Good afternoon, and welcome to Landstar System, Inc.'s fourth mid-quarter 2014 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 Henry Gerkens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gerkens, you may begin.
Thanks, Dory, and good afternoon, and welcome to the Landstar 2014 fourth quarter mid-quarter update conference call, and the final earnings conference call in 2014. 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 the call is to provide a brief update on how management sees the current quarter shaping up as it relates to business levels and earnings projections. The call will last approximately 5 minutes, and 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 certain statements containing forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar's business objectives, plans, strategies, and expectations. Such statements are, 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 2013 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 to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and Landstar undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.
During our third quarter earnings conference call, I stated that I anticipated consolidated revenue for the 2014 fourth quarter to be within an $800 million-$840 million range. I also said that I anticipated earnings per diluted share for the 2014 fourth quarter would be in a range of 77-82 cents per diluted share. Overall, revenue for the October 2014 fiscal period increased approximately 23% over the 2013 fiscal October period. The increase was primarily as a result of an increase in the number of truck transportation loads hauled of 11% and an increase in the truck transportation revenue per load of 13%.
Although November numbers are not yet final, I anticipate revenue for the November 2014 versus the November 2013 period to increase also by approximately 23%. Overall, the revenue trends experienced so far in the 2014 fourth quarter are better than the revenue trends experienced in the 2014 third quarter, which, by the way, were also excellent. From an operational standpoint, Landstar continues to bring on BCO capacity, broker carrier capacity, and agents. Based upon the results so far and an estimate for the remaining weeks of the 2014 fourth quarter, our updated range of estimated 2014 fourth quarter revenue is adjusted to $820 million-$840 million, making full year consolidated revenue in excess of $3 billion for the first time in Landstar history.
Based upon the previously mentioned revenue forecast, I am very comfortable with the current range of analyst estimates, as published by First Call, of $0.79-$0.82 per share. You know, I said in the 2013 fourth quarter mid-quarter update call that the improving load count trends, the improving revenue per load trends, and an improving economic outlook, coupled with the number of quality, productive agents added in the back half of 2013, and the increased focus on growing our core agent business model without distraction, including the planned expansion of the Landstar field personnel, would only bode well for 2014. Well, 2014 appears to be a record-setting year from just about every metric.
What's really encouraging is that the fourth quarter of 2014 operating trends so far are the best we have seen in 2014, and that can only bode well for 2015. At yesterday's Board of Directors meeting, the Landstar Board of Directors declared a special one-time dividend of $1 per share, payable on January 26th, 2015, to shareholders of record on January 12th, 2015. As previously reported, as of September 27th, 2014, Landstar had approximately $178 million in cash and short-term investments. The company intends to continue to return capital to its shareholders, primarily through the purchase of its stock under its stock purchase program.
Currently, there are approximately 1.8 million shares of the company's common stock available for purchase under Landstar's authorized share purchase program. Lastly, not only is this the final investor conference call in 2014 fiscal year, it is my final Landstar investor conference call. I have been at Landstar since its inception in 1988, and have served as its Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and since 2004, its Chief Executive Officer. Personally, it has been a great run for me. From Landstar's perspective, we have only just begun. I believe the scale of our small business model is impenetrable and will remain a force in the transportation services business for years to come. It is truly an exciting time at Landstar, and the future is very bright.
At this time, I want to thank all current and past sell-side analysts for their interest in Landstar.