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Werner Posts 14% Increase in Revenue, Narrows Net Loss in Q1
Nebraska-Based Trucking and Logistics Company Said Results Reflect Gains From Strategic Efforts to Reposition Operations
Key Takeaways:
- Werner Enterprises reported improved first-quarter results April 28 with higher revenue and a narrowed net loss as strategic repositioning began to gain traction.
- Revenue rose 14% to $808.6 million and the net loss narrowed to $4.26 million, aided by the FirstFleet acquisition, higher dedicated revenue and cost controls.
- The company plans to continue integrating FirstFleet, restructuring one-way operations and investing in technology to improve efficiency, visibility and customer service.
Werner Enterprises on April 28 said its first-quarter results reflected gains from strategic efforts to reposition operations, resulting in higher revenue and a narrowed net loss for the period.
The Omaha, Neb.-based freight carrier and logistics company posted a net loss attributable to itself of $4.26 million, or negative 7 cents a diluted share, for the three months ending March 31. That compared with a loss of $10.1 million, negative 16 cents, during the same period a year earlier. Total revenue increased 14% to $808.6 million from $712.1 million.
“The first quarter reflects early results from our strategic positioning and positive momentum in our core business,” Werner CEO Derek Leathers said. “Dedicated revenue and fleet size grew, bolstered by our FirstFleet acquisition, improving rates and a strong 95% customer retention rate.” Werner in January announced the acquisition of dedicated truckload carrier FirstFleet.
Werner has been working to cut costs and increase efficiency while also investing in technology to enhance visibility and improve customer service across its operations. The effort has included restructuring one-way operations to focus more tightly on specialized, expedited, cross-border and engineered freight. Net gains from strategic investments totaled $100,000 in the first quarter, it said.
“Restructuring in our one-way truckload business is yielding a near double-digit increase in revenue per truck,” Leathers said.
1Q 2026 Earnings Press Release
Results were mixed when it came to expectations from investment analysts on Wall Street, who had been looking for negative 3 cents per share and quarterly revenue of $804.78 million, according to Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Werner’s Truckload Transportation Services segment revenue increased 18% to $594.3 million from $501.8 million. Operating income landed at $13.9 million, compared with a $916,000 operating loss in the prior-year quarter. However, adjusted operating income was $14.8 million due to lower insurance expenses when excluding the acquisition of FirstFleet.
That deal increased the average number of trucks in service in the segment by 14% to 8,454, but that was partially offset by a reduction in the one-way truckload fleet. Dedicated average revenue per truck per week increased 0.8%.
Great to spend time today at our Dallas Terminal and one of our FirstFleet locations. Our drivers and maintenance techs are the best in the business—it was an honor to share a meal and say thank you in person.
Keep up the great work, #TeamBlue! #RollinWithGratitude26 pic.twitter.com/cj9oBiJZ5N — Derek Leathers (@Derek_Leathers) April 23, 2026
Werner Logistics segment revenue was virtually flat at $195.8 million. The segment lost $2.01 million, compared with a $475,000 loss in the prior year. Truckload logistics revenue — representing 72% of the segment’s revenue — decreased 4% due to a decline in shipments that was partially offset by an increase in revenue per shipment.
Intermodal and final-mile revenue rose 18% and 8%, respectively.
Werner ranks No. 18 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and No. 30 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies.
