MINNEAPOLIS, Apr 26, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. ("C.H. Robinson") (NASDAQ: CHRW), today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Summarized financial results for the quarter ended March 31 are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Our truck net revenues, which consist of truckload and less-than-truckload ("LTL") services, increased 21.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011. Our truckload volumes increased approximately 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010. Our truckload net revenue margin was consistent with the first quarter of 2010. Excluding the estimated impacts of the change in fuel, our truckload pricing to our customers increased approximately eight percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010. Our truckload transportation costs increased approximately six percent, excluding the estimated impacts of the change in fuel. Our LTL net revenues increased approximately 31 percent. The increase was driven by an increase in total shipments of approximately 18 percent, pricing increases, and a small increase in our net revenuemargin.

Our intermodal net revenue increased 13.0 percent due to increased prices, partially offset by a small volume decline. Price increases were driven by market conditions and the increased price of fuel. Net revenue margins were slightly higher than the first quarter of 2010.

Our ocean transportation net revenues increased 24.3 percent in the first quarter of 2011, driven by higher pricing and volume increases, partially offset by increased cost of capacity.

Our air transportation net revenue increased 4.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 due to higher volumes.

Other logistics services net revenues consist primarily of transportation management fees and customs brokerage fees. The increase of 4.8 percent was driven primarily by an increase in management fees.

For the first quarter, our Sourcing revenues decreased 14.8 percent. Sourcing net revenues decreased 5.5 percent to $33.0 million in 2011 from $34.9 million in 2010, primarily due to decreased volumes with a large customer.

Our Information Services revenues increased 13.3 percent in the first quarter of 2011 due to increases in some fees that are impacted by fuel prices and an increase in transactions.

For the first quarter, operating expenses increased 18.8 percent to $233.6 million in 2011 from $196.6 million in 2010. This was due to an increase of 19.3 percent in personnel expense and an increase of 17.4 percent in other selling, general, and administrative expenses. Personnel expenses related to our restricted stock program and various other incentive plans increased compared to last year. Many of these plans are variable based on growth in our earnings. We also increased our average headcount from the first quarter of 2010.

For the first quarter, other selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $58.5 million from $49.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. As previously announced, we recorded a $5.9 million charge in the first quarter due to a ruling by the Illinois Court of Appeals.

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is one of the largest non-asset based third party logistics companies in the world. C.H. Robinson is a global provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions, currently serving over 36,000 customers through a network of 232 offices in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. C.H. Robinson maintains one of the largest networks of motor carrier capacity in North America and works with over 49,000 transportation providers worldwide.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to such factors as changes in economic conditions such as the strength of the current recovery and uncertain consumer demand; changes in market demand and pressures on the pricing for our services; competition and growth rates within the third party logistics industry; freight levels and increasing costs and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight, and changes in relationships with existing truck, rail, ocean and air carriers; changes in our customer base due to possible consolidation among our customers; our ability to integrate the operations of acquired companies with our historic operations successfully; risks associated with litigation and insurance coverage; risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.; risks associated with the potential impacts of changes in government regulations; risks associated with the produce industry, including food safety and contamination issues; fuel prices and availability; and the impact of war on the economy; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports.

SOURCE: C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.