Built on Innovation: The People Behind Intermodal
When shipping intermodal, you want to be sure your freight is in good hands.
35 years ago, J.B. Hunt moved its first intermodal load with Santa Fe Railroad (now BNSF Railway) and a small team of innovators. Since then, we've expanded our operations with the help of detailed-driven experts, railroad operators and customers who trust us to get the job done. Behind each load you ship with J.B. Hunt Intermodal, there's a network of seasoned professionals working hard to protect your freight and deliver exceptional service. No matter the size or nature of your business, we strive to unlock the full benefits of intermodal shipping to help you get the most from your transportation spend. Allow us to introduce you to three of the outstanding team members whose dedication to safety, innovation and excellence has helped shape J.B. Hunt Intermodal into an industry-leading service.
Driving Value with Industry Knowledge
Astrid is an operations director with unparalleled knowledge of intermodal rail operations stemming from 33 years of hands-on experience. After two years as an over-the-road driver, she moved to Intermodal in 1992 where she took on various roles, including yard dispatcher, city dispatcher, intermodal fleet manager and intermodal load planner. Gaining this experience at the source led to her becoming one of the first female directors in J.B. Hunt Intermodal.
.svg)
.png)
“We have become leaders in the industry because we have identified our customers’ needs and worked to solve and create solutions for them at every opportunity.”
-Astrid, Director II, Operations
In 2012, Astrid played a key part in the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. While cell service and Wi-Fi were being restored and fuel was scarce, she ensured equipment was safe to be on the road. One customer needed all containers inspected for water damage. She tracked them down at the terminal, inspected the containers’ conditions and ensured timely delivery despite the storm chaos. Astrid has the highest safety standards for herself and her team, and she's always striving to ensure best-in-class service no matter the circumstances.
Committed to Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement is a priority in everything we produce at J.B. Hunt, especially when it comes to the design of our containers and chassis. One of our maintenance directors, Tyler, has been at the forefront of J.B. Hunt maintenance improvements for over 12 years. From increasing the height of the container’s top rail to reduce damage, to changing the size of the chassis’ LED lighting to protect and extend bulb life, no innovation is too small to be valuable.
“With the tenure and experience on this team, everyone teaches you something valuable if you’re willing to listen and learn.”
- Tyler, Director I, Maintenance
Our maintenance teams want to ensure our assets are safe and ready to go when customers need capacity. This focus on excellence helps lead to fewer breakdowns on the road and more available equipment to cover loads. Tyler attributes much of the team’s success to the culture of innovation that exists at J.B. Hunt, which has expanded his ability to think creatively and solve challenging problems.
Delivering Operational Excellence
Sandy, one of our intermodal pricing managers, has exemplified operational excellence for nearly four decades. She began her career developing strong customer relationships as an account representative. Following that, she gathered extensive network knowledge as a logistics team leader before transitioning to an Intermodal position in 1995. She played a significant role in championing the J.B. Hunt intermodal product as it transformed from its infancy to a thriving business segment at the turn of the century.
“Creating value for customers means understanding their business and how it works, looking for ways to simplify and build solutions around their needs.”
– Sandy, Manager, Pricing
Since then, Sandy’s continued to leverage her operational experience as a pricing manager where she routinely identifies optimal routing solutions for intermodal loads. She will study her customers’ businesses to identify ways of streamlining operations or reducing costs. In fact, she thinks of each opportunity as a puzzle just waiting to be solved. Her enduring presence and contributions across these various roles have had a remarkable impact on the long-term success of J.B. Hunt Intermodal.
Driven for You™
We understand that the success of your supply chain is integral to the success of your business. That’s why our team members make it their mission to learn our customers’ operations inside and out. This allows us to create unique, value-driven services such as Quantum, a J.B. Hunt and BNSF Service™. By keeping our eyes on the horizon and striving for continuous innovation, our people are determined to provide the best intermodal service in the industry.
If you are interested in learning more about J.B. Hunt Intermodal, let's get connected today.