Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Landstar Profit Sinks 20%, Falls Short of Expectations

Asset-light trucking and related services provider Landstar System reported a 20% second quarter decline in earnings due to lower revenue and a big insurance claim.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
July 20, 2016
Landstar Profit Sinks 20%, Falls Short of Expectations

 

3 min to read


Asset-light trucking and related services provider Landstar System Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) reported a 20% second quarter decline in earnings due to lower revenue and a big insurance claim.

The Florida company reported net income of $32.3 million, or 76 cents per share, down from $40.5 million a year earlier, or 92 cents per share. The earnings per share was less than a consensus estimate of 82 cents from analysts and below updated guidance issued by Landstar in early June. Back in April it was expecting second-quarter earnings of 80 cents to 85 cents per share.

Ad Loading...

“Net income was negatively impacted by elevated insurance and claims costs, driven mostly by the severity of claims ... the highest quarterly insurance and claims cost over the past six years,” the company said in a statement. It did not elaborate about the claim

Total revenue during the second quarter fell to $775.2 million from $868.4 million, in line with the company’s June expectations. Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent contractor drivers and truck brokerage carriers during the quarter was $718.5 million, compared to $809.2 million in the 2015 second quarter.

Landstar’s truckload transportation revenue hauled by van was $458 million, down from $496.9 million a year earlier. During the same time, truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment fell to $242 million from $291 million. Revenue from freight hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $45.1 million, compared to $48.1 million, in the 2015 second quarter.

Ad Loading...

"Overall, from a revenue standpoint, I believe we executed well considering the sluggish freight environment," said Landstar President and CEO Jim Gattoni. He pointed out that comparisons to last year's second quarter are thrown off because of more than 13,000 truckloads on platform trailers hauled for a project for a single automotive customer that was resposible for $27 million in revenue last year. "Excluding the loadings related to that project, we experienced a slight increase in loads hauled via truck over the 2015 second quarter.”

He said Landstar's truckload services continued to experience significant pricing pressure throughout the 2016 second quarter, as industry-wide truck capacity was more readily available as compared to the 2015 second quarter and demand continued to be soft.

“Although we experienced a somewhat normal seasonal uptick in revenue per load from May to June, the pricing pressure continued in the U.S. spot market, in which the company operates much of its business,” Gattoni said. “Additionally, the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel was approximately 20% lower during the 2016 second quarter compared to the 2015 second quarter, putting additional pressure on pricing, especially as it relates to loads hauled via truck brokerage carriers.”

The result: Revenue per load on freight hauled via truck was 9% lower in the 2016 second quarter compared to the 2015 second quarter.

Looking at the current third quarter of the year, Landstar said it is experiencing the normal seasonal uptick in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck and expects revenue for the period to be similar to second quarter revenue.

Ad Loading...

Landstar also announced on Wednesday that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of 9 cents per share, 12.5% higher that it was in each of the previous four quarters.

More Fleet Management

Graphic art with a heavy-duty tractor trailer and a work truck with the words "trivia lunch"
Fleet Management•by Lauren Fletcher•October 19, 2026

Can You Beat Our Trucking Trivia Challenge?

Test your truck knowledge with 19 trivia questions from Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange. Can you keep up with the fleet pros?

Read More →
Four horizontal and two vertical video screens show different aspects of BeyondTruck's new compatibility engine
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•October 19, 2026

BeyondTrucks Adds Rules Checks to Dispatch

New Compatibility Engine checks driver qualifications, equipment requirements and fleet policies before loads are dispatched.

Read More →
Gloved hand fueling a truck beside a graphic listing ATRI’s top three trucking concerns for 2026: fuel prices, lawsuit abuse reform and CSA.
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•October 19, 2026

Diesel Prices Hijack Trucking’s Worry List

ATRI’s annual survey finds cautious optimism about freight, but diesel costs, litigation, and insurance continue to squeeze fleets. Drivers have different priorities on several issues.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration showing ladders against a blue background with Heavy Duty Trucking Emerging Leaders logo and the words "2026 nominations now open"
Fleet Management•by Staff•October 16, 2026

Nomination Deadline Extended for HDT Emerging Leaders

Just a few more days to nominate accomplished trucking fleet professionals under 40 who are making an impact and helping lead the industry forward for the HDT Emerging Leaders award. Deadline extended to October 20!

Read More →
Headshot of Mark Colson in front of a truck grille next to an American Trucking Associations logo
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•October 15, 2026

What Will ATA’s New Leader Bring to Trucking's Table?

Incoming President and CEO Mark Colson’s record in Alabama offers clues about his priorities and approach following Chris Spear’s abrupt departure as the head of the American Trucking Associations.

Read More →
Waabi-Volvo autonomous VNL truck.
Fleet Management•by News/Media Release•October 13, 2026

Volvo, Waabi Start Commercial Autonomous Operations in Texas

Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks, powered by the Waabi Driver, are hauling freight directly to third-party facilities for a customer in Texas.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of silver robot waving his hand and a Samsara AI prompt on screen to call drivers
Fleet Management•by Staff•October 13, 2026

Samsara Launches Custom AI Agent Builder

Agent Studio lets fleets create AI tools for hours-of-service monitoring, reporting and driver support, including agents that communicate by phone.

Read More →
Overhead view of an Einride autonomous electric truck positioned between trailers at an EASE Logistics warehouse loading area in Marysville, Ohio.

Einride Driverless Electric Trucks Begin Daily Freight Operations in Ohio

Two cabless electric trucks are hauling freight between EASE Logistics facilities in Marysville, Ohio, as part of a multi-state truck automation project.

Read More →
Illustration of map with GPS markers overlaid with Geotab fleet card and a fuel pump nozzle
Fuel Smarts•by Staff•October 2, 2026

Geotab Links Fleet Card to Vehicle Data

The new card combines fuel discounts with telematics-based purchase controls. Geotab’s analysis also points to potential savings from choosing lower-priced fuel stops.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cyberstop column illustration showing multi factor authorization
Fleet Management•September 29, 2026

How MFA Helps Protect Trucking Fleets

Multi-factor authentication adds protection when passwords are stolen. Here’s how it works and where fleets should start.

Read More →