UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

Previous wording

Further, we are affected by recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries, such as the automotive industry, where we have a significant concentration of customers. Economic conditions may also adversely affect our customers and their ability to pay for our services.

Current wording

We are affected by recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers’ business cycles, particularly in market segments and industries, such as the automotive industry, where we have a significant concentration of customers. Economic conditions may also adversely affect our customers and their ability to pay for our services.

Previous wording

A significant portion of our larger customers are concentrated in the North American automotive industry. During 2023, 43% of our revenues were derived from customers in the North American automotive industry. Our business and growth largely depend on continued demand for its services from customers in this industry. Any future downturns in North American automobile production, which also impacts our steel and other metals customers, could similarly affect our revenues in future periods.

Current wording

A significant portion of our larger customers are concentrated in the North American automotive industry. During 2024, 47% of our revenues were derived from customers in the North American automotive industry. Our business and growth largely depend on continued demand for its services from customers in this industry. Any future downturns in North American automobile production, which also impacts our steel and other metals customers, could similarly affect our revenues in future periods.

Previous wording

A large portion of our revenue is generated from a limited number of major customers concentrated in the automotive, retail and consumer goods, steel and other metals, energy and manufacturing industries. Our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 48% of our operating revenues during 2023. Our contracts with customers generally contain cancellation clauses, and there can be no assurance that these customers will continue to utilize our services or that they will continue at the same levels. Further, there can be no assurance that these customers will not be affected by a future downturn in demand, which would result in a reduction in their operations and corresponding need for our services. Moreover, our customers may individually lose market share, apart from general economic trends. If our major customers lose U.S. market share, they may have less need for services. A reduction in or termination of services by one or more of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Current wording

A large portion of our revenue is generated from a limited number of major customers concentrated in the automotive, railroad, retail and consumer goods, steel and other metals, energy and manufacturing industries. Our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 56% of our operating revenues during 2024. Our contracts with customers generally contain cancellation clauses, and there can be no assurance that these customers will continue to utilize our services or that they will continue at the same levels. Further, there can be no assurance that these customers will not be affected by a future downturn in demand, which would result in a reduction in their operations and corresponding need for our services. Moreover, our customers may individually lose market share, apart from general economic trends. If our major customers lose U.S. market share, they may have less need for services. A reduction in or termination of services by one or more of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Previous wording

Our largest customers employ a substantial number of workers who are members of industrial trade unions, and their employment is subject to the terms of collective bargaining agreements. In 2023, the United Auto Workers conducted a trilateral strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Although the UAW reached agreements with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, similar such actions in the future could negatively impact our revenue and profitability. A labor dispute involving another supplier to our customers that results in a slowdown or closure of our customers’ plants where we provide services could also have a material adverse effect on our business.

Current wording

Our largest customers employ a substantial number of workers who are members of industrial trade unions, and their employment is subject to the terms of collective bargaining agreements. Strikes, work stoppages, slowdown or similar such actions in the future could negatively impact our revenue and profitability. A labor dispute involving another supplier to our customers that results in a slowdown or closure of our customers’ plants where we provide services could also have a material adverse effect on our business.

Previous wording

As of December 31, 2023, approximately 33% of our employees were members of unions and subject to collective bargaining agreements. Subject to a few exceptions, each of our unionized facilities has a separate agreement with the union that generally represents the workers at only that facility. Any work stoppages or slowdowns by our employees could affect our ability to meet our customers’ needs, and customers may do more business with our competitors if they believe that such actions may adversely affect our ability to provide our services. We may face the permanent loss of customers if we are unable to provide uninterrupted services. The terms of our future collective bargaining agreements may also affect our competitive position and results of operations.

Current wording

As of December 31, 2024, approximately 46% of our employees were members of unions and subject to collective bargaining agreements. Subject to a few exceptions, each of our unionized facilities has a separate agreement with the union that generally represents the workers at only that facility. Any work stoppages or slowdowns by our employees could affect our ability to meet our customers’ needs, and customers may do more business with our competitors if they believe that such actions may adversely affect our ability to provide our services. We may face the permanent loss of customers if we are unable to provide uninterrupted services. The terms of our future collective bargaining agreements may also affect our competitive position and results of operations.

Previous wording

The conflict in the Middle East, or expansion of the conflict to other areas or countries, or similar conflicts in the region could adversely impact our business and financial results.

Current wording

The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, expansion of such conflicts to other areas or similar conflicts, as well as the rising tensions between China and Taiwan, could adversely impact our business and financial results

Previous wording

We do not have any direct operations in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank or Gaza, but we may be affected by the broader consequences of the conflict in the Middle East. The potential implications include increased inflation, supply chain disruption, reduced access to parts for our revenue equipment, embargoes, geopolitical shifts, reduced access to diesel fuel, higher energy prices, and other effects on the global economy. The magnitude of these risks cannot be predicted, including the extent to which the conflicts may heighten other risk factors. Ultimately, these factors could materially and adversely affect the results of our operations.

Current wording

We do not have any direct operations in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Middle East, China, or Taiwan, but we may be affected by the broader consequences of the conflicts, or expansion of such conflicts to other areas or countries or similar conflicts elsewhere. The potential implications include increased tariffs, inflation, supply chain disruption, reduced access to parts for our revenue equipment, embargoes, geopolitical shifts, reduced access to diesel fuel, higher energy prices, and other effects on the global economy. The magnitude of these risks cannot be predicted, including the extent to which the conflicts may heighten other risk factors. Ultimately, these factors could materially and adversely affect the results of our operations.

Previous wording

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or other adverse weather and climate conditions, whether occurring in the United States or abroad, could disrupt our operations or the operations of our customers or could damage or destroy infrastructure necessary to transport products as part of the supply chain. Specifically, these events may damage or destroy or assets, disrupt fuel supplies, increase fuel costs, disrupt freight shipments or routes, and affect regional economies. As a result, these events could make it difficult or impossible for us to provide logistics and transportation services; disrupt or prevent our ability to perform functions at the corporate level; and/or otherwise impede our ability to continue business operations in a continuous manner consistent with the level and extent of business activities prior to the occurrence of the unexpected event, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations or make our results more volatile.

Current wording

Natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or other adverse weather and climate conditions, whether occurring in the United States or abroad, could disrupt our operations or the operations of our customers or could damage or destroy infrastructure necessary to transport products as part of the supply chain. Specifically, these events may damage or destroy or assets, disrupt fuel supplies, increase fuel costs, disrupt freight shipments or routes, and affect regional economies. As a result, these events could make it difficult or impossible for us to provide logistics and transportation services; disrupt or prevent our ability to perform functions at the corporate level; and/or otherwise impede our ability to continue business operations in a continuous manner consistent with the level and extent of business activities prior to the occurrence of the unexpected event, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations or make our results more volatile.

Previous wording

As discussed in Part II, Item 9A “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” later in this report, in the fourth quarter of 2023, we identified a material weakness in controls in place to identify potential data-entry errors related to our contracted rates and quantities and their associated invoices and amounts recorded as unbilled revenue. We are in the process of remediating the material weakness, but our efforts may not be successful. To remediate the material weakness, we plan to modify our policies and procedures for the timely review and approval of those contracted rates that are entered into the system, add a monitoring control that requires a secondary review of all contracted rates entered into the system to ensure they are being reviewed timely and entered accurately, and enhance the controls associated with invoices to ensure they reflect contracted rates. If we are unable to remediate the material weakness in an appropriate and timely manner, or if we identify additional control deficiencies that individually or together constitute significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, our ability to accurately record, process, and report financial information and consequently, our ability to prepare financial statements within required time periods, could be adversely affected. Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in violations of applicable securities laws, stock exchange listing requirements, and the covenants under our debt agreements, subject us to litigation and investigations, negatively affect investor confidence in our financial statements, and adversely impact our stock price and ability to access capital markets.

Current wording

As discussed in Part II, Item 9A “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” later in this report, in the fourth quarter of 2024, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. The material weakness results from errors in our financial statement preparation and the accounting for non-routine transactions that created changes within our business. The primary cause of the errors was the need for additional technical accounting resources to allow us to accurately record and properly present our financial statements and related disclosures. We plan on remediating our material weakness, but our efforts may not be successful. To remediate the material weakness, we plan to enhance our internal staff of accounting and financial reporting employees with employees that have the requisite technical accounting knowledge. We also plan to expand our use of external consulting firms to provide advisory support for technical accounting guidance. We further intend to design and implement controls to formalize review procedures around the financial close process with appropriate segregation of duties. If we are unable to remediate the material weakness in an appropriate and timely manner, or if we identify additional control deficiencies that individually or together constitute significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, our ability to accurately record, process, and report financial information and consequently, our ability to prepare financial statements within required time periods, could be adversely affected. Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in violations of applicable securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements, subject us to litigation and investigations, negatively affect investor confidence in our financial statements, and adversely impact our stock price and ability to access capital markets.