Accounting Policies

Accounting policies refer to specific accounting principles and the methods of applying those principles to fairly present our financial position and results of operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The policies discussed below include those that management has determined to be the most appropriate in preparing our financial statements.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of YRC Worldwide and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We report on a calendar year basis. The quarters of the Regional Transportation companies (with the exception of New Penn) consist of thirteen weeks that end on a Saturday either before or after the end of March, June and September, whereas all other operating segment quarters end on the natural calendar quarter end. Until its sale in March 2016, our investment in the non-majority owned affiliate was accounted for on the equity method.

Use of Estimates

Management makes estimates and assumptions when preparing the financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less. Under the Company’s cash management system, checks issued but not presented to banks frequently result in book overdraft balances for accounting purposes which are classified within accounts payable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The change in book overdrafts are reported as a component of operating cash flows for accounts payable as they do not represent bank overdrafts.

Concentration of Credit Risks and Other

We sell services and extend credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition. We monitor our exposure for credit losses and maintain allowances for anticipated losses.

At December 31, 2017, approximately 78% of our labor force is subject to collective bargaining agreements. In 2014, our primary labor agreement was modified to, among other things, extend the expiration date of the agreement from March 31, 2015 to March 31, 2019. This extension also extended the contribution rates under our multi-employer pension plan. The modification provided for lump sum payments in lieu of wage increases in 2014 and 2015, but provided for wage increases in 2016 through 2019. We amortized these lump sum payments over the period in which the wages were not increased beginning on April 1, 2014. Finally, the modification provided for certain changes to work rules and our use of purchased transportation in certain situations.

Revenue Recognition and Revenue-related Reserves

For shipments in transit, we record revenue based on the percentage of service completed as of the period end and accrue delivery costs as incurred. The percentage of service completed for each shipment is based on how far along in the shipment cycle each shipment is in relation to standard transit days. Standard transit days are defined as our published service days between origin zip code and destination zip code. Based on historical cost and engineering studies, certain percentages of revenue are determined to be earned during each stage of the shipment cycle, such as initial pick up, long distance transportation, intermediate transfer and customer delivery. Using standard transit times, we analyze each shipment in transit at a particular period end to determine what stage the shipment is in. We apply that stage’s percentage of revenue earned factor to the rated revenue for that shipment to determine the revenue dollars earned by that shipment in the current period. The total revenue earned is accumulated for all shipments in transit at a particular period end and recorded as operating revenue.

In addition, we recognize revenue on a gross basis because we are the primary obligors even when we use other transportation service providers who act on our behalf. We remain responsible to our customers for complete and proper shipment, including the risk of physical loss or damage of the goods and cargo claims issues. We assign pricing to bills of lading at the time of shipment based primarily on the weight, general classification of the product, the shipping destination and individual customer discounts. This process is referred to as rating. At various points throughout our process, incorrect ratings could be identified based on many factors, including weight verifications or updated customer discounts. Although the majority of rerating occurs in the same month as the original rating, a portion occurs during the following periods. We accrue a reserve for rerating based primarily on historical trends. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, our financial statements included a rerate reserve as a reduction to “Accounts Receivable” of $8.8 million and $10.4 million, respectively.

We record an allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based on historical uncollectible amounts. We also take into account known factors surrounding specific customers and overall collection trends. Our process involves performing ongoing credit evaluations of customers, including the market in which they operate and the overall economic conditions. We continually review historical trends and customer specific factors and make adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts as appropriate. Our allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $12.0 million and $9.5 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Foreign Currency

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar, whereas, our foreign operations utilize the local currency as their functional currency. Accordingly, for purposes of translating foreign subsidiary financial statements to the U.S. dollar reporting currency, assets and liabilities of our foreign operations are translated at the fiscal year end exchange rates and income and expenses are translated monthly, at the average exchange rates for each respective month, with changes recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions resulted in a net loss of $4.0 million in 2017 and a net gain of $0.9 million and $9.3 million during 2016 and 2015, respectively. These amounts are included in “Nonoperating expenses - Other, net” in the accompanying statements of consolidated operations.

Self-Insurance Accruals for Claims

Claims and insurance accruals, both current and long-term, reflect the estimated settlement cost of claims for workers’ compensation, property damage and liability claims, and cargo loss and damage that insurance does not cover. We establish and modify reserve estimates for workers’ compensation and property damage and liability claims primarily upon actuarial analyses prepared by independent actuaries. These reserves are discounted to present value using a risk-free rate based on the year of occurrence. The risk-free rate is the U.S. Treasury rate for maturities that match the expected payout of such claims and was 1.5%, 1.0% and 1.0% for workers’ compensation claims incurred as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The rate was 1.3%, 0.8% and 0.7% for property damage and liability claims incurred as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The process of determining reserve requirements utilizes historical trends and involves an evaluation of accident frequency and severity, claims management, changes in health care costs and certain future administrative costs. The effect of future inflation for costs is considered in the actuarial analysis. Adjustments to previously established reserves are included in operating results in the year of adjustment. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had $360.7 million and $364.4 million, respectively, accrued for outstanding claims.

Expected aggregate undiscounted amounts and material changes to these amounts as of December 31 are presented below:



(in millions)	Workers’ Compensation			Property Damage and Liability Claims			Total
Undiscounted amount at December 31, 2015	$	315.5		$	84.9		$	400.4
Estimated settlement cost for 2016 claims	89.4			30.0			119.4
Claim payments, net of recoveries	(103.6		)	(51.5		)	(155.1		)
Change in estimated settlement cost for older claim years	(1.9		)	9.5			7.6
Undiscounted amount at December 31, 2016	$	299.4		$	72.9		$	372.3
Estimated settlement cost for 2017 claims	95.7			37.2			132.9
Claim payments, net of recoveries	(90.3		)	(33.5		)	(123.8		)
Change in estimated settlement cost for older claim years	(5.5		)	(6.1		)	(11.6		)
Undiscounted settlement cost estimate at December 31, 2017	$	299.3		$	70.5		$	369.8
Discounted settlement cost estimate at December 31, 2017	$	276.4		$	69.3		$	345.7

In addition to the amounts above, accrued settlement cost amounts for cargo claims and other insurance related amounts, none of which are discounted, totaled $15.0 million and $15.3 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Estimated cash payments to settle claims which were incurred on or before December 31, 2017, for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:



(in millions)	Workers’ Compensation		Property Damage and Liability Claims		Total
2018	$	78.3	$	26.9	$	105.2
2019	50.4		19.3		69.7
2020	34.7		12.0		46.7
2021	23.7		6.5		30.2
2022	18.2		3.5		21.7
Thereafter	94.0		2.3		96.3
Total	$	299.3	$	70.5	$	369.8

Equity-Based Compensation

We have various equity-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in the (“Equity-Based Compensation Plans”) footnote to our consolidated financial statements. We recognize compensation costs for non-vested shares based on the grant date fair value. For our equity grants, with no performance requirement, we recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (generally three to four years) based on the grant-date fair value. For our performance-based awards, the Company expenses the grant date fair value of the awards which are probable of being earned in the performance period over the respective service period.

Property and Equipment

The following is a summary of the components of our property and equipment at cost as of December 31:



(in millions)	2017		2016
Land	$	246.0	$	248.9
Structures	783.3		769.5
Revenue equipment	1,303.5		1,375.2
Technology equipment and software	230.6		186.8
Other	206.8		206.6
Total property and equipment, at cost	$	2,770.2	$	2,787.0

We carry property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation. We compute depreciation using the straight-line method based on the following service lives:



	Years
Structures	10 - 30
Revenue equipment	10 - 20
Technology equipment and software	3 - 7
Other	3 - 10

We charge maintenance and repairs to expense as incurred and betterments are capitalized. The cost of replacement tires are expensed at the time those tires are placed into service, as is the case with other repair and maintenance costs. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the remaining lease term.

In addition to purchasing new revenue equipment, we also rebuild the engines of our tractors (at certain time or mile intervals). Because rebuilding an engine increases its useful life, we capitalize these costs and depreciate over the remaining useful life of the unit. The cost of engines on newly acquired revenue equipment is capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related equipment.

Our investment in technology equipment and software consists primarily of freight movement, automation, administrative, and related software. The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Capitalizable costs include external direct costs of materials and services utilized in developing or obtaining the software and payroll and payroll-related costs for employees directly associated with the development of the project.

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, depreciation expense was $147.7 million, $146.3 million and $145.5 million, respectively.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators are present and the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the long-lived assets, the carrying value would be reduced to the estimated fair value. Future cash flow estimates for an impairment review would be based on the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, which are at the segment level.

Equity Method Investment

On October 23, 2015, the Company entered into an equity interest sale and purchase agreement to sell its fifty percent interest in its Chinese joint venture, JHJ International Transportation Co., for a purchase price of $16.3 million, which subsequently closed on March 30, 2016. At closing we received proceeds of $16.3 million and paid transaction fees of $1.7 million. At March 30, 2016, the carrying value of the investment was $22.7 million with an offsetting cumulative foreign translation adjustment of $10.4 million, resulting in a net gain on the transaction of $2.3 million. The gain on the transaction is included in “Nonoperating expenses - Other, net” in the accompanying statement of consolidated comprehensive income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

We accounted for the ownership of our joint venture under the equity method and accordingly, recognized our share of the respective joint ventures earnings, which were inconsequential, in “Nonoperating expenses - Other, net” in the accompanying statements of operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We determined fair value measurements used in our consolidated financial statements based upon the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:


•	Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access.


•	Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.


•	Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level with the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The valuation methodologies described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. We believe that our valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial assets could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The following tables summarize the fair value hierarchy of our financial assets held at fair value on a recurring basis, which consists of our restricted cash held in escrow:



			Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2017
(in millions)	Total Carrying Value		Quoted prices in active market (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Restricted amounts held in escrow-current	$	54.1	$	54.1	$	—	$	—
Total assets at fair value	$	54.1	$	54.1	$	—	$	—



			Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2016
(in millions)	Total Carrying Value		Quoted prices in active market (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Restricted amounts held in escrow-current	$	126.7	$	126.7	$	—	$	—
Restricted amounts held in escrow-long term	12.3		12.3		—		—
Total assets at fair value	$	139.0	$	139.0	$	—	$	—

Restricted amounts held in escrow are invested in money market accounts and are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

The fair value of our long-term debt is included in the “Debt and Financing” footnote to the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we reclassified the amortization of our prior net pension losses, net of tax, totaling $12.9 million and $13.7 million, respectively, from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income (loss). This reclassification is a component of net periodic pension cost and is discussed in the “Employee Benefits” footnote. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2016, we also reclassified foreign currency translation adjustments of $10.4 million related to the sale of our investment in JHJ from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income (loss), as discussed in the “Equity Method Investments” section of this footnote.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customer, which requires entities to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard is effective for the Company for its annual reporting period beginning January 1, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company plans to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective transition approach, which means any changes from the beginning of the year of initial application will be recognized through retained earnings with no restatement of comparative periods. The Company has completed the review of customer contracts to understand the impacts of applying the new standard, noting the Company will continue to recognize freight revenue based on the percentage of service completed, or proportionate, to the shipment from origin to destination. Further, the Company will continue to make judgments and estimates as required for rerates in order to address variable consideration under the new revenue model. The new standard prescribes additional financial statement disclosures which the Company is currently in the process of evaluating, in addition to updating the internal controls relating to the data to be included into the new disclosures. Based on the Company’s review, the adoption will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires entities with a classified balance sheet to present all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The new standard was effective for the Company for its annual reporting period beginning January 1, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The ASU allows entities to choose either prospective or retrospective transition. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2017 using the prospective transition method.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease obligation for all leases. Lessees are permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize an asset and liability for leases with a term of twelve months or less. Lessor accounting under the new standard is substantially unchanged. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including significant judgments made by management, will be required. The new standard will become effective for the Company for its annual reporting period beginning January 1, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period and requires a modified retrospective transition approach. Using a cross functional team, the Company selected and reviewed a representative population of lease agreements to understand the accounting impacts of the new standard; in addition, the Company is in the process of implementing a new lease management system. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The Company adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2017. The new standard requires an employer to classify as a financing activity in its statement of cash flows the cash paid to a taxing authority when shares are withheld to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation. As a result of adoption, the Company reclassified $2.4 million, $0.7 million, and $6.8 million in “Payments for tax withheld on share-based compensation” as financing activities in the statements of consolidated cash flows for the years ended 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The Company had no other items requiring retrospective treatment under the pronouncement.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows, to clarify the guidance on how companies present restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, the Company will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The new standard will become effective for the Company for its annual reporting period beginning January 1, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period and requires a retrospective transition approach. The Company will adopt the standard beginning with the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this standard will impact the statement of consolidated cash flows by increasing beginning and ending cash to include “Cash and cash equivalents” as well as “Restricted amounts held in escrow” and will remove from investing activities the changes in restricted escrows.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires companies to present the service cost component of net benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. All other components of net benefit cost are presented outside of any subtotal for operating income, if one is presented. Given the Company’s defined benefit plans are frozen, there is no service cost associated with the plans, other than the administrative costs. Therefore, the Company will include administrative costs with all other components as there is no service provided by employees. The Company will adopt the new standard beginning January 1, 2018, with retrospective application. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the amount to be reclassified to nonoperating expenses from “Salaries, wages and employee benefits” in operating expenses is $20.3 million and $19.9 million, respectively. Other than the reclassification of net benefit cost, the Company does not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.