J.B. Hunt marks intermodal milestone

J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. announced Monday that its year-to-date Intermodal segment (JBI) volume exceeded one million loads for the first time since it entered into a historic agreement with the Santa Fe Railway, now part of BNSF, 21 years ago. The company calls that agreement a “milestone event in the industry and the first time that a major railroad and truckload transportation company had formalized an agreement to offer joint services.”

“This is truly one of the proudest moments in our company’s long and storied history,” said Kirk Thompson, J.B. Hunt president and CEO. “When you place a well-developed strategic vision in the hands of the brightest, most capable transportation people in the industry, this is the result. It is the exemplary teamwork and dedication of our employees, as well as our strong rail relationships, that enabled us to achieve this momentous accomplishment."

JBI now has special arrangements with the majority of North American rail carriers to provide transportation solutions for customers throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico. J.B. Hunt currently operates a fleet of 43,000 53-foot containers.

“Our JBI segment and arrangement with Burlington Northern was conceived at a perfect time to revolutionize the intermodal business,” said Paul Bergant, president of Intermodal for J.B. Hunt. “What started with a handshake has grown into a service that is unparalleled in the transportation industry, in both size and scope. That kind of growth only happens when you focus on your customers.”

JBI underlined the environmental value of the service by noting that one million loads converted to intermodal saves 150 million gallons of diesel fuel from being consumed; is equivalent to taking 305,000 cars off the road for an entire year; prevents 1,550,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from being generated; and is roughly the same as recycling 7.8 billion aluminum cans.