JB Hunt Signs Intermodal Agreement With Walmart

A J.B. Hunt semi-truck on Interstate 15 in Apple Valley, California (Shutterstock)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell announced a multi-year intermodal agreement with Walmart Inc. of Bentonville on Thursday.

As part of the agreement, J.B. Hunt said it was buying Walmart’s intermodal container and chassis fleets.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“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,” said Spencer Frazier, J.B. Hunt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Intermodal is J.B. Hunt’s most lucrative business, generating $6.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2023 and operating income of $569.4 million. It has announced plans to grow its intermodal container fleet from 115,000 to 150,000 by 2027 and, in September, J.B. Hunt announced a new intermodal agreement called Quantum with longtime partner BNSF Railway.

“Finding new ways to serve our customers and members and exceed their expectations is important to us,” said Fernando Cortes, Walmart’s senior vice president of transportation. “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.”