Universal Reports Record Fourth-Quarter, Annual Earnings

February 24, 2006 12:30 PM, EST

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niversal Truckload Services said late Thursday it recorded record revenue and income for the fourth quarter and full year 2005.

The truckload carrier earned $4.7 million or 29 cents a share in the quarter, up from $3.5 million or 35 cents a year earlier. Revenue rose 29% to $33.1 million.

For the full year, the company earned $17.2 million or $1.12 a share, from $11.1 million or $1.11 a year earlier. Revenue gained 46.8% to $169.3 million.

Universal said its truckload revenue rose 33.3% last year to $332.2 million, brokerage revenue gained 89.3% to $147.1 million and intermodal revenue rose 47.9% to $52 million.

arlier this month, the company said it had acquired four intermodal companies that it will operate as part of its Mason Dixon Intermodal subsidiary. (Click here for previous coverage.)

Universal, Warren, Mich., is ranked No. 64 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.