Werner Says 3Q Profit to Lag Estimates

Werner Enterprises said its third-quarter earnings will be between $24.2 million and $26.4 million, lagging behind estimates.

The truckload carrier said its earnings will be 33 cents to 36 cents a share, compared with anaylsts’ average estimate of 42 cents a share, according to Bloomberg News.

In last year’s third quarter, Werner posted net income of $29.6 million, or 40 cents per share, up from $24.2 million, or 33 cents, in the 2010 third quarter.

Werner said late Thursday said that costs, including higher driver pay, fuel and equipment maintenance, as well as health care expenses, were rising faster than revenue.

Werner is ranked No. 11 on the Transport Topics Top 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.