Phoenix-based Knight Transportation Inc. said total revenue increased 29.8 percent for the fourth quarter, to $164.6 million from $126.8 for the same quarter of 2004.

Revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 22.2 percent, to $140.8 million from $115.2 million for the same quarter of 2004. Net income increased 27.3 percent, to $18.5 million from $14.6 million for the same period of 2004. Net income per diluted share increased to $0.21 from $0.17 for same quarter 2004.
For the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2005, total revenue increased 28.2 percent, to $566.8 million from $442.3 million for the same period of 2004. Revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 21.2 percent, to $499.0 million from $411.7 million for the same period of 2004. Net income increased 28.9 percent, to $61.7 million from $47.9 million for the same period of 2004. Net income per diluted share increased to $0.71 from $0.55 for the same period of 2004.
During the quarter, the company completed a 3-for-2 stock split effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend paid on Dec. 23, 2005. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin P. Knight, offered the following comments: "During the fourth quarter our revenue growth was driven by a combination of fleet expansion and improved revenue per mile. We benefited from opening new service centers, increasing service in existing centers, and a full quarter of revenue from Edwards Bros., which we acquired in August 2005.
"A solid economy and a favorable relationship between shipping demand and truckload capacity contributed to a 5.9 percent increase in average revenue per loaded mile, before fuel surcharge, and an improvement in our percentage of non-revenue miles compared with the also strong fourth quarter of 2004.”