Frozen Food Express’ 1Q Loss Narrows

Frozen Food Express Industries said late Tuesday that its first-quarter loss narrowed from a year ago.

The refrigerated carrier lost $5.6 million, or 32 cents a share, compared with a loss of $7.9 million, or 45 cents, a year ago.

Revenue declined 4.5% to $87.9 million. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges also decreased 4.5%, to $70.1 million, the company said in a statement.

Less-than-truckload revenue rose 8% to $28.3 million, while truckload revenue fell 22.9% to $34.8 million.

“While year-over-year comparisons in our truckload services are made difficult by our decision to exit the dry van services last year, revenue per truckload mile increased 7.8% during the first quarter of 2012, and we expect to realize favorable rate increases for the balance of the year,” CEO Russell Stubbs said in a statement.

Revenue for the company’s brokerage, logistics and equipment rental segment jumped to $7 million, from $2.1 million a year ago.

Frozen Food Express is ranked No. 57 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.