Good afternoon and welcome to the Landstar System, Inc.'s second mid-quarter 2015 conference call. All lines will be in a listen-only mode. Today's conference is being recorded. If you have any objections, you may disconnect at this time. Joining us today from Landstar is Jim Gattoni, President and CEO. Now I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Jim Gattoni. Sir, you may begin.
Thank you, Doran.
Welcome to the Landstar 2015 second quarter mid-quarter update conference call. Before we start, let me read the following statement. The following is a safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements made during this conference call that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements. During this conference call, I may make statements that contain forward-looking information that relates to Landstar's business objectives, plans, strategies, and expectations. Such information is by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to the operational, financial, and legal risks detailed in Landstar's Form 10-K for the 2014 fiscal year, described in the section Risk Factors and other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events that differ materially from historical results or those anticipated.
Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information, and Landstar undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. As a reminder, let me review how our mid-quarter update call works. There is no question and answer period during the call. The purpose of this call is to provide a brief outlook on the 2015 second quarter. During our first quarter earnings conference call, I stated that I anticipated revenue for the 2015 second quarter to be within a range of $830 million-$880 million or an increase of 2%-8% compared to the 2014 second quarter. I also stated that I anticipated diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $0.87-$0.92 or an increase of 9%-15% compared to the 2014 second quarter.
As it relates to truck loadings and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck, I stated that I expected 2015 second quarter loadings to exceed the 2014 second quarter at a mid-single digit percentage and that revenue per load would be similar to the second quarter all-time high revenue per load of the 2014 second quarter. Overall revenue through the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter increased approximately 8% over the same period of 2014. The increase in revenue was mostly attributable to a 10% increase in the number of loads hauled via truck during the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter over the same period of the 2014 second quarter.
Additionally, the number of loads hauled via truck in the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter were the highest number of loads hauled via truck during the first eight weeks of any second quarter in Landstar history. Revenue per load on loads hauled via truck during the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter was 3% lower than the seasonal all-time highs experienced in the 2014 comparable period. Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO capacity during the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter exceeded the same period of 2014 by 1%, while revenue per load on loads hauled via broker carriers was 6% lower during the comparable periods. The decrease in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck broker carriers continues to be mostly driven by lower diesel fuel cost.
As it relates to loads hauled via BCO capacity, increases or decreases in fuel surcharges billed directly to customers have no impact on revenue per load as fuel surcharges billed to customers on freight hauled via BCO capacity is passed 100% to the BCO and as such excluded from revenue. We continue to add truck capacity to the network and currently exceed 9,200 trucks provided by BCOs. Landstar measures BCO truck utilization as the number of loads hauled per BCO per week. During the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter, BCO truck utilization continued to be below historical levels of BCO utilization experienced during recent comparable prior year periods. The company continues to return capital to shareholders.
During the first eight weeks of the 2015 second quarter, we purchased over 842,000 shares of Landstar common stock, bringing the total number of shares purchased during the period from December 28, 2014, the beginning of Landstar's 2015 fiscal year through June 3, 2015, to 1.3 million shares. The company's board of directors recently increased the number of shares authorized for purchase. There are currently 3 million shares of common stock authorized for purchase under the company's stock purchase program. The financial results through the first eight weeks of the company's 2015 second quarter were in line with our previously issued guidance. I expect demand for Landstar services to continue to be strong through June.
I expect the pricing environment experienced in the first eight weeks of the second quarter to continue through June, with lower revenue per load compared to prior year June, driven mostly by lower diesel fuel costs, a lower revenue contribution from heavy specialized services, and a somewhat tight yet stabilized truck capacity market. Based on our results so far and our estimate for the remainder of the 2015 second quarter, I'm comfortable with the previously issued guidance of second quarter revenue of $830 million-$880 million. Based on that range of revenue, I anticipate second quarter diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $0.87-$0.92. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with you again during our 2015 second quarter earnings conference call scheduled for July 23rd at 5:00 P.M.
Thank you for joining today's conference. That does conclude the call at this time.