Hunt Execs Take Home Bucks

The five executive officers at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell each received bonuses of more than $100,000 for the 2002 fiscal year, according to the trucking and logistics company’s proxy filed March 24 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Kirk Thompson, president and CEO, received a bonus of $225,000 for 2002, an increase from the $2,813 bonus he received for 2001. His salary was $453,846, an increase from $450,000 in 2001.

Other executives’ salaries and bonuses were:

• Wayne Garrison, chairman of the board, received a 2002 salary of $375,000 and a bonus of $187,500. In 2001, his salary was the same and he received no bonus.

• Jerry Walton, executive vice president of finance administration and chief financial officer, received a 2002 salary of $325,000 and a bonus of $162,500. In 2001, his salary was the same and he received a bonus of $2,031.

• Paul Bergant, executive vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer, received a 2002 salary of $280,000 and a bonus of $140,000. In 2001, his salary was the same and his bonus was $1,750.

• Craig Harper, executive vice president of marketing and chief operations officer, received a 2002 salary of $251,538 and a bonus of $125,000. In 2001, his salary was $250,000 and his bonus was $1,563.

The company also said that its annual shareholders meeting will take place at 10 a.m. April 24 at the company’s headquarters in Lowell.

In the quarter ended Dec. 31, J.B. Hunt reported that net earnings rose 57 percent, hitting a record of $51.8 million for 2002, or earnings per share of $1.33, also a record number, compared with 2001 full-year earnings of $32.9 million, or 91 cents a share.