FORWARD AIR CORP

Results from Operations

The following table sets forth our consolidated financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited and in thousands):

Operating revenues increased $71,468, or 13.2%, to $613,281 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $541,813 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $98,632 from the Omni Logistics segment due to the extra twenty-four days included in 2025 as compared to 2024. The results for our reportable segments are discussed in detail in the following sections.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses increased $973, or 0.2%, to $608,518 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $607,545 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $66,672 from the Omni Logistics segment due to the extra twenty-four days included in 2025 as compared to 2024, mostly offset by decreases in acquisitions and integration transaction costs associated with the Omni Acquisition as well as decreases in our Expedited Freight segment.

Income (Loss) from Operations and Segment Operations

Income from operations increased $70,495, or 107.2%, to $4,763 of income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $65,732 of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to increased operating revenues with minimal increase associated with operating expenses as noted above.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net was $45,547 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $40,753 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 due to the Omni acquisition on January 25, 2024.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was (47.1)% compared to 17.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 varied from the statutory United States federal income tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to the effect of interest expense disallowances under IRC Section 162(j) for which a full valuation allowance is recorded on the deferred tax asset, noncontrolling interest, and state local income taxes. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 varied from the statutory United States federal income tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to the effect of noncontrolling interest, non-deductible executive compensation, excess tax benefits realized on share-based awards, partially offset by state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, and foreign taxes.

Net Loss

As a result of the foregoing factors, net loss decreased $27,603, or 31.1%, to $61,191 of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $88,794 of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest in the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 has been allocated based on the requirements of the umbrella partnership C corporation Clue Opco LLC where only foreign taxes are attributable to the noncontrolling interest when distributing the net losses among the partnership interests. The decrease in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to three months ended March 31, 2024 is being driven by the decrease in net loss and the decreasing number of noncontrolling units outstanding for the respective periods. Activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024 prior to the Omni transaction did not impact net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.

Expedited Freight - Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

The following table sets forth the financial data of our Expedited Freight segment for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited and in thousands):

Operating revenues decreased $23,914, or 8.8%, to $249,381 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $273,295 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Network revenue decreased due to 10.9% lower tonnage and a 12.2% decrease in total shipments as compared to same period in 2024. These decreases were primarily due to a decreased economic activity in the industry for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. Revenue per hundredweight excluding fuel improved by 2.5%, partially offsetting the impacts of decreased tonnage.

Purchased transportation decreased $7,080, or 5.5%, to $120,680 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $127,760 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Purchased transportation was 48.4% of Expedited Freight operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 46.7% for the same period in 2024. Expedited Freight purchased transportation includes Leased Capacity Providers, third-party motor carriers, and transportation intermediaries, while Company-employed drivers are included in salaries, wages and employee benefits. The decrease in purchased transportation was primarily due to decreased shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Salaries, wages and employee benefits decreased $9,976, or 15.9%, to $52,577 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $62,553 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Salaries, wages and employee benefits were 21.1% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 22.9% for the same period in 2024. The decrease in salaries, wages and employee benefits expense was primarily due to a decrease in Company-employed drivers and dock workers in response to fewer shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, as well as headcount reductions as a result of acquisition integration synergies.

Other operating expenses decreased $3,080, or 12.3%, to $21,899 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $24,979 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Other operating expenses were 8.7% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 9.2% for the same period in 2024. Other operating expenses include contract labor, equipment maintenance, facility expenses, legal and professional fees, and other over-the-road costs. The decrease in other operating expenses was primarily due to acquisition integration synergies as well as reduction in shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Income from operations decreased $3,864, or 19.8%, to $15,634 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $19,498 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Income from operations was 6.3% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 7.1% for the same period in 2024. The decrease in income from operations as a percentage of operating revenues was driven by lower freight volumes which were not fully offset by cost decreases for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to three months ended March 31, 2024.

Omni Logistics - Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

The following table sets forth the financial data of our Omni Logistics for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited and in thousands):

Operating revenues increased $98,632, or 43.9%, to $323,470 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $224,838 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 mainly due to the increase in ownership days during the current year period, but revenues per day increased during 2025 due to increased demand for our services, specifically increases in contract logistics.

Purchased transportation increased $41,310, or 28.6%, to $185,734 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $144,424 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Purchased transportation was 57.4% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 64.2% for the same period in 2024. Purchased transportation primarily increased mainly due to the increase in ownership days during the current year period, but decreased as a percentage of revenue due to a shift in product mix, which shift in product mix consisted of an increase in contract logistics and value-added services that require lower purchase transportation levels as compared to ground, air and ocean services.

Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $8,008 or 16.4%, to $56,783 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $48,775 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Salaries, wages and employee benefits were 17.6% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 21.7% for the same period in 2024. While salaries, wages and employee benefits increased mainly due to the increase in ownership days during the current year period, the rate of increase was lower than the revenue increases at Omni Logistics due to reduced headcount as a result of acquisition integration synergies.

Other operating expenses increased $2,755, or 12.6%, to $24,626 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $21,871 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Other operating expenses were 7.6% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 9.8% for the same period in 2024. While other operating expenses increased mainly due to the increase in ownership days during the current year period, the rate of increase was lower than the revenue increases at Omni Logistics due to acquisition integration synergies.

Income from operations increased $31,960 or 111.8%, to $3,375 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $28,585 of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in income from operations was mainly due to the increase in ownership days during the current year period and operating expenses having a lower rate of increase relative to the increase in operating revenues due to acquisition integration synergies.

Intermodal - Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

The following table sets forth the financial data of our Intermodal segment for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited and in thousands):

Operating revenues increased $6,200, or 11.0%, to $62,492 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $56,292 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in operating revenues was primarily due to a 2.9% increase in drayage shipments and drayage revenue per shipment of 7.4% as compared to the same period in 2024. The increase also includes higher intermodal yard storage and chassis rental revenues.

Purchased transportation increased $2,733, or 15.7%, to $20,176 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $17,443 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Purchased transportation was 32.3% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 31.0% for the same period in 2024. Purchased transportation includes Leased Capacity Providers and third-party motor carriers, while Company-employed drivers are included in salaries, wages and employee benefits. Purchased transportation expenses increased due to the rise in drayage shipment orders for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $849, or 5.6%, to $15,931 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $15,082 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Salaries, wages and employee benefits were 25.5% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 26.8% for the same period in 2024. The increase in salaries, wages and employee benefits exists primarily due to the increased shipping volume for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Operating Leases

Operating leases increased $1,086, or 23.1%, to $5,778 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $4,692 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Operating leases were 9.2% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 8.3% for the same period in 2024. The increase in operating leases expense was primarily due to higher real estate lease costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Other operating expenses decreased $496, or 8.4%, to $5,399 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $5,895 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Other operating expenses were 8.6% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 10.5% for the same period in 2024. The decrease in other operating expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to improved overall spend management for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Income from operations increased $1,956, or 54.5%, to $5,542 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $3,586 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Income from operations was 8.9% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 6.4% for the same period in 2024. The increase in income from operations as a percentage of operating revenues was primarily due to an increase in the volume of drayage shipments as well as higher revenue per shipment for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as compared to three months ended March 31, 2024.

Corporate - Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Corporate included $19,788 of operating loss during the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $60,231 of operating loss during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in the operating loss was primarily due to $13,926 of professional fees incurred in 2025 for transaction and integration costs in connection with the Omni Acquisition as compared to $61,924 in 2024.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our working capital needs, including capital expenditures, with available cash, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the revolving credit portion of our Credit Agreement. We believe that availability of borrowings under our Credit Agreement together with available cash and internally generated funds, will be sufficient to support our working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements over the next twelve months. As previously disclosed and more fully described above and in Note 2, Acquisitions, to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we incurred significant indebtedness in connection with the Omni Acquisition. This substantial level of debt could have important consequences to our business, including, but not limited to the factors as more fully discussed in the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” - “Risks Relating to our Indebtedness”.

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities was $27,615 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $51,719 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to the change in net loss after consideration of non-cash items and an improvement of cash flow from working capital accounts.

Net cash used in investing activities was $11,239 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $1,569,452 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $11,906 and $4,970, respectively, which primarily related to the purchase of technology and operating equipment. Investing activities of operations for the three months ended Mach 31, 2024 included the Omni Acquisition for a purchase price of $2,274,240.

Net cash used in financing activities of operations was $5,325 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $158,726 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The change in the net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025 primarily consisted of repayments on finance lease obligations, where the same period in 2024 included repayment of borrowings, payment of debt issuance costs and the payment of earn-out liabilities.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition and relate to future events or our future financial performance. Some forward-looking statements may be identified by use of such terms as “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects” or “expects.” In this Form 10-Q, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statements regarding In this Form 10-Q, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statements regarding: (i) any projections of earnings, revenues, other financial items or related accounting treatment, or cost reduction measures, including any impact of the Omni Acquisition on our financial statements; (ii) future performance, including any expectations about our ability to increase shipments; (iii) our ability to maintain compliance with the covenants of our indebtedness instruments; (iv) our yield management process, any improvements in operating efficiencies and our ability to create synergies across our services; (v) fuel shortages, changes in fuel prices and volatility in fuel surcharge revenue, and the impact on our business; (vi) consumer demand and inventory levels, and the impact on freight volumes; (vii) future insurance, claims and litigation and any associated estimates or projections; (viii) our ability to accelerate the expansion of the Company’s terminal footprint; (ix) certain tax and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements and our ability realize remaining net deferred tax assets; (x) intended expansion through acquisitions or greenfield startups, and the impact of any such acquisition on our business; (xi) our ability to use key performance metrics and key operating statistics to gauge growth strategies; (xii) future business, economic conditions or performance, as well as industry projections; (xiii) competition, including our specific advantages, the capabilities of our segments, including the integration of services and our geographic location; (xiv) expectations regarding plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; (xv) our beliefs regarding the effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements resulting from the resolution of claims and pending litigation; (xvi) our beliefs regarding our ability to support our working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements over the next twelve months; (xvii) our beliefs regarding internal control over financial reporting and the implementation of our remediation plan to address material weaknesses; (xviii) our beliefs regarding the potential impact of tariffs on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows and our reliance on any the regions that are subject to the recent tariff increases and (xix) any belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, the outcome and related impact of the Omni Acquisition, continued weakening of the freight environment, future debt and financing levels, the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the Omni Acquisition, our substantial indebtedness, our ability to manage our growth and ability to grow, in part, through acquisitions while being able to successfully integrate such acquisitions, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, the availability and compensation of qualified Leased Capacity Providers and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party motor carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, our inability to manage our information systems and inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, the occurrence of cybersecurity risks and events, market acceptance of our service offerings, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental, tax, insurance and accounting matters, the handling of hazardous materials, changes in fuel prices, loss of a major customer, increasing competition and pricing pressure, our dependence on our senior management team and the potential effects of changes in employee status, seasonal trends, the occurrence of certain weather events, restrictions in our charter and bylaws, the cost of new equipment, the impact and efficacy of our disclosure controls and procedures, and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. As a result of the foregoing, no assurance can be given as to future financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.