Knight Transportation Posts Record Revenue and Net Income for the Fourth Quarter and Year of 2006.

PHOENIX -- Knight Transportation, Inc. (NYSE: KNX) announced today its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2006.

For the quarter, total revenue increased 6.3%, to $174.9 million from $164.6 million for the same quarter of 2005. Revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 8.1%, to $152.1 million from $140.8 million for the same quarter of 2005. Net income increased 8.7%, to $20.1 million from $18.5 million for the same period of 2005. Net income per diluted share increased to $0.23 from $0.21 for the same period of 2005. Excluding equity-based compensation expense for the fourth quarter 2006, net income increased 10.0%, to $20.4 million from $18.5 million for the same period of 2005, when equity-based compensation was not required to be expensed.

For the year, total revenue increased 17.2%, to $664.4 million from $566.8 million for the same period of 2005. Revenue, before fuel surcharge, increased 13.9%, to $568.4 million from $499.0 million for the same period of 2005. Net income increased 18.2%, to $73.0 million from $61.7 million for the same period of 2005. Net income per diluted share increased to $0.84 from $0.71 for the same period of 2005. Excluding equity-based compensation expense for 2006, net income increased 21.2%, to $74.8 million from $61.7 million for the same period of 2005, when equity-based compensation was not required to be expensed.

Fourth quarter results include a $712,500 pre-tax impairment charge in the carrying value of the Company's investment with Transportation Resource Partners (TRP) to more closely reflect the fair value of the portfolio. In 2003, the Company committed $5.0 million to TRP, a private equity limited partnership that invests in transportation-related companies. This impairment charge negatively impacted our earnings by approximately half a cent per share.

The company previously announced a cash dividend of $.02 per share to shareholders of record on December 8, 2006, which was paid on December 29, 2006.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin P. Knight, said, "During 2006 we continued to execute our disciplined operating model founded on the twin pillars of growth and profitability. The fourth quarter represented the 48th consecutive quarter, since going public, that Knight Transportation generated higher year-over-year operating income. Our net income, as a percentage of revenue before fuel surcharge, for the year of 2006 was 12.8%, a 50 basis point improvement over 2005, as well as our sixth year of consecutive improvement in this ratio and our highest annual net income percentage in our history as a public company. Our operating ratio for the year of 2006 was 79.0%, a 60 basis point improvement over 2005, as well as our sixth year of consecutive improvement in this ratio. Our team achieved these results despite 50 basis points of negative impact on the operating ratio from non-cash expensing of equity compensation during the year.

"Our revenue growth was impressive as well, fueled by a combination of fleet expansion, increased revenue per mile, and our asset purchase of Roads West Transportation, during the fourth quarter of 2006. In addition to the Roads West purchase, we opened seven new service centers: four dry van, two brokerage, and one refrigerated. Overall our average tractors increased to 3,446 for 2006, an increase of 14.3% from 2005.

"For the quarter, average revenue per loaded mile, before fuel surcharges, increased 3.7%, while non-revenue miles increased by 2.4 percentage points with a 46 mile shorter average length of haul. Average miles per tractor decreased 7.7% as compared to the same period of 2005. The decrease in utilization is attributed to a less robust freight environment, more stringent hours of service regulations, and a shortened length of haul.

"Continued positive results in fuel surcharge recovery, safety, and used equipment sales, as well as our constant focus on cost controls, more than overcame expense increases relating to recording equity based compensation expense, increased driver compensation, prices of revenue equipment, and declining fuel efficiency due to emissions control regulations.

"The 2006 periods include our initial adoption of the accounting standard which requires expensing of equity based compensation such as stock options. At Knight Transportation we have a broad based stock option program in which approximately one-third of our total employees participate. The twelve months of 2006 included approximately $3.0 million of non-cash equity-based compensation expense recorded, while such expense was not recorded in 2005.

"For the quarter, we invested $39.6 million in net capital expenditures. At December 31, 2006, our balance sheet reflected $1.6 million in cash and short-term investments, zero debt, and $426.1 million in shareholders' equity.

"Our service center growth continues in 2007 with the recent addition of two new service centers. Our fourth refrigerated service center has begun operations in Memphis, Tennessee. Our fifth brokerage service center is now open for business, also in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the existing 24 dry van service centers, our combined network is now 33 service centers strong. Going forward, we intend to continue to execute our business model. This will not be easy in the current environment, particularly if freight demand remains soft in the first half of the year. We also plan to continue to evaluate the market for acquisition opportunities that make sense within our disciplined operating framework. Our base expectation for the medium to longer term is to grow our fleet between 10% and 15% annually and continue to grow our brokerage business. We will evaluate that base goal and may adjust it up or down periodically based on factors such as freight demand, driver availability, and acquisitions."

The Company will hold a conference call on January 25, 4PM ET, to further discuss its results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The dial in number for this conference call is 1-866-261-3331, conference ID 1030253.

Knight Transportation, Inc. is a truckload carrier offering dry van, refrigerated, and brokerage services to customers through a network of service centers located throughout the United States. As "Your Hometown National Carrier," Knight strives to offer customers and drivers personal service and attention through each service center, while offering integrated freight transportation nationwide and beyond through the scale of one of North America's largest trucking companies. The principal types of freight we transport include consumer staples, retail, paper products, packaging/plastics, manufacturing, and import/export commodities.

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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements generally may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "believes," "plans," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," "continue," "future," and terms or phrases of similar substance. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Readers should review and consider the factors that may affect future results and other disclosures by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.