J.B. Hunt Yanks Millions of Loads from Truck Drivers

J.B. Hunt Transport Services and BNSF Railway recently announced a Quantum reboot that is being hailed as a “breakthrough intermodal service.” The reality for truckers is the collaboration will move millions of loads that would ordinarily be hauled by trucks to freight rail.

“Quantum provides the exceptional intermodal service needed to consistently meet the demands of the most complex freight,” Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of marketing and sales at J.B. Hunt, reportedly said. “Its solutions are flexible to address supply chain challenges in real time. Customers have access to multiple modes for unexpected concerns such as potential delays, volume surges, or production issues.”

The pair have reportedly enjoyed a working relationship that spans nearly four decades. J.B. Hunt and BNSF, previously known as the Santa Fe Railway, launched perhaps the first modern intermodal transportation system in 1989. The joint venture was also dubbed Quantum and involved upwards of 150 trailers. More recently, the pair returned to the drawing board to re-imagine ways to reduce costs while maximizing efficiency under the Quantum moniker. The newly minted initiative is expected to make the previous incarnation look like a drop in the bucket.

“Based on analysis of J.B. Hunt 360° transactions and annual bid activity, J.B. Hunt estimates that as many as 7 to 11 million loads of freight support conversion from over-the-road truck service to intermodal service. Converting over-the-road highway freight to rail intermodal is the most widely available ground transportation solution for cutting carbon emissions, reducing a shipment’s carbon footprint by an average of 60 percent compared to over-the-road truck transportation,” according to J.B. Hunt.

A major supply chain player, J.B. Hunt anticipates that on-time deliveries will trend around 95 percent. The Quantum intermodal service is also expected to reduce transportation times by more than a full day. Although freight rates for the intermodal service were not initially released, priority freight customers would likely benefit. But with the growing cry of driverless deliveries and a $1.2 trillion Infrastructure spending spree being used to reduce reliance on truck transportation, the 80,000 driver shortage could be slimmed. However, experts indicate the trucker shortage could be at most 160,000 as early as 2030.

J.B. Hunt possesses upwards of 163,000 trailer assets and nearly 1 million trucks throughout its network. BNSF Railway ranks among North America’s leading freight rail transportation organizations. It moves cargo over 32,500 miles of track in 28 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.

Sources:
https://www.jbhunt.com/our-company/newsroom/2023/11/jb-hunt-bnsf-quantum

https://www.ajot.com/news/the-truck-driver-shortage-in-the-us-continues#:~:text=The%20Shortage%20of%20Truck%20Drivers&text=According%20to%20a%20recent%20study,shortage%20of%20160%2C000%20truck%20drivers.