"As we have seen in recent years, the macro consumer buying patterns combined with shippers' supply chain management, which historically contributed to the fourth quarter peak season, continue to evolve," the company said in a letter to shareholders.
As a result, fourth quarter volumes are more evenly disbursed, rather than peaking early in the quarter, it added.
Swift said it plans to reduce its fleet size by 2 to 5 percent in the first quarter, due to lower seasonal demand. But fleet size for the year will be consistent with 2011, it said.
The Phoenix-based company, whose largest customer is retailer Wal-Mart, expects 2012 to be "a slow, steady growth environment similar to 2011."
Swift's fourth-quarter net income was $36.8 million, or 26 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $48.3 million, or 66 cents a share, a year ago.
Excluding items, the company earned 29 cents a share. Operating revenue rose 10 percent to $860.7 million.
Analysts expected earnings of 23 cents a share on revenue of $866.8 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reuters)
