, agents and capacity providers in the transportation and logistics industry. Historically, competition has created downward pressure on freight rates. In addition, many large shippers are using third party logistics providers (“3PLs”) other than the Company to outsource the management and coordination of their transportation needs rather than directly arranging for transportation services with carriers. As noted above, there were 12 transportation service providers, including 3PLs, included in the Company’s top 25 customers for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020. Usage by large shippers of 3PLs often provides carriers, such as the Company, with a less direct relationship with the shipper and, as a result, may increase pressure on freight rates while making it more difficult for the Company to compete primarily based on service and efficiency. A decrease in freight rates could have a material adverse effect on Landstar, including its revenue and operating income.
Legal, Tax, Regulatory and Compliance Risks
Status of independent contractors.
In recent years, the topic of the classification of individuals as employees or independent contractors has gained increased attention among federal and state regulators as well as the plaintiffs’ bar. Various legislative or regulatory proposals have been introduced at the federal and state levels that may affect the classification status of individuals as independent contractors or employees for either employment tax purposes (e.g., withholding, social security, Medicare and unemployment taxes) or other benefits available to employees (most notably, workers’ compensation benefits). Recently, certain states (most prominently, California) have seen significant increased activity by tax and other regulators and numerous class action lawsuits filed against transportation companies that engage independent contractors.
There are many different tests and standards that may apply to the determination of whether a relationship is that of an independent contractor or one of employment. For example, different standards may be applied by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, state unemployment agencies, state departments of labor, state taxing authorities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state discrimination or disability benefit administrators and state workers compensation boards, among others. For federal tax purposes, most individuals are classified as employees or independent contractors based on a multi-factor “common-law”
analysis rather than any definition found in the Internal Revenue Code or Internal Revenue Service regulations. In addition, under Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978, a taxpayer that meets certain criteria may treat an individual as an independent contractor for employment tax purposes if the taxpayer has been audited without being told to treat similarly situated workers as employees, if the taxpayer has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or a court decision affirming the taxpayer’s treatment of the individual as an independent contractor, or if the taxpayer is following a long-standing recognized practice.
The Company classifies its BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents as independent contractors for all purposes, including employment tax and employee benefits. There can be no assurance that legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would change the employee/independent contractor classification of BCO Independent Contractors or independent commission sales agents doing business with the Company. On September 18, 2019, California enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 5 into law, codifying the strict “ABC” test for purposes of determining a worker’s status as an independent contractor or employee under
California law. While new in California, versions of the ABC test have existed in a number of other states over the years and have been challenged in various courts as violating the federal government’s exclusive right to regulate trucking in certain areas of law and interstate commerce. The Company continues to monitor and analyze the impact of the new law, which became effective as of January 1, 2020, including what steps may be necessary or advisable to adapt to a changing legal and regulatory environment in California. The Company has BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and independent commission sales agents who reside in and/or principally operate their business in California that could be impacted by AB 5 or similar laws, which could eventually affect our relationship with them. Additionally, the new law may have a significant impact on our Truck Brokerage Carriers based in California who utilize owner-operators to provide various types of transportation services such as drayage, regional or local delivery. Since the Company is neither incorporated nor headquartered in California and the vast majority of BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and independent commission sales agents currently doing business with the Company reside and principally operate outside of California, we do not expect AB 5 to have a material impact on Landstar’s overall network of BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and independent commission sales agents. Nevertheless, there remains significant uncertainty regarding many aspects of the new law, including how the law will be interpreted and enforced by state and local governments as well as by courts.
Potential changes, if any, that could impact the legal classification of the independent contractor relationship between the Company and BCO Independent Contractors or independent commission sales agents could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s operating model. Further, the costs associated with any such potential changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition if Landstar were unable to pass through to its customers an increase in price corresponding to such increased costs. Moreover, class action litigation in this area against other transportation companies has resulted in significant damage awards and/or monetary settlements for workers who have been allegedly misclassified as independent contractors and the legal and other related expenses associated with litigating these cases can be substantial.
Regulatory and legislative changes.
As noted above in Item 1, “Business - Factors Significant to the Company’s Operations - Regulation,” certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are motor carriers and/or property brokers authorized to arrange for transportation services by motor carriers which are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and by various state agencies. Certain of the Operating Subsidiaries are licensed as Ocean Transportation Intermediaries by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission as non-vessel-operating
common carriers and/or as ocean freight forwarders. The Company’s air transportation activities in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation as an indirect air carrier. One of the Company’s subsidiaries is licensed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”) as a customs broker. The Company is also subject to regulations and requirements relating to safety and security promulgated by, among others, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through U.S. Customs and the Transportation Security Administration, the Canada Border Services Agency and various state and local agencies and port authorities.
The transportation industry is subject to other potential regulatory and legislative changes (such as the possibility of more stringent environmental, climate change and/or safety/security regulations, limits on vehicle weight and size and regulations relating to the health and wellness of commercial truck operators) that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices, by changing the demand for motor carrier services or the cost of providing truckload or other transportation or logistics services, or by adversely impacting the number of available commercial truck operators.
In particular, the FMCSA in recent years proposed a number of regulatory changes that affect the operation of commercial motor carriers across the United States. It is difficult to predict in what form FMCSA regulations may be implemented, modified or enforced and what impact any such regulations may have on motor carrier operations or the aggregate number of trucks that provide hauling capacity to the Company. For example, on January 6, 2020, the FMCSA implemented new requirements applicable to drug and alcohol testing by motor carriers. The new regulation expands motor carrier reporting requirements to include reporting of all operators who test positive and/or refuse to submit to a test as prescribed in the regulation. The new regulation also expands rules relating to the obligation of motor carriers to conduct queries to check if current or prospective operators are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle due to a positive or unresolved drug or alcohol test. The expanded reporting of positive results, or of an operator’s refusal to meet FMCSA testing requirements, to a centralized clearinghouse prescribed by FMCSA has the potential to remove operators from service that may otherwise have been undetected or unreported.
In addition, in December 2010, the FMCSA introduced the Compliance Safety Accountability (“CSA”) motor carrier oversight program. The Company believes the intent of this program is to improve regulatory oversight of motor carriers and commercial drivers using a safety measurement system methodology that is fundamentally different from the methodology that the
FMCSA historically relied upon. Under CSA, the FMCSA monitors seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, or BASICs, under which a motor carrier may be evaluated against established threshold scores for each such BASIC. In the event a motor carrier has one or more BASIC scores that exceeds the applicable threshold, the motor carrier has an increased risk of roadside inspection and/or compliance review by FMCSA. Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or the “FAST Act” signed into law on December 4, 2015, the FMCSA was required to engage the National Research Council to conduct a study of CSA and the Safety Measurement System (“SMS”) utilized by the CSA program. As a result of the FAST Act, the FMCSA announced the removal of the BASIC scores from public view and that such scores are expected to remain hidden from public view while changes to CSA are considered. In 2018, the FMCSA announced significant anticipated changes to CSA that if enacted would be expected to have a material impact on the current program. No assurances can be given with respect to the changes that may be made to the CSA program, or any replacement or supplemental program, in the future and what impact a new or revised motor carrier oversight program implemented by the FMCSA could have on the Company, its motor carrier operations or the aggregate number of trucks that provide hauling capacity to the Company.
Regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters.
Focus on diesel emissions, climate change and related air quality matters has led to efforts by federal, state and local governmental agencies to support legislation and regulations to limit the amount of carbon emissions, including emissions created by diesel engines utilized in tractors such as those operated by the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers. Moreover, federal, state and local governmental agencies may also focus on regulation in relation to trailing equipment specifications in an effort to achieve, among other things, lower carbon emissions. For example, under the federal Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is responsible for prescribing national ambient air quality standards (“NAAQS”) for certain air pollutants, and each state is responsible for implementing those standards within its borders. Specifically, each state must adopt, and submit for the EPA’s approval, a state implementation plan (“SIP”) that provides for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the NAAQS. In connection with its efforts to comply with the NAAQS, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) has implemented regulations that restrict the ability of certain tractors and trailers from operating in California and that impose emission standards on nearly all diesel-fueled trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 14,000 lbs. that operate in California. Moreover, these emission standards are scheduled to become increasingly stringent such that by January 1, 2023, nearly all diesel-fueled trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 14,000 lbs. that operate in California will be required to have a 2010 or newer model year engine. In 2012, the EPA formally approved certain CARB regulations as part of California’s SIP, including CARB’s “Regulation to Reduce Emissions of Diesel Particulate Matter, Oxides of Nitrogen and Other Criteria Pollutants from In-Use
Heavy-Duty Diesel-Fueled Vehicles” (commonly referred to as the “Truck and Bus Regulation”) and “Regulation to Reduce Emissions of Diesel Particulate Matter, Oxides of Nitrogen and Other Criteria Pollutants from In-Use
Heavy-Duty Diesel-Fueled Drayage Trucks” (commonly referred to as the “Drayage Truck Regulation”). The EPA thereafter received express authorization to enforce California’s SIP, including the Truck and Bus Regulation and the Drayage Truck Regulation.
In June 2016, Landstar Ranger, Inc. received an information request from the EPA to determine the Clean Air Act compliance status of Landstar Ranger, Inc. with respect to the Truck and Bus Regulation and the Drayage Truck Regulation in the state of California. Landstar Ranger, Inc. believes it complied with this information request; however, the timing and outcome of the review by the EPA and any subsequent action by the EPA, if any, cannot be predicted. The Company may incur significant legal and other professional fees in connection with the EPA’s review. If the Company is found to be in noncompliance with CARB regulations, the EPA and CARB may seek to impose significant fines and penalties, or injunctive relief, on the Company. Further, the Company reorganized its entire fleet of van trailing equipment to maintain CARB-compliant trailer operations. Moreover, no assurances can be given with respect to the extent BCO Independent Contractors will choose to become CARB-compliant by purchasing a new or used CARB-compliant tractor, replacing the engine in their existing tractor with a CARB-compliant engine or performing an exhaust retrofit of their existing tractor by installing a particulate matter filter. Accordingly, many of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors may choose not to haul loads that would require travel within California, which could affect the ability of the Company to service customer freight needs for freight originating from, delivering to or traveling through California. Furthermore, increased regulation of tractor or trailing equipment specifications, including emissions created by diesel engines, could create substantial costs for the Company’s third party capacity providers and, in turn, increase the cost of purchased transportation to the Company. An increase in the costs to purchase, lease or maintain tractor or trailing equipment or in purchased transportation cost caused by existing or new regulations without a corresponding increase in price to the customer could adversely affect Landstar, including its results of operations and financial condition.
General Risk Factors
Potential changes in taxes.
From time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced to increase federal, state, or local taxes. On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”). The legislation significantly changed U.S. tax law by, among other things, lowering corporate income tax rates, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. With respect to the change in corporate tax rates, the Tax Reform Act permanently reduced the U.S. corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018. In connection with this reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, the Company revalued its ending net deferred tax liabilities at December 30, 2017 resulting in a provisional $20,430,000 tax benefit in the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017. The Company cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in corporate income tax rates, motor fuel tax rates or other tax rates applicable to the transportation services provided by the Company will be enacted and, if enacted, how such increased tax rates may impact the Company. With respect to potential increases in fuel and similar taxes, it is unclear whether or not the Company’s Truck Brokerage Carriers would attempt to pass the increase on to the Company or if the Company will be able to reflect this potential increased cost of capacity, if any, in prices to customers. Any such increase in fuel taxes, without a corresponding increase in price to the customer, could have a material adverse effect on Landstar, including its results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, competition from other transportation service companies including those that provide non-trucking
modes of transportation would likely increase if state or federal taxes on fuel were to increase without a corresponding increase in taxes imposed upon other modes of transportation.
Intellectual property.
The Company uses both internally developed and purchased technology in conducting its business. Whether internally developed or purchased, it is possible that the use of these technologies could be claimed to infringe upon or violate the intellectual property rights of third parties. In the event that a claim is made against the Company by a third party for the infringement of intellectual property rights, any settlement or adverse judgment against the Company either in the form of increased costs of licensing or a cease and desist order in using the technology could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and its results of operations.
Unclaimed property
. The Company is subject to federal and state laws relating to abandoned and unclaimed property. States routinely audit the records of companies to assess compliance with such laws. The Company is currently undergoing a multi-state unclaimed property audit. The Company is also undergoing a separate unclaimed property audit conducted by the State of Delaware, and in connection with that audit, the Company has entered into a voluntary disclosure agreement with the Delaware Department of Finance. The timing and outcome of either the multi-state unclaimed property audit or the Delaware audit cannot be predicted. The Company may incur significant professional fees in connection with these audits. If the Company is found to be in noncompliance with applicable unclaimed property laws or the manner in which such laws are interpreted or applied, states may determine that they are entitled to the remittance by the Company of significant amounts of unclaimed or abandoned property and further may seek to impose other significant costs on the Company, including penalties and interest.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
Properties
The Company owns or leases various properties in the U.S., Canada and Mexico for the Company’s operations and administrative staff that support its independent commission sales agents, BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers. The transportation logistics segment’s primary facilities are located in Jacksonville, Florida and Rockford, Illinois. In addition, the Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Company also maintains a key freight staging and transload facility in Laredo, Texas. The Jacksonville, Florida, Rockford, Illinois and Laredo, Texas facilities are owned by the Company. The Company also maintains a network of owned and leased field operations centers in the United States and Canada in support of the ongoing recruitment and retention of its BCO Independent Contractors. Management believes that Landstar’s owned and leased properties are adequate for its current needs and that leased properties can be retained or replaced at an acceptable cost.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Legal Proceedings
”.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Common Stock of the Company is listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LSTR.”
The reported last sale price per share of the Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 22, 2021 was $152.37 per share. As of such date, Landstar had 38,386,768 shares of Common Stock outstanding and had 113 stockholders of record of its Common Stock. However, the Company estimates that it has a significantly greater number of stockholders because a substantial number of the Company’s shares are held by brokers or dealers for their customers in street name.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company
The Company did not purchase any shares of its Common Stock during the period from September 27, 2020 to December 26, 2020, the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter.
On December 9, 2019, the Landstar System, Inc. Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 1,849,068 shares of the Company’s Common Stock from time to time in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 26, 2020, the Company had authorization to purchase in the aggregate up to 1,821,030 shares of its Common Stock under this program. No specific expiration date has been assigned to the December 9, 2019 authorization.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company maintains a stock compensation plan for members of its Board of Directors and two employee equity incentive plans. The following table presents information related to securities authorized for issuance under these plans at December 26, 2020:
Plan Category
Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options
Weighted-average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
17,650
$ 54.16
3,732,872
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders
Under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011 EIP”), the issuance of (i) a non-vested
share of Landstar Common Stock issued in the form of restricted stock and (ii) a share of Landstar Common Stock issued upon the vesting of a previously granted restricted stock unit each counts as the issuance of two securities against the number of securities available for future issuance. Included in the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans were 60,586 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2013 Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan.
Financial Model Shareholder Returns
The following graph illustrates the return that would have been realized, assuming reinvestment of dividends, by an investor who invested $100 in each of the Company’s Common Stock, the Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones Transportation Stock Index for the period commencing December 26, 2015 through December 26, 2020.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this document that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-K
contain forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic; an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. foreign trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; intellectual property; unclaimed property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in this and Landstar’s other SEC filings from time to time and described in Item 1A in this Form 10-K
under the heading “Risk Factors.” These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Introduction
Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (collectively referred to herein with their subsidiaries and other affiliated companies as “Landstar” or the “Company”), is a worldwide asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions. The Company offers services to its customers across multiple transportation modes, with the ability to arrange for individual shipments of freight to comprehensive third party logistics solutions to meet all of a customer’s transportation needs. Landstar provides services principally throughout the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada and Mexico, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries around the world. The Company’s services emphasize safety, information coordination and customer service and are delivered through a network of over 1,100 independent commission sales agents and approximately 79,000 third party capacity providers, primarily truck capacity providers, linked together by a series of digital technologies which are provided and coordinated by the Company. The nature of the Company’s business is such that a significant portion of its operating costs varies directly with revenue.
Landstar markets its integrated transportation management solutions primarily through independent commission sales agents and exclusively utilizes third party capacity providers to transport customers’ freight. Landstar’s independent commission sales agents enter into contractual arrangements with the Company and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive
contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Through this network of agents and capacity providers linked together by Landstar’s series of digital technologies, Landstar operates an integrated transportation management solutions business primarily throughout North America with revenue of $4.1 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year. The Company reports the results of two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment.
The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services are provided by Landstar’s “Operating Subsidiaries”: Landstar Ranger, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc., Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc., Landstar Global Logistics, Inc., Landstar Express America, Inc., Landstar Canada, Inc., and as further described below, Landstar Metro, Landstar Servicios and Landstar Blue. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited
ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Examples of the industries serviced by the transportation logistics segment include automotive parts and assemblies, consumer durables, building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics and military equipment. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including third party logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment. Billings for freight transportation services are typically charged to customers on a per shipment basis for the physical transportation of freight and are referred to as transportation revenue. During fiscal year 2020, revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and railroads represented approximately 45%, 47% and 3%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenue. Collectively, revenue generated by air and ocean cargo carriers represented approximately 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue during fiscal year 2020.
During 2017, the Company incorporated Landstar Metro, S.A.P.I. de C.V., a transportation logistics company (“Landstar Metro”), and Landstar Metro Servicios S.A.P.I. de C.V., a services company (“Landstar Servicios”), each based in Mexico City, Mexico. Landstar Metro provides freight and logistics services within the country of Mexico and in conjunction with Landstar’s U.S./Mexico cross-border services. Landstar Servicios provides various administrative, financial, operational, safety and compliance services to Landstar Metro. The results of operations from Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios are presented as part of the Company’s transportation logistics segment. On September 20, 2017, Landstar Metro acquired substantially all of the assets of the asset-light transportation logistics business of a Mexican transportation logistics company. In connection with the acquisition, individuals affiliated with the seller subscribed for equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios, and as of December 29, 2018, owned in the aggregate approximately 21% of the equity interests of each of them. On January 29, 2019, Landstar acquired all of the remaining equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios held by their former minority equityholders. Accordingly, as of such date, Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios each became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Revenue from Landstar Metro represented less than 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue during fiscal year 2020.
On May 6, 2020, the Company formed a new subsidiary that was subsequently renamed Landstar Blue, LLC (“Landstar Blue”). Landstar Blue arranges truckload brokerage services while helping the Company to develop and test digital technologies and processes for the benefit of all Landstar independent commission sales agents. On June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company whose business focused on truckload brokerage services. The results of operations from Landstar Blue are presented as part of the Company’s transportations logistics segment. Revenue from Landstar Blue represented less than 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue during fiscal year 2020.
The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. Revenue at the insurance segment represents reinsurance premiums from third party insurance companies that provide insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors where all or a portion of the risk is ultimately borne by Signature. Revenue at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for fiscal year 2020.
Changes in Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management believes the Company’s success principally depends on its ability to generate freight through its network of independent commission sales agents and to safely and efficiently deliver that freight utilizing third party capacity providers. Management believes the most significant factors to the Company’s success include increasing revenue, sourcing capacity and controlling costs, including insurance and claims.
While customer demand, which is subject to overall economic conditions, ultimately drives increases or decreases in revenue, the Company primarily relies on its independent commission sales agents to establish customer relationships and generate revenue opportunities. Management’s emphasis with respect to revenue growth is on revenue generated by independent commission sales agents who on an annual basis generate $1 million or more of Landstar revenue. Management believes future revenue growth is primarily dependent on its ability to increase both the revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents and the number of Million Dollar Agents through a combination of recruiting new agents, increasing the revenue opportunities generated by existing independent commission sales agents and providing its independent commission sales agents with digital technologies they may use to grow revenue and increase efficiencies at their businesses. The following table shows the number of Million Dollar Agents, the average revenue generated by these agents and the percent of consolidated revenue generated by these agents during the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal Years
Number of Million Dollar Agents
Average revenue generated per Million Dollar Agent
$ 7,489,000
$ 6,880,000
$ 7,150,000
Percent of consolidated revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents
%
%
%
The change in the number of Million Dollar Agents on a year-over-year basis is influenced by many factors and is not solely the result of terminations of contractual relationships between agents and the Company, whether such terminations are initiated by the agent or the Company. Such other factors include consolidations among agencies or transactions in connection with ownership changes often due to retirement planning, estate planning or similar transitional issues. The change in the number of Million Dollar Agents on a year-over-year basis may also be affected by agents that remain with the Company yet experienced lower year-over-year revenue that resulted in such agent moving below the Million Dollar Agent category. Revenue from accounts formerly handled by terminated Million Dollar Agents is often retained by the Company as the customer may choose to transfer its account to an existing Landstar agent.
Historically, the Company has experienced very few terminations of its Million Dollar Agents, whether such terminations are initiated by the agent or the Company. Annual terminations of Million Dollar Agents have typically been less than 3% of the total number of Million Dollar Agents. In fiscal year 2020, the change in the number of Million Dollar Agents was entirely attributable to agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue per year, as the Company experienced no change in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 in the number of independent sales agents generating $5 million or more of Landstar revenue. During fiscal year 2020, the COVID-19
pandemic impacted the number of agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue both with respect to existing agents, some of whom had difficulty operating their small businesses during the pandemic due to personal issues, staffing issues and/or customer issues, and with respect to the Company’s ability to recruit new independent sales agents to the Landstar network, given the uncertain operating environment and challenges we experienced in building personal relationships with prospective agent candidates during the pandemic.
Management monitors business activity by tracking the number of loads (volume) and revenue per load by mode of transportation. Revenue per load can be influenced by many factors other than a change in price. Those factors include the average length of haul, freight type, special handling and equipment requirements, fuel costs and delivery time requirements. For shipments involving two or more modes of transportation, revenue is generally classified by the mode of transportation having the highest cost for the load. The following table summarizes this information by trailer type for truck transportation and by mode for all others for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal Years
Revenue generated through (in thousands)
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
$ 2,515,940
$ 2,371,188
$ 2,791,494
Unsided/platform equipment
1,202,295
1,295,817
1,386,387
Less-than-truckload
97,546
98,324
102,531
Total truck transportation
3,815,781
3,765,329
4,280,412
Rail intermodal
114,313
118,305
128,976
Ocean and air cargo carriers
132,180
121,485
134,577
Other (1)
70,707
79,458
71,179
$ 4,132,981
$ 4,084,577
$ 4,615,144
Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation
$ 1,866,526
$ 1,831,752
$ 2,001,665
Number of loads
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
1,318,768
1,337,089
1,398,388
Unsided/platform equipment
487,348
513,579
516,613
Less-than-truckload
163,024
155,592
145,269
Total truck transportation
1,969,140
2,006,260
2,060,270
Rail intermodal
46,280
47,590
53,030
Ocean and air cargo carriers
31,900
30,110
28,970
2,047,320
2,083,960
2,142,270
Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation
945,210
954,990
949,330
Revenue per load
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
$ 1,908
$ 1,773
$ 1,996
Unsided/platform equipment
2,467
2,523
2,684
Less-than-truckload
Total truck transportation
1,938
1,877
2,078
Rail intermodal
2,470
2,486
2,432
Ocean and air cargo carriers
4,144
4,035
4,645
Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors
$ 1,975
$ 1,918
$ 2,109
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue)
:
Truck capacity providers:
BCO Independent Contractors
%
%
%
Truck Brokerage Carriers
%
%
%
Rail intermodal
%
%
%
Ocean and air cargo carriers
%
%
%
Other
%
%
%
(1)
Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.
Also critical to the Company’s success is its ability to secure capacity, particularly truck capacity, at rates that allow the Company to profitably transport customers’ freight. The following table summarizes the number of available truck capacity providers as of the end of the three most recent fiscal years:
Dec. 26,
Dec. 28,
Dec. 29,
BCO Independent Contractors
10,242
9,554
9,884
Truck Brokerage Carriers:
Approved and active(1)
46,053
39,497
41,069
Other approved
22,972
16,820
17,985
69,025
56,317
59,054
Total available truck capacity providers
79,267
65,871
68,938
Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors
10,991
10,243
10,599
(1) Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal year end.
The Company incurs costs that are directly related to the transportation of freight that include purchased transportation and commissions to agents. The Company incurs indirect costs associated with the transportation of freight that include other operating costs and insurance and claims. In addition, the Company incurs selling, general and administrative costs essential to administering its business operations. Management continually monitors all components of the costs incurred by the Company and establishes annual cost budgets which, in general, are used to benchmark costs incurred on a monthly basis.
Purchased transportation represents the amount a BCO Independent Contractor or other third party capacity provider is paid to haul freight. The amount of purchased transportation paid to a BCO Independent Contractor is primarily based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of revenue generated by loads hauled by the BCO Independent Contractor. Purchased transportation paid to a Truck Brokerage Carrier is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or, to a lesser extent, a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to railroads is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to air cargo carriers is generally based on a negotiated rate for each load hauled and purchased transportation paid to ocean cargo carriers is generally based on contractually agreed-upon fixed rates per load. Purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue for truck brokerage, rail intermodal and ocean cargo services is normally higher than that of BCO Independent Contractor and air cargo services. Purchased transportation is the largest component of costs and expenses and, on a consolidated basis, increases or decreases as a percentage of consolidated revenue in proportion to changes in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated through BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers and external revenue from the insurance segment, consisting of reinsurance premiums. Purchased transportation as a percent of revenue also increases or decreases in relation to the availability of truck brokerage capacity and with changes in the price of fuel on revenue generated from shipments hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. The Company passes 100% of fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors to its BCO Independent Contractors. These fuel surcharges are excluded from revenue and the cost of purchased transportation. Purchased transportation costs are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of revenue or net revenue, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation, or net revenue less a contractually agreed upon percentage of revenue retained by Landstar. Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue will vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and reinsurance premiums and with changes in net revenue margin, defined as net revenue divided by revenue, on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers. Commissions to agents are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
The Company defines gross profit as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents. Gross profit divided by revenue is referred to as gross profit margin. The Company’s operating margin is defined as operating income divided by gross profit.
In general, gross profit margin on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors represents a fixed percentage of revenue due to the nature of the contracts that pay a fixed percentage of revenue to both the BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents. For revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers, gross profit margin is either fixed or variable as a percent of revenue, depending on the contract with each individual independent commission sales agent. Under certain contracts with independent commission sales agents, the Company retains a fixed percentage of revenue and the agent retains the amount remaining less the cost of purchased transportation (the “retention contracts”). Gross profit margin on revenue generated from shipments hauled
by railroads, air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and Truck Brokerage Carriers, other than those under retention contracts, is variable in nature as the Company’s contracts with independent commission sales agents provide commissions to agents at a contractually agreed upon percentage of net revenue for these types of shipments. Approximately 50% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in fiscal year 2020 was generated under contracts that have a fixed gross profit margin while 50% was under contracts that have a variable gross profit margin.
Maintenance costs for Company-provided trailing equipment and BCO Independent Contractor recruiting and qualification costs are the largest components of other operating costs. Also included in other operating costs are trailer rental costs, the provision for uncollectible advances and other receivables due from BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents and gains/losses, if any, on sales of Company-owned trailing equipment.
With respect to insurance and claims cost, potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable.
Effective May 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022, the Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5,000,000, with an aggregate limit of $15,000,000 for each policy year, an aggregate limit of $20,000,000 for the thirty-six
month term ended April 30, 2022, and options to increase such aggregate limits for pre-established
amounts of additional premium. If aggregate losses under the Initial Excess Policy exceed either the annual aggregate limit or the aggregate limit for the three year period ending April 30, 2022, and the Company did not elect to increase such aggregate limits for a pre-established
amount of additional premium, Landstar would retain liability of up to $10,000,000 per occurrence, inclusive of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims during the remainder of the applicable policy year(s). Moreover, as a result of the Company’s aggregate loss experience since it entered into the Initial Excess Policy, the Initial Excess Policy required the Company to pay additional premium up to a pre-established
maximum amount of $3,500,000, which was provided for in insurance and claims costs for the Company’s 2020 fiscal first quarter.
The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States in recent years, the availability of such excess coverage has significantly decreased and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Effective May 1, 2020 with respect to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2021, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $14 million, or over 170%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. No assurances can be given that the availability of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims will not continue to deteriorate, that the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, will not continue to increase, nor that insurance coverage from third party insurers for excess coverage of commercial trucking claims will even be available on commercially reasonable terms at certain levels.
Further, the Company retains liability of up to $1,000,000 for each general liability claim, up to $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which such carriers maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the material unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.
During the 2020 fiscal year, employee compensation and benefits accounted for approximately sixty-six
percent of the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs.
Depreciation and amortization primarily relate to depreciation of trailing equipment and information technology hardware and software.
The following table sets forth the percentage relationship of purchased transportation and commissions to agents, both being direct costs, to revenue and indirect costs as a percentage of gross profit for the periods indicated:
Fiscal Years
Revenue
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Purchased transportation
77.3
76.6
77.4
Commissions to agents
8.2
8.4
8.2
Gross profit margin
14.5 %
15.1 %
14.5 %
Gross profit
100.0 %
100.0 %
100.0 %
Investment income
0.6
0.8
0.6
Indirect costs and expenses:
Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions
5.1
6.1
4.8
Insurance and claims
14.6
13.1
11.3
Selling, general and administrative
28.0
25.9
28.2
Depreciation and amortization
7.7
7.2
6.5
Impairment of intangible and other assets
0.4
-
-
Commission program termination costs
2.6
-
-
Total costs and expenses
58.4
52.2
50.9
Operating margin
42.2 %
48.6 %
49.7 %
Management believes that a discussion of indirect costs as a percentage of gross profit is useful and meaningful to investors for the following principal reasons: (1) disclosure of these relative measures (i.e., each indirect operating cost line item as a percentage of gross profit) allows investors to better understand the underlying trends in the Company’s results of operations; (2) due to the generally fixed nature of these indirect costs (other than insurance and claims costs), these relative measures are meaningful to investors’ evaluations of the Company’s management of its indirect costs attributable to operations; (3) management considers this financial information in its decision-making, such as budgeting for infrastructure, trailing equipment and selling, general and administrative costs; and (4) this information facilitates comparisons by investors of the Company’s results to the results of other non-asset
or asset-light companies in the transportation and logistics services industry who report “net revenue” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which represents revenue less the cost of purchased transportation. The difference between the Company’s use of the term “gross profit” and the use of the term “net revenue” by other companies in the transportation and logistics services industry is due to the direct cost of commissions to agents under the Landstar business model, whereas other companies in this industry generally have no commissions to agents.
Also, as previously mentioned, the Company reports two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment. External revenue at the insurance segment, representing reinsurance premiums, has historically been relatively consistent on an annual basis at 2% or less of consolidated revenue and generally corresponds directly with the number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors. The discussion of indirect cost line items in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations considers the Company’s costs on a consolidated basis rather than on a segment basis. Management believes this presentation format is the most appropriate to assist users of the financial statements in understanding the Company’s business for the following reasons: (1) the insurance segment has no other operating costs; (2) discussion of insurance and claims at either segment without reference to the other may create confusion amongst investors and potential investors due to intercompany arrangements and specific deductible programs that affect comparability of financial results by segment between various fiscal periods but that have no effect on the Company from a consolidated reporting perspective; (3) selling, general and administrative costs of the insurance segment comprise less than 10% of consolidated selling, general and administrative costs and have historically been relatively consistent on a year-over-year basis; and (4) the insurance segment has no depreciation and amortization.
Fiscal Year Ended December 26, 2020 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Revenue for fiscal year 2020 was $4,132,981,000, an increase of $48,404,000, or 1%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Transportation revenue increased $48,183,000, or 1%. The increase in transportation revenue was attributable to an increased revenue per load of approximately 3%, partially offset by a decreased number of loads hauled of approximately 2% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. Reinsurance premiums were $56,462,000 and $56,241,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Truck transportation revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers (together, the “third party truck capacity providers”) for fiscal year 2020 was $3,815,781,000, representing 92% of total revenue, an increase of $50,452,000, or 1%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Revenue per load on loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers increased approximately 3% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019, while the number of loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 2% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
The increase in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was entirely due to a comparatively tighter market for van truckload capacity during the second half of 2020. The decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck compared to fiscal year 2019 was due to the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on demand for the Company’s truck transportation services at the onset of the pandemic and the relative softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the 2020 period compared to the 2019 period, mostly offset by consumer driven demand for van services that began mid-summer
2020. The increasingly tight market for van truckload capacity during the 2020 second half was attributable to strong demand for e-commerce,
foodstuffs, building products and other consumer durables.
During the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year, revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment increased 8%, reflecting increased consumer demand, while revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 2%, reflecting softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Also adversely impacting revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment was a decrease in revenue per load on heavy specialized loadings of 10% in the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year. Additionally, revenue per load on less-than-truckload loadings decreased 5% from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2020.
During fiscal year 2020 as compared to fiscal year 2019, loads hauled via van equipment decreased 1% and loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 5%, for similar reasons as described above with respect to the overall decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. Less-than-truckload volumes increased 5% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
Fuel surcharges billed to customers on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors are excluded from revenue. Fuel surcharges on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue identified separately in billings to customers and included as a component of Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were $60,118,000 and $79,486,000 in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. It should be noted that billings to many customers of the Company’s truck brokerage services include a single all-in
rate that does not separately identify fuel surcharges on loads hauled via Truck Brokerage Carriers. Accordingly, the overall impact of changes in fuel prices on revenue and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck is likely to be greater than that indicated.
Transportation revenue generated by rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo carriers (collectively, the “multimode capacity providers”) for fiscal year 2020 was $246,493,000, or 6% of total revenue, an increase of $6,703,000, or 3%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers increased approximately 2% in the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year, and the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers increased approximately 1% over the same period. The increase in revenue per load of 2% on loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily attributable to increased revenue per load on ocean shipments. Revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers is influenced by many factors, including revenue mix among the various modes of transportation used, length of haul, complexity of freight, density of freight lanes, fuel costs and availability of capacity. The increase in the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily due to a 14% increase in air loadings, primarily attributable to increased loadings at two specific agencies.
Purchased transportation was 77.3% and 76.6% of revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to an increased rate of purchased transportation paid on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue and COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments made to BCO Independent Contractors. Under the pandemic relief program, for each load delivered by a BCO Independent Contractor with a confirmed delivery date from April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020, the Company paid each of the BCO Independent Contractor who hauled the load and the independent commission sales agent who dispatched the load an extra $50. Commissions to agents were 8.2% and 8.4% of revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. Commissions to agents on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were lower as compared to the 2019 fiscal year due to the impact of a decreased net revenue margin on revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers, whereas commissions to agents on BCO Independent Contractor revenue were higher during the 2020 fiscal year due to the impact of COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments. The Company paid a total of $12,593,000 in COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments to BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents in April and May 2020.
Investment income was $3,399,000 and $5,041,000 in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in investment income was primarily attributable to lower average rates of return on investments during fiscal year 2020, partially offset by a slightly higher average investment balance held by the insurance segment during fiscal year 2020.
Other operating costs decreased $6,811,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 5.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 6.1% in fiscal year 2019. The decrease in other operating costs compared to the prior year was primarily due to a decreased provision for contractor bad debt, the impact of the cancellation of an event for the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors due to the COVID-19
pandemic, increased gains on the sales of used trailing equipment, decreased trailer rental costs and decreased BCO recruiting and on-boarding
costs due to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic. The decrease in other operating costs as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the decrease in other operating costs, partially offset by the effect of decreased gross profit.
Insurance and claims increased $7,454,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 14.6% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 13.1% in fiscal year 2019. The increase in insurance and claims expense compared to the prior year was primarily due to a $5,000,000 charge for the Company’s self-insured retention with respect to a tragic vehicular accident involving a fatality, a $3,500,000 charge relating to additional premium the Company paid under the Initial Excess Policy in connection with certain aggregated losses, increased insurance premiums incurred for commercial trucking liability coverage following the Company’s May 1, 2020 insurance renewal and increased severity of current year claims, partially offset by decreased net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims in the 2020 period. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, insurance and claims costs included $9,196,000 and $16,679,000 of net unfavorable adjustments to prior years’ claims estimates, respectively. The increase in insurance and claims as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in insurance and claims costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Selling, general and administrative costs increased $8,680,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 28.0% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 25.9% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs compared to prior year was attributable to an increased provision for incentive compensation, increased information technology costs and an increased provision for customer bad debt, partially offset by decreased travel and entertainment costs related to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and decreased agent convention costs. Included in selling, general and administrative costs was incentive compensation expense of $7,841,000 and $1,517,000 for the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years, respectively. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of gross profit was due to the increase in selling, general and administrative costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Depreciation and amortization increased $1,387,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 7.7% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 7.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses was primarily due to increased depreciation on information technology assets, partially offset by a decrease in trailing equipment depreciation. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of gross profit was due to increased depreciation and the effect of decreased gross profit.
During the 2020 second fiscal quarter, the Company recorded a non-cash
impairment charge of $2,582,000, representing 0.4% of gross profit, in respect of certain assets, primarily customer contract and related customer relationship intangible assets, acquired on September 20, 2017, along with substantially all of the other assets of the asset-light transportation logistics business of Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V. (“Fletes Avella”). As previously disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the 2020 first quarter, negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico caused significant disruptions in the Mexican economy. Accordingly, management performed impairment tests of the carrying values of certain assets that primarily relate to intra-Mexico business acquired as a part of the Fletes Avella acquisition. The impairment tests resulted in an impairment charge of $2,582,000, as the negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico resulted in updated financial projections relating to these intangible assets to be substantially below those originally anticipated at the acquisition date. There was no corresponding goodwill impairment charge recorded as the fair value of the Company’s Mexico and cross-border reporting unit continues to significantly exceed its carrying value as of December 26, 2020.
During the 2020 fourth fiscal quarter, the Company recorded commission program termination costs of $15,494,000, representing 2.6% of gross profit, related to buyouts of certain incentive commission arrangements with several of its independent sales agents due to the Company’s discontinuation of a truck owner-operator recruitment and retention program formerly involving those agents.
Interest and debt expense in fiscal year 2020 increased $812,000 compared to fiscal year 2019. The increase in interest and debt expense was primarily attributable to decreased interest income earned on cash balances held by the transportation logistics segment.
The provisions for income taxes for both the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.2%, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2020 was 22.8%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%, primarily attributable to state taxes
and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards, the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2020 fiscal year and state tax refunds. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2019 was 23.0%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards. The effective income tax rate in the 2020 fiscal year of 22.8% was lower than the 24.2% estimated annual effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements, the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2020 fiscal year and state tax refunds in the 2020 fiscal year. The effective income tax rate in the 2019 fiscal year of 23.0% was lower than the 24.2% estimated effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2019 fiscal year.
Net income was $192,106,000, or $4.98 per common share ($4.98 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2020. Net income attributable to the Company was $227,720,000, or $5.72 per common share ($5.72 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2019. Net income during fiscal year 2020 was unfavorably impacted by $15,494,000, or $0.31 per common share ($0.31 per diluted share) related to a one-time
cost to buyout certain incentive commission arrangements with several agents, $12,593,000, or $0.25 per common share ($0.25 per diluted share) related to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments and $2,582,000, or $0.05 per common share ($0.05 per diluted share) of non-cash
impairment charges related to certain assets, primarily customer contract and related customer relationship intangible assets of the Company’s Mexico subsidiaries.
Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Revenue for fiscal year 2019 was $4,084,577,000, a decrease of $530,567,000, or 11%, compared to fiscal year 2018. Transportation revenue decreased $534,460,000, or 12%. The decrease in transportation revenue was attributable to decreased revenue per load of approximately 9% and a decreased number of loads hauled of approximately 3% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018. Reinsurance premiums were $56,241,000 and $52,348,000 for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in revenue from reinsurance premiums was primarily attributable to the increase in the average number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors and an increase in the aggregate value of equipment insured by BCO Independent Contractors under a physical damage program reinsured by Signature in the 2019 fiscal year compared to the 2018 fiscal year.
Truck transportation revenue generated by third party truck capacity providers for fiscal year 2019 was $3,765,329,000, representing 92% of total revenue, a decrease of $515,083,000, or 12%, compared to fiscal year 2018. Revenue per load on loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 10% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018, and the number of loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 3% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018. The decrease in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was primarily due to a softer freight demand environment experienced during the 2019 fiscal year, which resulted in more readily available truck capacity as compared to the 2018 fiscal year. Revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment decreased 11%, revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 6% and revenue per load on less-than-truckload loadings decreased 10% as compared to the 2018 fiscal year. The decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck compared to fiscal year 2018 was primarily attributable to a decrease in demand for the Company’s truckload services provided via van equipment. Fuel surcharges billed to customers on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors are excluded from revenue. Fuel surcharges on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue identified separately in billings to customers and included as a component of Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were $79,486,000 and $101,346,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. It should be noted that billings to many customers of the Company’s truck brokerage services include a single all-in
rate that does not separately identify fuel surcharges on loads hauled via Truck Brokerage Carriers. Accordingly, the overall impact of changes in fuel prices on revenue and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck is likely to be greater than that indicated.
Transportation revenue generated by multimode capacity providers for fiscal year 2019 was $239,790,000, or 6% of total revenue, a decrease of $23,763,000, or 9%, compared to fiscal year 2018. The number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers decreased approximately 5% in the 2019 fiscal year compared to the 2018 fiscal year, and revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers decreased approximately 4% over the same period. The decrease in the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily due to a 10% decrease in rail intermodal loadings, mostly attributable to decreased loadings at three specific agencies. The decrease in revenue per load of 4% on loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily attributable to decreased revenue per load on air loadings due to the impact of air loadings provided in support of disaster relief efforts during fiscal year 2018. Also, revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers is influenced by many factors, including revenue mix among the various modes of transportation used, length of haul, complexity of freight, density of freight lanes, fuel costs and availability of capacity.
Purchased transportation was 76.6% and 77.4% of revenue in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to a decreased rate of purchased transportation paid on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue and an increased percentage of revenue contributed by BCO Independent Contractors. Commissions to agents were 8.4% and 8.2% of revenue in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in commissions to agents as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to an increased net revenue margin on revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers.
Investment income was $5,041,000 and $3,816,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in investment income was primarily attributable to higher average rates of return on investments and a higher average investment balance held by the insurance segment during fiscal year 2019.
Other operating costs increased $5,471,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 6.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 4.8% in fiscal year 2018. The increase in other operating costs compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily due to increased trailing equipment maintenance costs as a result of an increased number of Company-owned trailers and an increased provision for contractor bad debt. The increase in other operating costs as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in other operating costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Insurance and claims increased $4,642,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 13.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 11.3% in fiscal year 2018. The increase in insurance and claims expense compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily due to increased net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims and increased severity of current year claims in the BCO programs reinsured by Signature. Net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims was $16,679,000 and $13,960,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in insurance and claims as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in insurance and claims costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $29,259,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 25.9% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 28.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2018. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs compared to prior fiscal year was attributable to a decreased provision for incentive compensation and decreased stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased wages. Included in selling, general and administrative costs was incentive compensation expense of $1,517,000 and $19,210,000 for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively, and stock-based compensation expense of $4,236,000 and $18,256,000 for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of gross profit was due to the decrease in selling, general and administrative costs, partially offset by the effect of decreased gross profit.
Depreciation and amortization increased $898,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 7.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 6.5% of gross profit in fiscal year 2018. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses was primarily due to increased depreciation on information technology assets. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of gross profit was due to the effect of decreased gross profit and increased depreciation costs.
Interest and debt expense in fiscal year 2019 decreased $213,000 compared to fiscal year 2018. The decrease in interest and debt expense was primarily attributable to increased interest income earned on cash balances held by the transportation logistics segment.
The provisions for income taxes for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.2% and 24.5%, respectively, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2019 was 23.0%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2018 was 22.3%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s (the “Tax Reform Act”) elimination of the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) and the meals and entertainment exclusion. The effective income tax rate in the 2019 fiscal year of 23.0% was lower than the 24.2% estimated effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2019 fiscal year. The effective income tax rate in the 2018 fiscal year of 22.3% was lower than the 24.5% estimated annual effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2018 fiscal year, favorable adjustments recognized during the 2018 fiscal year relating to federal domestic production activities deductions and research and development credits and the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2018 fiscal year.
The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of $17,000 and $68,000 in the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively, represents the former noncontrolling investors’ share of the net loss incurred by Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios.
Net income attributable to the Company was $227,720,000, or $5.72 per common share ($5.72 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2019. Net income attributable to the Company was $255,281,000, or $6.19 per common share ($6.18 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2018.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Working capital and the ratio of current assets to current liabilities were $402,038,000 and 1.5 to 1, respectively, at December 26, 2020, compared with $444,984,000 and 1.8 to 1, respectively, at December 28, 2019, and $435,611,000 and 1.8 to 1, respectively, at December 29, 2018. Landstar has historically operated with current ratios within the range of 1.5 to 1 to 2.0 to 1. Cash provided by operating activities was $210,717,000, $307,840,000, and $297,901,000 in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2020 was primarily attributable to the increase in trade and other accounts receivable as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year as compared to as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year driven by the significant growth in revenue during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020. The increase in cash flow provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2019 was primarily attributable to the timing of collections of trade receivables.
The Company declared and paid $0.79 per share, or $30,557,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2020 and, during such period, also paid $78,947,000 of dividends payable which were declared during fiscal year 2019 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2019. In addition, on December 8, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share, or $76,770,000 in the aggregate, payable on January 22, 2021 to stockholders of record of its Common Stock as of January 8, 2021. Dividends payable of $76,770,000 related to this special dividend were included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 26, 2020. The Company declared and paid $0.70 per share, or $27,891,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2019. The Company declared and paid $0.63 per share, or $25,933,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2018 and, during such period, also paid $62,985,000 of dividends payable which were declared during fiscal year 2017 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 30, 2017. Since paying its first cash dividend in August 2005, the Company has paid approximately $506,000,000 in cash dividends in the aggregate to its stockholders, inclusive of the $2.00 per share special dividend paid on January 22, 2021.
During fiscal year 2020, the Company purchased 1,178,970 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $115,962,000. During fiscal year 2019, the Company purchased 849,068 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $88,578,000. During fiscal year 2018, the Company purchased 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $208,087,000. The Company has used cash provided by operating activities to fund the purchases. Since January 1997, the Company has purchased approximately $1,791,000,000 of its Common Stock under programs authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company in open market and private block transactions. As of December 26, 2020, the Company may purchase in the aggregate up to 1,821,030 shares of its Common Stock under its authorized stock purchase programs. Long-term debt, including current maturities, was $100,774,000 at December 26, 2020, compared to $112,844,000 at December 28, 2019 and $128,425,000 at December 29, 2018.
Equity was $691,835,000, or 87% of total capitalization (defined as long-term debt including current maturities plus equity), at December 26, 2020, compared to $721,469,000, or 86% of total capitalization, at December 28, 2019 and $689,133,000, or 84% of total capitalization, at December 29, 2018. The decrease in equity in fiscal year 2020 was primarily the result of purchases of shares of the Company’s Common Stock and dividends declared by the Company in fiscal year 2020, partially offset by net income. The increase in equity in fiscal year 2019 was primarily the result of net income, partially offset by purchases of shares of the Company’s Common Stock and dividends declared by the Company in fiscal year 2019.
On August 18, 2020, Landstar entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures on August 18, 2023, provides $250,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $35,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase up to an aggregate borrowing capacity of $400,000,000.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders to the extent that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash
dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event that, among other things, a person or group acquires 35% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors or the directors cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors, as defined in the Credit Agreement. None of these covenants are presently considered by management to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.
At December 26, 2020, the Company had no borrowings outstanding and $33,618,000 of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. At December 26, 2020, there was $216,382,000 available for future borrowings under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Company has $64,934,000 in letters of credit outstanding as collateral for insurance claims that are secured by investments totaling $72,149,000 at December 26, 2020. Investments, all of which are carried at fair value, include primarily investment-grade bonds and U.S. Treasury obligations having maturities of up to five years. Fair value of investments is based primarily on quoted market prices. See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included herein for further discussion on measurement of fair value of investments.
Historically, the Company has generated sufficient operating cash flow to meet its debt service requirements, fund continued growth, both organic and through acquisitions, complete or execute share purchases of its Common Stock under authorized share purchase programs, pay dividends and meet working capital needs. As an asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions, the Company’s annual capital requirements for operating property are generally for trailing equipment and information technology hardware and software. In addition, a significant portion of the trailing equipment used by the Company is provided by third party capacity providers, thereby reducing the Company’s capital requirements. During fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company acquired $31,633,000, $29,054,000 and $46,595,000, respectively, of trailing equipment by entering into finance leases. During fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company also purchased $30,626,000, $19,416,000 and $9,747,000, respectively, of operating property. Included in the $9,747,000 of purchases of operating property during the 2018 fiscal year was $2,162,000 related to the completion of its Laredo, Texas facility for which the Company accrued a corresponding liability in accounts payable as of December 30, 2017. During fiscal year 2020, Landstar acquired $500,000 of operating property for which the Company accrued a corresponding liability in accounts payable as of December 26, 2020. Landstar anticipates acquiring either by purchase or lease financing approximately $77,000,000 in new trailing equipment primarily to replace older trailing equipment in fiscal 2021. Landstar anticipates spending approximately $23,000,000 on information technology hardware and software in fiscal 2021, $16,000,000 of which relates to either building or buying software applications that enhance or add to the Company’s technology ecosystem.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
on January 29, 2019, Landstar acquired all of the remaining equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios held by their former minority equityholders. As of such date, Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios each became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Cash consideration paid in the 2019 fiscal year to purchase these remaining equity interests was $600,000. Further, on June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company. Cash consideration paid for the acquisition was approximately $2,766,000.
Management believes that cash flow from operations combined with the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement will be adequate to meet Landstar’s debt service requirements, fund continued growth, both internal and through acquisitions, pay dividends, complete the authorized share purchase programs and meet working capital needs.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Many of these claims are covered in whole or in part by insurance. Based on knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, management believes that adequate provisions have been made for probable losses with respect to the resolution of all such claims and pending litigation and that the ultimate outcome, after provisions therefor, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, but could have a material effect on the results of operations in a given quarter or year.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Landstar provides for the estimated costs of self-insured claims primarily on an actuarial basis. The amount recorded for the estimated liability for claims incurred is based upon the facts and circumstances known on the applicable balance sheet date. The ultimate resolution of these claims may be for an amount greater or less than the amount estimated by management. The Company continually revises its existing claim estimates as new or revised information becomes available on the status of each claim. Historically, the Company has experienced both favorable and unfavorable development of prior years’ claims estimates. During fiscal
years 2020, 2019 and 2018, insurance and claims costs included $9,196,000, $16,679,000 and $13,960,000 of net unfavorable adjustments to prior years’ claims estimates, respectively. The unfavorable development of prior years’ claims in the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years was attributable in each year to several specific claims as well as to actuarially determined adjustments to prior year commercial trucking loss estimates. It is reasonably likely that the ultimate outcome of settling all outstanding claims will be more or less than the estimated claims liability at December 26, 2020.
Significant variances from management’s estimates for the ultimate resolution of self-insured claims could be expected to positively or negatively affect Landstar’s earnings in a given quarter or year. However, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these items, given a range of reasonably likely outcomes, will not significantly affect the long-term financial condition of Landstar or its ability to fund its continuing operations.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of its financing activities, primarily its borrowings on its revolving credit facility, if any, and investing activities with respect to investments held by the insurance segment.
On August 18, 2020, Landstar entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures on August 18, 2023, provides $250,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $35,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase up to an aggregate borrowing capacity of $400,000,000.
The revolving credit loans under the Credit Agreement, at the option of Landstar, bear interest at (i) the Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00%, or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case with the applicable margin determined based upon the Company’s Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. The revolving credit facility bears a commitment fee, payable in arrears, of 0.25% to 0.35%, based on the Company’s Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. As of both December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 and during all of fiscal years 2020 and 2019, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
Long-term investments, all of which are available-for-sale
and are carried at fair value, include primarily investment-grade bonds and U.S. Treasury obligations having maturities of up to five years. Assuming that the long-term portion of investments remains at $81,216,000, the balance at December 26, 2020, a hypothetical increase or decrease in interest rates of 100 basis points would not have a material impact on future earnings on an annualized basis. Short-term investments consist of short-term investment-grade instruments and the current maturities of investment-grade corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury obligations. Accordingly, any future interest rate risk on these short-term investments would not be material to the Company’s operating results.
Assets and liabilities of the Company’s Canadian and Mexican operations are translated from their functional currency to U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and revenue and expense accounts are translated at average monthly exchange rates during the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Transactional gains and losses arising from receivable and payable balances, including intercompany balances, in the normal course of business that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the operation are recorded in the statements of income when they occur. The assets held at the Company’s Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries December at 26, 2020 were collectively, as translated to U.S. dollars, approximately 4% of total consolidated assets. Accordingly, translation gains or losses of 25% or less related to the Canadian and Mexican operations would not be material.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Dec. 26,
Dec. 28,
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 249,354
$ 319,515
Short-term investments
41,375
32,901
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $8,670 and $7,284
764,169
588,549
Other receivables, including advances to independent contractors, less allowance of $7,239 and $7,667
134,757
35,553
Other current assets
18,520
21,370
Total current assets
1,208,175
997,888
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $299,407 and $280,849
296,996
285,855
Goodwill
40,949
38,508
Other assets
107,679
105,460
Total assets
$ 1,653,799
$ 1,427,711
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Cash overdraft
$ 74,748
$ 53,878
Accounts payable
380,505
271,996
Current maturities of long-term debt
35,415
42,632
Insurance claims
149,774
44,532
Dividends payable
76,770
78,947
Other current liabilities
88,925
60,919
Total current liabilities
806,137
552,904
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
65,359
70,212
Insurance claims
38,867
33,575
Deferred income taxes and other noncurrent liabilities
51,601
49,551
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000 shares, issued 68,183,702 and 68,083,419 shares
Additional paid-in
capital
228,875
226,123
Retained earnings
2,046,238
1,962,161
Cost of 29,797,639 and 28,609,926 shares of common stock in treasury
(1,581,961 )
(1,465,284 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,999 )
(2,212 )
Total shareholders’ equity
691,835
721,469
Total liabilities and equity
$ 1,653,799
$ 1,427,711
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Fiscal Years Ended
December 26,
December 28,
December 29,
Revenue
$ 4,132,981
$ 4,084,577
$ 4,615,144
Investment income
3,399
5,041
3,816
Costs and expenses:
Purchased transportation
3,192,850
3,127,474
3,569,961
Commissions to agents
340,780
342,226
378,002
Other operating costs, net of gains/losses on asset sales/dispositions
30,463
37,274
31,803
Insurance and claims
87,773
80,319
75,677
Selling, general and administrative
167,633
158,953
188,212
Depreciation and amortization
45,855
44,468
43,570
Impairment of intangible and other assets
2,582
-
-
Commission program termination costs
15,494
-
-
Total costs and expenses
3,883,430
3,790,714
4,287,225
Operating income
252,950
298,904
331,735
Interest and debt expense
3,953
3,141
3,354
Income before income taxes
248,997
295,763
328,381
Income taxes
56,891
68,060
73,168
Net income
192,106
227,703
255,213
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
-
(17 )
(68 )
Net income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 192,106
$ 227,720
$ 255,281
Earnings per common share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 4.98
$ 5.72
$ 6.19
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 4.98
$ 5.72
$ 6.18
Average number of shares outstanding:
Earnings per common share
38,602,000
39,786,000
41,273,000
Diluted earnings per share
38,602,000
39,786,000
41,310,000
Dividends per common share
$ 2.79
$ 2.70
$ 0.63
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
Fiscal Years Ended
Dec. 26,
Dec. 28,
Dec. 29,
Net income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 192,106
$ 227,720
$ 255,281
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $463, $561, $(206)
1,688
2,050
(786 )
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains
(1,475 )
1,613
(1,927 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)
3,663
(2,713 )
Comprehensive income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 192,319
$ 231,383
$ 252,568
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
Fiscal Years Ended
Dec. 26,
Dec. 28,
Dec. 29,
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
$ 192,106
$ 227,703
$ 255,213
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of operating property and intangible assets
45,855
44,468
43,570
Non-cash
interest charges
Provisions for losses on trade and other accounts receivable
9,415
9,831
7,415
Gains on sales/disposals of operating property
(2,576 )
(1,016 )
(979 )
Impairment of intangible and other assets
2,582
-
-
Deferred income taxes, net
1,130
4,767
2,115
Stock-based compensation
4,639
4,236
18,256
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in trade and other accounts receivable
(285,169 )
81,415
(57,419 )
Increase in other assets
(4,719 )
(11,395 )
(2,962 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
108,090
(42,138 )
22,527
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
28,496
(17,786 )
8,367
Increase in insurance claims
110,534
7,502
1,545
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
210,717
307,840
297,901
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net change in other short-term investments
(131 )
-
Sales and maturities of investments
22,632
62,922
51,576
Purchases of investments
(25,550 )
(65,922 )
(54,041 )
Purchases of operating property
(30,626 )
(19,416 )
(9,747 )
Proceeds from sales of operating property
7,760
3,991
4,018
Consideration paid for acquisition
(2,766 )
-
-
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(28,419 )
(18,556 )
(8,194 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase (decrease) in cash overdraft
20,870
(1,461 )
13,097
Dividends paid
(109,504 )
(27,891 )
(88,918 )
Payment for debt issue costs
(1,132 )
-
-
Proceeds from exercises of stock options
1,056
1,435
Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued related to stock-based compensation plans
(3,326 )
(8,456 )
(3,938 )
Purchases of common stock
(115,962 )
(88,578 )
(208,087 )
Principal payments on finance lease obligations
(43,703 )
(44,635 )
(43,283 )
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
-
(600 )
-
Payment of contingent consideration
-
-
(985 )
NET CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(252,032 )
(170,565 )
(330,679 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(427 )
1,060
(1,708 )
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(70,161 )
119,779
(42,680 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
319,515
199,736
242,416
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 249,354
$ 319,515
$ 199,736
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 26, 2020,
December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary Shareholders
Additional
Accumulated
Other
Non-
Common Stock
Paid-In
Retained
Treasury Stock at Cost
Comprehensive
controlling
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
Shares
Amount
(Loss) Income
Interests
Total
Balance December 30, 2017
67,740,380
$
$
209,599
$
1,611,158
25,749,493
$
(1,167,600 )
$ (3,162)
$
3,205
$
653,877
Adoption of accounting standards (Note 1)
Net income (loss)
255,281
(68 )
255,213
Dividends ($0.63 per share)
(25,933 )
(25,933 )
Purchases of common stock
2,000,000
(208,087 )
(208,087 )
Transaction with noncontrolling interests
1,078
(1,078 )
-
Issuance of stock related to stock-based compensation plans
130,582
(2,081 )
5,508
(424 )
(2,503 )
Stock-based compensation
18,256
18,256
Other comprehensive (loss) income
(2,713 )
(2,463 )
Balance December 29, 2018
67,870,962
$
$
226,852
$
1,841,279
27,755,001
$
(1,376,111 )
$
(5,875 )
$
2,309
$
689,133
Net income (loss)
227,720
(17 )
227,703
Dividends ($2.70 per share)
(106,838 )
(106,838 )
Purchases of common stock
849,068
(88,578 )
(88,578 )
Purchase noncontrolling interests
1,842
(2,442 )
(600 )
Issuance of stock related to stock-based compensation plans
212,457
(6,807 )
5,857
(595 )
(7,400 )
Stock-based compensation
4,236
4,236
Other comprehensive income
3,663
3,813
Balance December 28, 2019
68,083,419
$
$
226,123
$
1,962,161
28,609,926
$
(1,465,284 )
$
(2,212 )
$
-
$
721,469
Adoption of accounting standards (Note 16
)
(702 )
(702 )
Net income
192,106
192,106
Dividends ($2.79 per share)
(107,327 )
(107,327 )
Purchases of common stock
1,178,970
(115,962 )
(115,962 )
Issuance of stock related to stock-based compensation plans
100,283
(1,887 )
8,743
(715 )
(2,601 )
Stock-based compensation
4,639
4,639
Other comprehensive income
-
Balance December 26, 2020
68,183,702
$
$
228,875
$
2,046,238
29,797,639
$
(1,581,961 )
$
(1,999 )
$
-
$
691,835
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (“LSHI”). Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary are herein referred to as “Landstar” or the “Company.” Significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires the use of management’s estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fiscal Year
Landstar’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the last Saturday in December.
Revenue Recognition
The nature of the Company’s freight transportation services and its performance obligations to customers, regardless of the mode of transportation used to perform such services, relate to the safe and on-time
pick-up
and delivery of a customer’s freight on a shipment-by-shipment
basis. Landstar customers are typically invoiced on a shipment-by-shipment
basis at a pre-defined
rate, payable thirty to sixty (30-60)
days after the customer’s receipt of such invoice. Payment terms to customers do not contain a significant financing component and the amount owed by the customer does not contain variable terms, embedded or otherwise. We have determined that revenue recognition over the freight transit period provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of services to the customer as our obligation for which we are primarily responsible for fulfilling is performed over the transit period. Accordingly, transportation revenue billed to a customer for the physical transportation of freight and related direct freight expenses are recognized on a gross basis over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is satisfied. The Company determines the transit period for a given shipment based upon the pick-up
date and the delivery date, which may be estimated if delivery has not occurred as of the reporting date. Determining the transit period and how much of it has been completed as of a given reporting date may therefore require management to make judgments that affect the timing of revenue recognized. With respect to shipments with a pick-up
date in one reporting period and a delivery date in another, the Company recognizes such transportation revenue based on relative transit time in each reporting period. A days in transit output method is used to measure the progress of the performance of the Company’s freight transportation services as of the reporting date and a portion of the total revenue that will be billed to the customer once a load is delivered is recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of total transit time that has been completed at the end of the applicable reporting period. Reinsurance premiums of the insurance segment are recognized over the period earned, which is usually on a monthly basis. Fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”) are excluded from revenue and paid in entirety to the BCO Independent Contractors.
Adoption of Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
- Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(“ASU 2014-09”)
on December 31, 2017 under the modified retrospective transition method resulting in a $773,000 cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. Our reported results for 2020, 2019 and 2018 are presented under Topic 606.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table summarizes (i)
the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by mode of transportation and (ii)
the total
amount of
truck transportation revenue hauled
by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers generated by
equipment type during the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ended
Mode
December 26,
December 28,
December 29,
Truck - BCO Independent Contractors
%
%
%
Truck - Truck Brokerage Carriers
%
%
%
Rail intermodal
%
%
%
Ocean and air cargo carriers
%
%
%
Truck Equipment Type
Van equipment
$ 2,515,940
$ 2,371,188
$ 2,791,494
Unsided/platform equipment
$ 1,202,295
$ 1,295,817
$ 1,386,387
Less-than-truckload
$ 97,546
$ 98,324
$ 102,531
Insurance Claim Costs
Landstar provides, primarily on an actuarially determined basis, for the estimated costs of cargo, property, casualty, general liability and workers’ compensation claims both reported and for claims incurred but not reported. For periods prior to May 1, 2019, Landstar retains liability for commercial trucking claims up to $5,000,000 per occurrence and maintains various third party insurance arrangements for liabilities in excess of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention. Effective May 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022, the Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5,000,000, with an aggregate limit of $15,000,000 for each policy year, an aggregate limit of $20,000,000 for the thirty-six
month term ended April 30, 2022, and options to increase such aggregate limits for pre-established
amounts of additional premium. If aggregate losses under the Initial Excess Policy exceed either the annual aggregate limit or the aggregate limit for the three year period ending April 30, 2022, and the Company did not elect to increase such aggregate limits for a pre-established
amount of additional premium, Landstar would retain liability of up to $10,000,000 per occurrence, inclusive of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims during the remainder of the applicable policy year(s). Moreover, a
s a result of the Company’s aggregate loss experience since it entered into the Initial Excess Policy, the Initial Excess Policy required the Company to
pay additional premium up to a pre-established maximum amount of $3,500,000,
which was provided for in insurance and claims costs for the Company’s 2020 fiscal first quarter.
The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States in recent years, the availability of such excess coverage has significantly decreased and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Effective May 1, 2020 with respect to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2021, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $14 million, or over 170%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000.
In addition, third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of Landstar’s self-insured retention generally require that the Company fund settlement payments to claimants and seek reimbursement from the Company’s third party insurance providers, as applicable. In connection with settlements of claims in excess of the Company’s $5 million self-insured retention, the Company accrues for such anticipated settlement payments and records a corresponding receivable for amounts the Company expects to collect from its third party insurance providers following the payment of such settlement amounts. On the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 26, 2020, the Company has an aggregate accrual of current liabilities in insurance claims for anticipated payments of settlement amounts above our self-insured retention of
$104,000,000, and a corresponding amount of current assets included in other receivables. The Company believes it is reasonably assured that it will collect these receivables from its third party insurance providers following its payment of the settlement amounts included in its accrual. The Company evaluates collectability of these receivables based on the credit worthiness and surplus of the applicable third party insurance provider, along with its prior experience and contractual terms with such third party insurance provider.
Further, the Company retains liability of up to $1,000,000 for each general liability claim, up to $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims.
Tires
Tires purchased as part of trailing equipment are capitalized as part of the cost of the equipment. Replacement tires are charged to expense when placed in service.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Included in cash and cash equivalents are all investments, except those provided for collateral, with an original maturity of 3 months or less.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, short and long-term investments, trade and other accounts receivable, accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, and long-term debt plus current maturities (“Debt”). The carrying value of cash equivalents, trade and other accounts receivable, accounts payable, current insurance claims and other accrued liabilities approximates fair value as the assets and liabilities are short term in nature. Short and long-term investments are carried at fair value as further described in Note 4 in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s Debt includes borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, to the extent there are any, plus borrowings relating to finance lease obligations used to finance trailing equipment. The interest rates on borrowings under the revolving credit facility are typically tied to short-term interest rates that adjust monthly and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value. Interest rates on borrowings under finance leases approximate the interest rates that would currently be available to the Company under similar terms and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value.
Trade and Other Receivables
The allowance for doubtful accounts for both trade and other receivables represents management’s estimate of the amount of outstanding receivables that will not be collected. Estimates are used to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts for both trade and other receivables and are generally based on specific identification, historical collection results, current economic trends and changes in payment trends.
Following is a summary of the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for fiscal years ending December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands):
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
Write-offs,
Net of
Recoveries
Balance at
End of
Period
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 26, 2020
Trade receivables
$ 7,284
$ 6,121
$ (4,735 )
$ 8,670
Other receivables
8,806
3,291
(3,698 )
8,399
Other non-current
receivables
$ 16,350
$ 9,415
$ (8,432 )
$ 17,333
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Trade receivables
$ 6,413
$ 4,309
$ (3,438 )
$ 7,284
Other receivables
7,211
5,518
(3,923 )
8,806
Other non-current
receivables
-
$ 13,880
$ 9,831
$ (7,361 )
$ 16,350
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Trade receivables
$ 6,131
$ 3,886
$ (3,604 )
$ 6,413
Other receivables
6,952
3,520
(3,261 )
7,211
Other non-current
receivables
(4 )
$ 13,334
$ 7,415
$ (6,869 )
$ 13,880
Operating Property
Operating property is recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Buildings and improvements are being depreciated over 30 years. Trailing equipment is being depreciated over 7 to 10 years. Information technology hardware and software included in other equipment is generally being depreciated over 3 to 7 years.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. The Company
has two reporting units within the transportation logistics segment that report goodwill. The Company reviews its goodwill balance annually for impairment for each reporting unit, unless circumstances dictate more frequent assessments, and in accordance with ASU 2011-08,
Testing Goodwill for Impairment
. ASU 2011-08
permits an initial assessment, commonly referred to as “step zero”, of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and also provides a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative analysis required by ASC Topic 350. In the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020, the Company performed the qualitative assessment of goodwill and determined it was more likely than not that the fair value of each of its reporting units would be greater than its carrying amount. Therefore, the Company determined it was not necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. Furthermore, there has been no historical impairment of the Company’s goodwill.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense is equal to the current year’s liability for income taxes and a provision for deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Share-Based Payments
The Company’s share-based payment arrangements include restricted stock units (“RSU”), stock options, non-vested
restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units. The fair value of an RSU with a performance condition is determined based on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant, discounted for lack of marketability for a minimum post-vesting holding
requirement. With respect to RSU awards with a performance condition, the Company reports compensation expense ratably over the life of the award based on an estimated number of units that will vest over the life of the award, multiplied by the fair value of an RSU. The fair value of an RSU with a market condition is determined at the time of grant based on the expected achievement of the market condition at the end of each vesting period. With respect to RSU awards with a market condition, the Company recognizes compensation expense ratably over the requisite service period under an award based on the fair market value of the award at the time of grant, regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied. Previously recognized compensation cost would be reversed, however, if the employee terminated employment prior to completing such requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and recognizes compensation cost for stock option awards expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Forfeitures are estimated at grant date based on historical experience and anticipated employee turnover. The fair values of each share of non-vested restricted stock issued and Deferred Stock Unit granted are based on the fair value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant and compensation
costs for non-vested restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per common share attributable
to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding
, including outstanding non-vested
restricted stock and outstanding Deferred Stock Units. Diluted earnings
per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary are based on the weighted average number of common shares and Deferred Stock Units outstanding plus the incremental shares that would have been outstanding upon the assumed exercise of all dilutive stock options.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per common share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary to the average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary (in thousands):
Fiscal Years
Average number of common shares outstanding
38,602
39,786
41,273
Incremental shares from assumed exercises of stock options
-
-
Average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding
38,602
39,786
41,310
For the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, no options outstanding to purchase shares of Common Stock were antidilutive. Outstanding RSUs were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary for all periods because the performance metric requirements or market condition for vesting had not been satisfied.
Dividends Payable
On December 8, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share payable on January 22, 2021, to stockholders of record of its Common Stock as of January 8, 2021. Dividends payable of $76,770,000 related to this special dividend were included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 26, 2020.
On December 10, 2019, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share payable on January 24, 2020, to stockholders of record of its Common Stock as of January 10, 2020. Dividends payable of $78,947,000 related to this special dividend were included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2019.
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities of the Company’s Canadian and Mexican operations are translated from their functional currency to U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and revenue and expense accounts are translated at average monthly exchange rates during the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Transactional gains and losses arising from receivable and payable balances, including intercompany balances, in the normal course of business that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the operation are recorded in the statements of income when they occur.
(2) Acquired Business
On May 6, 2020, the C
ompany
formed a new subsidiary that was subsequently renamed Landstar Blue, LLC (“Landstar Blue”). Landstar Blue arranges truckload brokerage services while helping the Company to develop and test digital technologies and processes for the benefit of all Landstar independent commission sales agents. On June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company whose business focused on truckload brokerage services. Cash consideration paid for the acquisition was approximately $2,766,000. In addition, the Company assumed approximately $200,000 in liabilities consisting of additional contingent purchase price. The resulting goodwill arising from the acquisition was approximately $2,871,000. With respect to this goodwill, 100% is expected to be deductible by the Company for U.S. income tax purposes. Pro forma financial information for prior periods is not presented as the Company does not believe the acquisition to be material to the Company’s consolidated results. The results of operations for Landstar Blue are presented as part of the Company’s transportations logistics segment. Transaction costs for the acquisition were insignificant.
(3) Other Comprehensive Income
The following table presents the components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary, net of related income taxes, as of and for the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands):
Unrealized
Holding (Losses)
Gains on
Available-for-Sale
Securities
Foreign Currency
Translation
Total
Balance as of December 30, 2017
$ (144 )
$ (3,018 )
$ (3,162 )
Other comprehensive loss
(786 )
(1,927 )
(2,713 )
Balance as of December 29, 2018
(930 )
(4,945 )
(5,875 )
Other comprehensive income
2,050
1,613
3,663
Balance as of December 28, 2019
1,120
(3,332 )
(2,212 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)
1,688
(1,475 )
Balance as of December 26, 2020
$ 2,808
$ (4,807 )
$ (1,999 )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to investment income due to the realization of previously unrealized gains and losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income were not significant for the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018.
(4) Investments
Investments include primarily investment-grade corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury obligations having maturities of up to five years (the “bond portfolio”) and money market investments. Investments in the bond portfolio are reported as available-for-sale
and are carried at fair value. Investments maturing less than one year from the balance sheet date are included in short-term investments and investments maturing more than one year from the balance sheet date are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Management performs an analysis of the nature of the unrealized losses on available-for-sale
investments to determine whether an allowance for credit loss is appropriate.
Unrealized losses, representing the excess of the purchase price of an investment over its fair value as of the end of a period, considered to be a result of credit-related factors, are to be included as a charge in the statement of income, while unrealized losses considered to be a result of non-
credit-related factors are to be included as a component of shareholders’ equity. Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets are classified within Level 1. Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on quoted market prices, are classified within Level 2. As Level 2 investments include positions that are not traded in active markets, valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability,
which are generally based on available market information. Any transfers between levels are recognized as of the beginning of any reporting period. Fair value of the bond portfolio was determined using Level 1 inputs related to U.S. Treasury obligations and money market investments and Level 2 inputs related to investment-grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities and direct obligations of government agencies. Unrealized gains, net of unrealized losses, on the investments in the bond portfolio were $3,578,000 and $1,427,000 at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
The amortized cost and fair values of available-for-sale
investments are as follows at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 (in thousands):
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
December 26, 2020
Money market investments
$ 17,867
$ -
$ -
$ 17,867
Asset-backed securities
-
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies
98,241
3,551
101,720
U.S. Treasury obligations
2,338
-
2,463
Total
$ 119,013
$ 3,676
$
$ 122,591
December 28, 2019
Money market investments
$ 15,691
$ -
$ -
$ 15,691
Asset-backed securities
-
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies
97,583
1,465
99,004
U.S. Treasury obligations
2,335
2,342
Total
$ 116,181
$ 1,477
$
$ 117,608
For those available-for-sale
investments with unrealized losses at December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the following table summarizes the duration of the unrealized loss (in thousands):
Less than 12 months
12 months or longer
Total
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Loss
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Loss
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Loss
December 26, 2020
Asset-backed securities
$
$
$ -
$ -
$
$
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies
2,681
-
-
2,681
Total
$ 3,222
$
$ -
$ -
$ 3,222
$
December 28, 2019
Asset-backed securities
$
$
$ -
$ -
$
$
Corporate bonds and direct obligations of government agencies
8,728
4,260
12,988
U.S. Treasury obligations
1,226
-
-
1,226
Total
$ 10,525
$
$ 4,260
$
$ 14,785
$
The Company expects to recover, through collection of all of the contractual cash flows of each security, the amortized cost basis of these securities as it does not intend to sell, and does not anticipate being required to sell, these securities before recovery of the cost basis. For these reasons, no losses have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.
Short-term investments include $41,375,000 in current maturities of investments held by the Company’s insurance segment at December 26, 2020. The non-current
portion of the bond portfolio of $81,216,000 is included in other assets. The short-term investments, together with $30,774,000 of non-current
investments, provide collateral for the $64,934,000 of letters of credit issued to guarantee payment of insurance claims.
Investment income represents the earnings on the insurance segment’s assets. Investment income earned from the assets of the insurance segment are included as a component of operating income as the investment of these assets is critical to providing collateral, liquidity and earnings with respect to the operation of the Company’s insurance programs.
(5) Income Taxes
The provisions for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):
Fiscal Years
Current:
Federal
$ 47,955
$ 52,422
$ 60,650
State
7,249
10,367
9,410
Foreign
Total current
$ 55,761
$ 63,293
$ 71,053
Deferred:
Federal
$ 1,523
$ 4,212
$ 1,730
State
(393 )
Total deferred
$ 1,130
$ 4,767
$ 2,115
Income taxes
$ 56,891
$ 68,060
$ 73,168
Temporary differences and carryforwards which gave rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
Dec. 26, 2020
Dec. 28, 2019
Deferred tax assets:
Receivable valuations
$ 4,286
$ 4,004
Share-based payments
2,020
2,923
Self-insured claims
3,613
3,565
Other
6,056
2,935
Total deferred tax assets
$ 15,975
$ 13,427
Deferred tax liabilities:
Operating property
$ 52,014
$ 49,669
Goodwill
3,772
4,223
Other
3,087
1,531
Total deferred tax liabilities
$ 58,873
$ 55,423
Net deferred tax liability
$ 42,898
$ 41,996
The following table summarizes the differences between income taxes calculated at the federal income tax rates of 21% for 2020, 2019, and 2018 on income before income taxes and the provisions for income taxes (in thousands):
Fiscal Years
Income taxes at federal income tax rate
$ 52,289
$ 62,110
$ 68,960
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
5,375
8,876
7,713
Non-deductible
executive compensation
-
1,012
Meals and entertainment exclusion
Share-based payments
(977 )
(3,093 )
(2,138 )
Section 199 deductions and R&D credits
(717 )
(714 )
(3,309 )
Other, net
Income taxes
$ 56,891
$ 68,060
$ 73,168
The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. The Company or its subsidiaries file state tax returns in the majority of the U.S. state tax jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for 2016 and prior years. The Company’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Landstar Canada, Inc., is subject to Canadian income and other taxes. The Company’s wholly-owned Mexican subsidiaries, Landstar Holdings, S. de R.L.C.V., Landstar Metro, S.A.P.I. de C.V. and Landstar Metro Servicios S.A.P.I. de C.V., are subject to Mexican income and other taxes. The Company’s Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries also may each be subject to U.S. income and other taxes.
As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company had $2,030,000 and $2,253,000, respectively, of net unrecognized tax benefits representing the provision for the uncertainty of certain tax positions plus a component of interest and penalties. Estimated interest and penalties on the provision for the uncertainty of certain tax positions is included in income tax expense. At December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019,
there was $648,000 and $690,000, respectively, accrued for estimated interest and penalties related to the uncertainty of certain tax positions. The Company does not currently anticipate any significant increase or decrease to the unrecognized tax benefit during fiscal year 2021.
The following table summarizes the rollforward of the total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
Fiscal Years
Gross unrecognized tax benefits - beginning of the year
$ 3,014
$ 3,519
Gross increases related to current year tax positions
Gross increases related to prior year tax positions
Gross decreases related to prior year tax positions
-
(295 )
Settlements
-
(356 )
Lapse of statute of limitations
(1,010 )
(791 )
Gross unrecognized tax benefits - end of the year
$ 2,585
$ 3,014
Landstar paid income taxes of $47,589,000 in fiscal year 2020, $67,317,000 in fiscal year 2019 and $75,124,000 in fiscal year 2018.
(6) Operating Property
Operating property is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Dec. 26, 2020
Dec. 28, 2019
Land
$ 16,328
$ 15,834
Buildings and improvements
64,314
58,484
Trailing equipment
433,400
425,595
Other equipment
82,361
66,791
Total operating property, gross
596,403
566,704
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
299,407
280,849
Total operating property, net
$ 296,996
$ 285,855
Included above is $199,045,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $222,993,000 in fiscal year 2019 of operating property under finance leases, $139,259,000 and $156,439,000, respectively, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Landstar acquired operating property by entering into finance leases in the amount of $31,633,000 in fiscal year 2020, $29,054,000 in fiscal year 2019 and $46,595,000 in fiscal year 2018.
(7) Retirement Plan
Landstar sponsors an Internal Revenue Code section 401(k) defined contribution plan for the benefit of U.S. domiciled full-time employees who have completed six months of service. Eligible employees make voluntary contributions up to 75% of their base salary, subject to certain limitations. Landstar contributes an amount equal to 100% of the first 3% and 50% of the next 2% of such contributions, subject to certain limitations.
The expense for the Company-sponsored defined contribution plan included in selling, general and administrative expense was $2,417,000 in fiscal year 2020, $2,427,000 in fiscal year 2019 and $2,147,000 in fiscal year 2018.
(8) Debt
Other than the finance lease obligations as presented on the consolidated balance sheets, the Company had no outstanding debt as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019.
On August 18, 2020, Landstar entered into an amended and restated
credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (
the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures on August 18, 2023,
provides $250,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $35,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase up to an aggregate borrowing capacity of $400,000,000.
The revolving credit loans under the Credit Agreement, at the option of Landstar, bear interest at (i) the Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00%, or (ii) an alternate base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case with the applicable margin determined based upon the Company’s Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. The revolving credit facility bears a commitment fee, payable quarterly in arrears, of 0.25% to 0.35%, based on the Company’s Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recent applicable fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. As of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders to the extent that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event that, among other things, a person or group acquires 35% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors or the directors cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors, as defined in the Credit Agreement. None of these covenants are presently considered by management to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.
The interest rates on borrowings under the revolving credit facility are typically tied to short-term interest rates that adjust monthly and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value. Interest rates on borrowings under finance leases approximate the interest rates that would currently be available to the Company under similar terms and, as such, carrying value approximates fair value.
Landstar paid interest of $3,915,000 in fiscal year 2020, $4,439,000 in fiscal year 2019 and $3,761,000 in fiscal year 2018.
(9) Leases
Landstar’s noncancelable leases are primarily comprised of finance leases for the acquisition of new trailing equipment. Each finance lease for the acquisition of trailing equipment is a five year lease with a $1 purchase option for the applicable equipment at lease expiration. Substantially all of Landstar’s operating lease right-of-use
assets and operating lease liabilities represent leases for facilities maintained in support of the Company’s network of BCO Independent Contractors and office space used to conduct Landstar’s business. These leases do not have significant rent escalation holidays, concessions, leasehold improvement incentives or other build-out
clauses. Further, the leases do not contain contingent rent provisions. Landstar also rents
certain trailing equipment to supplement the Company-owned trailer fleet under “month-to-month”
lease terms, which are not required to be recorded on the balance sheet due to the less than twelve month lease term exemption. Sublease income is primarily comprised of weekly trailing equipment rentals to our BCO Independent Contractors.
Most of Landstar’s operating leases include one or more options to renew. The exercise of lease renewal options is typically at Landstar’s sole discretion, and, as such, the majority of renewals to extend the lease terms are not included in the right-of-use
assets and lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise. Landstar regularly evaluates the renewal options, and when they are reasonably certain of exercise, Landstar includes the renewal period in the lease term.
As most of Landstar’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, Landstar utilized its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments. Landstar has a centrally managed treasury function; therefore, based on the applicable lease terms and the current economic environment, we apply a portfolio approach for determining the incremental borrowing rate.
The components of lease cost for finance leases and operating leases as of December 26, 2020 were (in thousands):
Finance leases:
Amortization of right-of-use
assets
$ 24,589
Interest on lease liability
3,155
Total finance lease cost
27,744
Operating leases:
Lease cost
3,075
Variable lease cost
-
Sublease income
(4,695 )
Total net operating lease income
(1,620 )
Total net lease cost
$ 26,124
Total rent expense, net of sublease rent income, under operating leases was $490,000 in fiscal year 2019. Total sublease rent income, net of rent expense, under operating leases was $868,000 in fiscal year 2018.
A summary of the lease classification on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 26, 2020 is as follows (in thousands):
Assets:
Operating lease right-of-use
assets
Other assets
$ 2,595
Finance lease assets
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization
139,259
Total lease assets
$ 141,854
Liabilities:
The following table reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for the finance and operating leases to the finance and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at December 26, 2020 (in thousands):
Finance
Leases
Operating
Leases
$ 37,917
$
28,774
21,759
11,827
5,580
Thereafter
-
-
Total future minimum lease payments
105,857
2,815
Less amount representing interest (1.9% to 4.4%)
5,083
Present value of minimum lease payments
$ 100,774
$ 2,595
Current maturities of long-term debt
35,415
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
65,359
Other current liabilities
Deferred income taxes and other noncurrent liabilities
1,856
The weighted average remaining lease term and the weighted average discount rate for finance and operating leases as of December 26, 2020 were:
Finance Leases
Operating Leases
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
3.4
4.0
Weighted average discount rate
3.0 %
4.0 %
(10) Share-Based Payment Arrangements
As of Decembe
r 26, 2020, the Company had two employee equity incentive plans, the 2002 employee stock option and stock incentive plan (the “ESOSIP”) and the 2011 equity incentive plan (the “2011 EIP”). No further grants can be made under the ESOSIP. The Company also has a stock compensation plan for members of its Board of Directors, the Amended and Restated 2013 Directors Stock Compensation Plan (as amended and restated as of May 17, 2016, the “2013 DSCP”). 6,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were authorized for issuance under the 2011 EIP and 115,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were authorized for issuance under the 2013 DSCP. The ESOSIP, 2011 EIP and 2013 DSCP are each referred to herein as a “Plan,” and, collectively, as the “Plans.”Amounts recognized in the financial statements with respect to these Plans are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Years
Total cost of the Plans during the period
$ 4,639
$ 4,236
$ 18,256
Amount of related income tax benefit recognized during the period
(2,114 )
(4,130 )
(6,610 )
Net cost of the Plans during the period
$ 2,525
$
$ 11,646
Included in income tax benefits recognized in the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 were excess tax benefits from stock-based awards of $941,000, $3,019,000 and $2,060,000, respectively.
As of December 26, 2020, there were 60,586 shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2013 DSCP and 3,672,286 shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance in the aggregate under the ESOSIP and 2011 EIP.
Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s outstanding restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards with either a performance condition or a market condition under the Plans:
Number
of RSUs
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
Outstanding at December 30, 2017
387,372
$ 55.75
Granted
65,824
$ 95.94
Vested
(67,971 )
$ 53.92
Forfeited
(92,880 )
$ 52.36
Outstanding at December 29, 2018
292,345
$ 66.31
Granted
68,820
$ 89.34
Shares earned in excess of target (1)
71,172
$ 54.78
Vested shares, including shares earned in excess of target
(226,981 )
$ 53.27
Forfeited
(6,481 )
$ 86.60
Outstanding at December 28, 2019
198,875
$ 84.37
Granted
59,967
$ 102.58
Shares earned in excess of target (2)
11,648
$ 77.00
Vested shares, including shares earned in excess of target
(76,290 )
$ 73.44
Forfeited
(10,987 )
$ 100.55
Outstanding at December 26, 2020
183,213
$ 93.44
(1)
Represents additional shares earned under both the January 27, 2015 and January 29, 2016 RSU awards as fiscal year 2018 financial results exceeded target performance level and under the May 1, 2015 RSU award as total shareholder return exceeded the target under the award.
(2)
Represents additional shares earned under the February 2, 2017 RSU awards as fiscal year 2019 financial results exceeded target performance level.
During fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Company granted RSUs with a performance condition. During fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the Company also issued RSUs with a market condition, as further described below.
RSUs with a performance condition granted on January 31, 2020 may vest on January 31 of 2023, 2024 and 2025. RSUs with a performance condition granted on February 1, 2019 may vest on January 31 of 2022, 2023 and 2024. RSUs with a performance condition granted on February 2, 2018 may vest on January 31 of 2021, 2022 and 2023. RSUs with a performance condition granted
on January 31, 2020, February 1, 2019 and February 2, 2018 vest based on growth in operating income and pre-tax
income per diluted share from continuing operations attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary as compared to a base year, being the year immediately preceding the year of grant. At the time of grant, the target number of common shares available for issuance under the January 31, 2020, February 1, 2019 and February 2, 2018 grants equals
100% of the number of RSUs granted, and the maximum number of common shares available for issuance under the January 31, 2020, February 1, 2019 and February 2, 2018 grants equals
200% of the number of RSUs credited to the recipient. In the event actual results exceed the target, the number of shares that will be granted will exceed the number of RSUs granted. The fair value of an RSU with a performance condition was determined based on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant, discounted for lack of marketability for a minimum post-vesting holding requirement. The discount rate due to lack of marketability used for RSU award grants with a performance condition for all periods was
7%. With respect to RSU awards with a performance condition, the Company reports compensation expense over the life of the award based on an estimated number of units that will vest over the life of the award, multiplied by the fair value of an RSU at the time of grant.
During fiscal year 2019, the Company granted 9,725 RSUs that vest based on a market condition. During fiscal year 2018, the Company granted 9,324 RSUs that vest based on a market condition. The RSUs granted in 2019 may vest on June 30 of 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the RSUs granted in 2018 may vest on June 30 of 2022, 2023 and 2024, in each case based on the Company’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) compound annual growth rate over the vesting periods, adjusted to reflect dividends (if any) paid during such periods and capital adjustments as may be necessary. The maximum number of common shares available for issuance under each grant equals 150% of the number of RSUs granted. The fair value of each RSU award was determined at the time of grant based on the expected achievement of the market condition at the end of each vesting period. With respect to these RSU awards, the Company reports compensation expense ratably over the life of the award based on an estimated number of units that will vest over the life of the award, multiplied by the fair value of the RSU. Previously recognized compensation cost would be reversed only if the employee terminated employment prior to completing the requisite service period.
The Company recognized approximately $1,602,000, $1,557,000 and $15,985,000 of share-based compensation expense related to RSU awards in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 26, 2020, there was a maximum of $33.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSU awards granted under the Plans with an expected average remaining life of approximately 2.8 years. With respect to RSU awards with a performance condition, the amount of future compensation expense to be recognized will be determined based on future operating results.
Non-vested
Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Units
The 2011 EIP provides the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors with the authority to issue shares of Common Stock of the Company, subject to certain vesting and other restrictions on transfer (“restricted stock”).
The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s outstanding shares of non-vested
restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units (defined below) under the Plans:
Number of
Shares and Deferred
Stock Units
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Non-vested
at December 30, 2017
54,755
$ 78.02
Granted
22,803
$ 113.35
Vested
(19,814 )
$ 75.11
Forfeited
(1,757 )
$ 71.12
Non-vested
at December 29, 2018
55,987
$ 93.66
Granted
30,338
$ 102.76
Vested
(21,517 )
$ 92.70
Non-vested
at December 28, 2019
64,808
$ 98.24
Granted
26,604
$ 111.88
Vested
(28,621 )
$ 98.83
Forfeited
(2,351 )
$ 106.34
Non-vested
at December 26, 2020
60,440
$ 103.65
The fair value of each share of non-vested
restricted stock issued and Deferred Stock Unit granted under the Plans is based on the fair value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. Shares of non-vested
restricted stock are generally subject to vesting in three equal annual installments either on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant or the third, fourth and
fifth anniversary of the date of the grant, or 100% on the first or fifth anniversary of the date of the grant. For restricted stock awards granted under the 2013 DSCP plan, each recipient may elect to defer receipt of shares and instead receive restricted stock units (“Deferred Stock Units”), which represent contingent rights to receive shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of recipient separation from service from the Board of Directors, or, if earlier, upon a change in control event of the Company. Deferred Stock Units become vested 100% on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. Deferred Stock Units do not represent actual ownership in shares of the Company’s Common Stock and the recipient does not have voting rights or other incidents of ownership until the shares are issued. However, Deferred Stock Units do contain the right to receive dividend equivalent payments prior to settlement into shares.
As of December 26, 2020, there was $3,312,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested
shares of restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units granted under the Plans. The unrecognized compensation cost related to these non-vested
shares of restricted stock and Deferred Stock Units is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.
Stock Options
The Company did not grant any stock options during its 2018, 2019 or 2020 fiscal years. Options outstanding under the Plans generally become exercisable in either five equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant or 100% on the fifth anniversary from the date of grant, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. All options granted under the Plans expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. Under the Plans, the exercise price of each option equals the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.
The fair value of each option grant on its grant date was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company utilized historical data, including exercise patterns and employee departure behavior, in estimating the term that options will be outstanding. Expected volatility was based on historical volatility and other factors, such as expected changes in volatility arising from planned changes to the Company’s business, if any. The risk-free interest rate was based on the yield of zero coupon U.S. Treasury bonds for terms that approximated the terms of the options granted.
The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s outstanding stock options under the Plans:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Number of
Options
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
per Share
Number of
Options
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
per Share
Options at December 30, 2017
189,040
$ 49.34
169,240
$ 48.50
Exercised
(99,926 )
$ 48.36
Options at December 29, 2018
89,114
$ 50.44
88,114
$ 50.35
Exercised
(44,647 )
$ 49.64
Options at December 28, 2019
44,467
$ 51.24
44,467
$ 51.24
Exercised
(26,817 )
$ 49.31
Options at December 26, 2020
17,650
$ 54.16
17,650
$ 54.16
The following tables summarize stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 26, 2020:
Options Outstanding
Range of Exercise Prices Per Share
Number
Outstanding
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Term (years)
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
per Share
$
41.80 - $
45.00
1,500
0.1
$ 41.80
$
45.01 - $
56.40
16,150
1.9
$ 55.31
17,650
1.7
$ 54.16
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices Per Share
Number
Exercisable
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Term (years)
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
per Share
$
41.80 - $
45.00
1,500
0.1
$ 41.80
$
45.01 - $
56.40
16,150
1.9
$ 55.31
17,650
1.7
$ 54.16
At December 26, 2020, the total intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $1,433,000. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1,846,000, $2,683,000 and $6,715,000, respectively.
As of December 26, 2020, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested
stock options granted under the Plans.
Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan
Directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company (each an “Eligible Director”) are entitled under the 2013 DSCP to receive a grant of such number of restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Deferred Stock Units equal to the quotient of $110,000 divided by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date immediately following the date of each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company (an “Annual Meeting”). In fiscal year 2020, 4,890 restricted shares and 978 Deferred Stock Units were granted to Eligible Directors. In fiscal year 2019, 5,240 restricted shares and 1,048 Deferred Stock Units were granted to Eligible Directors. In fiscal year 2018, 4,950 restricted shares and 990 Deferred Stock Units were granted to Eligible Directors. Restricted shares and Deferred Stock Units granted in 2018, 2019 and 2020 vest on the date of the next Annual Meeting. During each of fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, $660,000 of compensation cost was recorded for the grant of these restricted shares and Deferred Stock Units.
(11) Equity
On December 9, 2019, the Landstar System, Inc. Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 1,849,068 additional
shares of the Company’s Common Stock from time to time in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 26, 2020, the Company had authorization to purchase in the aggregate up to 1,821,030 shares of its Common Stock under this program. No specific expiration date has been assigned to the December 9, 2019 authorization. During fiscal year 2020, Landstar purchased a total of 1,178,970 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $115,962,000 pursuant to its previously announced stock purchase programs.
The Company has 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and unissued.
(12) Commitments and Contingencies
At December 26, 2020, in addition to the $64,934,000 letters of credit secured by investments, Landstar had $33,618,000 of letters of credit outstanding under the Company’s Credit Agreement.
The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Many of these claims are covered in whole or in part by insurance. Based on knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, management believes that adequate provisions have been made for probable losses with respect to the resolution of all such claims and pending litigation and that the ultimate outcome, after provisions therefor, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, but could have a material effect on the results of operations in a given quarter or year.
(13) Segment Information
Landstar markets its integrated transportation management solutions primarily through independent commission sales agents and exclusively utilizes third party capacity providers to transport customers’ freight. Landstar’s independent commission sales agents enter into contractual arrangements with the Company and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive
contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Through this network of agents and capacity providers linked together by Landstar’s series of digital technologies, Landstar operates an integrated transportation management solutions business primarily throughout North America with revenue of $4.1 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year. The Company reports the results of two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment.
The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Examples of the industries serviced by the transportation logistics segment include automotive parts and assemblies, consumer durables,
building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics and military equipment. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including third party logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment. Billings for freight transportation services are typically charged to customers on a per shipment basis for the physical transportation of freight and are referred to as transportation revenue. The results of operations from Landstar Blue, Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios are presented as part of the Company’s transportation logistics segment.
The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to certain of Landstar’s operating subsidiaries. Revenue at the insurance segment represents reinsurance premiums from third party insurance companies that provide insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors where all or a portion of the risk is ultimately borne by Signature. Internal revenue for premiums billed by the insurance segment to the transportation logistics segment is calculated each fiscal period based primarily on an actuarial calculation of historical loss experience and is believed to approximate the cost that would have been incurred by the transportation logistics segment had similar insurance been obtained from an unrelated third party.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates a segment’s performance based on operating income.
No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is generated in North America, primarily through customers located in the United States.
The following tables summarize information about the Company’s reportable business segments as of and for the fiscal years ending December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands):
Transportation
Logistics
Insurance
Total
External revenue
$ 4,076,519
$ 56,462
$ 4,132,981
Internal revenue
54,003
54,003
Investment income
3,399
3,399
Interest and debt expense
3,953
3,953
Depreciation and amortization
45,855
45,855
Operating income
221,210
31,740
252,950
Expenditures on long-lived assets
30,626
30,626
Goodwill
40,949
40,949
Finance lease additions
31,633
31,633
Total assets
1,301,991
351,808
1,653,799
External revenue
$ 4,028,336
$ 56,241
$ 4,084,577
Internal revenue
46,587
46,587
Investment income
5,041
5,041
Interest and debt expense
3,141
3,141
Depreciation and amortization
44,468
44,468
Operating income
258,742
40,162
298,904
Expenditures on long-lived assets
19,416
19,416
Goodwill
38,508
38,508
Finance lease additions
29,054
29,054
Total assets
1,168,944
258,767
1,427,711
External revenue
$ 4,562,796
$ 52,348
$ 4,615,144
Internal revenue
37,872
37,872
Investment income
3,816
3,816
Interest and debt expense
3,354
3,354
Depreciation and amortization
43,570
43,570
Operating income
303,426
28,309
331,735
Expenditures on long-lived assets
9,747
9,747
Goodwill
38,232
38,232
Finance lease additions
46,595
46,595
Total assets
1,175,040
205,524
1,380,564
(14) Change in Accounting Estimate for Self-Insured Claims
Landstar provides for the estimated costs of self-insured claims primarily on an actuarial basis. The amount recorded for the estimated liability for claims incurred is based upon the facts and circumstances known on the applicable balance sheet date. The ultimate resolution of these claims may be for an amount greater or less than the amount estimated by management. The Company continually revises its existing claim estimates as new or revised information becomes available on the status of each claim. Historically, the Company has experienced both favorable and unfavorable development of prior years’ claims estimates.
The following table summarizes the adverse
effect of the increase in the cost of insurance claims resulting from unfavorable development of prior year self-insured claims estimates on operating income, net income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary and earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary set forth in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Fiscal Years Ended
December 26,
December 28,
December 29,
Operating income
$ 9,196
$ 16,679
$ 13,960
Net income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 6,989
$ 12,683
$ 10,582
Earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 0.18
$ 0.32
$ 0.26
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary
$ 0.18
$ 0.32
$ 0.26
The unfavorable development of prior years’ claims in the fiscal years
ended December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019 was
attributable in each year
to several specific
claims as well as actuarially determined adjustments to prior year commercial trucking loss estimates.
(15) Impairment of Intangible and Other Assets
During the 2020 second fiscal quarter, the Company recorded a non-cash
impairment charge of $2,582,000 in respect of certain assets, primarily customer contract and related customer relationship intangible assets, acquired on September 20, 2017, along with substantially all of the other assets of the asset-light transportation logistics business of Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V. (“Fletes Avella”). During the 2020 second fiscal quarter negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico caused significant disruptions in the Mexican economy. Accordingly, management performed impairment tests of the carrying values of certain assets that primarily relate to intra-Mexico business acquired as a part of the Fletes Avella acquisition. The impairment tests resulted in an impairment charge of $2,582,000, as the negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico caused updated
financial projections relating to these intangible assets to be substantially below those originally anticipated at the acquisition date. There was no corresponding goodwill impairment charge recorded as the fair value of the Company’s Mexico and cross-border reporting unit continues to significantly exceed its carrying value as of December 26, 2020.
(16) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13-
Financial Instruments -
Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
(“ASU 2016-13”),
which requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13
on December 29, 2019, under the modified retrospective transition method resulting in a $702,000 cumulative adjustment to retained earnings.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Landstar System, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary (the Company) as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Self-insurance claims liability
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the liability for insurance claims includes the actuarially determined estimated costs of cargo, property, casualty, general liability, and workers’ compensation claims, both reported and for claims incurred but not reported, up to the Company’s retained amount per claim, which is referred to as the self-insurance claims liability. The Company’s estimated costs of insurance claims include assumptions regarding the frequency and severity of claims and are based upon the facts and circumstances known as of the applicable balance sheet date. The Company’s liability for insurance claims as of December 26, 2020 was $188,641,000, which includes the self-insurance claims liability.
We identified the evaluation of the self-insurance claims liability as a critical audit matter. Specialized skills were needed to evaluate the Company’s estimate of the self-insurance claims liability. This evaluation included assumptions related to the potential for the development in future periods of claims, both reported and incurred but not reported, as of the balance sheet date and the impact of those developments on the estimated liability associated with such claims. In addition, a higher degree of subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the Company’s estimate of the self-insurance claims liability due to the inherent uncertainty in the frequency and severity of claims.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s self-insurance claims process, including a control related to the development of the assumptions used to estimate the self-insurance claims liability. We involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in assessing the actuarial model used by the Company, including the external actuarial report obtained by the Company, to estimate the self-insurance claims liability for consistency with generally accepted actuarial standards. The actuarial professionals also developed an estimate of the range of the self-insurance claims liability using the Company’s historical claims data. We compared the estimated range of the self-insurance claims liability to the amount recorded by the Company. We tested a sample of the claims data used in the actuarial model by comparing the data to underlying claims details. For certain claims, we obtained letters received directly from the Company’s external legal counsel to evaluate the liability recorded. Additionally, we assessed the development of the self-insurance claims liability in the current year compared to recent historical trends and considered the implications on the current year assumptions. We also assessed facts and circumstances received by the Company after the balance sheet date, but before the consolidated financial statements were issued, and the impact, if any, of such facts and circumstances on the self-insurance claims liability.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1988.
Jacksonville, Florida
February 23, 2021

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
an evaluation was carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), who was also serving as the Company’s principal financial officer as of such date, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 26, 2020 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures, Company management recognizes that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitation in any control system, no evaluation or implementation of a control system can provide complete assurance that all control issues and all possible instances of fraud have been or will be detected.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
(a) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of Landstar System, Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f)
and 15d-15(f)
under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive and financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020. This assessment was performed using the criteria established under the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error or circumvention or overriding of internal control. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and reporting and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Based on the assessment performed using the criteria established by COSO, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Such report appears immediately below.
(b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Landstar System, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal
Control - Integrated
F
r
a
me
w
ork (20
3)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal
Con
t
rol - Integrat
e
d Fra
m
ew
or
k (20
3)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended December 26, 2020, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Jacksonville, Florida
February 23, 2021
(c) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information
None
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this Item concerning the Directors (and nominees for Directors) and Executive Officers of the Company will be set forth under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Directors of the Company,” “Information Regarding Board of Directors and Committees,” and “Executive Officers of the Company” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by this Item concerning the Company’s Audit Committee and the Audit Committee’s Financial Expert will be set forth under the caption “Information Regarding Board of Directors and Committees” and “Report of the Audit Committee” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to each of its directors and employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, controller and all other employees performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on the Company’s website at www.landstar.com
under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance.” The Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K
regarding amendments to, or waivers from, a provision or provisions of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct by posting such information on its website at the web address indicated above.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item will be set forth under the captions “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation of Executive Officers,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Grants of Plan-Based Awards,” “Option Exercises and Stock Vested,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End,” “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation,” “Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation” and “Key Executive Employment Protection Agreements” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item pursuant to Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K
is set forth under the caption “Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” in Part II, Item 5 of this report, and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information required by this Item pursuant to Item 403 of Regulation S-K
will be set forth under the caption “Security Ownership by Management and Others” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
None, other than information required to be disclosed under this item in regard to Director Independence, which will be set forth under the caption “Independent Directors” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this item will be set forth under the caption “Report of the Audit Committee” and “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto, or is not applicable or required.
(3) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
(3)
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws:
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated March 6, 2006, including Certificate of Designation of Junior Participating Preferred Stock dated February 10, 1993. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
3.2
The Company’s Bylaws, as amended and restated on February 21, 2011. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 25, 2010 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
(4)
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures:
4.1 P
Specimen of Common Stock Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 33-57174))
4.4
Description of Securities (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
(10)
Material contracts:
10.1+
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2020, among Landstar System Holdings, Inc., the Company, the lenders named therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent (including exhibits and schedules thereto). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on August 24, 2020 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.2+
Landstar System, Inc. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 11, 2017 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.3+
Landstar System, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.4+
First Amendment, dated as of November 1, 2018, to the Landstar System, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (as amended and restated as of January 1, 2015) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.5+
Amended and Restated Landstar System, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 23, 2009 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.6+
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Landstar System, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan, dated February 18, 2016, (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 26, 2015 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.7+
Landstar System, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended through December 2, 2015, (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 5, 2016 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.8+
Landstar System, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Directors Stock Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 5, 2016 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.9+
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and directors and Executive Officers of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.10+
Form of Key Executive Employment Protection Agreement between Landstar System, Inc. and Executive Officers of the Company, in the form as amended as of December 26, 2015, (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 26, 2015 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.11+
Total Shareholder Return Performance Related Stock Award Agreement, dated May 1, 2015, between Landstar System, Inc. and James B. Gattoni (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 19, 2015 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
10.12+
Total Shareholder Return Performance Related Stock Award Agreement, between Landstar System, Inc. and James B. Gattoni, dated April 24, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 25, 2018 (Commission File No. 0-21238))
(21)
Subsidiaries of the Registrant:
21.1*
List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant
(23)
Consents of experts and counsel:
23.1*
Consent of KPMG LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(24)
Power of attorney:
24.1*
Powers of Attorney
(31)
Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002:
31.1*
Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer certification, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(32)
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002:
32.1**
Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101*
The following materials from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) Financial Statement Schedule.
104*
Cover Page Interactive Date File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
+ management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY WHO SO REQUESTS IN WRITING, A COPY OF ANY EXHIBITS, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. ANY SUCH REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LANDSTAR SYSTEM, INC., ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS, 13410 SUTTON PARK DRIVE SOUTH, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32224.