J.B. Hunt shareholders approve 3 items, officers note 2025 highlights
by April 23, 2026 1:39 pm 646 views
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., a Lowell-based transportation services provider, reelected its nine-member board of directors as one of three items shareholders voted on in a 7-minute meeting Thursday (April 23).
After the meeting, Shelley Simpson, president and CEO of J.B. Hunt, discussed company highlights for 2025, including its $100 million cost-cutting initiative, record volumes across multiple business segments and record safety performance. She also highlighted the company’s 2026 priorities, including a focus on growth, leveraging its investments and repairing margins.
“In 2025, our teams executed at a high level across the enterprise, delivering strong results despite a challenging operating environment,” Simpson said. “By staying focused on operational excellence, lowering our cost to serve and creating meaningful value for our customers, we strengthened our performance and positioned the company for the future.”
J.B. Hunt shareholders reelected the following directors to the board: Brett Biggs, a retired Walmart Inc. executive; Francesca Edwardson, who retired from American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois; Sharilyn Gasaway, who retired from Alltel Corp.; Thad Hill, who retired from Calpine Corp.; Bryan Hunt of Hunt Automotive Group; Persio Lisboa, who retired from Navistar Inc.; chairman John Roberts III, who retired as CEO of J.B. Hunt on July 1, 2024; James Robo, a private investor; and Simpson.
Shareholders also approved PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to be J.B. Hunt’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026 and an advisory vote on executive pay.
According to the company’s 2026 proxy filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Simpson’s salary rose by 12.1% to $961,385 in 2025 from 2024. Her total compensation fell by 20.4% to $9 million from $11.31 million.
Chief Operating Officer Brad Delco had a salary of $347,539 in 2025 and total compensation of $3.13 million. Delco wasn’t named as a top-paid executive in J.B. Hunt’s proxy for 2024, and no compensation information was listed before 2025. He was promoted to his existing role in September 2025, replacing John Kuhlow as chief financial officer.
Kuhlow’s salary rose 7.2% to $578,515 in 2025, and his total compensation increased 28.4% to $3.3 million. Robert’s salary declined 24.4% to $705,619, and his total compensation decreased 20.2% to $6.74 million.
Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of Highway and Final Mile Services, received a 7.2% salary increase in 2025. His salary rose to $747,600, and his total compensation increased 36% to $4.3 million.
Darren Field, president of intermodal, also received a 7.2% salary increase in 2025. His salary rose to $635,423, and his total compensation increased 27.3% to $3.87 million.
In her remarks after the shareholders meeting on Thursday, Simpson discussed several accomplishments in 2025, including the second consecutive year of record-setting volume in its intermodal segment, which accounted for half of the company’s revenue in 2025; three quarters of double-digit volume growth in 2025 for its truckload segment; and the 11th consecutive year of double-digit operating margin for the dedicated segment. The company also had record safety performance for the third consecutive year, measured by preventable DOT-reportable accidents per million miles, and improved on the previous year’s record by 10%.
For 2025, J.B. Hunt earnings rose by 4.8% to $598.28 million, or $6.12 per share, from $570.88 million, or $5.56 per share, in 2024. Revenue fell by 0.7% to $11.99 billion from $12.08 billion.
On April 15, J.B. Hunt reported earnings rose by 20.23% to $141.55 million, or $1.49 per share, in the first quarter of 2026 from $117.74 million, or $1.17 per share, in the same period last year. Revenue increased by 4.62% to $3.05 billion from $2.92 billion.
Shares of J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) were trading Thursday afternoon at $252.05, up $5.02 or 2.03%. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged between $126.05 and $256.18. The company hit the 52-week high on Tuesday (April 21).