Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation and New Accounting Pronouncements

Heartland Express, Inc. is a holding company incorporated in Nevada, which owns all of the stock of Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa, Heartland Express Services, Inc., Heartland Express Maintenance Services, Inc., Midwest Holding Group, LLC and Millis Transfer, LLC. On August 26, 2019, Heartland Express, Inc. of Iowa acquired Midwest Holding Group, Inc. and Millis Real Estate Leasing, LLC (together, "Millis Transfer"), a truckload carrier headquartered in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Effective December 31, 2019, Millis Transfer, Inc. and Midwest Holding Group, Inc. were converted to Millis Transfer, LLC and Midwest Holding Group, LLC, respectively. Further, effective December 31, 2019, Millis Real Estate Leasing, LLC, Rivera Real Estate, LLC, and Great River Leasing, LLC were merged into Millis Transfer, LLC. We, together with our subsidiaries, are a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier (predominately 500 miles or less per load). We primarily provide nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for major shippers from major shippers across the United States.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the parent company, Heartland Express, Inc., and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. The consolidated financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 include the results of Millis Transfer while the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 include Millis Transfer only for the period of August 26, 2019 through September 30, 2019. All material intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes to the financial statements required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal, recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 25, 2020, as amended on July 21, 2020. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other interim periods. There were no changes to the Company's significant accounting policies during the nine month period ended September 30, 2020.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments". This update requires measurement and recognition of expected versus incurred credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods therein. We have adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020 and the impact of adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): "Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes". The ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The ASU also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application among reporting entities. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within that reporting period; however, early adoption is permitted. We expect to adopt in the period beginning January 1, 2021 and expect the impact to be immaterial to our financial statements.