J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, announced on Feb. 22 that its subsidiary, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., entered into a multi-year intermodal service agreement with Walmart. This arrangement includes J.B. Hunt’s purchase of Walmart’s intermodal assets.
The strategic service agreement increases the companies’ respective current volume and capacity commitments and enables the development of comprehensive intermodal solutions to drive long-term value for both organizations. In connection with the service agreement and increased commitments, J.B. Hunt will acquire Walmart’s operational intermodal container and chassis fleets. J.B. Hunt and Walmart have worked closely to provide efficient transportation solutions for decades now, according to a news release.
“Mr. Hunt always said ‘Good partners attract good partners,’” Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of sales and marketing at J.B. Hunt said. “Our customers trust us to develop solutions that scale and drive efficiencies across their ever-changing supply chains. Today’s announcement is a testament to the mutual trust and shared vision our companies have developed over time, and innovative arrangements like this one demonstrate J.B. Hunt’s disciplined approach to strategically allocating capital to advance our mission of driving long-term value for our people, customers and shareholders.”
J.B. Hunt is an industry leader in converting over-the-road shipments to intermodal, which reduces a shipment’s carbon footprint by an average of 60 percent. Operating one of the largest company-owned intermodal fleets in the world, J.B. Hunt Intermodal specializes in domestic and international freight movement, offering dependable, consistent and flexible shipping options. These shipping options include ocean, transloading, temperature-controlled and expedited capabilities.
“Finding new ways to serve our customers and members and exceed their expectations is important to us,” said Fernando Cortes, senior vice president of transportation at Walmart. “Walmart’s long history of working with J.B. Hunt has many milestones of innovation and growth. This agreement will strengthen our commitment to delivering goods at an everyday low cost to our customers and members.”
With long-standing relationships with the industry’s leading rail providers, J.B. Hunt has, in recent years, worked alongside them to enhance service quality and consistency. In 2023, J.B. Hunt and its long-time joint service provider BNSF Railway launched Quantum, a breakthrough intermodal service to convert service-sensitive highway freight to intermodal. The two also created a new service option to support cross-border freight movement to and from Mexico with coast-to-coast access in the U.S.
Photo Courtesy of J.B. Hunt Transport
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