0000894405false00008944052021-11-022021-11-02

June 30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 2, 2021 (November 2, 2021)

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

0-19969

71-0673405

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

8401 McClure Drive

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916

(479) 785-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of

the registrant's principal executive offices)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock $0.01 Par Value

ARCB

Nasdaq

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions.

Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

ITEM 2.02 – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On November 2, 2021, ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB) (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its unaudited third quarter 2021 results. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. Additional supplemental information and presentation slides to be used in connection with the scheduled conference call to discuss the third quarter results are furnished as Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8­-K and incorporated herein by reference.

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and other information utilized for internal analysis provide analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing the Company’s core operating performance and provide meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. The use of certain non-GAAP measures improves comparability in analyzing ArcBest’s performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management’s opinion, do not reflect ArcBest’s core operating performance.

The press release in Exhibit 99.1, the supplemental information in Exhibit 99.2, and the presentation slides in Exhibit 99.3 include certain non-GAAP information. Certain information discussed in the scheduled conference call could also be considered non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are included in Exhibit 99.1 herein, including reconciliations of GAAP earnings and earnings per share to non-GAAP financial measures, reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP effective tax rates, and calculations of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures included in the presentation slides to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are also included within Exhibit 99.3 herein.

Management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be relevant and useful information as EBITDA is a standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors and others to measure financial performance and ability to service debt obligations. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is a primary component of the financial covenants contained in ArcBest’s credit agreement. Other companies may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently; therefore, ArcBest’s calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, ArcBest’s reported results. These financial measures should not be construed as better measurements than operating income, operating cash flow, net income or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

ITEM 9.01 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.

Description of Exhibit

99.1

Press release of ArcBest dated November 2, 2021

99.2

Supplemental information dated November 2, 2021

99.3

Earnings conference call presentation dated November 2, 2021

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File – The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ARCBEST CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date:

November 2, 2021

/s/ Michael R. Johns

Michael R. Johns

Vice President – General Counsel

and Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 99.1

Graphic

Investor Relations Contact: David Humphrey

Media Contact: Autumnn Mahar

Title: Vice President – Investor Relations

Title: Senior Manager, PR and Social

Phone: 479-785-6200

Phone: 479-494-8221

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

ArcBest® Announces Record Third Quarter 2021 Results

Successful growth strategy driving superior performance

Advancing strategic vision to better serve customers
and further enhance value for shareholders

Third quarter 2021 revenue of $1.0 billion increased 27.9 percent over third quarter 2020.
Net income improved to $63.7 million, or $2.38 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, third quarter 2021 net income was $69.2 million, or $2.59 per diluted share.
Highest quarterly revenue and operating income in ArcBest’s history.

FORT SMITH, Ark., November 2, 2021 — ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB), a leader in supply chain logistics, today reported third quarter 2021 revenue of $1.0 billion compared to third quarter 2020 revenue of $795.0 million. Each of ArcBest’s operating segments achieved double-digit percentage revenue growth over the prior year. ArcBest’s third quarter 2021 operating income was $87.6 million and net income was $63.7 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, compared to third quarter 2020 operating income of $39.8 million and net income of $29.4 million, or $1.11 per diluted share.

Excluding certain items in both periods as identified in the attached reconciliation tables, non-GAAP operating income was $96.1 million in third quarter 2021 compared to $45.8 million in the prior year period. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $69.2 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, in third quarter 2021 compared to $32.4 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, in third quarter 2020.

“ArcBest continues to capitalize on the power of our integrated solutions to respond to today’s rapidly evolving market environment,” said Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO. “Our strategic vision, which is centered on accelerating growth through targeted investments in innovation, technology, logistics solutions and our people, continues to pay off. Furthering these efforts, yesterday’s closing of the MoLo Solutions acquisition is expected to build and amplify our powerful portfolio of shipping and logistics services to help our customers drive the economy forward and unlock incremental value for our shareholders.

McReynolds added, We wouldn’t be where we are today – announcing record quarterly results – without ArcBest’s talented and committed people, who are at the heart of our success. Our proven ability to operate safely and efficiently while advancing our strategic vision and generating strong financial results is due to our team’s consistency and the trusted relationships they have built with our customers. Looking ahead, we are focused on continuing to successfully execute our growth strategy and creating sustainable value for our stakeholders, including our shareholders.”

1


Third Quarter Results of Operations Comparisons

Asset-Based

Third Quarter 2021 Versus Third Quarter 2020

Revenue of $681.2 million compared to $561.9 million, a per-day increase of 21.2 percent.
Total tonnage per day increase of 2.4 percent, including an increase of 2.5 percent in LTL-rated weight per shipment.
Total shipments per day increase of 0.5 percent.
Total billed revenue per hundredweight increased 17.1 percent and was positively impacted by higher fuel surcharges. Revenue per hundredweight on LTL-rated business, excluding fuel surcharge, improved by a percentage in the double digits.
Operating income of $83.6 million and an operating ratio of 87.7 percent compared to the prior-year quarter operating income of $36.6 million and an operating ratio of 93.5 percent. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income of $90.5 million and an operating ratio of 86.7 percent compared to the prior-year quarter operating income of $42.8 million and an operating ratio of 92.4 percent.

Strong shipper demand and a solid pricing environment coupled with ArcBest’s deep understanding of customer needs resulted in the third record-setting quarter in a row this year for ArcBest’s Asset-Based business. Year-over-year tonnage and shipment growth was the result of an emphasis on allocating network resources to serving core LTL customers. Shippers have continued to benefit from ArcBest’s assets and facilities throughout its Asset-Based network being used to help solve supply chain challenges. Third quarter 2021 operating income more than doubled compared to the prior-year period and reflected a healthy sequential increase compared to the recent second quarter.

Asset-Light

Third Quarter 2021 Versus Third Quarter 2020

Revenue of $371.7 million compared to $267.8 million, a per-day increase of 38.8 percent.
Operating income of $11.5 million compared to the prior-year quarter operating income of $5.8 million.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) of $14.2 million compared to the prior-year quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $8.6 million, as detailed in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation tables.

Positive momentum in the ArcBest segment continued in the third quarter with record-setting quarterly revenue and operating income. The ability to positively respond to strong customer demand with innovative solutions contributed to solid revenue growth in the ArcBest segment. Increased demand for expedited and truckload logistics services resulted in higher shipment levels and higher average revenue per shipment. Customers’ needs for managed transportation solutions also contributed to third quarter revenue growth and improved operating results. The increase in operating income reflects the benefits of higher revenue, partially offset by increased personnel costs in response to shipment growth and continued investments in technology.

Increased business volume combined with higher revenue per event contributed to record quarterly revenue for the FleetNet segment and an increase in operating income over the prior year’s third quarter.

NOTE

‡ - The ArcBest and FleetNet reportable segments, combined, represent Asset-Light operations.

2


Conference Call

ArcBest will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the 2021 third quarter results. The call will be today, Tuesday, November 2, at 9:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. CDT). Interested parties are invited to listen by calling (800) 669-4993 or by joining the webcast which can be found on ArcBest’s website at arcb.com. Slides to accompany this call are included in Exhibit 99.3 of the Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2021, will be posted and available to download on the company’s website prior to the scheduled conference time, and will be included in the webcast. Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through the end of the day on December 15, 2021. To listen to the playback, dial (800) 633-8284 or (402) 977-9140 (for international callers). The conference call ID for the playback is 21998422. The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through December 15, 2021, on ArcBest’s website at arcb.com.

About ArcBest

ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with over 14,000 employees across more than 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse, fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, ArcBest leverages their full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers’ critical needs, each and every day. For more information, visit arcb.com.

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  Certain statements and information in this press release concerning results for the three months ended September 30, 2021 may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “int end,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations based on currently available information, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control). Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, we cannot provide assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in these statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: widespread outbreak of an illness or disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, or any other public health crisis, as well as regulatory measures implemented in response to such events; external events which may adversely affect us or the third parties who provide services for us, for which our business continuity plans may not adequately prepare us; a failure of our information systems, including disruptions or failures of services essential to our operations or upon which our information technology platforms rely, data breach, and/or cybersecurity incidents; interruption or failure of third-party software or information technology systems or licenses; untimely or ineffective development and implementation of, or failure to realize potential benefits associated with, new or enhanced technology or processes, including the pilot test program at ABF Freight; the loss or reduction of business from large customers; the ability to manage our cost structure, and the timing and performance of growth initiatives; the cost, integration, and performance of any recent or future acquisitions, including the MoLo acquisition, and the inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition within the expected time period or at all; the timing or amount of the earnout payments for the MoLo acquisition, if any; maintaining our corporate reputation and intellectual property rights; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; increased prices for and decreased availability of new revenue equipment, decreases in value of used revenue equipment, and higher costs of equipment-related operating expenses such as maintenance, fuel, and related taxes; availability of fuel, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates, and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract, retain, and develop employees; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight’s collective bargaining agreement; union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer plans; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; our ability to secure independent owner operators and/or operational or regulatory issues related to our use of their services; litigation or claims asserted against us; governmental regulations; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; default on covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries we serve and/or limit our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; seasonal fluctuations and adverse weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in ArcBest Corporation’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

3


Financial Data and Operating Statistics

The following tables show financial data and operating statistics on ArcBest® and its reportable segments.

4


ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

 

(Unaudited)

($ thousands, except share and per share data)

REVENUES

$

1,016,657

$

794,980

$

2,794,843

$

2,123,749

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

929,096

755,198

 

2,600,792

2,055,723

OPERATING INCOME

 

87,561

 

39,782

 

194,051

 

68,026

OTHER INCOME (COSTS)

Interest and dividend income

 

323

 

756

 

1,037

 

3,122

Interest and other related financing costs

 

(2,072)

 

(2,860)

 

(6,774)

 

(9,185)

Other, net

 

338

 

1,500

 

2,641

 

334

 

(1,411)

 

(604)

 

(3,096)

 

(5,729)

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

86,150

 

39,178

 

190,955

 

62,297

INCOME TAX PROVISION

 

22,459

 

9,774

 

42,922

 

15,111

NET INCOME

$

63,691

$

29,404

$

148,033

$

47,186

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic

$

2.48

$

1.15

$

5.79

$

1.86

Diluted

$

2.38

$

1.11

$

5.51

$

1.79

AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

Basic

 

25,632,805

 

25,470,094

 

25,559,642

 

25,403,786

Diluted

 

26,770,146

 

26,592,457

 

26,872,381

 

26,289,946

CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE

$

0.08

$

0.08

$

0.24

$

0.24

5


ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

September 30

December 31

    

2021

    

2020

 

(Unaudited)

Note

($ thousands, except share data)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

$

408,207

$

303,954

Short-term investments

 

60,289

 

65,408

Accounts receivable, less allowances (2021 - $6,847; 2020 - $7,851)

 

425,006

 

320,870

Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2021 - $671; 2020 - $660)

 

13,827

 

14,343

Prepaid expenses

 

30,120

 

37,774

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

 

9,258

 

11,397

Other

 

6,419

 

4,422

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

953,126

 

758,168

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Land and structures

 

347,771

 

342,178

Revenue equipment

 

965,263

 

916,760

Service, office, and other equipment

 

243,601

 

233,810

Software

 

170,045

 

163,193

Leasehold improvements

 

15,970

 

15,156

1,742,650

1,671,097

Less allowances for depreciation and amortization

 

1,058,343

 

992,407

 

684,307

 

678,690

GOODWILL

 

86,368

 

88,320

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

52,135

 

54,981

OPERATING RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS

105,219

115,195

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

6,544

 

6,158

OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS

74,729

77,496

$

1,962,428

$

1,779,008

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable

$

227,893

$

170,898

Income taxes payable

 

6,535

 

316

Accrued expenses

 

291,586

 

246,746

Current portion of long-term debt

 

67,897

 

67,105

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

21,765

21,482

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

615,676

 

506,547

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion

 

176,545

 

217,119

OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES, less current portion

88,232

97,839

POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES, less current portion

 

18,506

 

18,555

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

38,208

 

37,948

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

64,218

 

72,407

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares;
issued 2021: 29,351,569 shares; 2020: 29,045,309 shares

 

294

 

290

Additional paid-in capital

 

340,315

 

342,354

Retained earnings

 

737,820

 

595,932

Treasury stock, at cost, 2021: 3,783,227 shares; 2020: 3,656,938 shares

 

(119,273)

 

(111,173)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

1,887

 

1,190

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

961,043

 

828,593

$

1,962,428

$

1,779,008

Note:  The balance sheet at December 31, 2020 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

6


ARCBEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

    

2021

    

2020

 

Unaudited

($ thousands)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income

$

148,033

$

47,186

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

88,113

 

85,189

Amortization of intangibles

 

2,882

 

2,942

Pension settlement expense

 

 

89

Share-based compensation expense

 

8,567

 

7,956

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

(57)

 

2,170

Change in deferred income taxes

 

(8,593)

 

2,831

Gain on sale of property and equipment and lease termination

 

(8,389)

 

(3,280)

Gain on sale of subsidiaries

(6,923)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Receivables

 

(103,886)

 

(38,905)

Prepaid expenses

 

7,655

 

809

Other assets

 

539

 

3,918

Income taxes

 

8,174

 

3,065

Operating right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, net

 

650

 

234

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

 

101,577

 

37,062

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

238,342

 

151,266

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of financings

 

(43,506)

 

(20,146)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

11,509

 

8,943

Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries

 

9,013

Purchases of short-term investments

 

(56,011)

 

(159,253)

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

 

61,174

 

192,563

Capitalization of internally developed software

 

(14,308)

 

(9,568)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(32,129)

 

12,539

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Borrowings under credit facilities

 

 

180,000

Borrowings under accounts receivable securitization program

45,000

Payments on long-term debt

 

(76,513)

 

(309,640)

Net change in book overdrafts

 

(305)

 

349

Deferred financing costs

 

(295)

 

Payment of common stock dividends

 

(6,145)

 

(6,122)

Purchases of treasury stock

(8,100)

(5,667)

Payments for tax withheld on share-based compensation

 

(10,602)

 

(1,989)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(101,960)

 

(98,069)

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

104,253

 

65,736

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

303,954

 

201,909

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

$

408,207

$

267,645

NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Equipment financed

$

36,731

$

53,045

Accruals for equipment received

$

3,158

$

2,146

Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets

$

7,280

$

60,535

7


ARCBEST CORPORATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT DATA AND OPERATING RATIOS

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

 

September 30

September 30

 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

 

Unaudited

 

($ thousands, except percentages)

 

REVENUES

Asset-Based

 

$

681,164

 

 

 

$

561,856

 

 

 

$

1,890,288

 

 

 

$

1,537,639

 

ArcBest

 

305,207

 

217,294

 

828,291

 

533,536

FleetNet

 

66,514

 

50,545

 

185,224

 

149,424

Total Asset-Light

371,721

267,839

1,013,515

682,960

Other and eliminations

 

(36,228)

 

(34,715)

 

(108,960)

 

(96,850)

Total consolidated revenues

 

$

1,016,657

 

 

 

$

794,980

 

 

 

$

2,794,843

 

 

 

$

2,123,749

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

Asset-Based

Salaries, wages, and benefits

 

$

305,839

 

44.9

%

 

$

287,385

 

51.2

%

 

$

893,903

 

47.3

%

 

$

820,218

53.3

%

Fuel, supplies, and expenses

 

66,947

9.8

 

50,144

8.9

 

192,477

10.2

 

157,044

10.2

Operating taxes and licenses

 

12,426

1.8

 

12,296

2.2

 

36,977

2.0

 

36,719

2.4

Insurance

 

10,175

1.5

 

8,587

1.5

 

28,568

1.5

 

24,658

1.6

Communications and utilities

 

4,559

0.7

 

4,373

0.8

 

14,192

0.7

 

13,426

0.9

Depreciation and amortization

 

23,233

3.4

 

24,054

4.3

 

70,025

3.7

 

70,651

4.6

Rents and purchased transportation

 

95,855

14.1

 

69,442

12.4

 

266,525

14.1

 

171,364

11.2

Shared services

71,017

10.4

60,664

10.8

196,255

10.4

155,154

10.1

Gain on sale of property and equipment(1)

 

 

133

 

(8,624)

(0.5)

 

(3,206)

(0.2)

Innovative technology costs(2)

6,903

1.0

 

6,199

1.1

 

21,303

1.1

 

15,521

1.0

Other

 

592

0.1

 

1,933

0.3

 

1,103

0.1

 

5,168

0.3

Total Asset-Based

 

597,546

87.7

%

 

525,210

93.5

%

 

1,712,704

90.6

%

 

1,466,717

95.4

%

ArcBest

Purchased transportation

 

256,900

84.2

%

 

181,129

83.4

%

 

694,498

83.8

%

 

443,401

83.1

%

Supplies and expenses

2,741

0.9

 

2,746

1.3

 

7,785

0.9

 

7,015

1.3

Depreciation and amortization(3)

 

2,352

0.8

 

2,413

1.1

 

7,104

0.9

 

7,332

1.4

Shared services

31,048

10.2

24,217

11.1

86,198

10.4

64,784

12.1

Gain on sale of subsidiary(4)

 

(6,923)

(0.8)

 

Other

 

1,984

0.6

 

1,958

0.9

 

6,055

0.7

 

6,279

1.2

 

295,025

96.7

%

 

212,463

97.8

%

 

794,717

95.9

%

 

528,811

99.1

%

FleetNet

 

65,245

98.1

%

 

49,558

98.0

%

 

181,794

98.1

%

 

146,615

98.1

%

Total Asset-Light

360,270

262,021

976,511

675,426

Other and eliminations(5)

 

(28,720)

 

(32,033)

 

(88,423)

 

(86,420)

Total consolidated operating expenses

 

$

929,096

 

91.4

%

 

$

755,198

 

95.0

%

 

$

2,600,792

 

93.1

%

 

$

2,055,723

 

96.8

%

OPERATING INCOME

Asset-Based

$

83,618

$

36,646

$

177,584

$

70,922

ArcBest

 

10,182

 

4,831

33,574

4,725

FleetNet

 

1,269

 

987

3,430

2,809

Total Asset-Light

11,451

5,818

37,004

7,534

Other and eliminations(5)

 

(7,508)

 

(2,682)

 

(20,537)

 

(10,430)

Total consolidated operating income

$

87,561

$

39,782

$

194,051

$

68,026


1)The nine months ended September 30, 2021 includes an $8.6 million gain on the sale of an unutilized service center property.
2)Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight.
3)Depreciation and amortization includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses.
4)Gain relates to the sale of the labor services portion of the ArcBest segment’s moving business in second quarter 2021.
5)“Other and eliminations” includes corporate costs for certain unallocated shared service costs which are not attributable to any segment, additional investments to offer comprehensive transportation and logistics services across multiple operating segments, and other investments in ArcBest technology and innovations, including innovative technology costs.

8


ARCBEST CORPORATION

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios utilized for internal analysis provide analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance and provides meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. The use of certain non-GAAP measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management's opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently; therefore, our calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Certain information discussed in the scheduled conference call could be considered non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. These financial measures should not be construed as better measurements than operating income, operating cash flow, net income or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

2020

    

  

2021

2020

ArcBest Corporation - Consolidated

(Unaudited)

($ thousands, except per share data)

Operating Income

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

87,561

$

39,782

$

194,051

$

68,026

Innovative technology costs, pre-tax(1)

6,893

6,041

21,235

15,340

Gain on sale of subsidiary, pre-tax(2)

(6,923)

Transaction costs, pre-tax(3)

1,607

1,607

Non-GAAP amounts

$

96,061

$

45,823

$

209,970

$

83,366

Net Income

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

63,691

$

29,404

$

148,033

$

47,186

Innovative technology costs, after-tax (includes related financing costs)(1)

5,236

4,627

16,139

11,834

Gain on sale of subsidiary, after-tax(2)

(5,437)

Transaction costs, after-tax(3)

1,187

1,187

Nonunion pension expense, including settlement expense, after-tax(4)

66

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(394)

(1,503)

(2,908)

(258)

Tax expense (benefit) from vested RSUs(5)

(480)

(138)

(7,411)

541

Non-GAAP amounts

$

69,240

$

32,390

$

149,603

$

59,369

Diluted Earnings Per Share

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

2.38

$

1.11

$

5.51

$

1.79

Innovative technology costs, after-tax (includes related financing costs)(1)

0.20

0.17

0.60

0.45

Gain on sale of subsidiary, after-tax(2)

(0.20)

Transaction costs, after-tax(3)

0.04

0.04

Nonunion pension expense, including settlement expense, after-tax(4)

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(0.01)

(0.06)

(0.11)

(0.01)

Tax expense (benefit) from vested RSUs(5)

(0.02)

(0.01)

(0.28)

0.02

Non-GAAP amounts(6)

$

2.59

$

1.22

$

5.57

$

2.26


1)Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight.
2)Gain relates to the sale of the labor services portion of ArcBest segment’s moving business in second quarter 2021.
3)Transaction costs are associated with the previously announced acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC.
4)Represents pension settlement expense related to the Company’s supplemental benefit plan.
5)The Company recognizes the tax impact for the vesting of share-based compensation resulting in excess tax expense (benefit).
6)Non-GAAP EPS is calculated in total and may not foot due to rounding.

9


ARCBEST CORPORATION

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES – Continued

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

2020

2021

2020

Segment Operating Income Reconciliations

(Unaudited)

($ thousands, except percentages)

Asset-Based Segment

Operating Income ($) and Operating Ratio (% of revenues)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

83,618

87.7

%  

$

36,646

93.5

%  

$

177,584

90.6

%  

$

70,922

95.4

%  

Innovative technology costs, pre-tax(1)

6,903

(1.0)

6,199

(1.1)

21,303

(1.1)

15,521

(1.0)

Non-GAAP amounts

$

90,521

86.7

%  

$

42,845

92.4

%  

$

198,887

89.5

%  

$

86,443

94.4

%  

Asset-Light

ArcBest Segment

Operating Income ($) and Operating Ratio (% of revenues)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

10,182

96.7

%  

$

4,831

97.8

%  

$

33,574

95.9

%  

$

4,725

99.1

%  

Gain on sale of subsidiary, pre-tax(2)

(6,923)

0.8

Non-GAAP amounts

$

10,182

96.7

%  

$

4,831

97.8

%  

$

26,651

96.7

%  

$

4,725

99.1

%  

FleetNet Segment

Operating Income ($) and Operating Ratio (% of revenues)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

1,269

98.1

%  

$

987

98.0

%  

$

3,430

98.1

%  

$

2,809

98.1

%  

Total Asset-Light

Operating Income ($) and Operating Ratio (% of revenues)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

11,451

96.9

%  

$

5,818

97.8

%  

$

37,004

96.3

%  

$

7,534

98.9

%  

Gain on sale of subsidiary, pre-tax(2)

(6,923)

0.7

Non-GAAP amounts

$

11,451

96.9

%  

$

5,818

97.8

%  

$

30,081

97.0

%  

$

7,534

98.9

%  

Other and Eliminations

Operating Loss ($)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

(7,508)

$

(2,682)

$

(20,537)

$

(10,430)

Innovative technology costs, pre-tax(1)

(10)

(158)

(68)

(181)

Transaction costs, pre-tax(3)

1,607

1,607

Non-GAAP amounts

$

(5,911)

$

(2,840)

$

(18,998)

$

(10,611)


1)Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight.
2)Gain relates to the sale of the labor services portion of the ArcBest segment’s moving business in second quarter 2021.
3)Transaction costs are associated with the previously announced acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC.

10


ARCBEST CORPORATION

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES – Continued

Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation

ArcBest Corporation - Consolidated

(Unaudited)

($ thousands, except percentages)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

Other

Income

Income

Operating

Income

Before Income

Tax

Net

Income

(Costs)

Taxes

Provision

Income

Tax Rate(6)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

87,561

$

(1,411)

$

86,150

$

22,459

$

63,691

26.1

%  

Innovative technology costs(1)

6,893

158

7,051

1,815

5,236

25.7

Transaction costs(2)

1,607

1,607

420

1,187

26.1

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(394)

(394)

(394)

Tax benefit from vested RSUs(3)

480

(480)

Non-GAAP amounts

$

96,061

$

(1,647)

$

94,414

$

25,174

$

69,240

26.7

%  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

Other

Income Before

Income

Operating

Income

Income

Tax

Net

Income

(Costs)

Taxes

Provision

Income

Tax Rate(6)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

194,051

$

(3,096)

$

190,955

$

42,922

$

148,033

22.5

%  

Innovative technology costs(1)

21,235

498

21,733

5,594

16,139

25.7

Gain on sale of subsidiary(4)

(6,923)

(6,923)

(1,486)

(5,437)

(21.5)

Transaction costs(2)

1,607

1,607

420

1,187

26.1

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(2,908)

(2,908)

(2,908)

Tax benefit from vested RSUs(3)

7,411

(7,411)

Non-GAAP amounts

$

209,970

$

(5,506)

$

204,464

$

54,861

$

149,603

26.8

%  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

Other

Income

Operating

Income

Before Income

Income

Net

Income

(Costs)

Taxes

Tax Provision

Income

Tax Rate(6)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

39,782

$

(604)

$

39,178

$

9,774

$

29,404

24.9

%  

Innovative technology costs(1)

6,041

191

6,232

1,605

4,627

25.8

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(1,503)

(1,503)

(1,503)

Tax benefit from vested RSUs(3)

138

(138)

Non-GAAP amounts

$

45,823

$

(1,916)

$

43,907

$

11,517

$

32,390

26.2

%  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

Other

Income Before

Income

Operating

Income

Income

Tax

Net

Income

(Costs)

Taxes

Provision

Income

Tax Rate(6)

Amounts on GAAP basis

$

68,026

$

(5,729)

$

62,297

$

15,111

$

47,186

24.3

%  

Innovative technology costs(1)

15,340

597

15,937

4,103

11,834

25.7

Nonunion pension expense, including settlement (5)

89

89

23

66

25.8

Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value

(258)

(258)

(258)

Tax expense from vested RSUs(3)

(541)

541

Non-GAAP amounts

$

83,366

$

(5,301)

$

78,065

$

18,696

$

59,369

23.9

%  


1)Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight.
2)Transaction costs are associated with the previously announced acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC.
3)The Company recognizes the tax impact for the vesting of share-based compensation resulting in excess tax expense (benefit).
4)Gain relates to the sale of the labor services portion of the ArcBest segment’s moving business in second quarter 2021.
5)Represents pension settlement expense related to the Company’s supplemental benefit plan.
6)Tax rate for total “Amounts on GAAP basis” represents the effective tax rate. The tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated based on the statutory rate applicable to each item based on tax jurisdiction, unless the nature of the item requires the tax effect to be estimated by applying a specific tax treatment.

11


ARCBEST CORPORATION

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES – Continued

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)

Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a key measure of performance and for business planning. The measure is particularly meaningful for analysis of operating performance because it excludes amortization of acquired intangibles and software of the Asset-Light businesses, which are significant expenses resulting from strategic decisions rather than core daily operations. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is a primary component of the financial covenants contained in our credit agreement. The calculation of Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA as presented below begins with operating income (loss), as other income (costs), income taxes, and net income are reported at the consolidated level and not included in the operating segment financial information evaluated by management to make operating decisions.

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

    

2020

    

2021

    

2020

 

(Unaudited)

 

ArcBest Corporation - Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

($ thousands)

 

Net Income

$

63,691

$

29,404

$

148,033

$

47,186

Interest and other related financing costs

 

2,072

 

2,860

 

6,774

 

9,185

Income tax provision

 

22,459

 

9,774

 

42,922

 

15,111

Depreciation and amortization

 

30,359

 

30,032

 

90,995

 

88,131

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

2,889

 

2,885

 

8,567

 

7,956

Amortization of net actuarial gains of benefit plans and pension settlement expense(1)

 

(135)

 

(148)

 

(404)

 

(352)

Transaction costs(2)

1,607

1,607

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

$

122,942

$

74,807

$

298,494

$

167,217


1)The nine months ended September 30, 2020 includes pre-tax pension settlement expense of $0.1 million related to the Company’s supplemental benefit plan.
2)Transaction costs are associated with the previously announced acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC.

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

2020

2021

2020

Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA

(Unaudited)

($ thousands)

ArcBest

Operating Income

$

10,182

$

4,831

$

33,574

$

4,725

Depreciation and amortization(3)

2,352

2,413

7,104

7,332

Adjusted EBITDA

$

12,534

$

7,244

$

40,678

$

12,057

FleetNet

Operating Income

$

1,269

$

987

$

3,430

$

2,809

Depreciation and amortization(3)

413

411

1,241

1,204

Adjusted EBITDA

$

1,682

$

1,398

$

4,671

$

4,013

Total Asset-Light

Operating Income

$

11,451

$

5,818

$

37,004

$

7,534

Depreciation and amortization(3)

2,765

2,824

8,345

8,536

Adjusted EBITDA

$

14,216

$

8,642

$

45,349

$

16,070


3)Depreciation and amortization includes amortization of intangibles associated with acquired businesses.

12


ARCBEST CORPORATION

OPERATING STATISTICS

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30

September 30

    

2021

    

2020

    

% Change

    

2021

    

2020

    

% Change

(Unaudited)

Asset-Based

Workdays

 

64.0

 

64.0

 

190.5

 

191.5

Billed Revenue(1) / CWT

$

41.79

$

35.69

 

17.1%

$

38.95

$

34.21

 

13.9%

Billed Revenue(1) / Shipment

$

542.38

$

454.94

 

19.2%

$

511.43

$

435.96

 

17.3%

Shipments

 

1,249,645

 

1,242,943

 

0.5%

 

3,716,852

 

3,549,465

 

4.7%

Shipments / Day

 

19,526

 

19,421

 

0.5%

 

19,511

 

18,535

 

5.3%

Tonnage (Tons)

 

810,982

 

792,258

 

2.4%

 

2,440,214

 

2,261,919

 

7.9%

Tons / Day

 

12,672

 

12,379

 

2.4%

 

12,810

 

11,812

 

8.4%

Pounds / Shipment

 

1,298

 

1,275

1.8%

1,313

 

1,275

3.0%

Average Length of Haul (Miles)

 

1,098

 

1,096

 

0.2%

 

1,099

 

1,074

 

2.3%


1)Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Asset-Based segment revenue recognition policy. Billed revenue used for calculating revenue per hundredweight measurements has not been adjusted for the portion of revenue deferred for financial statement purposes.

Year Over Year % Change

Three Months Ended 

Nine Months Ended 

    

September 30, 2021

September 30, 2021

(Unaudited)

ArcBest(2)

Revenue / Shipment

27.0%

28.0%

Shipments / Day

9.7%

22.4%


2)Statistical data related to managed transportation solutions transactions are not included in the presentation of operating statistics for the ArcBest segment.

###

13


Exhibit 99.2

ArcBest® is providing this exhibit as supplemental information to its scheduled conference call and the press release announcing the Company’s unaudited third quarter 2021 results filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K. Certain statements and information in this exhibit may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” disclosure at the end of this exhibit.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

ArcBest reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”); however, this exhibit includes certain non-GAAP information. Refer to the discussion of non-GAAP information included in Item 2.02 of the Current Report on Form 8-K to which this exhibit is included for further information, including reference to reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures provided by the Company.

Summary Operating and Financial Impacts

(Additional Detailed Information follows)

ArcBest Consolidated

On a preliminary basis, October 2021 consolidated revenues grew approximately 27% on a per day basis compared to October 2020, reflecting continued customer demand for our logistics solutions and growth in all three operating segments.

Asset-Based Segment

3Q’21 Year-over-Year Yield Metrics  

Billed Rev/Cwt on LTL-rated freight, excluding fuel surcharges, increased by a percentage in the double digits
Average increase on Contract renewals and Deferred Pricing agreements negotiated during 3Q’21: +8.6%, the highest increase in any quarter in history

Year-over-Year Monthly Total Daily Business Trends

    

July 2021

    

August 2021

    

September 2021

    

October 2021(1)(2)

 

Billed Revenue/Day(3)

+25.6

%  

+15.2

%  

+19.1

%  

+20

%  

Tons/Day

 

+5.0

%  

 

-4.5

%  

 

+6.9

%  

 

+1

%  

Shipments/Day

 

+3.1

%  

 

-3.4

%  

 

+2.1

%  

 

+1

%  


1)Statistics for the full month of October 2021 have not been finalized and are preliminary.  
2)There were 21 workdays in October 2021 and 22 workdays in October 2020.
3)Revenue for undelivered freight is deferred for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Asset-Based segment revenue recognition policy. Billed revenue per day has not been adjusted for the portion of revenue deferred for financial statement purposes.

1


October 2021 Business Update

See tables above for October 2021 revenue, tonnage and shipment metric comparisons.

Statistics for October 2021 have not been finalized. Preliminary Asset-Based financial metrics and business trends for October 2021, compared to the same period last year, are as follows:

Total Billed Revenue/CWT increased approximately 18% including higher fuel surcharge
Total Billed Revenue/Shipment increased approximately 18%
Total Weight/Shipment was flat

In recent years, excluding 2020, the historical average sequential change in ArcBest’s Asset-Based operating ratio in the fourth quarter, versus the third quarter, has been an increase of approximately 200 basis points.

4Q’21 Other Items

61.5 Working Days in both 4Q’21 and 4Q’20
Projected Innovative Technology Costs in our Asset-Based business associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight (non-GAAP item): $7 million in both 4Q’21 and 4Q’20

Asset-Light ArcBest Operating Segment [Excluding FleetNet]

Year-over-Year Monthly Total Daily Business Trends

    

July 2021

    

August 2021

    

September 2021

    

October 2021(1)(2)

 

Revenue/Day

+47.4

%  

+31.2

%  

+43.3

%  

+46

%  


1)Statistics for the full month of October 2021 have not been finalized and are preliminary.
2)There were 21 workdays in October 2021 and 22 workdays in October 2020.

Preliminary Asset-Light (excluding FleetNet) financial metrics and business trends for October 2021, compared to October 2020, are as follows:

Purchased transportation expense per day increased approximately 45%
Purchased transportation expense represented approximately 83% of revenues in October 2021 and 84% of revenues in October 2020

2


ArcBest Consolidated

4Q’21 – Projected

Loss in the “Other and eliminations” segment (non-GAAP basis): $7 million vs. $3 million in 4Q’20. The 2021 estimate excludes transaction costs associated with the MoLo acquisition which are expected to approximate $5 million in 4Q’21. The increase versus the 2020 amount primarily reflects actions taken during the pandemic to reduce costs in 2020.  
Interest Expense, net of Interest Income: $2 million vs. $2 million in 4Q’20

FY’21 – Projected  

Loss in the “Other and eliminations” segment (non-GAAP basis): $26 million vs. $13 million in 2020.  The 2021 estimate excludes transaction costs associated with the MoLo acquisition.  The increase versus the 2020 amount primarily reflects actions taken during the pandemic to reduce costs in 2020.  
Interest Expense, net of Interest Income: $7.7 million vs. $8.1 million in 2020
Income (Expense) in the “Other, net” line (non-GAAP basis): $0.2 million expense vs. $0.1 million income in 2020

ArcBest Consolidated Capital Expenditures

Projected 2021 Total Net Capital Expenditures, including financed equipment: $100 million - $110 million
Includes revenue equipment purchases (majority for Asset-Based segment) of $75 million.  The revenue equipment reflects trailer purchases for the Asset-Light business, primarily replacements of leased units.  
Projected 2021 depreciation and amortization costs on property, plant and equipment: $117 million
Projected 2021 Intangible asset amortization: $4 million
Preliminary estimates for 2022 revenue equipment are expected to be $225 million to $250 million.  This includes $40 million to $50 million of previously planned capital expenditures intended for 2021 that will carry over into 2022 as a result of delays in the original build schedules and delivery of our Asset-Based and Asset-Light revenue equipment related to part shortages and manufacturing disruptions. 2022 estimates also include an expected increase in fleet size and additional capital expenditures for expanding existing service centers as well as upgrades that would also improve energy efficiency.

3


Additional Detailed Information

Asset-Based Segment

Annual Union Profit-Sharing Bonus

As provided in ABF Freight’s current Teamster labor contract, for the full years of 2019 through 2022, ABF Freight’s Teamster employees are eligible for an annual profit-sharing bonus, as shown in the following table. The operating ratio (“OR”) used to calculate the bonus amount is on a GAAP basis. The potential bonus would be based on full-year union employee earnings. While impacted by business and associated labor levels which are subject to change, the estimate of one percent of the annual earnings for the ABF Freight union employees who are eligible for this benefit approximates $5 million - $6 million of union bonus expense.

During years in which ArcBest’s internal forecasts indicate an expectation of paying the union bonus, we will accrue for this expense throughout the year, generally in proportion of the quarterly results as a percentage of the annual projection. As we do not provide public updates on our projected operating ratio or our expectations for paying the union bonus, any details of amounts accrued will not be provided.  If financial models reflect an operating ratio that meets the payout thresholds shown below, ArcBest encourages analysts to include expenses for the union bonus in quarterly and annual earnings per share projections for the company.  

ABF Freight Published Annual OR (GAAP basis)

Bonus Amount

95.1 to 96.0

1%

93.1 to 95.0

2%

93.0 and below

3%

ArcBest Consolidated

Tax Rate

ArcBest’s third quarter 2021 effective GAAP tax rate was 26.1%.  The 2021 year-to-date effective GAAP tax rate was 22.5%. This rate was impacted by several items identified in the “Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation” table of ArcBest’s third quarter 2021 earnings press release in Exhibit 99.1 that shows the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP effective tax rates.  For the first nine months of 2021, the tax rate used to calculate non-GAAP EPS was 26.8%.  Under the current tax laws, we expect our full year 2021 non-GAAP tax rate to be in a range of 26.5% to 27%.  The effective GAAP tax rate may be impacted by discrete items that could occur during the remainder of the year.

“Other and eliminations” within Operating Income on the Operating Segment Data and Operating Ratios statement

The “Other and eliminations” line includes expenses related to shared services for the delivery of comprehensive transportation and logistics services to ArcBest’s customers. Shared services represent costs incurred to support all segments including sales, yield, customer service, marketing, capacity sourcing functions, human resources, financial services, information technology, legal and other company-wide services. Shared services are primarily allocated to the reporting segments based upon resource utilization-related metrics, such as shipment levels, and therefore fluctuate with business levels. As a result, the loss in “Other and eliminations” tends to be higher in periods when business levels are lower, and consequently allocations to operating segments are lower, which is typically during the first and fourth quarters of the year.

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“Other, net” line within Other Income (Costs) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations

The “Other, net” line of ArcBest’s income statement primarily includes the costs associated with postretirement plans and changes in cash surrender value of life insurance.  After excluding non-GAAP items detailed in the table below, ArcBest expects the 2021 non-GAAP “Other net” expense to approximate the 2020 expense.  

Changes in cash surrender value of life insurance reflected an increase of $0.4 million in third quarter 2021 compared to $1.5 million in third quarter 2020, reflecting higher market gains experienced in third quarter 2020 on these assets that are invested much like pension plan assets.  ArcBest excludes changes in cash surrender value when presenting non-GAAP net income and EPS.

    

Three Months Ended 

September 30

    

2021

    

2020

    

 

(in millions)

Other, net

Amounts on GAAP basis - income (costs)

$

0.3

$

1.5

Non-GAAP Adjustments:

Life insurance proceeds and gains in cash surrender value(1)

 

(0.4)

 

(1.5)

Non-GAAP amounts - income (costs)

$

(0.1)

$

---


1)Amounts in parentheses indicate gains.

Forward-Looking Statements

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements and information contained in this exhibit may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations based on currently available information, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control). Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, we cannot provide assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in these statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: widespread outbreak of an illness or disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, or any other public health crisis, as well as regulatory measures implemented in response to such events; external events which may adversely affect us or the third parties who provide services for us, for which our business continuity plans may not adequately prepare us; a failure of our information systems, including disruptions or failures of services essential to our operations or upon which our information technology platforms rely, data breach, and/or cybersecurity incidents; interruption or failure of third-party software or information technology systems or licenses; untimely or ineffective development and implementation of, or failure to realize potential benefits associated with, new or enhanced technology or processes, including the pilot test program at ABF Freight; the loss or reduction of business from large customers; the ability to manage our cost structure, and the timing and performance of growth initiatives; the cost, integration, and performance of any recent or future acquisitions, including the MoLo acquisition, and the inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition within the expected time period or at all; the timing or amount of the earnout payments for the MoLo acquisition, if any; maintaining our corporate reputation and intellectual property rights; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; increased prices for and decreased availability of new revenue equipment, decreases in value of used revenue equipment, and higher costs of equipment-related operating expenses such as maintenance, fuel, and related taxes; availability of fuel, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates, and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract, retain, and develop employees; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight’s collective bargaining agreement; union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer plans; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; our ability to secure independent owner operators and/or operational or regulatory issues related to our use of their services; litigation or claims asserted against us; governmental regulations; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; default on

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covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries we serve and/or limit our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; seasonal fluctuations and adverse weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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Exhibit 99.3

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EARNINGS PRESENTATION Q3 | 2021

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Certain statements and information in this presentation may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations based on currently available information, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control). Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, we cannot provide assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in these statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: widespread outbreak of an illness or disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, or any other public health crisis, as well as regulatory measures implemented in response to such events; external events which may adversely affect us or the third parties who provide services for us, for which our business continuity plans may not adequately prepare us; a failure of our information systems, including disruptions or failures of services essential to our operations or upon which our information technology platforms rely, data breach, and/or cybersecurity incidents; interruption or failure of third-party software or information technology systems or licenses; untimely or ineffective development and implementation of, or failure to realize potential benefits associated with, new or enhanced technology or processes, including the pilot test program at ABF Freight; the loss or reduction of business from large customers; the ability to manage our cost structure, and the timing and performance of growth initiatives; the cost, integration, and performance of any recent acquisitions, including the MoLo acquisition, and the inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition within the expected time period or at all; the timing and amount of the earnout payments for the MoLo acquisition, if any; maintaining our corporate reputation and intellectual property rights; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; increased prices for and decreased availability of new revenue equipment, decreases in value of used revenue equipment, and higher costs of equipment-related operating expenses such as maintenance, fuel, and related taxes; availability of fuel, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates, and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract, retain, and develop employees; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight’s collective bargaining agreement; union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer plans; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; our ability to secure independent owner operators and/or operational or regulatory issues related to our use of their services; litigation or claims asserted against us; governmental regulations; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; default on covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries we serve and/or limit our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; seasonal fluctuations and adverse weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in ArcBest Corporation’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward Looking Statements 2

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Successful growth strategy driving superior performance ARCBEST ANNOUNCES RECORD THIRD QUARTER 2021 RESULTS Advancing strategic vision to better serve customers and further enhance value for shareholders

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4 CONTINUING TO EXECUTE THREE-POINT STRATEGY* 1 2 3 More Balanced Business Mix Accelerate Asset-Light growth Continue to grow Asset-Based business Optimize Cost Structure Advance adoption of innovative technologies Expand Revenue Opportunities Deepen customer relationships Secure new customers ✓ ✓ ✓ *ArcBest’s previously disclosed three-point strategy Enhanced Shareholder Value

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1 Highest quarterly consolidated revenue and operating income in ArcBest history 2 Double-digit YOY revenue growth in both the Asset-Based and Asset-Light segments 3 Successfully advancing our strategy of being an integrated logistics company offering innovative solutions to our customers’ supply chain needs 4 Announced the acquisition of MoLo Solutions – one of the fastest growing Truckload brokers in America – to enhance the scale of the Asset-Light Truckload business 5 On November 1st, announced plans to enter into an accelerated share repurchase program (ASR) to repurchase $100 million of ArcBest’s common stock THIRD QUARTER 2021 KEY HIGHLIGHTS 5 5

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ArcBest is a Top 15 U.S. truckload broker. ArcBest has access to 70,000 truckload carrier partners. ArcBest has a leading customer delivery platform in the growing domestic transportation management marketplace [$91 Billion(2)]. 6 MOLO ACQUISITION ADVANCES STRATEGY 56% 44% 65% 35% $2.4B $1.9B Asset-Light Asset-Based $2.4B $1.3B Asset-Light Asset-Based COMBINED COMPANY BALANCED REVENUE MIX (1) PRE-ACQUISITION POST-ACQUISITION 1) ArcBest revenue based on last twelve months as of September 30, 2021 (before other revenues and intercompany eliminations). Asset-Light represents the combined revenues of our ArcBest and FleetNet operating segments. MoLo revenue based on expected full year 2021 revenue. 2) Source: Armstrong & Associates, as of August 2021.

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ARCBEST BALANCED CAPITAL ALLOCATION 1) Proforma financial position at 9/30/21 including payments for the MoLo acquisition and the $100 million accelerated share repurchase (ASR). 2) See non-GAAP reconciliation in the Additional Information section of this presentation. GROWTH AND OPERATING INITIATIVES BALANCED CAPITAL STRATEGY • Acquired MoLo on November 1, 2021 • Investing in operational efficiencies and innovation • Capital investments consistent with service initiatives and growth strategy • Expected 2021 Net Capital Expenditures: $100M – $110M • Preliminary expected 2022 Net Capital Expenditures: $225M - $250M SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION (1) • Cash Balance: $133M ($111M Net Debt) • Debt Maintenance: 0.7X Debt to LTM EBITDAR(2) • Total liquidity: $373M RETURN OF CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS • Dividend of $0.32 per share (annual) • Share Repurchase Program • Existing program with $42M available • Additional authorization of $100M – Accelerated Share Repurchase 7

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3Q’21 YOY ArcBest Consolidated Revenue $1.0 billion  28% Non-GAAP Operating Income $96.1 million  110% Non-GAAP Net Income $2.59/diluted share  112% 8 8 KEY FINANCIAL METRICS (1) 1) See non-GAAP reconciliation in the Additional Information section of this presentation. (1)

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9 3Q’21 YOY Revenue $681 million  21% Non-GAAP Operating Profit $90.5 million  111% Non-GAAP Operating Ratio 86.7% 570 bps improvement Daily Tonnage 12,672  2.4% Daily Shipments 19,526  0.5% Total Billed Rev/CWT $41.79  17.1% Average Increase on Contract Renewals and Deferred Pricing Agreements 8.6%  590 bps ASSET-BASED KEY METRICS (1) (1)(2) 1) See non-GAAP reconciliation in the Additional Information section of this presentation. 2) 3Q’21 TTM non-GAAP operating ratio is a 750 bps improvement over full year 2016 operating ratio. 9

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10 10 October 2021 Preliminary YOY Daily Billed Revenue  20% Daily Tonnage  1% Daily Shipments  1% Total Billed Rev/CWT  18% Total Billed Rev/Shipment  18% Total Weight/Shipment Flat ASSET-BASED KEY METRICS

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11 11 3Q’21 YOY Revenue $371 million  39% Operating Profit $11.5 million  97% Adjusted EBITDA $14.2 million  64% ASSET-LIGHT KEY METRICS 1) The ArcBest and FleetNet reportable segments, combined, represent Asset-Light operations. 2) See non-GAAP reconciliation in the Additional Information section of this presentation. 3) Asset-Light ArcBest Operating Segment, excluding FleetNet. (1) (2) October 2021 Preliminary YOY Daily Revenue 46% Daily Purchased Transportation Expense 45% (3)

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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (ESG) 3Q’21 ▪ Released ArcBest’s 2020 ESG Report YTD’21 ▪ March 2021 – Awarded a Bronze medal for its 2021 sustainability rating by EcoVadis which put ArcBest in the top half of all companies and industries rated across the world ▪ April 2021 – Recognized as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity for 2021 by Forbes and Statista ▪ May 2021 – Announced a $1 million investment in the Peak Innovation Center, a regional career and technology center in Fort Smith, AR ▪ On-going collaboration with Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) to conduct an ESG materiality assessment (expected to be completed by the end of 2021) ▪ Commitment to future alignment of ArcBest’s ESG framework with pertinent Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards 12

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1 Revenue per account is over 5X higher on cross-sold accounts 2 Profit per account is over 4X higher on cross-sold accounts 3 Retention rates are 9 percentage points higher on cross-sold accounts 4 Over 60% of our customers who use asset-light services also utilize our asset-based services ARCBEST’S CUSTOMER-LED STRATEGY 13 13 Cross-selling Benefits

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14 Q & A

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15 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) Note: ArcBest Corporation reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures utilized for internal analysis provides analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance and provides meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. Accordingly, using these measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management's opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. These financial measures should not be construed as better measurements than operating income, operating cash flow, net income or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

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16 RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Millions ($000,000) 9/30/2021 9/30/2020 Operating Income Amounts on a GAAP basis $ 87.6 $ 39.8 Innovative technology costs, pre-tax (1) 6.9 6.0 Transaction costs, pre-tax (2) 1.6 - Non-GAAP amounts $ 96.1 $ 45.8 Net Income Amounts on a GAAP basis $ 63.7 $ 29.4 Innovative technology costs, after-tax (includes related financing costs) (1) 5.2 4.6 Transaction costs, after-tax (2) 1.2 - Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value (0.4) (1.5) Tax expense (benefit) from vested RSUs (3) (0.5) (0.1) Non-GAAP amounts $ 69.2 $ 32.4 Diluted Earnings Per Share Amounts on a GAAP basis $ 2.38 $ 1.11 Innovative technology costs, after-tax (includes related financing costs) (1) 0.20 0.17 Transaction costs, after-tax (2) 0.04 - Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value (0.01) (0.06) Tax expense (benefit) from vested RSUs (3) (0.02) (0.01) Non-GAAP amounts (4) $ 2.59 $ 1.22 1) Represents costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight. 2) Transaction costs are associated with the previously announced acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC. 3) The Company recognizes the tax impact for the vesting of share-based compensation resulting in excess tax expense (benefit). 4) Non-GAAP EPS is calculated in total and may not foot due to rounding.

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17 RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) ASSET-BASED SEGMENT Operating Income 2016 3Q’21 TTM 3Q’20 3Q’21 ($ millions) Amounts on a GAAP basis (1) $ 37.4 98.0% $ 205.5 91.6% $ 36.6 93.5% $ 83.6 87.7% Restructuring charges, pre-tax (2) 1.2 (0.1) --- Innovative technology costs, pre-tax (3) 1.9 (0.1) 28.2 (1.2) 6.2 (1.1) 6.9 (1.0) Non-GAAP amounts (4) $ 40.5 97.9% $ 233.8 90.4% $ 42.8 92.4% $ 90.5 86.7% 1) Operating Income for 2016 has been adjusted for the January 1, 2018, adoption of an amendment to ASC Topic 715 which requires the components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost for our pension, SBP and postretirement plans to be presented within Other Income (Costs) in the consolidated financial statements and, therefore, excluded from Operating Income presented in this table. 2) Restructuring charges relate to the realignment of the Company’s organizational structure announced on November 3, 2016. 3) Costs associated with the freight handling pilot test program at ABF Freight announced in third quarter 2019. 4) Non-GAAP amounts are calculated in total and may not foot due to rounding.

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18 RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) ASSET-LIGHT ADJUSTED EBITDA (1) Three Months Ended September 30 2021 2020 Total Asset-Light ($ millions) Operating Income $ 11.5 $ 5.8 Depreciation and amortization 2.8 2.8 Adjusted EBITDA (2) $ 14.2 $ 8.6 CONSOLIDATED ADJUSTED EBITDAR (1) TTM Ended September 30, 2021 ($ millions) Net Income $ 171.9 Interest and other related financing costs 9.3 Income tax provision 49.2 Depreciation and amortization 121.3 Amortization of share-based compensation 11.1 Amortization of actuarial losses of benefit plans and pension settlement expense (0.6) Rent expense 24.9 Transaction costs 1.6 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDAR $ 388.7 1) Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR are primary components of the financial covenants contained in ArcBest Corporation's Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR to be relevant and useful information, as EBITDA and EBITDAR are standard measures commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors, and others to measure financial performance and ability to service debt obligations. Furthermore, management uses Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR as key measures of performance and for business planning. However, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as better measurements than operating income, operating cash flow, net income, or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. Other companies may calculate EBITDA and EBITDAR differently; therefore, our Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. 2) Adjusted EBITDA is calculated in total and may not foot due to rounding.