ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial performance, future action, results, and any other statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact which are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “expect,” “objective,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target,” among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made.
In particular, information included under the sections entitled “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contains forward-looking statements.
Readers are cautioned that the matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, or implied in the forward-looking statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on current plans and expectations of management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will be achieved or accomplished. Many factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include those matters described under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we may make or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
You should consider each of the following factors, as well as the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes, in evaluating our business and our prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. In general, we are subject to the same general risks and uncertainties that impact many other companies such as general economic, industry, and/or market conditions and growth rates; risks and uncertainties associated with or arising out of possible future pandemics; possible future terrorist threats or armed conflicts and their effect on the worldwide economy; and changes in laws or accounting rules. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently consider immaterial, may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks occur, our business and financial results could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline.
Risks Related to Our Business, Industry, and Strategy
Our operating results may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic and market conditions.
Our business and results of operations are sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions, public health crises, tariffs, and other geopolitical issues that impact customer shipping volumes, industry freight demand, industry truck capacity, inflation, and our operating costs. Announced import tariffs on certain imported goods by the Trump administration have led to the threat or imposition of reciprocal tariffs by several foreign governments on certain goods imported from the U.S. The imposition of additional tariffs or quotas or changes to certain trade agreements, could, among other things, negatively impact customer demand or increase our operating costs. Economic conditions, tariffs, or other issues that decrease shipping demand can exert downward pressure on rates and equipment utilization or increase the cost of our equipment, fuel, and other operating costs. We cannot predict future economic conditions, whether proposed or threatened tariffs will be enacted, or how consumer demand, purchasing cycles, or our input costs could be affected by such conditions. In general, significant decreases in shipping volumes within the industry or increases in available truck capacity could result in more aggressive freight pricing as carriers compete for loads and truck productivity. Likewise, we are also subject to cost increases outside our control that could materially reduce our profitability if we are unable to offset such increases through rate increases or cost reductions. Such cost increases include, but are not limited to, driver wages, third-party carrier costs, fuel and energy prices, taxes and interest rates, tolls, license and registration fees, insurance premiums, regulatory compliance costs, transportation equipment and related maintenance costs, and healthcare and other employee benefit costs. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, or at what rate any such cost increases could occur. Any such cost increase or event could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows.
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We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry that is characterized by intense price competition which could have a materially adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our operating segments compete with many other truckload carriers, logistics, brokerage, and transportation service providers of varying sizes, and to a lesser extent, LTL carriers, railroads, and other transportation or logistics companies, some of which have larger fleets, greater access to equipment, preferential customer contracts, greater capital resources, or other competitive advantages. Competition for the freight we transport or manage is based primarily on service, efficiency, available capacity, and to some degree, on freight rates alone. Our competitors periodically reduce their freight rates to gain business, especially when economic conditions negatively impact customer shipping volumes, truck capacities, or operating costs. Moreover, to limit the number of approved carriers to a manageable number, some of our customers select “core carriers” as approved transportation service providers, and in some instances, we may not be selected. Other of our customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers for their shipping needs, which also periodically results in the loss of business to competitors. Some of our customers have used or expanded their own private fleets rather than outsourcing loads to us, and others may do so in the future. Finally, our existing competitors, as well as new market entrants, have and continue to introduce new brokerage platforms or technologies, which has increased competition. Although we believe we are well positioned and have adopted technologies, developed strategies, and heavily invested in our own digital service offerings to deter, compete with, or supplant existing competitors and new market entrants, there can be no assurance that our investments, technologies, or strategies will be successful in enabling us to sustain or grow our current market share in each of our segments. These competitive dynamics could have an adverse effect on the number of shipments we transport and the freight rates we receive, which could limit our growth opportunities and reduce our profitability.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from our major customers, the loss of one or more of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business.
We strive to maintain a diverse customer base; however, a significant portion of our operating revenues is generated from a number of major customers, the loss of one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Aside from our dedicated operations and customer relationships where we manage such customers’ supply chains, we generally do not have long-term contractual relationships, rate agreements, or minimum volume guarantees with our customers. Furthermore, certain of the long-term contracts in our dedicated operations are subject to cancellation. There is no assurance any of our customers, including our dedicated customers, will continue to utilize our services, renew our existing contracts, or continue at the same volume levels. Despite the existence of contractual arrangements, certain of our customers may engage in competitive bidding processes that could negatively impact our contractual relationships. In addition, certain of our major customers may increasingly use their own truckload and delivery fleets, which would reduce our freight volumes. A reduction in, or termination of, our services by one or more of our major customers, including our dedicated customers, could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Difficulties attracting and retaining qualified drivers could materially, adversely affect our profitability and ability to maintain or grow our fleet.
The trucking industry historically has and may continue to experience difficulty attracting and retaining sufficient numbers of qualified drivers, both new and experienced, including owner-operators, and such shortages have and could continue to require us to significantly increase driver compensation, rely more on higher-cost third-party carriers, idle transportation equipment, or dispose of the equipment altogether, any of which could adversely affect our growth and profitability. The challenge with attracting and retaining qualified drivers is driven by several factors including intense market competition for a limited pool of qualified drivers, driver compensation, the preference among drivers to work closer to home and be home most nights, and our highly selective hiring standards.
Our turnover rate requires us to continually recruit a substantial number of company and owner-operator drivers to support our operations. Owner-operator availability is generally affected by operating cost increases for which the owner-operator is responsible. Economic conditions drive overall increases in customer demand and heightened competition for owner-operators from other carriers. When shortages of owner-operators occur, we may have to increase settlement rates paid to them and increase company driver pay rates to attract and retain a sufficient number of drivers. These increases could negatively affect our results of operations to the extent that we would be unable to obtain corresponding freight rate increases.
We face risks associated with unionization.
Although the number of our associates who are currently represented by a labor union is not significant, we face ongoing risks associated with the potential unionization of certain associates. Over the last several years we have been the subject of isolated unionization efforts involving a relatively small number of associates, which efforts were, in each case, unsuccessful. Overall, we believe our relations with our associates are good; however, should a significant number of our associates opt to be represented by a labor union, we could experience a significant disruption of, or inefficiencies in, our operations or incur higher labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Additionally, our responses to any union organizing efforts could negatively impact how our brand is perceived and have adverse effects on our business, including on our financial results. These responses could also expose us to legal risk or
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reputational harm and cause us to incur costs to defend legal and regulatory actions. Moreover, any labor disputes or work stoppages, whether or not such actions culminate in a successful unionization campaign, could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
The success of our businesses depends on our strong reputation and ability to maintain the Schneider brand value.
Because the transportation and logistics services we offer are primarily marketed under the Schneider brand, the Schneider brand name is our most valuable sales and marketing tool. Press coverage, lawsuits, regulatory investigations, or other adverse publicity that assert some form of wrongdoing or that depict the Company or any of our executives, associates, contractors, or agents in a negative light, regardless of the factual basis of the assertions being made, could negatively impact public or customer perceptions of the Company resulting in a loss of brand equity. If we do not maintain and protect our brand image and reputation, demand for our services could wane and thus have an adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation and restore the value of our brand.
If fuel prices rise or fall significantly, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our truckload operations are largely dependent on diesel fuel, and accordingly, significant increases in diesel fuel costs could materially and adversely affect our truckload operations, and if we are unable to pass increased costs on to customers through rate increases or fuel surcharges or if shippers opt for intermodal rail over trucking their freight, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Likewise, if diesel fuel prices decrease significantly, the results of our intermodal operations could be adversely affected as shippers shift intermodal freight to over-the-road trucking. Prices and availability of petroleum products are subject to political, economic, geographic, weather-related, and market factors that are generally outside our control and each of which may lead to fluctuations in the cost and availability of diesel fuel.
Our fuel surcharge program does not protect us against the full effect of increases in diesel fuel prices, and the terms of our fuel surcharge agreements vary by customer. In addition, because our fuel surcharge recovery lags behind changes in diesel fuel prices, our fuel surcharge recovery may not capture the increased costs we pay for fuel, especially when prices are rising. There is variability in the compensatory nature of individual customer fuel surcharge programs that can affect inflationary cost recovery of fuel.
There is no assurance that such fuel surcharges can be maintained indefinitely or will be sufficiently effective. Our results of operations would be negatively affected to the extent we cannot recover higher fuel costs or fail to improve our fuel price protection through our fuel surcharge program. Increases in diesel fuel prices, or a shortage or rationing of diesel fuel, could also materially and adversely affect our results of operations. During 2025, we did not enter into any derivative financial instruments that served to hedge or reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.
We depend on railroads and access to the nation’s ports of call in the operation of our intermodal business, and therefore, our ability to offer intermodal services or our results of operations could be adversely impacted if our rail partners or certain ports of call were to perform poorly or experience service disruptions.
Our Intermodal segment utilizes railroads and, in some cases, third-party drayage carriers to transport freight for our intermodal customers. The majority of these services are provided pursuant to contracts with our service partners which are subject to periodic renewal. While we have had agreements with all of the Class I railroads, our primary contracts for railroad transportation in support of our intermodal operations are currently with CSX Transportation, the UP, and the CPKC.
In certain areas of the U.S., rail service is limited to a few railroads, or even a single railroad due to the lack of competition. Our ability to provide intermodal services in certain traffic lanes is, therefore, likely to be adversely affected if any of the Class I railroads were to discontinue service in certain lanes, or if any of our rail partners experience service interruptions, or if the overall quality of their rail service were to deteriorate. In addition, our intermodal business may be adversely affected by declines in service and volume levels provided by the railroads.
All of the Class I railroads in the U.S., including our current rail partners, are unionized and have a recent history of disruption due to labor disputes and collective action, including strikes. While there is currently a contract in place between the Class I railroads and the unions representing rail workers, we cannot predict whether or when a labor dispute involving our rail partners could occur, the duration of such dispute, and the impact, if any, on our results of operations. Any strike or labor-related disruption at any of the Class I railroads can be expected to have an adverse impact on the results of operations of our Intermodal or Truckload segments.
In July 2025, the UP announced it had entered into a merger agreement to purchase Norfolk Southern Railroad. This merger is subject to approval by the companies’ shareholders and the Surface Transportation Board. Should the merger be consummated, it would create the first transcontinental railroad company. This would give the UP control of over 50,000 miles of track and access to major ports on the east and west coasts and could result in negative consequences for us, including less favorable contract terms with merged railroads and our other rail partners, reduced profitability, extended service issues post-merger during a period of integration or, possibly, a merger between the two remaining Class I railroads, which could result in
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significant operating inefficiencies. Previous mergers have led to backups and increased congestion. Such backups or congestion could have an adverse impact on our Intermodal segment’s operations. Additionally, new intermodal service offerings could lead to decreased intermodal transit times and result in the conversion of over-the-road services to intermodal.
Our strategic investments in technology companies and strategic partners are inherently risky, and the valuation of these investments is subject to volatility which could result in a significant charge to earnings.
We engage in strategic transactions and continue to make strategic investments, including investments in new technologies and potentially disruptive startup companies, which are focused on establishing a competitive advantage in transportation and logistics services offered by the Company or exploiting new market opportunities. Such strategic investments naturally entail risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control and, as a result, the market valuation of any of our strategic investments may experience substantial price volatility which, when accounted for under GAAP, in any given period, could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations. Refer to Note 5, Investments , to our consolidated financial statements for information on our strategic investments. In addition, we may not be able to derive value from strategic investments, or we may incur higher than expected costs in realizing a return on such investments or overestimate the benefits that we receive or realize from such investments. Therefore, we cannot provide assurance that any of our strategic investments will generate anticipated financial returns. If our strategic investments fail to meet our expectations, our business and results of operations may be adversely impacted.
We may be unsuccessful in realizing all or any part of the anticipated benefits of any recent or future acquisitions within the expected time period or at all. The cost, integration, and performance of any such acquisition may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
As part of our strategy to grow and expand our service offerings and create shareholder value, we have actively been engaged in identifying acquisition targets which meet our acquisition criteria, and we have completed several such acquisitions in recent periods. We may be unable to generate sufficient revenue or earnings from these acquisitions, or any future acquired business, to offset our acquisition or investment costs, and the acquired business may otherwise fail to meet our operational or strategic expectations. Difficulties encountered in integrating acquired operations could prevent us from realizing the full anticipated benefits, within the anticipated timeframe, and could adversely impact our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The possible risks involved in recent or future acquisitions include, among others:
• difficulties integrating operations of the companies, including the integration of the workforces, while continuing to provide consistent, high-quality service to customers;
• unanticipated issues in the assimilation and consolidation of information technology, communications, and other systems, including additional systems training and other labor inefficiencies;
• potentially unfavorable pre-existing contractual relationships;
• delays in consolidation of corporate and administrative infrastructures;
• inability to apply and maintain our internal controls and compliance with regulatory requirements;
• other unanticipated issues, expenses, and liabilities, including previously unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business for which we have no, or are unable to secure, recourse under applicable indemnification or insurance provisions.
We continue to evaluate acquisition candidates and may acquire assets and businesses that we believe complement our existing assets and business or enhance our service offerings. The complex and time-consuming processes of evaluating acquisitions and performing due diligence procedures include risks that may adversely impact the success of our selection of candidates, pricing of the transaction, and ability to integrate critical functional areas of the acquired business. Future acquisitions, if any, may require substantial capital or the incurrence of substantial indebtedness or may involve the dilutive issuance of equity securities, which may negatively impact our capitalization and financial position. Further, we may not be able to acquire any additional companies at all or on terms favorable to us, even though we may have incurred expenses in evaluating and pursuing strategic transactions.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.
Borrowings under our Receivables Purchase Agreement, revolving credit facility, and delayed-draw term loan facility are at variable interest rates and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same. Our net income and cash flows, including our cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease.
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We depend on third-party capacity providers, and issues of performance, availability, or pricing with these transportation providers could increase our operating costs, reduce our ability to offer intermodal and logistics services, and limit growth in our brokerage and logistics operations, which could adversely affect our revenue, results of operations, and customer relationships.
Our Logistics segment is highly dependent on the services of third-party capacity providers, such as other truckload carriers, LTL carriers, railroads, ocean carriers, and airlines. Many of those providers face the same economic challenges as we do and, therefore, are actively and competitively soliciting business. These economic conditions may have an adverse effect on the performance, availability, and cost of third-party capacity. If we are unable to secure the services of these third-party capacity providers at reasonable rates, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Severe weather, climate, and similar events could harm our results of operations or make our results more volatile.
From time to time, we may suffer impacts from severe weather, climate, and similar events, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, and explosions, which may become more severe in the future as a result of climate change. These events may disrupt freight shipments or routes, affect regional economies, destroy our assets, disrupt fuel supplies, increase fuel costs, cause lost revenue and productivity, increase our maintenance costs, or adversely affect the business or financial condition of our customers, any of which could harm our results of operations or make our results of operations more volatile.
Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition, Taxation, and Capital Requirements
Our goodwill, other intangible assets, internal use software, or long-lived assets may become impaired, which could result in a significant charge to earnings.
We hold significant amounts of goodwill and long-lived assets, and the balances of these categories of assets could increase in the future if we acquire other businesses. As of December 31, 2025, the balance of our goodwill, other intangible assets, internal use software, and long-lived assets was $3.2 billion, and the total market value of the Company’s outstanding shares was $4.6 billion. Under GAAP, our goodwill, other intangible assets, internal use software, and long-lived assets are subject to an impairment analysis when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. In addition, we test goodwill for impairment annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill, other intangible assets, internal use software, and long-lived assets may not be recoverable include, but are not limited to, a sustained decline in stock price and market capitalization, an increase in interest rates, significant negative variances between actual and expected financial results, reduced future cash flow estimates, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations or legal proceedings, changes to technology, failure to realize anticipated synergies from acquisitions, and slower growth rates in our industry. We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill, other intangible assets, internal use software, and long-lived assets is determined to exist, negatively impacting our results of operations. If our market capitalization was to fall below the book value of our total stockholders’ equity for a sustained period, we may conclude that the fair value of certain of our long-lived assets is materially impaired. In this case, we would be required under GAAP to record a noncash charge to our earnings which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We have significant ongoing capital requirements that could affect our profitability if we either fail or are unable to match the timing of our capital investments with customer demand, or we are otherwise unable to generate sufficient returns on our invested capital.
Our truckload and intermodal operations are capital-intensive, and our strategic decision to invest in newer equipment requires us to expend significant amounts in capital expenditures annually. The amount and timing of such capital expenditures depend on various factors, including anticipated freight demand and the price and availability of new or used tractors. If freight volume differs materially from our forecasts or customer demand, our truckload operations may have too many or too few assets. During periods of decreased customer demand, our asset utilization is challenged, and we may be forced to sell equipment on the open market in order to right-size our fleet. This could cause us to incur losses on such sales, particularly during times of a softer used equipment market, either of which could have a materially adverse effect on our profitability. Our leasing business could also be at risk of inventory impairment if truck deliveries are not aligned with owner-operator demand, which could also have a materially adverse effect on our profitability. Should demand for freight shipments weaken or our margins suffer due to increased competition or general economic conditions, we may have to limit our fleet size or operate our transportation equipment for longer periods, either of which could have a materially adverse effect on our operations and profitability.
Our effective tax rate may fluctuate, which would impact our future financial results.
Our effective tax rate may be adversely impacted by, among other things, changes in the regulations relating to capital expenditure deductions, or changes in tax laws where we operate, including the uncertainty of future tax rates. We cannot give any assurance as to the stability or predictability of our effective tax rate in the future because of, among other things, uncertainty regarding the tax laws and policies of the countries where we operate. Our tax returns are subject to periodic
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reviews or audits by domestic and international authorities, and these audits may result in adjustments to our provision for taxes or allocations of income or deductions that result in tax assessments different from amounts that we have estimated. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these audits to determine the adequacy of our provision for taxes. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of these audits or that our tax provisions will not change materially or be adequate to satisfy any associated tax liability. If our effective tax rates were to increase or if our tax liabilities exceed our estimates and provisions for such taxes, our financial results could be adversely affected.
Insurance or claims costs and expenses could significantly reduce our earnings, cash flows, or liquidity.
Our future insurance or claims costs and expenses might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. We self‑insure, or insure through our wholly‑owned captive insurance company, a significant portion of our claims exposure resulting from auto liability, general liability, cargo, and property damage claims, as well as workers’ compensation. In addition to insuring portions of our risk, our captive insurance company provides insurance coverage to our owner‑operator drivers. Although we reserve for anticipated losses and expenses and periodically evaluate and adjust our claims reserves to reflect our experience, estimating the number and severity of claims, as well as related costs to settle or resolve them, is inherently difficult, and such costs could exceed our estimates. Accordingly, our actual losses associated with insured claims may differ materially from our estimates and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, or liquidity.
As a supplement to our self‑insurance program, we maintain insurance with excess insurance carriers for potential losses that exceed the amounts we self‑insure. For auto liability, general liability and property damage, additional layers of insurance coverage beyond the primary layer are provided through an excess insurance tower, which is a structured arrangement of multiple layers of excess insurance coverage. Given the current litigation environment, including the rise in plaintiff awards and “nuclear verdicts,” premiums for this excess coverage continue to increase significantly. These market dynamics may prevent us from securing excess insurance at acceptable pricing at certain layers of exposure, may require us to increase our self‑insured retention as policies are renewed or replaced, and may lead us to assume additional risk within our captive insurance company that we may or may not reinsure.
Although we believe our aggregate insurance program should be sufficient to cover our claims in most circumstances, it is possible that one or more claims could result in a loss or adverse litigation judgment that (i) exhausts a layer of excess insurance coverage, (ii) exceeds our aggregate excess coverage limits, or (iii) due to fragmentation in our excess tower, exposes us to a material liability within a specific excess layer for which we are self‑insured. In any of these cases, we would bear the loss for such amounts, in addition to our other self‑insured amounts. The commercial trucking industry, among other industries, has experienced verdicts in which juries have awarded tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to accident victims and their families, increasing the risk that a single claim could exceed our aggregate coverage. If any claim, or combination of claims within the same policy year, were to exceed our aggregate insurance coverage, or if coverage were otherwise unavailable at needed layers, we would be responsible for the excess.
Our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, and liquidity could be materially and adversely affected if: (1) our costs or losses significantly exceed our aggregate coverage limits; (2) we are unable to obtain insurance coverage in amounts we deem sufficient or at acceptable pricing for needed layers; (3) our insurance carriers fail to pay on our insurance claims; (4) we experience a claim for which coverage is not provided; or (5) adverse developments in claim frequency, severity, defense costs, or reserve estimates require significant additional cash outlays.
For example, in 2025, the limits of our excess insurance coverage were exhausted for one specific policy year as a result of a 2024 adverse verdict in a lawsuit arising out of a fatal motor vehicle accident that a Schneider driver is alleged to have caused, in addition to other losses occurring in that same policy year, with interest continuing to accrue on the judgment. For additional information, refer to the discussion of total other expenses (income) under Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations .
Risks Relating to Our Governance Structure
Voting control of the Company is concentrated with a Voting Trust that was established for certain members of the Schneider family, which limits the ability of our other shareholders to influence corporate actions.
We currently have a dual class common stock structure consisting of (1) Class A common stock, entitled to ten votes per share and (2) Class B common stock, entitled to one vote per share. The Schneider family, including trusts established for the benefit of certain members of the Schneider family, collectively beneficially own 100% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 41% of our outstanding Class B common stock, representing approximately 94% of the total voting power of all of our outstanding common stock and approximately 69% of our total outstanding common stock.
A Voting Trust holds the shares of Class A common stock that are beneficially owned by the Schneider family. The directors who are members of our Corporate Governance Committee and are not Schneider family members serve as trustees of the Voting Trust, and in general, those directors have full power and discretion to vote the Class A shares included in the Voting
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Trust with two exceptions. First, in the case of any Major Transaction (as defined under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, including, most notably, a transaction resulting in more than 40% of the voting power of our common stock being held outside of the Schneider family), the independent directors of our Corporate Governance Committee must vote the shares of common Class A stock held in the Voting Trust as directed by the trustees of certain trusts which have been established for the benefit of certain Schneider family members. As a result, the outcome of the vote on any Major Transaction is not within the discretion of the Voting Trustees. Second, the independent directors of our Corporate Governance Committee must vote the shares of common Class A stock held in the Voting Trust in accordance with a nomination process agreement pursuant to which two specified Schneider family members will be nominated to serve on our Board on an annual, rotating basis.
As a result of these arrangements, the Voting Trust controls the outcome of corporate actions that require or may be accomplished by shareholder approval, including the election and removal of directors and transactions resulting in a change in control of the Company. For so long as the Voting Trust maintains control of us, our Class B shareholders will be unable to affect the outcome of proposed corporate actions, including any Major Transactions should any be proposed.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and, as a result, qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements relating to our Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. Our shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of other companies that are subject to such requirements.
The Voting Trust has more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors. As a result, we qualify as a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules for NYSE-listed companies. As a controlled company, certain exemptions under the NYSE listing standards exempt us from the obligation to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance requirements, including the requirement that we have a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance Committee that are composed entirely of independent directors.
We have elected to take advantage of this “controlled company” exemption, and therefore, the holders of our Class B common stock may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance rules for NYSE-listed companies. Our status as a controlled company could therefore make our Class B common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise depress our stock price.
The price of our Class B common stock has been and may continue to be volatile and may fluctuate significantly, which may adversely impact investor confidence and increase the likelihood of securities class action litigation.
Our Class B common stock price has experienced volatility in the past and may remain volatile in the future. Volatility in our stock price can be driven by many factors including divergence between our actual or anticipated financial results and published expectations of analysts or the expectations of the market, the gain or loss of customers, announcements that we, our competitors, our customers, or our vendors or other key partners may make regarding their operating results and other factors which are beyond our control such as market conditions in our industry, new market entrants, technological innovations, and economic and political conditions or events. These and other factors may cause the market price and demand for our Class B common stock to fluctuate substantially. During 2025, the closing stock price of our Class B common stock ranged from a low of $20.25 per share to a high of $30.73 per share. Our Class B common stock is also included in certain market indices, and any change in the composition of these indices to exclude our company may adversely affect our stock price. Increased volatility in the financial markets and/or overall economic conditions may reduce the amounts that we realize in the future on our cash equivalents and/or marketable securities and may reduce our earnings as a result of any impairment charges that we record to reduce recorded values of marketable securities to their fair values.
Further, securities class action litigation is often brought against a public company following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. Due to changes in our stock price, we may be the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial uninsured costs and divert management’s attention and our resources.
Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation, by-laws, and Wisconsin law may prevent or delay an acquisition of the Company, which could decrease the trading price of our Class B common stock.
Each of our certificate of incorporation, our by-laws, and Wisconsin law, as currently in effect, contain provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive to a bidder and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with our Board rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:
• a dual class common stock structure, which provides the Voting Trust the ability to control the outcome of matters requiring shareholder approval, even if the Voting Trust beneficially owns significantly less than a majority of the shares of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock;
• a requirement that certain transactions be conditioned upon approval by 60% of the voting power of our capital stock, including any transaction which results in the Schneider family holding less than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock, a sale of substantially all of our assets, and a dissolution;
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• no provision for cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow holders of less than a majority of stock to elect some directors;
• the inability of shareholders to call a special meeting except when the holders of at least ten percent of all votes entitled to be cast on the proposed issue submit a written demand;
• advance notice procedures for the nomination of candidates for election as directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at shareholder meetings;
• the ability of our directors, without a stockholder vote, to fill vacancies on our Board (including those resulting from an enlargement of the Board);
• the requirement that both 75% of the directors constituting the full Board and stockholders holding at least 80% of our voting stock are required to amend certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws; and
• the right of our Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval.
Our status as a Wisconsin corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the WBCL may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control even if a change in control would be beneficial to our shareholders by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with any person that is the beneficial owner of at least 10% of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock (an “interested shareholder”) for a period of three years after such person becomes an interested shareholder, unless our Board has approved, before the date on which the shareholder acquired the shares, that a business combination or the purchase of stock made by such interested stockholder on such stock acquisition date. In addition, we may engage in a business combination with an interested shareholder after the expiration of the three-year period with respect to that shareholder only if one or more of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) our Board approved the acquisition of the stock before the date on which the shareholder acquired the shares, (2) the business combination is approved by a majority of our outstanding voting stock not beneficially owned by the interested shareholder, or (3) the consideration to be received by shareholders meets certain fair price requirements of the WBCL with respect to form and amount.
These provisions could have the effect of discouraging, delaying, or preventing a transaction involving a change in control of our company. These provisions could also have the effect of discouraging proxy contests and making it more difficult for our non-controlling shareholders to elect directors of their choosing, causing us to take other corporate actions. In light of present circumstances, we believe these provisions taken as a whole protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board and by providing our Board with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make us immune to takeovers or prevent the removal of incumbent directors. However, these provisions could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board determines is not in the best interests of the Company and all of our stockholders.
We may change our dividend policy at any time.
The declaration and amount of any future dividends, including the payment of special dividends, is dependent on multiple factors, including our financial performance and capital needs, and is subject to the discretion of our Board. The Board may, in its discretion, determine to cut, cancel, or eliminate our dividend and, therefore, the declaration of any dividend, at any frequency, as it is not assured. Each quarter, the Board considers whether the declaration of a dividend is in the best interest of our shareholders and in compliance with applicable laws and agreements. Although we expect to continue to pay dividends to holders of our Class A and Class B common stock, we have no obligation to do so, and our dividend policy may change at any time without notice. Future dividends may also be affected by factors that our Board deems relevant, including our potential future capital requirements for investments, legal risks, changes in federal and state income tax laws, or corporate laws and contractual restrictions such as financial or operating covenants in our debt arrangements. As a result, we may not pay dividends at any rate or at all.
Risks Related to Legal Compliance
If the independent contractors with whom we engage under our alternative owner-operator business model are deemed by law to be employees, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Like many of our competitors, in certain of our service offerings we offer an alternative owner-operator business model, which provides opportunities for small business owners and private entrepreneurs who own tractors to selectively contract with us as independent contractors to transport freight, which they choose, at contracted rates. Were such independent contractors subsequently determined to be our employees, we would be liable under various federal and state laws for a variety of taxes, wages, and other compensation and benefits, including for prior periods, which were not timely paid or remitted. In the U.S., the regulatory and statutory landscape relating to the classification status of independent contractors (or workers) who work in temporary or flexible jobs and who are paid by the task or project is evolving. Various federal and state regulatory authorities, as well as independent contractors themselves, have asserted that independent contractor drivers in the trucking industry, such as those operating under our “owner-operator choice model”, are employees rather than independent contractors for a variety of purposes, including income tax withholding, workers’ compensation, wage and hour compensation, unemployment, and other
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issues. Some state and federal authorities have enacted, or are considering, new laws to make it harder to classify workers as independent contractors and easier for tax and other authorities to reclassify independent contractors as employees.
Under DOL regulations issued in 2024, employers must consider six criteria and employ a “totality of the circumstances” analysis to determine whether a worker is an employee or a contractor, without predetermining whether one criterion outweighs the other. Although current DOL regulations increase the likelihood of an employee determination and, could dramatically limit the circumstances under which we may classify our current independent contractor owner-operators as independent contractors under FLSA, the DOL, under the Trump administration, has announced that it will no longer apply the 2024 Independent Contractor Rule in determining classification of workers as employees or independent contractors. The agency, instead, instructs field staff to use previously established guidance that we believe makes classification of workers as independent contractors (rather than workers) more likely, reflecting the current administration’s position on determining classification for protections under the FLSA. Notwithstanding this DOL’s announcement, the 2024 rule remains in effect unless and until the current administration takes steps to rescind or replace the 2024 rule through formal rule-making processes or the rule is overturned or curtailed by one of the ongoing lawsuits challenging its validity. Any legislation or regulation which limits our ability to classify owner-operators as independent contractors could result in driver shortages or adversely impact our freight capacity which, in turn, could adversely impact our results of operations.
Additionally, federal and state courts have interpreted, or may interpret, applicable law inconsistently, which could result in claims by certain owner operators that they have been misclassified by us as independent contractors under various federal or state regulations. As a result, we are, from time to time, party to administrative proceedings and litigation, including class actions, alleging violations of the FLSA and other state and federal laws which seek retroactive reclassification of certain current and former independent contractors as employees. An adverse decision in such legal proceedings, in an amount that materially exceeds our reserves, or federal or state legislation in this area which renders the owner-operator model either impractical or extinct, thereby curtailing our revenue opportunities, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and profitability.
We operate in a regulated industry, and increased direct and indirect costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In the U.S., the DOT, FMCSA, and various state agencies exercise broad powers over our business, generally governing matters including authorization to engage in motor carrier service, equipment operation, safety, financial reporting, and leasing arrangements with independent contractors. We are audited periodically by the DOT to ensure that we are in compliance with various safety, HOS, and other rules and regulations. If we were found to be out of compliance, the DOT could restrict or otherwise impact our operations. We also operate in various Canadian provinces and contract with third-party carriers to transport freight into Mexico. Our failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules, or regulations to which we are subject, whether actual or alleged, could expose us to fines, penalties, or potential litigation liabilities, including costs, settlements, and judgments. Further, these agencies or governments could institute new laws, rules or regulations, or issue interpretation changes to existing regulations at any time. The short and long-term impacts of changes in legislation or regulations are difficult to predict and could materially and adversely affect our earnings and results of operations.
On February 12, 2026, the EPA finalized a rule eliminating the 2009 GHG Endangerment Finding and federal emission standards for vehicles and engines. The GHG Endangerment Finding formed the legal basis previously used to regulate GHG emissions for motor vehicles. The EPA has stated that its final rule repeals federal vehicle GHG standards and reduces regulatory requirements tied to vehicle emissions including, a raft of regulations aimed at requiring truck OEMs to develop and sell cleaner trucks and engines to reduce GHG emissions. However, the EPA’s low NOx regulations will still be enforced. The EPA says it will alter the final regulation, although final rules have not been issued. It is anticipated that legal challenges to the EPA’s final rule will follow. It is uncertain what, if any, impact the EPA’s final rule will have on state GHG regulations and what actions the truck OEMs will take in response to the EPA’s final rule.
In addition, uncertainty regarding the reliability of the newly designed diesel engines, and any resulting negative impact on residual values of our equipment, could materially increase our costs or otherwise adversely affect our business or operations. We cannot predict the extent to which these factors will affect our operations or productivity. We will continue to monitor and evaluate our compliance with applicable federal and state GHG regulations.
Regulatory requirements and changes in regulatory requirements may affect our business by requiring changes in operating practices that could influence the demand for and increase the costs of providing transportation services. If current regulatory requirements become more stringent or new environmental laws and regulations regarding climate change are introduced, we could be required to make significant capital expenditures or discontinue certain activities. Refer to Item 1. Business , for additional details on recent climate-related regulations and laws that impact our operations.
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Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result in substantial fines or penalties.
We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with emissions from our tractor fleet, the handling of hazardous materials, underground fuel storage tanks, and discharge and retention of storm water. We operate in industrial areas where truck terminals and other industrial activities are located and where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination have occurred. Our operations involve the risks of fuel spillage or seepage, environmental damage, and hazardous waste disposal, among others. Certain of our facilities have waste oil or fuel storage tanks and fueling islands. If a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances occurs, if there are releases of hazardous substances we transport, if soil or groundwater contamination is found at our facilities or results from our operations, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations, we could be liable for cleanup costs, other damages, fines, or penalties, any of which could be in material amounts or have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results.
We are subject to various regulations which are aimed at reducing GHG emissions and mandating GHG emissions disclosures, which could adversely impact our results of operations.
Currently the long-haul trucking industry in North America is diesel fuel-based, and long-haul trucking operations powered by electricity, natural gas, or hydrogen-based powertrains rather than diesel are not commercially feasible at scale in North America. Significant challenges remain with respect to the economic feasibility of operating these trucks, and further development of this technology is necessary considering power, torque, range, efficiency and other performance requirements of long-haul trucking operations. Moreover, the extensive nationwide charging/fueling infrastructure and maintenance network that would be necessary to support such operations does not exist. Nevertheless, federal, state, and local governmental agencies may pass or propose legislation and regulations mandating the transition of diesel fuel-based commercial motor vehicles, such as Class 8 tractors operated by the Company’s independent owner operators and third-party brokerage carriers, to ZEVs.
At the state level, CARB is no longer seeking to enforce its ACF rule. Other states have enacted similar legislation to the ACF and, in the wake of CARB’s decision, it is uncertain whether that legislation will be enforced. Mandates requiring the transition to ZEVs would create substantial costs for the Company’s third-party capacity providers and, in turn, increase the cost of purchased transportation to the Company. An increase in the costs to purchase, lease, or maintain tractor equipment or in purchased transportation costs caused by existing or new regulations, without a corresponding increase in price to the customer, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Due primarily to the uncertainty of the timing of availability of compliant tractors from OEMs and the timing of the effectiveness of such laws and regulations, we are not currently able to forecast whether such impact will be material.
We currently do not expect that long-haul trucking operations powered by electricity, natural gas, or hydrogen-based powertrains rather than diesel, will become commercially viable at scale throughout North America in the near term. However, as various technology alternatives continue to develop and mature and investment in infrastructure continues, local or regional service in certain geographic areas utilizing Class 8 tractors powered by electricity, natural gas, or hydrogen-based powertrains may become commercially viable in such time frame. We continue to actively monitor, evaluate, and test developments in the trucking industry related to the design, manufacture, operation, and support of heavy-duty trucks powered by electricity, natural gas, or hydrogen-based powertrains in order to consider the implementation of initiatives involving those technologies, as those technologies and the related infrastructure needed to support them may mature in the future. An increase in costs to implement these initiatives without a corresponding increase in price to the customer could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
General Risk Factors
We rely significantly on our information technology systems, a disruption, failure, or security breach of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We rely on information technology throughout all areas of our business and operations to receive, track, accept, and complete customer orders; process financial and non-financial data; compile results of operations for internal and external reporting; and achieve operating efficiencies and growth. Such data and information remain vulnerable to cyber-attacks, cybersecurity breaches, ransomware attacks, hackers, theft, or other unauthorized disclosures. Like other companies in the transportation industry, we have identified, and expect to continue to identify, attempted cyberattacks and cybersecurity incidents, but none of those attempted incidents identified as of the filing date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K has had a material impact on us, except as the continued presence of cybersecurity threats has resulted, and is expected to continue to result, in significant investments in cybersecurity risk management programs, processes, and tools. If a cyberattack, cybersecurity breach, ransomware, or other similar attack on us is successful, this could result in the disclosure of confidential customer or commercial data, loss of valuable intellectual property, or system disruptions, and subject us to civil liability and fines or penalties, damage our brand and reputation, or otherwise harm our business, any of which could be material. In addition, delayed sales, lower margins, or lost customers resulting from security breaches or network disruptions could materially reduce our revenues, materially increase our expenses, damage our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on our stock price.
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Our information technology systems may also be susceptible to interruptions or failures for a variety of reasons including software or hardware failure, user error, power outages, natural disasters, computer viruses, or other types of interruptions. For example, in 2022 our operations were temporarily disrupted due to a firmware defect (which was not related to a cyber event and did not involve a breach of data) in a third-party vendor’s equipment, which caused certain critical computer applications to not function properly. As a result of this incident, we were required to rely on manual processes to book freight, execute loads, and pay carriers for two business days and otherwise execute our business continuity plans. While this disruption resulted in lost revenue and operating profit, it did not have a material impact on our annual results of operations. However, despite our ability to potentially utilize manual processes, a significant disruption or failure in our computer networks or applications, of any duration, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including operational disruptions, loss of confidential information, external reporting delays or errors, legal claims, or damage to our business reputation.
Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain key employees, and if we are unable to attract and retain such qualified employees, our business and our ability to execute our business strategies may be materially impaired.
Our future success depends largely on the continued service and efforts of our executive officers and other key management and technical personnel and on our ability to continue to identify, attract, retain, and motivate them. Although we believe we have an experienced and highly qualified management team, the loss of the services of these key personnel could have a significant adverse impact on us and our future profitability. Additionally, we must continue to recruit, develop, and retain skilled and experienced operations, technology, and sales managers if we are to realize our goal of expanding our operations and continuing our growth. Failure to recruit, develop, and retain a core group of service center managers could have a materially adverse effect on our business.
As a result of the nature and scope of our operations, we are subject to various claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of business, which could adversely affect us.
As a result of the nature and scope of our operations, we are involved in various legal proceedings and claims and exposed to a variety of litigation, including those related to accidents involving our trucks and our brokerage operations, cargo claims, commercial disputes, property damage, and environmental liability, which may not be fully covered by our insurance. Such litigation may include claims by current or former employees or third parties, and certain proceedings may be certified or purport to be class actions. In appropriate cases, we have taken and will seek subrogation from third parties who are responsible for losses or damages that we may become legally obligated to pay to claimants.
Litigation is inherently uncertain, and the costs of defending litigation, particularly class-action litigation, may be substantial, and in any period, we could experience significant adverse results, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. While we purchase insurance coverage at levels we deem adequate, future litigation may exceed our insurance coverage or may not be covered by insurance. In addition, adverse publicity surrounding an allegation or claim that results in litigation may cause significant reputational harm that could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Increasing scrutiny from investors and other stakeholders regarding ESG-related matters may have a negative impact on our business.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny from investors and other stakeholders related to ESG matters, including practices and disclosures related to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and diversity and inclusion. Organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings may lead to negative investor sentiment toward us, which could have a negative impact on our stock price and our access to and costs of capital. We have developed certain initiatives and goals relating to ESG matters. Our ability to successfully execute these initiatives and accurately report our progress presents numerous operational, financial, legal, reputational, and other risks, many of which are outside our control, and all of which could have a material negative impact on our business. Additionally, the implementation of these initiatives imposes additional costs on us. If our ESG initiatives and goals do not meet the expectations of our investors or other stakeholders, which continue to evolve, then our reputation, our attractiveness as an investment and business partner, and our ability to attract or retain employees could be negatively impacted. Similarly, our failure, or perceived failure, to pursue or fulfill our goals, targets, and objectives or to satisfy various reporting standards in a timely manner, or at all, could also have similar negative impacts and expose us to government enforcement actions and private litigation.
