JB Hunt signs long-term intermodal agreement with Walmart

JB Hunt Transport Services, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, has announced that its subsidiary, JB Hunt Transport has entered into a multi-year intermodal service agreement with Walmart, in an arrangement that includes JB 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 organisations. In connection with the service agreement and increased commitments, JB Hunt will acquire Walmart’s operational intermodal container and chassis fleets.

For decades, JB Hunt has worked closely with Walmart to provide efficient transportation solutions. "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 JB 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, executive vice president of sales and marketing at JB Hunt.

“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 JB 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.”

JB 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 per cent. Operating one of the largest company-owned intermodal fleets in the world, JB Hunt Intermodal specialises in domestic and international freight movement that offers dependable, consistent and flexible shipping options, including ocean, transloading, temperature-controlled and expedited capabilities, the company said in a press release.

JB Hunt has long-standing relationships with the industry’s leading rail providers, and in recent years, has worked alongside them to enhance service quality and consistency. In 2023, JB 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 US.