Earlier today, we issued our earnings release with our second quarter results. Please see the disclosure statement on slide two of the presentation, as well as the disclaimers in our earnings release related to forward-looking statements. A reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the tables attached to the earnings release and in the appendix of the slide presentation. In the second quarter, we delivered 24% revenue growth and 80 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion.

That plays directly into Werner's strengths, given our strong track record and reputation, and validates our strategic direction. Our ability to anticipate these supply shifts, execute our restructuring plan, and add FirstFleet to our Dedicated business gives us clear line of sight to sustained earnings growth and validates our strategic direction. Revenue per truck per week growth is the strongest we've delivered in the last decade, driven by exceptional productivity improvement, coupled with a double-digit increase in revenue per total mile. As a result, adjusted One-Way truckload OI margins improved over 700 basis points year-over-year.

Revenue per truck per week reached the strongest year-over-year improvement since the third quarter of 2022. Lastly, while the spike in spot rates during the second quarter put further margin pressure on our logistics business, we remain proactively engaged with customers and are focused on resetting to higher contract rates. Before Chris discusses our financial results in more detail, let's move to slide seven to summarize our current market outlook for the remainder of the year. With a predominantly supply-side driven turn to this point, any demand improvement would lead to even greater market momentum.

What went well
  • Werner delivered 24% revenue growth to $934 million and 80 basis points of adjusted operating-margin expansion, with adjusted operating income up 67% to $27.6 million and adjusted EPS of $0.22 (up $0.14).
  • One-Way truckload adjusted operating margin improved over 700 basis points year-over-year as the restructuring drove revenue per truck per week up 27.7%, miles per truck up 15.7% and revenue per total mile up 10.4%.
  • TTS revenue per truck per week rose 9% year-over-year, the largest quarterly increase since Q3 2018, and TTS adjusted operating margin net of fuel improved 270 basis points to 5.5%.
  • The FirstFleet acquisition is ahead of schedule on synergies (over $3 million realized, ~$7 million actioned for 2026 toward an $18 million target) and accretive from day one, with a 98% renewal rate on over 80% of the renewed portfolio.
  • DOT-preventable accidents per million miles fell sharply again (after a 45% Q1 decline), pushing insurance and claims expense to its lowest level since Q3 2024 (ex-FirstFleet).
  • Strong cash generation continued: operating cash flow of $85 million (up 84%) and free cash flow of $94 million (10% of revenue), enabling repayment of nearly half the FirstFleet-related debt.
What went wrong
  • GAAP results were weighed down by non-recurring M&A (FirstFleet, 45%) and One-Way restructuring (43%) costs, leaving GAAP operating margin at just 1.8% and diluted EPS of $0.11.
  • The Logistics segment posted a -1.3% adjusted operating margin (a 400 bps decline) as a Q2 spot-rate spike pressured truckload brokerage, with higher purchased-transportation costs cutting segment gross margin 260 bps.
  • Gains on sale of equipment fell to $1.5 million (from $5.9 million a year earlier), a $0.05 drag on adjusted EPS.
  • Driver-hiring constraints slowed the pace of fleet growth (average TTS fleet guide cut to +16-18% from +23-28%), delaying rather than losing growth into 2027.
  • One-Way trucking revenue net of fuel fell 16% to $138 million on a 34% smaller average fleet (1,736 trucks) following the restructuring and reseating of drivers.
  • Truckload logistics revenue fell 10% on 29% fewer shipments as brokerage volumes were cut to protect yield, with April and May the most challenging months.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodCurrent guidance
Dedicated revenue per truck per week growthFY2026+3% to +5%
One-Way revenue per total mileQ3 2026+10% to +13% year-over-year (Q2 was +10.4%)
Average TTS fleet growthFY2026+16% to +18% (modest sequential growth ahead)
FirstFleet synergiesover 18 monthson track to $18M (~$7M realized in 2026, ~half actioned; ~300 bps FirstFleet margin uplift)
Full-year net CapEx / free cash flowFY2026higher CapEx (~upper single digits % of revenue) but still free-cash-flow positive; fleet age toward mid-2 years by year-end
Consolidated adjusted operating income growth2H 2026accelerated pace, margin moving toward mid-single digits (similar ~150 bps sequential lift)

Performance Breakdown

MetricYoYNote
Total revenue $934M (+24%) Addition of FirstFleet plus One-Way rate/productivity gains, partly offset by lower One-Way and logistics revenue.
Adjusted operating income / margin $27.6M (+67%); margin 3% (+80 bps) FirstFleet accretion, One-Way profitability improvement and lower insurance/claims.
Adjusted EPS $0.22 (+$0.14) Margin expansion, offset by a $0.05 drag from lower equipment gains.
TTS revenue $703M (+36%); net of fuel +26% to $582M FirstFleet addition and One-Way rate/productivity gains.
TTS adjusted operating margin (net of fuel) 5.5% (+270 bps; +370 bps ex-gains) FirstFleet accretion, One-Way improvement and lower insurance/claims.
Dedicated trucking revenue net of fuel $434M (+51%); 76% of TTS trucking FirstFleet added 2,110 trucks (Dedicated average trucks +44% YoY); legacy Dedicated RPTPW +8%.
One-Way trucking revenue net of fuel $138M (-16%) 34% smaller fleet post-restructuring, offset by strong rate and productivity gains (+700 bps margin).
Logistics revenue / margin $212M (-4% YoY, +8% QoQ); margin -1.3% (-400 bps) Spot-rate spike and higher purchased transportation pressured truckload brokerage; intermodal +18% and final mile +14% grew.
Operating / free cash flow OCF $85M (+84%); FCF $94M (10% of revenue) Strong earnings and net CapEx proceeds; net leverage ~2x pro forma.

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious mentionCurrent periodTrend
Structural capacity attrition / supply-driven recoveryAttrition predictedPlaying out via regulatory enforcement (English-language proficiency, non-domiciled CDLs, cabotage), ~1/3 of ELD providers exiting, 27,000+ drivers placed out of service, 550 fraudulent CDL schools shut; management sees this as the ~third inning with more capacity leaving into early 2027, supporting ongoing rate lift.
One-Way restructuringRestructuring underwayConcluded (no further restructuring expense expected); fleet cut 34% and reseated into cross-border Mexico, team-expedited and engineered lanes, driving a 700+ bps margin gain, ~28% RPTPW growth and 18% longer length of haul; ~60% of the portfolio repriced with more benefit to come.
FirstFleet acquisition / Dedicated growthRecently acquiredSix months in, integration ahead of schedule and accretive (top EPS contributor); Dedicated now 80% of TTS trucks (up from ~64% a year ago) with the highest bid volume since 2020, 95%+ retention and rate increases on renewals; synergies on track to $18M.
Logistics margin recoverySpot-rate pressureQ2 brokerage margins pressured (April/May worst), but June improved and July truckload-brokerage gross margin per load returned to ~year-ago levels (+300-400 bps vs Q2), pointing to ~150-200 bps segment margin lift; intermodal and final mile growing double digits; outsized temperature-controlled exposure a Q2 headwind.
Nuclear verdicts / asset-backed advantageLitigation risk risingThe C.H. Robinson Montgomery verdict is pushing shippers to consolidate around larger asset-backed brokers with strong vetting, converting conversations 'from price to quality'; Werner leaned into carrier qualification and trilateral vetting; management worries the environment pressures small carriers/brokers and insurance costs, acting as another lid on capacity.
Driver marketTighteningCompetition for quality drivers intensifying; Werner leverages its vertically integrated Roadmaster schools, experienced-hire efforts, and premium Dedicated jobs (many paying six figures) with targeted, customer-negotiated pay increases; hiring pace improving in Q3.
Technology / AIEDGE TMS build-out100% of legacy freight now on the single EDGE TMS platform; AI/automation delivering results in breakdown support, carrier payments and appointment scheduling with more benefits expected into 2027 (late innings on build, early innings on benefit realization).
Fleet / CapEx / capital allocationLower CapExRaised CapEx (still ~upper single digits % of revenue, FCF-positive) to lower fleet age toward mid-2 years, mostly replacement with fringe pre-buy ahead of new 2027 engines; exploring owner-operator/fleet-owner growth as an asset-light lever; net leverage ~2x pro forma.

Q&A Summary

Reed Seay (Stephens) asked why Dedicated increases aren't moving higher and about the C.H. Robinson employer ruling's impact.
Leathers clarified the low-to-mid-single-digit increases referenced One-Way contract renewals and that Dedicated RPTPW guidance was raised to 3-5%; on the Montgomery verdict he said it highlights industry risk, is shifting customer conversations from price to quality, and benefits Werner's asset and well-vetted logistics businesses.
Eric Morgan (Barclays) asked what the remaining innings of regulatory enforcement look like and its pricing implications.
Leathers detailed enforcement to date (27,000+ drivers out of service, 550 fraudulent schools shut, 700+ high-risk carrier investigations) and said better inter-agency cooperation, the Motus system and October budget funding will accelerate it, placing the cycle at about the third inning with significant further capacity removal into early 2027.
Mike Triano (UBS) asked about the driver-trainee pipeline, driver pay, and whether the second-half guide contemplates fleet growth.
Leathers said Dedicated bid activity is robust but selective, RPTPW gains come from backhaul/density (including FirstFleet), and quality-driver hiring is harder, addressed via Roadmaster schools, experienced hires and customer-negotiated targeted pay; Wikoff said modest fleet growth is in the guide, held down by productivity gains and slower hiring, a delay not a lost opportunity.
Matt Milask (Stifel) asked how freight trends progressed and about the FirstFleet integration versus synergy targets.
Leathers said freight strengthened through the quarter with a positive, more-normalized peak season expected (lean retail inventories, non-discretionary mix) despite July seasonality; on FirstFleet he cited excellent cultural fit and ahead-of-schedule synergies, and Wikoff detailed $3M realized, ~$7M actioned for 2026 and 100+ bps of FirstFleet margin uplift toward the $18M/300 bps goal.
Ari Rosa (Citi) asked about One-Way versus Dedicated driver-pool dynamics, cycle outlook and insurance costs.
Leathers said there is one collective driver pool where Dedicated jobs are coveted, and while a hot One-Way/spot market pulls some drivers to owner-operator roles, Werner's premium Dedicated positioning wins; he warned outsized verdicts pressure insurers and small carriers, acting as another lid on capacity, and expects a difficult driver market for the foreseeable future.
Ravi Shanker (Morgan Stanley) asked whether this cycle is structurally different for Dedicated versus One-Way and about shippers moving from asset-light to asset-heavy post-Montgomery.
Leathers said the cycle is structurally different (early-innings enforcement, untested 2027 engines, tight drivers, private-fleet-conversion interest) and that assets clearly matter more now, with Werner leaning into its restructured, higher-utilization, engineered-lane network rather than chasing spot rates.
Scott Group (Wolfe) asked about the lower fleet guide with higher CapEx, owner-operator growth, and Q3 margin/logistics-profitability direction.
Leathers said owner-operator/fleet-owner growth is a real lever and the higher CapEx is mostly replacement plus fringe pre-buy to freshen the fleet ahead of new engines (still ~8% of revenue); Wikoff guided accelerated second-half earnings toward mid-single-digit consolidated margin and July brokerage gross margins back to ~year-ago levels (+300-400 bps).
Jordan Alliger (Goldman Sachs) asked about the sustainability/shape of productivity gains and future One-Way versus Dedicated fleet growth.
Leathers said utilization gains from the restructuring (cross-border Mexico, team-expedited, engineered lanes) are sustainable though the slope will moderate, and cautioned against splitting future growth by segment given active customer rebids, expecting marginal growth in both One-Way and Dedicated with no spot-rate chasing.
Rob Hon (Wells Fargo) asked what drove the rare team-utilization improvement and where One-Way margins sit versus historical cycles.
Leathers attributed utilization to the restructuring (plus an improving market and technology) with a freight-mix shift to team-oriented freight and a >100-mile (~18%) longer One-Way length of haul; Wikoff said One-Way is now profitable with 700+ bps of margin expansion, one of three pillars (with FirstFleet and lower insurance) driving TTS margin and EPS growth expected to continue.

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Reported 2026-07-28 · figures from the Werner Enterprises Inc Q2 2026 earnings call.

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