Trucker to offer tracking via Web

Scheduling also new service goal

LOWELL - A new digital platform scheduled for launch by J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. will modernize and simplify the process of scheduling and tracking deliveries, shareholders were told during Thursday’s annual meeting.

Plans for the service were introduced by Chief Executive Officer John Roberts and outlined in a two-minute video shown to about 100 shareholders and employees attending the company’s headquarters in Lowell. The total management system, named “360 [degree symbol],” will be available nationwide early next month, although it has been in use by a select group of customers since January as part of a pilot program.

“We started creating this a couple of years ago and are very excited to offer it to our customers,” Roberts said after the meeting. “We pride ourselves on being an innovative company.”

Roberts pointed to the efficiency of scheduling air-line travel online as one of the inspirations for the system.

Customers looking for a way to ship goods with J.B. Hunt can begin their process online and, in theory, eliminate front-end time spent explaining needs to a customer service representative.

J.B. Hunt’s shipping options have been growing for years beyond the traditional truckload model, and the digital service - available on computers or mobile devices - was designed to streamline the process of choosing a method of transportation. Shippers are asked to provide mode preference, weight and dimension information, and details on destination and point of origin.

The information is then analyzed by the computer system, and multiple shipping options and price quotes are generated, according to the video.

What the company described as “deep-dive analytics” will help customers track specific deliveries or monitor the efficiency of using J.B. Hunt for multiple shipments.

Stephens Inc. analyst Brad Delco said the system could be a tool for luring smaller and mid-size shippers to J.B. Hunt.

“To be able to put a freight request into one system and J.B Hunt can service that need via their brokerage division, their dedicated division, their trucking division or intermodal division, it opens up that channel to getting small and midsized shippers, which should be accretive to margins.”

Total Management System “is your 360-degree view of the A to B and the XYZ,” the video explains. “It’s the entire gamut of logistics in the palm of your hand or on your desktop. Anywhere you are and anywhere you need your product shipped.”

As the video ended and he left his seat to adjourn Thursday’s meeting, board chairman and former CEO Kirk Thompson said, “That deserves some applause.”

It took less than 20 minutes for the shareholders to meet and for Roberts to make his presentation on the company’s outlook for 2014 and beyond. Officially, the shareholders meeting was conducted in less than six minutes, and David Mee, the company’s chief financial officer, joked, “I hope that’s a new record.”

J.B. Hunt didn’t set a new record but did continue its trend of running an efficient shareholders meeting. Last year’s meeting and presentation took just 13 minutes, and the short meetings have become a source of pride for the company.

There was no discussion or opposition to proposals from the shareholders in attendance, just like last year.With 95 percent of company stock represented in person or proxy, all three presentations passed.

Reappointments for the board’s seven members were approved by 89 percent.

An advisory vote on executive compensation and the appointment of Ernst & Young as independent accountants were each passed by 99 percent.

After the vote, Roberts addressed those in attendance and highlighted some of the company’s positives in 2013, including a nearly 10 percent increase in workforce (1,700 new jobs) and another year of record revenue and earnings per share.

“It’s something we’ve become accustomed to and expect,” Roberts told shareholders.

J.B. Hunt stock closed at $76.04 per share Thursday. Board members declared a $0.20 per share divided for stock holders Thursday.

Business, Pages 29 on 04/25/2014

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