UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________ 
FORM 11-K

(Mark one)
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the year ended: December 31, 2017
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 001-14543
________________________ 
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
TRUEBLUE, INC. 401(k) Plan
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
TrueBlue, Inc.
1015 A Street
Tacoma, Washington 98402













TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Table of Contents
 
Page
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES (ATTACHMENT TO FORM 5500)
 
 


Page - 1





REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Benefit Plans Administration Committee
TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Tacoma, Washington

Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of TrueBlue, Inc.401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of TrueBlue, Inc.401(k) Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America..

Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Supplemental Information
The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2017 and schedule of delinquent participant contributions for the year then ended (supplemental information) have been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Clifton Larson Allen LLP        
Clifton Larson Allen LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
June 28, 2018
 
We are uncertain as to the year we (or our predecessor firms) began serving consecutively as the auditor of the Plan’s financial statements; however, we are aware that we (or our predecessor firms) have been the Plan’s auditor consecutively since at least 2005.


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TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
December 31,
 
2017
2016
ASSETS
 
 
Investments, at fair value:
 
 
Collective trust
$
3,869,488

$
4,236,423

Mutual funds
67,322,897

55,620,692

Employer common stock
1,542,392

1,576,964

Total investments
72,734,777

61,434,079

Receivables:
 
 
Participant contributions
10,396

13,710

Employer contributions
1,321,370

1,147,121

Notes receivable from participants
2,458,632

2,290,571

Total receivables
3,790,398

3,451,402

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
$
76,525,175

$
64,885,481

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


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TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
Years ended December 31,
 
2017
2016
ADDITIONS:
 
 
Investment income:
 
 
Dividends
$
1,134,586

$
995,884

Net appreciation in fair value of investments
9,567,396

3,430,127

Total investment income
10,701,982

4,426,011

Interest income on notes receivable from participants
89,905

83,164

Contributions:
 
 
Participant
5,773,886

5,270,119

Employer
1,743,721

1,623,048

Rollovers
1,946,121

9,407,373

Total contributions
9,463,728

16,300,540

Total additions
20,255,615

20,809,715

DEDUCTIONS:
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
(8,219,864
)
(7,198,228
)
Administrative expenses
(396,057
)
(393,648
)
Total deductions
(8,615,921
)
(7,591,876
)
NET INCREASE
11,639,694

13,217,839

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:
 
 
Beginning of year
64,885,481

51,667,642

End of year
$
76,525,175

$
64,885,481

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


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TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
NOTE 1        DESCRIPTION OF PLAN
The following description of the TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “plan”) is provided for general informational purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information.
General
The plan, which was restated effective January 1, 2014 and most recently amended effective August 31, 2017, is a defined contribution plan established by TrueBlue, Inc. (the “company”, “we”, “our”) under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Section 401(k) of the IRC, for the benefit of eligible employees of the company. Eligible employees of the company are defined under Article II of the plan document and must be 21 years of age or older and depending on the type of employee, will have completed six months to one year of service to participate in the plan. The plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended (“ERISA”). The plan was amended throughout the year to clarify definitions and add new employees under acquisitions, with no material impact.
Contributions and participant investment options
Eligible employees may elect to defer a specific amount of compensation each year instead of receiving that amount in cash. The total deferrals in any taxable year may not exceed a dollar limit that is set by law, which was $18,500 and 18,000 for 2017 and 2016, respectively. Participants turning age 50 or older may elect to defer additional amounts to the plan (called “catch-up contributions”). Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined contribution plans.
The company provides a discretionary matching contribution equal to 25% of each participant’s deferral contribution. Employer matching contributions were contributed in cash for the respective year end for 2017 and 2016 matching contributions. The company has the discretion to require that participants be employed on the last day of the plan year in order to receive the matching allocation.
In addition, effective January 1, 2012, employees who perform services subject to participating prevailing wage contracts are eligible to participate in the plan for purposes of receiving prevailing wage contributions upon completion of one hour of service, but not for purposes of making or receiving other contributions.
All participants may direct the investment of their contributions, along with any employer matching contributions, into various investment options offered by the plan which include a variety of mutual funds, a collective trust, and company common stock. During 2017, the Investment Committee approved removal of company common stock as an investment option of the plan.
Participant accounts
Participant accounts are valued daily based on quoted market and unit prices. Each participant’s account is credited or charged with the participant’s contribution and allocations of (a) the company’s contribution (b) plan earnings or losses, and (c) certain administrative expenses. Participants are charged directly with costs associated with the investments and loan processing fees, as applicable. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
Vesting
All participants are fully vested in their contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the company’s discretionary matching contribution portion of their accounts, plus earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. Participants vest in the matching employer contributions at 25% for each year of service completed, with the first 25% vesting after the second year of service. A participant is 100% vested after five years of credited service or upon death, disability or normal retirement age. In the event of termination of employment prior to the completion of five years of continuous service, for any reason other than death or disability, participants forfeit their non-vested portion of employer matching contributions.
All employer contributions to participants working under participating prevailing wage contracts are 100% vested at the time of contribution.


Page - 5





Notes receivable from participants
A participant may borrow up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of his or her vested account balance, with a minimum note amount of $1,000. The note is secured by the balance in the participant’s account and is repaid through payroll deductions over periods ranging up to 60 months, unless the note is used to acquire a principal residence, in which case the note may be issued for a reasonable time determined by the plan administrator. The interest rate is also determined by the plan administrator based on prevailing market conditions, and is fixed over the life of the note.
Payment of benefits and withdrawals
Upon termination of employment, the participant is entitled to receive the vested portion of his or her account. If the vested amount is $5,000 or less, the account is paid in a lump-sum payment to the participant within a reasonable time frame. If the vested amount is more than $5,000, the participant must consent to the distribution before it may be made.
A participant may make a hardship withdrawal to satisfy certain immediate and heavy financial needs provided the participant has obtained all other nontaxable loans currently available under all plans maintained by the company. Participant contributions are suspended for the six months following a hardship withdrawal. A participant may withdraw any part of their vested account resulting from rollover contributions at any time.
A participant who has attained the age of 59 1/2 may withdraw all or a portion of his or her vested account balance.
Plan administration
The plan is administered by a Benefit Plans Administration Committee consisting of company officers and employees who are approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the company. No such officer or employee receives compensation from the plan.
Forfeited accounts
Forfeited non-vested accounts are used to reduce future employer discretionary matching contributions or employer administrative expenses. Unallocated forfeitures as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 totaled $2,210 and $21,935, respectively. In 2017 and 2016, $27,442 and $9,171, respectively, of unallocated forfeitures were used to reduce employer matching contributions. In 2017 and 2016, $69,053 and $54,488, respectively, of forfeitures were used to pay for administrative expenses.
NOTE 2        SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The financial statements of the plan are prepared under the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Use of estimates
The preparation of the plan’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the plan administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment valuation and income recognition
The plan’s investments are reported at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The plan’s Investment Committee determines the plan’s valuation policies utilizing information from the investment adviser, custodian and insurance company. See Note 3 for discussion of fair value measurements.
Purchases and sales are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
Benefit payments
Benefit payments and withdrawals are recorded when paid.


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Notes receivable from participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. Delinquent notes receivable are recorded as distributions on the basis of the terms of the plan document.
Administrative expenses
The plan’s expenses are paid either by the plan or the company, as provided by the plan document. Expenses paid directly by the company are excluded from these financial statements. Certain expenses incurred in connection with the general administration of the plan that are paid by the plan are recorded as deductions in the accompanying statements of changes in net assets available for benefits. In addition, certain investment related expenses are included in net appreciation of fair value of investment presented in the accompanying statements of changes in net assets available for benefits.
Subsequent events
We evaluated other events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date that the financial statements were issued, and noted no other events that were subject to recognition or disclosure.
NOTE 3        FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. We apply a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value:
Level 1: Inputs are valued using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Our Level 1 assets primarily include mutual funds and TrueBlue, Inc. common stock.
Level 2: Inputs are valued based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active. Our Level 2 assets primarily consist of the collective trust. We obtain our inputs from quoted market prices and independent pricing vendors.
Level 3: Inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. We currently have no Level 3 assets or liabilities.
The asset or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. There have been no changes in the valuation methodologies used at December 31, 2017 and 2016. There are inherent limitations when estimating the fair value of financial instruments and the fair values reported are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in current market transactions.
Mutual funds and TrueBlue, Inc. common stock are reported at fair value based on the quoted market price available on the active markets in which they trade.
The collective trust is valued at the net asset value (“NAV”) of units of the bank collective trust. NAV is a readily determinable fair value and is the basis for current transactions. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. If the plan initiates a full redemption of the collective trust, the issuer reserves the right to temporarily delay withdrawal from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manners.


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The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the plan’s assets at fair value:
 
December 31, 2017
 
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Collective trust
$

$
3,869,488

$

$
3,869,488

Mutual funds
67,322,896



67,322,896

Employer common stock
1,542,392



1,542,392

Total investments at fair value
$
68,865,288

$
3,869,488

$

$
72,734,776

 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Collective trust
$

$
4,236,423

$

$
4,236,423

Mutual funds
55,620,692



55,620,692

Employer common stock
1,576,964



1,576,964

Total investments at fair value
$
57,197,656

$
4,236,423

$

$
61,434,079

NOTE 4        PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS
The plan invests in units of a collective trust fund managed by Principal. Principal is the custodian as defined by the plan and, therefore, the investment transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees incurred by the plan for the investment management services are included in net appreciation in fair value of the investment, as they are paid through revenue sharing, rather than a direct payment. As described in Note 2, the plan made a direct payment to the third party administrator of $342,124 and $334,669 which was not covered by revenue sharing for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The plan sponsor pays directly any other fees related to the plan’s operations.
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the plan held 56,087 and 63,974 shares, respectively, of common stock of the company, a party-in-interest, with a fair value of $1,542,392 and $1,576,964, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the plan recorded no dividend income from the common stock of the company.
NOTE 5        PLAN TERMINATION
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the company has the right under the plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, the participants would become 100% vested in their company contributions.
NOTE 6        PLAN TAX STATUS
The plan administrator believes that the plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.
GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service. There are no uncertain tax positions as of the financial statement date. The plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.
NOTE 7        RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The plan provides for investment options encompassing various investment securities. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and participant account balances.


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NOTE 8        RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Form 5500:
 
December 31,
 
2017
2016
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
$
76,525,175

$
64,885,481

Deemed distributions of participant loans
(331,977
)
(243,585
)
Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
$
76,193,198

$
64,641,896

The following is a reconciliation of benefit payments per the financial statements to Form 5500:
 
2017
Benefit payments per the financial statements
$
8,219,864

Prior year deemed distributions of participant loans
(243,585
)
Current year deemed distributions of participant loans
331,977

Benefit payments per Form 5500
$
8,308,256

NOTE 9        NON-EXEMPT TRANSACTIONS
The company failed to remit employee 401(k) deferral contributions for certain payroll periods within the timeframe prescribed by the Department of Labor. This is deemed a prohibited transaction in accordance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The company has corrected the prohibited transaction by depositing the lost earnings, filing the required Form 5330 with the Internal Revenue Service, and paying the appropriate excise tax.


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TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2017
EIN #: 91-1287341
Plan #: 001
 
Identity of issuer
Description of investment
Cost**
Current value
 
 
Collective trust:
 
 
*    
Union Bond and Trust Company
Principal Stable Value Fund
 
$
3,869,488

 
 
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Inv Fund
 
6,585,746

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Inv Fund
 
5,938,819

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement Inc Inv Fund
 
5,829,761

 
The American Funds
American Funds Growth Fund of America R6 Fund
 
5,634,567

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Inv Fund
 
4,494,388

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Inv Fund
 
3,916,111

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard 500 Index Admiral Fund
 
3,912,023

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Inv Fund
 
3,187,038

 
The American Funds
American Funds EuroPacific Growth R6 Fund
 
3,178,044

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Inv Fund
 
3,116,686

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Inv Fund
 
2,894,293

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Windsor II Inv Fund
 
2,564,298

 
PIMCO Funds
PIMCO Total Return Instl Fund
 
2,218,712

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Admiral Fund
 
2,203,434

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Admiral Fund
 
2,056,112

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Explorer Admiral Fund
 
2,015,679

 
PGIM Investments
Prudential Jenn Mid Cap Growth A Fund
 
1,545,517

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Sel Val Inv Fund
 
1,502,041

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Inv Fund
 
1,347,241

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Int-Tm Bd Idx Adm Fund
 
986,266

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Adm Fund
 
842,602

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Inv Fund
 
722,224

 
The American Funds
American Funds Amer Balanced R6 Fund
 
495,217

 
Vanguard Group
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Inv Fund
 
136,077

 
 
 
 
67,322,896

 
 
Employer common stock:
 
 
*    
TrueBlue, Inc. Common Stock Fund
TrueBlue, Inc. Common Stock Fund
 
1,542,392

 
 
 
 
 
*
Participant Loans
Participant Loans - Interest Rates 4.25% - 7.00%
2,126,655

 
 
 
 
$
74,861,431

 
 
 
 
 
*
Represents party-in-interest
**
Cost omitted for participant directed investments


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TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Schedule H, Line 4a - Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions
Year Ended December 31, 2017
EIN #: 91-1287341
Plan #: 001
 
Total that constitute nonexempt prohibited transactions
 
Participant contributions transferred late to plan
Contributions not corrected
Contributions corrected outside VFCP
Contributions pending correction in VFCP
Total fully corrected under VFCP and PTE 2002-51
Check here if late participant loan repayments are included: x
$

$

$

$
1,686



Page - 11





SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Employee Benefits Committee of the TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan, which is the plan administrator of the TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
Benefit Plans Administration Committee of the TrueBlue, Inc. 401(k) Plan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Rick Watt
 
 
 
 
Rick Watt, Trustee of the Plan
 
 
 
 
June 28, 2018


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