Accident and Workers' Compensation Insurance Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accident and Workers' Compensation Insurance Liabilities [Abstract]

Accident and Workers' Compensation Insurance Liabilities

Auto Liability and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Accruals

We act as a self-insurer for auto liability, defined as including property damage, personal injury, or cargo based on defined insurance retention of $0.1 million under our Millis policy prior to April 1, 2020 and $1.0 million subsequent to April 1, 2020, or $2.0 million under our Heartland policy, for any individual claim based on the insured party, accident date, and circumstances of the loss event. Within the Heartland policy, there is an additional $1.0 million aggregate self-insurance corridor for claims between $2.0 million and $3.0 million. For both Heartland and Millis claims, liabilities in excess of these deductibles are covered by insurance up to $60.0 million including retention of 50% of exposure from $5.0 million to $10.0 million. We retain any liability in excess of $60.0 million. We act as a self-insurer for property damage to our tractors and trailers. Prior to April 1, 2020, Heartland and Millis claims in excess of insurance retention had different coverage features. For the Heartland policy, claims in excess of the deductible are covered up to $100.0 million. For the Millis policy, claims subsequent to August 26, 2019 and prior to April 1, 2020, we retain liability between $3.0 million and $10.0 million, while liabilities in excess of these amounts are covered by insurance up to $100.0 million. For both policies prior to April 1, 2020, we retain any liability in excess of $100.0 million.

We act as a self-insurer for workers’ compensation based on defined insurance retention of $1.0 million under our Heartland policy, which includes Millis, effective July 1, 2020. Millis had defined insurance retention of $0.5 million from August 26, 2019 through July 1, 2020. Liabilities in excess of insurance retention limits are covered by insurance. The State of Iowa initially required us to deposit $0.7 million into a trust fund as part of the self-insurance program. Earnings on this account become part of the required deposit and as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 total deposits in this account were $1.5 million. This deposit is in municipal bonds classified as held-to-maturity and is recorded in other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. 

In addition, we have provided insurance carriers with letters of credit totaling approximately $13.0 million in connection with our liability and workers’ compensation insurance arrangements and self-insurance requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  There were no outstanding balances due on any letters of credit at December 31, 2020 or 2019.

Accident and workers’ compensation accruals include the estimated settlements, settlement expenses and an estimate for claims incurred but not yet reported for property damage, personal injury and public liability losses from vehicle accidents and cargo losses as well as workers’ compensation claims for amounts not covered by insurance. Accident and workers’ compensation accruals are based upon individual case estimates, including reserve development, and estimates of incurred-but-not-reported losses based upon our own historical experience and industry claim trends. Since the reported liability is an estimate, the ultimate liability may be more or less than reported. In addition to internally developed reserves and estimates, we utilize an actuarial specialist to provide an independent annual assessment of the internally developed accident and workers' compensation accruals. If adjustments to previously established accruals are required, such amounts are included in operating expenses in the current period. These accruals are recorded on an undiscounted basis. Estimated claim payments to be made within one year of the balance sheet date have been classified as insurance accruals within current liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.