Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Earnings Watch: C.H. Robinson Earnings Fall 22.4% from Year Earlier

Multi-modal freight transportation services and third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. reported its second quarter net income fell 22.4% from a year ago despite a 12.4% hike in total revenue.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
July 19, 2017
Earnings Watch: C.H. Robinson Earnings Fall 22.4% from Year Earlier

 

2 min to read


Multi-modal freight transportation services and third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. reported its second quarter net income fell 22.4% from a year ago despite a 12.4% hike in total revenue.

Net income totaled $111.1 million, or 78 cents per share, during the period compared to $143.1 million, or $1 per share, a year earlier, and 12 cents less than a consensus estimate from analysts.

Ad Loading...

Revenue totaled $3.71 billion compared to $3.3 billion for the second quarter of 2016.

“We were able to continue to achieve market share gains during the second quarter; however, our income and EPS (earnings per share) results were disappointing and finished below our expectations,” said John Wiehoff, chairman and CEO.

According to Wiehoff, the results were significantly affected by truckload margin compression as purchased transportation costs increased significantly during the quarter while much of the company’s customer pricing is committed at relatively flat levels.

Ad Loading...

Part of the result was a drop of 22.2% in income from operations, totaling $181.8 million for the second quarter of the year.

The company’s North American surface transportation (NAST) operation, which provides truckload, less-than-truckload and intermodal services across the continent, saw total revenue increase 10.3% to $2.4 billion during the quarter as freight volume increased.

However, income from operations fell 23.2% to $140.3 million as NAST net revenues decreased 9.8% to $359.9 million in the second quarter of 2017, primarily from a decline in truckload net revenues.

The global forwarding segment saw total revenue increase 48.2% to $528.8 million while income from operations improved 23.6% to $27.7 million due to increases in business from its ocean freight, airfreight and customs brokerage services.

Robinson Fresh, which primarily includes the buying, selling, and marketing of fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable items from around the world, reported revenue was flat at $657 million while income from operations fell by nearly 48% to $14.2 million as it saw operating expenses jump 15%.

More Fleet Management

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 →
Three generic semi-trucks break through a fractured wall against a dark blue digital background, symbolizing trucking technology overcoming data silos.
Fleet Management•September 28, 2026

How Better Freight Data Helps Trucking Teams Get Ahead of Disruption

Trucking and logistics teams have plenty of data. The problem is getting the right information in front of the right people soon enough to act. Better-connected data can help teams spot trouble earlier and make smarter decisions before small problems become big ones.

Read More →
Photo of man in collared buttoned shirt speaking on stage in front of a backdrop that says Trimble
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•September 28, 2026

Trimble: Taking Artificial Intelligence in Trucking Beyond Faster Tasks

At Insight 2026, Trimble executives argued that fleets may need to redesign workflows to get more from AI as it introduced new products and enhancements. AI’s value will depend on how fleets combine automation with their people's knowledge.

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•September 21, 2026

Nominations Open for HDT Emerging Leaders

Heavy Duty Trucking is looking for accomplished trucking fleet professionals under 40 who are making an impact and helping lead the industry forward.

Read More →
Illustration of Penske day cab backed into loading dock with graphic of generic charts and graphs and a penske logo.
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•September 17, 2026

Why Private Fleets Are Taking More Freight

Private fleets are putting their own trucks on demanding customers and high-cost lanes as companies seek greater control over service, costs, and capacity.

Read More →
A woman holding a tablet with a screen showing rectangles of various colors
Sponsored•September 16, 2026

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform

For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Management•by Staff•September 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
Sponsored•September 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•August 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fleet Management•by News/Media Release•August 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →