J.B. Hunt to Study Anti-Discrimination Policy

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell will appoint a task force to determine the impact of changing its equal employment opportunity policy after shareholders voted to amend the policy, according to a company report.

The Lowell-based transportation company included the decision to appoint a task force in an 8-K report filed April 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

On April 21, shareholders voted to amend company policy to “explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression and take substantial action to implement the policy,” according to the report.

As a result of the vote, “the company will immediately appoint a task force to study, compile and identify the practical effects of amending its equal employment opportunity policy,” the report shows.

The task force will study the more than 500 locations in which the company operates. Results of the study will be presented to the Board of Directors on July 21.

J.B. Hunt has a policy in place to restrict discrimination and provide for “equal opportunity in employment, promotion, training, compensation, termination and disciplinary actions,” the report shows. The company also has a no-tolerance policy for “any harassment, sexual or otherwise, by not only the company’s employees, but also vendors, clients and customers.”

In other business, shareholders re-elected the following board members to a one-year term:

• Douglas G. Duncan
• Francesca M. Edwardson
• Wayne Garrison
• Sharilyn S. Gasaway
• Gary C. George
• Bryan Hunt
• Coleman H. Peterson
• John N. Roberts III
• James L. Robo
• Kirk Thompson