FORWARD AIR CORP 10-Q

Item 1A. Risk Factors In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. The risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. Other than the following risk factor, which updates and replaces in its entirety the risk factor titled "Overall economic conditions that reduce freight volumes could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and ability to achieve growth," there have been no material changes to the risk factors identified in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Overall economic conditions that reduce freight volumes could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and ability to achieve growth. We are sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that impact customer shipping volumes, industry freight demand and industry truck capacity. The transportation and supply chain industries have historically experienced cyclical fluctuations in financial results due to economic recession, downturns in business cycles of customers, interest and currency rate fluctuations, inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and other economic factors beyond our control. Changes in U.S. or international trade policy could lead to “trade wars” impacting the volume of economic activity domestically and internationally, and as a result, trucking freight volumes may be materially reduced. Such reductions may materially and adversely affect our business. The imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers by the U.S. government, including widespread baseline and country-specific tariffs on imported goods from countries such as China and Canada, has heightened global trade tensions, resulting in China, among other countries, imposing reciprocal tariffs in response. Although negotiations with certain countries have resulted in temporary delays or adjustments to some tariffs, significant uncertainty remains regarding U.S. trade policies, treaties, and tariff enforcement. These developments and the evolving circumstances surrounding international trade negotiations may materially impact global economic conditions, disrupt the stability of international financial markets, and reduce global trade activity with U.S. trade relationships––particularly with China––being particularly vulnerable. If the impacts from the current tariff landscape on the Company’s business are more severe than expected as a result of shipments originating from tariff-impacted countries or the geopolitical or trade relationships between the U.S. and other countries, particularly China, deteriorate further, such impact could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows. Additionally, deterioration in the economic environment subjects our business to various risks, including the following that may have a material and adverse impact on our operating results and cause us not to maintain previously achieved or projected levels of profitability or achieve growth: • A reduction in overall freight volumes reduces our revenues and opportunities for growth. In addition, a decline in the volume of freight shipped due to a downturn in customers’ business cycles or other factors (including our ability to assess dimensional and weight-based charges) generally results in decreases in freight pricing and decreases in revenue derived from various surcharges and accessorial charges. In our LTL business, these decreases typically reduce the average revenue per pound of freight, as carriers use price concession to compete for loads to maintain truck productivity. • Our base transportation rates are determined based on numerous factors such as length of haul, weight per shipment and freight class. During economic downturns and periods of low freight volume, we may also have to lower our base transportation rates based on competitive pricing pressures and market factors. • Some of our customers may face economic difficulties that affect their ability to pay us, and some may go out of business. In addition, some customers may not pay us as quickly as they have in the past, causing our working capital needs to increase. • A significant number of our transportation providers may go out of business, and we may be unable to secure sufficient equipment or other transportation services to meet our commitments to our customers. 32 • We may not be able to appropriately adjust our expenses to changing market demands as we have certain fixed expenses that we may not be able to adjust in a period of rapid change in market demand. In order to maintain high degree of cost variability in our business model, it is necessary to adjust staffing levels to changing market demands. In periods of rapid change, it is more difficult to match our staffing levels to our business needs. • If the domestic freight forwarder, Expedited Freight’s primary customer type, is disintermediated, and we are not able to transition effectively into servicing other customers, like third-party logistics companies and beneficial cargo owners, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities The Company did not repurchase any of its equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2025. Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. Not applicable. Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. Not applicable.