CHEP Awards J.B. Hunt Dedicated Contract Services Multi-Year Integrated Fleet Contract

    LOWELL, Ark.--Feb. 5, 2002--CHEP, the world's largest equipment pooling system company, has awarded J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a multi-year contract to provide dedicated logistics services for 11 regional premium service centers around the country. The contract is an expansion of the international company's longstanding partnership with J.B. Hunt, which already provides CHEP with van and intermodal services.
    As one of the world's largest users of reverse logistics services, Orlando-based CHEP operates an extensive freight network around the U.S. for both outbound and inbound deliveries of pallets and containers for a wide variety of customers. "J.B. Hunt's vast capacity coupled with their freight density in every region where we have a presence gave them a competitive advantage in the bid process," said Ellwood Hunt, vice president of logistics, CHEP.
    Additionally, the carrier's unique collaborative design integrated the J.B. Hunt Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) network with those of CHEP and its customers to produce synergies that did not exist before. "Their design is comprehensive and efficient. It encompasses nearly every aspect of our complex supply chain and continuously searches for ways to optimize our network through routing and active management of our trailers. This ensures the efficient movement of our pallet and containers," added Hunt.
    CHEP and J.B. Hunt have a common heritage of offering innovative solutions to the challenges facing manufacturers and retailers alike. CHEP was the first company to address the multi-billion dollar per-year expense of pallet exchange, and J.B. Hunt was one of the earliest supporters of the CHEP business model.
    "CHEP is clearly an industry leader in supply chain management solutions, offering tools that can - more - significantly reduce costs in the supply chain. We are proud to have received their vote of confidence for our systems," said John N. Roberts, president, J.B. Hunt DCS. "Our operations team has worked with their counterparts at CHEP to quickly put the integrated design, supporting equipment and drivers in place and is managing to key performance indicators."
    In fact, the company is already exceeding service goals in a very dynamic market, according to Hunt. "J.B. Hunt is handling multiple locations as well as volume spikes and still delivering top-notch service, which is a primary focus of our design," he said
    J.B. Hunt's integrated approach to the project was put to use in preparing for CHEP's holiday surge, according to Hunt. By examining data and planning for peak weeks, J.B. Hunt could project times when additional drivers or equipment would be needed. "Through their integrated approach, we could tap into the entire J.B. Hunt truck capacity to manage our surge more economically," explains Phil Gerlach, director of transportation, CHEP. "J.B. Hunt's flexible capacity and on-time service are key factors behind their successful regional dedicated design and implementation."

    About CHEP

    CHEP, a Brambles company, is an international pallet and container pooling company servicing manufacturers and distributors in the consumer goods industries; grower/shippers and receivers in the produce industry; packers, processors and distributors in the meat industry; home improvement, hardware and housewares manufacturers and distributors and suppliers, assembly plants and aftermarket retailers in the automotive industry. CHEP supplies its customers with high quality pallets and reusable containers from a comprehensive depot network. The company is part of the worldwide CHEP organization, which operates in more than in 37 countries on six continents and controls more than 160 million pallets and 34 million crates and containers. CHEP combines technology, experience and a customer dedication to "Handling the World's Most Important Products. Everyday." Additional information on CHEP is available at www.chep.com.

    About J.B. Hunt Dedicated Contract Services

    J.B. Hunt Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) is the premier provider of dedicated transportation logistics solutions for clients striving to improve transportation service reliability; lower transportation costs; reduce liability; improve logistics/distribution operations; and redirect capital back into core business functions. By integrating the freight, assets, and services of J.B. Hunt Truck and Intermodal, the company's partner network capacity, and empowering those services with e-business technology, DCS provides customer-specific solutions that deliver bottom-line value. With more than 300 customer locations across North America, DCS is the fastest-growing dedicated logistics provider in the market.

    About J.B. Hunt

    J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America with annual revenues of more than $2 billion. The company operates more than 11,000 trucks and approximately 40,000 trailers and containers. J.B. Hunt creates supply chain value through a variety of engineered, optimal solutions that include truckload and intermodal transportation services, dedicated fleet management, electronic commerce and logistics management. The company's stock is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT and is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. For more information about the company visit www.jbhunt.com.