Heartland Express’ Third-Quarter Profit Improves

Heartland Express’ third-quarter profit rose 26% to $18.3 million, or 20 cents per share, from $14.5 million, or 16 cents, a year ago.

Revenue rose 12.2% to $127.2 million, the truckload carrier said in a statement.

The increase in freight demand has leveled off from the second quarter “and continues to lag dramatically behind that experienced in 2007 prior to the recent recession,” Heartland said.

Heartland Express is ranked No. 46 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire trucking companies.