J.B. Hunt issues 2022 Sustainability Report, marking emissions target

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. released its 2022 Sustainability Report, which highlights various awards, environmental goals and achievements. The company’s first report of this kind was released in July 2021, and a data supplement was issued last year.

In the report released Wednesday (Aug. 9), the company highlighted its previously announced goal to reduce carbon emission intensity by 32% by 2034 from 2019 levels. It expects to achieve the goal by adding alternative-fuel vehicles to its fleet, increasing the use of biogenic fuels and improving vehicle fuel economy.

The company also touted the environmental benefits of converting truck freight to intermodal shipments and reiterated its commitment to expand its intermodal fleet to as many as 150,000 containers by 2027. The company has more than 116,000 containers, the largest company-owned intermodal fleet in North America, the report shows. The intermodal segment accounted for 47.4% of the carrier’s $14.81 billion revenue in 2022.

Last year, the company avoided about 3.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by converting over-the-road loads (truck freight) to intermodal. The report shows a converted shipment reduces its carbon footprint by an average of 60%. Through the carrier’s technology platform J.B. Hunt 360, the company also helped its drivers avoid about 3.5 million empty miles or trips without freight in the trailer.

Following are other report highlights for 2022:

• Created the J.B. Hunt Inclusion Office and Inclusion Council and hosted six employee resource groups with more than 5,000 members, providing support networks for women, LGBTQIA+, veteran, Hispanic, Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander employees.
• Gave $1.5 million to Sam M. Walton College of Business, and its supply chain management program was named after the company following five consecutive years of support to the University of Arkansas.
• Launched the Scheduling Standards Consortium with Convoy and Uber Freight to solve transportation scheduling challenges by establishing the freight industry’s first appointment scheduling application programming interface (API) standards.

“In 2022, we celebrated some incredible achievements by addressing challenges with energy and creativity while positioning our organization for long-term growth opportunities,” CEO John Roberts said. “Looking ahead, we remain eager to follow through on our commitments and goals to deliver on our mission to create the most efficient transportation network in North America.”

Link here to access the report.

Shares of J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) were trading at $203.65, down $1.45 or 0.71%, as of late morning Wednesday. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged between $156.28 and $209.21.