Key Stats
Founded: August 10, 1961 in Stuttgart, Arkansas
Headquarters: Lowell, Arkansas
CEO: Shelley Simpson
Employees: Approximately 33,000 worldwide
Stock Exchange: NASDAQ (JBHT)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is one of North America’s largest transportation and logistics companies. The company provides freight shipping, intermodal transportation, dedicated contract services, and final mile delivery throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico.
J.B. Hunt operates through five business segments: Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), Final Mile Services (FMS), and Truckload (JBT). The intermodal segment generates nearly half of the company’s total revenue.
The company trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT. J.B. Hunt became a Fortune 500 company and is a component of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Transportation Average indices. In 2025, J.B. Hunt became the only road transportation company admitted to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America index.
J.B. Hunt Transport History
1961
Company Founded
Johnnie Bryan Hunt and Johnelle Hunt establish J.B. Hunt Company in Stuttgart, Arkansas, selling and transporting rice hulls for poultry litter.
1969
Trucking Operations Begin
J.B. Hunt purchases five tractors and seven trailers to start J.B. Hunt Transport Services as a sideline business to the rice hull operation.
1972
Headquarters Move
The company relocates its headquarters from Stuttgart to Lowell, Arkansas, positioning for growth in Northwest Arkansas.
1983
IPO and Public Trading
J.B. Hunt goes public on NASDAQ, offering over one million shares. The company sells its rice hull operation to focus on trucking.
1989
Intermodal Partnership
J.B. Hunt partners with Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF) to launch Quantum, the first large-scale trucking and railroad intermodal service.
1993
$1 Billion Revenue
Annual revenue surpasses $1 billion for the first time. The company launches dedicated contract services segment.
2017
NASDAQ-100 Inclusion
J.B. Hunt becomes a NASDAQ-100 company, reflecting its growth into one of the largest publicly traded transportation firms.
2025
Quantum de Mexico
J.B. Hunt, BNSF Railway, and GMXT launch Quantum de Mexico for cross-border intermodal freight between the U.S. and Mexico.
J.B. Hunt Transport Co-founders
Johnnie Bryan Hunt
Born in Cleburne County, Arkansas, in 1927, J.B. Hunt left school after seventh grade to work at his uncle’s sawmill. He later became a truck driver before founding the company with his wife. Hunt led the company until his retirement in 2004 and passed away in December 2006.
Johnelle Hunt
Born in Heber Springs, Arkansas, in 1932, Johnelle co-founded J.B. Hunt Company with her husband in 1961. She served as credit manager, secretary-treasurer, and corporate secretary. The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas named her 2012 Woman of the Year.
J.B. Hunt Transport Acquisitions
J.B. Hunt has completed six acquisitions throughout its history, focusing on expanding transportation and logistics capabilities. The company’s acquisition strategy targets freight forwarding, trucking, and warehousing operations.
In 2017, J.B. Hunt made its largest acquisition by purchasing Special Logistics Dedicated for $136 million. This deal expanded the company’s dedicated contract services segment and added specialized fleet capacity.
The company acquired Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery in 2014 to strengthen its final mile delivery services. This purchase positioned J.B. Hunt to handle heavy goods delivery directly to homes and businesses.
In 2022, J.B. Hunt acquired Zenith Global Logistics and Alterri, adding storage, logistics, and transportation services. In 2024, the company entered a multi-year agreement with Walmart to acquire approximately 15,500 intermodal trailers, bringing total intermodal equipment to over 118,000 units.
J.B. Hunt Transport Competitors
J.B. Hunt competes in the intermodal, truckload, and logistics segments against carriers and freight brokers. The company holds a 20% share of the approximately $25 billion domestic intermodal industry.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| UPS | Atlanta, Georgia | Package delivery, logistics |
| FedEx | Memphis, Tennessee | Express delivery, freight |
| C.H. Robinson | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | Freight brokerage, logistics |
| Knight-Swift Transportation | Phoenix, Arizona | Truckload, intermodal |
| Schneider National | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Truckload, intermodal, logistics |
| Werner Enterprises | Omaha, Nebraska | Truckload, dedicated |
| Hub Group | Oak Brook, Illinois | Intermodal, logistics |
| XPO Logistics | Greenwich, Connecticut | Less-than-truckload, brokerage |
| Landstar System | Jacksonville, Florida | Asset-light trucking |
| Ryder System | Miami, Florida | Fleet leasing, supply chain |
J.B. Hunt Transport Revenue
J.B. Hunt Transport generated $12.09 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024. The company reached peak revenue of $14.81 billion in 2022 before declining due to softening freight market conditions.
J.B. Hunt Transport Marketcap
J.B. Hunt Transport’s market capitalization stands at approximately $22 billion as of February 2026. The company ranks among the 600 most valuable publicly traded companies globally.
FAQs
Who founded J.B. Hunt Transport?
Johnnie Bryan Hunt and his wife Johnelle Hunt founded J.B. Hunt Company on August 10, 1961, in Stuttgart, Arkansas. They started with a rice hull operation before entering trucking in 1969.
What does J.B. Hunt Transport do?
J.B. Hunt provides transportation and logistics services including intermodal freight, dedicated trucking, truckload shipping, freight brokerage, and final mile delivery across North America.
Where is J.B. Hunt Transport headquartered?
J.B. Hunt Transport is headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company moved to this location in 1972 after starting operations in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
When did J.B. Hunt go public?
J.B. Hunt went public in 1983 on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The company offered more than one million shares and became one of the largest publicly traded trucking companies.
What is J.B. Hunt’s intermodal service?
J.B. Hunt’s intermodal service combines trucking with rail transportation to move freight. The company pioneered this approach in 1989 through a partnership with Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF).