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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2021
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File No. 000-22490
FWRD-20210331_G1.JPG
FORWARD AIR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Tennessee 62-1120025
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1915 Snapps Ferry Road Building N Greeneville TN 37745
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (423) 636-7000
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value FWRD The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 
Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes x  No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  
Yes ¨  No x

 The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value, as of April 30, 2021 was 27,317,840.



Table of Contents
     
Forward Air Corporation
     
    Page
    Number
Part I. Financial Information  
     
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)  
     
 
3
     
 
4
     
 
5
     
6
 
7
     
Item 2.
23
     
Item 3.
36
     
Item 4.
36
     
Part II. Other Information
     
Item 1.
36
     
Item 1A.
36
     
Item 2.
37
     
Item 3.
37
     
Item 4.
37
Item 5.
37
Item 6.
38
     
39

2

Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information
   
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited).
Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
  March 31,
2021
December 31,
2020
Assets
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 24,396  $ 40,254 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $2,071 in 2021 and $2,273 in 2020
186,504  156,490 
Other receivables 16,847  — 
Other current assets 20,239  28,150 
Current assets held for sale —  21,002 
Total current assets 247,986  245,896 
Property and equipment 379,566  380,519 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 192,622  190,652 
Total property and equipment, net 186,944  189,867 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 130,859  123,338 
Goodwill 250,736  244,982 
Other acquired intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $96,451 in 2021 and $93,009 in 2020
147,668  145,032 
Other assets 51,708  45,181 
Noncurrent assets held for sale —  53,097 
Total assets $ 1,015,901  $ 1,047,393 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $ 40,676  $ 38,371 
Accrued expenses 74,625  51,264 
Other current liabilities 6,817  10,580 
Current portion of debt and finance lease obligations 1,908  1,801 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 45,107  43,680 
Current liabilities held for sale —  25,924 
Total current liabilities 169,133  171,620 
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, less current portion and debt issuance costs 117,156  117,408 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 86,212  80,346 
Other long-term liabilities 57,131  54,129 
Deferred income taxes 41,538  41,986 
Noncurrent liabilities held for sale —  34,575 
Shareholders’ equity:    
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares - 5,000,000; no shares issued or outstanding in 2021 and 2020
—  — 
Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares - 50,000,000; issued and outstanding shares - 27,318,501 in 2021 and 27,316,434 in 2020
273  273 
Additional paid-in capital 247,678  242,916 
Retained earnings 296,780  304,140 
Total shareholders’ equity 544,731  547,329 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,015,901  $ 1,047,393 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3

Table of Contents

    
Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Operating revenue $ 362,202  $ 305,557 
Operating expenses:  
Purchased transportation 184,608  150,598 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 74,897  69,559 
Operating leases 19,167  17,884 
Depreciation and amortization 9,237  9,334 
Insurance and claims 9,741  10,044 
Fuel expense 3,702  4,013 
Other operating expenses 38,126  28,353 
Total operating expenses 339,478  289,785 
Income from continuing operations 22,724  15,772 
Other expense:  
Interest expense (1,165) (853)
Total other expense (1,165) (853)
Income before income taxes 21,559  14,919 
Income tax expense 4,845  3,504 
Net income from continuing operations 16,714  11,415 
Loss from discontinued operation, net of tax (5,533) (3,040)
Net income and comprehensive income $ 11,181  $ 8,375 
Basic net income (loss) per share
Continuing operations $ 0.61  $ 0.41 
Discontinued operation (0.20) (0.11)
Net income per share1
$ 0.40  $ 0.30 
Diluted net income (loss) per share
Continuing operations $ 0.60  $ 0.41 
Discontinued operation (0.20) (0.11)
Net income per share $ 0.40  $ 0.30 
Dividends per share $ 0.21  $ 0.18 
1Rounding may impact summation of amounts.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
 
Operating activities:
Net income from continuing operations $ 16,714  $ 11,415 
Adjustments to reconcile net income of continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization 9,237  9,334 
Change in fair value of earn-out liability (48) (594)
Share-based compensation expense 2,597  3,078 
Provision for revenue adjustments 1,777  1,042 
Deferred income tax expense (505) 1,225 
Other 92  (265)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from the purchase of businesses:
Accounts receivable (28,023) 3,040 
Other receivables (13,339) — 
Other current and noncurrent assets 7,085  2,776 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 21,326  (223)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations 16,913  30,828 
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 665  720 
Purchases of property and equipment (2,695) (2,651)
Purchase of a business, net of cash acquired (15,000) (55,931)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations (17,030) (57,862)
Financing activities:
Repayments of finance lease obligations (467) (336)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility —  65,000 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon stock option exercises 2,147  — 
Payments of dividends to stockholders (5,797) (5,050)
Repurchases of common stock (9,998) (15,259)
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on share-based awards (2,744) (2,672)
Contributions from (distributions to) subsidiary held for sale 1,118  (2,153)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continuing operations (15,741) 39,530 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations (15,858) 12,496 
Cash from discontinued operation:
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operation (6,902) (1,662)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operation 8,020  (491)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of discontinued operation (1,118) 2,153 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (15,858) 12,496 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period of continuing operations 40,254  64,749 
Cash at beginning of period of discontinued operation —  — 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (15,858) 12,496 
Less: cash at end of period of discontinued operation —  — 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period of continuing operations $ 24,396  $ 77,245 

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(In thousands)
  Common Stock Additional Paid-in
Capital
Retained Earnings
Total Shareholders’ Equity
  Shares Amount
Balance at December 31, 2020 27,316  $ 273  $ 242,916  $ 304,140  $ 547,329 
Net income —  —  —  11,181  11,181 
Stock options exercised 40  —  2,147  —  2,147 
Share-based compensation expense —  —  2,613  —  2,613 
Payment of dividends to shareholders —  —  (5,800) (5,797)
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on share-based awards (35) —  —  (2,744) (2,744)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock (114) (1) —  (9,997) (9,998)
Issuance of share-based awards 111  (1) —  — 
Balance at March 31, 2021 27,318  $ 273  $ 247,678  $ 296,780  $ 544,731 


  Common Stock Additional Paid-in
Capital
Retained Earnings
Total Shareholders’ Equity
  Shares Amount
Balance at December 31, 2019 27,850  $ 279  $ 226,869  $ 350,034  $ 577,182 
Net income —  —  —  8,375  8,375 
Share-based compensation expense —  —  3,266  —  3,266 
Payment of dividends to shareholders —  —  (5,052) (5,050)
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on share-based awards (42) —  —  (2,672) (2,672)
Repurchases and retirement of common stock (268) (3) —  (15,256) (15,259)
Issuance of share-based awards 139  (2) —  (1)
Balance at March 31, 2020 27,679  $ 277  $ 230,135  $ 335,429  $ 565,841 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021

1.    Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Forward Air Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Forward Air or the “Company) is a leading asset-light freight and logistics company. The Company has two reportable segments: Expedited Freight and Intermodal. The Company conducts business in the United States and Canada.
The Expedited Freight segment operates a comprehensive national network to provide expedited regional, inter-regional and national less-than-truckload (“LTL) services. Expedited Freight offers customers local pick-up and delivery and other services including final mile, truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage and other handling.

The Intermodal segment provides first- and last-mile high value intermodal container drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads. Intermodal also offers dedicated contract and Container Freight Station (“CFS) warehouse and handling services.

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year.

The Board approved a strategy to divest the Pool Distribution business (“Pool) on April 23, 2020, and the sale of Pool was completed on February 12, 2021. Pool provided high-frequency handling and distribution of time sensitive product to numerous destinations within a specific geographic region. Pool offered this service throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest United States. Accordingly, the results of operations for Pool have been presented as a discontinued operation in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for all period presented. In addition, the assets and liabilities were presented as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the prior period. Unless otherwise noted, amounts, percentages and discussion for all periods reflect the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows from our continuing operations.

2.     Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies the performance obligation by the delivery of a shipment in accordance with contractual agreements, bill of lading (“BOL”) and general tariff provisions. The amount of revenue recognized is measured as the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services pursuant to a contract with a customer. A contract exists once the Company enters into a contractual agreement with a customer. The Company does not recognize revenue in cases where collectibility is not probable, and defers recognition until collection is probable or payment is received.

The Company generates revenue from the delivery of a shipment and the completion of related services. Revenue for the delivery of a shipment is recorded over time to coincide with when customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of the delivery services. Accordingly, revenue billed to a customer for the transportation of freight are recognized over the transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is satisfied. The Company determines the transit period for a shipment based on the pick-up date and the delivery date, which may be estimated if delivery has not occurred as of a reporting period. The determination of the transit period and how much of it has been completed as of a given reporting date may require the Company to make judgments that impact the timing of revenue recognized. For delivery of shipments with a pick-up date in one reporting period and a delivery date in another reporting period, the Company recognizes revenue based on relative transit time in each reporting period. A portion of the total revenue to be billed to the customer after completion of a delivery is
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
recognized in each reporting period based on the percentage of total transit time that has been completed at the end of the applicable reporting period. Upon delivery of a shipment or related service, customers are billed according to the applicable payment terms. Related services are a separate performance obligation and include accessorial charges such as terminal handling, storage, equipment rentals and customs brokerage.

Revenue is classified based on the line of business as the Company believes this best depicts the nature, timing and amount of revenue and cash flows. For all lines of business, the Company records revenue on a gross basis as it is the principal in the transaction as the Company has discretion to determine the amount of consideration. Additionally, the Company has the discretion to select drivers and other vendors for the services provided to customers. These factors, discretion in the amount of consideration and the selection of drivers and other vendors, support revenue recognized on a gross basis.

3.    Discontinued Operation and Held for Sale

As previously disclosed, on April 23, 2020, the Company made a decision to divest of Pool. The Pool business met the criteria for held for sale classification. As a result, the assets and liabilities of Pool were presented separately under the captions “Current assets held for sale”, “Noncurrent assets held for sale”, “Current liabilities held for sale” and “Noncurrent liabilities held for sale” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020. The results of Pool were reclassified to “Loss from discontinued operation, net of tax” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Certain corporate overhead and other costs previously allocated to Pool for segment reporting purposes did not qualify for classification within discontinued operation and have been reallocated to continuing operations. These costs were reclassified to the eliminations and other column in the segment reconciliation in Note 13, Segment Reporting.
Sale of Pool
On February 12, 2021, the Company completed the sale of the Pool business for $8,000 in cash and up to a $12,000 earn-out based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The sale agreement for Pool included an earn-out based on the achievement of certain earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization attainment over an eleven-month period, beginning February 1, 2021. The Company will receive payment for the amount earned in the first quarter of 2022, and if elected, the buyer may defer the payment of up to half of the amount earned to first quarter of 2023. The preliminary estimated fair value of the earn-out asset on the date of sale was $6,967. The fair value was based on the estimated eleven-month period of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

The weighted-average assumptions under the Monte Carlo simulation model were as follows:

February 12, 2021
Counterparty credit spread 1.2%
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization discount rate 15.0%
Asset volatility 55.0%

Subsequent to the date of sale, the Company will recognize any increases in the carrying value of the earn-out asset when the change is realized and will evaluate the earn-out asset for impairment at each reporting period. As of March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $3,508 in “Other receivables and $3,459 in “Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Transition Services Agreement

On February 12, 2021, the Company entered into a Transition Services Agreement (“TSA) with TOG FAS Holdings LLC, the buyer of the Pool business. Under the TSA, the Company performs certain services on an interim basis in order to facilitate the orderly transition of the Pool business. The effective date of the TSA was February 12, 2021 and will remain in effective until the date all services have been completed, but no more than six months following effective date. The TSA provides the right to extend the term of the TSA with no limit on the number of the mutually agreed upon extensions. In exchange for the services performed by the Company under the TSA, the Company receives a monthly service charge. For the
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $171 of the fee received, in “Other operating expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, for the services performed under the TSA.

Additionally, under the TSA, the Company remits payments to outside vendors on behalf of TOG FAS Holdings LLC for expenses incurred by the Pool business up to a limit of $18,000. The Company is reimbursed by TOG FAS Holdings LLC within 60 days from the end of the month in which the payment is remitted. As of March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a receivable in the amount of $13,339 in “Other receivables in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the reimbursement due to the Company.

Summarized Discontinued Operation Financial Information

A summary of the results of operations classified as a discontinued operation, net of tax, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Operating revenue $ 17,087  $ 36,952 
Operating expenses:  
Purchased transportation 4,290  9,536 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 9,674  17,113 
Operating leases 2,907  5,680 
Depreciation and amortization —  1,295 
Insurance and claims 929  1,726 
Fuel expense 644  1,327 
Other operating expenses 2,087  4,345 
Total operating expenses 20,531  41,022 
Loss from discontinued operation (3,444) (4,070)
Loss on sale of business (2,860) — 
Loss from discontinued operation before income taxes (6,304) (4,070)
Income tax benefit (771) (1,030)
Loss from discontinued operation, net of tax $ (5,533) $ (3,040)

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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


4.    Acquisitions

Expedited Freight Acquisition

As part of the Company’s strategy to expand final mile pickup and delivery operations, in April 2019, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of FSA Network, Inc., doing business as FSA Logistix (“FSA”), for $27,000 and a potential earn-out of up to $15,000. The purchase agreement for FSA included an earn-out up to $15,000 based on the achievement of certain revenue milestones over two one-year periods, beginning May 1, 2019. The estimated fair value of the earn-out liability on the date of acquisition was $11,803. The fair value was based on the estimated two-year performance of the acquired customer revenue and was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value of the earn-out liability was adjusted at each reporting period based on changes in the expected cash flows and related assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation model. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of the earn-out changed by ($48) and ($594), respectively, and the change in fair value was recorded in “Other operating expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The first one-year period ended in the second quarter of 2020 and the Company paid $5,284 based on the terms of the purchase agreement. The second one-year period will end in the second quarter of 2021. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of the earn-out liability was $6,817 and $6,865, respectively, which was reflected in “Other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Intermodal Acquisition

In February 2021, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of Proficient Transport Incorporated and Proficient Trucking, Inc. (together “Proficient Transport) for $15,000 and a potential earn-out up to $2,000. Proficient Transport is an intermodal drayage company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The acquisition of Proficient Transport supports the Company’s strategic growth plan by expanding the intermodal footprint in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas, and introduces a new location in Ohio. The acquisition was financed by cash flows from operations. The results of Proficient Transport have been included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and from the date of acquisition. The associated goodwill has been included in the Company’s Intermodal reportable segment.

The purchase agreement for Proficient Transport included an earn-out up to $2,000 based on the achievement of certain revenue milestones over a one-year period, beginning March 1, 2021. The estimated fair value of the earn-out liability on the date of acquisition was $815. The fair value was based on the estimated one-year performance of the acquired customer revenue and was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The weighted-average assumptions under the Monte Carlo simulation model were as follows:
February 28, 2021
Risk-free rate 0.1%
Revenue discount rate 8.8%
Revenue volatility 27.3%

As of March 31, 2021, the fair value of the earn-out liability was $815, which was reflected in “Other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.


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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date are presented in the following table:
Proficient Transport
February 28, 2021
Tangible assets:
Accounts receivable, net $ 3,865 
Property and equipment 140 
Other assets 10 
Total tangible assets 4,015 
Intangible assets:
Customer relationships 6,060 
Non-compete agreements 18 
Goodwill 5,754 
Total intangible assets 11,832 
Total assets acquired 15,847 
Liabilities assumed:
Current liabilities 32 
Total liabilities assumed 32 
Net assets acquired $ 15,815 

The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary based on the information available as of the acquisition date through the date of this filing.


The weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets as of the acquisition date are summarized in the following table:
Weighted-Average Useful Lives
Customer relationships 8 years
Non-compete agreements 1 year
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


5.    Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2021 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Expedited Freight Intermodal Consolidated
Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 165,268  $ 79,714  $ 244,982 
Acquisition —  5,754  5,754 
Balance as of March 31, 2021 $ 165,268  $ 85,468  $ 250,736 

Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis and more often if indications of impairment exist. The Company conducts its annual impairment analyses as of June 30 each year. Based on the current macroeconomic conditions, the Company assessed its goodwill and other intangible assets for indications of impairment as of March 31, 2021 and concluded there were no indicators of impairment during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Other Intangible Assets

Changes in the carrying amount of acquired intangible assets during the three months ended March 31, 2021 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

Gross Carrying Amount
Customer Relationships1
Non-Compete Agreements Trade Names Total
Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 228,416  $ 8,125  $ 1,500  $ 238,041 
Acquisition 6,060  18  —  6,078 
Balance as of March 31, 2021 $ 234,476  $ 8,143  $ 1,500  $ 244,119 

Accumulated Amortization
Customer Relationships1
Non-Compete Agreements Trade Names Total
Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 85,930  $ 5,579  $ 1,500  $ 93,009 
Amortization expense 3,104  338  —  3,442 
Balance as of March 31, 2021 $ 89,034  $ 5,917  $ 1,500  $ 96,451 

1 Carrying value as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is inclusive of $16,501 of accumulated impairment.
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021




6.    Stock Incentive Plans

The Company recorded shared-based compensation expense as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Salaries, wages and employee benefits - continuing operations $ 2,269  $ 2,817 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits - discontinued operation 16 188
Total share-based compensation expense $ 2,285  $ 3,005 

Stock Incentive Plan

In May 2016, the Company adopted the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) for the issuance of up to 2,000 common shares. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 793 shares remain available for grant under the Omnibus Plan.

Stock Options
     
Share-based compensation expense associated with stock options is amortized ratably over the requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of the grants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Stock option transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 on a continuing operations basis were as follows:

Stock Options Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 359  $ 55.79 
Granted 39  75.05 
Exercised (26) 54.26 
Forfeited —  — 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 372  $ 58.06 

As of March 31, 2021, the total share-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options net yet recognized was approximately $1,250, and the weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately two years.

Stock option transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 on a discontinued operation basis were as follows:
Stock Options Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 14  $ 52.15 
Granted —  — 
Exercised (14) 52.15 
Forfeited —  — 
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 —  $ — 
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


Restricted Shares

Restricted shares are restricted from sale or transfer until vesting, and restrictions lapse in three equal installments beginning one year after the date of grant. Share-based compensation expense associated with these awards is amortized ratably over the requisite service period. Restricted share transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 on a continuing operations basis were as follows:
Restricted Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 213  $ 62.78 
Granted 108  75.14 
Vested (96) 61.38 
Forfeited (11) 69.13 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 214  $ 69.31 

As of March 31, 2021, the total share-based compensation expense related to the restricted shares net yet recognized was approximately $13,179, and the weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately two years.

Restricted share transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 on a discontinued operation basis were as follows:
Restricted Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 $ 60.83 
Granted —  — 
Vested (4) 61.78 
Forfeited (4) 61.37 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 —  $ — 

Performance Awards

Performance awards are based on achieving certain financial targets, such as targets for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and the Company’s total shareholder return as compared to the total shareholder return of a selected peer group, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Performance targets are set at the beginning of each three-year measurement period. Share-based compensation expense associated with these awards is amortized ratably over the vesting period. Depending on the financial target, the compensation expense is based on the projected assessment of the level of performance that will be achieved.

Performance award transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 on a continuing operations basis were as follows assuming target levels of performance:
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
Performance Awards Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 65  $ 67.62 
Granted 36  87.33 
Earned (11) 92.89 
Forfeited (11) 70.22 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 79  $ 75.61 

As of March 31, 2021, the total share-based compensation expense related to unearned performance awards not yet recognized, assuming the Company's current projected assessment of the level of performance that will be achieved, was approximately $3,652, and the weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately three years.


Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Under the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), the Company is authorized to issue up to a remaining 335 shares of common stock to employees. These shares may be issued at a price equal to 90% of the lesser of the market value on the first day or the last day of each six-month purchase period. Common stock purchases are paid for through periodic payroll deductions and/or up to two large lump sum contributions. No shares were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Director Restricted Shares

Under the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (the “Amended Plan”), approved in May 2007 and further amended in February 2013 and January 2016, up to 360 common shares may be issued. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 90 shares remain available for grant under the Amended Plan.

Director restricted share transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 were as follows:
Director Restricted Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 24  $ 43 
Granted 93 
Vested —  — 
Forfeited —  — 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2021 26  $ 47 

For the three-months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded $328 and $261, respectively, of share-based compensation expense associated with these grants. As of March 31, 2021, the total share-based compensation expense related to the restricted shares net yet recognized was approximately $256.

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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


7.    Indebtedness

As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $112,500 in borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility, $18,326 utilized for outstanding letters of credit and $94,174 of available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. The interest rate on the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility was 3.25% and 2.30% as of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

In September 2017, the Company entered into a five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) with a maximum aggregate principal amount of $150,000, with a sublimit of $30,000 for letters of credit and a sublimit of $30,000 for swing line loans. The maturity date of the Facility is September 29, 2022. In April 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the Facility, which increased the maximum aggregate principal amount to $225,000. The Facility may be increased by up to $25,000 to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $250,000 pursuant to the terms of the amended credit agreement, subject to the lenders’ agreement to increase their commitments or the addition of new lenders extending such commitments. Such increases to the Facility may be in the form of additional revolving credit loans, term loans or a combination thereof, and are contingent upon there being no events of default under the Facility.

Under the amended Facility, interest accrues on the amounts outstanding under the credit facility, at the Company’s option, at either (1) London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR) rate, not less than 1.00%, plus a margin ranging from 2.25% to 2.75% based on the Company’s leverage ratio, or (2) base rate, which cannot be less than 3.00%. The base rate is the highest of (i) the federal funds rate, not less than zero, plus 0.50%, (ii) the administrative agent's prime rate and (iii) the LIBOR rate, not less than 1.00%, plus 1.00%, plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% based on the Company’s leverage ratio. Interest is payable in arrears for each loan that is based on the LIBOR rate on the last day of the interest period applicable to each loan, and interest is payable in arrears on loans not based on the LIBOR rate on the last day of each quarter.

The Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company, without the approval of the required lenders, to engage in certain mergers, consolidations, asset sales, dividends and stock repurchases, investments, and other transactions or to incur liens or indebtedness in excess of agreed thresholds, as set forth in the credit agreement. The Company also has to fulfill financial covenants with respect to a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio. As of March 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the aforementioned covenants.

In April 2021, the Company borrowed $20,000 under the revolving credit facility.
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021



8.    Net Income (Loss) Per Share

A reconciliation of net income attributable to Forward Air and weighted-average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted net income per share during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Numerator:    
Net income and comprehensive income from continuing operations $ 16,714  $ 11,415 
Net loss and comprehensive loss from discontinued operation (5,533) (3,040)
Net income attributable to Forward Air $ 11,181  $ 8,375 
Income allocated to participating securities (101) (67)
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per share for continuing operations $ 16,613  $ 11,348 
Numerator for basic and diluted net loss per share for discontinued operation $ (5,533) $ (3,040)
Denominator:    
Denominator for basic net income per share - weighted-average number of common shares outstanding 27,361  27,846 
Dilutive stock options and performance share awards 136  102 
Denominator for diluted net income per share - weighted-average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding 27,497  27,948 
Basic net income (loss) per share:
     Continuing operations $ 0.61  $ 0.41 
     Discontinued operation (0.20) (0.11)
Net income per share1
$ 0.40  $ 0.30 
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
     Continuing operations $ 0.60  $ 0.41 
     Discontinued operation (0.20) (0.11)
Net income per share $ 0.40  $ 0.30 
1 Rounding may impact summation of amounts.


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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
The number of shares that were not included in the calculation of net income per diluted share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Anti-dilutive stock options 25  203 
Anti-dilutive performance shares 24 
Anti-dilutive restricted shares and deferred stock units 75 
Total anti-dilutive shares 29  302 


9.    Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded income tax expense of $4,845 and $3,504, respectively, for continuing operations. The effective tax rate of 22.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 varied from the statutory United States federal income tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to the effect of state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, and non-deductible executive compensation, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on share-based awards. The effective tax rate of 23.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 varied from the statutory United States federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to the effect of state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, and non-deductible executive compensation, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on share-based awards and a refund for Tennessee tax credits.

As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $544 of unrecognized income tax benefits, all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income taxes. As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $168. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or Canadian examinations by tax authorities for years before 2013.

The sale of Pool resulted in a capital loss in the amount of $2,426. The capital loss expires in 2026. The Company concluded that it was more likely than not the capital loss carryforward will not be realized and therefore, established a valuation allowance of $2,426 to reserve against its capital loss carryforward. The Company also maintains a valuation allowance to reserve against its state net operating loss carryforwards. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company assessed the likelihood that its deferred tax assets would be recovered from estimated future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. In making this assessment, all available evidence was considered including economic climate, as well as reasonable tax planning strategies. The Company believes it is more likely than not that it will realize its remaining net deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance, in future years.

10.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions used in valuing the asset or liability. Estimates of fair value financial assets and liabilities are based on a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions. In accordance with this guidance, fair value measurements are classified under the following hierarchy:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
As previously discussed in Note 4, Acquisitions, the fair value of the earn-out liability was determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation model. The significant inputs used in the model are derived from a combination of observable and unobservable market data. Observable inputs used in the Monte Carlo simulation model include the risk-free rate and the revenue volatility while unobservable inputs used in the Monte Carlo simulation model include the revenue discount rate and the estimated revenue projections.
    
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are summarized below:
As of March 31, 2021
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Earn-out liability $ —  $ —  $ 7,632  $ 7,632 
As of December 31, 2020
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Earn-out liability $ —  $ —  $ 6,865  $ 6,865 

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable are valued at their carrying amounts in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

The carrying amount of long-term debt under the Company’s credit facility approximate fair value based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for a loan with similar terms and average maturity.

As of March 31, 2021, the estimated fair value of the Company’s finance lease obligation, based on current borrowing rates, was $6,892, compared to its carrying value of $6,652. As of December 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of the Company’s finance lease obligation, based on current borrowing rates, was $7,009, compared to its carrying value of $6,811.



11.    Shareholders’ Equity

Cash Dividends

During the first quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared and the Company has paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share of common stock.

On April 26, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per common share that will be paid in second quarter of 2021.

Share Repurchase Program

On July 21, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program for up to 3,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “2016 Repurchase Plan). On February 5, 2019, the Board of Directors canceled the Company’s 2016 Repurchase Plan and approved a revised stock repurchase plan authorizing up to 5,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “2019 Repurchase Plan”). The 2019 Repurchase Plan expires when the shares authorized for repurchase are exhausted or the 2019 Repurchase Plan is canceled.
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repurchased through open market transactions 114 shares of common stock for $9,997, or $87.89 per share, and during the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 268 shares of common stock for $15,259, or $56.93 per share. All shares received were retired upon receipt, and the excess of the purchase price over the par value per share was recorded to “Retained Earnings in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of March 31, 2021, the remaining shares to be repurchased under the 2019 Repurchase Plan were approximately 3,254 shares.

12.    Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies

The Company is party to various legal claims and actions incidental to its business. The Company believes none of these claims or actions, either individually or in the aggregate, is material to its business or financial statements as a whole, including its results of operations and financial condition.

The Company is liable for claims related to vehicle liability, workers’ compensation, property damage and employee medical benefits. Insurance coverage provides the Company with primary and excess coverage, which the Company believes is sufficient to protect the Company from catastrophic claims.

For vehicle liability, the Company retains a portion of the risk. Below is a summary of the Company’s risk retention on vehicle liability insurance coverage maintained by the Company through $10,000:

Company
Risk Retention
Frequency Layer Policy Term
Expedited Freight¹
LTL business $ 3,000  Occurrence/Accident²
$0 to $3,000
10/1/2020 to 10/1/2021
Truckload business $ 2,000  Occurrence/Accident²
$0 to $2,000
10/1/2020 to 10/1/2021
LTL and Truckload businesses $ 6,000  Policy Term Aggregate³
$3,000 to $5,000
10/1/2020 to 10/1/2021
LTL and Truckload businesses $ 5,000  Policy Term Aggregate³
$5,000 to $10,000
10/1/2020 to 10/1/2021
Intermodal $ 250  Occurrence/Accident²
$0 to $250
4/1/2020 to 10/1/2021
¹ Excluding the Final Mile business, which is primarily a brokered service.
² For each and every accident, the Company is responsible for damages and defense up to these amounts, regardless of the number of claims associated with any accident.
³ During the Policy Term, the Company is responsible for damages and defense within the stated Layer up to the stated, aggregate amount of Company Risk Retention before insurance will respond.

Also, from time to time, when brokering freight, the Company may face claims for the “negligent selection” of outside, contracted carriers that are involved in accidents, and the Company maintains third-party liability insurance coverage with a $100 deductible per occurrence for most of its brokered services. Additionally, the Company maintains workers’ compensation insurance with a self-insured retention of $500 per occurrence.

Insurance coverage in excess of the self-insured retention limit is an important part of the Company’s risk management process. The Company believes the recorded reserves are sufficient for all incurred claims up to the self-insured retention limits, including an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. Since the ultimate resolution of outstanding claims as well as claims incurred but not reported is uncertain, it is possible that the reserves recorded for these losses could change materially in the near term. However, an estimate cannot be made of the range of additional loss that is at least reasonably possible.
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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021


13.    Segment Reporting

The Company has two reportable segments: Expedited Freight and Intermodal. The Company evaluates segment performance based on income from operations. Segment results include intersegment revenues and shared costs.  Costs related to the corporate headquarters, shared services and shared assets, such as trailers, are allocated to each segment based on usage. Shared assets are not allocated to each segment, but rather the shared assets, such as trailers, are allocated to the Expedited Freight segment.

The accounting policies applied to each segment are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies as disclosed in Note 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, except for certain self-insurance loss reserves related to vehicle liability and workers’ compensation. Each segment is allocated an insurance premium and deductible that corresponds to the self-insured retention limit for that particular segment. Any self-insurance loss exposure beyond the deductible allocated to each segment is recorded in Eliminations & Other.      

Segment results from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
  Expedited Freight Intermodal Eliminations & Other Consolidated
External revenues $ 303,531  $ 58,502  $ —  $ 362,033 
Intersegment revenues 655  12  (498) 169 
Depreciation 4,993  799  5,795 
Amortization 1,805  1,637  —  3,442 
Income (loss) from continuing operations 24,530  4,509  (6,315) 22,724 
Purchases of property and equipment 2,411  284  —  2,695 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
  Expedited Freight Intermodal Eliminations & Other Consolidated
External revenues $ 253,140  $ 52,455  $ —  $ 305,595 
Intersegment revenues 485  (528) (38)
Depreciation 4,908  1,053  18  5,979 
Amortization 1,787  1,568  —  3,355 
Income (loss) from continuing operations 15,179  3,713  (3,120) 15,772 
Purchases of property and equipment 2,405  246  —  2,651 
Total Assets
As of March 31, 2021 $ 934,602  $ 204,178  $ (122,879) $ 1,015,901 
As of December 31, 2020 905,081  221,963  (153,750) 973,294 
                    

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Forward Air Corporation
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2021
Revenue from the individual services within the Expedited Freight segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
2021
March 31,
2020
Expedited Freight revenue:  
Network $ 178,627  $ 152,009 
Truckload 52,380  47,529 
Final Mile 62,256  47,802 
Other 10,923  6,285 
Total $ 304,186  $ 253,625 


14.    Subsequent Event

On April 28, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets and liabilities of J&P Hall Express Delivery (“J&P”) for $7,400. J&P, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with a second terminal in Albany, Georgia, offers a portfolio of transportation services including less than truckload, truckload, less than container load, container freight station warehousing, and airport transfers across the Southeastern United States.



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Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview
 
We are a leading asset-light freight and logistics company providing less-than-truckload (“LTL), final mile truckload and intermodal drayage services across the United States and in Canada. We offer premium services that typically require precision execution, such as expedited transit, delivery during tight time windows and special handling. We utilize an asset-light strategy to minimize our investments in equipment and facilities and to reduce our capital expenditures.

Our services are classified into two reportable segments: Expedited Freight and Intermodal.

Through the Expedited Freight segment, we operate a comprehensive national network to provide expedited regional, inter-regional and national LTL services. Expedited Freight offers customers local pick-up and delivery and other services including final mile, truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage and other handling. We plan to grow our LTL and final mile geographic footprints through greenfield start-ups as well as acquisitions.

Our Intermodal segment provides first- and last-mile high value intermodal container drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads. Intermodal also offers dedicated contract and container freight station (“CFS) warehouse and handling services. Today, Intermodal operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, with smaller operational presence in Southwest and Mid-Atlantic United States. We plan to grow Intermodal’s geographic footprint through acquisitions as well as greenfield start-ups where we do not have an acceptable acquisition target.

Our operations, particularly our network of hubs and terminals, represent substantial fixed costs. Consequently, our ability to increase our earnings depends in significant part on our ability to increase the amount of freight and the revenue per pound for the freight shipped through our networks and to grow other services, such as LTL pickup and delivery, final mile solutions and intermodal services, which will allow us to maintain revenue growth in challenging shipping environments. In addition, we are continuing to execute synergies across our services, particularly with service offerings in the Expedited Freight segment. Synergistic opportunities include the ability to share resources, particularly our fleet resources.

The Board approved a strategy to divest the Pool Distribution business (“Pool) on April 23, 2020, and the sale of Pool was completed on February 12, 2021. Pool provided high-frequency handling and distribution of time sensitive product to numerous destinations within a specific geographic region. Pool offered this service throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest United States. Accordingly, the results of operations for Pool have been presented as a discontinued operation in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for all period presented. In addition, the assets and liabilities were presented as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the prior period. Unless otherwise noted, amounts, percentages and discussion for all periods reflect the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows from our continuing operations. Refer to Note 4, Discontinued Operation and Held for Sale, to the our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our discontinued operation.

Trends and Developments

COVID-19

Our business is highly susceptible to changes in the economic conditions. Our products and services are directly tied to the production and sale of goods and, more generally, to the North American economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted economic activity and conditions worldwide and created significant volatility and disruption to the financial markets. Efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 led governments and other authorities to impose restrictions which resulted in business closures and disrupted supply chains worldwide. As a result, transportation and supply chain companies such as ours experienced slowdowns and reduced demand for our services.

Although our business and operations have returned to pre-COVID levels, the situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid and may be further impacted by the policies of President Biden’s administration and the availability and success of a vaccine. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition in 2021 will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted by, including, but not limited to the duration, spread, severity and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the effects of the outbreak on our customers and suppliers and the remedial actions and stimulus measures adopted by local and federal governments, and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
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In addition, although we believe we have sufficient capital and liquidity to manage our business over the short- and long-term, our liquidity may be materially affected if conditions in the credit and financial markets deteriorate as a result of COVID-19 including failure by us or our customers to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner.

Intermodal Acquisition

As part of the inorganic growth strategy, in February 2021, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of Proficient Transport Incorporated and Proficient Trucking, Inc. (together “Proficient Transport) for $15,000 and a potential earn-out up to $2,000. The estimated fair value of the earn-out liability on the date of acquisition was $815. The fair value was based on the estimated one-year performance of the acquired customer revenue and was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Proficient Transport is an intermodal drayage company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The acquisition of Proficient Transport will expand our intermodal footprint in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas, and will introduce a new location in Ohio. The acquisition was funded using cash flows from operations. The results of Proficient Transport have been included in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and from the date of acquisition.

Sale of Pool

On February 12, 2021, we sold Pool for an $8,000 cash payment and up to a $12,000 earn-out based on 2021 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization attainment, beginning February 1, 2021. The preliminary estimated fair value of the earn-out on the date of sale was $6,967, and was calculated based on the estimated performance of Pool using a Monte Carlo simulation model. A loss on the sale of Pool in the amount of $2,860 was recorded in discontinued operation.

Environmental Protection and Community Support

We embrace a comprehensive definition of sustainability that addresses Environmental, Social, and Governance factors (“ESG”). To our employees, our communities, our customers, our suppliers, and our investors, each impact area matters.

In 2019, our Board amended the Corporate Governance and Nominating (“CG&N”) Committee Charter to oversee our efforts related to environmental, social, and governance matters, and management of sustainability-related risks and opportunities. At least twice a year, the CG&N Committee is updated on each of these topics and provides feedback and recommendations that it deems appropriate.

In 2020, we created and staffed the Head of Corporate ESG role to provide oversight of our ESG vision, strategic planning, performance management and improvement activities. Shortly after, we initiated an ESG market analysis and benchmarking exercise that explored the ESG issues that most impact transportation and logistics industries and marketplaces.

We began in 2020 to conduct an ESG assessment, starting with a third-party stakeholder assessment that served as a basis for identifying and prioritizing ESG topics most relevant to our industry, our business, and our stakeholders. The assessment’s findings yielded initial topics that we recognized as important. We followed with a more in-depth assessment of risks and opportunities, utilizing Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) standards as a guide, in order to further refine our disclosure topics and gain stakeholder alignment. This more detailed assessment yielded clarity of our ESG topics and prioritization based on the degree of both qualitative and quantitative impact to our business.

We identified ten ESG topic priority areas relevant to our business and mapped each to widely adopted ESG reporting standards as identified by SASB. Within these ten topic areas, we identified specific related risks and opportunities, and aligned on improvement activities. In first quarter of 2021, we published our first ESG report that describes our sustainability focus and plan. We are committed to making our results count across the country and will continue to update our future disclosures accordingly.

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Results from Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated financial data from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31, March 31, Percent
2021 2020 Change Change
Operating revenue:
Expedited Freight $ 304,186  $ 253,625  $ 50,561  19.9  %
Intermodal 58,514  52,460  6,054  11.5 
Eliminations and other operations (498) (528) 30  (5.7)
Operating revenue 362,202  305,557  56,645  18.5 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 184,608  150,598  34,010  22.6 
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits 74,897  69,559  5,338  7.7 
Operating leases 19,167  17,884  1,283  7.2 
Depreciation and amortization 9,237  9,334  (97) (1.0)
Insurance and claims 9,741  10,044  (303) (3.0)
Fuel expense 3,702  4,013  (311) (7.7)
Other operating expenses 38,126  28,353  9,773  34.5 
Total operating expenses 339,478  289,785  49,693  17.1 
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Expedited Freight 24,530  15,179  9,351  61.6 
Intermodal 4,509  3,713  796  21.4 
Other Operations (6,315) (3,120) (3,195) 102.4 
Income from continuing operations 22,724  15,772  6,952  44.1 
Other expense:
Interest expense (1,165) (853) (312) 36.6 
Total other expense (1,165) (853) (312) 36.6 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 21,559  14,919  6,640  44.5 
Income tax expense 4,845  3,504  1,341  38.3 
Net income from continuing operations 16,714  11,415  5,299  46.4 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (5,533) (3,040) (2,493) 82.0 
Net income and comprehensive income $ 11,181  $ 8,375  $ 2,806  33.5  %



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Revenues

Operating revenue increased $56,645, or 18.5%, to $362,202 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $305,557 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in our Expedited Freight segment of $50,561 due to increased Network and Final Mile revenue.

Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased $49,693, or 17.1%, to $339,478 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $289,785 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a purchased transportation increase of $34,010 in our Expedited Freight segment. Purchased transportation includes owner operators and third party carriers.
Income from Continuing Operations and Segment Operations

Income from continuing operations increased $6,952, or 44.1%, to $22,724 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $15,772 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by increases at our Expedited Freight segment and Intermodal segment of $9,351 and $796, respectively. The results for our two reportable segments are discussed in detail in the following sections.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $1,165 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $853 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in interest expense was attributable to a higher interest rate on the outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The interest rate on the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility was 3.25% and 2.3%, respectively, at March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Income Taxes on a Continuing Basis

The combined federal and state effective tax rate on a continuing basis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was 22.5% compared to a rate of 23.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to increased vesting of restricted shares as well as exercises of stock options in the current period when compared to the same period in 2020.

Loss from Discontinued Operation, net of tax

Loss from discontinued operation, net of tax increased $2,493 to a $5,533 loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to a $3,040 loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Pool business was sold on February 12, 2021, and the loss on sale recorded in discontinued operation was $2,860.

Net Income

As a result of the foregoing factors, net income increased $2,806, or 33.5%, to $11,181 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $8,375 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.


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Expedited Freight - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

The following table sets forth the financial data of our Expedited Freight segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Expedited Freight Segment Information
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
  2021 Revenue 2020 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue:
Network1
$ 178,627  58.7  % $ 152,009  59.9  % $ 26,618  17.5  %
Truckload 52,380  17.2  47,529  18.7  4,851  10.2 
Final Mile 62,256  20.5  47,802  18.8  14,454  30.2 
Other 10,923  3.6  6,285  2.5  4,638  73.8 
Total operating revenue 304,186  100.0  253,625  100.0  50,561  19.9 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 164,364  54.0  132,790  52.4  31,574  23.8 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 61,687  20.3  55,435  21.9  6,252  11.3 
Operating leases 14,218  4.7  13,602  5.4  616  4.5 
Depreciation and amortization 6,798  2.2  6,695  2.6  103  1.5 
Insurance and claims 7,611  2.5  6,613  2.6  998  15.1 
Fuel expense 1,993  0.7  2,144  0.8  (151) (7.0)
Other operating expenses 22,985  7.6  21,167  8.3  1,818  8.6 
Total operating expenses 279,656  91.9  238,446  94.0  41,210  17.3 
Income from operations $ 24,530  8.1  % $ 15,179  6.0  % $ 9,351  61.6  %
1Network revenue is comprised of all revenue, including linehaul, pickup and/or delivery, and fuel surcharge revenue, excluding accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile revenue.



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Expedited Freight Operating Statistics
Three Months Ended
March 31, March 31, Percent
2021 2020 Change
Business days 63  64  (1.6) %
Tonnage 1,2
    Total pounds 651,339  569,956  14.3 
    Pounds per day 10,339  8,906  16.1 
Shipments 1,2
    Total shipments 1,026  885  15.9 
    Shipments per day 16.3  13.8  18.1 
Weight per shipment 635  644  (1.4)
Revenue per hundredweight 3
$ 27.56  $ 27.16  1.5 
Revenue per hundredweight, ex fuel 3
$ 23.86  $ 23.09  3.3 
Revenue per shipment 3
$ 174  $ 172  1.2 
Revenue per shipment, ex fuel 3
$ 151  $ 145  4.1 
Network revenue from door-to-door shipments as a percentage of network revenue 3,4
48.4  % 44.3  % 9.3 
Network gross margin 5
51.9  % 53.4  % (2.8) %
1 In thousands
2 Excludes accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile products
3 Includes intercompany revenue between the Network and Truckload revenue streams
4 Door-to-door shipments include all shipments with a pickup and/or delivery
5 Network revenue less Network purchased transportation as a percentage of Network revenue


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Revenues
Expedited Freight operating revenue increased $50,561, or 19.9%, to $304,186 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $253,625 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was attributable to increased Network, Truckload and Final Mile revenue. Network revenue increased due to a 14.3% increase in tonnage, a 15.9% increase in shipments and a 1.5% increase in revenue per hundredweight as compared to the prior year. Fuel surcharge revenue increased $863, or 3.7% as a result of the rising fuel prices. Truckload revenue increased $4,851 primarily due to an increase in revenue per mile. Final Mile revenue increased $14,454 due to the combination of organic growth and the acquisition of CLW in October 2020. Other revenue, which includes warehousing and terminal handling, increased $4,638 due to the higher linehaul tonnage and shipment counts.
Purchased Transportation
Expedited Freight purchased transportation increased $31,574, or 23.8%, to $164,364 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $132,790 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Purchased transportation was 54.0% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 52.4% for the same period in 2020. Expedited Freight purchased transportation includes owner operators and third party carriers, while Company-employed drivers are included in salaries, wages and benefits. The increase in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to the mix of owner operators, third party carriers and Company-employed drivers.
Salaries, Wages and Employee Benefits
Expedited Freight salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $6,252, or 11.3%, to $61,687 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $55,435 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Salaries, wages and employee benefits were 20.3% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 21.9% for the same period in 2020. The decrease in salaries, wages and employee benefits as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to cost-control measures and operating efficiencies.
Operating Leases
Expedited Freight operating leases increased $616, or 4.5%, to $14,218 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $13,602 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Operating leases were 4.7% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 5.4% for the same period in 2020. The increase in operating leases was primarily due to additional truck leases and facility leases acquired from CLW.
Depreciation and Amortization
Expedited Freight depreciation and amortization increased $103, or 1.5%, to $6,798 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $6,695 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Depreciation and amortization was 2.2% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 2.6% for the same period in 2020. The increase in amortization expense was primarily due to the amortization of intangibles resulting from the acquisition of CLW.
Insurance and Claims
Expedited Freight insurance and claims increased $998, or 15.1%, to $7,611 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $6,613 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Insurance and claims were 2.5% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 2.6% for the same period in 2020. The increase in insurance and claims expense was primarily attributable to an increase in vehicle insurance premiums. See additional discussion over the consolidated change in self-insurance reserves in the “Other Operation section below.
Fuel Expense

Expedited Freight fuel expense decreased $151, or 7.0%, to $1,993 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $2,144 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Fuel expense was 0.7% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 0.8% for the same period in 2020.  Expedited Freight fuel expense decreased due to a decline in our mileage and the average price of fuel in 2021.

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Other Operating Expenses
Expedited Freight other operating expenses increased $1,818, or 8.6%, to $22,985 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $21,167 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Other operating expenses were 7.6% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 8.3% for the same period in 2020.  Other operating expenses included equipment maintenance, terminal and office expenses, legal and professional fees and other over-the-road costs. These expenses primarily increased due to terminal and office expenses as well as parts costs for final mile installations.
Income from Operations
Expedited Freight income from operations increased $9,351, or 61.6%, to $24,530 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $15,179 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Income from operations was 8.1% of Expedited Freight operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 6.0% for the same period in 2020. The increase in income from operations was due to an increase in tonnage, higher revenue per hundredweight and operating efficiencies.


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Intermodal - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

The following table sets forth the financial data of our Intermodal segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Intermodal Segment Information
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
 
2020 1
Revenue 2020 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue $ 58,514  100.0  % $ 52,460  100.0  % $ 6,054  11.5  %
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 20,603  35.2  18,166  34.6  2,437  13.4 
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 14,063  24.0  12,930  24.6  1,133  8.8 
Operating leases 4,837  8.3  4,428  8.4  409  9.2 
Depreciation and amortization 2,436  4.2  2,621  5.0  (185) (7.1)
Insurance and claims 2,402  4.1  1,973  3.8  429  21.7 
Fuel expense 1,710  2.9  1,869  3.6  (159) (8.5)
Other operating expenses 7,954  13.6  6,760  12.9  1,194  17.7 
Total operating expenses 54,005  92.3  48,747  92.9  5,258  10.8 
Income from operations $ 4,509  7.7  % $ 3,713  7.1  % $ 796  21.4  %
1 Includes revenues and operating expenses from the acquisition of Proficient Transport, which was acquired in February 2021.

Intermodal Operating Statistics
Three Months Ended
March 31, March 31, Percent
2021 2020 Change
Drayage shipments 89,909  82,474  9.0  %
Drayage revenue per shipment $ 553  $ 551  0.4  %
Number of locations 27  24  12.5  %


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Revenues

Intermodal operating revenue increased $6,054, or 11.5%, to $58,514 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $52,460 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in operating revenue was primarily attributable to a 9.0% increase in drayage shipments over the same period in 2020.

Purchased Transportation

Intermodal purchased transportation increased $2,437, or 13.4%, to $20,603 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $18,166 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.   Purchased transportation was 35.2% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 34.6% for the same period in 2020.  Intermodal purchased transportation includes owner operators and third party carriers, while Company-employed drivers are included in salaries, wages and benefits. The increase in Intermodal purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to the mix of owner operators and Company-employed drivers.

Salaries, Wages and Employee Benefits

Intermodal salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $1,133, or 8.8%, to $14,063 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $12,930 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Salaries, wages and employee benefits were 24.0% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 24.6% for the same period in 2020.

Operating Leases

Intermodal operating leases increased $409, or 9.2%, to $4,837 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $4,428 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Operating leases were 8.3% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 8.4% for the same period in 2020.  

Depreciation and Amortization

Intermodal depreciation and amortization decreased $185, or 7.1%, to $2,436 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $2,621 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Depreciation and amortization was 4.2% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 5.0% for the same period in 2020. The decrease was primarily due to the full depreciation in 2021 of equipment obtained through a prior year acquisition.

Insurance and Claims

Intermodal insurance and claims increased $429, or 21.7%, to $2,402 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $1,973 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Insurance and claims were 4.1% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and compared to 3.8% for the same period in 2020. The increase in insurance and claims expense was primarily due to an increase in vehicle insurance premiums. See additional discussion over the consolidated change in self-insurance reserves in the “Other Operations section below.

Fuel Expense

Intermodal fuel expense decreased $159, or 8.5%, to $1,710 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $1,869 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Fuel expense was 2.9% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 3.6% for the same period in 2020.  Intermodal fuel expense decreased due to a decline in our mileage and the average price of fuel in 2021.
Other Operating Expenses

Intermodal other operating expenses increased $1,194, or 17.7%, to $7,954 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $6,760 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Other operating expenses were 13.6% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 12.9% for the same period in 2020.  The increase in Intermodal other operating expenses was primarily due to additional rail storage expenses and professional fees related to the acquisition of Proficient Transport.

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Income from Operations

Intermodal income from operations increased $796, or 21.4%, to $4,509 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $3,713 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Income from operations was 7.7% of Intermodal operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 7.1% for the same period in 2020.  Increase in the operating income was primarily attributable to leverage on fixed costs such as operating leases, depreciation and amortization.

Other Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

Other operating activity was a $6,315 operating loss during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to a $3,120 operating loss during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 included increased professional fees related to cybersecurity and shareholder engagement activities of $6,955, partially offset by decreased self-insurance reserves for vehicle liability claims and self-insurance reserves for group health insurance claims of $2,210 and $1,177, respectively. The decrease in the self-insurance reserves for vehicle liability claims was due to the favorable loss development factor of historical claims.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates estimates, including those related to allowance for doubtful accounts and revenue adjustments, deferred income taxes and uncertain tax positions, goodwill, other intangible and long-lived assets, and self-insurance loss reserves. Management bases these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A description of critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates that affect the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements is set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We have historically financed our working capital needs, including capital expenditures, with cash flows from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We believe that borrowings under our revolving credit facility, together with available cash and internally generated funds, will be sufficient to support our working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements for the foreseeable future. In April 2021, we borrowed $20,000 under the revolving credit facility to provide financial flexibility.

We use LIBOR as a reference rate in our revolving credit facility to calculate interest due to our lender. In the event the LIBOR is no longer published, we have amended our revolving credit facility to include provisions to address establishing a replacement benchmark rate.

We are in compliance with our financial convents contained in the revolving credit facility and expect to maintain such compliance. In the event that we encounter difficulties, our historical relationships with our lenders has been strong and we anticipate their continued long-term support of our business. Refer to Note 7, Indebtedness, to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our revolving credit facility.

Cash Flows

Continuing Operations

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was approximately $16,913 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to approximately $30,828 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in the net cash provided by continuing operating activities was primarily due to the increase in the other receivable balance. The other receivable balance changed as a result of the Transition Services Agreement entered into with the buyer of the Pool business. Under the Transition Services Agreement, we remit payments to outside vendors on behalf of the buyer for expenses incurred by the Pool business, up to a limit of $18,000, and we are reimbursed by the buyer within 60 days from the end of the month in which the payment is remitted.


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Net cash used in continuing investing activities was approximately $17,030 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to approximately $57,862 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Capital expenditures for the first three months of 2021 were approximately $2,695 and primarily related to an organic investment to expand the capacity of our national hub in Columbus, Ohio. Capital expenditures for the first three months of 2020 were approximately $2,651 and primarily were for new trailers, information technology and facility property and equipment. Continuing investing activities for the first three months of 2021 included the acquisition of Proficient Transport for $15,000 while continuing investing activities for the first three months of 2020 included the acquisition of Linn Star Holdings, Inc., Linn Star Transfer, Inc. and Linn Star Logistics, LLC for $55,931.

Net cash used in continuing financing activities was approximately $15,741 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by continuing financing activities was approximately $39,530 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The change in the net cash used in continuing financing activities was primarily due to proceeds from the revolving credit facility, partially offset by increased repurchases of common stock during the first three months of 2020.

Discontinued Operation

Net cash used in discontinued operating activities was approximately $6,902 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to approximately $1,662 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in net cash used in discontinued operating activities was primarily related to a decrease in discontinued net income after consideration of non-cash items.

Net cash provided by discontinued investing activities was approximately $8,020 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to net cash used in discontinued investing activities was approximately $491 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The change in the net cash provided by discontinued investing activities was due to the proceeds of $8,000 received from the sale of the Pool business.

Net cash used in discontinued financing activities was approximately $1,118 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by discontinued financing activities was approximately $2,153 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The change in the net cash used in discontinued financing activities was due to decreased contributions from the parent.

Share Repurchase Program

During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we repurchased 113,756 and 268,027 shares of our common stock, respectively, for approximately $9,998 and $15,259, respectively, through open market transactions. All shares received were retired upon receipt, and the excess of the purchase price over the par value per share was recorded to “Retained Earnings” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition and relate to future events or our future financial performance. In this Form 10-Q, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statements regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial condition, including the impacts on our LTL and Intermodal businesses, our ability to emerge as a stronger LTL competitor, our pursuit of new revenue opportunities and steps to bolster our liquidity; any projections of earnings, revenues, dividends, or other financial items or methods of interpretation or measurement; any statements of plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding the estimated earn-out from the sale of our Pool business; any statements regarding future performance; any statements regarding future insurance, claims and litigation and any associated estimates or projections; any statements concerning proposed or intended new services or developments and related integration costs; any statements regarding intended expansion through acquisition or greenfield start-ups; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance based on our business strategy, including acquisitions; any statements related to our ESG and sustainability initiatives and operations; any statements regarding certain tax and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements; and any statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Some forward-looking statements may be identified by use of such terms as “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects” or “expects.” 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
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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 impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial condition, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the availability and compensation of qualified independent owner-operators and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, the inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, changes in fuel prices, 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, loss of a major customer, increasing competition and pricing pressure, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, our inability to successfully integrate acquisitions, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental and tax matters, insurance matters, the handling of hazardous materials, and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. 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.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks, see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in Item 7A of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2020. As of the first quarter 2021, there has been no material changes in our exposures to market risk.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain controls and procedures designed to ensure that we are able to collect the information required to be disclosed in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and to process, summarize and disclose this information within the time periods specified in the rules of the SEC. Based on an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report conducted by management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer, who was also serving as the Company’s principal financial officer as of such date, the Chief Executive Officer believes that these controls and procedures are effective to ensure that we are able to collect, process and disclose the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file with the SEC within the required time periods.

Changes in Internal Control

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation described above that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. Other Information
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we are a party to ordinary, routine litigation incidental to and arising in the normal course of our business, most of which involve claims for personal injury and property damage related to the transportation and handling of freight, or workers’ compensation. We do not believe that any of these pending actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.








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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The table below sets forth information with respect to purchases of our common stock made by or on behalf of us during the three months ended March 31, 2021:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs1
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs1
January 1, 2021 through
January 31, 2021
—  $ —  —  3,368,451 
February 1, 2021 through
February 28, 2021
13,000  87.00  13,000  3,355,451 
March 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2021
100,756  88.00  100,756  3,254,695 
Total 113,756  $ 87.89  113,756  3,254,695 
1On February 5, 2019, our Board of Directors approved the 2019 Repurchase Plan authorizing up to 5.0 million shares of our common stock. The 2019 Share Repurchase Plan expires when the shares authorized for repurchase are exhausted or the 2019 Repurchase Plan is canceled.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.



Item 5. Other Information.

On April 5, 2021, we entered into an Advisory Agreement with Michael J. Morris, one of our former executive officers, effective April 5, 2021 through October 5, 2021 unless terminated earlier. During the transition to a new Chief Financial Officer, we engaged Mr. Morris in an advisory capacity given his experience and expertise pertaining to us. Under the Advisory Agreement, Mr. Morris will provide certain services to both management and the Board of Directors as may be requested from time to time by the current Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Morris will receive a fixed monthly fee of $10,000, which will be reduced to $5,000 per month in the month immediately following the commencement date of employment of the new Chief Financial Officer.






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Item 6. Exhibits.

In accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8212, Exhibit 32.1 is to be treated as “accompanying” this report rather than “filed” as part of the report.
 
No.   Exhibit
3.1  
3.2  
10.1
31.1  
32.1  
101.INS  
The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase 
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase 
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase 
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase 
104 Cover Page Interactive File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).


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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
    Forward Air Corporation
Date: May 3, 2021 By:  /s/ Thomas Schmitt
    Thomas Schmitt
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

    Forward Air Corporation
Date: May 3, 2021 By:  /s/ Rebecca J. Garbrick
    Rebecca J. Garbrick
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)



39
Exhibit 10.1
ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of April 5, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), between Forward Air Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”) and Michael Morris (the “Advisor”). The Company and the Advisor are sometimes referred to collectively as the “Parties” and each a “Party.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Advisor served the Company as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2021, the Advisor stepped down as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, in order to assure and retain the availability of the Advisor’s experience and expertise pertaining to the Company during the Company’s transition to a new Chief Financial Officer (the “New CFO”), the Company desires to engage the Advisor to provide certain services to the Company and Advisor agrees to provide such services, each on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below and in the Waiver and Acknowledgement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.
1.Recitals. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated by reference.
2.Engagement of Advisor. The Company hereby engages the Advisor as a consultant and the Advisor agrees to render advisory services in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
3.Services. During the Advisory Term (as defined in Section 4), the Advisor shall provide services in an advisory capacity to both management and the Board as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the current Chief Executive Officer of the Company (collectively referred to herein as, the “Services”). Advisor shall perform the Services faithfully, industriously, and to the best of the Advisor’s ability, experience, and talents. During the Advisory Term, the Advisor shall be responsible for reasonably determining the method, details and means of performing the Services required under this Agreement. The Advisor shall at all times perform such Services and conduct his business and affairs in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and all applicable Company policies and procedures.
1


4.Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on April 5, 2021 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall continue for six (6) months unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 9 (the duration of this Agreement referred to as, the “Advisory Term”).
5.Compensation.
(a)Fees. Upon the Commencement Date, and continuing through the end of the Advisory Term, the Company shall pay the Advisor a fixed monthly fee of $10,000, which such fee shall be reduced to $5,000 per month beginning in the month immediately following the commencement date of employment of the New CFO. All other fees paid hereunder will be prorated where applicable and payable to the Advisor within fifteen calendar days following each completed month of performance.
(b)Reimbursement of Expenses. The Advisor shall be reimbursed by the Company for business expenses actually incurred by him in providing the Services during the Advisory Term in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in place for executive officers, as amended from time to time.
(c)Company Benefit Plans. The Advisor acknowledges that, for purposes of this Agreement and any and all Services to be provided during the Advisory Term the Advisor shall not be an employee of the Company and, subject to the provisions of this Section 5(d), will not be entitled to participate in or receive any benefit or right as a Company employee under any Company employee benefit or executive compensation plan, including, without limitation, employee insurance, pension, savings, fringe benefit, stock option, equity compensation, deferred compensation or bonus plans (the “Company Benefit Plans”). If for any reason the Advisor’s status is re-characterized by a third party to constitute employee status, the Advisor shall not be eligible to participate in or receive any benefit or right as a Company employee under any Company Benefit Plan.
(d)Following the termination of this Agreement, Advisor will retain the computer docking station, monitor, keyboard and mouse currently in his possession and in use in his home office, but he either has or will return all other Company property of any kind.
6.Independent Contractor. The Advisor acknowledges that he shall be an independent contractor and he shall therefore be responsible for the payment of all income and payroll taxes relating to the Services. The Advisor further agrees to defend and indemnify the Company against any loss, costs, damages or liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (“Losses”) that the Company may incur as a result of any breach of the Advisor’s obligations under this paragraph.
7.Cooperation. From and after the Advisory Term, the Advisor shall provide his reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring prior to or during the Advisory Term, provided, that the Company shall reimburse the Advisor for his
2


reasonable costs and expenses (including legal counsel selected by the Advisor and reasonably acceptable to the Company) and such cooperation shall not unreasonably burden the Advisor or unreasonably interfere with any subsequent employment or engagement that the Advisor may undertake.
8.Termination.     The Company may terminate this Agreement and Advisor’s Services hereunder at any time. In the event of any termination of this Agreement and the Advisor’s Services hereunder by the Company or the Advisor for any reason, the Company shall be responsible for any compensation owed to the Advisor under Section 5 for any Services rendered prior to the effective date of such termination. Within five days any termination of this Agreement, the Advisor shall deliver to the Company all Company property.
9.Indemnification.
(a)General. The Company shall indemnify and advance Expenses to Advisor in connection with any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed Proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, direct or derivative, other than one initiated directly by Advisor, and which arises out of or is related to service by Advisor under this Agreement; provided, however that such definition shall exclude a Proceeding by which Advisor seeks to enforce his or her rights under this Agreement; and provided further, that such definition shall also exclude a Proceeding as to which the Advisor shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company (a “Proceeding”). “Expenses” shall mean all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, reasonable and necessary travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, for which reasonable and appropriate documentation is presented to the Company in accordance with the Company’s standard policies and procedures for submission and reimbursement of business expenses.
(b)Proceedings. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Advisor against Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by Advisor or on Advisor’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein. The Company may through counsel of its choosing participate with Advisor in the defense in a claim in any Proceeding. If the Company elects to participate with Advisor in the defense a claim, the Company shall be responsible for the costs of its legal counsel. Advisor shall not agree to or enter into any settlement or consent decree with respect to any claim without providing the Company’s prior written consent, which consent is not to be unreasonably withheld.
3


10.Miscellaneous.
(a)The Advisor shall not have the right to assign or otherwise transfer his rights or obligations under this Agreement, and any purported assignment or transfer by the Advisor shall be null and void from the initial date of the purported assignment or transfer. The Company and the Advisor agree that the Company may assign this Agreement to (i) any Company Affiliate or (ii) any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.
(b)No promises, statements, understandings, representations or warranties of any kind, whether oral or in writing, express or implied, have been made to the Advisor by any person or entity to induce him to enter into this Agreement other than the express terms set forth herein, and the Advisor is not relying upon any promises, statements, understandings, representations, or warranties other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(c)No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all of the parties hereto. No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the party charged with waiver. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed, or shall constitute, a waiver of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver, unless so provided in the waiver.
(d)If any provisions of this Agreement (or portions thereof) shall, for any reason, be held invalid or unenforceable, such provisions (or portions thereof) shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement (or portions thereof) shall nevertheless be valid, enforceable and of full force and effect. If any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the parties hereto agree that such invalid or unenforceable restriction shall be deemed modified so that it shall be valid and enforceable to the greatest extent permissible under law, and if such restriction cannot be modified so as to make it enforceable or valid, such finding shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any of the other restrictions contained herein.
(e)This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
4


(f)The section or paragraph headings or titles herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement. The parties have jointly participated in the drafting of this Agreement, and the rule of construction that a contract shall be construed against the drafter shall not be applied. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(g)This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee. Any action or proceeding by either of the parties to enforce this Agreement shall be brought only in a state or federal court located in the State of Tennessee. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue.
11.Notices.    All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder or necessary or convenient in connection herewith shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when hand delivered, sent by facsimile or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows (provided that notice of change of address shall be deemed given only when received):
If to the Company, to:

Forward Air Corporation
4370 Old Dixie Road
Hapeville, GA 30354
Attn: Chief Legal Officer

If to the Advisor, to the most recent address on file with the Company or to such other names or addresses as the Company or the Advisor, as the case may be, shall designate by notice to each other person entitled to receive notices in the manner specified in this Section 11.

12.Section 409A.    The Company and the Advisor agree that it is reasonably anticipated that Advisor’s Services hereunder will require the Advisor to render Services each month at a level that will not exceed 20% of the average level of the Advisor’s Services as an employee of the Company over the preceding 36-month period prior to the Employment End Date. The parties acknowledge that, for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Advisor will have undergone a “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, from the Company upon the Advisor’s Employment End Date. The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. For purposes of Section
5


409A of the Code, Advisor’s right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. All expenses or other reimbursements as provided herein shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time, but in any event shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by Advisor. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A of the Code: (a) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and (b) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursements or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute any representation or warranty by the Company regarding compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the Company, shall not have any liability to Advisor with respect thereto.

[Signature Page Follows]


6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the preface hereof.
FORWARD AIR CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas Schmitt
Name: Thomas Schmitt
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
ADVISOR
/s/ Michael J. Morris
Michael J. Morris

7

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a))

I, Tom Schmitt, certify that:
1
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 of Forward Air Corporation;
2 Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3 Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4 I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5 I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 Date: May 3, 2021  
    /s/ Tom Schmitt 
    Tom Schmitt
President and Chief Executive Officer
and Principal Financial Officer



Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Forward Air Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Tom Schmitt, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1 The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2 The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Date: May 3, 2021  
  /s/ Tom Schmitt
  Tom Schmitt
President and Chief Executive Officer and
Principal Financial Officer



    A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Forward Air Corporation and will be retained by Forward Air Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.