Quality Distribution, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results: Cost Reductions Outpace Volume Declines


TAMPA, Fla., May 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Distribution, Inc. (Nasdaq:QLTY) ("Quality") today reported the results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge was down 21.2% for the first quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter of 2008, due to a continued softness in demand.

The net loss for the first quarter of 2009 was $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2008. The first quarter of 2009 contains a pre-tax restructuring charge of $0.6 million and a pre-tax gain of $0.7 million on early debt extinguishment. The first quarter of 2008 contains $1.0 million in pre-tax gains from property sales. Applying a normalized tax rate of 39% and excluding adjustment items, the Company would have had an adjusted net loss per diluted share of $0.01 for the first quarter of 2009, compared to an adjusted net loss per diluted share of $0.13 for the first quarter of 2008.

Gary Enzor, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Since last quarter we increased availability, reduced debt and reduced interest expense. We also improved operating income versus the same period last year despite the continued trucking volume challenge. In this quarter, we generated $13.7 million of net operating cash flow, $16.6 million better than first quarter of 2008, and we continued to strengthen our business platform while retaining our financial flexibility. We remain cautious due to volume softness, but we are encouraged by the results of our many cost initiatives implemented in 2008 and continuing into this year."

Steve Attwood, Chief Financial Officer, commented further, "Our positive operating cash flow enabled us to reduce total debt, net of cash, by $12.5 million this quarter. At the end of the quarter, total availability was $47.5 million, which includes availability under our revolving credit facility of $43.0 million, plus cash, in excess of operating needs, of $4.5 million. Our efforts to dramatically reduce costs continue to strengthen our balance sheet."

Quality will host a conference call for investors to discuss these results on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The toll free dial-in number is 877-856-1968; the toll number is 719-325-4831; the passcode is 1448173. A replay of the call will be available through June 5, 2009, by dialing 888-203-1112; passcode: 1448173. A webcast of the conference call may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Quality's website at www.qualitydistribution.com or http://investor.shareholder.com/qualitydistribution/events.cfm. Copies of this earnings release and other financial information about Quality may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Quality's website at www.qualitydistribution.com. The Company regularly posts or otherwise makes available information on the Investor Relations section that may be important to investors.

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Quality Distribution, Inc. through its subsidiaries, Quality Carriers, Inc. and Boasso America Corporation, and through its affiliates and owner-operators, provides bulk transportation and related services. Quality also provides tank cleaning services to the bulk transportation industry through its QualaWash(r) facilities. Quality Distribution is an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care(r) Partner and is a core carrier for many of the Fortune 500 companies that are engaged in chemical production and processing.

The Quality Distribution, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5285

This release contains certain forward-looking information that is subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, additional risks and uncertainties regarding forward-looking statements include the Company's substantial leverage and restrictions contained in our debt instruments; economic factors; turmoil in the credit and capital markets; downturns in customers' business cycles or in the national economy; the cyclical nature of the transportation industry; claims exposure and insurance costs; adverse weather conditions; dependence on affiliates and owner-operators; changes in government regulation including transportation, environmental and anti-terrorism laws; the Company's environmental remediation costs; fluctuations in fuel pricing or availability; increases in interest rates; potential disruption at U.S. ports of entry; changes in senior management; the Company's ability to achieve projected operating objectives and debt reduction in 2009; its ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or integrate affiliate businesses converted to Company-controlled operations; the Company's ability to achieve projected reductions in payroll-related costs; increased unionization, which could increase our operating costs or constrain operating flexibility; the potential loss of our ability to use net operating losses to offset future income due to a change of control; and the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified drivers. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this release.

QLTYE



                QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     (In 000's) Except Per Share Data
                                Unaudited

                                                Three months ended
                                                    March 31,
                                           ---------------------------
                                                2009           2008
                                           ------------   ------------

 OPERATING REVENUES:
  Transportation                           $   111,027    $   149,259
  Other service revenue                         27,608         26,745
  Fuel surcharge                                11,097         32,497
                                           ---------------------------
    Total operating revenues                   149,732        208,501
                                           ---------------------------

 OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Purchased transportation                      81,891        119,972
  Compensation                                  23,211         28,604
  Fuel, supplies and maintenance                17,540         30,133
  Depreciation and amortization                  5,335          4,896
  Selling and administrative                     7,145          9,248
  Insurance claims                               4,049          5,562
  Taxes and licenses                             1,337          1,217
  Communications and utilities                   2,734          3,616
  Gain on disposal of property and 
   equipment                                      (103)          (544)
  Restructuring costs                              600             --
                                           ---------------------------
    Total operating expenses                   143,739        202,704
                                           ---------------------------

    Operating income                             5,993          5,797

 Interest expense                                7,000          9,151
 Interest income                                  (103)          (117)
 Gain on extinguishment of debt                   (675)            --
 Other expense                                     143             10
                                           ---------------------------
  Loss before taxes                               (372)        (3,247)
 Benefit from income taxes                         (70)        (1,328)
                                           ---------------------------
    Net loss                               $      (302)   $    (1,919)
                                           ===========================

 PER SHARE DATA:
   Net loss per common share
    Basic                                  $     (0.02)   $     (0.10)
                                           ===========================
    Diluted                                $     (0.02)   $     (0.10)
                                           ===========================

   Weighted average number of shares
    Basic                                       19,215         19,064
    Diluted                                     19,215         19,064



               QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                              (In 000's)
                              Unaudited

                                          March 31,      December 31,
                                            2009             2008
                                        ------------     ------------

 ASSETS
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents             $     7,092      $     6,787
  Accounts receivable, net                   76,712           81,612
  Prepaid expenses                           11,932           12,922
  Deferred tax assets, net                   14,707           14,707
  Other                                       8,026            7,950
                                        ------------     ------------
    Total current assets                    118,469          123,978
  Property and equipment, net               144,349          148,692
  Goodwill                                  173,519          173,519
  Intangibles, net                           22,272           22,698
  Non-current deferred tax assets, net       22,654           22,636
  Other assets                                9,646           10,580
                                        ------------     ------------
    Total assets                        $   490,909      $   502,103
                                        ============     ============


 LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE 
  NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND 
  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
  Current maturities of indebtedness    $     3,446      $     8,361
  Current maturities of capital lease 
   obligations                                8,115            7,994
  Accounts payable                           15,105           16,126
  Affiliates and independent owner-
   operators payable                         11,155            7,649
  Accrued expenses                           23,075           25,357
  Environmental liabilities                   4,507            4,819
  Accrued loss and damage claims              9,338            8,705
                                        ------------     ------------
    Total current liabilities                74,741           79,011

 Long-term indebtedness, less current 
  maturities                                324,130          330,409
 Capital lease obligations, less 
  current maturities                         14,697           15,822
 Environmental liabilities                    6,738            6,035
 Accrued loss and damage claims              12,336           12,815
 Other non-current liabilities               25,122           25,158
                                        ------------     ------------
    Total liabilities                       457,764          469,250

 Redeemable noncontrolling interest           1,833            1,833

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Common stock                              363,101          362,945
  Treasury stock                             (1,580)          (1,580)
  Accumulated deficit                      (114,336)        (114,034)
  Stock recapitalization                   (189,589)        (189,589)
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss      (26,050)         (26,488)
  Stock subscriptions receivable               (234)            (234)
                                        ------------     ------------
   Total shareholders' equity                31,312           31,020
                                        ------------     ------------
    Total liabilities, redeemable 
     noncontrolling interest and 
     shareholders' equity               $   490,909      $   502,103
                                        ============     ============



             RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO TAX EFFECTED AND
                  ADJUSTED NET LOSS AND RECONCILIATION
  OF NET LOSS PER SHARE TO TAX EFFECTED AND ADJUSTED NET LOSS PER SHARE
           For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
                               (In 000's)
                                Unaudited

Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share (as defined) are presented herein because they are important metrics used by management to evaluate and understand the performance of the ongoing operations of the Company's business. Management uses a 39% tax rate for calculating the benefit from income taxes to normalize the Company's tax rate to that of comparable transportation companies, and to compare Company periods with different effective tax rates. In addition, we adjust Net Loss for significant items that are not regularly recurring. Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the consolidated statements of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP as an indication of the Company's operating performance or liquidity.



                                               Three months ended
    Net Loss Reconciliation:                        March 31,
                                          ----------------------------
                                               2009           2008
                                          -------------  -------------
    Net loss                                 $   (302)     $ (1,919)

      Net loss per common share:
              Basic                          $  (0.02)     $  (0.10)
                                          ============================
              Diluted                        $  (0.02)     $  (0.10)
                                          ============================

    Adjustments to net loss:
       Benefit from income taxes                  (70)       (1,328)
       Gain on extinguishment of debt            (675)           --
       Restructuring costs                        600            --
       Gain on property sales                      --          (967)
                                          ----------------------------
    Adjusted income before income taxes          (447)       (4,214)

       Benefit from income taxes at 39%          (174)       (1,643)
                                          ----------------------------
      Tax effected and adjusted net loss     $   (273)    $  (2,571)
                                          ============================

      Tax effected and adjusted net loss
       per common share:
              Basic                          $  (0.01)    $   (0.13)
                                          ============================
              Diluted                        $  (0.01)    $   (0.13)
                                          ============================
      Weighted average number of shares:
              Basic                            19,215        19,064
              Diluted                          19,215        19,064


            

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