J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., U of A Create Supply Chain Innovation Center

Russell Cothren, University of Arkansas

Deans John English of the College of Engineering and Matt Waller of the Walton College of Business.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is making a $2.75 million investment in the University of Arkansas to create the J.B. Hunt Innovation Center of Excellence. The center will be a collaborative effort between the company, the College of Engineering and the Sam M. Walton College of Business to advance supply chain management efficiency through technology.

"This grant will have an incredible impact on the university and further solidify our stature as an innovative leader in supply chain management," Provost Jim Coleman said. "Interdisciplinary research projects are a major focus of ours, and this particular collaboration between industry, faculty and students is a great example of the type of research we continue to pursue."

"The J.B. Hunt Innovation Center of Excellence will allow us to pursue revolutionary ideas in supply chain technology that can have a game-changing impact on the industry," said Stuart Scott, chief information officer at J.B. Hunt. "The innovative ideas that will shape our industry's future are with the students of today, and we're proud to be working with some of the best and brightest business, engineering and computer science students at the University of Arkansas."

This industry collaboration advances the U of A's culture of interdisciplinary research through the creation of a center that allows engineering, computer science and business researchers and students to work with J.B. Hunt employees in finding solutions to real-world problems through innovative design and technology-driven supply chain solutions.

"We have an outstanding, ongoing relationship with J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., and this generous gift will allow us to grow that in a way that will benefit supply chains domestically and internationally," said Matt Waller, dean of the Walton College. "This center will allow us to pursue revolutionary innovations in supply chain that can have a game-changing impact on the industry."

"We are very excited to be a part of this effort," said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. "It will allow us to leverage the best the University of Arkansas has to offer and provide valuable education opportunities for our students."

The center's activities will be led by an Innovation Center Steering Committee, which will consist of approximately 14 members from J.B. Hunt, Walton College and College of Engineering leadership teams.

Shelley Simpson, chief marketing officer and president of integrated capacity solutions and truckload at J.B. Hunt, is a graduate of the Walton College and remains involved through the Walton College Dean's Executive Advisory Board. Over the years, she has seen firsthand how the university's programs and research have been beneficial to the company.

"As our industry evolves, customers need more intelligent supply chain solutions to meet market demand," said Simpson. "This collaboration is an investment in the future of J.B. Hunt and our ability to deliver customer value."

The U of A is a leader in innovation in supply chain management, with the Walton College supply chain management program ranking 14th in the nation in 2016 by U.S. News & World Report. The SCM Journal List™ ranks the supply chain department as 5th globally in empirical supply chain management research.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in business education and research. Since its founding at the University of Arkansas in 1926, the Walton College has grown to become the state's premier college of business - as well as a nationally competitive business school. The Walton College is ranked 26th among public business colleges by U.S. News & World Report, which ranks the supply chain management/logistics specialty 14th among public business colleges.

About J.B. Hunt: J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., a Fortune 500, S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 company, focuses on providing safe and reliable transportation services to a diverse group of customers throughout the contiguous United States, Canada, and Mexico. Utilizing an integrated, multimodal approach, the company provides capacity-oriented solutions centered on delivering customer value and industry-leading service. J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT and is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.

About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the only comprehensive doctoral-granting engineering program in the state of Arkansas. The college offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in nine engineering fields, as well as incorporating distance learning and interdisciplinary programs. Faculty in the College of Engineering conduct research in many key areas, including electronics, energy, healthcare logistics, nanotechnology, transportation and logistics.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.