• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, February 19, 2021

In a potentially groundbreaking partnership, J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Google announced a multiyear strategic alliance intended to combine the trucking company’s vast transportation and logistics data with Google's expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Powered by Google Cloud’s cloud technologies, J.B. Hunt will expand its 360 platform that digitally connects shipments and available capacity, increasing efficiencies and enhancing visibility within the platform.

The logistics and transportation company plans to develop new services with help from Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools from Google Cloud. The idea is to transform the shipping and logistics experience for shippers, carriers, and service providers.

Google’s engineers will collaborate with J.B. Hunt’s in several areas such as real-time visibility and price prediction models scheduled to launch later this year.

The two companies also will create a new framework on entirely new products and services. A roadmap to produce real-time visibility and predictive modeling will be rolled out “over time.”

The partnership, significant for brands, has much more potential than improving J.B. Hunt’s logistics services and creating new product through cloud services.

It’s a deal that could potentially make it easier for Google to become a distributor of goods it sells, not only its products, but those from companies that sell on its ecommerce platforms like Google Shopping and YouTube, becoming a competitor to Amazon Logistics.

Shipments continue to rise as a result of COVID-19. Real-time data is a cornerstone in the $1 trillion logistics industry, as retailers and manufacturers of products have increased expectations for faster services and increased transparency on their shipments.

Carriers today rely on a patchwork of IT systems across supply chain to monitor capacity, pricing, and execution. The 360 platform aims to centralize data from across these different systems, helping reduce waste, friction and inefficiencies. By leveraging Google’s Data Cloud, J.B. Hunt 360 will better predict outcomes, and enable retailers and manufacturer to make informed decisions.

J.B. Hunt, one of the largest transportation companies in the U.S., primarily operates large semi-truck trailer and also provides transportation services throughout Canada and Mexico.