Note 2 - Other Assets	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements
Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	2 –Other Assets ERP Platform The total capitalized costs of the Company’s SAP enterprise resource planning software platform (“ERP Platform”) of $9.4 million are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other Assets. Amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform, which is recognized in depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, was $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $21.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company estimates that amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform will be approximately $1.9 million for each of the next five years. In the first quarter of 2018, as part of an assessment that involved a technical feasibility study of the then current ERP Platform, the Company determined that a majority of the components of this ERP Platform would require replacement earlier than originally anticipated; in prior disclosures, the Company had referred to the ERP Platform separately as the SAP enterprise software and SAP dealership management system. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350-40, in the first quarter of 2018, the Company adjusted the useful life of these components that were replaced so that the respective net book values of the components were fully amortized upon replacement in May 2018. The Company amortized the remaining net book value of the components that were replaced on a straight-line basis in February 2018 through May 2018. The Company recorded amortization expense of $19.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 related to the components of the ERP Platform that were replaced. The ERP Platform asset and related amortization are reflected in the Truck Segment. Franchise Rights The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers. The fair value of the franchise right is determined at the acquisition date by discounting the projected cash flows specific to each acquisition. The carrying value of the Company’s manufacturer franchise rights was $7.0 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and is included in Other Assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company has determined that manufacturer franchise rights have an indefinite life, as there are no economic or other factors that limit their useful lives and they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely due to the historically long lives of the manufacturers’ brand names. Furthermore, to the extent that any agreements evidencing manufacturer franchise rights have expiration dates, the Company expects that it will be able to renew those agreements in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize manufacturer franchise rights. Due to the fact that manufacturer franchise rights are specific to geographic region, the Company has determined that evaluating and including all locations acquired in the geographic region is the appropriate level for purposes of testing franchise rights for impairment. Management reviews indefinite-lived manufacturer franchise rights for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. The Company is subject to financial statement risk to the extent that manufacturer franchise rights become impaired due to decreases in the fair market value of its individual franchises. The significant estimates and assumptions used by management in assessing the recoverability of manufacturer franchise rights include estimated future cash flows, present value discount rate and other factors. Any changes in these estimates or assumptions could result in an impairment charge. The estimates of future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management’s subjective judgment. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows projected in the evaluations of manufacturer franchise rights can vary within a range of outcomes. No impairment write down was required in the period presented. The Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect the reported value of manufacturer franchise rights in the future. Equity Method Investment and Call Option On February 25, 2019, the Company acquired a 50% equity interest in Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited (“RTC Canada”), which acquired the operating assets of Tallman Group, the largest International Truck dealer in Canada. The Company was also granted a call option in the purchase agreement that provides the Company with the right to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in RTC Canada until the close of business on February 25, 2024. The value of the Company’s call option was $3.6 million as of September 30, 2019, and is reported in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. On April 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Guaranty Agreement (“Guaranty”) with Bank of Montreal (“BMO”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to guaranty up to CAD250 million (the “Guaranty Cap”) of certain credit facilities entered into by and between Tallman Truck Centre Limited (“TTCL”) and BMO. TTCL is a subsidiary of RTC Canada, of which the Company owns a 50% equity interest. Interest, fees and expenses incurred by BMO to enforce its rights with respect to the guaranteed obligations and its rights against the Company under the Guaranty are not subject to the Guaranty Cap. In exchange for the Guaranty, TTCL is receiving a reduced rate of interest on its credit facilities with BMO. The Guaranty was valued at $5.0 million as of September 30, 2019 and is included in the investment in RTC Canada. As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s investment in RTC Canada is $25.2 million. The Company’s equity income in RTC Canada is included in Other income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Note 2 - Other Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

2 –Other Assets

ERP Platform

The total capitalized costs of the Company’s SAP enterprise resource planning software platform (“ERP Platform”) of $9.4 million are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other Assets. Amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform, which is recognized in depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, was $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $21.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company estimates that amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform will be approximately $1.9 million for each of the next five years.

In the first quarter of 2018, as part of an assessment that involved a technical feasibility study of the then current ERP Platform, the Company determined that a majority of the components of this ERP Platform would require replacement earlier than originally anticipated; in prior disclosures, the Company had referred to the ERP Platform separately as the SAP enterprise software and SAP dealership management system. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350-40, in the first quarter of 2018, the Company adjusted the useful life of these components that were replaced so that the respective net book values of the components were fully amortized upon replacement in May 2018. The Company amortized the remaining net book value of the components that were replaced on a straight-line basis in February 2018 through May 2018. The Company recorded amortization expense of $19.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 related to the components of the ERP Platform that were replaced. The ERP Platform asset and related amortization are reflected in the Truck Segment.

Franchise Rights

The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers. The fair value of the franchise right is determined at the acquisition date by discounting the projected cash flows specific to each acquisition. The carrying value of the Company’s manufacturer franchise rights was $7.0 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and is included in Other Assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company has determined that manufacturer franchise rights have an indefinite life, as there are no economic or other factors that limit their useful lives and they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely due to the historically long lives of the manufacturers’ brand names. Furthermore, to the extent that any agreements evidencing manufacturer franchise rights have expiration dates, the Company expects that it will be able to renew those agreements in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize manufacturer franchise rights.

Due to the fact that manufacturer franchise rights are specific to geographic region, the Company has determined that evaluating and including all locations acquired in the geographic region is the appropriate level for purposes of testing franchise rights for impairment. Management reviews indefinite-lived manufacturer franchise rights for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. The Company is subject to financial statement risk to the extent that manufacturer franchise rights become impaired due to decreases in the fair market value of its individual franchises.

The significant estimates and assumptions used by management in assessing the recoverability of manufacturer franchise rights include estimated future cash flows, present value discount rate and other factors. Any changes in these estimates or assumptions could result in an impairment charge. The estimates of future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management’s subjective judgment. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows projected in the evaluations of manufacturer franchise rights can vary within a range of outcomes.

No impairment write down was required in the period presented. The Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect the reported value of manufacturer franchise rights in the future.

Equity Method Investment and Call Option

On February 25, 2019, the Company acquired a 50% equity interest in Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited (“RTC Canada”), which acquired the operating assets of Tallman Group, the largest International Truck dealer in Canada. The Company was also granted a call option in the purchase agreement that provides the Company with the right to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in RTC Canada until the close of business on February 25, 2024. The value of the Company’s call option was $3.6 million as of September 30, 2019, and is reported in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On April 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Guaranty Agreement (“Guaranty”) with Bank of Montreal (“BMO”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to guaranty up to CAD250 million (the “Guaranty Cap”) of certain credit facilities entered into by and between Tallman Truck Centre Limited (“TTCL”) and BMO. TTCL is a subsidiary of RTC Canada, of which the Company owns a 50% equity interest. Interest, fees and expenses incurred by BMO to enforce its rights with respect to the guaranteed obligations and its rights against the Company under the Guaranty are not subject to the Guaranty Cap. In exchange for the Guaranty, TTCL is receiving a reduced rate of interest on its credit facilities with BMO. The Guaranty was valued at $5.0 million as of September 30, 2019 and is included in the investment in RTC Canada. As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s investment in RTC Canada is $25.2 million. The Company’s equity income in RTC Canada is included in Other income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.