Good afternoon and welcome to Landstar System Inc's first mid-quarter 2015 conference call. All lines will be in a listen-only mode. Today's conference is being recorded. If there are 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 meeting over to Mr. Gattoni. Sir, you may begin.
Thank you, Dory. Welcome to the Landstar 2015 first quarter, mid-quarter update conference call. Before we start this mid-quarter update, 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 and the other members of Landstar's management team may make statements that contain forward-looking statements that relate to Landstar's business objectives, planned 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 Risk Factors section and other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to 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 this call. The purpose of this call is to provide a brief update on the 2015 first quarter. The call will last approximately 5 minutes. During our fourth quarter 2014 earnings conference call, I stated that I anticipated revenue for the 2015 first quarter to be within a range of $750 million-$800 million or an increase of 9%-16% compared to the 2014 first quarter. I also stated that I anticipated diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $0.71-$0.76 or an increase of 16%-25% compared to the 2014 first quarter.
As it relates to truck loadings and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck, I stated that I expected first quarter 2015 loadings to exceed the 2014 first quarter at a mid-single digit percentage, and the pricing would remain strong. Overall, revenue through the first eight weeks of 2015 increased approximately 15% over the first eight weeks of 2014. The increase in revenue was mostly attributable to a 7% increase in revenue per load and a 7% increase in the number of loads hauled via truck. Revenue per load on loads hauled via truck during the first eight weeks were at seasonal all-time highs. Additionally, the number of loads hauled via truck in the first eight weeks of 2015 were the highest number of loads hauled via truck during the first eight weeks of any year in Landstar history.
The number of loads hauled via unsided platform equipment during the first eight weeks of 2015 exceeded prior year by 3%, while the related revenue per load during the same period exceeded prior year by 6%. The number of loads hauled via van equipment during the first eight weeks of 2015 exceeded prior year by 7%, while the related revenue per load during the same period exceeded prior year by 10%. We continue to add truck capacity to the network and currently exceed 9,000 trucks provided by BCOs for the first time since the beginning of 2009. Landstar measures BCO truck utilization as the number of loads hauled per BCO per week. During the first eight weeks of 2015, BCO truck utilization was significantly below historical levels of BCO utilization during recent comparable prior year periods.
More recently, however, we've begun to see BCO utilization increase from what we believe to have been a seasonal low. The company continues to return capital to shareholders. In January, we paid approximately $45 million in dividends in regards to the previously declared dividend of $1 per share. Additionally, during the first eight weeks of the 2015 first quarter, we bought over 450,000 shares of Landstar common stock. There are currently over 1.3 million shares of common stock authorized for purchase under the company's authorized stock purchase program. The daily trend in the number of loads hauled via truck during the first two weeks of fiscal March has been inconsistent. The inconsistent trend appears to be related to the recent bad weather that affected a significant portion of the U.S.
Based on the recent trend, I currently anticipate that the number of loads hauled via truck in March to exceed prior year March in a low to mid-single digit range. Revenue per load on loads hauled via truck continues to be strong and remains at a seasonal all-time high, albeit revenue per load on loads hauled via truck has recently been impacted by lower diesel fuel costs. So far, the results of the first eight weeks of the 2015 first quarter were in line with our previously issued guidance. Due to the inconsistent freight patterns experienced over the first couple of weeks in the fiscal month of March, we have used a wide range of expected revenue in our March estimate.
Based on the results so far and our estimate for the fiscal March period, I continue to be comfortable with our previously issued guidance of first quarter revenue to be in a range of $750 million-$800 million. Based on that forecasted range of revenue, I anticipate first quarter diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $0.71-$0.76. Please note that we plan to release first quarter earnings at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 23rd, followed by the first quarter earnings conference call scheduled for 5:00 P.M. that day. Thank you, and I look forward to speaking with you then.
Thank you for joining the conference call today. Have a good afternoon. Please disconnect your lines at this time.