Rail-Strike Threat Tempers Intermodal Gains in J.B. Hunt’s Q3, but Core Freight Demand Positive

At its core, J.B. Hunt is an intermodal marketing company; it contracts with the Class I railroads for the line-haul movement of its domestic containers. It was one of the first for-hire truckload carriers to venture into intermodal shipping, forming a partnership with BNSF Railway in the West in 1990. Years later, it struck an agreement with Norfolk Southern in the East. Hunt has established a definitive leadership position in intermodal shipping, with a 20%-plus share of a $25 billion-plus industry. The next-largest competitor is Hub Group, followed by the intermodal divisions of Schneider National, STG Logistics, and Knight Swift. Intermodal made up slightly less than half of Hunt's total revenue in 2021.