J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT), a major player in North American supply chain solutions, announced the addition of 20 Nikola Tre fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to strengthen its sustainability efforts, particularly for freight along the West Coast.
Greer Woodruff, Executive VP of Safety, Sustainability, and Maintenance at J.B. Hunt, emphasized the company’s role in helping customers meet sustainability goals: “Zero-emission vehicles like these enable us to provide practical, sustainable solutions that reduce carbon emissions in supply chains and support J.B. Hunt’s own sustainability objectives.”
Several of the new FCEVs will be used in J.B. Hunt’s Intermodal operations in California, particularly for port and drayage services. These vehicles address growing concerns among shippers about new state regulations, such as those from the California Air Resource Board (CARB) and South Coast AQMD’s WAIRE program. By partnering with J.B. Hunt for zero-emission vehicle services, customers can avoid WAIRE fees and reduce their environmental impact.
The Nikola FCEVs join J.B. Hunt’s fleet of over 200 alternative-powered vehicles, which includes battery-electric, hydrogen-electric, and renewable natural gas (RNG) vehicles. Nikola will support fueling through its HYLA brand. In 2023, J.B. Hunt added three Nikola FCEVs, already in use for dedicated customer operations.
J.B. Hunt’s hands-on approach to integrating alternative-powered vehicles into operations is part of its commitment to innovation. Recently, the company launched a pilot program with Clean Energy, featuring the new RNG-powered Cummins X15N engine. Additionally, J.B. Hunt has assisted customers like Daimler Truck North America and Electrolux in adopting alternative-powered vehicles.
Key to J.B. Hunt’s sustainability efforts is a focus on alternative-powered equipment, biogenic fuels, and improved fuel efficiency, aiming for a 32% reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2034 (from a 2019 baseline). The company has already passed the halfway point toward this goal.
Flexible Sustainability Solutions for Customers
J.B. Hunt provides a range of sustainability solutions tailored to customers’ needs:
- Intermodal Conversion: Leading the shift from highway to rail, J.B. Hunt reduces carbon emissions by 65% on average for each shipment. Over the past decade, this has prevented an estimated 30 million metric tons of CO2e emissions.
- Empty-Mile Reduction: Using the J.B. Hunt 360® platform, the company optimizes backhaul capacity, saving millions of empty miles annually. In 2023 alone, this reduced over 4 million empty miles.
- Carbon Diet Services: J.B. Hunt’s proprietary Carbon Diet methodology advises customers on cost-effective ways to reduce emissions, including the CLEAN Transport™ Carbon Calculator to track carbon footprints.
- CLEAN Transport™ Program: A carbon-neutral shipping solution, allowing customers to purchase carbon offset credits to match the emissions from their shipments.
