Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

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Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Forward Air Corporation ("the Company", "We", "Our") is a leading asset-light freight and logistics company. Forward Air Corporation's services are classified into three principal reportable segments: Expedited Freight, Intermodal and Pool Distribution ("Pool") (See Note 13).
 
Through the Expedited Freight segment, the Company operates a comprehensive national network to provide expedited regional, inter-regional and national less-than-truckload ("LTL") services. Expedited Freight offers customers local pick-up and delivery and other services including final mile, truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage and other handling.

The Company's Intermodal segment provides first- and last-mile high value intermodal container drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads. Intermodal also offers dedicated contract and container freight station ("CFS") warehouse and handling services. Today, Intermodal operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, with a smaller operational presence in the Southwest United States.

In the Pool segment, the Company provides high-frequency handling and distribution of time sensitive product to numerous destinations within a specific geographic region. The Company offers this service throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest United States.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The Company’s operating results are subject to seasonal trends (as described in the Company's 2019 Form 10-K) when measured on a quarterly basis; therefore operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Forward Air Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include Forward Air Corporation and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial information to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In particular, management has made estimates and assumptions related to the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") on its business. COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. To help lessen its spread, many countries have implemented travel restrictions and/or required companies to limit or suspend business operations. These actions have disrupted supply chains and company operations around the world. The current environment resulting from COVID-19 is unprecedented and comes with a great deal of uncertainty as discussed further throughout this document.