WERNER ENTERPRISES INC

Previous report

Labor and employment matters, including difficulty in recruiting and retaining experienced drivers, recent driver training school graduates and independent contractors, could impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Previous report

At times, the trucking industry has experienced driver shortages. Driver availability may be affected by changing workforce demographics, alternative employment opportunities, national unemployment rates, freight market conditions, availability of financial aid for driver training schools and changing industry regulations. If such a shortage were to occur and driver pay rate increases became necessary to attract and retain drivers, our results of operations would be negatively impacted to the extent that we could not obtain corresponding freight rate increases. Additionally, a shortage of drivers could result in idled equipment, which would affect our profitability and would limit growth opportunities.

Previous report

Independent contractor availability may also be affected by both inflationary cost increases that are the responsibility of independent contractors and the availability and cost of equipment financing. Ongoing federal and state legislative challenges to the independent contractor model could also affect independent contractor availability. 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 (e.g., workers’ compensation benefits and minimum wage). Recently, certain states have seen significant increased activity by tax and other regulators regarding worker classification, and class action lawsuits alleging misclassification by transportation companies have resulted in significant damage awards or monetary settlements. Potential changes, if any, that could impact the legal classification of the independent contractor relationship between us and our independent contractors could have a material adverse effect on our ability to recruit and retain independent contractors. If a shortage of independent contractors occurs, increases in per-mile settlement rates (for independent contractors) and driver pay rates (for company drivers) may become necessary to attract and retain a sufficient number of drivers. These increases would negatively affect our results of operations to the extent that we would be unable to obtain corresponding freight rate increases.

Previous report

During 2023, union organizing efforts occurred at two locations of a U.S. subsidiary, which resulted in fewer than 30 of our employees being represented by a union. In September 2024, that small group of drivers filed a petition seeking to decertify the union and end their union’s representation. The union responded by voluntarily ending its representation of those drivers and, as a result, those drivers are no longer unionized. Unionization, if broad-based, could have a material adverse effect on our costs, efficiency, and profitability. Driver or other employee dissatisfaction and regulations that govern organization procedures could impact our ability to effectively or timely address any organization efforts.