J.B. Hunt buys 20 Nikola trucks

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has added 20 Nikola Tre fuel cell electric trucks to its fleet and serve customers along the West Coast.

“Our expertise, resources and relationships uniquely position us to help our customers pursue and realize their sustainability goals,” said Greer Woodruff, executive vice president of safety, sustainability and maintenance at J.B. Hunt. “Zero-emission vehicles such as these will help along the path to generate viable, sustainable options that help customers advance their efforts to reduce carbon emissions in their supply chain while also helping J.B. Hunt progress on its sustainability journey.”

Several of the new Nikola trucks will support the carrier’s intermodal operations in California and will primarily be used for port and drayage transport. Drayage is truck transportation to and from railroads or ports.

In 2023, J.B. Hunt purchased three Nikola trucks that are currently supporting dedicated customer operations. The company operates more than 200 alternative-powered vehicles for customers, including battery-electric, hydrogen-electric and renewable natural gas trucks.

J.B. Hunt recently launched a pilot program with Clean Energy featuring the new Cummins X15N engine, which operates on renewable natural gas. J.B. Hunt also assisted customers Daimler Truck North America and Electrolux with adding alternative-powered vehicles to their operations.

The use of alternative-powered equipment, biogenic fuels, and improving fuel economy are focus areas for J.B. Hunt to reach its goal of reducing carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 from 2019 levels. Overall, the company is more than halfway to achieving its goal.