J.B. Hunt Jobs: Driver Pay, Requirements, and Reviews

J.B. Hunt’s fleet size has made it an industry leader in the trucking world. As the largest dedicated provider with 10,500+ trucks in nearly 600 locations across the United States, it operates the largest company-owned intermodal fleet in North America.

J.B. Hunt mainly transports food, plastics, retail merchandise, chemicals, paper products, and manufacturing materials and works with several large companies, including Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Target.

Many truck drivers want to work for J.B. Hunt for the job experience and learning opportunities. However, while driver appreciation is a company cornerstone, some drivers criticize the large carrier for not offering higher wages and better benefits. Learn about the types of driving jobs available, typical truck driver salaries and benefits, and what requirements you’ll need to fulfill before applying.

Types of J.B. Hunt Truck Driving Jobs

J.B. Hunt has a variety of different trucking jobs for each of its four divisions: dedicated, final mile, intermodal, and truckload.

Dedicated Drivers

Dedicated drivers at J.B. Hunt serve one customer and benefit from having familiar routes, consistent schedules, and daily or weekly home time. Their equipment includes flatbed, reefer, doubles, and traditional van trailers.

Dedicated driver duties may include more than just transportation. Drivers may operate forklifts or pallet jacks and are trained in onsite management to provide specialized customer service. Dedicated employee drivers handle load planning, safety, and specific customer concerns, and transport freight locally (within a 200-mile radius) or regionally.

Final Mile Drivers

Final mile drivers deliver goods to their last destination and often work directly with customers. Most deliveries occur during business hours, so final mile drivers enjoy a Monday-Friday schedule and weekends off. J.B. Hunt has three types of truck driving jobs in their final mile division.

• Class A drivers must have their Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and relevant experience. They drive tractor-trailers and install freight at customer locations. These drivers are home daily.
• Straight truck drivers do not need previous experience or a CDL. They drive box trucks and install freight at customer locations.
• Delivery installation specialists also don’t need prior experience or a CDL. These drivers deliver and install various goods—like furniture, appliances, and fitness equipment—at customer locations.

Intermodal Drivers

Intermodal drivers transport freight locally or regionally from rail yards to customer locations. Their routes often allow them to be home weekly or daily. Intermodal drivers enjoy 80% no-touch freight.

Truckload or Over-the-Road (OTR) Drivers

Truckload or over-the-road (OTR) drivers with J.B. Hunt deliver freight across the country. They often drive for two weeks at a time. The majority of OTR hauls are drop and hook freight and pre-planned loads.

Lease Drivers and Owner Operators

Lease purchase drivers with J.B. Hunt go through third-party lease purchase programs and have several mileage or percentage-based compensation plans to choose from.

Owner operators usually work as intermodal or OTR drivers and can choose from local or regional routes. Intermodal drivers often earn mileage-based compensation plans, while OTR drivers usually have percentage-based plans.

How Much Do J.B. Hunt Drivers Make?

J.B. Hunt driver pay varies according to the truck driving job. OTR or truckload fleet drivers earn experience-based pay rates, which also depend on the length of the haul. Pay for dedicated drivers is determined by the account’s needs and location. And intermodal drivers are paid by the mile and by the activity. J.B. Hunt drivers also receive paid orientation and safety training. Company drivers are paid weekly.

J.B. Hunt Driver Pay by City

The following chart displays the average annual pay for J.B. Hunt truck drivers in some of the most populated cities in the U.S. as of 2022.

Wages compiled using Indeed and Glassdoor data for J.B. Hunt Class A Truck Driver Salaries (2022)

J.B. Hunt Perks and Benefits

J.B. Hunt offers its drivers an assortment of benefits relating to health, finance, insurance, and vacation time:

• Medical insurance options
• Dental, vision, and prescription coverage
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Basic life insurance
• Term life insurance for employees and family members
• Basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance for employee and family members
• 401(k) match
• Paid vacation
• Paid orientation and safety training
• Paid installation training for delivery installation specialists
• Driver disability insurance
• Accident and critical illness insurance
• Home insurance
• Auto insurance
• Pet policy available in select locations for OTR
• Free rider program with OTR fleet
• Financial wellness resource program

Drivers enjoy a host of discounts and perks as well. Employee drivers can take advantage of company discounts with Dell and Whirlpool, for instance. They may also receive annual service and safety awards and earn bonuses when they reach a million miles. The corporation’s driver referral program gives bonuses to company drivers and owner operators who refer new drivers to J.B. Hunt.

Through its vendor network, J.B. Hunt offers owner operators fuel and maintenance discounts, and owner operators can obtain single or family health coverage at a group rate. The company also runs an Adopt-A-Class program, where drivers can deliver to their child or grandchild’s classroom.

J.B. Hunt Truck Driver Requirements

Prospective J.B. Hunt Class A drivers must have a minimum of three months of CDL A driving experience to qualify. Most of the accounts want drivers who have three to six months of experience. Straight truck driving and delivery installation jobs require no experience.

Drivers must be at least 21 years old, and J.B. Hunt prefers their drivers have a clean driving record— meaning three years free of traffic citations and five years without any accidents. However, talk to your recruiter if you do have traffic violations, as they may be able to help.

Do You Need a CDL to Drive for J.B. Hunt?

While J.B. Hunt does not offer company-paid CDL training or apprenticeship programs, some of the company’s final mile driving positions don’t require a CDL.

Does J.B. Hunt Hire New Drivers?

New drivers without a Class A CDL or prior experience can apply for work as straight truck drivers or delivery installation specialists in J.B. Hunt’s final mile division. CDL school graduates must have three months of commercial driving experience to meet J.B. Hunt’s Class A driver qualifications. In-school experience does not satisfy the three-month driving requirement.

J.B. Hunt Driver Application Instructions

Prospective applicants can fill out a pre-qualifying form online to speak with a recruiter who can help them find employment opportunities that best match their needs, skill set, and locale. You will need to provide your name, address, contact information, and driving record details—including license, experience, traffic violations, and endorsements, if applicable.

Trucking vlogger and J.B. Hunt driver, Andre Salvatore, outlines the hiring process on his YouTube channel, Mr By The Mile. In his video, he explains that new drivers will undergo drug testing and a five-day orientation. If you have less than one year of driving experience, J.B. Hunt requires you to complete in-person training with an instructor.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career with J.B. Hunt but need to obtain the required three months of CDL experience, then you may want to consider applying to similar carriers, such as FedEx, U.S. Xpress, XPO Logistics, and UPS.

Is J.B. Hunt a Good Company to Work For?

Current and former drivers generally appreciate J.B. Hunt’s dedication to safety and driver education but feel dissuaded by a lack of communication and inadequate wages. Most who’ve worked for the company see it as a place that’s best for early-career drivers.

J.B. Hunt Reviews of Truck Driving Jobs

Drivers on various forums and social media platforms applaud the corporation’s professional training but often complain of poor equipment, disorganized management, payment inaccuracies, and insufficient pay for hours worked and duties performed.

A former Class A CDL driver in Kentucky writes on Indeed that they left because of constant payment issues. “My disappointment was my paycheck usually I haven’t received the correct amount. Every time I had to call to fix it,” the ex-employee writes. “My advice for anyone who want to work for J.B. Hunt, record your mileage and make sure you received the correct amount otherwise you will lose a lot of money.”

Other former employees describe the inadequate work-life balance. “The money is very good if you don’t mind working a million hours a week and not having a life other than work,” a former delivery truck driver in New York writes on Indeed. The driver adds that the equipment also wasn’t properly maintained.

Salvatore, a California truck driver who worked for J.B. Hunt for 10 months, believes it’s a great carrier for gaining experience and challenging you as a driver. “I recommend J.B. Hunt because you will get a great amount of experience if you are comfortable with being uncomfortable at such an early time in your CDL career,” Salvatore says on his YouTube channel. Despite his praise, Salvatore cautions truckers to remember J.B. Hunt is a starter company and doesn’t offer as many benefits (such as a pension) that bigger carriers do.

YBE TV gives a review of J.B. Hunt on their YouTube channel. The blogger explains that J.B. Hunt was never short on freight and lucrative local truck driving opportunities. “Hundred percent of the time [they] will send you freight,” YBE TV says. But they too criticize the carrier’s faulty payment procedures. “They had one of the most terrible payment systems ever.”