A new J.B. Hunt Transport Services-BNSF Railway joint effort will substantially improve capacity in the intermodal marketplace and meet the expanding needs of current customers, officials said.
Demand for intermodal services has grown significantly in recent years as companies look to secure capacity while reducing costs and their carbon footprint. Based on current and projected trends, J.B. Hunt plans to grow its intermodal fleet to as many as 150,000 containers in the next three to five years, a more than 40 percent increase from its count at the end of 2021.
The company has completed more than four million intermodal loads since 2020.
“More than 30 years ago, J.B. Hunt Transport Services and BNSF predecessor The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company loaded a Hunt trailer onto a railcar to help usher in the modern age of intermodal freight transport,” said Katie Farmer, BNSF president and CEO.
“BNSF’s industry-leading service combined with J.B. Hunt’s unparalleled intermodal product has set the standard for seamless door-to-door service,” Farmer added. “We will raise the bar on service to the next level through technology and innovation as we further integrate our platforms with real-time data exchanges. We want our customers to enjoy the best of both worlds: economical and environmentally friendly service delivered by transportation’s premium providers.”
BNSF will increase capability at multiple intermodal facilities and provide several property locations around key intermodal hubs in Southern California, Chicago, and other markets. Additionally, BNSF will bolster its railcar equipment to accommodate the anticipated increase in container capacity.
