Note 1 - Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Text Block]

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business and Principles of Consolidation– P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, operates as a truckload transportation and logistics company.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: P.A.M. Transport, Inc., P.A.M. Cartage Carriers, LLC, Met Express, Inc., Choctaw Brokerage, Inc., Costar Equipment, Inc., Costar Real Estate Holdings, Inc., Costar Management, Inc., Select CDL Driving School, Inc., Overdrive Leasing, LLC, Choctaw Express, LLC, Decker Transport Co., LLC, T.T.X., LLC, Transcend Logistics, Inc., Unmoored Realty, LLC and East Coast Transport and Logistics, LLC. The following subsidiaries were inactive during all periods presented: P.A.M. International, Inc., S & L Logistics, Inc. and P.A.M. Mexico Holdings, LLC.

Use of Estimates– The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statement date and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company periodically reviews these estimates and assumptions. The most significant estimates that affect our financial statements are accrued liabilities for insurance claims, legal reserves, and useful lives and salvage values for property and equipment. The Company's estimates were based on its historical experience and various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents– The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At times, cash held at banks may exceed FDIC insured limits.

Accounts Receivable and Current Expected Credit Losses– Accounts receivable are presented in the Company’s consolidated financial statements net of current expected credit losses. Management estimates current expected credit losses based upon an evaluation of the aging of our customer receivables and historical write-offs, as well as other trends and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. The Company continually updates the history it uses to make these estimates so as to reflect the most recent trends, factors and other information available. In order to gather information regarding these trends and factors, the Company also performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers. Customer receivables are considered to be past due when payment has not been received by the invoice due date. Write-offs occur when management determines an account to be uncollectible and could differ from the current expected credit losses estimate as a result of a number of factors, including unanticipated changes in the overall economic environment or factors and risks surrounding a particular customer. Management believes its methodology for estimating current expected credit losses to be reliable and consistent with prior periods. However, additional credit losses may be incurred if the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate and could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Bank Overdrafts– The Company classifies bank overdrafts in current liabilities as accounts payable. Bank overdrafts generally represent checks written in excess of available cash that have not yet cleared the Company’s bank accounts. The majority of the Company’s bank accounts are zero balance accounts that are funded at the time items clear against the account by drawings against a line of credit; therefore, the outstanding checks represent bank overdrafts. Because the recipients of these checks have generally not yet received payment, the Company continues to classify bank overdrafts as accounts payable. Bank overdrafts are classified as changes in accounts payable in the cash flows from operating activities section of the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. There were no bank overdrafts as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

Accounts Receivable Other– The components of accounts receivable other consist primarily of amounts representing downtime reimbursements due from our equipment partners, company driver advances, independent contractor advances, and equipment manufacturer warranties. Equipment downtime reimbursements due from our equipment partners were approximately $2,100,000 and $994,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Accounts receivable from independent contractors as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, were approximately $768,000 and $1,379,000, respectively. Independent contractors are allowed to purchase items such as fuel, repairs and tolls on Company accounts in order to share in favorable pricing negotiated by the Company. Advances receivable from company drivers as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, were approximately $182,000 and $135,000, respectively. Independent contractors and trip lease carriers are allowed to receive advances for a portion of the revenue that they expect to receive for loads that they transport for the Company.

Marketable Equity Securities– The Company’s investment in marketable equity securities is accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 321, (“ASC Topic 321”), Investments - Equity Securities. ASC Topic 321 requires companies to measure equity investments at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company’s investments in marketable securities consist of equity securities with readily determinable fair values. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized and unrealized gains and losses, interest and dividends on marketable equity securities are included in non-operating income (expense) in our consolidated statements of operations.

For additional information with respect to marketable equity securities, see Note 4 – Marketable Equity Securities.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets– The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable, and it exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets classified as held and used, if the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the future net undiscounted cash flows, it is not recoverable. No impairment losses were recorded during 2023 or 2022.

Property and Equipment– Property and equipment is recorded at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation. For financial reporting purposes, the cost of such property is depreciated principally by the straight-line method. For tax reporting purposes, accelerated depreciation or applicable cost recovery methods are used. Depreciation is recognized over the estimated asset life, considering the estimated salvage value of the asset. Such salvage values are based on estimates using expected market values for used equipment and the estimated time of disposal which in many cases include guaranteed residual values by the manufacturers. Gains and losses are reflected in the year of disposal. The following is a table reflecting estimated ranges of asset useful lives by major class of depreciable assets:

Asset Class	Estimated Asset Life (in years)
Service vehicles	3	-	5
Office furniture and equipment	3	-	10
Revenue equipment	3	-	11
Structures and improvements	5	-	40

The Company’s management periodically evaluates whether changes to estimated useful lives and/or salvage values are necessary to ensure its estimates accurately reflect the economic use of the assets. During the 2023 evaluation, management determined it necessary to adjust the estimated useful lives and salvage values of trucks and trailers to reflect the current market conditions more accurately. These adjustments did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows as of December 31, 2023.

Inventory– Inventories consist primarily of revenue equipment parts, tires, supplies, and fuel. Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market with cost determined using the first in, first out method.

Prepaid Tires– Tires purchased with revenue equipment are capitalized as a cost of the related equipment. Replacement tires are included in prepaid expenses and deposits and are amortized over a 24-month period. Amounts paid for the recapping of tires are expensed when incurred.

Advertising Expense– Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $2,014,000, $2,101,000 and $1,154,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Repairs and Maintenance– Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Self-Insurance Liability– A liability is recognized for known health, workers’ compensation, cargo damage, property damage, and auto liability damage claims. An estimate of the incurred but not reported claims for each type of liability is made based on historical claims made, estimated frequency of occurrence, and considering changing factors that contribute to the overall cost of insurance. See Note 6 – Claims Liabilities for more information regarding insurance and claims liability.

Income Taxes– The Company applies the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. See Note 12 – Federal and State Income Taxes for more information regarding income taxes.

The application of income tax law to multi-jurisdictional operations such as those performed by the Company is inherently complex. Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and often ambiguous. As such, we may be required to make subjective assumptions and judgments regarding our income tax exposures. Interpretations of and guidance surrounding income tax laws and regulations may change over time which could cause changes in our assumptions and judgments that could materially affect amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

We recognize the impact of tax positions in our financial statements. These tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized and tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the consolidated statements of income as income tax expense.

In determining whether a tax asset valuation allowance is necessary, management, in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740-10-30, weighs all available evidence, both positive and negative to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is necessary. If negative conditions exist which indicate a valuation allowance might be necessary, consideration is then given to what effect the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the availability of tax strategies might have on future taxable income to determine the amount, if any, of the required valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, management determined that the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and available tax strategies would generate sufficient future taxable income to realize its tax assets and therefore a valuation allowance was not necessary.

Revenue Recognition– Revenue is recognized over time as the freight progresses towards its destination and the transportation service obligation is fulfilled. For loads picked up during the reporting period, but delivered in a subsequent reporting period, revenue is allocated to each period based on the transit time in each period as a percentage of total transit time. There are no assets or liabilities recorded in conjunction with revenue recognized, other than accounts receivable and current expected credit losses.

Earnings Per Share– The Company computes basic earnings per share (“EPS”) by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the potential dilution that could occur from stock-based awards and other stock-based commitments using the treasury stock or the as if converted methods, as applicable. The difference between the Company's weighted-average shares outstanding and diluted shares outstanding is due to the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents for all periods presented. See Note 14 – Earnings per Share for more information regarding the computation of diluted EPS.

Fair Value Measurements– Certain financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value within the financial statements on a recurring basis. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. For additional information with respect to fair value measurements, see Note 18 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

Reportable Segments– The Company's operations are all in the motor carrier segment and are aggregated into a single reportable segment in accordance with the aggregation criteria under United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company provides truckload transportation services as well as brokerage and logistics services to customers throughout the United States and portions of Canada and Mexico. Truckload transportation services revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, represented 65.3%, 66.0% and 67.0% of total revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Remaining revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, for each respective year were generated by brokerage and logistics services.

Concentrations of Credit Risk– The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations and generally does not require collateral from its customers. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses. In view of the concentration of the Company’s revenues and accounts receivable among a limited number of customers within the automobile industry, the financial health of this industry is a factor in the Company’s overall evaluation of accounts receivable.

Subsequent Events– We have evaluated subsequent events for recognition and disclosure through the date these financial statements were filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and concluded that no subsequent events or transactions have occurred that require recognition or disclosure in our financial statements.

Foreign Currency Transactions– The functional currency of the Company’s foreign branch office in Mexico is the U.S. dollar. The Company remeasures the monetary assets and liabilities of this branch office, which are maintained in the local currency ledgers, at the rates of exchange in effect at the end of the reporting period. Revenues and expenses recorded in the local currency during the period are remeasured using average exchange rates for each period. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured using historical rates. Any resulting exchange gain or loss from the remeasurement process is included in non-operating income in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Business Combinations– The purchase price of an acquired business, or the purchase of substantially all of the assets of a business, is allocated to the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The calculation of the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the potential value of any intangible assets involves many factors, some of which require estimates and judgement. In certain cases, valuation specialists may be engaged to assist in the determination of the fair value calculations. During 2022, we engaged valuation specialists to assist us in fair value determination for our acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Metropolitan Trucking, Inc. and related entities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements– In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update, (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, (“ASU 2023-09”), Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 was issued to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company has evaluated the new guidance and does not expect it to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.