Werner's Fourth-Quarter, Year-End Earnings, Revenue Rise

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ruckload carrier Werner Enterprises said late Monday it earned $28.8 million or 36 cents a share in the fourth quarter, up from $25.8 million or 32 cents a year earlier.

Freight demand improved from September of last year, the company said.

But it said that diesel prices are 39% higher than a year ago and that “if diesel fuel prices remain at the average price . . . the company estimates that fuel will have a negative impact on fist-quarter 2006 earnings” of 3 to 5 cents a share.

For the year, the company’s net income rose 13%, to $98.5 million from $87.3 million in 2004. Earnings per share rose 13% to $1.22 from $1.08.

The company’s fourth-quarter operating revenue rose 16% to $526.3 million. Operating revenue for the year rose 18% to $1.7 billion.

Werner is ranked No. 19 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies.