Arkansas-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services has put down roots in Harrisburg with a new, green facility and the promise of about 30 new jobs.
After a decade-plus located at the Harrisburg rail yards, Hunt saw “the opportunity to settle in and made the decision that we're here for the long term,” says Regional Director of Maintenance Tom Markarian. “We're making a large investment here for the future.”
Hunt invested about $10 million to build a new, 42,000-square-foot facility that includes shop and office space, tractor and trailer bays, wash bays, driver parking and break rooms, Markarian says.
The ground-up structure emphasizes sustainability. Built using green materials and construction methods, the metal building is comprised of 90 percent recycled material. Recycled asphalt, concrete and rock were used as fill, resulting in less construction waste. Skylights, efficient LED lights, a reflective white roof and polished concrete floors that maximize light and reduce the load on HVAC systems will reduce energy use in daily operations.
Hunt's Harrisburg fleet numbers about 175, says Markarian, up from about 20 a decade ago. Most are used for short-haul, single-day trips; “they don't wander too far from Harrisburg,” he adds.
Most of the new jobs at the facility are for tractor, trailer and tire mechanics, for which Markarian is actively recruiting.
Source: Tom Markarian, J.B. Hunt Transport Services
Writer: Elise Vider