The Morning News of Springdale, Ark., reported that J.B. Hunt Transport Services is urging creation of more intermodal terminals to help move freight expected in the coming years.

The paper said Terry Matthews, senior vice president of sales at J.B. Hunt Transport Services of Lowell, believes intermodal facilities will help ease the burden on interstate highways, slow the growing shortage truck drivers and improve the delivery of freight from major ocean ports. Matthews suggests federal funding for 20 to 30 intermodal terminals throughout the U.S.
Kirk Thompson, J.B. Hunt president and chief executive officer, said in a Feb. 17 presentation at the Deutsche Bank Securities 15th Annual Global Transportation Conference in Naples, Fla., that rail service limits intermodal transportation growth.
"If we could get more consistent and reliable rail service, there is no end to the amount of freight" that could be moved by rail, Thompson said.
Union Pacific Railroad is building a 360-acre intermodal terminal in Dallas County, Texas, to help long-haul trucking companies meet shipping needs. Associated Construction Publications reported in January the intermodal terminal will cost $70 million. Union Pacific has an intermodal agreement with J.B. Hunt Transport.
"Intermodal continues to grow literally across the country as an acceptable mode of transportation and warehousing. A customer any more will have shipped a week's worth of inventory, so they don't have many trailers sitting by stores or their warehouses," said Mark Davis, Union Pacific spokesman.
Union Pacific reported a record operating revenue of $12.2 billion in 2004, the first year the railroad surpassed $1 billion and a 6 percent increase over 2003's operating revenue. The company earned $2.24 billion in intermodal revenue in 2004, up from $2.06 billion in intermodal revenue in 2003, according to the 2004 annual report. Union Pacific had 3.13 million loaded intermodal cars in 2004, up from 2.98 million intermodal cars in 2003.