J.B. Hunt Reports Record First-Quarter Income

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.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. reported record first-quarter earnings late Thursday, with a profit of $47 million or 57 cents a share, compared with $33 million or 40 cents a year earlier.

The truckload carrier said its operating revenue for the quarter rose to $709 million from $618 million a year earlier, a 14.7% increase.

The company’s truck segment revenue rose 6%, while its intermodal segment increased 13% over the same period last year. Both figures excluded fuel surcharges.

Operating income for the quarter rose 36% to $79 million, on a 10% rise in revenues net of fuel surcharges, the company said in a statement.

Its overall operating ratio improved to 88.8%, from 90.6% last year, while its truck segment’s OR improved to 89.5%. The intermodal segment’s OR remained the same as last year’s first quarter, at 88%.

J.B. Hunt is ranked No. 9 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.