Consolidated Revenue Growth
Total first-quarter revenue of $1.0 billion, up 3% year over year, demonstrating top-line resilience despite a challenging operating environment.
Asset-Light Momentum and Record Productivity
Asset‑Light revenue of $378 million, up 7% on a daily basis YoY; shipments per day increased 10% and reached a first-quarter record. Employee productivity (shipments per person per day) improved 26% and SG&A expense per shipment declined 15% to the lowest level on record, driving the segment to $3 million of non‑GAAP operating income (an improvement of $4 million YoY).
Asset-Based Volume and Pricing Discipline
Asset‑Based daily shipments increased 2% YoY to nearly 20,000 shipments per day, with daily tonnage up 7% (2% shipments/day and a 5% increase in weight per shipment). Deferred price increases averaged 6% in Q1—its strongest level since 2022—reflecting disciplined pricing and improved revenue quality.
Operational Cost Savings and AI/Automation Gains
Continuous improvement training deployed across ~75% of the network has generated $32 million of annualized cost savings to date. An AI-enabled city route optimization program has delivered $15 million of annualized savings so far, with additional phases to come.
Product and Technology Progress
Launch of ArcBestView in May to enable quoting, booking, and tracking across logistics solutions; expanded dynamic quote pool and digital capabilities improving visibility and selection, contributing to heavier, higher-quality dynamic shipments.
Positive Near-Term Operating Outlook
Management expects second-quarter improvement in Asset‑Based operating ratio of roughly 400 to 500 basis points sequentially (historically ~350 bps typical improvement from Q1 to Q2), citing a stronger commercial pipeline, pricing discipline, and momentum across revenue and tonnage metrics.
April Commercial Momentum in Asset-Light
April trends for Asset‑Light showed daily revenue up ~24% YoY, shipments up ~17% (led by Managed Solutions), and revenue per shipment up ~7%, suggesting accelerating demand and yield improvements in the segment.
Strong Balance Sheet and Capital Returns
Company returned more than $10 million to shareholders year-to-date via share repurchases and dividends; management highlights ample liquidity and a net debt/EBITDA ratio well below the S&P 500 average, preserving flexibility for opportunistic buybacks and high-return investments.