Marten Truckload Operating Ratio Improves as Refrigerated Freight Tightens

Marten Transport reported a stronger second-quarter operating environment as tighter capacity and better freight selection improved results across its refrigerated trucking businesses. Trucking Dive reported August 12 that Marten’s truckload operating ratio moved to 97.9%, down from 100.9% in the first quarter. A ratio below 100% generally indicates operating revenue exceeded operating expense before corporate and other items.

The comparison remains mixed over a longer period. Truckload’s second-quarter ratio was nearly level with the 97.8% recorded a year earlier, showing that the largest improvement was sequential rather than a dramatic year-over-year expansion. Management nevertheless said customers are showing more interest in securing truckload and dedicated capacity while the company obtains higher pricing for premium service and improves freight quality.

Dedicated operations used fewer tractors but generated more revenue from each remaining unit. Average dedicated tractors fell to 1,033 from 1,058 in the first quarter and 1,239 a year earlier. Average weekly revenue per tractor, excluding fuel surcharge, reached $3,917, up 2.9% year over year. That combination suggests Marten is concentrating equipment where utilization and customer commitments are strongest instead of chasing fleet size alone.

Refrigerated carriers can apply the same discipline by tracking operating ratio, loaded utilization, empty miles and revenue per tractor together. A rising rate means little if detention, fuel, maintenance or unproductive repositioning absorbs the gain. Drivers evaluating reefer work should ask about appointment delays, layover and detention pay, trailer-condition procedures and home-time consistency. Marten’s results support the case for an improving market, but they also show that profitability depends on matching equipment and qualified drivers to freight that produces dependable weekly revenue.